Regarding the list of my Godbrothers, you do not any longer need to send them issues of BTG or other books. That we will do from here in India. Similarly whenever you get requests for BTG subscriptions or other literature, you can forward these requests to Bombay ISKCON to the Secretary and he will deal with the requests.
BTG (Letters, 1972 - 1977)
Correspondence
1972 Correspondence
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Bombay 3 January, 1972:
The program for publishing as you have outlined is very nice with a few corrections. We do not need to publish in English either BTG or books, since these we will import from either Dai Nippon or ISKCON Press. But if you can arrange for Hindi and Bengali BTG and Hindi books as you suggest, that will be excellent. The idea is that by the profit out of BTG and Book Sales if you can maintain the establishment and meet the expenses, then I have no objection. From Book sales at least 50% of the face value of the book has to go to the book fund. And from the sales of the BTG at least one rupee per magazine should be paid to the book fund. So whatever remains after this can be utilized by you to do the publishing.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 5 January, 1972:
I have seen the All-India BTG issue No. 43 only in its dummy form, so I eagerly am awaiting the final copy. I received one letter from Hayagriva in which he says he is not getting any material for editing. Is there some some reason for this?
Letter to Hrdayananda -- Bombay 6 January, 1972:
And you must all study very scrutinizingly all of the books so that when the need arises you can repeat in your own words their purport. Also I will be very pleased if you contribute articles to BTG. By writing regularly, what you read will become realized. As much as possible read, chant, and preach. This is our life and soul.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Jaipur 19 January, 1972:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 12th January, 1972, and I am very pleased to know that another Hindi BTG will be coming out shortly. Now just continue in this way to produce Hindi magazine regularly, and Krishna will give you all facility to print more and more literatures gradually and increase in every respect.
Regarding distribution of magazines, you write each center and ask them how many copies they want. All collections from books and magazine sales should be sent to the Bombay Book Fund Account No. ISKCON Book Fund,* and if temples can pay for magazines in advance that is better, but they may also pay after receiving the magazines, within 30 days.
Letter to Karandhara -- Nairobi 25 January, 1972:
In all printing matter I am completely in agreement with you, therefore you can determine when and if ISKCON press can do BTGs.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Bombay 7 February, 1972:
I am in due receipt of your letter of 30th January, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. the Bombay office has not yet received the 2000 copies of your latest Hindi BTG—why it is belated? they have not received even the consignment way-bill. So how many thousands have been printed, and how they have been distributed? Last month I sent you Rs. 4000/= in favor of Radha Press. So you have already collected some money by selling Hindi BTG in Jaipur, so did you send this money to Book Fund Account? Rohininandana was ready to go to you, but you have sent news through Gurudasa that because he was not too much anxious that he is not needed.
Letter to Govinda -- Madras 12 February, 1972:
I am especially appreciating the writings of Siddhasvarupa in the "New Navadvipa News" and "Open Letter" pamphlets, like "Die Hippy, Die!" and these articles should be published in our "Back to Godhead" magazine and distributed very widely.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Calcutta 18 February, 1972:
I am in due receipt of your letter of 10th February, 1972, and have noted the contents. One thing is, I left on February 11th from Bombay and still there was neither intimation nor waybill for the 2000 BTG's, and you say "receipt no." and then there is blank, so I am curious how you are doing things, when you say everything was dispatched on the 5th.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Calcutta 18 February, 1972:
Now we have no Hindi magazines to distribute, either in Madras or Visakhapatnam, so I think things are not being managed very well, because, even there may be now 2000 magazines in Bombay, also there is no one there now to distribute them, nor will anyone be there until March, so you must take all these things into account, because unless the magazines are distributed nicely, what is the use of printing them? Also, I note that only Rs. 850/- was collected from Jaipur, but I was told by you and by others that more than 1000 magazines were sold. Kindly clear up this matter. And why no magazines (by 10th February) have been sent to Calcutta. There are many Hindi-speaking people there, practically the business community is all Hindi-speaking, so why they have not received any BTG's?
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Calcutta 18 February, 1972:
So you may come to Mayapur, and I have also invited Ramananda and all my disciples in India, and I think we shall number at least 50 heads, because we are being joined from here by Puri Maharaja and some of his close assistants. We shall leave for Calcutta on Tuesday, the 22nd, and are supposed to arrive in Mayapur by 25th latest. So you come too, and if you have finished the latest Hindi BTG you may bring some of those as well.
Letter to Sudama -- Calcutta 19 February, 1972:
I have received the letters from Shayatyadanya, and they are under reply. He shall receive it soon. I'm glad to hear that despite so many language difficulties, still Trivikrama Maharaja and the others are increasing sales of BTG. That is good sign.
Letter to Rudra, Radhika -- Calcutta 20 February, 1972:
I am very glad to hear that Louise Bourassa has joined us. Thank her for understanding our philosophy. She is PhD., so she may translate all of my books into French language in cooperation with Yogesvara at ISKCON Press in New York, who is in charge of the foreign languages printing of my books. She may also write article for BTG why she came to KC and comparing our philosophy to others.
Letter to Rudra, Radhika -- Calcutta 20 February, 1972:
Work in Russia is going on slowly, and we have got a plan to send French devotee girl there to marry our Russian boy devotee in Moscow, and then the work will go much faster. I shall inform you when we are ready for BTG in Russian language, meanwhile go on with the work. Krishna das is in Europe, you may write him c/o Hamburg center. If you have honey, why not use instead of sugar but I think it is too expensive to be practical.
Letter to Kirtiraja -- Mayapur 28 February, 1972:
I am very much pleased to hear that our mail-order department for books and BTG's is increasing steadily. Now you have good American brain by Krishna's grace, so the more you go on thinking of ways to increase in this way, the more Krishna will understand that you are sincere to serve him as dearmost friend by preaching His message of Bhagavad-gita and the more He will attract you to come back to home, back to Godhead.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Calcutta 4 March, 1972:
Regarding printing of Hindi BTG, we shall see when we meet there. But I think there is no need to print further for the time being until we develop program for our distribution. Now we have got thousands of unsold magazines, so what is the point of printing more? I think because Brahmananda is now here in India to manage things you may consult with him how to do everything in the best manner possible.
Letter to Billy Reyburne -- Vrindaban 12 March, 1972:
If you are writing poems and songs, that's alright, you can do it also, but if you can write articles for our Back to Godhead magazine, that is better, that is solid preaching work. No one should write songs of Krishna unless he is self-realized soul, that will spoil the value of the whole thing. But try to use your writing and singing talent for Krishna's preaching work, by writing articles, singing the kirtana, like that.
Letter to Meenakatan -- Bombay 22 March, 1972:
So it is also very nice that you are also layout man for the Press, because Ksirodakasayi Prabhu will live in Vrindaban also and his job is to layout the Hindi BTG there and send it to Dai Nippon for printing each month one issue. So I think you may come to Vrindaban immediately and give assistance to Ksirodakasayi in this department. You may bring your family also if you wish.
Letter to Koumadaki -- Australia March 27, 1972:
I am in due receipt of your letter, undated, and I have noted the contents. Thank you very much for the nice poems you have written. They are very well done, and you can submit them to Iskcon Press for publication in Back to Godhead. I am glad to hear that you and your husband are happy in your work for Iskcon Press. The distribution of our literatures is such an important task, for as more people read these books, more and more the whole world will become auspicious and the degrading influence of this age of Kali will become minimized.
Letter to Gurudasa, Yamuna -- Sydney 2 April, 1972:
I am very much thankful for the letter of Yamuna. Now you two work cooperatively for making our Vrindaban a dazzling success, along with others you work nicely, and I think Ksirodakasayi may spend more time on laying out the Hindi BTG and doing that printing and translating work and you take mostly charge of supervising building work.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Sydney 2 April, 1972:
I am very much pleased to hear from Mandali Bhadra that so many BTG's in German language are being printed and distributed by you, and also that you have opened so many centers in Germany. You are the right person to control over Germany, so Krishna will give you strength, and I'm sure you will be successful. Your German blood injected with KC drug will do tremendous good to the German people.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Sydney 2 April, 1972:
The first thing is that I am very much anxious for Hindi BTG composition. It must done immediately, otherwise how you can get it from Japan? It will take three to four months for each issue, so layout should be done four months ahead. Then in due time the printed copies will be received. So you concentrate on this point very seriously, and if Dr. Ramananda Rao is not sending translations, then you should translate and ask Radharamana Goswami to translate. This is the most important task.
Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- Sydney 2 April, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 12, 1972, and I am very much pleased to hear that your German BTG distribution has gone up to 50,000 last issue, and I very much approve of your ideas for improving it more and more. In the editorial section which you plan to have for the beginning, the point should be stressing on the position of the living entities, as it is stated in Bhagavad-gita that a learned man observes everyone on the same level, that is, on spiritual understanding.
Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- Sydney 2 April, 1972:
As I have told you before, you are the chief editor of German BTG, in charge of its writing, translating, subject matter, content, everything, so I have complete trust in you for this, now do it nicely.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Auckland 15 April, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. Thank you very much for the copy of BTG #44, it is very nicely done. I think you are doing very nicely there in ISKCON Press, so you should stick there and manage everything as you are already doing.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Auckland 15 April, 1972:
So I shall be very much satisfied if you stay there at ISKCON Press and go on increasing the beauty and importance of our Back to Godhead magazine, and be happy.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Tokyo 18 April, 1972:
Regarding BTG, my plan is this, that you shall simply translate from our English issues and reproduce the writing and insert it wherever there is writing in the English version. They have already got the plates in Japan, so you will not require to have any photos, simply translate into Hindi the English text and lay it out in exactly the same columns on the page. Every publication you translate should be done just like this. Now send immediately one composed BTG to Tokyo immediately and I shall get it begun.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Tokyo 18 April, 1972:
You have retired from material life and Krishna has given you the nicest place in this material world to live in, so stick there and every month send one BTG Hindi composition to Tokyo. Radha Raman Goswami is there with you so you work together and do this job nicely.
Letter to All Temple Presidents -- Tokyo 22 April, 1972:
Now, so far the BTG and Book Funds are concerned, these matters shall be managed separately from the GBC by a body known as The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The Book Trust shall be comprised of Srila Prabhupada, Karandhara dasa, and Bali Mardan dasa.
Letter to All Temple Presidents -- Tokyo 22 April, 1972:
The Book Trust shall see to the printing and distribution to Centers of books and magazines and it will be the serious responsibility of each Temple President to see that the billed amounts for these are paid to the BTG and Book Funds regularly.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Tokyo 24 April, 1972:
You have got immense field for working in Germany, so with the help of Sivananda and Mandali Bhadra, organize Germany very successfully, and Krishna will be pleased. I have received one copy of the German BTG from ISKCON Press, and it is done very nicely.
Letter to Gurudasa, Yamuna -- Tokyo 25 April, 1972:
Regarding Yamuna's questions, if possible, you can have all 8 Gopis of 42" height, but it may be cumbersome. There is one Asta Sakhi Temple there in Vrindaban, you may see how this is arranged there. Krishna may be black, Balarama of white, and the pose of the back of the BTG is very nice.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Tokyo 26 April, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 19, 1972, along with the French and German BTG's and other literature. They are very nice. I am very much encouraged by the increase in literature publication by ISKCON Press and also by the distribution by New York Temple.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- Tokyo 2 May, 1972:
You are also materially well-educated so reproduce what I have taught in your own language. These things are new thoughts in your western countries, everyone will be interested. Writing is also required. Let it be published first in our BTG, then sometimes they may be printed into books also.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- Tokyo 2 May, 1972:
I very much appreciate the photos you have sent, they should be published in our BTG.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Tokyo 4 May, 1972:
Syamasundara. has given instructions for making layout of Hindi BTG, as he has met with Dai Nippon today. Yamunamayi may help to make the layout.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Tokyo 4 May, 1972:
Full instructions for Hindi BTG is given herewith by Syamasundara., as we have gone to Dai Nippon personally today, so you read it carefully and do the needful. So far whatever BTG's you have printed in India, whatever has been issued to the centers, they must now pay you, you send them bills. I shall notify Calcutta and Bombay to pay you. 4,000, 5,000 copies each issue printed, where they have been distributed and how the money is being collected? There was some money with Radha Raman Goswami, whether he has paid it? So collect wherever you have given BTG's. I have given you Rs. 4000/- on BTG account. This must be returned and deposited in the Book Fund Account in Bombay.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Honolulu 9 May, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 5, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. There seem to be vast discrepancies between your figures and those of Karandhara. For instance, he reports that since first of January, 1972, New York has remitted only $1243 to BTG Fund and $1538.20 to Book Fund, leaving balances due to BTG and Book Funds of $4571.05 and $5235.90 respectively. But you say your BTG debt is only $1,620 and BKF debt is only $3,897. If you are selling daily average of 2,000 literatures, why so little money is being paid by you on these debts?
Letter to Niranjana -- Honolulu 10 May, 1972:
Both Ksirodakasayi and Ramananda took charge of publishing the Hindi Back to Godhead "Bhagavata Darshan", but Ramananda has stopped translating, and Ksirodakasayi says that he is not a perfect translator. Another boy, Radharamana Goswami, he has left, so far I understand, so this is the position of the Hindi Back to Godhead. I shall be glad to know if you can translate our literature into Hindi with the help of some friends in Varanasi.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Honolulu 13 May, 1972:
In the Hindi BTG there are so many mistakes, spelling, grammar, and some places the philosophy is faulty with some other ideas mixed in; the printing is shabby, the second page is almost invisible. So this has to be improved somehow or other. Dr. Kapoor has remarked exactly. So you may inform Ksirodakasayi, and you try to help him for improving Hindi BTG.
Letter to Jadurani -- Honolulu 14 May, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 10, 1972, along with Bali Mardan's letter. I am replying Bali Mardan's letter after I have heard from him regarding the proposal by Dai Nippon to print all our foreign-language BTG's simultaneously.
Letter to Don -- Los Angeles 20 May, 1972:
I have read your booklet with great pleasure and I am forwarding it to Back to Godhead for publishing.
Letter to Ranadhira -- Los Angeles 21 May, 1972:
Actually, if we are engaged in writing and speaking on behalf of Krishna, this is the best process for advancing in Krishna Consciousness. Such activity forces us to think very clearly on the subject matter in order to speak or write on it to convince others. So I think that you should develop your ability for writing and spend sometime writing articles for Back To Godhead.
Letter to Yadubara -- Los Angeles 21 May, 1972:
So far the Gujarati translating work done by Srimati Sharda M. Vyasa, for the time being, let us produce magazines in English and Hindi languages and perhaps at some later time we may be able to print in local languages our BTG also. But for that there must be many, many subscribers. So for the time being, you may compile Srimati Vyasa's translation work into a small book and print locally.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Los Angeles 26 May, 1972:
Regarding Hindi BTG, I have received one letter from Niranjana Prabhu in Benares and he is proposing to form a committee. of yourself, Ramananda and himself, plus Guru das and others, for streamlining the Hindi BTG and book publication department. So you may correspond with him on this point. Also, there are some Hindi translators here in Los Angeles who are willing to send you regularly articles for Back To Godhead, so you may open correspondence with them also. They are named Vinode and Niranjana, husband and wife, and you may address them in care of Los Angeles temple. One thing, it is not good if we engage any professional translators, our own men must do the work. As soon as you receive payment for BTG's you may deposit immediately in the book fund account in Bombay and acknowledge to me. ISKCON Book Fund a/c is in Central Bank Gowalia Tank Branch, Bombay
Letter to Niranjana -- Los Angeles 26 May, 1972:
Form the committee. and whatever is needed, you do it. It doesn't matter if the Hindi translation is perfectly the same length as the English original, translate any issue of BTG or any book and send the manuscript after composing to Japan for printing, that is the best plan. For our English BTG's they have got the original photographs and negatives in Japan, so if you translate some issue of English BTG you can send there for printing and the cost will be cheaper because they have already got the photos, etc.
Letter to Jyotirmayi -- Los Angeles 28 May, 1972:
Harivilasa is complaining that the French people do not so much like our "Back to Godhead" as it is not suitable to the French taste. So I have appointed Bhagavan dasa adhikari to be the GBC representative for France zone and Mediterranean zone, so he shall be going there sometime this summer for taking charge of things, and I hope that you and your good husband will also go there to Paris and take charge of this French literature. If you cooperate with our French devotees in producing our French literatures very profusely, that will be the best plan.
Letter to Gargamuni -- Los Angeles 8 June, 1972:
I am glad to hear that you will be going to Gujarat state for about one month and that you are preparing one Gujarati BTG for distributing there. Tamala Krishna is doing very nicely by this traveling program in Bihar and Bengal.
Letter to Giriraja -- Los Angeles 8 June, 1972:
Thank you for sending the books to Brahmananda, so you should also send him bill, collect, and deposit in the book fund. If you have paid 100% of BTG money into the book fund account already, that is all right, you haven't got to pay twice. You should inform Ksirodakasayi what you have already paid into the BTG Book fund account. Did Ksirodakasayi send any bill? According to that bill you must pay, then the account will be nice. But if he has not sent you a bill, and you have paid the rest into the book fund, you haven't got to pay him. But in future he should always send bill and you should settle up with him accordingly.
Letter to Bhargava -- Los Angeles 13 June, 1972:
It is not a matter of changing our engagement, adjusting this or that material condition, in order to find our real happiness. Krishna Consciousness is not like that. It is able to be performed under any variety of material conditions or with any type of engagement. Therefore if your duty as a photographer is very much helpful to our propanganda work and for improving our BTG then there is very much need for your remaining in that occupation and doing it to your best capacity.
Letter to Sriman Ram Prashad Dasa -- Los Angeles June 14, 1972:
We have introduced a Life Membership program there in India, for the purpose of giving the intelligent men in the society an opportunity to help push on this great movement of pure Vedic culture. Our members receive all our books printed to date - Bhagavad-gita (in 1000 page edition), Caitanya-caritamrta, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Sri Isopanisad, Srimad-Bhagavatam (to be completed in 60 volumes), and other books totalling about 20. They also receive any book which will be printed in the future, as well as a lifetime subscription to Back to Godhead magazine.
Letter to Nandarani -- New York 8 July, 1972:
I have seen this special Rathayatra issue of "Back to Godhead" written by you, and I am so much pleased that so intelligently you have assorted the matter to completely understand our philosophy in a nutshell.
Letter to Yadubara -- London 13 July, 1972:
Dai Nippon has upped their price for Hindi BTG considerably, so it is better to print in Bombay just as you have done with Gujarati BTG. When you return to Bombay, you can try for this. Meanwhile, the manuscript is lying with Dai Nippon for next Hindi BTG, so they have quoted nearly 20 cents per copy or more than 2 rupees, so I think that it will be better to send the manuscript to Bombay. I shall await your advice before deciding the matter.
Letter to Damodara -- London 15 July, 1972:
I have recently seen a copy of a letter that Karandhara Prabhu has sent to all centers regarding payments of the Back to Godhead and Book Funds dated July 9, 1972. Karandhara has informed me that you are apparently an offender in the connection of being tardy in payments to my BTG and Book Fund. This is not good. We are trying to push on this movement on many fronts, one of the most important being the production and distribution of our Krsna Conscious literature for the upliftment of mankind. My Guru Maharaja particularly gave me this assignment. Please assist me to your best capacity in this regards.
Karandhara Prabhu is the treasurer of the BTG and BKF so you may immediately clear your accounts with him, and this will be a serious responsibility upon you.
Letter to Amogha -- London 15 July, 1972:
I have recently seen a copy of a letter that Karandhara Prabhu has sent to all Centers regarding payments to the Back to Godhead and Book Funds dated July 9, 1972. Karandhara has informed me that you are apparently an offender in the connection of being tardy in payments to my BTG and Book Fund. This is not good. We are trying to push on this movement on many fronts, one of the most important being the production and distribution of our Krsna Conscious literature for the upliftment of mankind. My Guru Maharaja particularly gave me this assignment, so please assist me to your best capacity in this regards.
Karandhara Prabhu is the Treasurer of the BTG and BKF so you may immediately clear your accounts with him and this will be a serious responsibility upon you.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- London 15 July, 1972:
I have recently seen a copy of a letter that Karandhara Prabhu has sent to all Centers regarding payments to the Back to Godhead and Book Funds dated July 9, 1972. Karandhara has informed me that you are apparently an offender in the connection of being tardy in payments to my BTG and Book Fund. This is not good. We are trying to push on this movement on many fronts, one of the most important being the production and distribution of our Krsna Conscious literature for the upliftment of mankind. My Guru Maharaja particularly gave me this assignment, so please assist me to your best capacity in this regards.
Karandhara Prabhu is the Treasurer of the BTG and BKF so you may immediately clear your accounts with him and this will be a serious responsibility upon you.
Letter to Sri Jogeswar Chowdhury -- Paris 22 July, 1972:
I have seen your letter addressed to the Secretary of our London branch, and I am very much pleased to note that you have somehow or other seen one copy of our "Back to Godhead" magazine and that you wish a copy of our Teachings of Lord Caitanya. I have instructed the secretary here in London to forward you one copy immediately by ordinary mail, gratis.
Letter to Giriraja -- Paris 22 July, 1972:
Regarding Gujarati BTG, you can do as you see fit, either reprint the same issue, or print a new issue utilizing the Bengali blocks.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- London August 5, 1972:
I am in due receipt of your latest letter, undated, along with two advance copies of Back to Godhead #46 and #47. I have handed over these copies to Mr. George Harrison who is enjoying them very much.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- London August 5, 1972:
Enclosed find one article for BTG written by Acyutananda Swami = recommended for publishing by Prabhupada - S.D.A.
Letter to Acyutananda -- London 5 August, 1972:
You know how the things are taken in India so be yourself very careful to always avoid these things and instruct others how to do it also. I am forwarding your reply to Lalitananda Bon Maharaja to ISKCON Press in New York for publishing in our BTG.
Letter to Damodara -- London 6 August, 1972:
Regarding your debt to the book fun and Back to Godhead fund and incense from 'Spiritual Sky', these debts must be paid, that is important business.
Letter to Yadubara -- Los Angeles 21 August, 1972:
Regarding printing BTG Hindi in India your scheme to print them in Bombay is accepted by me. So you do the needful being contact with Ramananda.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- New Vrindaban 7 September, 1972:
Your preaching in Hyderabad has become very successful along with your other colleagues, Sriman Subala das Maharaja and others, and I thank you very much for your great success in this respect. As it is our motto on the head of Back to Godhead, "Godhead is light, nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead there is no darkness." The whole world is full of darkness. The so-called yogis, swamis, mayavadis, scientists, philosophers, political leaders, all are different types of glowworms, so in the darkness of cloudy night during the rainy season, the croaking of the frogs and glitterings of the glowworms are supposed to be very prominent. But as soon as there is clear sunlight or moonlight, all these insignificant glowing and croaking disappear. So our movement is Krishna. The Krishna Consciousness Movement is nondifferent from Krishna. If we therefore present the Krishna Consciousness in right earnestness, then certainly all these insignificant glowworms and frogs will have no more importance.
Letter to Giriraja -- Los Angeles 26 September, 1972:
The Board of Trustees is approved by me. Regarding the Rs. 4,000 for paper for the Gujarati issue of Back to Godhead,, I have sent you already Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 29,000, whether that has been replaced? Then I will forward further sums.
Letter to Yadubara -- Manila 13 October, 1972:
Concerning your request for money for Hindi and Gujarati BTG's where is the money collected from the first editions. For any magazine published money should be collected and then republished. Accounts should be kept—money invested money collected. What is this that every time money is invested, then for a reprinting, more money has to be invested?
Letter to Aksayananda -- Vrndavana October 27, 1972:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 13, 1972, and I have very much appreciated also the copy of latest BTG in Dutch language, and I have shown it to some of my Godbrothers and other visitors here.
Letter to Cyavana -- Vrindaban 11 November, 1972:
Preaching is our real business, not getting big, big buildings and doing business for money just to maintain them, no. We shall live under a tree, that is not difficult, but we must go on preaching every moment, that will make us happy. So i am glad to see also your quiz-test for the African boys, and also your Swahili-language BTG, these are good evidence of your improvement.
Letter to Vamanadeva -- Bombay 3 December, 1972:
I am especially glad to see how nicely your St. Louis Temple is distributing Back To Godhead Magazine. Only three years ago I asked Dai Nippon to print 20,000 copies and barely we could distribute them. But now in your temple alone you are distributing so many, so this is very, very encouraging to me. It is the perfect form of preaching.
Letter to Sankarasana -- Bombay 18 December, 1972:
Unless he comes in the category of these big Vaisnava personalities, his manufacturing some songs will be misleading to himself and to others. And unless his writing of songs can be accepted as gospel, like Vedas, then such writing is simply disturbance and is diverting the attention from the subject matter only. That songs writing we cannot regard very seriously. That will spoil the whole thing. But you can utilize your propensity to write poems and articles for BTG, for singing in the kirtana, like that. That will make you very happy. Now you just apply yourself for becoming qualified to see Krishna face-to-face, then you will be able to actually write songs about Krishna.
Letter to Gurudasa, Yamuna -- Bombay 19 December, 1972:
Another thing is, I have heard there is no more CCP for getting our books. But now we are holding a huge pandal festival in the Cross Maidan at Bombay, from January 12th to 21st, so we shall need to take our BTG shipment from the Bombay docks, but they will not allow without CCP. So I hope by now you have got it, and if not, try for it immediately, treat it as urgent matter.
Letter to Hariprasada -- Bombay 23 December, 1972:
o far books are concerned, I have told Tamala to send as many as possible so he will see to it. There is shipment of 10,000 BTG's in Bombay harbor, and we are waiting for CCP license to clear them, then part of that shipment may be sent you, immediately. Meanwhile, I have ordered 5,000 to 10,000 each of each of our books for India, so in future there will be sufficient supply.
Letter to Mukunda -- Bombay 27 December, 1972:
I like very much your proposal for approaching all the big leaders of the world and presenting them one Bhagavad-Gita As It Is and one copy of BTG, along with letter of description of our Krishna Consciousness Movement.
1973 Correspondence
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Sydney 17 February, 1973:
Therefore, in the meantime, there must be another co-editor of Back to Godhead magazine to replace him. I have discussed this with Madhudvisa Maharaja here in Australia and he has suggested that Hrdayananda das Goswami could be a good man for the job. I have not made any decision, but I would like you to discuss this amongst yourselves and send me your conclusion. I cannot stress this point enough that we must handle this publication of Back to Godhead very nicely for it is one of the most important aspects of our society. So you will please do the needful in this regard and please contact me soon.
Letter to Karandhara -- Sydney 17 February, 1973:
Therefore, in the meantime, there must be another co-editor of Back to Godhead magazine to replace him. I have discussed this with Madhudvisa Maharaja here in Australia and he has suggested that Hrdayananda das Goswami could be a good man for the job. I have not made any decision, but I would like you to discuss this amongst yourselves and send me your conclusion. I cannot stress this point enough that we must handle this publication of Back to Godhead very nicely for it is one of the most important aspects of our society. So you will please do the needful in this regard and please contact me soon.
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Calcutta March 7, 1973:
I can understand that actually Hayagriva was not involved directly in the management of Back to Godhead and that whatever arrangement you already have there is sufficient.
Letter to Jagadisa -- Calcutta 10 March, 1973:
Actually, Hayagriva was not doing any managing or editing of BTG except for his own articles. More importantly he was engaged in working on our books, producing those smaller paperback booklets, etc. Such a talent is not so easily replaced, so we must try to bring him back to the standard for his own benefit. In this connection, I have written his wife, Kirtanananda Maharaja, and the GBC to see what they can do for him.
Letter to Pusta Krsna -- Hyderabad 23 March, 1973:
Yes, your study program is nice. By writing according to our realization we become more and more convinced and all doubts are destroyed. I have looked over your essay and I think you are understanding our philosophy rightly. Why don't you write something for Back to Godhead?
Letter to Satadhanya -- Bombay 28 March, 1973:
I have heard from Trivikrama that they are distributing large amounts of BTGs therein Tokyo, 500 to 1000 per day. So you have had some considerable experience in Japan, and I am requesting that you return as soon as possible and help increase our activities there. I think Tokyo is unlimited, and soon we will have our own place registered there.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 19 April, 1973:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 15, 1973 with enclosure of m/s. Narada Bhakti Sutra. . I have no objection to your publishing it, however there are many, many mistakes in the Sanskrit which have to be corrected, so I am returning the m/s. to you under separate cover. Regarding "Prayers of King Kulasekhara," I never said I was displeased with your publishing it in BTG.
Letter to Sri Govinda -- Los Angeles 25 April, 1973:
Your paper also I like very much. It is very nicely done. But, as we have the Back to Godhead paper,* if the men can be used elsewhere in pushing on this movement there is no harm. I want that all you boys use your American intelligence cooperatively in spreading this Sankirtana movement. You are doing solid work in Chicago area and I thank you very much for assisting me in this way.
I am pleased to accept the two boys Sandipani Muni Das (Chris) and Madhavendra Puri Das (Michael) as my initiated disciples. You can send their beads with a copy of this letter to Satsvarupa Das Goswami for being chanted upon.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest regarding the apartment house.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/bs
*you have talent to write, please go on writing articles for BTG.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 17 June, 1973:
Please accept my blessings I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 13, 1973 accompanied by two copies of German BTG #19.
The magazine is gorgeous, better than Dia Nippon. Continue the standard, increase the pages, increase the articles, increase the distribution. May Krsna bless you more and more.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Calcutta 29 June, 1973:
I have seen the photographs of your festival blocking the traffic and I am very much encouraged. The pictures should appear in all languages and you should write an article for BTG.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 22 July, 1973:
You have done a nice job with the French edition of Back to Godhead, and I am especially looking forward to the next issue which will be color 32 pages. You should more and more improve this magazine until it becomes superior to all other magazines in the French language.
Letter to Sukadeva -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 23 July, 1973:
Regarding the starting of a society newsletter, I think there is no need for it. Do not unnecessarily increase your responsibilities. What responsibilities you have make perfect. Besides, we already have our society journal, Back to Godhead.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 27 July, 1973:
It is very encouraging to note that the work on our BTG and other Books is going on. Actually producing and distributing books is our most important engagement, all other engagements culminate in this one end—distribution of books.
Letter to Parasara -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 31 July, 1973:
Why should we endeavor separately to produce another magazine. Whatever articles are written by our students may be published in BTG by submitting them to the chief editor Satsvarupa Goswami Maharaja. BTG is especially meant to give some facility to our students, to train them to write articles on the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. Our energy should be concentrated on one thing at a time, not that everyone will start their own magazine wasting time money and manpower. Our BTG Is there and it is being distributed without financial risk, so submit articles and increase the pages of BTG and increase the distribution also.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 8 August, 1973:
I am very pleased to note that in Delhi they are doing the life membership programme. Previously I suggested this to Madhavananda and now he is doing it, that's nice. I also was meeting big Government officials and distributing my Back To Godhead in that way, at that time there were no books.
Letter to Giriraja -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 23 August, 1973:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and the nice Vyasa Puja offering you have sent. I have sent it to Satsvarupa Goswami for printing in the BTG. Writing is a very important part of our work and satsvarupa is always anxious to have new material from the devotees for expanding the BTG. You have a nice talent for writing, practice makes perfect, so continue, it will be appreciated.
Letter to Hanuman -- Bombay 4 October, 1973:
The Argentina BTG and the photos showing Argentine men and ladies chanting and dancing in ecstasy give me great hope that our Movement will have an important place in Argentina in the near future.
Letter to Mukunda -- Bombay 6 October, 1973:
Regarding printing BTG locally in England rather than taking from Los Angeles, you are right, you should not print it in London for the time being. Syamasundara. is always utopian. This idea of his is not possible.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- New Delhi 2 November, 1973:
Jayadvaita Das is a very devoted boy. He tries to understand the philosophy very perfectly. Yes, editing "Back to Godhead" is one of your responsibilities. In the meantime you can train Hrdayananda das Goswami to edit. I think he is a fit man to assist you. Regarding "Back to Godhead" being the most important magazine in the world, therefore I am seeking to see Dr. Kapoor's article for getting attention.
Letter to Dhananjaya -- Los Angeles 23 December, 1973:
I thank you very much for your humble service and I pray to Krsna to always protect and bless you. I will look forward to seeing the first Italian Back to Godhead which I understand you are printing at present. We shall try and locate some Italian speaking devotees to send there to assist you.
1974 Correspondence
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1974:
I am glad to hear you have a nice secretary there in Aditya; now take care of sending the BTG out regularly. There are some complaints in this department. So make Bombay the center for distributing BTG to life members.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Honolulu 26 January, 1974:
I have received my copy of special BTG. It is very nicely done. I thank you very much.
Letter to Dhananjaya -- Honolulu 26 January, 1974:
I'm so glad to receive your Special Delivery mail containing BTG. I am so glad to see you have given another step forward in our activity of pushing on the Krsna Consciousness movement.
Letter to Ranchor -- Vrindaban 15 March, 1974:
Yes, I did not approve of your starting you own magazine. You can write articles for Back to Godhead magazine. Why attempt separately?
Letter to Krsna dasa -- Bombay 5 April, 1974:
Here in India we require paper of the size of "Back to Godhead" magazine, and I wish to know if you can supply it from Stockholm. We would like to purchase first-quality paper, so please let me know the ways and means. Send paper samples and prices and also let me know how things are going on there.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Bombay 6 April, 1974:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 30/3/74 along with the French edition of Back to Godhead which is certainly a great pleasure for me. I can see by this publication and by your report that things are going on nicely in Europe. All your programs are approved by me; simply if you keep on with it, slowly but surely we will become very solidly situated there with many devotees and books and temples. Krsna simply wants to see our desire.
Letter to Saurabha -- Bombay 6 April, 1974:
As far as Mr. Somani, let him come here and I will be very glad to receive him. If he can supply us paper we can start a Back to Godhead magazine in Hindi and Gujarati.
Letter to Syamasundara -- Bombay 8 April, 1974:
We shall see that your copies of Back to Godhead are dispatched to you.
Letter to Govinda -- Bombay 30 April, 1974:
ou have good writing capacity, and good artistic ability. Now devote your life to chanting Hare Krsna and if possible write articles on Krsna Consciousness, as many as possible with your own paintings and send it for publication to BTG. Forget this nonsense Gaurasundara. These are all material relationships and have nothing to do with spiritual advancement.
Engage your life fully for Krsna Consciousness. Only chant Hare Krsna Mantra day and night, read books and expressing the philosophy in your own words write articles for publishing in BTG. Don't bother anymore with rascals like Gaurasundara or anyone else. Take Krsna as your Supreme Protector and Krsna will help you in all respects. Practice this prescription and you will be happy eternally.
Letter to Sri Pannalalji -- Bombay 16 May, 1974:
Regarding the article published in Back to Godhead 53 there was nothing wrong in that article rather it was the same statement as you said, "in a holy place sins are magnified four fold etc." But some interested persons who come within this category are making malicious propaganda taking advantage of the article. Anyway, we have published a Corrigendum for being published in Back to Godhead, the copy of which is enclosed herewith please find.
Letter to Indra-pramada -- Rome 25 May, 1974:
I have just received a copy of Back to Godhead number 62 and I wish to express to you how pleased I am with the layout and design of the magazine. I have been especially admiring the pictures in the story of our Los Angeles center, and the way the pictures are placed and the use of the color throughout the magazine is very pleasing to me. I think this American company Donnelly, is better than Dai Nippon and the magazine is improving more and more. Try to keep up this present standard and think of new ways to make it always fresh and attractive.
Letter to Rupanuga:
As for the Harmonist articles, they are not bad, but the same thing could be presented in our Back to Godhead.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrindaban 13 August, 1974:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 8, 1974 and also your letter dated July 18, 1974 with enclosed Chinese edition of Back to Godhead. I understand from your letter that you have loaned Hong Kong center $1500 for printing Chinese edition of Krsna Reservoir of Pleasure.
Letter to Jayadvaita -- Vrindaban 14 September, 1974:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 3, 1974. I have the proposed advertisements for BTG and I approve them.
Letter to Visakha -- Vrindaban 14 September, 1974:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 3, 1974. The advertisement proposals for BTG are approved by me. Yes, you use your American ingenuity in this way to spread Krsna Consciousness.
Letter to Mr. Ogata -- Vrindaban 18 September, 1974:
Kindly send quotation for 32 pages, simple black printing, and cover colored on four pages, same size as the Back to Godhead. Kindly send quotation for the minimum quantity you print, and what will be the charges F.O.B. India.
Letter to Radhavallabha -- Calcutta 22 September, 1974:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated 14/9/74 with enclosed advance copies of BTG No. 66. The color is not at all good. It is not attractive, and not as good as Dai Nippon.
Letter to Jagannatha-suta -- Mayapur 1 October, 1974:
After all we have already got our Back to Godhead. Simply to discuss ordinary things, there are so many papers already discussing. Simply saying there is scarcity, that everyone knows. We must give the solution.
Letter to Syamasundara -- Bombay 1 November, 1974:
Regarding the magazine, if you become a subscriber, then I can get it for you. Free distribution of the "Back to Godhead" has stopped now because it it too expensive. The yearly subscription fee is Rs. 33/- only.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Bombay 14 November, 1974:
You say that before meeting me you could not read or write, so this is all Krishna's grace. If He likes, he can make a crow into a peacock. That is His grace. Krishna consciousness is so valuable that it plays wonderful, and there are many instances within our society. Similarly I was a crow, and now they consider me a peacock. But, I was trying to be a peacock whenever there was the opportunity. I took the endeavor to publish the "Back to Godhead," but I wasted so much time. Ultimately Krishna saved me.
Letter to Rocana -- Bombay 21 November, 1974:
I am very glad to note of how you are increasing the "Back To Godhead" distribution there in such a remote place. Our "Back To Godhead" is the backbone of our movement so we should always be thinking how to increase it increase it increase it.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- Bombay 28 November, 1974:
I have read your letter dated November 21, 1974 addressed to Brahmananda Swami with enclosed picture from "Back to Godhead."
Letter to Yasomatinandana -- Bombay 2 December, 1974:
Here in Bombay they are going on daily Sankirtana in Fort and selling 100 BTG's (English) daily, and they get requests for Hindi literature.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Bombay 3 December, 1974:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 23, 1974 with enclosed copy of BTG 67 and also your letter dated November 20, 1974 from New York. The BTG issue is very nice, and I am pleased with it.
Letter to Hrdayananda -- Bombay 21 December, 1974:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated Nov. 27, 1974 with enclosed Spanish BTG and have noted the contents very carefully and looked through the new Spanish BTG. This new BTG is done very nicely. The printing is very beautiful and I thank you very much for doing such a nice job. I am very glad to hear you have printed 100,000 copies of this magazine. Now give them to everyone.
Letter to Hrdayananda -- Bombay 27 December, 1974:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 17, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Also I have received the books newly printed in Spanish language; Krsna, vol. 1, Beyond Birth and Death and the new Spanish BTG. The printing job is done very nicely.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Bombay 28 December, 1974:
Let the whole United States become Vaisnavas, then everyone else in the whole world will follow. That is my real ambition. Therefore your program is very glorious. This is really preaching. Your intelligence is being properly utilized. In the beginning you took up the distribution of BTG's and you sold the most. Now you have taken up this van program and you will also be successful in the same way. This preaching spirit will make you recognized by Krsna.
1975 Correspondence
Letter to Rupanuga -- Honolulu 2 February, 1975:
BTG is not meant for advertising ISKCON Food Relief.
Letter to Jayadvaita -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:
From now on, include one chapter from Srimad-bhagavatam in every issue of Back to Godhead magazine. You can start with the 1st chapter of the 1st canto and continue. You should reproduce the chapter as it is in the book, in other words, with the devanagari script, word meanings, transliteration, etc. If a chapter is very very big, it can be given in two issues.
Letter to Damodara -- Honolulu 26 May, 1975:
Regarding your writing, this is very much wanted, but I think that it is better if you write articles, not books. Write articles that can be printed in our Back to Godhead magazine. That will be very nice.
Letter to Professor Stillson Judah -- Honolulu 3 June, 1975:
Since I have come to Honolulu from Melbourne, I got the opportunity to read your nice book "Hare Krishna and the Counterculture" with profound interest. I am also very much obliged to you as you have shown to me so much mercy, even by illustrating my photograph instead of your goodness. The presentation has been done just fit for ready by all scholars and educationists. If you so permit I can ask my assistants to publish some important extracts from your work in our magazine BTG for benefit of all our readers.
Letter to Jagannatha-suta -- Honolulu 12 June, 1975:
I have received the new BTG magazine. It is very nice issue. Having the Indian Rathayatra on the cover and the American one on the inside makes a good contrast.
Letter to Dinanatha -- Honolulu 14 June, 1975:
I am enclosing herewith one Back to Godhead magazine specifically dedicated to describing the Rathayatra activities.
Letter to Ravindra Svarupa -- Denver 27 June, 1975:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 22, 1975 with enclosed clipping. It is a very important article. The magistrate has given a very good judgement in our favor and a very good certificate that this is bona fide religion. I have given the clipping for publishing in our "Back to Godhead" magazine.
Letter to Brijratan S. Mohatta -- Berkeley 17 July, 1975:
Enclosed please find herewith a copy of our latest issue of Back to Godhead containing the selection from Srimad-Bhagavatam as you had kindly suggested. We are making it a regular feature each month.
Letter to Radhavallabha -- Berkeley 20 July, 1975:
In the next issue of "Back to Godhead" you should put one note of thanks to Mr. Alexander Kulik of Laguna Beach California. This boy has kindly paid BBT Dollars 25,000.00 for publication of books.
Letter to Dinanatha N. Mishra -- Laguna Beach 26 July, 1975:
I am sending herewith a copy of our monthly paper "Back to Godhead" in which you will find the mode of translating of Srimad-Bhagavatam. It begins after page 14. It will give you an idea in which way we want to translate.
Letter to Dr. Y. G. Naik -- Toronto 7 August, 1975:
Everywhere we have got temples we distribute prasadam especially to the poorer men. I am enclosing one issue of our "Back to Godhead" magazine which contains photos of our prasadam distribution starting on page 12. This prasadam distribution is going on all over the world.
Letter to Jagannatha-suta -- Vrindaban 26 August, 1975:
I have received the new issue of "Back to Godhead," No. 9 and it is done so nicely. It is all very pleasing to me, and I thank you all for this service. The printing I think is actually better than the Japan printing. Long, long ago when I was alone I was thinking of printing like this, but there was no way to do it. Now you American boys and girls are helping me, so I thank you in this regard. I pray to Krishna for your continued enthusiasm in spreading Krishna consciousness.
Letter to Giriraja -- Vrindaban 26 August, 1975:
I am enclosing a copy of the latest "Back to Godhead", and I am requesting that in your Janmastami Festival meeting you read the article under "ISKCON NEWS" about the Ratha Yatra Festival.
Letter to Alanatha -- Vrindaban 1 September, 1975:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 22, 1975 with enclosed copies of your new Swedish Back To Godhead magazine. It is very nicely done. The printing and paper are very good. You have published on the first page the first photograph of my preaching in America. It is an historical photograph. Even though I was alone completely in a foreign country, still I was not appearing forlorn. I was confident, that can be seen in my photograph.
Letter to Alanatha -- Vrindaban 1 September, 1975:
Now I am requesting Hamsaduta and Bhagavan to make vigorous propaganda in Eastern Europe. In the latest issue of Back to Godhead English edition there is my discussion about Marx philosophy. It will appeal to any sane man.
Letter to Hamsaduta, Bhagavan -- Vrindaban 1 September, 1975:
I have received one letter from Alanatha das Brahmacari, President of ISKCON Stockholm, in which he reports that there is much interest in Krishna consciousness in Eastern European countries. He is recommending two boys for initiation from Czechoslovakia. I do not know the language otherwise I would have gone there. So I am requesting you to make vigorous propaganda in Eastern Europe. In the latest English BTG there is my discussion about Marx philosophy which will appeal to any sane gentleman. This should be read and translated.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Vrindaban 7 September, 1975:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 29, 1975 with enclosed copy of Italian Back to Godhead.
Letter to Jagannatha-suta -- Ahmedabad 26 September, 1975:
am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15, 1975 with the enclosed copies of the latest issue of BTG No. 10. I can say that each issue you produce is an improvement on the previous one. This is very good. You are doing it enthusiastically. For the article of my touring they have selected the photos very nicely. We can talk with anyone. Marx. Darwin, all professors and politicians, we can challenge and defeat them. Our philosophy is so perfect. So go on exposing them, that is the purpose of Back to Godhead paper, to expose their materialistic ideas as all nonsense and present the real philosophy that Lord Krsna gives. This is the real knowledge.
Letter to Sacimata -- Bombay 12 November, 1975:
So I understand that you are doing the layouts for the German Back to Godhead and also the Swedish Back to Godhead. The Swedish Back to Godhead was very nice. I am very much appreciative. What I suggest for you is to translate articles that have been written by myself or the devotees as they are published in the English Back to Godhead because unless you are conversant with the philosophy, it will be difficult for you to write authoritatively.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Bombay 14 November, 1975:
The new French Back to Godhead is very nice.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Bombay 20 November, 1975:
I have received your telegram regarding the one million copies of Back to Godhead printed and also the Spanish Gita. This is solid work. Thank you very much.
Letter to Ramesvara Prabhu -- New Delhi 27 November, 1975:
The BTG No. 12 is also nice. In India the biggest circulated spiritual magazine is Kalyana printed by Gita press at 95,000 so you have far surpassed them, thank you, the magazine is very nice.
Letter to Tikandas J. Batra -- New Delhi 30 November, 1975:
I do not know where one could find copies of the old Back to Godhead started by me back in 1944 it is a long time ago. If you write to our Los Angeles center they may be able to send you some of the back issues of the more recent publications.
Letter to Gopiparanadhana -- New Delhi 2 December, 1975:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 20, 1975. Yes! You have done it very nicely. I thank you very much, so immediately it can be printed in BTG and then later on it can be published in book form. I thank you very much for your sincere efforts, please continue to work sincerely and Krishna will bless you more and more.
Letter to Ramesvara Prabhu -- Vrindaban 3 December, 1975:
Anyway, I was working writing books and publishing BTG alone, but I could not give the thing shape, so I decided to go to U.S.A. and now you all nice boys and girls have helped me so much, it is all the mercy of Krishna. Thank you very much.
Letter to Mark Phillips -- Vrindaban 4 December, 1975:
In Australia we have got our temples, consult the Back to Godhead magazine for the temple nearest you. Please visit the temple and take advantage of the pure spiritual atmosphere, this will immediately extinguish the burning fire of material suffering in your heart.
Letter to Sri Tikandas J. Batra -- Vrindaban 9 December, 1975:
In the beginning of publishing Back to Godhead I was printing with Sarasvati Press in Calcutta, but the others I cannot remember.
1976 Correspondence
Letter to Ramesvara:
Enclosed please find one book written by Harikesa Prabhu called, Spiritual Dialectism. Please first of all print it in Back to Godhead magazine and if the response is good it maybe made into a book along the lines of Svarupa Damodaras book, The Scientific Basis of Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Calcutta 12 January, 1976:
Please thank Jagannatha suta for the 10 copies of BTG. Thank you for printing the photo of the Mauritius meeting.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Calcutta 12 January, 1976:
Also, we received a letter from Ranadhira dasa regarding the request of Dr. Shyam Sundar das Brahmachari for complimentary subscription to BTG. Prabhupada said we should not correspond with him and not reply.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Mayapur 30 January, 1976:
This conversation can be published as a small pamphlet similar to the one published originally as the "Vedic Way". The photos can be used for the front and back covers. The letter from the Prof. Mr. Verdu, can also be included. You can also include some reviews from important professors on Caitanya-caritamrta. There should be an advertisement for Caitanya-caritamrta 1st Part _ pp.; 2nd Part _ pp.; 3rd Part _ pp.; Complete _ pp. It should be printed so that Temples can give to persons who offer small donations, even too small to give a BTG to. It will also impress all intelligent people, that our students can present our philosophy so nicely and authoritatively.
Letter to Jagannatha-suta -- Mayapur 1 February, 1976:
Thank you very much for the 10 copies of the latest issue No. 2 of Back to Godhead. It is very nicely done.
Letter to Satadhanya -- Mayapur 16 February, 1976:
It is nice that you are continuing to distribute BTG. If karmi dress is favorable, then go on with karmi dress. We have to execute missionary activities; dress is not fundamental.
Letter to Madhava -- Mayapur 17 February, 1976:
I am in due receipt of your letter and article entitled "Matter Comes from Life".
It is very nice and why not publish in BTG? It must be published in BTG. And you must also publish in other journals. That is our business. Let them protest or accept. If they protest, we will reply them again. If they accept, then that is victory. It must be recognized that we are not just a religious sect.
Letter to Sri Viswesha Tirtha Swami -- Vrindaban 10 April, 1976:
Yasodanandana Swami has written an article on Madhvacarya and Udupi and it has been submitted to my monthly journal Back To Godhead, which has a circulation of 10 lakhs copies monthly.
Letter to Jagannatha-suta -- Honolulu 29 May, 1976:
beg to acknowledge receipt of the latest issue of Back to Godhead magazine, Vol. II, no. 6. I am very pleased with the presentation and the articles of this issue. Thank you very much and continue to work very sincerely and Krishna will bless you.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 4 June, 1976:
The article from the French-Soir I have given to Ramesvara Maharaja for possible use in connection with Back to Godhead magazine.
Letter to Mr. Hunter -- Los Angeles 5 June, 1976:
I am enclosing one copy of our latest issue of Back-to Godhead magazine as you mentioned you have read some of our past issues.
Letter to B.R. Sridhara Maharaja -- Los Angeles 6 June, 1976:
Please find enclosed the latest edition of our Back-to-Godhead magazine.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- New Vrindaban 24 June, 1976:
Also, do not print the Back-to-Godhead magazine in English. First of all you organize Hindi BTG up to 100,000 copies, then you think of English. Don't bother too many things at a time.
Letter to Jagannatha-suta -- New Vrindaban 26 June, 1976:
I am in due receipt of the most recent issue of BTG issue #7, and I thank you very much.
Letter to Ranadhira -- Washington D.C. 5 July, 1976:
This is to certify that you should send the Back-to-Godhead magazine regularly to Sridhara Swami in Navadvipa as already requested. I am glad to see that you are now conscientiously executing your duty. Always check with me first before sending out any literature to persons who have not been specifically approved by me.
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- Valencay, France 7 August, 1976:
I am sorry to learn that you have become a little agitated regarding the publication of an article in our Back to Godhead magazine. It is certainly unpleasant, but the officers who publish the magazine do not know satyam bruyat priyam bruyat, in this material world only palatable truth should be spoken. Unpalatable truth should be carefully avoided.
Letter to Jagannatha-suta -- New Delhi 28 August, 1976:
I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 18, 1976 and the separate package containing ten Back to Godhead magazines. Thank you very much for them.
Letter to Jagannatha-suta -- New Delhi 28 August, 1976:
By the way, there has been some disturbance created by the publishing of a few comments on Vallabhacarya in Back to Godhead Vol. 10, No. 8, page 5, column 3, paragraph 2. Kindly avoid comments such as these in future publications.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Vrindaban 23 September, 1976:
Regarding the editorial policy of BTG, if the editorial board is not expert enough they should be changed.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrindaban 26 September, 1976:
Regarding the Fiji situation, your solution to amend the constitution is nice. Let Vasudeva become president. Your idea to sell BTGs, collect donations, hold kirtana and distribute prasada profusely, yes, do that.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrindaban 29 October, 1976:
What about that book Dialectical Spiritualism edited by Hayagriva? Also, the rejection by the BTG staff has somehow or other alienated Dr. Kapoor. You must carefully oversee which articles are being accepted for BTG.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Vrindaban 30 October, 1976:
I am not very enthusiastic about the Harmonist idea, but if you have to sell Back To Godhead for minimum $1.00 then do it, what can be done?
Letter to Vasudeva -- Vrindaban 3 November, 1976:
Your idea to sell BTGs, collect donations, hold kirtanas and distribute prasada profusely, yes, do that.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Vrindaban 7 November, 1976:
I have received the books you have sent. They are very nicely done. Thank you. But, I did not receive the BTG yet.
Letter to Syama Sundarji -- Vrindaban 15 November, 1976:
You have given me the credit of being the best disciple of Prabhupada. That is very kind of you, but I am just trying to serve him. Whatever success there is is due to his mercy. In my last meeting with him in Radha Kunda he advised me to print some books if I get money. I took it very seriously and by His grace we have now published my translations of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrta, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Upadesamrta, etc. to the extent of 84 books. You'll be surprised to know that these books and my magazine Back To Godhead are selling daily 5-6 lakhs of rupees in the foreign countries. Out of such proceeds I am bringing foreign exchange of not less than 10 lakhs per month for construction work in Bombay, Mayapur, Vrndavana, etc. So, this is all due to the blessings of Srila Prabhupada. I have no credit in this connection.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrindaban 24 November, 1976:
Today I have received the December issue of Back to Godhead. The interview with the London reporter is very important. This should be presented in the courts. It is 95% of the evidence we require to prove that Krishna Consciousness is genuine.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Hyderabad 2 December, 1976:
You write to say that we are getting good response from the latest issue of BTG. These testimonials should be presented in the court. Dharmadhyaksa's article is very nice. Such articles should be published. Take the psychologists opinion in writing. If somehow or other people chant, they'll be our men. So, somehow induce them to chant.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Bombay 27 December, 1976:
I am in due receipt of your telegram as follows: Christmas week book distribution in Los Angeles despite closed airport better than ever by your grace 112000 BTGS 8000 Gitas sold stop on invitation of governor Brown of California 50 devotees visited State mental institutions to help improve conditions and morale by giving religious message publicity very good Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. This is very good.
1977 Correspondence
Letter to Sri Govinda -- Orissa, Puri 1 February, 1977:
I am glad to hear you are enlivened at becoming editor of Back to Godhead magazine. This magazine must be edited very carefully. Nothing irresponsible should be printed, because in the future the articles in Back to Godhead will be taken as Vedic evidence. I am asking the GBC members to also concern themselves with the content of the magazine to assure that it meets the standards I am describing.
Letter to Swami Sri Radhey Baba -- Bombay 8 April, 1977:
I beg to thank you for your letter dated 4th April, 1977 along with the enclosed essay entitled "Back."
The essay is very good and I thank you for it. You have very nicely understood and described the meaning of "Back to Godhead." I am sending your article to the editor of our Back to Godhead Magazine in Los Angeles, Sri Satsvarupa Goswami, for publication.
Letter to Vasudeva -- Bombay 16 April, 1977:
I shall try to send you a special article by separate post in the absence of which you can print any of my shorter essays like "On Chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra" which you can take from by book or our Back To Godhead magazines.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 17 April, 1977:
Everyone has appreciated the substance of your book. This shows you are expert. Although you have quoted so many rascals, you have not become polluted nor has your book. Therefore I have sent you to Los Angeles for being the editor of Back To Godhead. Stick to your principles and be Krsna conscious.
Letter to Charles (Krsna Balarama) -- Hare Krsna Land ,Bombay, India 29 April, 1977:
Your letter is so nice that I have asked that it be published in our Back to Godhead magazine. Thank you very much for your nice sentiments.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Bombay 29 April, 1977:
The letter which you have sent from the student, Charles, is wonderful. I have asked that it be published in our English Back To Godhead as well as in all of the Indian language Back to Godheads here in India. Charles' letter shows that he is very intelligent and has begun to understand our philosophy. It is very encouraging.
Letter to Ramesvara -- New Delhi 11 May, 1977:
Jayananda's death is glorious. It is very good that he had stated, what is the use of such a useless body, better to give it up. He has left his body very wonderfully, and he has been transferred to Vaikuntha. I have already sent a condolence letter for publication in Back To Godhead. Everyone should follow the example of Jayananda. I am very proud that I had such a nice disciple. If possible Jayananda's picture should be hung in the ratha of Lord Jagannatha, and in all of our temples a day may be set aside for holding a festival in his honor, just as we do on the disappearance day of the other great Vaisnavas.
Letter to VARIOUS -- Unknown Place Unknown Date:
Now you have left the Hong Kong temple and no one is remaining there. Of course, it may be, as you say, strictly a city for doing business and no one is interested in Krsna Consciousness seriously. But still it is one of the most important cities of the world, so do not neglect it completely, that will be discredit. I have very, very much appreciated the Chinese BTG, that is a great victory for us. So far I know, no one else Indian spiritual movement has produced such literature in Chinese language. That is a big credit for you. And you have mixed with the Chinese people and they have purchased, there is good response, so why we are leaving that place?
Letter to Inquirer -- Boston Unknown Date:
For further understanding of this religious process, I would recommend that you read our three books, namely Sri Isopanisad, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and Easy Journey to Other Planets. When you have finished them, you can read Srimad-Bhagavatam and Teachings of Lord Caitanya. Besides these we have many other books and our Back to Godhead magazines, in which we fully describe this religion only. So please read them one after another, and whenever there is a question you may write to me, and I shall be very glad to answer you as far as possible.
| Page Title: | BTG (Letters, 1972 - 1977) |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti, Kanupriya, Rishab |
| Created: | 17 of May, 2010 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=185 |
| No. of Quotes: | 185 |