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Editor (Letters)

Correspondence

1947 to 1965 Correspondence

Letter to Sri Biswambhar Goswami -- Shanti Kutir, Vrindaban 25 December, 1956:

Sri Radha Vinode Ji Mandir

33, Ananda Ghat.

Goswami Abhay Charan Bhaktivedanta

Editor.-"BACK TO GODHEAD".

Revered Sri Goswami Ji,

Kindly accept my respectful obeisances. I have come to Vrindaban to see you specially on some important mission.

The attention of Government is now turned to the side of reforming the religious activities of Indian sadhus and Sannyasis and they are now going to enact some statutes in this connection. Of course nothing is possible without the sanction of the Supreme Will of Sri Krishna but still man-made laws must have defects as the lawmakers are deficient in four primary principles of a conditioned soul.

Letter to BTG Friend -- (Mathura U.P.) Dated as Postmark:

Tridandi GoswamiResidence:

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami 1/859 Keshi Ghat

Editor: Back to Godhead P.O. Vrindaban

My dear friend,

Please accept my hearty greetings. I beg to inform you that a few copies of the "BACK TO GODHEAD" papers including the current and latest one are dispatched herewith to your address, and I shall request you to go through them with attention.

This paper is devoted to the cause of saving the human being from becoming an animal again. The unrest of the world is not created by God, but it is so done by the misgiven mind of the sensuous man. You cannot bring in peace and prosperity simply by material activities. You have to attain to the standard position of real life. The reality of life does not depend on the temporary body and the flickering mind, but it is transcendental to all such material conceptions.

Letter to Members -- Bombay:

THE LEAGUE OF DEVOTEES INC.

Under Societies Act No. XXI 1860

Editor: "Back to Godhead"

Founder Secretary: Goswami Abhay Charan Bhaktivedanta.

Bombay Office: 93, Narayan Dhuru St. Bombay-3.

Dated as post mark.

On the Supreme Order of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj, I beg to inform you that it is now high time to revive the divine consciousness of mankind, the people in general, modern leaders, philosophers, and religionists - considering the deteriorated world situation in every respect.

Letter to Members -- Bombay:

May good counsel prevail upon you. Please read the current issue of the paper which is donated by an enlightened soul and follow the example for your as well as the world's good.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours faithfully,

Goswami Abhay Charan Bhaktivedanta

Editor: Back to Godhead and Founder Secretary The league of Devotees

Letter to Sri Padampat Singhania -- Kanpur 7 May, 1957:

In the same way we have to combine the different forces of Sociology in men, money, intelligence and field work to make the spiritual movement a grand success. If we do not do that we shall be failing in our duty to serve the complete whole. No partial service or temporary benefit can lead us to perfection. The world is mad after such temporary benefit and partial service and it is our duty to change the face altogether by an authorized spiritual movement. The other day I was very glad to hear your ideas about it and in our next meeting I wish to say some thing about it as I have realized. Hope you are well. With my regards.

Yours sincerely,

Goswami Abhay Charan Bhaktivedanta

Editor—"BACK TO GODHEAD."

Letter to Chief-Justice Sri M.C. Chagla -- Bombay 20 February, 1957:

I may introduce hereby my humble self as the editor of a fortnightly Theistic periodical and copies of the same are sent to your Lordship for your kind perusal. I came to Bombay from Vrndavana to see Sri Munshi on the same mission of going back to Godhead, because without this there is no solution of any problem, the world is now facing.

Letter to Visitors' Book -- Delhi 18 September, 1960:

At last I must thank Sriman Hari Bhaktanudas Sri Krishnaji Sharma for his kindly providing me with a place for conducting my activities in the service of the Lord and without his help in this way it would have been an impossible task for me to start the paper Back-to-Godhead. I am waiting for the inauguration of the Bhagavata class proposed to be held in the temple daily.

I am in the service of the Lord

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Editor, Author, & Preacher in Transcendental Science

1967 Correspondence

Letter to Sar Maharaja -- San Francisco 11 March, 1967:

Wordings of the certificate: "This is to certify that His Holiness Tridandi Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swamiji Maharaja is a bona fide disciple of my Spiritual Master On Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Goswami Prabhupada. We have highly appreciated his publication Srimad-Bhagavatam in our Sajjan Tosani Patrika (Monthly Magazine) in June 1963. Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta was the Editor of the above magazine while the paper was started from Delhi. Subsequently he has accepted the renounced order of life (Sannyasam) from His Holiness Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnan Kesava Maharaja the Founder President of the Gaudiya Vedanta Samity in 1959. He is therefore bona fide Preacher in the line of disciplic succession from Lord Caitanya Who preached the cult of Krishna Consciousness in India about 481 years ago. We all godbrothers of Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami in India are very much pleased to learn that he is executing the mission of our Spiritual Master in the Western countries even in his good old age. We wish all success for him in his great and noble attempt.

Sd/——————

(Bhakti Saurabha Bhaktisar Maharaja)

President & Acarya."

Kindly send this certificate by return of post and oblige. Thanking you in anticipation.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- New York 5 May, 1967:

NOTE: If you want to come here for 2 or 3 days it will be a very welcome suggestion. So we can talk together about our future programs, and it will be very nice. Hayagriva wants to hear from you. He wants that you should join his Editorial Department but he will only use you for Iskcon __ of which he is very __.

Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- New York 20 July, 1967:

Therefore it is a need that this movement must be spread all over this country. It is glorious for India and glorious for Hindu Religion. Please therefore fully cooperate with me. For the present, at least two of my disciples must come to India to assist me there both for the sake of my health and for the editorial work of Srimad-Bhagavatam. I request you therefore instead of free passage to me, please allow one of my chief disciples, Sriman Hayagriva Brahmacari, (Mr. Howard Wheeler M.A.), free passage to India and another disciple, who takes my personal care, half-fare. For future you may consider later on.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Vrindaban 29 August, 1967:

As you are devoted already to the service of the Lord, without any personal consideration, you are always sannyasa at heart. Now if you can get some money for our cause of K.C. I think it will be a great service. Furthermore so far as kirtana is concerned, there is no possibility of stopping it in any circumstance. Wherever you accept service you can also organize a center very nicely. A teacher's position is always influential; so your sincere effort for kirtana may be followed by some of your students and co-workers. This means that your sincere service will be utilized more fruitfully among educated people. At the same time your good editorial work will also continue, so I think you may accept a position like that.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- San Francisco 23 December, 1967:

I also do not like too much editorial work. This too much editorial work on Gitopanisad has created some misunderstanding between the editorial staffs. Anyway, in future, one man should edit it and be sufficient for our printing. And I do not want that Lord Caitanya's Teachings should be edited again and typed again and waste time in that way. I have also informed Rayarama of this, and you can also inform him like this. The book should be printed immediately without any waste of time. That is my desire.

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 29 December, 1967:

Regarding Hayagriva and Kirtanananda, if they come again we should accommodate them and should not continue the misunderstanding that has been engineered. I think Hayagriva is anxious in having his name printed in the publication of Gitopanisad. I do not have any objections that his name may be mentioned as one of the editors helping in the editing of Gitopanisad, just to encourage him and keep him in our camp, in case that he may come back and accept our philosophy and resume his editing talent. He has committed a blunder, but just so that he may be encouraged to come back you may mention his name also along with Rayarama's. He is not so convinced of his impersonalist philosophy. It is only due to Kirtanananda's influence that he has left us.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1968:

I am very sorry that Satyavrata has left us on some petty sentimental thing. Please ask him to come back and excuse me if I have struck his sentiment. I think he should be permanently on the editorial board and you can give him any serious engagement as you please. He may be replaced in the place of Hayagriva if he is not going to join us. Recently I received one letter from Hayagriva and I replied it promptly. The thing is, everyone of us should think as servant of Krishna. In the service of Krishna there may be sometimes transcendental competition but there cannot be any disruption. Please call Satyavrata and give him serious engagement as he likes to take. He is a good soul and he must be satisfied.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1968:

I wanted Teachings of Lord Caitanya to be immediately printed, therefore I said that it may not be delayed by further editorial work, but if you think that it needs further editorial work, please do it through Satyavrata, and forthwith prepare the manuscript ready for printing.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1968:

You will be glad that two parts of Srimad-Bhagavatam is already in the press in India, and I have sent money for purchasing the paper. In my opinion the Bhagavatam work should be immediately resumed. I am preparing tape recordings and sending them to Satsvarupa for typing, and after his typing, the copies may be edited, either by you or by Satyavrata, or combinedly, as you think best. And immediately final copy should be submitted for printing in India, one after another. In future, if MacMillan or any other company, takes our publication work, it is well and good, but at least one edition should be printed without further delay. Kindly think over this matter and chalk out program for progressive work. I say once more that both you and Satyavrata may take up this editorial work. I shall be glad to hear also about your health and how you are feeling now about your appetite and general health. And I hope you are well.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Los Angeles 15 January, 1968:

I think Rayarama is doing work in that spirit and his recent publication of several booklets and Back to Godhead and a calendar are all first class proof of his sincerity of service. Anyway, when I started Back to Godhead, it was my intention that your academic career and Rayarama's sincere service would be a good combination; unfortunately, I do not know why, you do not agree with one another. To me, English language is undoubtedly a foreign language, and I thought your combination of editorship will help me a great deal. Anyway, whatever is done is done. I wish that the misunderstanding created at the present moment may be mitigated by mutual cooperation and we can start fresh with renewed energy for service of the Supreme Lord. I think you will agree with me.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 18 January, 1968:

Bhagavad-gita is nearing completion—I heard this before I started from India. The editing has been too much delayed. Now I request you to come here for a week with the full manuscript so that I can see it personally, along with you, and finish the editorial work, within a week. Even after signing the contract, if the manuscript is not submitted, it is regrettable. If it is not inconvenient for you, somehow or other, it will be better if you come here for one week absolutely for this purpose so that we can finish this job without further delay. If need be, it can be retyped also here. We have got two nice girl typists. I wished that the editorial department should be combinedly worked but it has not been successful. You are overloaded with so many works therefore it is being delayed; I can understand this. Therefore, I wish that you may come here for a week, suspending all other business and finish this Bhagavad-gita in my presence.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- San Francisco 23 March, 1968:

My future contemplation is to have tours all over the world for 6 months, and sit down in a nice place for the balance 6 months, for training boys and girls as well as editing our publications. You consult with Brahmananda and he may consult with Mr. Kallman how this program may be given real shape. But I think this program will be solid one for propagating our Krishna Consciousness all over the world. And in spite of New York City's so many faults, I have got a natural inclination to make my headquarters in N.Y.C. Most probably I am going to get my permanent visa, from your government, and in that case, I want a very nice place to stay in N.Y., and make it my permanent headquarters for editorial office, as well as training Sankirtana party and preachers.

Letter to Rayarama -- San Francisco 23 March, 1968:

You should take BTG as your life and soul. Your work for BTG is first and foremost above all. If you do not find any time for other things, there is no objection, but I want to see that you make BTG a successful magazine like Life magazine or Illustrated Weekly of India. I am very much ambitious of the progress of the paper, and you can use your discretion how to do it. You are at liberty to do it with full power of attorney. So far discussions of political affairs in BTG, it is not a very good suggestion. But if you can present political affairs in spiritual light, as I wrote some articles in the original BTG in the matter of political divisions of India, and catastrophes thereof. That requires a very thorough understanding of the whole situation, and if you can do this, it will be a great service. I wanted therefore a combined editorial board. Unfortunately, you have to do everything yourself. For this work I think you will have to invite cooperation from others who may help you. Anyway, BTG must be improved to the fullest extent, because it is the backbone of our society. Think over it, and do it nicely as far as possible, and if necessary, you can stop any other activities.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- San Francisco 9 April, 1968:

I thank you very much for your letter dated 4/6/68, and have noted the contents. So far your being given work, there is no need for you to feel concern; you are already helping on Srimad-Bhagavatam, and permanently you can do so. So you are certainly included as worker and editor for Srimad-Bhagavatam already.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Montreal 14 July, 1968:

Regarding Easy Journey to Other Planets: You can inquire from Mukunda das if he is going to print it or not. If not, then you can do it because you have now some money and spend for its publication. And regarding editorial work, I shall send you some manuscripts very soon.

Letter to Kirtanananda, Hayagriva -- Montreal 23 August, 1968:

Yes, Rayarama is trying his heart and soul to improve the quality of Back To Godhead, so this department should be exclusively managed by him, he has devoted his everything for this Back To Godhead department. I have asked also Janardana to join the editorial department of publication, and he will do translation work in French, of all our literatures, and similarly Syamasundara may help in translating all the literatures in Germany, and I am arranging to take the mimeograph machine from New York, into Montreal, so that Janardana and other boy, Dayala Nitai, who is French Canadian, they can immediately issue, a French edition of Back To Godhead.

Letter to Aniruddha -- Seattle 27 September, 1968:

Regarding my going to Los Angeles: I can go at any time, but I think if you are serious to call me you can do so by the middle of October. I think that will be nice. Now, my plan is that personally I shall try to retire from active participation, but I want a place where I can live with at least 15 devotees engaged in editorial work, recording work, photographic work, painting work, etc., so that I may prepare materials for the preaching party who will go with all these paraphernalia and preach Krishna Consciousness all over the world. If you think that you can help me in this respect then it may be I can make Hollywood as my headquarters. In the meantime, I have received letter from Hawaii, and it appears that a good center can be opened there. So let us organize all the centers which are already opened. And until we are fully organized, all these places are fully organized, we shall not make any more attempts.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 7 November, 1968:

I have received a very nice letter from England, sent to Mukunda, by an Indian gentleman named Laksmidasa. If it is possible, maybe you can make an editorial column, with letters to the editor or to our various centers, and use it in that way. It is very nice letter and I would like to have it printed in our magazine.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Jagannathan Prabhu -- Los Angeles 25 January, 1969:

I beg to thank you very much for your sending me the copies of your books ____ and your letter dated January 20, 1969. I have noted the contents very carefully. I have immediately upon receipt handed over the books to my editorial assistants, and I shall duly inform you about their opinion for publishing them in this country. I think it may take at least one month to let you know their decision. I have received news from Vancouver that our godbrother Sadanandaji Swami (formerly brahmacari Earnest Schulze) who is in Germany now has enquired from a friend about my address, and he wants to meet my disciples in our German Hamburg center. I do not know his address, but I am expecting his letter very soon. When I hear from him I shall let you know.

Letter to Jagannatham Prabhu -- Los Angeles 8 February, 1969:

Regarding your books, the editorial assistants and myself do agree there is no difference of our Sampradaya Siddhanta. Now we have only to see how these books will be sellable in this country. The best thing will be if you can kindly send more copies of each book, and we can try to sell them in our different centers. If there is good response, we can think of republishing them. Certainly to send the books by air mail is prohibitive, but you can send them by surface mail in different batches to our different centers of which a list of addresses is found in the copy of the letter addressed to Tirtha Maharaja.

Letter to Sivananda -- Los Angeles 13 February, 1969:

Regarding the draft, I think if you place yourself as my student for becoming a future Ordained Minister of Religion, there will be no draft problem. We are printing so many books, already we have got four or five, so if the government is convinced that you are studying these theistic literatures under my guidance, because I am admitted as Ordained Minister of Religion, then you can be classified in the 4-D section, qualifying you to be a student of religious ministership, and there will be no problem from the draft board. So in the future, when your services are called for in New Vrndavana I think I will be able to give you all protection. But for the time being you have got great responsibility to organize the Hamburg center as far as possible. I think you should make the board of management for your center as follows: President; Sivananda das Brahmacari, Treasurer and Secretary; Krishna das Brahmacari, Editor of German BTG; Uttama Sloka, Superintendent of press; Jaya Govinda das Brahmacari.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Los Angeles 20 February, 1969:

Another problem is that Rayarama has become sick so will it be possible for you to take care of Back to Godhead as one of the editors? As joint editor as you were formerly.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 20 February, 1969:

My letterhead is already sent back to you. I hope that by now you have sent to Janardana the Bhagavad-gita manuscript. At last I may inform you that if you are thinking of transferring your department to San Francisco, I have no objection, but before you do so please come here to Los Angeles first. Then you may either remain here or proceed to New Vrindaban, San Francisco, Seattle, or Sante Fe as you think is best for you to take rest there. Also, regarding another editor to work as co-editor, I wish to invite Hayagriva to again become joint editor.

Letter to Rayarama -- Hawaii 6 March, 1969:

You wanted one assistant editor, and I can understand that you may feel inconvenience with Hayagriva, but would you like to have as your assistant editor, Gaurasundara? So he can help you in editing work even from such distant place. But the difficulty is that he is working here to maintain the establishment. I have advised Govinda dasi to think of this and he may write you.

Letter to Isana, Vibhavati -- Hawaii 8 March, 1969:

Your poetry is very nice, and I am sending the copy to our editor of Back To Godhead for publishing it conveniently.

Letter to Advaita -- Hawaii 16 March, 1969:

So if you are confident our press can now be successfully run; if you are confident that now you can conduct our press, just to print our books and magazines with the help of your other God-brothers, just try to think over the matter very seriously. And when we meet together next in April, we shall finally decide about this. If we have got our own press then we shall print at least four books yearly, and 50,000 magazines every month. Then you will have ample opportunity for printing Krishna Consciousness literature. So we have now fully equipped staff, editorial, printers, binders, and managers, and Krishna will be financier. So I think there is no more scarcity of anything and let us begin the job as soon as possible. You just consult amongst your God-brothers and I shall be glad to know how much money you can spare for the purchase of a nice press and other equipments. So I think there is possibility of asking Hayagriva for acquiring the balance money. I am also very glad that you have approved New Vrindaban as the right site for our activities, and printing work, and that will be very nice thing.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Hawaii 18 March, 1969:

So far I understand, Nara Narayana will arrive and I shall send also Vamanadeva. Most probably Vamanadeva and Murari will go there so you will have ample hands to construct buildings. In the meantime, when I go there we shall do things according to plan and with the help of these boys who are our carpenters. My ambition is that we shall have all editorial staff, all artisans, and conduct our press there to print at least four books yearly and 50,000 copies of BTG.

Letter to Rayarama -- Hawaii 20 March, 1969:

Your letter dated March 11, 1969 is in hand, and I have noted the contents. regarding Hawaii: Certainly it is very nice place, the climate is milder and there is much fresh air from the ocean and sunshine, and the sceneric position is also beautiful. I would have immediately developed a colony for press operation, but unfortunately there is no facility for conducting a press here at present. But so far I can think, your editorial staff must be situated where we have got our own press. I do not know whether it is Krishna's desire that we should start our press immediately—but the circumstances give me to understand that we must start our press immediately.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Hawaii 27 March, 1969:

Regarding the publication work, and editorial matters: I shall definitely settle it up as soon as I go to New York.

Letter to Rayarama -- San Francisco 2 April, 1969:

I am glad to learn that you are trying to work out things with Hayagriva. I have advised him that he may come also as co-editor. In your previous letter you wanted that the final words in the management of Back To Godhead will rest on one person, either on you or on Hayagriva. I think that for management it is better to have two heads than one. But even there will be two heads, I still wish that you shall continue as the managing editor as you are doing now. Naturally, the final decisions will rest upon you. And if there is actually any controversy, I think there will not be, then I am always at your service. In a recent letter from Hayagriva, I understand that he is feeling little disappointment because there was no invitation from your side. I think now you shall invite him and work jointly as you were doing before. I am still sanguine that my decision in the beginning about you and Hayagriva working as editors for Back To Godhead was very appropriate. I wish to see that both of you, being so intelligent and sincere devotees, shall work together, and then Krishna will help us to propagate this Sankirtana Movement magazine so nicely.

Letter to Sivananda -- New York 13 April, 1969:

I am very glad to receive your Bengali letter, and I hope; you will excuse me that I am replying you in English, because it saves much of my time. I have already advised the editor of Back To Godhead to send you copies of the paper regularly. The subscription fee is $5.00 per 12 issues, and you can send the exchange to the following address: ISKCON PRESS, 504 East 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10003. Please include your distinct name and address, so you will get the paper regularly.

Letter to Rayarama -- Columbus, Ohio 17 May, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 14, 1969, and I have received a similar letter from Brahmananda also that you are finding some difficulty in keeping pace regularly with the routine work. My advice to you under the circumstances is that at least for one hour you must all go to have Sankirtana outside on the streets or in the park. That is your life and soul, first business. The next business is completing the chanting of 16 rounds every day. The next business is your editing, and if you find extra time, then you can attend the temple ceremonies. Otherwise you can stop these activities, but outdoor kirtana, your editing work and chanting of 16 rounds must be done. Outdoor kirtana must be done, even at the cost of suspending all editorial work. That is your first and foremost business. Temple worship is not so important. If need be, the whole temple can be locked, but the outdoor kirtana cannot be stopped.

Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- New Vrindaban 25 May, 1969:

There is sufficient land for building great temples and houses for devotees. There is pasturing land, and sufficient grass and vegetables for the grazing of cows. I am glad to learn that you have already translated the foreword of Bhagavad-gita, and you have already sent it to Hamburg. The boys there are working very hard, and recently they have sent me some newspaper cuttings describing about their Sankirtana activities. They are expecting your arrival there at any moment. Jaya Govinda has got some experience of layout work, and when you go there you should do it jointly. Until then there is no need of corresponding with him about layout, and thus delay matters. I have already informed them that when you are there you will be the chief editor, and your name should be mentioned as editor of the paper. The boys there are very submissive, and I am sure when you go there everything will be done in nice cooperation.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- New Vrindaban 1 June, 1969:

Your idea of using the Moose Hall is also very nice. During the Rathayatra Ceremony, you invite Mrs. Sumitra Sarkar, who last year reported our Rathayatra Ceremony to India. She is the daughter of the editor of Jugantar, an important paper in Calcutta. I think you should invite her in some Los Angeles Festival also. Her present address is: Barnes 3/G, Escondido Village, Standford, California 94305. If you keep good relationship with this lady, she can help us reporting nicely about our activities. If our Los Angeles people see her for reviewing our books in their Indian papers, that will be also nice. Her great-grandfather, Mahatma Sisir Kumar Ghosh was a great devotee of Lord Caitanya, and their whole family is in favor of Sankirtana Movement. So if you can establish a little intimacy with this lady, she can help us in many ways.

Letter to Vrndavanesvari -- New Vrindaban 6 June, 1969:

I thank you very much for your letter dated "Victoria Day", and I have noted the contents with pleasure. I have received letters from the Hamburg devotees, and they appear to be very much jubilant to know that you will be arriving on June 27 at 9:30 am. I am also very also very glad that you will be prepared to go there. In my previous letter to Mandali Bhadra, I already informed him that he will act as the editor of the German Back To Godhead. So when you go please set up everything in a cooperative mood. The workers there are very sincere, and upon your joining them, they will be very much encouraged. I am also glad to learn that you are enjoying reading the book, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and now both you and your husband have to preach these teachings of Lord Caitanya in the European countries. So please read our books very carefully, and as soon as there is some question you can ask me. In the future I hope that Mandali Bhadra will translate this book into the German language.

Letter to Gaurasundara -- New Vrindaban 17 June, 1969:

Please send all nice pictures of your activities to Hayagriva for publication in BTG. We have decided to give many pictures of our Sankirtana activities along with short descriptions. Hayagriva is now renovated to be the senior editor. You also should write articles as you have done before. Your articles are very much appreciated by me, so you write them, not only about Sankirtana, but also on our philosophy. But send immediately pictures to Hayagriva of your Sankirtana activities. Thanking you again for your letter. Hope you are well.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 29 June, 1969:

There are two important articles lying with Hayagriva: one interview talks with Ginsberg, and my old homage address to my Guru Maharaja. I think you already have this last one. These are to be published, along with pictures, as many as possible, of our Sankirtana activities and descriptions. From your statement, it appears that you do not expect to do anything with BTG after #29, because it is in the hands of he (Brahmananda). I cannot follow what you mean by this. Everything is Krishna's business. It is not my business, nor Brahmananda's, nor Hayagriva's. It is the business of Krishna, and we want to serve Him in the best way. I wanted to save the monthly expenditure of $600 for some other business, but that does not mean that you shall cease to work as one of the editors of BTG. You say that much of your time will be engaged in earning money, but that does not mean you have to cease your service to Krishna. You are praying for Krishna's blessings in order to serve me better, but when Krishna speaks through me, you hesitate to accept the words. I do not know why you should work at all if you want to remain brahmacari. Here is an ideal brahmacari with me. He works day and night with me. Why don't you become a brahmacari like him and come here? One who is a householder, he has to work because he has to maintain a wife and children at home. But for a brahmacari, why should he take the botheration of working simply for the matter of satisfying the belly? So far as belly satisfaction is concerned, that is already arranged by Krishna. Krishna is supplying food to the birds and beasts, so why should He not supply a brahmacari? Food is not a problem.

Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 29 June, 1969:

So my advice to you is that either you become a regular householder, giving 50% of your earnings to Krishna, 25% for family, and 25% for savings, or else you strictly follow the principles of brahmacari life. A brahmacari has nothing to do except serve his Spiritual Master. That is the injunction of the Bhagavata. A brahmacari is supposed to work as a menial servant of the Spiritual Master, and whatever collection he gets, it becomes the Spiritual Master's property, not the brahmacari's. That is real brahmacari life. If a brahmacari earns money for his sense gratification, that is not brahmacari life. Better one should become householder and live peacefully. So far as work is concerned, you have got more than sufficient work with me. You have got a good qualification for editing literary works, and we have sufficient engagement for that purpose. Formerly, you were very much eager to transfer yourself from New York to Los Angeles because of considerations for your health. Now when I say that you may come here, there is a nice room for you, and work here day and night, I do not know what is the cause that you do not come. But still I request you that give up all other engagements, come here, and fully engage yourself in editorial work.

Letter to Yamuna -- Los Angeles 3 July, 1969:

So now we have got very great responsibility to spread this message all over the world, and in London you have got now a good chance to preach in the most important city of the world. Decorate the place very nicely, as far as possible. Your idea for holding the Vyasa Puja Ceremony in London on the 5th of September is very much encouraging. On the 4th September is Janmastami Day, and I have received one letter from Syamasundara in which he suggested that we should have our installation on that day. This is a good idea. On the 4th we open formally the temple, and on the 5th is my birthday, or your Vyasa Puja ceremony. So this idea is welcome. A special Vyasa Puja issue of BTG may be done, and you may open correspondence with Brahmananda, because publication of BTG will now be conducted by Iskcon Book Dept., and BTG will be under the supervision of Brahmananda and Hayagriva. Rayarama das Brahmacari is called by me to live with me here to engage in editorial work, so you may correspond with Brahmananda in this connection.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Los Angeles 12 July, 1969:

Regarding transferring the property to the society's name, I do not know the legal implications, but so far as I do know for the time being you are not the proprietor of the land; you are the lease-holder. The lease-holder cannot transfer his possession without arrangement with the real owner. So I think legally you cannot now transfer the property to Iskcon because I know it definitely that a lease-holder or a tenant cannot make any such arrangement with a subtenant or sublease-holder. If someone does so, it is not valid. So for the time being the idea of transferring may be deferred. Let it go on as it is. In the meantime you devote your attention for first-class editorial work, and try to manage things there how to keep the inmates peaceful. There is no use to create a pandemonium. Better to keep it under your personal management to keep it nicely for your editorial work. I do not wish that you should be disturbed. In the meantime you can negotiate with the owner of the other property, and if there are suitable terms, the society can purchase that property outright. Then there will be no question of transferring your present property to the society's name. You can go on saving taxes as you are now doing, and similarly there is no question of our society paying any taxes because we are tax-free.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 24 July, 1969:

The questions as put on Bhagavad-gita, Third Chapter, are very intelligent and I like it very much. I am very much anxious to hear about Rayarama. It is my confidential advice to you that if he feels any difficulties for money, you may discriminatingly help him, and he should continue as the managing editor. Full cooperation should be there between you and him. We simply wanted to save the money for some better utilization. Otherwise we have nothing to grudge against anyone.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 29 July, 1969:

I am so glad to learn that you have opened a separate savings account for your daily collections. I have received the transcription of tape #16. You are doing very nicely and improving your editorial capability. Krishna Consciousness is so nice, the more we execute it, the more we become advanced. Yes, I have not as yet received Giriraja's contribution to my book fund, and as you have said, the money can be deposited to my account.

Letter to Yoland -- Los Angeles 30 July, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 26 July, 1969 and your nice poems, and I have read everything carefully. The poems will be submitted to Hayagriva, the editor of Back To Godhead, for his consideration for publication. I am very pleased to learn that you are now living at the Montreal temple, and this association with devotees of Lord Krishna will help you to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. You have asked me, "Could you accept me as your student until eternity?" My reply is that you may discuss this matter with Jayapataka, who is in charge there, and if he agrees, then you may submit your beads to me through the mail. Also, there is some possibility that I will be going to Germany sometime in August, and in that case I will be stopping in New York. So if you are able to meet me in New York, then the ceremony could be performed there.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 19 August, 1969:

We are now growing in size, therefore, for general administration if you will act conjointly amongst the presidents, that will be a great relief for me. Besides that, you are doing editorial work of my books so you have to correspond directly with me. I never meant that about editorial work also being referred to Brahmananda. I understand that you had some meeting amongst the East Coast presidents of the centers, and I shall be glad to know how you decided to work. I have not heard anything about your joint decision.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Hamburg 27 August, 1969:

It is understood from different sources that Rayarama has written you a letter complaining that the charge of BTG has been taken from him without any justification. But the actual fact is that he was spending 600 dollars per month for maintenance of Iskcon Press with the result that the number of subscribers was only somewhere about 300. Most of the BTGs were being sold by our Sankirtana Party in Los Angeles. Anyway, the 600 dollars were to be saved for other useful purposes. Therefore, the staff engaged in Iskcon Press was dispersed, but Rayarama was there in his original position as managing editor. But since this expenditures was stopped, he is little bit sorry; so much so that he does not come regularly and practically he is inclined to give up our relationship. So I called him when I was in New York, but his attitude is different. I did not see him in the airport on my arrival or departure, neither did I see him at the function held on Sunday. So I think in the future you will have to take charge of managing BTG in consultation with Brahmananda when the press will be started in Boston. I have already decided to start the press, and I am glad to have your assurance that you will help in this respect, even with financial help.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Hamburg 30 August, 1969:

Regarding Hayagriva and Satsvarupa, I think they can become joint editors, and articles to be published in BTG may be jointly decided upon. In case of disagreement the matter should be referred to me, and I shall give the final decision. When Hayagriva comes here I shall talk with him in detail. So your idea of them working jointly is nice.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Hamburg 9 September, 1969:

Yes, I have received the Vyasa Puja book in due time, and it is very nicely set up. Yes, the date was wrong, but it doesn't matter. It has come out timely: that is excellent. Regarding introduction to Isopanisad, please let me know the deadline for me to send it. Don't bother about the items I asked you to send with Hayagriva. I have instructed Hayagriva to work as co-editor with Satsvarupa, and he is now completely a surrendered soul. So conjointly make the appearance of BTG very nicely. The front cover page should be a nicely painted picture. You write that Jadurani is now painting wonderful pictures, so pictures by either Jadurani, Muralidhara or Devahuti should be given on the front page. The present front page picture is not very attractive as they were in last issues. A first class picture should always be given on the front page.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Tittenhurst 28 September, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 23rd, 1969 along with the press proof copy of BTG #28. It is nice. Everyone here liked it. Simply the mistakes which you have already admitted may be corrected in the future. That is to say the headline should be broader and each page should mention the words "Back To Godhead". I think from next issue the editor's and co-editor's name should be mentioned: that is Hayagriva and Satsvarupa. At least officially there must be the editor's name there. I think that is required by the press act. You have received my letter dated 16th September, and I hope by this time you have made up my passbook in the bank. I am very much anxious to know the credit balance in my favor up to date. Regarding transferring my account to another branch, I think a simple letter to the present branch will be sufficient. When I transferred my account in the Bank of America from San Francisco to Los Angeles, I simply sent them one letter and everything was done. If you think that changing the branch is necessary, then I shall send them one letter on hearing from you. In the meantime, please let me know what is the correct credit balance in my favor.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Tittenhurst 28 September, 1969:

The composition which you have sent me, although it is incomplete, it appears to be nice. I do not find any mistake in the composition, but sometimes you have spelled Caitanya as Caitanya, and sometimes you have spelled it Caitanya. so why there should be two different spellings? On page #3 you will find this difference. Otherwise, I do not find any difficulty. Regarding Isopanisad, I have no books here with me, so I cannot actually refer to the book what is Mantra #9. This is the difficulty of editorial work. I do not know in the absence of the book how I can help you. But the way of English synonyms given by you on page #3, under heading "Sri Isopanisad English Synonyms, Invocation and Mantras I-V" is set up very nicely. If you follow this principle throughout in all our books, it will be very, very nice, super-excellent work. But if you sometimes refer me on my touring program, it will be difficult for me. Of course, after my return from Europe I am sitting down tight for book work, and then it will not be very difficult job for me if you refer any sentence for correction. In the meantime, I think you are doing nicely. Just pray Krishna and do your best.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- London 5 November, 1969:

Regarding BTG printing, I have already written to Brahmananda that this must be printed in our own press. So far as my books are concerned, I think there are materials for at least ten books which are ready for printing. Now all the manuscripts are with you. So now the editorial department is under you and Hayagriva, and you combinedly please get my books printed, one after another. I think the following management will be nice: I shall pay the book printing price; actual cost plus 10% maintenance charges. Then after the books are printed you will distribute them proportionately to different centers, and they will remit the price directly to me. Purusottama will keep accounts for that so that the responsibility will be lighter on your side. Besides that, if the books are distributed immediately after printing, without payment at first, the centers will be encouraged to stock them and sell them. I have consulted on this matter with Purusottama, and he says that the idea is right. Now you can give me your own opinion also. But continually all the Bhagavatams, Krishna, Nectar of Devotion, etc. must be published. After printing, some of them may be made softbound and some may be made hardbound, according to demand.

Letter to Gopala Krsna -- London 16 November, 1969:

The more you serve Krishna, the more you get better strength to serve Him. Please remember this valuable advice and you will find it very convenient for your progressive march. The BTG French edition is very nicely done. Even if our endeavor is not always successful, because it is done for Krishna, by nature it becomes nice. We have nothing to do with material considerations. Janardana came to see me about one fortnight ago, and he is also eager to do something in Paris, so be in correspondence with him. I am very glad to learn that Yasodanandana's name is given as the editor, and encourage this nice boy more and more. I have received your shawl duly and I have already acknowledged it. It is very nice. I am using it for my dress garments.

Letter to Advaita -- London 19 November, 1969:

I am very sorry to learn that our press is lying idle, and your remark in this connection that we have purchased the cart before the horse is appropriate. I have immediately asked Aravinda from Los Angeles, to go there for doing layout work. I have asked also Pradyumna why the composition work is going so slowly. I have received one letter from Satsvarupa also in this connection, so all the composition and layout work must now be centralized in the press. For editing, already Satsvarupa is there, and Hayagriva will send his editorial matters without any delay. The actual difficulty is composing and layout. Satsvarupa informs me that there is a girl, Palika Dasi, who is a good typist, and Satsvarupa also agrees to purchase another machine.

Letter to Pradyumna -- London 27 November, 1969:

We have already discussed about purchasing another machine. So far as Syama Dasi is concerned, I do not know how it will be possible for her to live alone without her husband. I think her husband also requires her help in so many ways. So I am not very much sure about Syama Dasi's moving to Boston. But you and Arundhati can do it immediately. I am also going there, so we shall sit down together and call also Hayagriva and Syama Dasi to hold a nice meeting of all the editors, printers, etc. We will chalk out a nice program so that our work may go on very smoothly without any impediments, and surely Krishna will help us. So far as I am concerned, I would have been very glad to stay with all the editors and press workers in my presence, but the only consideration is the climatic influence.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 8 January, 1970:

The proposal is very nice because I have got experience from the help of your husband and yourself how both of you are serviceable in my activities. You are very good secretary and your husband is good editor, so to keep myself under your care will certainly be a great boon. The only thing I am considering about staying in the mainland because the devotees in different centers here can see me if required more quickly then they can do so in Hawaii. So the things are not yet settled up. I am staying here in a house for which they are paying $600 rent. I think so much expenditure will be a kind of luxury for me because I am a Sannyasi, but at the same time a house like this is necessary for me because it is suitable for my working. Anyway, in the next summer, I have been invited to go to Japan and when it is fixed up, I shall start a little earlier and break my journey in Honolulu to stay with you for some days and see things practically.

Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 10 January, 1970:

Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Laksmimoni, and Jagadisa Candra who has written nice poetry which I am sending to the editors of Back to Godhead.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 23 January, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 22 January, 1970 along with the Daily Californian newspaper in which my letter regarding Krishna chanting has appeared. I am very glad to learn that the editor of the Daily Californian was very impressed with it and kindly printed it in its entirety. You kindly try to understand the purport of my letter and preach it vigorously.

Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- Los Angeles 3 February, 1970:

BTG articles are generally seen by the editors, and it is better that we stress on our own philosophy than to indulge in some hodge-podge philosophy which is basically unauthorized. In our present BTG publication we are trying to follow this policy.

Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 8 February, 1970:

The court case is very humorous, happy, and authoritative. The charge was "Chanting God's Name" for the welfare "of mankind." So what can be the charges? If a man is chanting God's Name for the welfare of mankind, how the learned judge can convict him with any charges? So he has done real justice by dismissing the case. This will be great evidence of our sincere activities and you can send copies to all the centers as well as to the editors of BTG for immediate printing. The copy which you have sent me I have redirected to India to the editor of "Kalyana" a very influential religious paper. Perhaps you know the Gita Press. So you can send me also a few copies more.

Letter to Jayadvaita -- Los Angeles 10 February, 1970:

I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated 5 February, 1970. It is very much encouraging to see you are a good and scrutinizing editor. May Krishna bless you.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 17 April, 1970:

In KRSNA chapter #87, on page 4, the last line, it is said, "known as budbuvasa, which is manifested by Govinda." I do not know what is this editing. The correct word is Bhurbhuvasvah as it is in the Gayatri mantra and everybody knows it. This "budbuvasa" is an extraordinary word, neither it is Sanskrit nor English, so how it has avoided the vigilance of so many editors? So if none of the editors knew this word, why was it pushed? There should be no such negligences like this, nothing uncertain should be pushed. Now what other discrepancies there may be like this? Or what is the use of such editing? Everything must be done very carefully and attentively.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 20 April, 1970:

P.S. There are some editorial mistakes in the blueprint of The Topmost yoga. I am giving herewith a note Pradyumna. Please send my Bengali small prayer book.

ACBS:db

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 20 April, 1970:

Another point is that there are some errors in the English also. On page 2 it should read ". . . decided to kill his sister, Devaki." but it has become sisters, plural. Then, what does it mean?: "The Lord's compromise was that He had Vasudeva propose . . ." This does not seem to be very clear or at least it is very awkward expression. So please see that the editors make a very careful final proofreading before printing the final copies.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 22 April, 1970:

Regarding the Topmost Yoga, in the blueprint there are many mistakes. I am pointing out some of them as follows:

Page 2 ". . . decided to kill his sister." not sisters, because only Devaki was there.

"The Lord's compromise was that He had Vasudeva propose to the brother-in-law . . ." This sentence is obscure. The actual fact is Vasudeva made a compromise and said to his brother-in-law, "such and such".

Then everywhere there is yogins, gosvamins, sannyasins, etc. in many places. The "n" is not required—that I have already informed Pradyumna.

On page 17 there is a word "enfuriated"; this is a spelling mistake, it should be "infuriated".

Then on page 48: "on the bank of the Ganges near Didbee". This is not "Didbee", it is "Delhi".

On page 49 there are so many "gosvamins," but there should be no "n."

In this way I have read the book sporadically, not very minutely. I think it should be gone through once more very carefully and all the mistakes that are still existing there should be corrected. If the books are printed with spelling mistakes and other mistakes, that will be a discredit for our publication. So please see that editorial work is done very nicely.

Have you got any information of the Prahlada pictures?* Purusottam got them here last year when I was living at Hayworth Avenue. I thought that the pictures were left here, but Dayananda has no information and nobody can tell where they are. So if you can say if it was returned to New York again, where is it now?

Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 24 April, 1970:

George's foreword as it was originally sent can be published with little editorial changes, but in no case can the quotation from Swami Vivekananda be placed in my book. You have already admitted in your letter dated 11th April that it hurts you to see this change, quoting a rascal like Vivekananda, so please let me know clearly what you want me to do. If you think that George's foreword will help the selling of the books, then it may be published as it was originally sent.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 30 April, 1970:

There is a gap of some transcriptions—tapes numbers 12 through 16, KRSNA, so please get them done. I shall be slow in making further tapes till I get them back. Please give this instruction to the editors.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 27 May, 1970:

Yesterday I received one very important magazine "Kalyana" from India in which the editor has described about our activities so nicely, but at the end it has been remarked whether in future the standard shall continue. Of course we are not very much concerned with the future; at least in our presence who are the floating members of this Society we should like to see things going on properly.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 28 May, 1970:

Recently I have received one "Kalyana" magazine in which our activities in the Western world have been very much appreciated. Especially they have appreciated my strong injunctions on the point of following the four prohibitive regulations. So after describing our activities, the editor has remarked in one place that things are going certainly very nicely at present, but it is God only Who knows how it will continue in the future. This means that the Indians, or the rigid followers of Vedic principles, are doubtful about my American and European students about their sticking to all these principles. So it is a God sent warning for us so that we may not deviate from the above mentioned two lines of action and thus become subject to criticism by the opposing elements.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 2 June, 1970:

So you have gone to Japan, make perfect arrangement for our printing work—BTG, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc., and let me peacefully write books. I wanted the help of an editor. In the present Krsna book everything is done nice, but there are many mistakes, but on the whole the work is nice. So if our books are regularly printed and the magazines are regularly distributed, and occasionally you visit the centers, that will be very nice program.

Letter to Yamuna -- Los Angeles 4 June, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 23rd April, 1970, with enclosed pictures of Lord Caitanya's Birthday procession as well as the Calcutta magazine section. I have immediately asked our magazine editors to publish the London pictures. This letter was mailed by ordinary surface mail, so it reached here just after one month. So in future send by aerogram or air mail.

Letter to Uddhava -- Los Angeles 9 June, 1970:

One of our friends, Sri Sarafji, Chief Editor of the "Godarsana" magazine, has requested some photographs for an article which is to be published in the "Godarsana." Please send therefore some negatives of pictures of Sankirtana, Deities, and some other pictures of our devotees and temples to the following address:

Sri Tarachand Saraf

Chief Editor: "Godarsana"

11-7 Kalakar Street

Calcutta-7, India

Please send these negatives by Air Other mail as soon as possible.
Letter to Yogesvara -- Los Angeles 19 July, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 13rd July, 1970, along with one poem which I have read and sent on to the editors of BTG. Some time back you sent another poetry which I have also sent to the editors; These poetics are nice, but now if you would write some articles for our BTG that will be even better. Now you have got some good understanding of our Krsna consciousness so you write it for publication.

Letter to Dr. Chakravarti -- Bombay 3 November, 1970:

Your tendency to give Srila Jiva Goswami the proper position a philosopher is very much appreciated. Some years back I attended a meeting in Calcutta wherein Pramathanath Trakvhusna, the learned Sanskrit scholar, was present. He said about Jiva Goswami very highly that there was no comparison with Jiva Goswami and any other philosophers of the world. Gaudiya Vaisnavism is very much proud of having such a great acarya as Jiva Goswami. Your tendency to present Bengal Gaudiya Vaisnavism in its proper perspective is very much welcome. We are trying to present Krishna Consciousness all over the world in a very scientific and philosophical way, and as such your help in this connection will be of great value. I do not know whether it will be possible for you to join us whole-heartedly, but if you can so do, it will be of great value and we can immediately start a Bengali edition of BACK TO GODHEAD magazine under your good editorship.

Letter to Syamasundara -- Surat 30 December, 1970:

*as well as my Bank Pass book made up to date.

P.S. Enclosed herewith, please find one letter to be signed by you and sent to the editor of the Times replying the several letters which you have sent me cut from the recent editions of the Times.

This letter is very important and you may personally hand over the same to the Editor so that it may be published immediately. We invite all kinds of men to discuss on this high philosophy of life. ACB.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Bhagavan -- Allahabad 21 January, 1971:

I am glad to see how you are so much enthusiastic for making our plan of a daily world newspaper a success. It is a very large task. To publish a daily newspaper requires a huge establishment and the editor must be very well versed so that he can comment on all fields. So far as advertising is concerned, you should not approach people for ads, rather they should approach you. Do not spend for advertising. Let them spend to advertise us. For example the Times of India is giving us very spacious opportunity to publish our letters. One copy written by Giriraja Das Brahmacari is enclosed. In these letters our books are also mentioned. So in this way you can make advertising.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Gorakhpur 15 February, 1971:

It is very encouraging that we are being so favorably presented everywhere by the media. Just today two editors of Indian newspapers have informed me of their intention to print special issues devoted to our Movement as well as give daily one article on our philosophy. The article from the Toronto newspaper was very good report and our Sriman Rasananda has presented the facts very well. Please give him my thanks for this appropriate presentation. He is a very good boy. All our students, boys and girls become first class good by this nice process.

Letter to Yogesvara -- Bombay 4 March, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 18th January, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. Yes, I have already received a copy of your book "Krsna, the Cowherd Boy" and also given suggestions for the same. So you can present it to Satsvarupa and the editors and if they approve, then I approve and the book may be printed by our Press.

Letter to Jadurani -- Bombay 8 June, 1971:

Regarding Satsvarupa's engagement, his main business is editorial and to improve the condition of the Boston temple also. There is a vast amount of editing work. It is not an easy job. We have to print so many books and if he becomes an expert editor it will be a great asset to our mission, and he has got the capacity. Very soon I am returning and I shall overburden him with dictaphone tapes. He will have more than enough engagement.

Letter to Tamala Krsna, Gurudasa -- London 23 August, 1971:

Regarding the Bengali translation by S. Ganguli, it is almost perfect; 90%. But 10% incorrect is not his fault. He is a new man. Therefore there are little discrepancies with our thoughts. Besides that there are some mistakes in spelling as Sanskrit verses. On the whole we can immediately start the Bengali paper but there is not one qualified man who can check over the correctness of the papers. Even it is 99% all right, still that 1% must be corrected. So far I am concerned, I cannot give my time to this. The best thing would have been if this Mr. Ganguli would come and be our student and learn our philosophy carefully and then he would be most suitable man for becoming editor of our Bengali paper. Do you think that Amrtananda will be able to check as the second Bengali man? Ask him if he is able to check the papers. Then jointly with the endeavor of Amrtananda and Ganguli you can start the Bengali paper as well as publish books.

Letter to Rayarama -- Bombay 22 October, 1971:

So far your editorial work is concerned, I welcome your good service but if you do not follow temple life and Deity worship, it will set a bad example. When I was there in N.Y. last time I saw that the tendency was there in the press members not to follow the principles. So I said better to stop the press. Since then Advaita and the others are attending temple worship. Similarly you must also do the same and chant at least 16 rounds, etc.

Letter to Bahulasva -- Vrindaban 30 November, 1971:

We stand on our Krishna philosophy, and because it has the full potency of Krishna Himself, there is no limit to the effect it will have upon the world if we remain sincere and convinced for spreading this philosophy purely. I like your idea to publish many small books especially meant for the layman class. ISKCON Press has just printed "Topmost Yoga" and "Easy Journey", and you may order these from them. I have written and spoken ample stock for such articles and essays. Now it is up to our editors in N.Y. to select and publish them. Actually it was my original idea that our press should print many smaller books by the millions, but that they are not doing. Instead they talk of expanding more and more, but they cannot produce any big books. So you may approach Bhagavan das and Rupanuga with your suggestions for books, and among yourselves you just chalk out some practical plan.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Bombay 3 January, 1972:

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. But I cannot pay you Rs. 1000/- per month from here, that is not possible. So somehow arrange for the publishing of all our literatures. I have got full faith in you, I know you are sincere and a hard worker, so I have got confidence in you to do this. Ramananda is our Hindi editor, one man here, Mr. Chakravorty, I am training in Bengali translation and he may be the Bengali editor, you are in charge of publication, and Rohininandan and Sunil can assist in the Hindi and Bengali work respectively. So with full faith in Krishna and Spiritual Master, push on this work with full force. We have got a great mission to fulfill, and these books and magazines are the torchbearers of Truth which can save the world. If you can find a suitable place, then I have no objection to Rohininandan coming to assist you.

Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- Jaipur 20 January, 1972:

Why you should go to New York? Stay there and seriously edit all translation work as Chief Editor of German language. Your proposal to meet a Hamburg millionaire is very nice, go ahead. Your sincerity will be accepted by Krishna and He will give you intelligence from within. Simply we must be sincere, then everything else will follow automatically.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Nairobi 29 January, 1972:

Concerning Hayagriva, he is unquestionably a very expert editor, so you please try to help him and encourage him to perform that service. If he can remain happy in Krishna's service then there is no measure to the value of his work.

Letter to Lilavati -- Sydney 26 March, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 3, 1972 and I have noted the contents. I am very glad to hear that you are happy in your service in Los Angeles. Your letters show that you are very much talented in writing, so my proposal is that you engage yourself in editorial work. Or if you like, you can learn elementary Sanskrit, and when I come there we shall see how it can be put to use. Your book distribution program is very much encouraging to me. The more such literatures are read and distributed, the more auspicity will be there in the world. Please continue this program with ever-increasing enthusiasm.

Letter to Mandali Bhadra -- Sydney 2 April, 1972:

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. So our Society's position of vision is from that platform. We want to see all living entities as parts and parcels of Krishna without giving any consideration to outer skin, and that is real education. So you can expound on this idea. The modern civilization is based on bodily designation—American, India, German—but our proposition is to become free from these artificial designations, and unless one becomes free from these artificial designations there can't be any God-consciousness, and without God-consciousness there is no possibility of any peace in the world.

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. When you are finished with Bhagavad-gita, then we shall see what shall be the next book for translating. But I think the German people are very philosophically-minded, and they will appreciate the higher philosophy of TLC, or the science of NOD. This we can decide later, first finish the work at hand. Actually, these four books: Krishna, TLC, NOD, and Bhagavad-gita, if these four books are translated and distributed widely in German language, alone they are sufficient to give everyone the whole contents of Krishna Consciousness subject matter. So try for all of them, why just one or two.

Letter to Niranjana -- Honolulu 10 May, 1972:

Will you immediately open correspondence with him? His address is as follows: Dr. Ravindra Pratap Rao, Reader in Chemistry, Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, U. P., India. Just now I have received a report from Ksirodakasayi das of Vrindaban that Ramananda is not nowadays translating our literature into Hindi. You may know it from me that the idea of starting the Hindi paper generated when Ramananda took charge of taking the editorship of the paper. Now he is indirectly declining. I do not know what is the reason. 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. Varanasi is the learning site for the Hindi language. Can you take charge of this translation work somehow or other? Then it will be a great service to the Lord. I shall be glad to hear from you immediately. Treat this letter as very urgent, and reply me by return post to our Los Angeles address.

Letter to Ish Kumar Puri -- New York 9 July, 1972:

In this connection, I am requesting two of my disciples there to either correspond or meet with you to discuss the matter thoroughly. Sriman Gurudasa Adhikari, President of our Vrindaban ISKCON center, can supply you with all samples of our literature, etc. His address is c/o Radha-Damodara Mandir, Seva Kunj, Vrindaban, U.P. In addition, the editor of our Hindi publications, Dr. R. P. Rao, Reader-in-Chemistry, 20-K Hirapur, Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, U.P., will be contacting you very soon regarding the work in Hindi language.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Sydney 17 February, 1973:

While in India last it was brought to my attention that our Sriman Hayagriva das has become deviated from the four basic principles which I have given to all my students for adherence to when they are first initiated. I do not know why he is living in such a way but I feel that he must be brought back to the standard immediately. So I am requesting you as my Governing Board Commissioners to help me bring him back to the standard. He has very good talent, but he is spending it by living such an unrestricted life.

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 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. The temples have now enough literature, and besides that if you simply ask for a little contribution, no one will send.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrindaban 19 September, 1974:

N.B. I have received your letter dated August 5, 1974 with enclosed letter from the Macmillan editor, but this biography is not very important.

Letter to Mahamsa -- Bombay 25 November, 1974:

So immediately you reply to the Editor of Bhavan's Journal, Dr. K.M. Munshi Marg, Bombay—400 007, enclosing the letter of Swami Cinmayananda's letter about the approval of learned panditas and sannyasis about the Hare Krishna movement members entering into Hindu temples. You can mention also that we are allowed to enter into the biggest temple in India, Tirupati, as well as Nathadwar where the head of the temple received us very well and presented some gifts. Except the Jagannatha temple in Puri no where have we been checked admission.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Gupta -- Mayapur 8 April, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 8th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Regarding your idea for writing articles for different legal journals, that will be very nice. I think it will be best if you take a little help from the editors who will be in Los Angeles soon. They can help you to make sure that nothing is stated improperly. They are experienced, so consult with them. Jayadvaita and the others are now here in India, but they will be back by the first of May, so take their advice in this matter. Please continue your work, and most of all try to rigidly follow all of the rules and regulations and chant at least 16 good rounds daily without fail.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Vrindaban 17 April, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 7, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for sending the $1,000 to Bombay. Your article is very nice. You should continue to write very nicely. I am giving your article to the press editors to check over for printing.

Letter to Mahamsa -- Detroit 3 August, 1975:

The literature you have published is very nice. The Explosion is very good. I started out with this kind of paper, only I was the only writer, the only editor, the only publisher, and the only distributer. So go on with your publishing. At least each month one Hindi and Telegu magazine should be published from Hyderabad. Arrange like that.

Letter to Radhavallabha -- New Delhi 21 August, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 15, 1975 and also the copies of the Vyasa Puja book. It is done nicely, but why it is mentioned my 79th birthday. It is my 80th birthday. That is correct. You do not know this? One of the GBC articles says 79th birthday. Big GBC man, so many editors, and it is not detected? You are all mudhas, what can I do? Anyway it is better to remain a mudha before your spiritual master. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He said that My spiritual master saw Me as mudha.

Letter to Minister for Land & Revenue -- Vrindaban 31 August, 1975:

I have been told by Sri Ram Pandey who is the Editor of INPF Samachar Samiti, Allahabad, and the District Youth Counsellor for the District Planning Office, Allahabad; that there are enough barren lands that are not suitable for agricultural use that are lying unused in Allahabad District. If you could kindly give over these lands to use we could develop it into a self sufficient community producing foodstuffs, grains and vegetables, milk products, and cloth involving the local peoples for their greater benefit, as we are already doing at our Mayapur Candradaya Community Development Project in West Bengal, Dist. Nadia, and which we are now planning near Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh.

Letter to Hayagriva -- Bombay 9 November, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 23, 1975 with the proposed Table of Contents for the philosophy book. By the grace of Krsna you have got a special capacity to do this work. I am very glad that you have revived your activities in the editorial work. So Krsna will certainly help. Do not neglect chanting 16 rounds at least. Yes, you can come and see me wherever I am, either at Mayapur in the spring of next year or it may be that I may go to Imphal in Manipur after the Vrndavana festival. The Table of Contents are nice and you can come and we shall discuss further. Yes, you have got a nice farm in New Vrndavana. If you are not there, then let others stay. That is all right.

Letter to Svarupa Damodara -- Bombay 17 December, 1975:

Why should we blindly accept imperfect scientists, they are imperfect because they are changing their position in the name of progress. The word progress is used when there is imperfection at the beginning. So this regular changing of standard knowledge in the name of progress proves that they are always imperfect. It is a fact that they are imperfect, because they gather knowledge with imperfect senses. At any rate we cannot deviate from vedic knowledge. Regarding coming to Mayapur festival, you must come, because after that we are going to Manipur.

I will send your corrections to the editors. Thank you.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Rupanuga -- Vrindaban 23 September, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 13rd September, 1976 and have noted the contents. Regarding the editorial policy of BTG, if the editorial board is not expert enough they should be changed. Dr. O.B.L. Kapoor also had put a similar complaint. Yes, scientific articles must be published when sent by our men. I cannot see every article, but some of you should examine why nice articles are rejected. See if the board can be changed. If experienced editors are not there it will be unpopular magazine. These things are to be seen to immediately by the GBC. The board should be judged immediately and be changed if required.

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:

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 Satsvarupa -- Bombay 17 April, 1977:

Yes, that is our aim, to destroy the position of the mundane scholars. Mundane scholars are called adhyksik, which means simply sense perceivers, no realization. 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. We have to prove to the world that anyone who is not Krsna conscious is a duskrtina and mudha. It is very good news that the book will be taken by many colleges and high schools as a textbook.

Page Title:Editor (Letters)
Compiler:Visnu Murti
Created:05 of Mar, 2012
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=110
No. of Quotes:110