Training of Adi Kesava dasa (Letters, 1974 - 1976)

Correspondence

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Trai -- Rome 27 May, 1974:

I am enclosing brahmana threads and gayatri mantra for Ādi Kesava das and Vivasvan das. You must be very careful before you award the brahminical thread by recommending a man to me. Now that we are dividing our society into the four orders as much as possible, it is not that every man has to be made a brahmana after a year. Especially if one cannot even get up early and go to mangala arati he cannot become a brahmana. So consider it carefully before you recommend further men to me.

Letter to Adi-kesava -- Bombay 26 July, 1974:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19/7/74. Regarding the boys for initiation, I have initiated them a follows:

Andrew Lerra—Agrani (the foremost)

James Newcomb—Naksatranemi (surrounded by stars—Lord Visnu)

Richard Corbeil—Satangati

So you can have their beads chanted upon by Kirtanananda Swami. My only request is that you see that our men strictly are carrying out my instructions regarding following the rules and regulations.

I thank you for your invitation for your new temple opening. I am now in India and I shall write to you about my future itinerary.

Letter to Adi-kesava:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 20th. Please accept my blessings. I have also received the enclosed photographs which are very nice. Regarding taking the Deities out on travelling sankirtana, I think you can take guidance from Visnujana Maharaja and Tamala Krishna Goswami who are giving you the example in this connection.

Letter to Adi-kesava -- Calcutta 24 September, 1974:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 2, 1974 with enclosed letters from the initiates. Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples.

1. Ted Prior—Tatpara dasa

2. Louis Soules—Ladhvamsi dasa

Also, I am accepting the second initiation of Bhudhara dasa, Prthusrava dasa, and Narindra dasa. Enclosed are the sanctified threads and the mantra sheet. The beads may be chanted upon by a sannyasi or GBC man. You should hold a fire sacrifice amongst the devotees, and they can hear the mantra through the right ear. The mantra should be recited three times daily.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Adi-kesava -- Bombay 2 January, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 24th, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully.

The thing is, we should have a little common sense in all activities. The example can be given that women by nature do not forget to dress very nicely although always engaged in household affairs. Deity worship or lecturing in the colleges is just as important as book distribution. So, these things must be done very nicely and at the same time, book distribution should be done. Not that we should do one thing at the sacrifice of another. That requires a little common sense. Factually, we should be engaged 24 hours in Krishna's service and everything should be done very nicely and perfectly.

Letter to Adi-kesava -- Bombay 16 January, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 8th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Regarding your proper engagement, you should first discuss that with your GBC and try to work something out together. Regarding your questions. I have already answered the most important question. "How to please Krishna?"—by following all the regulative principle that I have given you, chanting 16 rounds and reading my books scrutinizingly. Everyone must do these things, otherwise they cannot understand Krishna Consciousness.

I have accepted the four persons that you have recommended for second initiation and their threads and mantra sheet are enclosed herein. I have also accepted the six persons you have recommended for first initiation. Their names are: Edward—Sadasiva dasa, Robert—Rupa dasa, Susan—Sitapati dasi, Theothora-Tryadhisa dasi, Mildred—Mahalaksmi dasi, David—Dharmasetu dasa. Their beads can be chanted on by Kirtanananda Svami.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Adi-kesava -- Honolulu 3 May, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 21, 1976, and I have noted the contents with care. Your plan to have the Rathayatra on July 18th, down 5th Avenue, is approved by me and I shall try to be there definitely. However make the carts very strong, not that while the procession is going on, the wheel breaks on the cart. It is better to have one first class cart. The cart in Philadelphia was done very nicely. If you are unable to make three strong carts, then make at least one very nicely. But, if you can make three very strong, then I have no objection.

Concerning the house in Delhi, I am surprised to hear that the State Department in Washington has not yet received our application from their Delhi office. I am herewith enclosing a true copy of the application with explanatory note to this effect. I want you to see that this is delivered to the proper person in Washington, and if possible you can arrange an appointment with him so that I can meet with him and finalize matters if possible when I visit Washington. I am tentatively scheduled to visit Washington, D.C. between the 2nd July (friday) and the 9th July (friday). If we can finalize this business during this time in my presence, that will be very nice. I shall likely remain here in Hawaii until the end of May, then I will be in Los Angeles for about 10 days. Please inform me of the outcome of your endeavours.

Letter to Tejiyas -- Honolulu 3 May, 1976:

I have been informed by Ādi Kesava Maharaja that the people in Washington are prepared to approve our purchase of the Delhi house at 12 Ring Road, but they cannot do so until* they receive the application which we submitted in New Delhi. So much time has passed and still they have not received the original application in Washington from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. Please look into the matter and inform me in Hawaii where I shall most probably remain until the end of the month of May.

Letter to Brisakapi -- Honolulu 6 May, 1976:

I am looking forward to meeting with one State Department official, a Mr. Twohi, who is handling a house which we want to acquire to house our Delhi Temple. I believe that Ādi Kesava Maharaja who is presently in N.Y. temple is supposed to arrange this meeting between myself and Mr. Twohie. So far meeting the President is concerned, you can try to arrange, but it is not the most important thing.

Letter to Adi-kesava -- New York 19 July, 1976:

I wish to thank you for assisting in organizing such a grand Rathayatra on 5th. Avenue in New York. I am very much pleased with your sincere efforts. Go on like this and Krishna will surely bless you.

Letter to Adi-kesava -- Vrindaban 14 November, 1976:

I am in receipt of your letter dated 3/8/76 which has just now reached me.

Upon your recommendation I am pleased to accept the boy you have recommended for initiation. His new name is Giridhari dasa. Please make sure he knows to strictly follow the four regulative principles and chant a minimum of sixteen rounds daily avoiding the ten offenses. Hold a fire sacrifice. Tamala Krsna may chant on his beads.

Letter to Adi-kesava, Dhrstadyumna -- Vrindaban 23 November, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 9, 1976.

Upon your recommendation I will be pleased to accept Drsya Krsna, Hamsarupa, and Subuddhi Raya for second initiation. Now hold a fire sacrifice for devotees only. Let the initiates hear the tape of me chanting Gayatri in the right ear. Teach them how to chant on the finger divisions.

Letter to Adi-kesava -- Mathura, India 24 November, 1976:

I have studied all the letters and clippings in our support. It is very good. This is very important. By Krsna's grace, due to this apparent setback, now this Movement will become more prominent. Sometimes these tactics are also employed in military encounters. Temporarily retreating, then coming forward with stronger force than before. You may consult with Tamala Krsna and Ramesvara and whatever expenditure is required for emergency legal costs may be loaned from the BBT. We must spend for this purpose.

Letter to Adi-kesava -- Bombay 26 December, 1976:

Mare krsna rakhe ke rakhe krsna mare ke. If Krsna protects, who can kill? And, if krsna kill, who can protect? So, if we are sincere servants, then Krsna will give us protection. Who can kill us? This Bombay land, such a huge attempt was made to kill us. Now we are the owner of this huge property. We were going to be driven out, now we are the richest men. In Bombay nobody has got such property.

The society of friends in support of the Hare Krsna Movement is a very good proposal. So, induce them to do that. That will be great success. If such persons organize a movement that the Hare Krsna Movement is genuine it is a very, very good success. Try to do it. All the scholars who have given certification will join. That will be great success if that corporation is formed. So our scholars, students like Svarupa Damodara and others can join with them to form this corporation. This should be organized. This is a very good proposal. Somehow or other try for that.

That you are gathering good support from the Indian community is nice. This Candra Swami has said that "In America there is no one turning Christians into Hindus except for the Hare Krsna Movement." That means his support is genuine, he's appreciating. Yes, it is dangerous to associate with such men, you should always remember that. But to take our interest, if the help is coming from such persons, we should not lose it also. But you must be very careful. If it is by his arrangement that we shall be able to see Carter, then we shall take advantage. If we can explain our philosophy that will be nice.

That Krsna is on our side is our only hope. Still we shall endeavor to do the needful. We want that Krsna's name will become the most prominent in the Western world, directly or indirectly. Either they paise Krsna or criticize they are being purifies. this is very curious. They are helping to sell our books. They are curious: "What is this nonsense?" That's nice that Krsna is now appearing on the front page of the New York Times.

Yes, be assured Krsna will bless you to be strong against these demons.

Regarding the use of Ostrich feathers, we don't find such things mentioned in the sastras, only peacock feathers. But, there is no harm. It is for dressing the Deity.

Page Title:	Training of Adi Kesava dasa (Letters, 1974 - 1976)
Compiler:	Labangalatika
Created:	31 of May, 2010
Totals by Section:	BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=14
No. of Quotes:	14