Go to Vanipedia | Go to Vanisource | Go to Vanimedia


Vaniquotes - the compiled essence of Vedic knowledge


That is very good (Letters 1967 - 1971)

Correspondence

1967 Correspondence

Letter to Syamasundara -- New York 4 May, 1967:

I am in due receipt of your letter of April 28, 1967, and thank you for returning the check. For the balance eight books you can send me your check conveniently, there is no hurry.

It is so pleasing to me that you are giving service to Krishna by your intelligence, by your body, by your mind. Everything is very nice and this will make you more and more progressive in understanding Krishna Consciousness. I think you are feeling and understanding how you are making progress and I am very glad to see it. I am also very much satisfied to see you have got a good companion, your wife Malati. She is very nice. I have received her letter, please convey my blessings unto her. I know that you are not much for writing letters but you are much for work. This is very good proposal. Make the Rathayatra Festival very great success. This will be a great introduction in your city and people will appreciate it and if we can introduce successfully this Rathayatra Festival not only in San Francisco but also in New York and also in Montreal, then it will be a great success of my mission in this country.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Mukunda, Janaki -- Los Angeles 28 February, 1968:

I thank you very much for your letters of Feb. 24 and 25, 1968, and I have noted the contents. Yes, if you can find out some distributing agent for our Back to Godhead, that is very good. Please do it. I have received both dictaphone machines, and the new one is working nicely. The foreign one I have yet to test at some shop, which I will do this week. I have written in Uddhava's letter that I shall be arriving on March 8th, and we can discuss the meeting at the Immigration Bureau at that time.

I thank you very much for that nice sketch done by Janaki, and I shall have Jadurani begin a painting from that pose. So far the spirit soul is concerned, if conditions are for some reason not favorable in some place, he is forced to leave that womb and take shelter in another. And if there is chanting of Hare Krishna, even the soul is there for a short time, oh, he will hear and become advanced. This sound vibration is not material, it is spiritual, and powerful beyond our conception. So it cannot be hindered in any way by something material; it surpasses all these material barriers. So you can know it that when you are chanting, you are also giving benefit to even the child in the womb. I hope you are feeling much healthier by this time, and I shall be very glad to see you when I arrive in San Francisco. Hope you are both well.

Letter to Michael O'Leary -- Los Angeles 3 March, 1968:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 27, 1968, and I thank you very much for it. I am especially happy to hear your statement, "I have taken to the process of chanting Hare Krishna—feeling the results immediately." This is very good. Please continue to chant, and execute your duties with thoughts and words of Krishna, and you will be happy always.

Please try to follow the rules and regulations, and when I arrive in New York, we can talk together, and as you feel yourself ready, you can be initiated. If you have any doubts or questions, your good God-brothers are always ready and willing to help you. Brahmananda can give you the lists of the qualifications for devotees, and the 10 offenses, and other informations as you may need. If you have got any questions, please feel at liberty to write to me about them as you desire. I am also very happy to learn you are a sculpture student; at the present time, I am trying to carve out of wood Sri Radha and Krishna Murti. If you can carve out these Deities, it will be very nice.

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

I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 20, 1968, regarding your illness. So long we have got this material body, the miseries will be coming and going, simply we have to tolerate them and try to make advancement in Krishna Consciousness as best we can. I am forwarding your letter to Brahmananda for taking care of your hospital charges; I do not know just what arrangements can be made, but Brahmananda will think how to take care of it.

You mention that you have enclosed the transliteration work of Srimad-Bhagavatam, but I do not find it here. You may have missed it. Anyway, I am happy to hear you are steadily studying Sanskrit and reading Srimad-Bhagavatam—that is very good.

I shall be praying to Krishna for your steady recovery and continual advancement in Krishna Consciousness, and hope you will be feeling physically stronger when you come to see me in New York. Please keep me informed how you are feeling.

Letter to Mahapurusa -- San Francisco 28 March, 1968:

That is very nice engagement. That is the only specific function for everyone of us. I think you shall try your best to perform Kirtana successfully, and that is the greatest specific function for you. And you can teach some of your God-brothers and God-sisters the art of cooking, which you know best.

Yes, I am going to N.Y. after the 8th (probably on the 9th) of April and I shall let you know when I am exactly reaching there. Janardana wanted to see me in New York, and I shall be glad to see you both there before I go to Montreal. I wish to go to Montreal after the month of May after I finish my engagement in Boston.

That is very good proposal, to get Indian Pavilion for our Kirtana program. Please try for it. And we can exhibit some of our paintings, and pictures. When I go to Montreal, I shall take selected pictures from Jadurani and as well as some of the pictures by Gaurasundara and Govinda published in our BTG. Jadurani has now become a nice preacher. I have report from Satsvarupa that she gives lectures very nicely. If we open a pavilion I shall take Jadurani also at that time, so she will deliver nice lectures. I shall probably be coming there to Montreal by first week of June.

Letter to Krsna Devi, Dinesh -- Montreal 13 June, 1968:

I thank you very much for your letter of May 31, 1968, which is duly in hand. I had not heard anything from you in long time, so I was very glad to hear that you are doing well. I am pleased to hear that you have so nicely installed the Jagannatha Deities at your home, and that you are worshiping Them regularly with nice offerings of prasadam, incense and flowers, and also saying prayers before Them. That is very good. Please continue chanting and reading Srimad-Bhagavatam before the Deity, and you will progress nicely.

Yes, the coloring book idea is nice, but for now there is greater need of your service to Krishna in helping out the Santa Fe Temple. You have requested me in your letter to please advise you about your devotional service, and I shall tell you frankly that the best thing for you to do now is to help the Santa Fe Temple financially. You were originally entrusted with the responsibility of that branch, as you helped start it, and so it is your duty now to help maintain it, even you are not present there. If it is closed down, it will be great shameful to you. So, at the present moment your former husband, Subala, is struggling alone there, and there is urgent need of financial aid to him. Therefore, I request you to do this service; you and your husband should earn money nicely, and send to Santa Fe at least $100.00 a month. That will be good for you both, and good for me, and good for Subala, and the best service for Krishna. Krishna wants that you should do Him this service, to help maintain His Temple there, so I request that you shall do this immediately. And Krishna will be pleased upon you, and will give you all aid in serving Him in this way. That is my desire.

Letter to Himavati -- Montreal 14 June, 1968:

So let us try with sincerity, and Krishna will help us in the matter of our advancing the cause of Krishna Consciousness.

Yes, you can teach the Brahmacarinis sewing very nicely, and it will be a great help to the society. Of course, if they can remain Brahmacarinis, it is nice. But it is difficult also. It is not good for the Brahmacarinis to associate with householders; similarly it is not good also for the Brahmacarinis to mix with Brahmacaris, but in your country the boys and girls are accustomed to mix freely. Therefore, we cannot put any deadline restriction. In my opinion, if the boys and girls get themselves married just like ideal Vaisnava householders, that is very good. But, if by the Grace of Krishna, both the girls and boys can live separately, that is still better, but it is not possible. If it is possible to divert the whole attention for Krishna's service it is quite possible to remain single even for the whole life. So you have got now good engagement so remain engaged in that work and train the Brahmacarinis also, chant Hare Krishna and pull on your sewing machine.

There is no need of separation. Live together and train up your mind, that is all. Artificial separation is never recommended. And when you see, living together, you have no desire for sense gratification, then that is the highest stage of perfection. Voluntary restraint is tapasya, austerity, and this is possible with advancement of Krishna Consciousness. Artificial separation is foolishness. We recommend voluntary restraint, not artificial separation. So you should understand that there is no objection to live together as husband and wife. The tendency is there, it is natural. But if one can check it, that is very good. But it is not compulsory. And not to be checked artificially, but with advancement of strength in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Madhavi Lata -- Montreal 20 June, 1968:

Too much intelligence in material activities are detraction from Krishna Consciousness. Better to remain dull and simple as you are, and thus make advancement in Krishna Consciousness. There is a nice story about Bharata Maharaja, who remained just like a dullard, in order to avoid material association. And he was known as Jada Bharata, but when he was tested, Maharaja Rohugan found him highly advanced in Krishna Consciousness, and became his disciple.

Yes, you stay in Boston. Please learn this painting under care of Jadurani. Please always talk about Krishna amongst you two sisters, and enjoy life. This is very good opportunity that you are talking and painting about Krishna, so that your mind, hand, and attention are all absorbed in Krishna samadhi, and tongue chanting Hare Krishna. This is first class samadhi, and the highest position of the greatest yogi. Try to continue this atmosphere happily.

Now, Devananda and Satsvarupa, and you and Jadurani try to develop the temple very nicely. Satsvarupa and Devananda shall live separately and you and Jadurani shall live separately, in different compartments, that will be very nice. And be always engaged in Krishna topics, then Maya will never touch you.

Letter to Brahmananda -- Seattle 6 October, 1968:

There is very good chance to open a branch there, and they have invited us, and 10 or 15 people are ready to attend our meetings, so I am thinking of sending Mahapurusa there, with some other assistant. Another thing, this is of course, private, that Hayagriva may be willing to marry some of our Brahmacarinis. So I shall be glad to hear from you which Brahmacarini you may suggest suitable for Hayagriva. In fact, unless our Brahmacaris are very adamant remaining as Brahmacari, I shall recommend everyone to marry. Because these girls generally come to our society to find out a suitable husband, so there is no harm to live as husband and wife, as Mukunda, Gurudasa, and Syamasundara, they are living very nicely. Similarly, others Murari also living. So this is not bad. But if one can live as Brahmacari, that is very good. So you can suggest me privately which girl can be suitable for Hayagriva.

Letter to Sivananda -- Los Angeles 11 November, 1968:

Persons who want to take advantage of cheap reputation they imitate great personalities like Haridasa Thakura, who was alone chanting 300,000 of Holy Names daily. By such chanting, lonely chanting he got so much spiritual power that he could convert even a harlot to become a great devotee whereas an ordinary person falls easily a victim to such allurement. So one should not imitate such great personalities but one should try to see how much taste he has developed for chanting, so that one can remain alone simply being engaged in chanting. If one can remain alone simply being engaged in chanting, that is very good, but it is difficult also. A conditioned soul in conditioned life it is very difficult to concentrate our mind in chanting absolutely. Better to be engaged in preaching work, that will make one gradually successful. Besides that, when we are actually engaged in with the preaching work, we gradually acquire our spiritual strength without failure.

Regarding Radha Damodara temple, because it is one of the most important temples in Vrindaban, I took shelter in this temple, just to improve the dilapidated condition. The present proprietor or the men in charge of this temple, they are most materialistic men, and simply utilizing the temple and its property for their sense gratification. If Radha Damodara likes, in future, I may be able to do something for this temple, but until I have got the opportunity probably I am not going again into that temple. I have now New Vrindaban scheme and I shall try to develop all the important temples of Vrindaban including Radha Damodara temple in our New Vrindaban site.

Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 12 November, 1968:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Nov. 4, 1968. The description of your letter reveals that you want to serve Krishna more and more. This is very good sign. Service of Krishna is so nice that one becomes enthusiastic to serve more and more. That is the nature of spiritual service. I can understand also that because you could not start a temple in London you are feeling little disappointed, but there is no cause for such disappointment. I can understand that you are doing very well there even though we have not got our own temple. The pictures which Malati has sent me are nice, very very nice. From the pictures I can understand how sincerely you are working there. So even we could not establish a temple, there our preaching work is not in vain. So there is no cause of disappointment—you go on with your work as you are doing and everything will come successful in due course.

Letter to Upendra -- Los Angeles 13 November, 1968:

I am in due receipt of your nice letter of Nov. 7, 1968, and thank you very much for it. Regarding your question, Sayamrupa means the Original Form. Sayamprakash means Balarama. And Tadekatmarupa is the purusa, just like Mahavisnu. It is not necessary to remember or fully understand all these different forms, at the present, but it is like if you simply stick to the master faithfully that is very good, but if you know that my master is so great, and so rich, and great in this way and rich in this way, and that way, then your veneration for your master will increase. To know Krishna is great, how He is expanded into different forms, that enhances our attachment to Krishna more rigidly.

You ask about the desire for fame. Fame is a material desire, but to desire fame in Krishna Consciousness is not bad. If you think that people may know me as a great devotee of Krishna, that they may acknowledge me a nice devotee of Krishna, that is not at all bad. But even one is highly elevated in Krishna Consciousness he should not think himself a great devotee, he should think himself always humble.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Los Angeles 20 November, 1968:

I am in due receipt of your nice letter and I have the noted the contents with great care. Yes, it is a very good opportunity for spreading our KC movement. We require unlimited money for constructing New Vrindaban and other schemes in KC. So if it is possible to get some money from your father's business and employ it in KC, it will be glorious both for your father and your self. It is a very good opportunity that he has supplied you car and does not object to KC. So gradually turn your father to KC. Not immediately, but gradually. In the meantime you can serve your father working at his business and live like an aristocratic American gentleman, use his car, chant Hare Krishna, and live with the devotees at the temple. Anyway, your temple attendance must continue. So if it is possible that you shall live with the boys at the temple, then that is very good idea, and work also with your father. Please keep me informed how you are arranging for this matter, as I will be anxious to hear.

Letter to Joy Fulcher -- Los Angeles 21 November, 1968:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your nice letter with some poems, as well as a nice picture of Radha and Krishna, by separate mail. Unfortunately, in transit the glass is broken into pieces, but still I have kept your picture in my working room, and everyone praises your artistic sense. It is very nice. I am very glad to learn also that you are attempting to paint similar pictures in larger size, that is very good idea. You have got some poetic sense also, and all these talents, the artistic sense and poetic sense, can be engaged in the service of Krishna. All devotees are more or less poets. Out of 26 qualifications of a perfect devotee, one is poetic sense. So we can write so many poetries in praise of the Lord, or about His pastimes. Similarly we can draw so many nice pictures about His different activities, and such engagements will give us chance to elevate ourself to the perfectional platform of spiritual understanding.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 1 December, 1968:

Continue to work sincerely and you shall be blessed in this life, there is no doubt.

Regarding the money which you shall soon attain, I think that the book fund may use it very well as we have so many new expenditures due to our new books, Bhagavad-gita As It Is (already published) and Teachings of Lord Caitanya (to be published next month). So if you can send this money to me it will be very nice. Also, when these books arrive to your Montreal temple, it will be great service if you can help your god-brothers in arranging for widespread sales of these books. We are writing so many literatures and this is very good, but also we must make arrangement for distribution to the public at large. So jointly you may prepare for doing the needful in this matter.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Los Angeles 8 December, 1968:

I have received today your letter dated 4, December 1968 and have carefully read the contents.

You have asked whether you may use charcoals to use for fuel during the winter and since this is the simplest thing to use in your present situation certainly it is all right. In all such questions as this you need only use your good common sense and depend upon Krishna as always to guide you nicely. So far as the government making repairs on the roads, If they are willing to do it this is very good. With nice roads we can invite many people to New Vrindaban as well as facilitate our own activities there so such proposal is welcome. For construction of ponds I don't know if you will be able to use them for bathing in the cold winter so it is better if you can construct a well if this can be more used in the winter. So if you are pressed now for time, the ponds may be constructed in the spring.

I have noted from your letter that you have available a Lincoln automobile which you are able to donate to us in Los Angeles. At the present we are requiring just such a car so I think you may make arrangements to have it brought here. This is all Krishna's Grace so as you are able please make arrangements for this. So far as your utilizing machinery at New Vrindaban, if such machinery is helpful than you may take advantage of them. We are not enemies of machines. If they can be used for Krishna's service then we welcome them.

Letter to Nandakisora -- Los Angeles 11 December, 1968:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your nice letter of December 5, 1968 and thank you very much for this. From your letter I can understand that you are anxious to become householder and this is very good. We require so many householders to set example to others how in Krishna Consciousness we can live peacefully and sanely, even in married life. Also, we require so many Krishna Conscious children to show how nicely and beautify a child can develop when he is following the principles of God Consciousness.

So your decision is very good, but at the moment we have many girls and either too young or they are engaged or they are too old. There are a few nice girls who are available, specifically Tulsi Devi and Anna Radha Devi but both of them also have little babies and Tulsi Devi is, I think, a little older than you are. So if you like we may ask these girls if they are just now desirous of marrying. Or else you may wait for an eligible girl who I am not thinking of, or who will show up soon, so as soon as she shows up we shall make arrangements in this regard.

Also, we are planning to open a school for teaching our Krishna Conscious children and I understand Satyabhama Devi has some qualifications as a teacher. This school may be set up either in New Vrindaban or Los Angeles so please ask her to tell me about her teaching qualifications and she thinks of this idea.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Govinda -- Los Angeles 16 January, 1969:

I hope that by now you have received the reply to your letter which you mailed just after your arrival in Hawaii.

I am very glad to learn that you have now become a very good housewife with your very good husband. It is learned also that you are cooking very nice foodstuffs for him. This is very good. Your husband is very busy now, otherwise I would have asked him to continue the work on Caitanya Caritamrta. Now I shall be glad to know what you are doing. Do you propose to manufacture Kartamasi from there? But whatever you do, do it in a program.

Letter to Upendra -- Hawaii 11 March, 1969:

I have come to your country in this old age with this interest. We should not mind where we are kept or where we have to discharge our duties. But we should accept and do them nicely.

I wish that the Seattle temple be maintained as the most important thing, and there is no second man besides you to take charge of it. Actually the center was opened by you and Gargamuni. Gargamuni is now engaged in different work, so you do not divert your attention. Please try to occupy the church contemplated and try to improve it like L.A. temple. If you try your best Krishna will give you all facilities.

I am glad to hear you are going to teach the university course. This is very good, do not worry about the watchdog Mr. Miller, this trouble will continue always but still we have to do our duties. One thing, Mr. Miller takes objection to Hinduism. He is Christian and he thinks that we are preaching Hinduism. You should clear up this thing that we do not preach any particular "ism." We are simply teaching how to develop our dormant love of Godhead. So what religion is there that does not approve love of Godhead? One may say that all improve our love of Godhead according to our own way, but from practical point of view, in no religious principle the love of Godhead is seen to be enhanced. They make God as order-supplier for their material needs. Or some of them are taught to love God because He is considered to be order-supplier. But our principle is not to make God our order-supplier—we want to execute the order of God.

Letter to Prabhavati -- Hawaii 24 March, 1969:

This is the perfection of human life. Unfortunately, the people of the so-called modern advanced civilization do not know this; they are groping in the darkness of material life, and simply leading others into this darkness. Therefore there are so many frustrated young boys and girls who are searching out God in some way or other, and if they are very fortunate, then they will come to this platform of Krishna Consciousness.

So I am very much pleased to learn that you are chanting and reading Bhagavad-gita, and also helping with the temple activities of cooking and cleaning. This is very good. Please continue in this way, and gradually you will become more and more advanced in this spiritual consciousness, and become happy. If you can paint nice pictures of Krishna and His devotees, then that is also a nice engagement for you. Help Harer Nama in running the temple smoothly, and always remain engaged in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Isanadas -- Allston, Mass 30 April, 1969:

Now you are helping the Montreal temple, and that is nice.

I am glad to learn of your policy of occupants in your building. If that house can develop into a students home, preaching our philosophy to the residents, it will be a great service. Make it a point that at a certain period of time there should be lecture about Krishna consciousness and some kirtana. This time should be fixed up for all residents. So if they take part in kirtana and have opportunity to hear our philosophy, certainly they will take it up. Side by side, if our prasadam program is also introduced, that will also be great impetus.

Regarding Vibhavati's plan of natural childbirth, this is very good. Since your wife is pregnant, let her be engaged with some little work, That will help her natural childbirth. I have read your suggestions for improving Back To Godhead and they are very good. You are acquainted with Rayarama, so please write your suggestions to him. But I like these ideas you have suggested.

Letter to Pradyumna -- New Vrindaban 16 June, 1969:

Make a contract, and I have advised Brahmananda to pay you the $503 when you need it. So when the transaction is completed, immediately call Brahmananda and he will pay you. Now Arundhati and Syama Dasi shall be in charge of composing at least four hours alternately. In this way, the machine should be used from 7:00 in the morning till 10:00 at night. Syama Dasi may type from 7:00 in the morning till 11:00 o'clock. Then Arundhati will type from 11 till three. Then Syama Dasi from three until seven o'clock, and Arundhati from seven o'clock until ten o'clock. In this way, you and Hayagriva shall guide them so that the machine will be fully utilized.

I am sure that the monthly payments shall be arranged by you, and this is very good. Special care should be given to keep the machine in a safe room which is always closed and always locked. The property is worth about $6,000, and you will be responsible for the payments, so very much care should be taken to protect it from any damage or theft. Of course your quarters there are nice, but all necessary precautions must still be taken. Please write to inform me what you are going to do.

Letter to Jayapataka -- New Vrindaban 21 June, 1969:

The system is that for 8 days the Deities remain on the seaside, and kirtana goes on, prasada is distributed, and people offer flowers, fruits, etc. to the Deities. Then on the 8th day, the Lord returns to His own place. This is the system, and the care is taken in great procession, complete with chanting, flowers, etc. This year Boston is also trying to celebrate the Rathayatra Festival, and if you like, you may open correspondence with Satsvarupa in this connection, and he will help you with further ideas.

I am so glad to learn that Kirtana is going on, and by Krishna's Grace you are getting some collections. This is very good news. If during Rathayatra, you cannot keep on the seaside, then you take the car in procession to the riverside, and come back the same day. For the eight days, as far as possible distribute prasadam, especially kitcherie. Then on the 8th day you also hold the ceremony in the same way. Please arrange to take nice photographs of your Festival activities as well as of your other kirtana activities. We wish to print many such photographs in our Back To Godhead, so take many pictures, and send them to Brahmananda in New York.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 4 July, 1969:

He quoted for musical instruments as follows: Harmonium of double reed @Rs 260, Harmonium of triple reed @Rs 350, Tanpura @Rs 100 to Rs 200, mrdangas (wooden made) @Rs 150, khanjani @Rs 10 to Rs 15. What I want Mr. Vora to do is see this firm, or any other reliable firm which can regularly supply us with first quality instruments. The price quoted by the party appears to be high, so Mr. Vora has to inquire from other sources also, and he may purchase a sample transaction of one harmonium, one Maha-rashtrian mrdanga (wooden made), and a few first class kanjanis. He may bring with him as his personal property or he may see the director of the Scindia Steam Navigation Co., Sumati Morarji. If she takes charge for dispatching the goods on her ships, that is very good, but because it is a very small quantity, it may be better to bring them personally. If Mr. Vora sees Srimati Sumati Morarji, she will at once know me by my name, and she'll arrange everything. The sum and substance is that we want some reliable commission agent or supplier who can supply us regularly these things. If Sumati Morarji gives us the facilities of free shipping, that is all right. Otherwise we shall get them sent, freight paid by us.

Letter to Murari -- Los Angeles 11 July, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 6, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am so pleased to learn that you have obtained a permit for soliciting on Sankirtana Party, and now you are collecting $60 daily. It is very encouraging news. Regarding BTG, you should purchase at least $350 worth of copies per month. This means you get 2,500 copies, and the price is 15 cents per copy. The price for selling is declared at 50 cents, so there is a 35 cents difference. So even if you make at least 20 cents profit per copy, that is $500 per month for your temple. Now you have got good opportunity for selling, so you help BTG by contributing this amount monthly. I have heard that you have mentioned to Brahmananda that your temple will contribute $3,000 dollars for my book fund. This is very good news for me, and try to send it as soon as possible. I am so pleased that you are arranging for the Rathayatra Festival very nicely, and similarly in London, Buffalo, and what to speak of San Francisco, they are arranging. In San Francisco it is going to be unique thing in this world. Regarding a house, you look for a place. Krishna will provide for the funds. Now, because Los Angeles has got a nice church, the situation has improved very hopefully. They are getting all help. In Sankirtana they are collected sometimes $250 daily, and selling BTG not less than 150 copies daily. Boston is not a small city, and it is better than Los Angeles because you have so many students there. So try to organize very nicely.

Letter to Gajendra -- Los Angeles 20 July, 1969:

I am so expert, but actually the living entity is an insignificant spark of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. So when we see we are becoming aware of our infinitesimal nature, then we begin to also understand something of how infinitely great Krishna is. One cannot be falsely puffed up and still expect to make progress in spiritual life. Rather one must learn to accept his constitutional position of Krishna's tiny servant. Then Krishna is pleased to reveal Himself to such devotee, and the devotee becomes more and more perfect in rendering transcendental service to the Lord.

Regarding your proposal for distributing BTG through the agency you have contacted, I do not think this is very good idea at this time. Tamala Krishna has arranged so that there will be six devotees there in Seattle very soon, so there will be no need for such distribution arrangement. This agency is offering you only 25 cents per issue sold, and by Kirtana Party you will receive 50 cents per copy. Another thing is that we have found that our sales are much better through our personal endeavors on Kirtana Party, so this agency will simply be holding so many copies for one month, and what they do not sell will again be given back to you to sell on Sankirtana Party. They have asked you to advance $50 for their "Paperwork", but in Los Angeles there was one distributer who was taking 400 copies monthly and he did not request such fee. So as you will be having several new men there to help you after the Rathayatra Festival, Sankirtana Party will be the better way of distributing BTG. Regarding your question about offering camphor in aratrik, I do not know why you should be having trouble with smoke and soot by this offering. If you use smaller pieces of camphor this may alleviate the problem, or perhaps you are not using the right kind of camphor. Here we are using camphor for aratrik twice daily and there is no such problem. Of course, if it is too inconvenient, there does not have to be a camphor offering, but I do not know why this should be so.

Letter to Bhagavan -- London 22 September, 1969:

I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated September 15th, 1969, and I am encouraged to learn how your temple is progressing nicely. You write to say that already two new boys, Frank and Ed, have joined our Krishna Consciousness Movement, and that is very good news. Please take very nice care of them and help them to understand our principles as far as possible. Actually, in every town and city there are many, many devotees of Krishna; now it is our business to go around the world wherever people are congregating and pick up these sincere souls. The world is suffering for want of this knowledge of Krishna Consciousness, and we experience practically that many people will take to this spiritual line simply if we make this information available to them. So continue to develop your Sankirtana Party activities, and if you are given permission to accept donations, that will increase the strength of your activities there. You may consult with Tamala Krishna in Los Angeles for advice as to how to approach the authorities for obtaining such permission. That 50 people are coming to your Love Feasts and 15-20 people are coming to the kirtanas in the temple is good news also. As you are a sincere servant of Krishna, Krishna is recognizing your efforts to serve Him nicely and thus He is crowning your labors for Him with success. As more and more you increase in sincerity, similarly Krishna will more and more reciprocate by giving you the intelligence to serve Him nicely.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Tittenhurst 18 October, 1969:

These things should not be publically advertised, and I do not know why this has been done. Anyway, if you have not distributed many of them, you just try to take out that portion which is not a fact.

Regarding purchasing of temples, if within our means and estimation it is possible, that is a good idea. The best example is Boston temple. They have taken responsibility for $1100/ per month, and by the Grace of Krishna they are now collecting at the rate of $120 per day. So if Berkeley is also in that position, they can take that risk. Similarly, San Francisco also, and I understand that both Hamsaduta and Madhudvisa are doing nicely. So if the principle of Boston temple can be followed without over-burden and anxiety, that is very good. If they are also collecting daily average $100, they can take the risk of purchasing the house.

Regarding the World Sankirtana Party, that is my long-cherished idea, and I wish to see it fulfilled as soon as possible. But do not count on others. If somebody comes forward to help us, that is welcome. But if we at all take the job, we must take it on our own strength. For experimental sake, you can seek out for an agent who can arrange for our Sankirtana Party moving in all the states of America, and then we can think of touring all over the world.

Where is my Book Fund being kept? I think whatever money is received from the Book Fund or for my personal account may be immediately deposited in my savings account #12410 with the Equitable Savings Bank at Fairfax and Beverly, and monthly statements may be submitted to me how much you have deposited with the bank. Regarding movement of the members from one temple to another, I think the local president's permission is sufficient. Don't take too much load of individual administration. That will be unmanageable in the near future. I have also instructed Brahmananda in this way. I have also advised Brahmananda to ask for monthly reports, and similarly you may ask for monthly reports. That will be easier. I thank you so much for the new temples that are opening. Please conduct them nicely and enthuse the people to stick to the chanting of Hare Krishna Mantra and following the rules and regulations. Then they will be strong enough to manage things very nicely. Other things will be supplied by Krishna.

Letter to Vamanadeva -- Tittenhurst 21 October, 1969:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 14, 1969 and have noted the contents carefully. If you can open a center with Indira Dasi, that will be a great pleasure for me. I want that all married couples should open new centers and carry on by dint of hard labor. Every householder, husband and wife together, they require to live in an apartment, so if they have got an extra room, they can immediately start a center. You have seen in Hawaii how Gaurasundara and Govinda are gradually developing from this beginning to a nice center in Hawaii. Wherever we sit down and chant Hare Krishna people will gather and gradually become our devotees and thus the center is developed. So if you want to open a center, that is very good. But at the same time you must be able to measure your strength whether you will be able to do it. In the meantime Columbus center may require your services, so you may remain there, and when you feel strong you can do it with Krishna's blessings. But if you do it sincerely and seriously, you will be successful. In Japan Sudama and his wife are doing very nicely, and I have got encouraging letter that Bali Mardan is desiring to go to Australia to open a temple. Also, Suridas and his wife, Jotilla, with others have gone to Paris. As formerly the Europeans made colonization in different parts of the world, it is the same thing; colonization of Sankirtana in Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Arundhati -- Tittenhurst 2 November, 1969:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 24, 1969. Regarding your working hours, if you can work more, of course that is very good. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that we should be engaged in Krishna's service always, without any gap. So we should mold our life in such a way that not a minute will be blank without Krishna's service. Regarding your first question, the proof of Krishna Consciousness is that the Bhagavad-gita it is oldest transcendental literature about God-consciousness in the history of the world. It is estimated from authoritative sources of Vedic literature that Bhagavad-gita is eternal truth and was first revealed within our knowledge at least 120 millions of years ago. So what other literature can be compared with Bhagavad-gita throughout the whole world or universe? The second proof is that Krishna is accepted as the Supreme Personality, not only in the modern age, namely within two thousand years, by great acaryas like Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Lord Caitanya, etc., but before this in all Vedic literatures given by Vyasadeva, Krishna is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So whatever is spoken by the Supreme Lord Himself is certainly the most authoritative. So far as we are concerned, we do not make any alterations in the statements of Krishna. Therefore we are also authority. Just like 2 plus 2 equals four is mathematical truth. Anyone who accepts this axiomatic truth and works on this principle is also authority. To become authority is simply to follow the authority. If someone makes 2 plus 2 equal to 3 or 5, he is a rascal. That means he does not follow the authority and thus he fails to become himself an authority.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Candravali -- Los Angeles 9 January, 1970:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 5, 1970. I am so glad to learn that you are going to be married with Citsukhananda on Sunday, 11th January, at the Radha-Krishna Temple. I like this marriage ceremony because it has given practical proof of my ideas that boys and girls of this country better be married and engaged in preaching work. By the grace of Krishna, our centers managed by the married couples, like Boston, Hawaii, Detroit, New Vrindaban, St. Louis and Buffalo, etc., are doing very well. Similarly, when you are married, as it was discussed in Los Angeles, you also go somewhere, probably in Mexico as you desire, and organize a center there and start an edition of BTG in Spanish language. Our BTG in French language and German language are improving sales and people are appreciating. So why not in Spanish language, which you know well and I think Citsukhananda also knows well. So this is very good news. I was, since a long time, thinking of your marriage. Now Krishna has given you this opportunity. Utilize it properly and be happy. I am glad to learn that Hamsaduta is going to officiate the ministerial function in the marriage, and I think he has got the tape of all the mantras in this connection. So be married, chant Hare Krishna and be happy. This is what I want.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Los Angeles 14 February, 1970:

In regard to praying to Lord Nityananda Prabhu I have written to you in my last letter that such prayer is quite appropriate. Our only prayer should be in the matter of desiring further development of devotional service and such sincere prayer should be submitted not directly to the lord but through the via-media of His bona fide servitor or representative.

I am very glad to learn that S.F. Temple is doing very nicely in the street Sankirtana with transcendental plays. And your BTG sales are very encouraging to me. I have heard from Gargamuni that you are ordering 20,000 issues of BTG and this is very good news. Selling BTG means that our movement is increasing and our philosophy is being appreciated. Uttama Sloka is a very good devotee and I am also glad to learn that he is of great assistance to you in guiding the new devotees. He may remain there with my permission for as long as he may like, I know that he is very valuable as an expert Temple manager.

I have already sent Hamsaduta to oversee the Germany center and help them be organized.

I am very happy to learn that you are arranging for opening another center in San Jose. From your letter I can understand that it will be a good start in spreading our Krsna Consciousness movement to the Spanish speaking people. I do not care whether the center is opened this place or that place, simply I want to see that eventually a center is opened in every place. So far now you may start the center in San Jose, and as you say that there are many advantages to this procedure, you must develop it nicely. This will be a good opportunity for Citsukhananda and his wife to engage some Spanish speaking devotees to help them when the South American center is first opened. So by the near location you should keep in close touch and give them all assistance as much as possible. Your plan is fully approved by me, and you may immediately begin your preparations without delay.

Letter to Satyabhama -- Los Angeles 14 March, 1970:

I am very happy to learn that your son is growing strong and blissful. That is good news. And that your desire to raise many such souls in Krishna Consciousness is very nice proposal. We need as many Krishna Conscious men as possible, trained from the very beginning of their lives, to carry on our mission and purify the society.

Regarding the condensation of KRSNA book, I have read it and it is very nice. Try to work on it as time permits; and in the meantime, you can have some xerox copies made, then later on we shall find opportunity to print it.

You write to say that Paramananda is always thinking of me and he is working hard to develop New Vrindaban transcendental community. That is very good. I know Paramananda is a very good soul, and you together are good combination. So do everything enthusiastically to develop our New Vrindaban scheme and advance forward in Krishna Consciousness life.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 5 April, 1970:

Yes, I was missing the two volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam of Cantos 3; 7, 8, 9. So keep them with you as reference, or conveniently send them here.

I think in the very near future you will be required to move from center to center to teach this verse vibration. So in each center, by hearing your tapes and by your personal presence they will become very expert in pronouncing the Sanskrit verses.

Regarding your last point that you shall try to learn the various literatures very carefully and present everywhere in classes and books, that is very good. This is a nice idea and if you can do it, it is great service and Krsna will bless you. I am sure you will be successful in this attempt, but don't forget to chant sixteen rounds regularly. then you will get spiritual strength more and more.

I do not know much about Mukunda dasa, but I think Jiva Gosvami did commentation on Bhakti-rasamrita sindhu and that is accepted by my Guru Maharaja.

Letter to Acyutananda -- Los Angeles 11 April, 1970:

Regarding long visa, as you say that you can arrange or advise how they shall apply for it. Sriman Nanda Kumar Brahmacari and Jayapataka Brahmacari are ready to start. So I do not know what to do in this connection. I do not think that writing to Madhava Maharaja for their accommodation from here will be right thing. Better verbally you can ask him whether he will allow two other Brahmacaris to stay there.

The procedure is quite admitted that you do not accept invitation in the fashionable meetings and you lecture exclusively. That is very nice. You do not allow anyone to touch your feet—this is very good attitude—but if they want to insist on touching your feet and there is no other way to avoid it, you can simply remember your predecessor Acaryas and Spiritual Masters and accept them and return namaskara with folded hands. That is the Vaisnava etiquette.

Letter to Himavati -- Los Angeles 26 April, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated sometime April, and I am so glad to learn that you are making advance in Krishna Consciousness as it is scheduled. It appears that you are on the attachment platform, this is very good. The next platform is ecstasy, and then pure love of God. So stick to your duties at the present moment, and when it is convenient you can go with the Sankirtana Party, but never neglect the Arcana regulation at any cost. If you have no time, you are not required to go with the Sankirtana Party. Your first business is to take care of the Deities. Practically you see that everyone is appreciating your Deity worship and Srimati Radharani is smiling, so it is a great credit for you, so continue this engagement.

Regarding going together with Hamsaduta on Sankirtana Party, no, there is no need of specifically helping Hamsaduta because you are now engaged in direct service to the Lord, and it must be understood that this service is your specific duty.

I do not think you require a child for the purpose of example. You had one child, and by the desire of Krsna the child did not stay. Now you can forget of any child. Just do the present service with great care and affection, that will be your best service to Krsna. Better to accept Krsna as your child, and He will never leave you like material child. He will stay with you forever.

Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 21 June, 1970:

Please accept my blessings and offer the same to your good wife, Arundhati, and your firstborn son, whom you may give the name Aniruddha. This is very good news. Now you must take the responsible post of both husband and father to guide both these good souls, your wife and son, to the perfection of human life in Krsna consciousness. You and your wife are both intelligent and advanced in devotional science, so work conjointly to raise your son in the best atmosphere of ideal family blessed by Krsna in Krsna consciousness.

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 14th June, 1970, and have read it carefully. So your efforts in the matter of our Sanskrit editing are effectively improving our books more and more with scholarly standards. All your work and programs are approved by me as you have listed them. So please continue to develop your capabilities by careful work as you are doing. Your corrections of the discrepancies found in the Gita Press editions of Srimad-Bhagavatam are alright. On page 39, verse 24, the word vyajyate is correct. The style of Srimad-Bhagavatam just as I had printed earlier in the First Canto editions is very nice. Go on with this style for all our Bhagavatam editions.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 9 July, 1970:

They are situated in the Spiritual sky and as such they are the only alternative offering relief from the miseries of all kinds of material conditions of life. So encourage people to come and spend time with us in the temple and become purified from all contaminations and anxieties. Everyone is suffering from thirst for spiritual life or Krsna consciousness and it is the temple which can offer them Krsna Consciousness to satisfy their thirsting.

Regarding your temple schedule of study, it is alright so continue your classes regularly and try to understand the philosophy as it is—that is required.

I have been informed by Devananda that your wife has borne you one nice son. So this is very good news. You may give him the name Nirmala Candra. Nirmala means without any flaws or without contamination and Candra means moon. So the name Nirmala Candra refers specifically to Lord Caitanya who is known as the Spotless Moon of Gauda. Now you husband and wife must work together combinedly with great responsibility for raising your new child in ideal Krsna consciousness. Children learn by imitation of their parents, so if you both set Krsna conscious example the child will very naturally and easily become advanced in Krsna consciousness by following. Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Laksmimoni, and your son.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Tokyo 16 August, 1970:

When I was in L.A. I duly received your $100 contribution. I have replied Vasudeva's letter separately encouraging him in painting and you supervise that he is doing nicely. Immediately a set of paintings may be sent to Australia.

I am very glad that Himavati is always engaged in the service of the Lord.

Regarding Sivananda's going to Munich for starting a new center with his wife, the plan is very nice. If you open branches as many as possible that is very encouraging to me. Sivananda has got experience and he has now a new wife who is very nice so let them go to Munich for spreading this Movement. That is very good program.

Most probably the Sannyasis will go to India via Europe. Everything will be discussed in your next meeting in New Vrndavana when you meet there.

Letter to Karandhara -- Tokyo 22 August, 1970:

I have invited some of the directors of Dai Nippon to take lunch with me today and I may inquire if they have received further money. The bill is already for $32,000 for the books which I have ordered to be printed and over and above this if the amount for KRSNA II and Hindi BTG is added the amount will come to somewhere about $53,000. So kindly go on sending weekly whatever collection you make for the Book Fund.

I am so glad to learn that the management of the Temple is going nicely and the devotees are feeling transcendental pleasure. I understand from Tamala that the number of weekly guests has almost doubled. This is very good news. Who is taking care of my apartments? It should be cleansed at least twice a week and on the Altar of the Deity at least one incense may be offered daily.

I thank you very much and all the devotees for offering me a garland daily as you were doing when I was physically present. If a disciple is constantly engaged in carrying out the instructions of the Spiritual Master he is supposed to be constantly in company with hs Spiritual Master. This is called Vaniseva. So there are two kinds of service to the Spiritual Master One is called vaniseva and the other is called vapuseva. Vaniseva means as above mentioned, executing the instructions, and vapuseva means physically or personally rendering service. So in the absence of physical presentation of the Spiritual Master the vaniseva is more important. My Spiritual Master, Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura, may appear to be physically not present, but still because I try to serve His instruction I never feel separated from Him. I expect that all of you should follow these instructions.

Letter to Dinesh -- Calcutta 25 September, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 17th, 1970. Regarding the letter from Mr. Gangulee, it is very nice that he has agreed to write it and the copies should be attached to each and every visa of the devotees as you have mentioned—that is very good proposal. But regarding taking the visas, they are already coming, Hamsaduta and Himavati are already here and I have received telegram that the others are leaving London and expect to be here on the 3rd of October. Anyway, you are managing the affair nicely so far, so please see whatever remains to be done is finished up properly. This is an important matter and up to now it is going on well. So whatever you do in this connection, I am sure of its being alright.

I am very glad to learn that both you and your good wife, Krsna devi, and your daughter, Visnu Arati, are together in Boston. Your all engagements sound to be very suitable, so please execute your duties in Krsna Consciousness and be happy. I am especially pleased that you are taking charge in the Boston area of placing my books and literatures in the local school-college libraries and you have already had success with placing all our literatures in the two most important libraries of Harvard University and the Divinity School. When I spoke there sometimes back our Krsna Consciousness philosophy was very much appreciated, so I think this is an important place for our literatures to be available to the students and faculty. Please go on with this engagement enthusiastically and Krsna will give you all success in the venture. You are intelligent and hard working devotee of Krsna and Krsna will bless you for this very fine service which you are rendering unto Him.

Letter to Jagadisa -- Calcutta 29 September, 1970:

Take care of the new devotees so that they may read our literatures carefully and come to the real standard of understanding. Our strength is not material strength, but spiritual strength. So if spiritual strength is not strong now, try to make Sripati and the others stronger by spiritual means by following the regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds. Formerly Jayapataka was president of Montreal center; now he is working here in India very intelligently although it is a foreign city.

Regarding your cooperative program with Karandhara for realizing the great potential for Krsna Consciousness in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, that is very good news—do it carefully.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 25 November, 1970:

Neglect of following the regulative activities and so-called advancement on the basis of self-motivation are both offensive. One should sincerely try to bring himself to the stage of devotional service motivated by pure love of Krsna, and our personal example must set a guide for them.

You have written, and several others have written to me intimations that you are establishing a membership program in the U.S. That is very good idea. However, I have already advised Rupanuga how the Membership fees are to be fixed. Please see that this business is done consistently by all our centers, otherwise there will be a confusion. Regarding means for increasing the income of the temples, I have asked Tamala Krsna to give you some hints how to do it. I am waiting further reports on the endeavors of our Sannyasis in establishing new centers in Houston, New Orleans and Coconut Grove. I have written Brahmananda how they are to manage their own establishment program. Every Temple must work independently so far as maintenance is concerned.

I was so much anxious about Advaita and I am very much concerned lest he become further victim of maya. I am anxiously waiting for a letter from him. In the meantime, I have asked that as far as possible, all unpublished manuscripts be printed by him on ISKCON Press. I have also requested Kulasekhara to go to Boston to assist Advaita and I am confident that the tense situation will be relieved.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Bombay 29 November, 1970:

It is my ultimate desire that all the cities of the world have such centers for Krsna Consciousness and I am sure this will come about because it is the desire of Lord Caitanya.

I have also received encouraging reports from Sydney and Fiji. So long our students remain fixed up to the regulative principles without deviation they will be enthusiastic for spreading this sublime movement. Please keep close contact with the centers in your zone and see that everything is going on nicely. If you can travel from center to center conveniently, that is very good.

Regarding the two students in Sydney, I shall arrange to initiate them as soon as possible. I am very glad that Janne will soon be joining Bhurijana and they will open our branch in Hong Kong. This is the greatest service that you are all rendering in the matter of spreading Krsna Consciousness and Krsna and Caitanya Mahaprabhu will certainly bless you all my sincere students more and more in Krsna Consciousness.

Letter to Karandhara -- Bombay 30 November, 1970:

That will be better. I have also received the receipts of temple payment for Sept. and Oct. Also the pictures of the sanctuary appear very nice.

My Guru Maharaja used to say "don't worry about money, Do something nice for Krishna and money will come." So we should always be thinking how to distribute the message of Krishna and surely He will give us facility. Even an ordinary man if he wants publicity then he gives so much money for the propaganda work. Similarly Krishna is not poor. He can supply any amount for the devotees who are engaged in broadcasting His glories. I see that you are moving in the schools and universities for preaching. That is very good. Krishna says that this knowledge is the king of education. So it will be appreciated.

Your program to visit nearby cities and towns with a travelling party is nice. Krishna Das has also started this program in Germany and the success has been good.

Regarding worship of Tulasi, it is not very much important. Simply all the devotees may offer a little water every morning and in the evening offer obeisances and ghee lamp (one wick) and circumambulating three times repeating the mantras that I have given you. The plant may remain in the garden.

Letter to Nayanabhirama -- Bombay 1 December, 1970:

The world is suffering on account of atheistic conviction of life, so our theistic proposition presenting Krishna, the Supreme Lord, is certainly a great relief to the agnostics, atheists, impersonalists and voidists. In all our books we have very scientifically covered all such demons and if these books are introduced in the schools and colleges, so many beautiful souls will be saved. Your are doing a great service to humanity to introduce our books to the people in general. So far as preaching through television the mantras of Isopanisad is concerned, that will be a great success to do so.

So far as moving the temple to a new location, that is very good news. When I return to your country, I must visit your temple, either from New York or from New Vrindaban. Formerly, when I first came to the U.S. I saw this Philadelphia city. It is a nice small city almost representing New York. In the Philadelphia University there is one professor of Sanskrit. His first name is Norman, and the last name is, I believe, Brown. Dr. Norman Brown. He invited me to speak in his class, so we are acquainted. If possible, try to introduce our books there. This university is in the Walnut district.

If you can keep cows, it is very good. You'll get fresh milk. That's a great benefit. To take care of the cow is a religious function for the Hindus but actually if care is taken for cows, it delivers us the miracle food—cow's milk, which is so valuable. And because we drink cow's milk, we should accept the cow as our mother. That is etiquette.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Paramananda -- Allahabad 27 January, 1971:

I thank you very much for your kind letter dated 28th December, 1970. I am so glad to hear that your son Premananda is already walking and already chanting Hare Krishna. That is very good. So Krishna has blessed you with a nice Krishna Conscious wife and a devotee son and good atmosphere for raising a family in Krishna Consciousness. You are one of the main members of our New Vrindaban scheme. So be very serious to develop it nicely so that we can show the world how the ideal God-conscious community is working.

So far as your questions are concerned: 1) How the five great elements are a gross representation of the subtle false ego. Where is the problem? By false ego, which is part of the subtle body, we are thinking that we are this gross material body made up of the five great elements. That is all. (2) There are 16 factors—10 senses, 5 sense objects and the mind. When the three modes of nature react, then from these 16 factors the gross and subtle elements come out. The soul is the 17th factor.

Letter to Upendra -- Allahabad 27 January, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two letters dated 16th and 17th Narayana, 484, along with enclosures of pictures and news clippings. I am so pleased to see you and your good wife in every picture in different poses of preaching work. That is real Krsna consciousness service to preach the message of the Holy Name to all persons. And they appear to be all responding very enthusiastically to your preaching; that is very good sign. If you remain pure and enthusiastic, you will have the spiritual strength to enthuse others with the chanting of Hare Krsna Mahamantra and devotional service to the Lord.

I am a little concerned, however, that you are being somewhat harassed in your activities by these so-called swamis. But do not be discouraged by their foolish talkings, we have got more important business. We do not judge the man by his dress, so we are not concerned with the color of our cloth as much as we are concerned to keep our conduct on the plane of pure spiritual life. Our Krsna consciousness is practically being accepted by all kinds of persons all over the world and there is no discrimination of types of dress. Generally Grhasthas wear white for the men and colorful saris for the women. While performing sacrifices, etc. they may wear yellow cloth which is considered auspicious. But you are always engaged in such religious activity in direct service of the transcendental Lord, so yellow garments are not inappropriate. In India our householder devotee men are all wearing white cloths and they all look very, very nice. You can do also if you like.

I am so glad to hear that the people are eager to have more opportunity for Krsna Consciousness. I would also very much like to travel there. But I do not know what arrangements you can make to bring us there.

Letter to Gunagrahi -- Gorakhpur 12 February, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your nice letter dated 27th December, 1970, and I am so glad to know that you have been staying at our Buffalo Temple and you are now the Sankirtana leader there. This is very good news. The spreading of this Sankirtana Movement is the best service to the greater humanity and all living entities in general because it revives the divine nature of the soul in Krsna Consciousness. So your activities are now supposed to be on the pure spiritual platform and by continuation of this simple process faithfully you will increase your spiritual blissful strength and influence those who come in your contact to take part in this joyous revival of love of Krsna, the desired life of eternally liberated souls.

I am very glad to accept you as my initiated disciple and your spiritual name is Gunagrahi Das Brahmacari. Gunagrahi means one who picks up or acquires all good qualifications or qualities. You can easily understand how Krsna is the repository of all auspicious qualities beyond enumeration; so you are to be known as the servant of the All-Good Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna. I have duly chanted your beads and they are returned to you herewith. Please fulfill your all requirements of advancement in Krsna consciousness by rigidly following the rules and regulations, chanting the sixteen rounds of beads daily, studying our literatures carefully and thoughtfully in the company of other devotees and try always to keep yourself engaged progressively in some kind of service of the Lord.

Letter to Jananivasa -- ISKCON; Akash-Ganga Bldg, 7th floor; 89 Warden Road Bombay-26 INDIA 23rd March, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19th February, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. I am so glad to note how things are steadily improving there in Columbus center, with new devotees coming, and that you are about to acquire a new temple in the busiest quarter of town. That is very encouraging. Maitahili Devi is coming from L.A. to act as poojari. So make the Deities and temple gorgeously situated so that the people will sure to be attracted. Because you are sincerely working, Krishna is giving you facility for improvement. So develop the temple nicely.

I am glad to hear how you are lecturing in college classes also. That is very good program. Take as many such college classes as possible. You write to say that there is some difficulty in distriuting books because religious teachings are unlawful in public schools. How is that? In every university there is a department of religion. Unless they understand religion in elementary schools, what they will understand in college? Our philosophy and teachings should be studied in childhood, just after reaching five years of age.

So the public is somewhat conservative and still there is some police harrassment, but you are "going on with work undaunted." That should be followed. Haridas Thakur was harassed even by corporal punishment. Jesus Christ was killed. Nityananda Prabhu was injured by Jagai and Madai. But still preaching never stopped. We are delivering the genuine goods to the human society on behalf of God, Krishna. If someone wants to check us, it is for the time being only and not permanent situation because no material circumstances can permanently hamper devotional service.

Letter to Rsabhadeva -- Bombay 25 March, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 9th February, 1971 and have noted the contents. I am so glad to note how nicely your Sankirtana activities are going on there in Laguna Beach center. You write to say that you are considering the possibility of celebrating feast days with festivals on the street. That is very good program, so do it nicely. Aratik ceremony may be done also, if possible. Otherwise, it is not necessary. So long as there is Guru-Gauranga worship, Yamuna Prabhu may act as pujari. Otherwise, one must be initiated to tend the Deity.

It is also encouraging to note how you are arranging formal parties at professional people's homes and presenting our life membership program. That has been our program in India and it has been met with great success. So continue this program with enthusiasm and determination. We want to distribute our books as far as possible to all classes of men, because anyone who reads them is sure to become Krishna Conscious, they are so nice. Also you should distribute the books to schools, colleges, libraries, bookstores, and wherever else you can imagine that they will be received. Also continue your program of door-to-door Sankirtana. That is certainly Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement and he will bestow upon you all blessings.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Bombay 24 April, 1971:

I have already consented to attend Calcutta ceremony. I am not going to Russia immediately, but to Kuala Lumpur by the 30th April instead and I shall be going to Calcutta from Sydney by the 14th May. In the Sankirtana festival pandal if a very big kitchen arrangement can be made, then we shall distribute prasadam daily. Try to make this arrangement. Puri, halava, kitri—whatever can be arranged as much as possible. Tamala Krishna and Giriraja have all the ideas. Some professional men should be engaged 24 hours preparing prasadam. There are many volunteer organizations in Calcutta. They should come forward and help us distribute prasadam.

You are taking in so much money for this event. That is very good. Also you should save some money for the building account. I have already sent my passport and I understand that the new passport is ready for dispatching. So I hope you have dispatched it yesterday.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 24 April, 1971:

I have already given $20,000 to BTG. Besides that, New Vrindaban has to be developed very nicely but whether Hayagriva has already transferred the property to the society's name? This is required now. We require seven temples in New Vrindaban and 50% of the membership collection (Building fund) may be invested for this purpose. But Hayagriva should transfer the property to the society's name.

Our incense trademark should be registered now. I understand that there is one man in Bombay who has plagiarized our Spiritual Sky label, so we are serving him the proper notice to stop this plagiarizing business. So income is increasing there. That is very good. But in the winter season the collections are not so good so you should make some compensation for those months. The point is that there must not be any financial difficulty. If there is not sufficient engagement in the temple, the devotees should work outside, although if we can manage without our men working outside that is best.

So far as the Indians in San Francisco, they should be tackled nicely. They have promised, so someone should collect that proposed $20,000. Yes, Tejiyas and Laura can be married. His name is Tejiyas, not Tejios. I was confused by the mispelling.

Letter to Prahladananda -- Bombay 17 June, 1971:

That is very nice. Try especially to distribute our literatures there and lecture also. These books are so much potent that anyone who reads them is sure to become Krishna Conscious. They are so nice. So we want to make propaganda in that way. And if you are enthusiastic and sincere in your efforts, then Krishna will give you all facility.

So far as your questions: parching the body unnecessarily is not the desire of the Supreme Lord. So one who goes against the rules and regulations of scriptures is causing pain to the supersoul. Therefore, parching the body means parching the supersoul.; generally it is the process to simply chant and hear, but if Krishna's lila comes into remembrance, that is very good. It should come automatically. Not that you are remembering artificially.

Letter to Gaura Hari -- Los Angeles 9 July, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 4th July, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. Yes, I am so glad to hear about your travelling Sankirtana Party. That is very good news. So engage yourself in this program whole-heartedly. I have got all my blessings on you and the other members, so do everything nicely.

And it is very encouraging to hear that so many new devotees are coming. That is an indication of your sincerity. The more sincere you are in pushing this movement forward, so Krishna will reciprocate and send you many new devotees. Thank you very much. So give them protection and instruct them so that they may not go away. We recruit devotees with great difficulty. So they must be well-treated. New men may not always behave so nicely but we must be tolerant. To train a new man is like training a wild animal to be a pet. Just like the tiger is trained in the circus and later on they are dancing to the tune of the master. So the point being stressed is training. A preacher should always be tolerant.

I am so glad to hear how nicely Tulsi is growing. That is the sign of substantial devotional service. Every center should be encouraged to grow Tulsi. If there is any impediment in growing Tulsi, that means that devotional service is defective. Yes, Jagannatha Deities may be carved and installed later on. So I will give you instructions how they should be installed. First of all, let them be carved.

Letter to Ekayani -- London 31 August, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 20th August, 1971 and have noted the contents. In spite of all your faults you will go to Vaikuntha because you are a great devotee. Don't create some abnormal condition. Please go back to your husband and live peacefully and execute Krishna Consciousness together. He will also not take sannyasa order out of frustration. You are an intelligent girl and an advanced student. You should know that our main business is Krishna Consciousness. So fighting between husband and wife is not to be taken very seriously. So if you have any respect for me, I request you not to quarrel with your husband. Live peacefully, chant Hare Krishna and try to serve the cause as best as possible. I am very glad that your mother is also taking interest in Krishna Consciousness. That is very good. As you have to leave Boston very soon it is better that you go immediately to N.Y. and live peacefully with your husband. That is my order. I hope you will not disobey me.

So far your questions: Any tune can be used. When it is in relationship with Krishna, that makes it bona fide; Some precautionary measure should be taken to keep bugs from the altar and Deity. You cannot allow them to disturb the Deity. Best is that you try and catch them and throw them out rather than kill them but if killing them is the only alternative, what can be done?; Tulasi plants are liberated souls who want to serve Krishna in that way. Anyone who even desires to serve Krishna is liberated, what to speak of one who is actually engaged in devotional service; expansion means remains in Goloka Vrindaban and at the same time expands all over the universe. Krishna can expand, so his devotee can also expand; Vallabhacaryas teachings are bona fide. This difference of opinion is there always. Just like you differ with your husband, but that doesn't mean that you and your husband are not devotees; In the spiritual sky there is no birth, so where is the question of baby? Krishna is there eternally as Kisora, a 16 year old youth. His childhood pastimes exhibited in the material universes. Best thing is if you chant Hare Krishna and go to Krishna Loka and find out the answers to all these questions yourself.

Letter to Govinda -- Delhi 20 November, 1971:

He was an elder gentleman in the town of Navadvipa, elder of the brahmana community. All should wear Tulasi kunti beads, not less than two strands. Three, four strands or my Guru Maharaja had five strands. Only Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda wear crowns and nosepins. Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda can be decorated with all kinds of jewelry. For Krishna Tulasi and Rama Tulasi the the worship is the same. There is no difference between Rama and Krishna. Both are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Simply they are expansions of the same Absolute Truth.

This is very good that these leaders of this local yoga group have joined with us. This is great credit. All the hippie groups can be transformed into Krishna Consciousness by your regular preaching. You have already experienced that our transcendental mantra of Hare Krishna and distribution of prasadam will make us successful all over the world. Those who are intelligent can read our books very seriously and their lives will become perfect. Our method is very simple. The preacher should also be ideal, sincere, serious and strictly adhering to our principles, chanting 16 rounds and following the restrictive rules.

Letter to Karandhara -- Delhi 3 December, 1971:

Enclosed please find two copies of Gayatri Mantra and two sacred threads, duly chanted on. Two beads duly chanted by me have been sent under separate post. Hold a fire yajna and give gayatri mantra to Yasoda-jiva and Siddhesvara. You have a tape of me reciting Gayatri Mantra. One thing is that the tape should be heard through earphones into the right ear. So the fire yajna can be held for all four devotees.

I have received today one telegram from Rupanuga, informing me that MacMillan Co. is enthusiastic to print our Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 30,000 paperback and 10,000 hardback. This is very good news. Now see to it that everything is done smoothly, so that Bhagavad-gita may be presented to the world without further delay.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Delhi 8 December, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge your letters dated October 13, 1971, duly forwarded from Africa and Calcutta, and November 29, 1971, and I have noted the contents. I am pleased that you want to improve your speaking of German language for preaching and for translating books. That is very good proposal. Actually, we have no need to study very hard to learn any language, but if you simply begin to preach with what you know, gradually you will improve more and more. That is how I improved in English language, by translating Srimad-Bhagavatam and preaching in USA. If Mandali Bhadra is having difficulty, try to arrange things in such a way that he and his wife will be satisfied and let him translate books full-time. If it is necessary or helpful for him to go to New York I have no objection, but this you must discuss with GBC men and Press.

So far your Central European Account, I don't think there is any advantage. It simply means more complication. Best thing is if each Temple transfers money regularly to Karandhara and sends you copies of the transfer receipt. If French money is changed to German money and then again to USA dollars, we lose some commission each time. But if French money is exchanged directly for dollars by Karandhara, there is less percentage of loss. What do you think?

Page Title:That is very good (Letters 1967 - 1971)
Compiler:Visnu Murti, RupaManjari
Created:15 of Nov, 2012
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=59
No. of Quotes:59