# Letters — 1973 ### Letter to Abhirama **Date:** December 1st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Abhirama, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 14, 1973. Regarding the initiations, I accept the following as my initiated disciples: Richard Richman—Raghava dasJoel Peir—Caitanya Jivan dasPaul Baker—Sriman Pandit dasCarl Franzen—Sulochana dasHoward Wilfield—Narahari dasNeils Hertz—Vallabha Sen dasBarbara Drehl—Bhuvana Pavani dasiHolly Franzen—Sulochana dasiPatti Welfield—Bhagavat Sakti dasiMaureen Hertz—Ragunandini dasiSo you take instruction from Rupanuga Maharaja on how to properly perform the yajna after he has chanted on their beads. Each disciple should go for collecting guru-daksine after the ceremony and the proceeds may be sent here c/o Karandhara. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/kda ### Letter to Abhirama **Date:** March 6th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Abhirama: Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your unsigned report dated the 18th of February. I have just arrived here a few days ago and by the 15th I shall go to Mayapur on the festival celebration of Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. We are expecting many thousands to visit there and our nice building is almost completed. Yes, your appointment as the new president of the Miami Temple is completely approved by me, now take advantage and preach among all the young people there and recruit some good men. For some time now I have been thinking to have a nice place in Florida and now it looks like you are trying for it. As far as the Deities are concerned, we do not want to repeat the same mistake again, so it is better that you wait to get some more brahmanas before installing Them again. For worshiping the banyan tree, the representation of Krsna, simply offer a little flower, incense and water. Of course, now I am trying to get more valuable time for my translating of Bhagavatam, so you may consult in these matters with Rupanuga Maharaja, your GBC representative. Yes, you are feeling increase in strength with increase in service, and I am not the actual bestower of mercy, rather I am just a messenger for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So just work hard for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His mercy will fall upon you like torrents of rain in the monsoon season. I hope this meets you in good health and I beg to remain[PAGE MISSING] ### Letter to Acyutananda **Date:** November 1st 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Hyderabad My Dear Acyutananda Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. Enclosed please find one letter addressed to me from one of our Bengali devotees, which I am forwarding to you for necessary action. Try to pacify him if he is offended. Everyone comes to us to offer voluntary service, so amongst ourselves there must be good behavior. One may not feel sorry. So the leaders must take precautions as far as possible. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- N.B. Regarding your two questions addressed through Tamala Krsna, the reply to your question about Arjuna's relationship with Krsna, is that Arjuna is an eternal devotee, so on the higher platform the devotee is so intimately related that he forgets Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But, in the lower stage of devotional service Krsna is looked upon with awe and veneration. When Arjuna saw the virata murti of Krsna, actually he came down one step below his position. Therefore he asked for forgiveness from Krsna. So this is a teaching to the common man that we should not take Krsna immediately as intimately as the gopis, cowherds boys, and other advanced devotees treated Him. In the beginning we must treat the Lord with awe and veneration. Later one when we are perfectly on the spiritual platform, we treat Krsna more intimately, and therefore we forget the exalted position of Krsna. But, we never imitate the Brijbasis from the beginning as do the sahajiyas. In the beginning a devotee must follow strictly vidhi-marga or regulated principles. When one is on the swarupa siddha stage, the devotee can treat Krsna on an equal level or sometimes he becomes even higher than Krsna. Just like Mother Yasoda treated Krsna a being completely dependent upon her. So these stages are appreciated in many advanced stages of devotional life. As far as the results of one's good karma is concerned, good karma returns in that he is surrendering to Krsna. One comes to the point of surrender when one has actually amassed the result of multi pious activities. This is stated in the Caitanya Caritamrta as quoted from the Srimad-Bhagavatam as follows:ittham satam brahma-sukhanubhutyadasyam gatanam para-daivatenamayasritanam naradarakenasardham vijahruh krta punya-punjah[SB 10.12.11]This was the statement of Srila Sukdeva Goswami when he saw Krsna carrying the cowherds boys on His shoulders. To be in such a position could only be the result of the performance of many, many pious activities. They were putting their legs on the Supreme Personality of Godhead and were forgetting who He is, and Krsna is taking the feet of His devotee on Himself. Krsna is so nice. The mayavadis can never understand this exchange of devotional activities. I have been hearing about your successful preaching. Stick to this work allotted to you by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Always pray to Caitanya Mahaprabhu for strength and go on with your preaching. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Ajita **Date:** July 11th 1973 — **Location:** England Dear Ajita, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 28 June, 1973, and I have carefully noted the contents. It is encouraging to me that you are in Stockholm trying to open a center, six of you including your wife. From your letter it appears you have found a nice place for a center there. Yes, we can use everything in Krsna's service and when Krsna gives us a nice big house that does not mean we use it for our eating and sleeping, but we work harder in His service. It is also very favorable that you are able to do sankirtana in the streets and getting a nice reception. The book you enclosed is excellently done. Let me know how you are doing in distributing them. Regarding the initiated disciple of my Godbrother Sanananda Swami, Vamanadeva das, please approach him and request that he come and see me in London. So Everything appears to be going well there, just go on increasing. As you write that the Swedish society has placed great stress on material happiness so you can expose how this material life is actually full of miseries and temporary, and the so-called happiness is only illusion. People in the western countries are becoming gradually fed up with materialistic propaganda so you will find good response simply by chanting, speaking from Bhagavad gita as it is, and distributing prasadam to everyone. Unless the human society takes to this process the situation is very precarious. So we have to work hard. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Ajitananda (Anthony), Purvacitti (Patty) **Date:** April 12th 1973 — **Location:** New York My Dear Spiritual Son and Daughter: Please accept my blessings. On the recommendation of Gunagrahi Das I am pleased to accept you as my initiated disciples. I am giving you spiritual names as follows: Anthony is Ajita-ananda and Patty is Purvacitti, wife of Maharaja Agnidra. You send a copy of this letter to Kirtanananda Swami and he will send you your japa beads duly chanted upon as I have prescribed. Now my special request is that you strictly follow the four regulative principles. This will keep you strong in Krishna consciousness. Nor should you neglect the Ten Offenses against the Holy Name. Just chant Hare Krishna in this way, and you will feel yourself advancing in spiritual life. This is the program of Lord Caitanya for us. So you do these things and that will please me very much. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to All Centers **Date:** December 13th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > ALL GLORIES TOSRI GURU AND GAURANGA!MEMO TO ALL CENTERS Dear Prabhus, Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Today we received a newsletter from Syamasundara Prabhu regarding gems and I assume every Center received the same letter. I discussed the contents with Srila Prabhupada and His Divine Grace instructed me to immediately issue the following letter. First of all, Srila Prabhupada never sanctioned or encouraged this program of buying or selling jewels. Furthermore, Srila Prabhupada does not want us to purchase jewels and gems for decorating the Deities in our own Temples. Expensive gems and jewelry will only attract thieves and rogues. It was because of the jewels in Indian Temples that the Mohammedans invaded India, destroying the Deities and Temples and plundering the jewels. In previous ages, when people were honest and pious kings maintained law and order, then the Deities and Temples were decorated with costly jewels but in this age it is not advised. Srila Prabhupada said, "Bhakti does not depend on seeing the Deity with jewelry—it is a different matter. We worship the Deity by strictly observing the rules and regulations of Deity worship—not by decorating with jewelry. Jewels will not attract anyone except thieves and rogues. People will be attracted by our preaching. I don't advise the Temples to purchase jewelry. Do not expose the Deity to this danger. I am not in favor of this." Furthermore, "purchasing jewels means increased anxiety only. It is not the days for this practice. I do not advise buying or selling jewelry."In addition to thieves and rogues, there is risk that even our own men may fall victim to stealing. We have the examples of Kausika and Mahadeva, both devotees who stole from Temples. Prabhupada said, "Our men are coming from outside with so many bad habits and the stealing mentality is there. We are trying to reform, but if the opportunity is there, the mentality may come forward and they may fall down. We will loose our money, our prestige and out students. Why expose them in that way? No jewelry! It is not the time for that."In summary, purchasing jewelry for the Deities is unnecessary, dangerous and unauthorized. Prabhupada said to "write elaborately to all Centers on this point. Try to understand the principle."We improve on Deity worship by regulated puja, purified chanting and bold and enthusiastic preaching work. Those are the real ornaments with which to decorate the Lord. Haribol Prabhus. Your unworthy servant, Karandhara das Adhikari/kddAPPROVED: ACBSHis Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to All Centers **Date:** December 16th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles Memo to All CentersRepeatedly Srila Prabhupada says, "I only want my disciples to take this Movement seriously."So, the punch line is that Prabhupada wants to initiate the following schedule:1. Reside 4 months in India, 4 months in Europe and 4 months in the U.S.A. out of each year.2. See or speak to no one except very important visitors wherever his is staying.3. Be completely relieved of managerial affairs and have full time for translating. What this means to us is the following:1. Don't ask Prabhupada to come to our Temple.2. Solve all problems amongst ourselves and don't burden Prabhupada with them.3. Continue to advance dynamically in Krsna Consciousness by keeping all our principles very strictly and vigorously preach and propagate the movement around the world. Now we have the GBC, the sannyasins, the presidents and so many qualified devotees. We have to give up the habit of placing everything on Prabhupada's shoulders. We must be responsible, mature, steadfast and convinced. Wherever Prabhupada is staying he will deliver morning lectures. Presidents, etc., may visit there and go on the walks with Prabhupada. Other than that we must take care of all affairs. Enough said. The rest is up to us. Haribol. Your servant, Karandhara das AdhikariAPPROVED: A.C. BhaktivedantaSwamiKDA:kdd ### Letter to Amarendra **Date:** April 19th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Amarendra Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 4.17.73. You are asking me to advise what should be your program, but now I wanting to leave these matters in the hands of my disciples. I have created GBC specifically for this purpose. If you the elder disciples cannot manage things, then what is the future of the society? My business now is to sit down and write my books, and I am requesting you all to please cooperate with me in this endeavor. So I think you can take advice from Rupanuga Maharaja, as he is my authorized agent. So I am sending him your letter and a copy of this letter in this regard. Both you and your wife are nice Krishna conscious devotees. You have all good talents to use in Krishna's service. My request is that you simply remember Krishna always and I will pray for your ever increasing advancement in Krishna consciousness. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Rupanuga Maharaja ### Letter to Amogha **Date:** January 29th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Jakarta My dear Amogha das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 18, 1973, and I have noted the contents with great interest. It is so nice you are arranging our preaching program there in Indonesia. So I have left it to Madhudvisa Swami to arrange the dates of the program there. But one thing is, you should not arrange more than one program per day, and that program should either be in the morning or after 5:00 at night. I want to finish this traveling very shortly and settle down to translate my books. So I am counting on you boys and girls to push on this movement and preach vigorously all over the world, and we shall be successful. As far as the dates of the programs, that you must arrange with Madhudvisa Swami as we shall be coming to Indonesia via Australia and New Zealand and then shall be returning to Calcutta by March 1 for beginning preparations for our Mayapur function. So I shall be looking forward very much to seeing you shortly, and at that time we may discuss things at further length. Hoping this finds you well, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Amogha **Date:** May 1st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Brisbane, Australia My Dear Amogha das Adhikari: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 19, 1973 and have noted the contents. I am sorry to learn that you had to leave your engagement in Indonesia. Anyway, so now you are in Australia, so you can consult with Madhudvisa Swami as to what to do there in Indonesia, and you also consult with Karandhara Prabhu as to the passport problem. If necessary, you can take the Australian citizenship. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Amogha **Date:** December 13th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Melbourne My dear Amogha, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated November 30, 1973. Thank you for understanding this Krsna Consciousness philosophy more and more. Now that you have a little taste, kindly keep it as the most valuable asset of life. Take care of the devotees under your charge by maintaining our standards and always setting the proper example. Krsna will certainly give you all guidance. Please offer my grateful blessings to all the devotees there. Go on with our devotional practices and preach this Krsna Consciousness very boldly and enthusiastically to whomever you meet. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Arjuna **Date:** May 20th 1973 — **Location:** Dallas > Los Angeles My dear Arjuna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 16, 1973, along with guru daksine. Thank you very much. So far as your engagement is concerned, I am most satisfied to see that my books are being distributed profusely. Please always follow the four regulative principles and chant minimum sixteen rounds per day. Study my books very carefully and prepare yourself fully for going back to home, back to Godhead. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** April 20th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Atreya Rsi Das Adhikari: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 17, 1973 and have noted the contents. You have done right in seeing this man and speaking to him of our movement. . I think you have exposed him as a rascal and fool. What is this meditation of wine, women and fish? He does not like us because we reject all other bogus philosophy. For that many people criticize me, but why should we accept nonsense. We accept Bhagavad-gita, as Krishna spoke it. Yes, you are right, he is third class man, so we should not waste time with him further. Stirring stools does not help. Anyway you have done right. The jackals may howl, but the caravan will pass on. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** April 29th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Brooklyn My Dear Atreya Rsi Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 25, 1973 and have read the contents carefully. Regarding purchasing the Washington D.C. Temple, yes, we can do it. We can invest $70,000.00, and Damodara can pay $700 per month net rent. So you negotiate, and we shall purchase in name of M-V Trust. But, here in L.A. we have invested $63,000 in one house and we are getting $800 per month rent. So you consult with Karandhara and do the needful. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. What happened about the Columbia club house? ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** May 6th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Brooklyn My dear Atreya Rsi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your special delivery letter dated May 4, 1973.Regarding Navayauvana Prabhu in Chicago going with you to Iran; yes it is all right. He is anxious to go so he can accompany you and help to begin one center in that country. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda --- cc: His Holiness Satsvarupa das Goswami, Dallas ISKCON, Navayauvana Dasa, Chicago ISKCON ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** June 21st 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > New York My dear Atreya Rsi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 17 June, 1973 and I have carefully studied the contents. Regarding your participation in New Vrndavana during the attack. Although a Krsna Conscious person is free of bodily attachment that does not mean that he does not defend for Krsna's purpose. But that you became fearful in the face of danger is not necessarily wrong. When travelling from London to Calcutta we passed through Tehran, Iran. It appears to be a good city. We found the people to be just like here in India. Human nature is the same everywhere. So also the possibility of accepting Krsna Consciousness is everywhere. You say the owners of the building in New York City may reach a favorable decision in a few months. Why so long? Why not a few weeks rather than so long as a few months? Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** October 20th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Tehran My Dear Atreya Rsi Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 3, 1973 and the nice offering made by Navayauvana dasa, and I thank you very much. . You say that you are doing limitedly, but go on. Try to convince the elite section about our Krsna consciousness movement. You have got a very nice place there with attached garden, and you are able, so just depend upon Krsna. Simply we have to desire to please Him, and not desire anything for ourselves. Then we become simply instruments for His will. This is the important essence of Krsna consciousness. You will be pleased to know that here in Bombay we have now secured the Juhu land from Mrs. Nair. It is a great relief that after such a long struggle, we can now do something very wonderful for Krsna. This land has very good potential, so now let us utilize it it in Krsna's service. My itinerary is to start for Vrindaban within several days, then go to Delhi for a pandal they are arranging. On November 20 I shall go to Nairobi, then to South Africa until mid December, when I shall start for Australia. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** December 20th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Tehran My dear Atreya Rsi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 2, 1973. Also, I have received the letter from Navayauvana along with the $150.00 daksina. I happily accept Navayauvana for second initiation. Enclosed find one sacred thread and one gayatri mantra sheet. You should hold a fire sacrifice amongst our members only, after which the initiate should listen to the gayatri mantra cassette tape which I have made once through the right ear. I hope that you are coming to our Mayapur festival March 1st to 8th. We are having a GBC meeting and your presence is required. After the Mayapur ceremony when I am coming to Europe, I will stop in Tehran for two or three days. Please offer my blessings to your wife, Navayauvana Prabhu, and all of the other devotees there. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** April 18th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Atreya Rsi: Please accept my blessings. You have suggested that if property is purchased in New York, we can be free from the taxes. So M-V Trust can immediately purchase property in New York and can make down payment of $70,000. So if there is any suitable property available, please send me the particulars, what is the description, the price, the income. Please do this at your earliest. What is the outcome of that Columbia Club? I am interested in that house. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Babhru **Date:** December 9th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Babhru, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 8th along with the $20.00 Guru daksina. It is a fact that at this time I do not want to open any further Centers. It is a question of timing. We have initiated so many projects and Centers and practically we are short handed all over the world, so it is better at this time if we work to maintain and develop whatever we have. That Gaurasundara and Siddha-svarupa have sold the Temple in Hawaii and abandoned the beautiful Tulasi plants there is a great fall down on their parts. They did not ask my permission. If they wanted to go away they could have, but they had no right to sell the Temple. It is actually a criminal act on their part. Anyone who follows them will also fall down without a doubt. Now, we have by Krsna's Grace built up something significant in the shape of this ISKCON and we are all one family. Sometimes there may be disagreement and quarrel but we should not go away. These inebrieties can be adjusted by the cooperative spirit, tolerance and maturity so I request you to kindly remain in the association of our devotees and work together. The test of our actual dedication and sincerity to serve the Spiritual Master will be in this mutual cooperative spirit to push on this Movement and not make factions and deviate. Try to convince Gaurasundara and Siddha-svarupa to return to ISKCON and let us forget whatever has happened in the past. Yes, you may return to Hawaii with Sudama Maharaja and take charge of caring for Tulasi devi there. I cannot understand how Govinda dasi could abandon Tulasi devi. Kindly try to induce her to return. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Babhru Das **Date:** March 5th 1973 > LT_730503_A1 My dear Babhru Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 5,1,73 and have received the dakshina contents contained therein. I am very grateful for your offering of $100 for your second initiation. Now that you have become Brahmin you should know that this means increased responsibility on Krsna's behalf. Factually this is the important initiation so you please maintain a very high standard of Krsna Consciousness and be very serious to execute the instructions of the spiritual master and Krsna. I have also noted that you are going to spread this mission of Lord Chaitanya to South America and factually this is our last unconquered continent and I think there is great potential there. I am very much encouraged to know that it will now be developed under qualified disciples as yourself. so my request is that your work very hard there to give all the opportunity for this perfection, and I am sure Krsna will bestow His causeless mercy upon you. I hope that this meets you in the best of health. Your ever well wisher; A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/kdb ### Letter to Bahudak **Date:** August 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Vancouver My Dear Bahudak, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 6, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. When I hear about the Sankirtana Buses that are moving all over the world then I think that we are becoming like a gigantic guerilla warfare movement fighting with maya. This traveling in buses is the best means to drive away maya and establish Krishna consciousness all over the world. After all the whole world is the property of Krishna, but temporarily it is being illegally occupied by maya's agents. Flood them with kirtana and books, this is the best weapon, increase the number of buses that will be your success. The new initiates are named as follows: Peggy Flyn—Purnamasi Dasi, Garry Pennington—Punderikasam Das. I am also enclosing one sacred thread and mantra for Ganapati Das. You may proform a fire ceremony and distribute prasadam feast. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Balabhadra **Date:** December 13th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Hawaii My dear Balabhadra Prabhu, Please accept my blessings. I understand from Sudama Goswami that Gaurasundara has handed over to you some portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Temple there. I do not know why he has sold the Temple without my permission. He had no right to do such a thing. I request that you kindly send whatever money he has given you directly to me in Los Angeles by registered post. The old Temple BBT and Spiritual Sky debts may be cleared with it first and the rest should be sent directly to myself. We require huge sums of money for our Temple projects in Vrindaban and Mayapur so we have good use for it. Gaurasundara and Siddha-svarupa have almost fallen down. Do not join them. Stay in the association of our Temple and work according to established programs as I have already directed. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kdac.c. --- Sudama Goswami ### Letter to Bali Mardan **Date:** October 14th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > _D1-2 My dear Bali Mardan: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1973 and have noted the contents. After a great struggle for existence it appears that I have won over Mrs. Nair. The negotiation started on my arrival and the mediators suggested 20 lakhs. Then it went down to 17 lakhs, but by Krsna's grace I have settled with her for 14 lakhs 50 thousand and about 1 lakh for compensation to the other claimants. In this way we have to spend about 16 lakhs for the property, out of which 2 lakhs had been paid before. So now we have to pay 14 lakhs 50 thousand. The day before yesterday whatever money I had in the Bombay account, about 4 lakhs, I've given Mrs. Nair another 3 lakhs, and I have compensated Ch__ganlal with 2 lakhs, 16 thousand, out of which 1 lakh 40 thousand has been paid by Mrs. Nair, and the balance I have paid. The charges of the several litigations have all been withdrawn and the preparations for the conveyance is in progress. I was very much anxious to receive the money from New York. The foolish boy, Gopijanabalava, wanted to save money and dispatched the money by mail order. Out of anxiety we had to telephone several times and sent telegrams, so much so that the savings which the overintelligent boy wanted to make has been nullified by increasing the expenditure three times. After a telephone call yesterday, the bank informed by telex that the money is on the way by mail. So actually I have not yet received the money, but I am sure that it is coming. We shall have to utilize the amount to pay Mrs. Nair. The deadline is the 19th instant and today is the 14th. I hope that everything will be all right by that time. I am pleased that your wife is expecting some children. You offer her my blessings to her for safe delivery. We enquired the price of the Mercedes Benz here in Bombay, and they asked for 3 lakhs 50 thousand. Here in Bombay there is no possibility of getting a good car like a Chevrolet without paying Rs. 80,000-90,000. So a good car in India is very costly. If you get the car, you can get it in my name. Tejiyas Das will be in charge of taking care of it. It is a good suggestion by your father-in-law that your wife not know sadness during pregnancy. She should not be shocked in any circumstance and eat mild foodstuff so as not to cause any irritation. Now as I have been delayed in Bombay I wish to get leisure from this business by the 25th(?) instant. Then I shall go to Vrindaban and Delhi, and stay until the 18th November, then go from there to Nairobi. Brahmananda is there and we shall go with him for the installation ceremony and remain there until the end of Nov. Then I go to south Africa until Dec. 10, then Sydney, and remain say up to 15th Dec., then Hong Kong, and if your Japanese program is fixed I can go there or I can go to Hawaii on my way to L.A. by Dec. 20th. My deposit certificate will mature by Nov. 23rd but I want to continue it for another month, and I shall take the payment when I return to the U.S.A. So I shall have to write to them or you shall arrange for it? If I have to write, then I shall send you a copy of the letter to your Hawaii address. Then from Los Angeles I may come to New York to your new building. I hope this meets you and your wife in best of health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** March 7th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > New York My Dear Bali-mardana Maharaja: Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter, with newspaper clipping, dated nil. I can understand that actually Hayagriva was not involved directly in the management of Back to Godhead and that whatever arrangement you already have there is sufficient. Meanwhile Hayagriva can be encouraged to continue his literary contribution of articles, editing of the smaller books, etc. We shall see what he can do, and if at all possible he should be brought back to the standard. In this connection I have written his wife, Kirtanananda Swami, and the GBC members. Thus far I have received no reply regarding Madhudvisa's suggestion about Hrdayananda from the GBC members. You have been to India so you know the importance of the life membership program here, so I am requesting that you personally attend to some items needed here for the preaching work in that connection. Rupanuga is writing the specifics to you under separate cover. I have received from Kirtiraja the specifics and plans of your proposed building, the Columbia Club property, and it is ideal for all of our purposes so I am anxious to hear of any progress in securing it. I am approving of second initiation for Hari-puja dasi as you requested. My plans are to go to Mayapur as soon as they have finished my quarters and to remain there until the 22nd. Thank you very much for the mostly favorable newspaper article and I hope this meets you in good mood. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** March 24th 1973 — **Location:** Hyderabad My dear Bali-mardana: Please accept my blessings. We are negotiating the purchase of the Bombay property for a lump sum cash payment of about 10 lakhs, which at the official rate amounts to about $130,000.If this negotiation is settled to our satisfaction, we will require your lending this amount to the Bombay project from our New York building fund. So kindly make the necessary arrangements, and await our final instructions through telegram or by Atreya Rsi to send the funds. You will be refunded the loan with interest by the Mayapur Fund. The Bombay project will in turn pay the Mayapur construction expenses. For the future of New York Temple expansions I have discussed different alternatives with Atreya Rsi, who will discuss them with you upon his arrival. The day after tomorrow we are leaving for Bombay, and then in a few days for London. From London we are going to L.A. via New York ISKCON. Hoping this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** April 18th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Bali-mardana Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. For Caitanya-caritamrta 19 pages of manuscript were sent yesterday and today they are sending 30 pages. So you go on making Caitanya-caritamrta and print chapterwise, and that will be very nice. I am still awaiting quotation from you for Bengali Caitanya-caritamrta and also Gitar Gan. We want to print 50,000 copies of each, in the size just above the smallest size book which you showed me. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** May 6th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > New York My dear Bali-mardana, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 29, 1973.Regarding the estimates for the two Bengali books, please get estimates from Dai Nippon. I am pleased to learn that the devotees who will be going to India are taking twenty paintings with them to our Mayapur center. I want that all rooms and verandas and especially the Deity hall should have first class paintings. They will appreciate how expertly the American artists are doing. We want to solve this big problem of supplying mrdangas and also learn how to make dolls for exhibiting pastimes of the Lord. Therefore I want devotees to learn these arts in Mayapur. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** May 16th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > New York My dear Bali-mardana, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 14, 1973 and have noted the contents. So now my plans have changed. Karandhara has made arrangements for my physician to come here, thus saving much expense and time. So now I shall remain here in Los Angeles up to the 30th of May, then to New Vrindaban for a few days and then on to London. As soon as you have finished the synonym work on the third canto you can immediately join me wherever I am and we can finish it up in good time. Regarding fourth canto, go on and prepare for publishing as quickly as possible. The first six volumes are selling very well so we may print more volumes and they will also sell. If we can also keep up good pace with Caitanya-caritamrita then we may be able to print one 400 page book per month. Thank you very much for your sincere effort in helping me carry out the directions of my Guru Maharaja. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. As you say we are all unqualified, but we become qualified by the mercy of Guru and Krsna. P.P.S. Please find enclosed a letter from Lokamangala dasa Brahmacari. Please do the needful ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** July 20th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > New York Dear Bali-mardana Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of July 18, 1973 with enclosed photostat of Caitanya-caritamrta which I am looking over. Regarding the purchase of the building, I wish that unless the Columbia Club sells the building that you do not move from the present building. You proposed to move to another building but I do not appreciate this idea. Go directly to the Columbia Club building. So finish your dealings with Columbia Club managers and we can purchase and move directly there. I am praying to Krsna that He will favor you with that new house for conducting His preaching work. Now we are going to install nice Radha-Krsna Deities here in our new Letchmore Heath Temple on Janmastami Day, August 22nd 1973. The thing is there are no nice paintings immediately available for the Temple room here. So I want you to remove all of the paintings that are presently hanging in my rooms at Brooklyn Temple and dispatch them to Letchmore Heath or London immediately by air mail. The temple room is very large, I think about 70 feet by 30 feet, so many paintings are required to decorate it nicely. Therefore all of those paintings in my rooms are required and if you can send me besides additional of the newer paintings that will be your great contribution. I am awaiting anxiously your report on the meeting with the Japan emperor. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- NB: As to when I shall be able to go to Japan, I am going to L.A. by the end of August. In September I will stay in L.A. Then whenever you call me at Japan I shall be able to go. Thirty lakhs rupees will solve the problem of India ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** August 8th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > New York My Dear Bali-mardana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your books which I find very very nice. Actually this book production is most important, and you have pleased me very much. Just go on and flood the whole world with these Krsna books. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. Has Mukunda done any business? If not then this business has no ready buyer and thus it has no prospect, that is my opinion. I understand that you are coming during the Janmastami Festival here at this place. ACBS ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** October 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Juhu > Bombay New York My Dear Bali-mardana: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 12, 1973 and have noted the contents. I am glad to say that the Bombay business is almost completely finished. The land is purchased, and there were many opposing elements, but they are being satisfied, with the last one being satisfied today. Once this is carried out we are free from all obligation. I have received the nice letter from your wife and the reply is enclosed herewith. Please deliver it to her. I would like to initiate your wife especially personally. So already she is chanting 16 rounds and that is nice. Still I shall hold a regular ceremony and initiate her along with you. My program is to reach Los Angeles in the middle of December. I hope by that time your transaction of the New York temple will be finished. Regarding my coming to Japan, whenever is convenient is all right. I am prepared at any time. Yes, I have received the $118,000 plus $25,000. Everything is received, cashed and spent. The land is in our full possession as proprietor. All bad elements have been eliminated. Now we must execute the building of the temple. You can deposit daksina in my American Investment Account Bank Of America Branch #366, Culver City Account Number 8-80613. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Bapi **Date:** April 27th 1973 — **Location:** New DelhiLT > _730427_E1 My Dear Bapi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 21, 1973 and am glad to learn that you have immigration visa for U.S.A. valid until August 9, 1973. Your former letters I did not receive most probably because they have been missing me because of my extensive travelling. I have come from India to U.S.A. recently on April 1.You can purchase immediately one membership ticket for ISKCON. It costs only Rs. 1111/-, and on this ticket you can stay in any temple for as many days as you like. So you can secure a membership ticket from our membership office at the following address: ISKCON, 66 Babar Road, Bengali Market, New Delhi. When you come to New York, I shall advise the Temple Commander to receive you. As you have been granted visa, you can secure a job. I think you can get it easily because you are qualified. I shall advise my disciples to help you, but this will have to be arranged when you come here. I am sorry to learn that your father cannot see at night. When our time is up, we have to push on even in broken condition of life. At present I am in Los Angeles and most probably will be here during the month of August. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Batu Gopala **Date:** June 22nd 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Cleveland My dear Batua Gopala, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15 June 1973 and I have carefully noted the contents. Yes, it is pleasing and encouraging to me to hear how all your programs, book distributing, temple worship etc., are going on so nicely in our Cleveland Center. That you have distributed 10,000 pieces of literature in the last month is very impressive. It will take some time to convince the people of this highest philosophy and the only means to convince them is distribute our books profusely. By chanting Hare Krsna their rough hearts will be paved. And when we speak about Krsna it will be shown exactly like the cultivator who first of all paves the field and then the seeds are sewn and gradually they get the result. On your recommendation I have accepted the four students in your temple as my disciples. Their new names are as follows: Marilee Ash—Mrgaksi dasiHarvey Mechanic—Mrgendra dasDan Cunningham—Gatravan dasGeorge Vutetakis—Gopati dasHave them send their beads to Kirtanananda Swami for chanting. You can hold a fire yajna for the initiates and invite many guests. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Beharilal **Date:** December 13th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My dear Beharilal, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated November 8, 1973 just now received by me as it was redirected from India. I have not received any reply from Tusta Krsna Swami to my letters. I do not know why he has left New Zealand. In Hawaii a great wrong doing has been done by Gaurasundara and Siddha-svarupa. They sold the temple and went away with all the money without taking any permission from me. It is a fall down on their parts. They have done the wrong thing. You should not go to Hawaii to join them. Stay in New Zealand and work cooperatively with Madhudvisa Swami. The "communal form of Krsna Consciousness" which you mention is not approved by me. It is all concoction. My Guru Maharaja condemned this practice. We must stay together and vigorously preach the Krsna Consciousness philosophy to the world. That is the real spirit of Lord Caitanya's Movement. Do not fall victim to this sentimental idea of peaceful life in seclusion. That is not our dharma. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** May 18th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Bhagavan dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 11/5/73, and I have carefully noted the contents. Thank you very much for your complete report of the situation in London. We can understand from this incident that the most important point is that everyone, especially the leaders, must always stick to the basic regulative practices that I have given, especially 16 rounds each day. So, now what can be done? I expect to be going to London sometime after the first week of June. You may come there at that time. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** July 22nd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Paris Dear Bhagavan dasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 19, 1973 and I have carefully considered the contents. You have done a nice job with the French edition of Back to Godhead, and I am especially looking forward to the next issue which will be color 32 pages. You should more and more improve this magazine until it becomes superior to all other magazines in the French language. The translating of our books such as Bhagavad-gita and Isopanisad is of the utmost importance and I am very thankful that you are seriously taking on this practical work for spreading Krsna Consciousness in your European zone. The best date for the installation of Deities will be August 10th, Friday. So we shall probably arrive in Paris on the 9th of August and stay until August 15th when we shall return to London. You can arrange for meetings with respectable gentlemen of France, to take place in my quarters while I am there. You can immediately send open plane tickets for myself, Srutakirti, Hansadutta and Pradyumna (Vincent Florentino, Hans Kary and Paul Sherbow).Enclosed are the gayatri mantras for the devotees recommended by you and one thread for the boy, Kapila das. Have the brahmanas hear the tape of my speaking the gayatri mantra in the right ear, and instruct them in the principles of suci. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** September 16th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Bhagavan Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 6.9.73 and have noted the contents. It is all very much encouraging to me. You have got a good temple and good number of devotees, so now you just utilize them in Krsna's service, and I will be very much pleased. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** November 8th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Paris My Dear Bhagavan Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to inform you that I have received a very nice report from Hansadutta of the Moscow activities, and I may request you in this regard to please immediately send Mandakini there for being married to Ananta Santi Das. Both of them will get good strength from it. So please do the needful. I have not received any report from you of Paris affairs since coming to India, so please send me the report. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Hansadutta, ISKCON, Heidelberg ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** November 19th 1973 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Paris My Dear Bhagavan Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 11/11/73 together with enclosures and I thank you very much for them. The book which you have sent is very excellent. The appearance is better than the English edition. I shall be glad to know how you are selling them in France. Increase the publication more and more as Hansadutta is doing. Here also the Hindi editions are coming by the endeavor of Ramananda dasa. They have also started in Gorakhpur a Bhaktivedanta Publication House. So let us conjointly publish in all languages. I am asking Brahmananda to publish also in Swahili in Africa. That will make our movement successful. Books are very important in pushing on any movement, especially Krsna consciousness. The magazine is also very nice. The get-up, the printing, the types are all nice. If I go to Rome, whether you can come? I may be going there in the first week of December from Nairobi. These are tangible services that you are doing, recognized by my Guru Maharaja and Krsna. Brahmananda was saying that two years ago when he was in Paris they were collecting 40 francs on Sankirtana, now you are collecting 1500 dollars. So has the time changed, or is it because you are there? Krsna will surely bless you. I saw your Deity room packed up when I was there, so I think its going on like that, surrounded by police cars. Anyway your temple is centrally located and in a good quarter, so certainly it will be successful. When I go to London next, I will certainly visit. The picture of Radha-Paris Isvara is very nice. Radharani's attitude is very nice. She is giving her blessings to everyone. In the magazine the picture on page 11 of the arati is very nice. Krsna is looking also upon me. It is a nice pose. I am looking to Him, and He is looking to me. Kindly send me some copies. Regarding Annada, her father will not agree, but I shall tell her privately. Regarding Mandakini, let it be clarified, then send her. Moscow is uncertain, and Paris is certain; so we should not sacrifice the certain for the uncertain. Now print books. Don't use this money for any other purpose than publishing. Some percentage may be kept by you for getting your own house, either purchasing or constructing our own temple. If the present house is available, then purchase. I am glad to hear about Geneva. It is a very important place to establish a center. Now in Bombay after much difficulty we have purchased the property spending about 18 lakhs, having to pay so many claimants, but now it is ours, although still there remains one item. Arrangements are being made for the temple construction is going on locally. Our Delhi festival is now finished, and it was nice. Now I am in Vrindaban staying in my house on our Raman Reti land. Wednesday the 21st I shall proceed to Bombay. Regarding London, I think they are doing there. If you like, you can go and see. In Rome if Dhananjaya can organize a center, that will be very nice. Enclosed is the statement duly signed by me regarding the translation rights of my books. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** December 5th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Bhagavan Prabhu, Please accept my blessings. I have arrived safely in Los Angeles by Krsna's Grace and everything here is going nicely. Now, as you know, we require some men for India. Karandhara informs me that you have declined to send any. Our programs there are important and there is a great need. We have not captured very many first class men there so we must import. I am requesting therefore that you send at least one or two first class men from your zone. They should apply for 1 year entry visas. They should not go on tourist visas. Kindly make arrangement for this. My program is to visit some of our U.S.A. branches for some time, keeping Los Angeles as my home base and then to return to India by Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Bhagavan das **Date:** September 29th 1973 — **Location:** BombayLT > _730929_A1 My Dear Bhagavan das: Please accept my blessings. Herewith please find one letter from Mr. Khilnani father of Anita, and the contents will speak for itself. I wish that the marriage will be suspended for the time being unless the father agrees to this marriage. According to the Vedic system marriage takes place according to the sanction of the parents, although this is not being followed strictly at the present moment. So read this letter and do the needful so we may not create some disturbing marriage condition. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc:K.R.F. --- Khilnani, New Delhi ### Letter to Bhagavata Maharaja **Date:** January 5th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > The in-Charge, > Sri Bhagavata Maharaja, > The Gaudiya Mission, > Kali Prasad Cakravarti Lane, > Bagh Bazar, > Calcutta-3 My dear Bhagavata Maharajaji, Please accept my humble obeisances. Enclosed please find the original of one card received by me from our God-brother in Chandigarh, wherein he has requested to take another order shipment of our books for selling from the Math at Chandigarh. Similarly, in Bombay, Visakhapatnam, Rajamundhry, and other places all over India, the Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math institution, which was founded by our beloved Prabhupada, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in so many places they are displaying and selling many, many of our books and magazines. So I am enclosing here-with also one list of our publications. It is not complete however. Since the enclosed list was printed, we have put out also our many other books. So my request to you is that you will consider to stock some of our books in the Bagh Bazar Math as well. These ISKCON publications are very attractive to the public, they are nicely brought out, printed on the very best presses of America and Japan, and they are translated with commentary just to our line. One of my disciples from my Calcutta ISKCON branch will be calling on you shortly in this connection, and if you are kind upon me in this way, he will give you all facility and stocks for whatever you require. I shall be myself coming to Calcutta by the 23rd instant of this month, just after we finish our Hare Krsna Festival and Bhagavata Dharma Discourses in the Cross Maidan of Bombay city, from January 12 to January 21, 1973. From Calcutta I will be leaving on February 1 for a one-month preaching tour of my several branches in Djakarta, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Philippines, and other places in Asia and the South Pacific zone. I shall return to Mayapur by the 1st March for celebrating the appearance day of our Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I shall be staying in our Calcutta temple at 3 Albert Road for about 8 or 9 days, and we shall be lecturing and having kirtana program at various places in Calcutta proper each evening while I am there. Hoping this meets you in the best of health, Yours faithfully, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** January 26th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > San Diego My dear Bhakta das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 14, 1973, and I have noted the contents with pleasure. It is very pleasing to me that you have distributed so many of my books and preached to the students. This is our mission of life, to somehow turn the minds of the conditioned souls to Krsna consciousness and thus give them the highest perfection of life. So you are a very sincere soul and Krsna will give you intelligence how to do this more and more. As far as your questions on management, you may please consult with Karandhara, who is my GBC man for the Western Zone, and work out some practical program for seeing that temple management and outside preaching work both go on nicely, not that I shall leave the temple and let all nonsense go on, nor shall we sit down all day in the temple and stop our preaching. Please continue in your sincere attitude and Krsna shall bless you more and more along with the others who are assisting. Always consult with your GBC man and manage things very nicely. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** March 4th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Bhakta das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your encouraging letter dated the 20th February. Just yesterday I have arrived here in Calcutta, and by the end of the week expect to go to Mayapur where are having a grand celebration on the Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Yes, you have my sanction for installing the new Deities with the cooperation of Karandhara and/or Sudama Maharaja (I think he is there on the West coast). They know how to do it. The more you can decorate the Deities soberly, not fanatically, the more you become decorated with all honors. At the present moment, civilized man has forgotten how to decorate, therefore this mini-skirt—the business of the trees—to remain naked. Human being means to be decorated, like Krsna is decorated, not naked. You say that you have eight brahmanas, that is very good, now engage all of them so that everyone becomes expert. By nicely worshiping the Deities we can be so pure in condition of health, mind and intelligence. Yes, all blessings of Krsna upon Saranam dasi, for her loyal book distribution. I am very pleased, and you can give both her and Satyaki dasi second initiation. So now you can have ten brahmanas, yes? I have also received your $100.00 daksina and I thank you very much for it. Regarding Nanda Kumar, try to help him. He is a good boy and he will come out again very nicely. But he must marry that girl, we cannot play with sex-life, that is not our business. If he shows he is faithful for three months, then he again can take care of Radha-Krsna. Your book distribution, that is very nice. Our books are unique, all this distribution means that they are being appreciated. There is no such literature throughout the whole world. Now keep yourself pure and Krsna will help you. Krsna has become merciful upon you. I am only the agent. He has special favor upon Americans, so tell your countrymen to take advantage and spread our teaching all over the world. I hope this meets you in good health. Hare Krsna. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** August 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Bhakta Dasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 29 July, 1973 and I have noted the contents very carefully. From your report I can understand that you are very enthusiastic. I like also your idea of celebrating Govardhana puja. This should be our programme to attract the general mass of people. If we go on preaching vigorously as we have been for another 25 year then all these other so called religions will disappear. After all what do they have to offer. In the Christian religion all we see is Christ's picture as he was crucified, so how people can be attracted to such thing? There is no science, philosophy, music, art, Prasadam, it is no wonder that the people are rejecting this nonsense. Not that Christ himself was nonsense, but those who are preaching in his name they are nonsense because they do not follow even the simplest of his orders. "Thou shalt not Kill." I have met with so many Christians and when I ask them why Christians are killing they cannot answer. The first principle of spiritual life is non violence. They will say Killing in this matter means actually Murder, but accepting even this argument, it means that the society in which Christ was preaching were composed of Murderers, so what kind of men they were, and practically we see it is a fact that because they murdered Lord Jesus Christ. At any rate there is nothing in the world thAT CAN COMPARE WITH our Movement of Chanting and dancing. So Chant dance and when you get tired take Prasadm, this is our actual solid preaching work all over the world. I have noted that you are collecting great amounts of money, therefore I humbly request you send 50% to India for the Vrindaban Building Fund. Don't spoil the money in any way, simply utilize it for Krishna's purpose. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/hda --- N.B. Money may be sent to the following Account: Central Bank of India, Head office Bombay, ISKCON—Building Fund Account No. 9-381 ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** October 10th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > San Diego My Dear Bhakta dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 17, 1973 and have noted the contents. I thank you very much for your invitation for your Govardhana celebration. I would have come, but I received your letter late, but I hope anyway that you have enjoyed Govardhana-Puja. The photos are very nice, and Radharani looks very satisfied, as I see in the features of Her face in the photo. If She is pleased, then Krsna is pleased, and all living entities are pleased. I thank you very much for installing Radha-Giridhari. From my childhood I was very much fond of Radha-Krsna, and now my good disciples are helping me to open so many Radha-Krsna temples all over the world. It gives me so much pleasure. Now introduce Ratha Yatra. That was my childhood activity. I want to see my disciples all over the world introduce two items, opening Radha-Krsna temples and Ratha-yatra festivals. Do this under the protection of Guru-Gauranga. Please do everything cooperatively for [you] will be happy, your countrymen will be happy, and all living entities will be happy. If one waters the root, then all the branches, twigs, and leaves are automatically nourished. That is the philosophy of Krsna consciousness. Yes, I may meet with the Pope when returning to USA from Africa. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Bhakta Don **Date:** December 1st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Bhakta Don, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your recent letter undated. The topmost science is this Krsna Consciousness and that is a fact. The so-called modern science has become spoiled for lack of this perspective. Real science means to acquire perfect knowledge from the Parampara, not by so-called academic and empirical research. Such technique is bogus and will not help us in obtaining perfect knowledge. Yes, you should use your scientific credentials to present this Krsna Conscious philosophy. Everything may be used in Krsna's service. It may not be possible to convince the rascal scientists of this Krsna Consciousness philosophy because after all, Krsna gives everyone free will and if it is their determination to remain atheistic how shall it be checked? Our principle aim is to challenge their nonsense proposition so that the layman and common people may be saved from this rascaldom. You study our books very carefully under the guidance of Amarendra Prabhu and preach our philosophy from Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in your scientific language. Krsna Consciousness is perfect so it can be substantiated by all means of argument and logic. The main theme is that life has come from life and not generated from matter as they foolishly claim. You just prove this point and it will be a great victory. The Spiritual Master is present wherever his sincere disciple is trying to serve his instructions. This is possible by the Mercy of Krsna. In your attempts to serve me and in all your sincere devotional sentiments I am with you as My Guru Maharaja is with me. Remember this always. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:kda ### Letter to Bhaktin Toni **Date:** February 18th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney > Los Angeles My dear Bhaktin Toni, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated February 1st. with the nice pictures of the Sri Sri Radha-Kalacandji Deities in ISKCON Gurukula. I am very much pleased that the Deities are worshiped so nicely and as this continues, the children there will become more and more purified. These children in Gurukula are the most fortunate children in the world, because right from the beginning they are having the association of Radha and Krishna. This was the case in my childhood also. My father was pure Vaisnava and he gave me and my sister the Radha Krishna Deities to worship and in this way we were trained. And still to this very day my sister is worshiping these very same Deities in Calcutta. So like this the children must be trained. I can understand from your letter that you are beginning to appreciate the Krishna Consciousness Movement and I encourage you to join wholeheartedly and fully in the service of Lord Sri Krishna for this will be the most glorious thing in your life. You may consult with Karandhara das and he will give you more guidance as to how you can engage yourself fully in the service of the Lord. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Bhavananda **Date:** January 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta My dear Bhavananda, Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated December 29, 1972, is in hand, and I am especially pleased to hear that our Tarun Babu is now little more inclined and coming daily to the Calcutta temple. That will be a great occasion, as he has suggested us, to lead the sankirtana party of two lacs of men through Calcutta on Lord Caitanya's appearance day. So on the 18th March, Lord Caitanya's appearance date, everyone shall rest and chant in the temple. So Tarun Babu can arrange to take us early morning from Mayapur to Calcutta, then on that day, 18th March, we shall have our big Calcutta sankirtana procession, and on that same evening or the following morning the bus may return to Mayapur and we shall conduct big Utsava. Tarun Babu and C. L. Bajoria and all big life members can come and stay with us at Mayapur for Utsava. Now diligently and tactfully handle this matter, it is a very very good sign that our Tarun Babu and Mr. Bajoria are working together and promising to raise Rs. 2 lacs for Mayapur. If this is actually collected, then at least 5 lacs more can be collected just by advertising their 2 lacs collection. So far the money transferred from Calcutta to Bombay, as much money as can be arranged from the Building Fund can be immediately returned to Calcutta. But I think there is only roundabout Rs. 10,000 in the Building Fund in Bombay, although there are two Building Fund accounts here and I do not know how much is there in the other Building Fund account. Most of the money collected in India has been deposited in my Bhaktivedanta Book Trust fund for printing and purchasing books for distribution in India. Actually, our main business in this country shall be to distribute our books profusely. Mayapur, Vrindaban, these temples shall be utilized for the most part by foreigners. So far the work in India of spreading Krsna consciousness, there are already millions of temples, so what shall our two more temples accomplish for spreading Krsna consciousness? They are meant for the foreigners and big life members. But our emphasis for preaching work will be on these books. Just as I introduced this life membership program based entirely on books, so you and other leaders here in India meet together or correspond frequently to devise more and more methods for introducing our literatures to the Indian public. That is the most important business. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Bhavananda **Date:** May 4th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Bhavananda: Please accept my blessings. Since leaving India more than one month I have not received any report of the Mayapur project, how it is going on. So I may request you to write me in this regard. I want that the building must be completely finished before my next return. So please tell me what is the position there. I have requested men to come there to Mayapur. They will bring paintings for decorating the building especially the temple hall. Please see also that they get trained up nicely in making the dolls and the mrdangas. I want to solve these two problems. We will want these dolls in London and other places, so please do the needful. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- P.S. Please be kind enough to send me a report at least fortnightly ### Letter to Bhavananda **Date:** May 13th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Mayapur My dear Bhavananda Goswami Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. Since I posted my last letter to you and Jayapataka Maharaja, jointly it has been decided that I'm returning to India by the 22nd or 23rd of this month. I think you have already been informed by Karandhara Prabhu. The reason is my health is broken down. Last time when I was in Calcutta, the great ayurvedic physician Bimalananda Tarkatirtha felt my pulse and he said there is something very wrong within me but I left the next day. Unfortunately since I have come to the Western countries beginning from Zurich (Switzerland) then to New York then Los Angeles, but everywhere the climate is not at all suitable for me. I have received one letter from Madhavananda who was instructed by the physician that I should come back to India immediately. So I am coming back, and I will stay at Mayapur. Last time when I was there I left with you some instruction namely fixing the closet doors, iron bars on the windows and I hope you have these all finished by this time as well as the toilet facilities. I was pleased to learn from Madhavananda that he collected Rs. 42,000/. in one month for Mayapur construction. I hope things are going on nicely without any scarcity of money. Hoping this meets you in good health. More when we meet. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jdd ### Letter to Bhavananda, Jayapataka **Date:** August 19th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Mayapur My Dear Bhavananda and Jayapataka, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 4, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. From your report it appears that everything is progressing very nicely. What can I say? I am so much indebted to all you nice American boys and girls for helping me to execute the order of my Guru Maharaja, may Krishna bless you. I hope this letter meets you both well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda --- N.B. Please send me regular reports fortnightly. You have not written anything about Sanitary & electricity accomplishment. I guess everything is stopped for want of cement ### Letter to Bhumata **Date:** March 10th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Bhumata dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 2, 1973. I have examined the contents carefully and I think you are doing nice. Because we are all individuals sometimes there is disagreement between devotees. When non-devotees quarrel they cannot stop and end up killing each other. But the devotees' disagreement does not last long because they patch it up for Krsna's sake, because they are all working for the same end—Krsna's service. And devotees do not suffer from skin disease, black or white or brown or red or whatever. In the material world black and white are opposites, but spiritually black and white are varieties. That is the proper vision. Now you can consult my Governing Body Commission for advice in your situation. I have no objection to your establishing a center there in Nashville, but these matters I am leaving up to my GBC. The GBC representative for your area is Rupanuga das Goswami who is presently here with me as my secretary for one month. He will be returning to the USA by the first week in April to New York City and I think you can leave a message for him there where he can reach you and he can see you personally in the matter. In the meantime you can make arrangements again with Atlanta for more literature making the proper arrangement for payment also. I hope this meets you in good health and high spirits. Hare Krsna. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Bhutatma **Date:** January 5th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > San Francisco My dear Bhutatma, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 18, 1972, forwarded to me here at Bombay. I am very happy to hear from you that everything is going nicely in the San Francisco temple. Upon your recommendation I am very glad to accept the six new students as my duly initiated disciples. Their letter is enclosed herewith. As for chanting on their beads, I have delegated Kirtanananda Swami to chant on the new devotees' beads on my behalf in your country. In Europe, Revatinandana Swami will chant on the new devotees' beads on my behalf. Because it is such long distance, therefore it is very expensive to send beads airmail from here, and there are so many instances of the beads being lost in that way. And I am getting now requests up to 20 or 30 each week, so it is practically becoming impossible for me to chant the beads when I am so far distant. Therefore the new devotees may send their beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban, and he will chant the beads and send back to them. Is this all right? Now hold the fire yajna and give also second initiation to Sarvadarsan, Yajnapati, and Hari Ballav. Enclosed please find three sacred threads, duly chanted by me, along with three copies of Gayatri mantra. Now hold the fire yajna for all nine devotees, and for the second initiates teach them how to chant on the finger divisions and play for them the tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra into their right ear. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Bhutatma **Date:** August 7th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > San Francisco My dear Bhutatma, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and enclosed photographs of the Ratha Yatra Festival. If we introduce this Festival in all big cities of the world along side with book distribution then in no time we will conquer the whole world. Yes! Certainly I shall come to your festival next year, thank you. By your recommendation I have chanted upon the enclosed sacred thread and agree to accept the devotee Jambavan Das Brahmacari for second initiation __ becomes twice born, or Brahmin. The qualifications of a Brahmana are listed in the 18th Chapter verse 42 of the Bhagavad-gita. "Peacefulness, self control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness—these are the qualities by which the Brahmanas work". So you should be very much careful to see that our devotees are following the regulative principles and standard practices such as attending morning Arati, classes, Sankirtana, and reading our books. We want to create some men who can give guidance to the human society, because at the present moment the society is without any intelligent head, namely Brahmins, therefore the whole world is confused for want of real guidance in the matter of ultimate goal of life. They have taken sense gratification as the ultimate goal and therefore everyone is frustrated, because the living entity has nothing to do with the temporary material senses. The senses will never be satisfied, Krishna must be satisfied and then the living entity as eternal part and parcel of the Supreme Lord is automatically satisfied. So the Brahmins are supposed to serve the whole society by distributing this important information. Please help me in this way and Krishna will bless you. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Bhutatma **Date:** December 15th 1973 — **Location:** Los AngelesMy dear Bhutatma, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter sated December 11, 1973. I hereby accept the following devotees for first and second initiation as recommended by you: John - Vatsara dasaElena - Kalakantha dasiPeter - Vatsala dasaDeborah - Sasikala dasiPaul - Vatsi dasCheryl - Kandarpa-sundari dasiNaomi - Kamalalita dasiEnclosed find three sacred threads and three gayatri mantras for the second initiates. Hold a fire yajna, after which they may listen to the mantra once through the right ear from from the cassette tape I have have made. You may send the beads of the first initiates to Kirtanananda Maharaj and send it to me in Los Angeles. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/KdaISKCONSan --- FranciscoEnclosures - 6 ### Letter to Boys and girls **Date:** March 20th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Los Angeles My dear boys and girls, you are working so hard for broadcasting the glories of Lord Krishna's lotus feet and thus my Guru Maharaja will be so pleased upon you. Certainly my Guru Maharaja will bestow His blessings thousand times more than me and that is my satisfaction. All Glories to the assembled devotees. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- N.B. Every one should go with the Samkirtana Party as soon as possible.[Hand written] ### Letter to Caitanya **Date:** April 25th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Caitanya Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 23, 1973, and I have noted the contents. I am very much disturbed to hear of Kanupriya's activities, and I advise you that so long he is engaged in these nonsense activities, you should not have any association with him. Best thing is that you remain in the association of devotees, and take part in the temple worship here, not separately. Worship of Radha and Krishna is no cheap thing. It cannot be done whimsically, but it must be very carefully executed under strict regulation. Not that there can be LSD taking and all sinful activities, and then Deity worship. I have made it a point that unless one is able to keep to the same standard that is kept here at the temple, he should not worship the Deity separately. Best thing is to keep a Guru-Gauranga altar at home and take part in the Deity worship program at the temple. You have got a very big responsibility to give your daughters a good Krishna conscious atmosphere for developing into nice devotees. If you also take up these sinful activities and neglect the principles of Krishna Consciousness, then that is a great misfortune. Your first consideration must be to see that your children become Krishna conscious, and if your husband will not take his responsibility, then what can be done? Simply you must keep to the principles, and pray to Krishna to help you. Hoping this will meet you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Candanacarya **Date:** October 13th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Culver City, California My Dear Candanacarya: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 22, 1973 and have noted the contents. Yes, the name of your daughter Radhasakti is all right. I am glad to learn that you are again with the printing department. So now you print small books as many as possible from my lectures past and present as New York has done, and if possible print big books, but I don't think that big books will be suitable for your press. Yes, I am returning to Los Angeles after completing the Bombay affairs and a little tour of Africa and Australia, but by mid December I am sure to return to Los Angeles. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Candanacarya, Kasturika **Date:** May 20th 1973 — **Location:** Dallas > San Francisco My dear Candanacarya and Kasturika, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your telegram dated May 15, 1973. Thank you very much. Now I am in Dallas and the climate here is very suitable with plenty of good sunshine. I shall remain here for a few days and if my health improves there will be no need for my going back to India. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Carol **Date:** June 17th 1973 — **Location:** West BengalLT > _730617_C2 My dear Carol, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of June 7, 1973 and I have carefully noted the contents. I can see from your letter that you are very sincere about Krsna Consciousness and Gurukula. Yes, you should always feel yourself most fortunate and glad that you are in the Krsna Consciousness movement where you can learn sanskrit and English from such nice Krsna Conscious teachers as Dayananda and Dinatarine, and not be learning-as in the public schools-how to cheat and eat meat etc. Please stick to this conviction of yours and more and more your natural Krsna Consciousness will develop. I have seen your writing of the sanskrit letters and it is very nice. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- Bhaktin CarolISKCON Gurukula5430 Gurley St.Dallas, Texas ### Letter to Caturbhuja **Date:** May 9th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Caturbhuja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 27, 1973. Thank you very much. In answer to your several questions, first; what is meant by conditioned soul? Conditioned soul means one who has accepted something illusion as reality. Conditioned means that due to imperfect desires the spirit soul becomes dependent on material conditions for his satisfaction. Your second question; how does he become conditioned when the jivatma is eternal full of bliss and knowledge? The answer is that it is not the soul itself that becomes mixed with matter but it is his consciousness that becomes absorbed in trying to enjoy the matter. Out of desire to lord it over, the jiva soul forgets that he is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss and identifies with the material energy. So it is the consciousness of the conditioned soul that is affected. Your third question is: does the soul ever become weak or strong on account of its association and contact with material nature? It is not the spirit soul that becomes weak or strong but it is his determination to become Krsna Conscious that me become weak or strong. By the influence of the modes of passion and ignorance he becomes weak and by the influence of the mode of goodness he becomes strong. But by the association with the pure devotee he becomes strongest. Your fourth question: "Whether or not it is possible for the soul to exist without having this external gross and subtle body covering it? So if the bird is existing within the cage and someone takes away the cage does that mean that the bird can no longer exist? No. This body is illusion. It is only because of our attachment for this body that we have to remain within it. But as soon as one transfers his attachment to Krsna then no more is there any need for this body. Your fifth question is, "Bhagavad-gita says that the conditioned soul is subjected to four defects. Does that refer to the body or the soul?" The defects are there in the living being when he is acting on the material platform. As stated in Bhagavad-gita chapter 15 verse 17: "dvavimau purusau loke, ksaras caksara eva ca, ksarah sarvani bhutani, kutastho 'ksara ucyate:" "There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the infallible. In the material world every entity is fallible, and in the spiritual world every entity is called infallible." So the defects are there only on the material platform. One who is acting in Krsna Consciousness is beyond those defects. Your next question: "The Bhagavad-gita says that Lord Brahma is a conditioned soul. Then how was it possible for him to impart the Vedas to a non-conditioned soul—Narada Muni?" So, Lord Brahma is a conditioned soul means that due to his desire to become the creator of the material manifestation he had to take birth within the material world. But although he was conditioned by such desire, still he is a great devotee of Lord Krsna. He has written Brahma-samhita which is pure Vaisnava literature describing the Supreme Personality of godhead. Lord Brahma was the first created being within the universe and the first spiritual master, as he received knowledge from within his heart from Lord Krsna. Narada appeared as the son of Brahma and therefore he had to accept Lord Brahma as his spiritual master. Your last question, "How is the soul degraded (by lust, anger and greed) when it is transcendental to the body? Doesn't that imply that the sould has changed?" No. The soul never changes, but due to his tinyness he may become forgetful of his relationship with Krsna. The spiritual quality of the spiritual spark has not changed but he has forgotten his spiritual nature, bewildered by the imperfect desire to become equal or greater than Krsna. I hope you are able to understand all these points. As you know, I am translating so many books into English from the Sanskrit, therefore, I am very busy. Now, I have representatives, the GBC and the temple presidents who are qualifies to answer your questions. Of course if you ask me I am obligated to reply because I am your spiritual master. So please direct your question to my representatives. I may be coming to London in June, and I will be pleased to see you at that time. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Cidananda **Date:** November 25th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Cidananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter and your kind words to me. Thank you very much. I should be returning to Los Angeles the last week of November and I should be more than happy to see you there. Please always try to remember me by my teachings and we shall always be together. Just like I have written in the first publications of Srimad-Bhagavatam, "The spiritual Master lives forever by His divine instruction and the disciple lives with him.", because I have always served my Guru Maharaja and followed His teachings I am now even never separated from Him. Sometimes Maya may come and try to interfere but we must not falter, we must always follow the chalked out path layed down by the great acharya's and in the end you will see. I hope this letter finds you healthy and in blissful serving mood. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/mda ### Letter to Cintamani **Date:** July 17th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > New Vrindaban Dear Cintamani dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your undated letter and I have carefully examined the contents. You have written that you are not sure what Krsna wants you to do and that Palika dasi has invited you to go to Hyderabad to come help with the deities. So I think that is a good idea that you go to India and you can do so as soon as possible. We require many more devotees now in India so it will be very nice if you can go. You ask how you can become free of envy. Simply by chanting Hare Krsna, Lord Caitanya has said the heart will become cleaned of all the dirty things accumulated in the heart. It is not that we have to endeavor separately to become rid of envy or any deficiency or impurity. In this age the chanting of Hare Krsna is recommended as the only possible method to associate with Krsna. By offenseless chanting, when we associate with Krsna through His Holy Name, then all inauspicious things are cleared from the heart. So wherever you are you should always go on chanting, and that in itself will bring all perfection. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Citsukhananda **Date:** February 16th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney > Caracas My dear Citsukhananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 4th of February and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very much encouraged by your work in pioneering this movement in South America and I pray to Lord Sri Krishna that he will protect you in all your endeavors. Hanuman and yourself appear to be working so nicely as a team that I am writing to you as a team so you please discuss the points I have mentioned in Hanuman's letter and do the needful in this regard. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Citsukhananda **Date:** May 18th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Caracas My dear Citsukhananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your Air Mail Special letter dated 14 of May, 1973, and I have noted the contents. Tomorrow I am going to Dallas because the weather here in Los Angeles is not good for my health. It is too cold and cloudy. So I am going to Dallas to get some sunshine. If the weather there is not suitable, I may come at once to Caracas. However, if the weather is good in Dallas I shall remain there until May 30 and then to New Vrindaban for the corner stone laying for our first temple there. Then I shall come to Caracas from Pittsburgh. Please let me know in Dallas whether or not you can make arrangements for tickets for four to Caracas. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda --- P.S. I have already come to Dallas and it appears nice 5/19/73 ### Letter to Citsukhananda **Date:** June 1st 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Caracas My dear Citsukhananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 24, 1973.Thank you very much for your kind note. I am feeling a little stronger now. Tomorrow we are going to Mayapur where I want to take complete rest for some time. After my recovery I will return to Los Angeles and at that time I would be very pleased to come to Caracas. So please contact me when I go to Los Angeles and we can make arrangements at that time. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Cittahari **Date:** August 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Cittahari, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 15, 1973.On your recommendation I am happy to accept Brian Lloyd as my initiated disciple. His name will be Bhutanath das. You can instruct him on all matters of philosophy and regulative living, attending class, Sankirtana, book distribution. As president of the temple you have very much responsibility, so never forget that we are acting as agents for the Supreme Lord so our standard must also be perfect and then automatically anyone that comes in our company will become perfect in no time. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Cyavana **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Nairobi My dear Cyavana, Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated January 3, 1973, is in hand and I have noted the contents with much encouragement. Your plan for rotating the chief man at Nairobi Center is nice, provided the sense of authority and continuity is not weakened by so much switching of head men. As long as you are recognized to be the leader of Nairobi Center with full authority in all matters, that is the point. This constantly changing the head man and whimsically dividing the attention is not good. Someone must be there who will stick tightly to the temple and develop it gradually to the highest standard. So far getting new place, that Sarat Building is nice but we have already purchased our other building for Shs. 200,000. But if we can sell that place to buy the Sarat Building, then it is all right. Whatever is agreed upon between yourself and Brahmananda, I have no objection. Your program for mass wholesale distribution of our propaganda, especially books, throughout Africa, is very much appreciated by me. That is the highest type of activity of human form of life, to distribute Krsna's message profusely as far as it is possible for me to do. So far Harikrpa marrying that African girl, although the father has told you he has no objection, still, there must be something in writing. And if Brahmananda also agrees, then you may perform the ceremony nicely in our temple. The term for G. N. Shah's loan is two years, so how he can expect us to pay within one year? This business with Mr. Shah and Damji Devji has been dragging on for years together, now you settle it yourself the best you are able, I do not like to be consulted continuously about the same thing. But he has given the loan for two years, is that in written agreement? If there is written agreement, then how he can expect? At any rate, try to pacify him by paying him something gradually each month, and in that way you must fulfill the terms of your original agreement, by paying him off in two years time. Regarding the daughters of Sarna, they must be engaged in some service. They may chant, read books, make life members by visiting the ladies of Nairobi, like that, but some service must be there, otherwise sex will come out. Two things are there, Krsna and maya. This sex idea is maya, therefore there must be Krsna's service or there will be another scandal as before. It is nice the girls are coming to the temple, but unless you engage them in some way of serving Krsna, there will be again trouble. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdaN.B. --- Your letter dated January 4, 1973, is just now received by me. Yes, we shall be happy to come that side while leaving India sometimes I think in April, and when we come there we shall install the Deities, after consulting with Brahmananda whether you will be able to maintain them properly. You may request Brahmananda to send me his opinion in the matter also. But I think we can install if you both agree. So I am sending Rsi Kumar, Yasodanandana Swami and Gurukrpa Swami from Bombay to Nairobi very soon, they shall reach there by ship, and they will remain with you for the month of February to help you prepare everything and enhance the preaching work amongst the Africans population. By March they may be freed for going to South Africa to arrange things there for my coming there also, after I leave Nairobi. You all big leaders make these arrangements however you think best, by your mutual consultation. But one thing is, you should send the three plane fare-tickets from India, I think we shall be at Delhi at that time, to Nairobi, and then from Nairobi to Johannesburg and other places, for three men including myself. Rsi Kumar has told me they would pay for some portion of the tickets in South Africa. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Cyavana **Date:** March 6th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Cyavana: Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 10th of February. There has been some delay in replying because of my travels. I have just arrived here a few days ago and by the 15th I shall be going to Mayapur. Yes, I should not travel so extensively any more if I am to finish my work on the Bhagavatam. So I am turning over all the management to the GBC and the presidents. Your program for printing our literature is very encouraging to me because that is our major effort for pushing on this movement, so kindly distribute these literatures far and wide as possible. The marriage of Hari Kripa with the African girl is alright with me if you and Brahmananda Maharaja agree in the matter, these kinds of decisions I am leaving up to you to make in the future. I am very glad to hear that the film "Hare Rama" was defeated there, it is Krsna's grace. This man is a very bad man for our movement's sake, that movie is a great insulting to us. I think there was bribe by the government who does not want this movement. Anyway, the dogs may bark but the caravan passes. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Cyavana **Date:** March 30th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Cyavana: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 22nd 1973 and I have examined the contents carefully. Yes, I have received an invitation to visit South Africa and visa application forms but it will take some time for any approval to come through. In the meantime, I am going to Zurich for about 10 days and then to London and from there to New York and Los Angeles. I have also received one nice note from Maria, and I am pleased, by your request, to accept her as my initiated disciple. I have chanted upon the enclosed beads. Her new name is Venugit dasi which means playing on flute. So now she can marry Hari Kripa das and I think for the new householders Deity worship will be nice. I remember Hari Kripa, he is very intelligent boy. I hope this meets you all in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Cyavana **Date:** June 30th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Nairobi My dear Cyavana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 22 June 1973.We had previously received copies of the Swahili language publication of Topmost Yoga System from Brahmananda Swami and it is very nicely done. This printing and distribution of our literature is most important aspect of our propaganda work. Yes, send me 2,000 of the stampless aerogrammes on my own letterhead. I have already mailed my acceptance for your initiation into sannyasa order to Brahmananda Swami, along with sannyasa robes etc., and you should shortly receive same. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Cyavana **Date:** October 13th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Nairobi My Dear Cyavana Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter from Zambia dated August 24, 1973. I am very much pleased with your preaching there, how you are making members and distributing books. It is also encouraging that the Indians there are taking note of the authority of this movement of Lord Caitanya. Regarding the saligram sila, it will be installed along with the other Deities. I shall advise you. I am planning to come to Nairobi on the 19th or 20th of November for your installation program and remain there up to the end of the month when I shall start for South Africa. Brahmananda Swami has read me your letter regarding the students there reading other books. I request you to stop this practice. Our students have no time to read our own books, but they have time to read other's books, and the money to purchase them? Why this mentality is there? You are a serious student, therefore you have correctly found out the defect in these books. We don't want babaji class. We want active preachers. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Damodara **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > India My Dear Damodara, Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated December 28, 1972 is in hand and I have noted the contents carefully. Upon your recommendation I am happy to accept the six applicants as my duly initiated disciples, and their letter is enclosed herewith. You may request them to send their beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrndavana for chanting on them on my behalf. I have given that responsibility as it is too costly to send so many beads such great distance by air mail. Now I am getting so many requests for first initiation, therefore I have given that responsibility to Kirtanananda, and Revatinandana will chant on the beads for the European devotees. I am so glad to understand from you your concern about the managing of our Krsna Consciousness movement. Yes, you are my elder disciple, you are one of the leaders of our Society; therefore, it is your duty to feel always this responsibility for seeing that the things go on properly. So I am very glad to hear that you are taking so many steps for improving things and spreading Krsna Consciousness more and more to the citizens at large. Main thing is to somehow or other create first quality preachers on Krsna's behalf. So many boys and girls are simply wasting their time in so many frivolous ways, but if we are sincere and serious to attract them to Krsna's fold, very easily we shall be able to persuade them to join us. That means simply let them get a taste of something higher than their present-day sense pleasure. Of course, that will not be so easily done, and that will be your credit for doing it. You have got now good experience, and you are mature, cool-headed and sincere devotee, therefore, I shall expect a very good result from your activity in this way. Regarding the several smaller temples being dependent upon the central temple of Washington D.C., that is up to you to decide, but so far I am concerned, I have not got much stock in such centralized management or organization. I never wanted that any of my temples shall be dependent upon the other temples. Rather, our main business is to train up men to be self sufficient and competent in many ways to carry on the preaching work, not to make them into specialists or to minimize their responsibility by centralizing everything. If each center must rely upon its own strength to stand, that will be better training ground for the devotees. We must learn how to do all kinds of varieties of engagements on Krsna's service, not that we shall expect anyone else to act for us and thus avoid something ourselves. But for reasons of spreading Krsna Consciousness movement, we may sometimes centralize, just like the books and money for BBT are managed by Karandhara in Los Angles. In that case, for more than one man to be dealing with Dai Nippon, overseeing the general production and financial condition of the books, if that were left for each temple to manage, there would be great difficulty and the books would get neither printed nor paid for nor distributed widely. So in that case, centralized management is preferable. But in the case of new temples, it is better if they must have to struggle a little while to establish themselves in their cities, become familiar with the local city officials and leading citizens, elicit support from all quarters of the city, like that, otherwise these things will be neglected and there will be false dependency upon the outside supplies. This will deteriorate everything. Our purpose of Krsna consciousness movement is to create first class servants of Krsna, that means they know how to do everything. I am especially encouraged by your increasing the distribution of books. That is our primary business, to sell these transcendental literatures profusely all over the world. And your methods which you have introduced for distributing the books are very much liked by me and approved fully. Whatever we have to do to induce people to take a book, that is nice. We shall judge the thing by its result, not by its means. But at the same time, we must avoid irritating anyone or disappointing anyone later by cheating them or telling big lies which become detected. Your program for approaching their businessmen in their offices is especially liked by me. Now tax your brain to create programs for engaging the wider and wider classes of population in Krsna Consciousness. So far your ideas about influencing the leaders of society, yes, that must be done. But political power is not in their hands actually, factually speaking. It is the common people who elect the leaders of your country. Therefore we must get the support of the common men. What good is the support of a handful of so-called leaders of society? But, on the other hand, if such leaders of society can be influenced to preach on our behalf, help us to spread Krsna Consciousness in some practical way, that is the best service. But simply supporting, that will not help us. Support of mass of people will help us. But mass of people take direction from their leaders, so if the leaders of present day society can be persuaded of our beneficial working for the human welfare, and if they help us somehow to spread what they have learned from us to the people in general, that is the point to be considered. By going out for sankirtana and selling books to the citizens at large, in this way we are gradually getting the support of everyone, not just a select few. I have heard that during the last election of President in your country that the opposite party to Mr. Nixon was supported by most of the so-called intelligent class of men of your country, but still, what could they do, such high class of men, in comparison with Mr. Nixon? Mr. Nixon has got the support of the common men, therefore he is successful. So life that, we must get the support of the mass of men, and if the leading men can be induced by you to preach on our behalf, then you will be able to speed up the process and actually that is a very great service for Krsna. Spending so much time with upper class citizens to get funds must be judged on this idea, whether their appreciating our movement will have any practical effect in terms of widespread spreading of Krsna Consciousness and preaching to the mass of men? The program, as you have mentioned it, of approaching the professors to introduce our books in their classrooms, that is the right idea. In that way the leading class, just like the professors, if they can be induced to preach on our behalf, just like introducing the books to their students is one form of preaching, if they will do like that, then spending time with them is very, very desirable and effective. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Damodara **Date:** July 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Letchmore Heath > England Dear Damodara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of you letter dated July 19, 1973 and I have carefully considered the contents. Yes, I have recently received a full report from Rupanuga Maharaja on the activities of the Washington D.C. and especially how you are most enthusiastic about book distribution and that you are fixing to purchase the house. I am very glad that you are taking so seriously your duty as president of our D.C. center, so certainly Krsna will give you all assistance in your preaching mission. On your recommendation, I have chanted on the threads enclosed for second initiation of Dharmapada and Varuna das, and I have enclosed gayatri mantras as well for Rupa Manjari, Rambhavati and Vilasi as well. You may play the tape of my speaking the gayatri mantra into their right ear and instruct them in the principles of brahminical culture. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Damodara **Date:** November 25th 1973 — **Location:** Letchmore Heath > England My Dear Damodara Das Prabhu, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Oct. 31, 1973, and I have acknowledge its contents carefully. I have also received the new copy in which you have enclosed; it is very nice. I am always very much encouraged when senior devotees like yourself and Rupanuga Maharaja are tending to their Lordships. This gives me assurity that our high standard will continue. Thank you very much for this, I am sure that Krishna will give you all intelligence in how you can improve your service to Krishna. Regarding the second initiation of Antardyana Dasi you may hold a fire yajna and play the Gayatri mantra tape for her to hear through the right ear. Thank you very much for your kind words regarding my books. Yes, more and more persons as they are exposed to my Krishna Conscious literatures are appreciating their value, and your greatest manner of showing your appreciation is by your constant increase in distributing them everywhere. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Danavir **Date:** February 6th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Los Angeles My dear Danavir das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 14, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care. It is very nice that you are desiring to assist me in preaching the message of Lord Caitanya all over the world. We need so many preachers to push on this Krsna Consciousness movement and expand our activities. So you continue your engagements and when I come to Los Angeles it will be opportune time for discussion of this matter. For taking sannyasa you may consult your GBC member as we shall be starting a new policy where the sannyasa candidate must meet certain requirements to be determined by the GBC. Karandhara may write to Satsvarupa Maharaja for understanding this matter. This taking of sannyasa should not be a whimsical proposition, and should not be an excuse for becoming irresponsible, no responsibility of grhastha, brahmacari, etc. Sannyasis also have great responsibility to become fearless preachers of our Krsna Consciousness movement. So you consider all these things, and I shall see you and we can discuss further in Los Angeles. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Dayananda **Date:** October 16th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas My Dear Dayananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding the older boys, they can do gardening engagement and other brahmacari engagements, study and manual work. And, as soon as they can read Sanskrit and English, they should read our books, such as Bhagavad-gita As It Is. By cleansing the temple and growing flowers their attention in this way be always in Krsna consciousness. That will save them from the clutches of maya.kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan ihadurlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam[SB 7.6.1]"From the very beginning of childhood one should learn how to behave and practice Krsna consciousness, because this human form of life is very rare. . Although it is also perishable, it can give us the greatest boon; therefore we shall utilize this body from the very beginning of life."Regarding your separating from Nandarani, nothing should be done artificially. Nandarani is not different from you. She also seeks Krsna consciousness. Your household life is not repugnant; it is favorable. . Do not separate artificially. When everyone is engaged in Krsna's service, there is no question of maya. I have got good estimation about Nandarani. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dayananda, Nandarani **Date:** January 27th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Los Angeles My dear Dayananda and Nandarani, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of each of your letters dated December 27 and December 28, 1973, respectively, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am in favor of whatever will push on this Krsna Consciousness movement throughout the world. So if you both wish to serve at Gurukula, if Karandhara and Satsvarupa and Mohanananda all agree then certainly you should go there. You have already proven your ability in this field by raising two nice Krsna Conscious children. So if you can help now to raise hundreds and thousands of children in Krsna Consciousness, that will be the greatest service to Krsna and certainly you shall both go back to home, back to Godhead, by doing this. But before any new service, be certain that your absence shall not cause any harm to our Los Angeles Temple. After all it is you who first worked so hard in the beginning and should see in the future how it would expand. So first speak with Karandhara and take his approval. Gurukula is our most important project. If the children are given a Krsna Conscious education from early childhood then there is great hope for the future of the world. I have already given instruction on how the teaching should be conducted there, and this you can learn from Satsvarupa, Mohanananda, and the other senior teachers. Whatever service we do, our enthusiasm must always be kept strong. So Krsna is giving you guidance from within. So if you go to Gurukula, try to help develop things there and make it the model educational institution in the world. Hoping this meets you both in good mood, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- ACBS ### Letter to Dhananjaya **Date:** December 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Rome My dear Dhananjaya, Please accept my blessings. Karandhara has informed me of the receipt of the letter from you reporting the establishment of an ISKCON Center in Rome, Italy. The transcendental bliss I have derived from hearing the news is not measurable within the three dimensions. I thank you very much for your humble service and I pray to Krsna to always protect and bless you. I will look forward to seeing the first Italian Back to Godhead which I understand you are printing at present. We shall try and locate some Italian speaking devotees to send there to assist you. Kindly offer my blessings to your good wife Bala Gopala dasi. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Dhrstaketu **Date:** October 14th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Dhrstaketu Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding the money sent from New York, whatever comes to India, it is never returned. You know that India is celebrated as a poverty sticken country, so it knows how to receive, but not to repay. Anyway, I thank you for your contribution. It will be used for our Bombay temple. The balance money of your estate when you receive it, you can utilize for Krsna as you think best. Our philosophy is that everything is Krsna's property, and everything should be used for Krsna's service. I instructed this philosophy to George Harrison, and he is trying to render service to Krsna in many ways. Recently you know he has given us our London temple, the cost being L220,000. Our devotees are very happily living there and the blessings of Krsna are going to George Harrison. So everyone of us should try to please Krsna and His devotee. Then our life is successful. Better to please His devotee first. That is a recommendation for being introduced to Krsna. Regarding your question about instruction, spiritual life is different from material life. The instruction given in my books is supposed to be personal instruction. When we read the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, it is understood that we are receiving personal instructions of Krsna. No physical barrier is there in the case of spiritual affairs. It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:sa vai pumsam paro dharmoyato bhaktir adhoksajeahaituky apratihatayayatma suprasidati[SB 1.2.6]"The supreme occupation (dharma) for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendental Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to completely satisfy the self."Regarding the morning kirtana songs, what you have given is all right. If time permits there are other songs that can be sung, such as jiva jago, udilo aruna "There is now sunrise on the Eastern horizon and Lord Caitanya accompanied by His devotees have started the morning Sankirtana party. . . ."It is not that the individual jiva is within every atom, but paramatma is in each atom. It is stated in the Brahma Samhita as follows: andantara-stham paramanu-cayam tarastham, "Who is situated within every atom. . ."I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dhruvananda **Date:** January 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Dhruvananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 17, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care. You have asked me several questions about the deity worship in Los Angeles, so I shall answer them one after another: Your first question, shall Srimati Radharani's feet be showing, the answer is no, they should never be seen. Krsna's feet, however, should be showing. I do not know when I have said to anyone that Krsna should not wear anything black color, nor I know where I have given any permission to wear black color, but there is no harm if sometimes Krsna dresses something black. Sometimes in Vrndavana they dress Him in black. Yes, the leaves of Srimati Tulasi Devi may be offered to all Visnu-tattva expansions of Krsna, including Nityananda and Balarama. You may dress Lord Caitanya in the standard way, main things is do it nicely, don't make it funny. In your Western countries Lord Caitanya should be entirely covered, He should not appear bare-chested. Why you are pouring water over the head of Radha and Krsna deities? Big deities should not be bathed in this way, using water or other things. Rather they are bathed daily by mantra, do you not know these things? Under no circumstances shall we bathe the Jagannatha deities with anything water or liquid, they should be bathed with mantra also. Now you are asking if Lord Jagannatha carries flute? Why this nonsense question? You are asking me so many concoctions and manufactured nonsense. Don't bother my head in this way any more. From now on unless I order you do something change or in addition, go on with the usual standard way. You manufacture ideas and then I have to waste my time. I have given you everything already, there is no need for you to add anything or change anything. Why you are asking these things? Who has given you such freedom? Pujari should operate entirely under the supervision of temple president and GBC, not independently. The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities. So don't ask any more new questions, whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact standard as I have given you, that's all. [PAGE MISSING] ### Letter to Dinatarini **Date:** January 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas My dear Dinatarini Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter from Dallas School dated December 26, 1972, along with examples of the children's classwork. Thank you very much for allowing me to see the nice progress being made by our future preachers. I think everything is going on there nicely, and the children are learning in the proper line. So far geography and history are concerned, you may teach geography as it is, there is no harm to getting knowledge about our material earth planet, even up to learning all of the countries and places, names, landscape, production, natural resources, climates, oceans, deserts, everything should be there. Krsna Consciousness devotees shall not be known as fools. All of you nice boys and girls have had that kind of education, and you are preaching now Krsna consciousness in its pure form, so there is no hindrance for learning such things, just as you have also learned them as child. So teach them in this way, exactly as you have also been taught geography, history and other things. So far history is concerned, we shall not teach the history as Darwin has given, but there is no harm to learn what is the history of your country, just like Washington was the first president, and after him came so-and-so, like that. If the modern historians have altered the story of history to fit their own view of things, that can be avoided, anything like opinion and speculation, but the bare facts as much as we know them may be learned by the young children, there is no harm. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Dinatarini **Date:** April 25th 1973 — **Location:** Los AngelesLT > _730425_E1 My dear Dinatarini, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 29, 1973 and I have noted the contents. I have received also the photograph of Radha-Kalachandji and they are looking transcendentally beautiful. Always keep to this high standard of Deity worship, never become neglectful. Everything must be done very timely, and the temple must be immaculately cleansed daily. These things, cleanliness and promptness, are the most important points for Deity worship, so be very vigilant in this way. So far opening a Gurukula in England, first let us establish our new building there, and we can talk later on. Meanwhile, continue your program there very nicely, and when there is good opportunity, I can come there for some time. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/nkd --- Srimati Dinatarini Devi DasiISKCON Gurukula ### Letter to Dinesh Candra Sarkar **Date:** November 9th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi My Dear Dinesh Candra Sarkar: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 21/10/73 in Bengali and have noted the contents with thanks. At present I am in Delhi. I left Bombay on the 1st after finishing the land dispute there and shall return to Bombay again on my way to Nairobi by the 23rd instant. Then I shall return back to USA via Rome and shall come back to India in the month of March during Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. For the time being I am keeping my health fairly well. Certainly I was sick when I left Calcutta for London, but I improved my health there. So after all, this is an old body. I am 78 years, and still by the grace of Krsna it is going on. So I am very much thankful for your enquiry about my health. I am glad that sometimes you are going to the temple, and are staying to take prasadam. So when I shall return there we can talk more. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Doug Russell **Date:** April 18th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Doug Russell, Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Rsabhadeva Das I am accepting you as my initiated disciple. Your spiritual name is now Asurakula Nasana Dasa, the servant of the killer of the descendants of the asuras. Krishna, He killed so many demons, so in this age of demoniac tendency, we may not kill the demons like Krishna did it, but we can kill the demoniac tendency. How is that? By this Sankirtana weapon. That is the specific contribution by Lord Caitanya, Krishna Himself, in this Kali yuga. So I am informed that you are the Sankirtana leader for Laguna Beach temple, so you should very enthusiastically lead the Sankirtana party, and in this way you will very successfully kill the demoniac tendency of the rascals. So you send a copy of this letter to Kirtanananda Swami and he will chant on your beads. . And you be sure to chant 16 rounds minimum as a daily practice, and this will keep you most fitted Sankirtana leader. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dr. Aggarwal **Date:** March 7th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Dr. Aggarwal, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Feb. 25, and I have examined the contents carefully. Thanks very much for the poem. I am very pleased to hear that you are regularly visiting our Washington Temple, and seeing our Damodara Prabhu and the others. Actually one can be perfectly Krishna-Conscious without being literate. Education is not necessary. Simply it is required to accept the fact, that we are the eternal servants of Krishna, and engage in some tangible service. Otherwise, there are so many convincing arguments, i.e. the Bhagavad-Gita, to bring us to the right point of surrender. Even the Karma-Kanda, and Jnana-Kanda, sections of the Vedas are designed to bring to the proper Sidhanta, conclusion. And that conclusion is made by Krishna in the Gita, that one who knows the purpose behind the Vedas, surrenders unto Him. Four things can be surrendered:—Our life, our words, our intelligence, and our money. So just try to gradually engage these things in Krishna's Service. One thing you can enquire from Damodara, is about our Life-Membership-Program. Here in India we have now over 2000 members, including may prominent men. You are a learned gentleman, a medical doctor, so kindly apply your determination, to understand this Krishna-Conscious movement, and I am confident that Krishna will bless you more and more. Kindly just read our books, and help us as you are able. I am going to Mayapur by the 15th, for the celebration of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Appearance Day, and the opening of our new centre there. Meanwhile I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Dr. Singhal, Mr. Saraf, Dr. Poddar, Mr. Vasista, Giriraja **Date:** February 21st 1973 — **Location:** Auckland My Dear Dr. Singhal, Mr. Saraf, Dr. Poddar, Mr. Vasista and Sriman Giriraja, Please accept my blessings. This morning Srukirti received telephonic message from Bali Mardan. It is understood that Mr. Nair is dead. So it is good news that Nrsimhadeva has killed a demon like him. Prahlada Maharaja said that even a saintly person becomes pleased when a scorpion or a snake is killed. So if it is a fact that Nair is dead it is a matter of great pleasure for all devotees. When I left Bombay I formed a committee of you all to negotiate with Mr. Nair but I did not hear anything from you since I left. What is the position now? If possible settle with Mrs. Nair paying her cash down or Rs. 1,400,000/. Out of Rs. 1,400,000 suppose we have Rs. 500,000/ and the balance Rs. 900,00/ can be advanced by any mortgager. If it is possible try to do it. Otherwise unless Mrs. Nair pays back all our invested money in the Juhu land do not vacate the land under any circumstances. If you stick to your principles certainly Krishna will help and the indications are already there. I hope this will find you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Dvija Hari **Date:** January 5th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta My dear Dvija Hari, Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated January 3, 1973, is in hand, and I am enclosing by way of reply also the letter from Tejiyas and my reply to him. So far your being "ordered" to leave India, that may be an idea which you got from Tejiyas. I do not know what is the situation there, I can only act upon the information which Tejiyas has sent me, namely, that you are causing some disturbance to him and the others. But just yesterday I have got one letter from Tejiyas wherein he reports that you are now improved in your conduct and you are cooperating quite nicely also. So I have no objection if you want stay in India or anyplace, but for your work I think it is better anyway to go to Los Angeles. That is the best place in the world for making film. Harikesa Prabhu has been working in that connection also. He has shown me some film script which appears nice, so if conjointly you are able to do something for Krsna in this way, that will please me very much. I always wanted that there should be a cinema made of Bhagavad-gita, now you are fulfilling my desire in that connection. At any rate we shall discuss further when we meet again in Calcutta in a few days' time. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Ekendra, Shawn, Christina, Dvarakadhisa, Kimi, Tonya, Joe, John, Candramukhi, Carol, Peggy, Lisa, Stephanie **Date:** May 21st 1973 — **Location:** Dallas My Dear Ekendra, Shawn, Christina, Dvarakadhisa, Kimi, Tonya, Joe, John, Candramukhi, Carol, Peggy, Lisa, and Stephanie, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very nice Isopanisad papers, with sanskrit, transliteration, translation and purport. You are all very nice devotees. You are very, very fortunate to have the opportunity to be going to this Gurukula. It is the only one of its kind in the world. You are the first students and you must set a good example for the others, always being very enthusiastic to learn from your teachers, offering all respects to your teachers, leading the kirtanas with exuberance. In future you will be the leaders of this Krsna Consciousness Movement, so now you must take this training preparation very seriously. Hoping this meets you all in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Eric **Date:** May 20th 1973 — **Location:** Dallas > 400 18th Avenue East Seattle, Washington My dear Eric, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated. Thank you very much for your kind words. I am very pleased to see that you are taking this Krsna Consciousness movement seriously. Your question as to why we use light bulbs, is answered as follows: light bulbs are also a part of Krsna's energy. Just as we use automobiles, adding machines, typewriters, dictaphone etc. Whatever is there should be employed in service of Krsna. Without using matter in service of Krsna it becomes the cause of bondage, but by using it in the service of Krsna it helps us to become Krsna conscious. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to GBC Members **Date:** August 7th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear GBC Members, Please accept my blessings. I find amongst the GBC members that Satsvarupa Maharaja stands first because he submits regularly the report. A sample copy is enclosed herewith. I hope all GBC Members follow in his foot steps. I hope this letter meets you all in good health. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda --- cc: All GBC Members ### Letter to George **Date:** January 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > London My dear George, Please accept my blessings. I was informed by some of my disciples at London, namely, Dhananjaya, Jaya Hari, Revatinandana Swami and others, that you so kindly have sent your car and drive to our place filled-up with fruits and flowers to offer to Radha and Krishna on the Disappearance day of my Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I am so much pleased that you have thought of Him in that way, thank you very much. Surely you will become blessed by Him more and more. Yes, if one simply comes to that platform of spontaneous love for the spiritual master, then very quickly he will get love of God, or Krishna, and his all hankerings and lamentations of life will be finished. That is the process. Just like when two friends meet and, if the friend is also with his dog, the gentleman pats his dog first, is it not? So the friend becomes automatically pleased, his dog being patted. I have seen it in your country sometimes when I used to walk in the Regents Park early mornings. So it is like that, the spiritual master is the pet dog of Krishna, and if he is pleased so Krishna is also pleased. That is the process. I can understand by your activities that you are making good spiritual progress, by Krishna's grace. That is very good news to me. It is not by accident that you are coming gradually to the right point, neither it is very common thing, no: bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [ Bg. 7.19 ] "After many births and deaths, he who is actually wise surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare." Mahatma means great soul, and such great soul is sudurlabhah, very rare. Great soul does not mean politician, or scholar, or so-called yogi, or any other so-called big, big man, famous musician, or scientist, or anything like that. No, great soul is one who understands that Vasudevah, Krishna, is the cause of all causes and all that is, and then surrenders unto Him. You are doing that, therefore I say that you are great soul, not because you have got some material name, fame or wealth. But that will vanish at the time of your death, so what good it is? But because you are serving Krishna in devotional loving mood, therefore I say great soul. There is one Bengali proverb that the person who is actually famous is the Devotee who is known by all other Devotees to be great. So that surrendering to Krishna, that is great soul. Now you may enquire, what is that surrendering? Surrendering to Krishna means to try to please Him only, by our serving mood. Just like if I want to please you, or someone else, they will appreciate me by my serving their desires, that will give them pleasure. So if we want to please Krishna, He is kind enough to give us the formula how to please Him in Bhagavad-Gita, so if we are intelligent we shall follow the instructions and orders of Krishna as He gives them, that is pleasing Krishna, that is surrender. If I say, Yes, I like rasagulas, I like this type of incense, I like this and that—so if you bring me rasagulas, that incense, like that, that will be pleasing to me, will it not? But Krishna is not so rascal as me, He wants only little flower, some water, that's all, but main thing He wants is our devotion, nothing more: manmana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru mam evaisyasi satyam te pratijane priyo'si me. [ Bg. 18.65 ] "Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend." So to become the friend and the devotee of Krishna, that is required. Just become the pet dog, that is surrender. What is that friendship? At the end of 12th Chapter of Gita Krishna describes that the person "who is very dear to Him, or His best friend, is one who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor, who is free from false ego and equal both in happiness and distress, who is always satisfied and engaged in devotional service with determination and whose mind and intelligence are in agreement with Me . . . He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anxiety, who is steady in happiness and distress . . . A devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of activities, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all pains, and who does not strive for some result . . . One who neither grasps pleasure or grief, who neither laments nor desires, and who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious things . . . One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contamination, always silent and satisfied with anything who doesn't care for any residence, who is fixed in knowledge and engaged in devotional service . . ." such person is described by Krishna as "very dear to Me." But even more dear than such devotee who is dear to Krishna, one who is "very, very dear to Me," is "He who follows this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engages himself with faith, making Me the supreme goal," and also "one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees," . . or one who is preaching the message of Krishna to the devotees everywhere—such person is most highly regarded by Krishna as His best friend and devotee: na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah bhavita na ca me tasmad anyah priyataro bhuvi [ Bg. 18.69 ] "There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear." So that will be the supreme perfection of our existence, to come to that point of being best friend, best devotee of Krishna. And how is that? If we become simply engaged in His preaching work, trying with whatever talent or education or experience or material advantages we have got, to spread Krishna Consciousness message all over the world. That is best friend of Krishna, that is Krishna's pet dog. So I am pet dog of my Guru Maharaja, and you have helped him so nicely to push on the message of Lord Krishna or Krishna Consciousness Movement, and I am very much pleased by your serious and sincere attitude, so you will get all the full blessings of my Guru Maharaja, that you may know for certain. And if you have ever got any questions or difficulties, I am always your humble servant, you may please write to me wherever I am. I have heard that your good wife, Patty is growing Srimate Tulasi devi there at your house with good success. That is another very auspicious sign. The Tulasi, she will not go to live with anyone nondevotee, and because she is growing so profusely, therefore she is giving you her best favor because you are best devotee, that is to be understood. Now go on with your chanting regularly as much as possible, that will protect you from the attack of Maya, without any doubt. Just like if there is sunshine then where is the question of darkness? So Maya cannot remain in the presence of Krishna, therefore we chant always Hare Krishna to become freed from all attachment to Maya. I know you are very intelligent boy, and I like you very much, you are better than my own son, and I am so much pleased that you are displaying gradually more and more the qualities of becoming Krishna's pet dog as described above. If you have got any time, you may kindly write to me, or you are free to come to India to live with me for some time, as you like. Hoping this meets you and your good wife in the best of health and spirits. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda --- n.b. Regarding that house in London, I have not heard from my disciples for some time in that connection, what is the progress. But I have written one letter to Dhananjaya that he should keep in contact with you for getting the place, because you had kindly volunteered to help, so why he has not done anything? My spiritual master used to say me: Strike while the iron is hot, so if we delay the matter too long it may not remain a favorable proposition. Krishna will help, we do not rely on anything non-Krishna, but He will give facility when He sees we want it very, very seriously, working very hard and with great determination to get it, just to be able to serve Him better. Then He will give everything and anything. He is the Supreme Proprietor, Enjoyer and Friend. These three things, if we always remember them, our life will be completely perfect. ACBS ### Letter to Ghanasyama **Date:** February 16th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney > Los Angeles My dear Son, Please accept my blessings. On the recommendation of Satsvarupa I am herein accepting you as my initiated disciple. Henceforth your name will be GHANASYAMA DASA. Now you must agree to very rigidly follow the rules and regulations, i.e. chanting sixteen rounds of beads daily, rising early and attending Mangala Arati, observing the four principles, attending the classes, eating only bhagavata prasadam as well as working under the instruction of my representatives, such as your GBC representative and Temple President, and if you follow this procedure very strictly then your life will be glorious and you will go back to Home, back to Godhead, this I can guarantee. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** March 24th 1973 — **Location:** Hyderabad My Dear Giriraja: Please accept my blessings. We want money for purchasing the land, about $130,000. Last time you attempted to take loan from the bank, but this was not fruitful because Srimati Morarji would not stand as guarantor. So, if you agree to return back the money with interest ($130,000) to our Mayapur construction work, then I shall arrange the money from USA.Atreya Rsi is bringing this letter so you can talk with him and do the needful. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** April 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Zurich My Dear Giriraja, Please accept my blessings. We have reached Zurich yesterday morning and have come to the health resort of St. Morritz. The apartment is very nice but it is so cold that we cannot go outside. Probably we shall go to L.A. via N.Y. on the 5th of April. Today is Tuesday so I hope that the court case will be heard. The judge has intelligently asked Mrs. Nair to whom she will hand over the land. She has denied us and is considering Chhaganlal, but if the judge takes seriously that the land must be given to one of us, that will be a great success. Chhaganlal must insist on the contract price, 7 lacs and if we give him 3-4 lacs more profit, that will be a very excellent arrangement between Chhaganlal and ourselves. It appears he is friendly to us and if out of religious sentiment he delivers to us the land it will be very good for him. I think no need asking specific action on our behalf, on the other hand please try and get the land at Grand Paridi through the help of Karatikeya Mahadevia or Mr. Ramchand Chabria. They told me about this land for Temple and I think both of them can secure it, either freehold or cost price. The gentleman Mr. Thirani was met 2-3 times on planes or in airports and is eager to construct a temple for us immediately. So this is an opportunity given by Krishna and if possible we can construct both a city Temple as well as one at Juhu. If possible to construct in the city location then that should be given more priority. You may reply this letter to L.A. I hope you have taken possession of the new apartment at Juhu and are doing the needful. May this find you all well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** April 8th 1973 — **Location:** New York My Dear Giriraja, Please accept my blessings. We have arrived in New York on the fifth bypassing London for now because the new place is not yet ready. I will be staying here until about the 17th, then go to New Vrndavana for a few days and then to Los Angeles. Please let me know immediately how the Chhanganlal case has come out. I hope that by now you have received my letter of April 3, 1973 and have taken appropriate steps to secure the Juhu land. Hoping this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** April 14th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Giriraja Das: Please accept my blessings. Regarding the purchasing of the apartment, if it is difficulty, then I request you to deposit the Rs. 30,000/- in the bank, Book Trust a/c.. It must be deposited as a fixed deposit. (at least for six months)I am anxious to hear from you, what are the activities there in Bombay. Did you try for the land, Grand Pardi at Kemps Corner? I look forward to receiving your reply..I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsP.S. --- I have kept nine lacs of rupees reserved for cash payment to Mrs. Nair. I do not know what is the judgement in the matter of Chhanganlal case. If he is taking the land then we must have full payment of our investment, damages, interest, etc. Please let me know what is the actual position. I am very much anxious to know. I do not receive any letter either from you or from Tamala. ACBS ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** April 27th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Giriraja Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 20.4.73 and have read the contents carefully. In Juhu we have installed the Deity, so we cannot move from that place. That is against Vedic religious conception. We are prepared to pay cash 4 lacs less what we have already paid. Otherwise they must return our money and pay all damages, interest, etc, and we shall leave the temple as it is and shall go away: what can be done. Damages in this connection shall be 5 lacs minimum. So in this connection you must take serious protection. Mr. Ganatra can help. He has given two medals, one in Bombay and one in Los Angeles, for my work. The judge should be impressed in such a way that Mrs. Nair must sell to either of us, Chhangganlal or ISKCON. She should not be allowed to cheat so many people, to make contract with so many people first with one person and then with another. The court should be pleaded to stop this kind of cheating the public. She must agree to sell the property according to the contract. If she agrees to sell to Chhagganlal, the contract was for 7 lacs; therefore she has to sell for that price, according to the contract. If the court allows that contract to be superseded, we are prepared to pay 14 lacs. But, neither of us should agree to purchase at a price above what is stated in the contract. And, she must sell to either of us. On this line the pleading should go on in the court. Regarding Grand Pardi land, try your level best to secure at least one acre of land, and Mr. S.K. Thirani Chairman of Kores Ltd. is prepared to contribute 7 lacs for the temple. So in case we have to part with the Juhu land, we shall construct a very nice temple in the city at Grand Pardi, and if we do not lose the land we shall construct two temples in Bombay: one in the city and one in Juhu. So we shall try for both of them. Regarding the money to be paid to Nair, it is ready. We have already paid 275,000/- Rs. and in India there is 3 lacs in the Book Fund. So out of 14 lacs Rs. 575,00/- is there, and the balance Rs. 825,000/- is ready here. As soon as you send me the favorable decision, this money will be transferred to India without delay. In the meantime you negotiate with Central Bank authorities Gowalia Tank or Head Office. On transferring the above amount they will have to guarantee either to the vendor Mrs. Nair or to the court, assurance of payment, because Mrs. Nair's attorney may plead that we have no money. In that case we can reply that we can supply Bank's guarantee of payment. Things in Bombay are very much complicated. Tamala Krishna Goswami is already there but he is more or less engaged in preaching work. If you think so, I can send Brahmananda Swami to go to India to help you. So I am very much anxious to hear the reports of these transactions. So at least once in a week, you send me a report with all the details. I left some money with Manasvi for depositing in my personal account. Please let me know if it has been done. You have not written anything about purchasing apartment in Juhu for Rs. 30,000/-. If there is no possibility for purchasing, then immediately deposit the money in the bank. I know you are sincere devotee and hard working also, so Krishna will help you. Here in Los Angeles they are selling average over 2,000 pieces of literature daily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Tamala Krishna Goswami, Indore ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** April 27th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles BombayGIRIRAJAANXIOUS TO KNOW REPORT WHY ARE YOU SILENTBHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** May 1st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Giriraja Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your two letters dated 25.4 and 26.4 and have noted the contents carefully. I have noted that you have said about there being new law that licensee is tenant or owner. I do not know what to do on this, but the fact is that we are the proprietor. In the contract it states that we must pay Rs. 2 lacs and within the first year then the conveyance must be given, the another Rs. 2 lacs the next year thereafter up to 14 lacs being paid. So the first 2 lacs they've already taken from us, so the transaction is completed. Tactfully they did not give us the conveyance. So now they have given neither conveyance or returned our money, but the deal is completed. So when they shall give the conveyance, then we shall pay the balance. But, you all have cancelled our claim, that weakens our case. So, why not let the Rent Court settle up and determine the rent of the land, and we will pay the actual rent of the land. . So in all ways we are the occupiers—as licensee, tenant, or owner. So what we actually are, that should be settled up. Regarding apartment, Kartikeya says that we can purchase in the name of Society. But, if individual name is required, then my name can be given as Founder-Acarya. If there is some complication, then don't purchase. Keep the money in the bank, and try your best to get Grand Paradi land. If nobody can purchase[PAGE MISSING] ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** May 8th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bombay My Dear Giriraja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your two letters dated May 3, 1973, and have noted the contents with great pleasure. I think by the grace of Krsna you are getting some glimpse of hope to keep in possession the Hare Krsna land for our missionary activities. The laurel of victory will be if we can get the whole land at a monthly rent of 1000rs, as you have stated. To pay 1000rs rent per month means to keep a fixed deposit in the bank about 1 lac 70,000 and the bank pays 7 1/2% interest per anum and if we keep some fixed deposit in a private fund like Mafatlal or Birla at 12% then we have to deposit say a little more than 1 lac of rs. If we can construct a temple and building without permission of the landlord that will be our greatest triumph. If such a law is inaugurated then it is to be supposed that it is Krsna's plan. Then what about our temporary sheds? Can we get municipal permission to construct regular buildings in those vacant places? So if we can get municipal permission for constructing houses in those two places and if we can get municipal permission for constructing a temple then it will be a great boon or blessing of Lord Krsna. I think we have occupied the land sometime in January 1971 so does it mean that we have occupied the land for more than two years? You have to do your best to same the land with heart and soul and you are an innocent devotee completely dedicated. I wish that you may be blessed with all success in this connection. I am expecting your cable in the matter of purchasing the flat. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda --- N.B. If we become the owner or tenant of the land by dint of the new act then does this mean that the Chhaganlal case is finished? Where is his claim? Because actually we are in possession, he is not in possession ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** August 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor BombayMy Dear GirirajaPlease accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and the nice Vyasa Puja offering you have sent. I have sent it to Satsvarupa Goswami for printing in the BTG. Writing is a very important part of our work and satsvarupa is always anxious to have new material from the devotees for expanding the BTG. You have a nice talent for writing, practice makes perfect, so continue, it will be appreciated. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Govardhan 2 **Date:** May 8th 1973 — **Location:** Los AngelesMy dear Govardhan, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 3, 1973.Upon your recommendation I am glad to accept these devotees as my initiated disciples. So now you may hold a fire yajna and send their beads to Kirtanananda Swami for chanting. Also I give approval for the one brahminical initiation. Please find one Gayatri mantra enclosed. After the fire yajna you may play the tape of me chanting Gayatri mantra into the right ear in private. Teach how to count on the finger divisions. I am enclosing a letter to all the new initiates. Please preach this Krsna Consciousness very strongly so that we may give people real light for seeing the way out of the darkness of Kali Yuga. The modern scientists are confusing everyone with their false propaganda and it is our duty to expose them and kill the demoniac tendency to forget Krsna. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda --- Sriman Govardhan dasa AdhikaryISKCON Detroit8311 E. Jefferson StreetDetroit, Michigan 48214 ### Letter to Govardhan 3 **Date:** September 24th 1973 — **Location:** Detroit > 8311 E. Jefferson Detroit, Mich 48214 My dear Govardhan Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 7, 1973 and am pleased to accept the following students as my initiated disciples: Triyogi dasa (Mike Slockman); Udayananda dasa (Randy Cieslak); Yajnavalkya dasa (James Schwartz); Visalaksa dasa (Robert Richardson); Nistraigunya dasa (Steven Forbes); and Madhyma dasi (Marsha Farmer). The sacred trread for the second initiation of Indrabarta dasa is also enclosed. So you please inform Satsvarupa Maharaja to do the needful for chanting on the beads and hold a nice sacrifice. Thank you for the nice letters from the students, and I am glad that you are appreciating this Krishna Consciousness Movement. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- Encl: 1 sacred thread ### Letter to Govardhan **Date:** December 15th 1973 — **Location:** LOS ANGELESLT > _731215_F1 My dear Govardhan, Please accept my blessings. I hereby accept the devotees you have recommended for first and second initiation. Enclosed are three threads and six gayatri sheets for the second initiates. Hold a fire yajna, after which they may listen to the mantra once through the right ear from the cassette tape I have made. The spiritual names of the first initiates are as follows: Patrick - Khandaparasu dasaDonale - Daruna dasaDon Pearson - Dravinaprada dasaChuck - Caturbhava dasaJudy - Rangavati dasiAll the devotees should collect Guru-daksina and send it to Karandhar in Los Angeles. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- ACBS: KdaIskconDetroitEnclosures - 9 ### Letter to Govardhan Das **Date:** October 18th 1973 — **Location:** BombayLT > _731018_C1 My Dear Govardhan Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 12, 1973 and have noted the contents. So far the new disciples are concerned, I am accepting on your recommendation the following as my initiated disciples: Maharani Dasi - Shirley DanielsDhenumati Dasi - Coleen HandlonKrsnakathananda Das Adhikari - Richard Marcolini and Sarvashaktimati das - Angeline MarcoliniAlso enclosed find one sacred thread chanted upon for Phatikcandra dasa brahmacari. Let Satsvarupa Maharaj chant on the beads and hold a fire sacrifice amongst the devotees. Take care of the new disciples and please see that they are always engaged in Krsna's service, chanting Hare Krsna. Regarding your successful book distribution, you should know that this is the greater preaching. I am very much pleased. the conch shells as you have described may be kept on the altar as decoration, but they must be kept clean. Everything on the altar must always be clean. Who is that rascal sannyasi who has recommended to chant Pancha Tattwa mantra on the japa beads? First, send me his name. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsEnc: --- 1 thread ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** February 17th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney My Dear Govinda dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 31st. and I have noted the contents carefully. I thank you very much for sending me the nice monogrammed shirts and I am wearing them daily. I am thinking of you and your husband and of the nice devotional service you are performing and I pray that Krishna will give you more and more intelligence to continue in this way. You are the pioneer of pushing forward Tulasi worship in the Western world and I can understand that proportionally as your Tulasi plants are growing, your devotion and love is also growing. Please continue in this way. I am glad to hear that you are opening another workshop in Kauai for the manufacturing of the Gaura-Nitai Deities and this is a very great service to our society and devotees. But one thing. You should always inform me before sending the Deities to the Temples. We cannot send them indiscriminately to anyone who has the whim of worshiping the Deities. We must be very very careful as to not commit offenses in worshiping the Deities, so therefore there must be sufficient facilities and Brahmins to worship the Deity. Here in Australia, everything is going on very nicely and we will be travelling to New Zealand on the 19th of February where Tusta Krishna and Siddha Svarupa das Goswami are preparing a one week lecture tour and then I will be returning to India and again back to America by April, and at this time I will be pleased to see you again. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** March 11th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Govinda dasi: Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 24th February 1973.Gaura Nitai Deities may be approved and ordered by the local Temple presidents with consultation of the GBC. There should be at least three or four brahmanas available. So there is no need to delay any shipments if these qualifications are met. I have seen the little booklet of the lecture by your good husband, but I have not been able to read it yet, but especially I like the comparison between nirvisesavad and savisesavad, the difference is shocking. I hope this meets you in good health and spirits. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** April 7th 1973 — **Location:** New York My Dear Govinda dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 25, 1973, and have noted the contents with great satisfaction. The report of book distribution going on in Chicago is very pleasing to me. As you know, our Chicago center is one of the most important. Please continue to use your intelligence to find out how to distribute my books more and more. I am especially pleased to learn that you are introducing my books as textbooks in the colleges. We especially have to try to attract the educated young men and women in your country so that in future there will be many strong leaders to keep our Krsna Consciousness Movement strong. I am also very pleased to learn that you have come out successful in stopping the police from arresting our men and stopping our sankirtana activities. Your sankirtana program, the report of the Lord Caitanya festival and the very nice newspaper article that you have sent are all indications of your sincerity in trying to put full effort to push on Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement. Upon your recommendation I am gladly accepting Peter Laudert as my initiated disciple and as you have requested am sending him a letter (enclosed). Please have Kirtanananda Maharaja chant on beads for sanctification and you may hold a fire yajna. Regarding my coming to install large marble Radha and Krsna, yes I will be very pleased to come. Hoping this finds you and your wife and son in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** April 11th 1973 — **Location:** New York My Dear Govinda Dasi: Please accept my blessings. In the past you were sending me the dried banana, so you please resume sending me. The day after tomorrow I am starting for Los Angeles, so I would like to receive some of that dried banana from you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** April 20th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Govinda Dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 17, 1973 and I thank you for so promptly sending the dried banana. You are always seeing to my comforts and your service in this regard is much appreciated by me. I also thank you for the nice shirts you have made. I am especially pleased to learn that Gaurasundara is opening two centers in Brazil. That is good work. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsGaurasundara --- das AdhikariPlease go on preaching Krishna Consciousness amongst the students because they are our best clients. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta SwamiACBS:db ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** July 20th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Hawaii Dear Govinda dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your undated letter. I am concerned that you write describing that you are bewildered by the dictates of your material mind. Of course we have to control the mind, and I have already instructed you and all my students that the restless fickle mind can only be controlled by putting the mind to the lotus feet of Krsna, and that can best be done by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, and there is no alternative in this age. By chanting without offenses, the devotee cries to Radharani and Krsna to please lift him out of the material energy and put him into the spiritual energy, which is devotional service. And because we are not at the stage where we can chant and do nothing else all day, there are so many other engagements. So you have sufficient engagement there? Because if we are not fulltime engaged then the mind is free to do its fickle business of rejection and acceptance for sense gratification. Maya will immediately enter—we do not even have to call her—the moment we are not absorbed in Krsna's devotional service. But if there is something further which is specifically causing you so much difficulty then please disclose it to me. While writing this letter, your package has just arrived with various dried fruit and vegetable; so I have turned it over to my servant, Srutakirti and he shall be using it very soon in some of my preparations; thank you very much; How is Gaurasundara? Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** July 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Govinda Das, Please accept my blessings, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 23, 73 and I have very much appreciated the pictures of the deities and their surrounding, this is excellent, better than Los Angeles. I have named your deities Kisora Kisori. So go on with your worship and increase it more and more till all Chicago has become aware of Kisora Kisori in your temple. Regarding Gaura Nitai deities either wood stone or metal, it is all right. There should be no complaint, under all circumstances we must chant regularly 16 rounds and attend the morning and evening classes, for Krishna we can work like anything, but one lick done for maya it is useless, overendeavoring. I am going to New Vrindaban and thereafter I shall be happy to accept your invitation for Chicago to meet the Professors as you mentioned. I shall inform you later of my itinerary. So you are doing nicely, especially the deities have attracted my attention. The credit goes to you and your good wife Srimati Srilekha Devi Dasi. I shall be glad to initiate Naiskarini Devi Dasi as Brahmin along with the other devotees that you have recommended. their names are as follows: Tom—Tamohara Das AdhikariMireya—Mantrini devi DasiLynn Allen—Ranjani Devi DasiKathy Ferio—Kalalapa Devi DasiYou may perform a fire sacrifice for the initiated devotees and their beads may be chanted upon by Satsvarupa Maharaja. I hope their all success in Krishna Consciousness, and I am counting on sincere boys like yourself to help me by managing temples all over the world. I hope you and your Good wife are both well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/hda ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** November 11th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Ookala, Hawaii My Dear Govinda devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated and have noted the contents carefully. I do not know why you have parted from the Deities. Who has told you to do this? If you are at all interested, you can return. Your service was there. Why did you leave, and now you are whimsically asking for service. You never asked me before leaving. How can I guide you? If you act whimsically, nobody can make you happy. In Honolulu tulsi is drying, and you have left this service. You introduced tulsi, and they are drying for want of water. Gaurasundara said to live alone, but our policy is to live with devotees. Immediately return and live with devotees and take care of the Deities and tulsi. That is our main business. My Guru Maharaja condemned living alone in a lonely place. He wrote as follows:dusta mana, tumi kisera Vaisnavapratisthara tare, nirjanera ghare,tava hari-nama kevala kaitava"O rascal mind, what kind of Vaisnava are you. In a lonely place your chanting of Hare Krishna is simply cheating"And, Narottama Das Thakura says:tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vasajaname janame haya, ei abhilasa"To serve the feet of the acaryas in association of the devotees is my desire birth after birth."Why I have opened this Society. I was living with four children, and now I have 4,000. There is no good in living alone. I hope this meets you in better health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** December 13th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Govinda dasi, Please accept my blessings. Sudama Goswami has relayed to me the news of his conversation with you recently. We require just now huge sums of money for our projects in India so I request that you send the check for $20,000.00 to me in Los Angeles by registered post. Furthermore, please come here to Los Angeles or return to the Temple in Hawaii. Karandhara and Sudama goswami are prepared to help you in every way. Your husband has gone away so what can be done. But you should return to our Temple and again take up devotional service as I have designed and directed at our Centers. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** December 18th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Kona, Hawaii My dear Govinda dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 1, 1973. I thank you very much for the check for $20,000.00 which has been duly received by me. I understand however that out of the sale of the Temple, $54,000.00 was taken as net proceeds so where is the balance money? Has Gaurasundara spent or distributed it? I also understand that Balabhadra has been paid $15,000.00 by Gaurasundara so $15,000.00 and $20,000.00 makes $35,000.00 so where is the balance of $19,000.00?Anyway, I beg to request you to arrange for sending the balance money because for our Vrindaban project we require a few lakhs of rupees immediately. In Bombay also we have purchased a large tract of land at Juhu Beach so why not ask Balabhadra to send his $15,000.00 and Gaurasundara also to send the balance money? My plan is to come to Hawaii by mid January 1974 when, of course, we shall meet together. I have no ill feelings against Gaurasundara, rest assured, neither anyone is accusing him or you. Everyone considers it has been done by some supernatural influence on Gaurasundara. We suffer on account of our karma—that is a fact. In this material world our karma is responsible for everything. Therefore, due to our work we create our own circumstances. So, if you like to cooperate with our missionary work you are welcome to return back. I have already written a previous letter to you, a copy of which is enclosed. At the present, I am so pleased that you have found some shelter and an opportunity to preach—it is all by Krsna's Grace. If you like you can come here or if you are satisfied, stay there. At any rate, go on with preaching work—that is our main business. When we meet in Hawaii we shall discuss everything in detail. In the meantime, kindly induce Balabhadra and Gaurasundara to send the balance money. I still have very high regard for Gaurasundara. I have praised him always for being a kind and gentle boy. All of a sudden he has gone crazy even to the extent of abandoning you. It will all be forgotten history if you again begin preaching work sincerely. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Gunagrahi **Date:** January 31st 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Buffalo My dear Gunagrahi das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 5, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. Krsna Consciousness means always increasing, so I am glad to see that you are remaining enthusiastic to push on this Krsna Consciousness movement more and more. Your request for initiation is approved by me, and I have sent a letter in this regard. You are president of Buffalo temple, so in consultation with your GBC man you may discuss how to push on the spreading of this Krsna Consciousness movement through street sankirtana, book distribution, etc., whatever is practical for you to follow. In regard to preaching the glories of the Lord there are no hard and fast rules, we must simply always remain ourself fixed in Krsna Consciousness and then Krsna will give us the good guidance how to push things on. So since Rupanuga Maharaja is coming there you may discuss with him. I am desiring now to turn over the management of the society to my disciples, the temple presidents and GBC men especially, so cooperatively you may work out the management details. Regarding initiation, you may arrange with Kirtanananda Maharaja to receive beads chanted upon by him. I am going now to Australia for a few weeks and shall afterward be returning to India for celebrating the appearance day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Mayapur. Hoping this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Gunagrahi **Date:** June 20th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Buffalo My Dear Gunagrahi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 5 June 1973 and I have noted the contents. Everything appears to be going very nicely there under your management. You are facilitating sankirtana and book distribution by travelling and going to colleges in a trailer, and you are preparing for a large Ratha-yatra festival. This is all pleasing and inspiring to me. Upon your recommendation I have accepted the following as my disciples: Lawrence Burstein's name is now Lokavarnotamma das, Claude Crocker is now Cittaranjan das, Catherine Crocker is now Citraketu devi dasi and David Sherk shall now be called Gadai das. Regarding second initiation, enclosed is a sacred thread for Lalitananda das and gayatri mantra for he and one for Sita devi dasi. Hold a fire yajna for the first initiates and later, privately you may play the gayatri mantra tape for the new brahmanas. Have them hear the tape in the right ear and show them how to count on their fingers. Regarding your questions about Gaura Nitai Deity worship: Yes, it is all right Gaura Nitai may wear turbans as well as crowns. You ask what they may wear in the evening—they can wear different dresses or night clothing just as Krsna is dressed. Make a small symbolical bed and give Them rest in that way. Bathe the Deities mentally by mantra and not by pouring upon them. Hoping this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gunagrahi **Date:** October 14th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Buffalo My Dear Gunagrahi Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 29, 1973 and have noted the contents. I thank you for your very nice report. I am glad that you held very nice Rathayatra in Buffalo and have donated one calf to New Vrindaban. Krsna has given you nice opportunity to preach the philosophy so you must be sure to understand it rightly. Everything is given in my books for you. So go on with your travelling and preaching program and you can count on it that Krsna will give you all facility. Regarding the initiations, I am pleased to accept on your recommendation the following devotees as my disciples: Bhavanasini dasi—DonnaBhaktanidhi dasi—LindsaySee to it that they are engaged in Krsna's service, following the rules and regulations, and always chanting Hare Krsna. You can have Rupanuga das Goswami chant on their beads. .I hope this meets you in good health.[PAGE MISSING] ### Letter to Gunagrahi **Date:** December 6th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Gunagrahi, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 2, 1973. I hereby accept on your recommendation, Hasyakari Prabhu and his wife Nari devi dasi as my second initiated disciples. Enclosed find one thread duly chanted on by me and two gayatri sheets. You may take instruction from Rupanuga Maharaja on the proper performance of a yajna and the mantra may be heard through the right ear from the cassette tape recording. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Guru-gauranga **Date:** February 11th 1973 — **Location:** Melbourne My Dear Guru Gauranga, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of you letter dated January 24th, and have noted the contents carefully. I am very much encouraged to hear of your increased Sankirtana movement and your return to Geneva to open up still another chapter in Lord Caitanya's conquest of the world. You may consult closely with Bhagavan das on all matters and he will give you good advice in this regard. As far as police problems are concerned, this is going on all over the world, especially here in Melbourne, they are being persecuted by the police. Even they are going to jail daily, but still they will not stop their chanting and distributing. When they go to jail, they refuse to eat the food, and in this way so much public sympathy is there. So eventually the police will accept us and our Sankirtana activities will go on unchecked. Simply we must have the determination to continue our preaching work under all circumstances. The initiation of Bhakta Olaf das is duly approved by me and his new name is Asok Kumar. You may also have him send his beads along with a cover letter from you to Rebatinandan Swami, who is in London and has been authorized by me to chant on the beads. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Guru-gauranga, Paris Devotees **Date:** August 24th 1973 — **Location:** London My Dear Guru Gauranga and all other Paris devotees, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your nice letters dated August 18 and 19th 1973. I was very much pleased to come there and visit. Paris is developing nicely step by step. When I was at the Hotel de Ville I thought that this is better than London. So Paris is a most important city of the world. Work with great enthusiasm and make Krishna more prominent than Napoleon and Eiffel tower. I hope this letter meets you all in good health and jolly mood. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** February 18th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney > Vrindaban My dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated February 6th. and have noted the contents carefully. My heart has become very joyful upon seeing the progress in Vrindaban construction. When this Vrindaban Temple is completed, it will be a great boon to our Krishna Consciousness Movement and devotees from all over the world will come to see Krishna and Balarama. I am very pleased also to see that you are keeping such an orderly account, and as far as further financing is concerned I have arranged with Karandhara das, and he is sending 5000 copies of Bhagavad-gita As It Is to India, and Kartikeya Mahadevia in Bombay, one of our life members, has agreed to distribute 3000 of these Gitas at no less than 50 rupees apiece. So that is one and a half lacs and I am sending one letter to Kartikeya informing him that all money collected for these Gitas should be sent on to you in Vrindaban and it is up to you along with the other GBC men in India to arrange the sale of the balance of these 2000 Bhagavad-Gitas and I think this will provide the necessary finances. I will be travelling here in Australasia for a few weeks then I will be returning to Calcutta by March 2nd. So when I return to India we may discuss this matter in more detail. But in the meantime you should work with the senior men there in India to get some concrete plan to finance this program. I have sent you the books and it is up to you to devise a program for distribution. You may also discuss together the question of whether a pandal program in Delhi will detract from our collection of funds for the Vrindaban program. I do not think this will be the case, but it seems the collection field will increase with the pandal program. But you please discuss it with the senior men there in India, and then you may send me your joint decision for approval. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** April 22nd 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Guru Das: Please accept my blessings. Since leaving India I have not received any report. So I would like to hear from you, how many men are there in Vrindaban and how the project is progressing there. Now we have got good respect there in India, so you boys manage everything intelligently and responsibly. You have all got good intelligence, now use it to full capacity for Krishna's service and cooperate together. That will please me very much. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** May 6th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Vrndavana My dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 25 April, 1973 and I am very much pleased to have the report of activities in Vrndavana. Kindly send me such report at least twice in a month. Both you and your wife desired to go to Vrndavana some four to five years ago while you were in San Francisco and because you were so much sincerely eager, Krsna has given you very good opportunity to stay there and construct a very nice temple for Krsna and Balarama. Take this opportunity seriously, and as you have stated that you are feeling advancement in Krsna Consciousness, I wish both you, husband and wife, will go on increasing such consciousness more and more and thus be benefited. Offer My thanks to Yamuna for her note in your letter under reply. Hoping this meets you both in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda --- I am very glad to know that Ananda Prabhu is staying with you. Please offer my dandabats. He is my old god brother. Sincere Vaisnava. Please treat him like your father. Do remain in full cooperation. ACBS ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** May 11th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Vrindaban My dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. Herewith please find the letter I have replied to Madan Mohan Goswami in response to his letter dated 4/5/73.He refers to your letter dated 26/3/73 which I do not possess. So you send me a copy of your letter as well as a copy of the letter which I issued to him in 1972 when I was in Vrindaban. This man is playing some trick so we shall also play some trick. We shall take all the Shebaits to court and pray to the court to settle the matter. He has mentioned that you are the licensee, but according to the present act the licensee shall be considered as tenant or owner if the licensee has occupied the building or land in February 1973. I think we shall keep this place at Radha Damodara temple as tenant. As Madan Mohan Goswami is trying to play trick we shall not vacate any of the rooms upstairs or downstairs; this should be our policy. The deposit money of Rs. 700/. with the other Shebait has not yet been settled up. We shall file a petition to the rent controller court and fix up a standard rent for all the four rooms up and down. And the rent which will be fixed up for the upper two rooms, we will adjust for one years rent from the Rs. 700/. with interest. When you file the petition we shall bring in all the Shebaits names. In this way we have to deal with these men. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** May 14th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 6/5/73. I have noted the contents carefully. I have already sent you one letter dated May 11, 1973 as well as a copy of a letter sent to Madan Mohan Goswami by registered post that same day. I trust you have received that letter by now and you are proceeding as per my instructions therein. First of all ask Gaurachand Goswami that he is taking the money on account of two rooms occupied by me, now Madan Mohan Goswami has asked us to vacate, so clearly understand from him what is our position. Whether he is going to accept the money continually or does not like to accept it. So on hearing this statement, if he says that he'll not accept and we must vacate, then it is to be understood that all the Shebaits have combined together to evict us. Then we'll have to take the matter to the rent controller court as I have already advised in my previous letter. In India we have got experience, there are so many cheaters. So be very carefully of them and do everything carefully, keeping in touch with all the senior members and do the needful. I am advised by my Calcutta physician that I should go back to India. So I am returning and will reach in Calcutta sometime next week. Ananda Pandu wanted to stay with me, so if he likes he can come to Mayapur where I shall stay. Offer him my dandabats. So far as Mr. Sarkar, our engineer, is concerned, if he becomes too much of a disturbance then you may dismiss him. Hoping this meets you in good health. ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** May 16th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Vrindaban My dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 11, 1973. I have received the picture of the front elevation of our temple, it looks very nice. Regarding Lalitananda, formerly Hrsikesa, his proposal for joining us does not appear to be very sincere. He wants to keep himself as Bonn Maharaja's man, although he has taken permission from Bonn Maharaja to leave him and join us. Formerly it was reported that he collected money in Bombay as our representative on behalf of Bonn Maharaja and sometimes it is reported that he advertises ISKCON as a department of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy. I think you should not be very much anxious to reaccept him as our man. I have replied his letter and there is a copy enclosed, which will speak for itself. Another thing, I beg to bring to your notice that Janaki, sister of your wife, she's now in Maya. Her husband reported that she is regularly eating meat and doing all nonsense. She's coming to Vrindaban to see her sister, Yamuna. Maybe she is going with poison arrows, so be very, very careful when she comes there. The world is full of danger and still we have to push on our Krsna Consciousness Movement. So always remain fixed up chanting the maha-mantra and following the regulative principles, because Maya is very strong. Have you taken delivery of the document "deed of gift" of the land from the registrar's office? The receipt is there in the file box so if you have not taken delivery as yet get it and keep it carefully. Hearing from Ksirodakasayi I reported this fact to you long ago, therefore, I'm anxious to know whether the deed of gift has been taken delivery. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** July 4th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Vrindaban My dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated June 27 and have carefully studied the contents. Your letter is very welcome news, that all obstacles are cleared in the way of our building our temple at Vrindaban. Similarly in Bombay we have just been victorious over the party who had torn down our temple and the temple has been completely reconstructed in addition to our gaining overwhelming new popular support there. So by your diligent work and devotion, all permission is secured and all materials are on hand. Let us pray to Krsna for speedy progress on the construction of our Krsna Balarama temple. Now many of our American and European devotees are coming to our temple in Mayapur and on completion of the Vrindaban temple we shall be able to give facilities to our ISKCON devotees all over the world to visit these two most holy places in the world. Re. Madan Mohan Goswami, yes, we want to avoid litigation; as you have said the legal system is completely corrupt. But if he goes to the courts we shall be forced to go also. Please offer my obeisances to your good wife Yamuna and thank her for her kind sentiments in Krsna Consciousness. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. Please change the plan of my quarters as suggested by Saurabha & Tamala both of whom just consulted me. I am going to London next Saturday 7th so when I come back next October I may live in Vrindaban in my new quarters. ACBS ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** July 25th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Vrindaban Dear Gurudasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 20, 1973 and I have carefully considered the contents. I am pleased to hear how you are completely absorbed in the project of our Vrindaban temple and taxing your brain how it can be carried out. I am also always praying to Krsna that He may give you intelligence to carry it out rightly. If you let me know actually how much money will be required to complete the temple, then I can make some financial scheme so that you can quickly get money and finish the project. You and Tamala Krsna das Goswami can make an estimate and send it to me so that I can work on a scheme to arrange for that amount. Regarding Saurabha, I think he can stay with you in Vrindaban designing, and he can also go sometimes to Hyderabad, as required, and then return to you. Yes, I agree that you should construct the temple in sections and first should be the darsana mandap, the deity Garbha Grha etc. In this way if need be you can install the deity without other shelter. Now Madhavananda and his wife have arrived. Kausalya is an expert Deity worshiper and an important hand in our movement, so she and Yamuna, two sisters can be very useful in Deity worship there. Keep Kausalya comfortable and she can be a great help. Madhavananda can be engaged in collections. I think all respectable gentlemen will come and you can arrange for that. Our temple is the only Krsna Balarama temple in Vrindaban and it will be so attractive that people will automatically come and see. That quarter is aristocratic and our temple is unique. From Bombay and Delhi we can rent rooms in the temple. This is called bhetnama. Perhaps you may know. The room is used by the contributor for lifetime then it becomes again the property of the temple. Our new disciple Hrsikesananda Swami has promised to collect money from Punjab for Vrindaban. Let him go to Punjab, leaving Calcutta. In this way all of you, Tejyous, Tamala Krsna etc., combine together collect and finish the project. I may try to help from other sources if I receive an estimate of the cost of the scheme. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** August 2nd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Vrindaban My Dear Guru Das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 23, July, 1973 and I have noted the contents very carefully. Yes! why not? You may write to the other temples and ask them to contribute something to the program, that is approved by me. I simply want to see that the work is going on vigorously, and the money shall not be used to pay bad bill. The money should simply be used for construction. Another thing is that my living quarters may be finished by this coming October, or at least habitable so it may be used if I go to Vrindaban by Kartika Vrata. What about that front piece of land not yet in our possession? I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/hda --- P.S. I have just received your letter of the 28th July, but I have not yet received the photos under separate cover ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** September 13th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Guru Das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 29, 1975 and I have noted the contents carefully. You posed 5 questions regarding Radha Damodara temple and I shall answer them one by one. I was not actually living in Vrindaban, but Delhi and when I came to Vrindaban for short periods I would stay at Radha Damodara Temple. I began paying rent in 1960 at that time I was staying in two rooms upstairs then one of the Goswamis asked me if I would like to stay in the two rooms below where one Babaji who was taking care of the tombs was staying. The rooms were very dilapitated so he proposed that I fix the rooms and whatever I pay as rent would be all right. I invested about 1,000 Rs/. and paid him 5 Rs/. monthly, recently I have increased the monthly payment to 10 Rs/. to meet the rise in general standard of living. I do not know anything about any breaking of looks. Regarding the 750 Rs/., when I first rented the rooms there was no Modan Mohan Goswami, he came much later, at that time Gaurachand was in charge of everything, the rooms were given to me by him on verbal lease for life, and from the very beginning there was negotiation for the land behind my rooms. I paid 750 Rs/. to Mr. Banerjee and he agreed to draw up a lease which he never did. We have paid him for the lease of the land, but he has not leased us the land, nor returned our money, he has constructed a building there, so the house should be leased to us, for which I am prepared to pay reasonable rent. I have not had any correspondence with them in all these years. So on the whole we will not go to court, let them go, we will simply reply their letters. We have paid all along, so that is rent. Another point is that there are three shebaits, so the notice of eviction has to be filed by all three otherwise it is not valid. I don't remember the dates when I came and went there. Anyway I am coming to Bombay by the 14th September so you can come there and meet me there, I shall stay about one week, then we can discuss everything. The pictures of the sculpture appears nice, except for the front part looks a little odd, so you decide. I hope this letter meets you well, more when we meet. ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** December 6th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Guru das, Please accept my blessings. I have just received a note from the Punjab National Bank, a copy of which is enclosed. The thing is I sent Rs. 676 to my account in Vrindaban at the Punjab National Bank. They have acknowledged receipt but they say my account is closed. Now, last year when I was in India I closed one account and opened another with a deposit of Rs. 2,000. So why do they say my account is closed? My account book is not with me so I cannot give you the details but you kindly inquire there what is the position. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** December 11th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Vrindaban My dear Guru das, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 3, 1973. You report that although construction has temporarily stopped the expenditure is still Rs. 100 per day. I do not think four masons require so much. Please explain what is the Rs. 100 per day expenditure. Tamala Krsna Goswami has reported that he recently sent you Rs. 25,000 for our Vrindaban project. We are presently making arrangements for a special transfer of funds to India through the U.S.A. State Department. So if possible carry on with the Rs. 25,000 until that can be completed. There is no need for you to come to the U.S.A. Stay there and work on. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:KdaN.B. --- I have written two letters one to Dr. Kapoor and the other Hari Goswami for starting an adult school for learning Hindi & Sanskrit. Please see them in this connection. We want this school in Vrindaban ### Letter to Gurukrpa, Yasodanandana **Date:** December 25th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Gurukrpa Maharaja and Yasodanandana Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. Karandhara has received a letter from Tamala Krsna Goswami and he is expressing some hesitation about your returning to India. I can understand that previously there must have been some quarrel amongst you and that sometimes happens amongst god-brothers. Whatever is done is done; the main thing is we must not carry grudges or continue to quarrel amongst one another. So I am asking you personally, along with Tamala Krsna Goswami to whom I am sending a copy of this letter, to bury the hatchet and join together to push on this movement cooperatively. Tamala Krsna Goswami has been appointed by me to manage and direct our Indian projects and actually he is the most expert and qualified in this connection. You both are also sannyasins and I know that the service which you do the best is Hare Krsna kirtana and Bhagavata Dharma preaching. So I have no objection if you return to India. Rather, I know you both can be a great asset for our programs there. I am requesting you, therefore, to concentrate on preaching and kirtana and work cooperatively with Tamala Krsna Goswami who is in charge there. Whatever imperfections and discrepancies may exist, if you all agree to my directions and cooperate in the right spirit then everything will turn out, but it will require everyone involved to be responsible and cooperate in executing and following the instructions of the Spiritual Master. Now, one thing is I understand that in the past you were visiting Lalita Prasadji and that you may also be planning to continue to visit him when you return to India. This is not approved by me and I request you not to go to see him any more. He holds a grudge against my Guru Maharaja and even if it is transcendental it will gradually appear mundane in our eyes. Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura can be learned from our books. There is no need whatsoever for any outside instruction. So I hope that you have understood these matters and I pray to Krsna always for your protection and advancement in Krsna consciousness. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kdac.c. --- Tamala Krsna Goswami Maharaja ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** January 2nd 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Heidelberg, West Germany My dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter Dec. 19, 1972, and I have not yet received the sample copy of Bhagavad-gita in German language. But I think each book will cost you about $1.50, so that is not too much for such nicely printed and bound book with color plates. I know that the German printing and bookmaking is always the first class, so if you are satisfied then you may go ahead with printing as you have arranged. That is a very great step of progress in spreading this Krsna Consciousness to the German people. Krsna Consciousness movement rests upon the words of Krsna, so if people can read for themselves what Krsna is saying, then they shall understand our movement. Otherwise it will be very difficult to convince them. So you have done the right thing, printing Bhagavad-gita in German language, and I very much appreciate that you have done this great service. Now you appear little restless, I know that is your nature, you like to do big things and you are very capable and intelligent young man for executing tremendous tasks on behalf of Krsna. But I think that you have got a huge field of endeavor in the German speaking countries and other countries of Scandinavia, Communist countries and other places like that. Now work very vigorously to develop these places, that is your great task at hand. You needn't look further to find some big challenge. The challenge is very near at hand. That means developing and expanding along the lines as you have begun. Of course we are not ever very much anxious to repeat the same activity many times, that is the nature of the living entity, that he seeks to enjoy varieties of flavors. But mature understanding of activity means to take it as our occupational duty. That is to say, suppose I am established as good carpenter, then it will be foolish if after some time I am thinking, "Oh, I have done this cutting of woods so many times, now it is becoming boring and uninteresting, therefore let me become a doctor," no. That is not recommended by Krsna, neither is it common sense. Occupational duty means to stick with one type of occupation which is just suitable for me, considering that it is my duty, therefore I am throughout my life obligated to perform it to the best of my ability. This is mature understanding of occupation. That means I must not leave it even for so-called good cause, just like Arjuna wanted to stop his fighting activity just to avoid killing so many of his kinsmen, cousin brothers, and other friends. So we are preachers on behalf of Lord Krsna, that is our occupational duty, we haven't got to search any further some new challenge or change our engagement. No, that has been already settled up. Now best thing will be to develop more and more what we have begun. I have built the skeleton of the building, but there is so much more work remaining before us. The GBC men are there, the world is divided into 12 zones for gradual development by these, my chosen right hand men. So however you manage it, that you know best, my only point is that I do not like to see you become discouraged as you are indicating, because there is no actual cause for such discouragement.* Rather there is all encouraging prospects ahead. Now you have started something tangible and solid in German-speaking countries, you are printing books, magazines, and distributing them widely, collecting huge funds, now the work is just beginning. So you have got a little facility now, utilize this opportunity to take advantage of Krsna's favoring you in this way. Consider that each day shall be a new challenge for you to push on Krsna Consciousness movement within your range of managing. But I think that you are developing things nicely already, you are one of my senior disciples, and you know these things already, only you are little humble so you have said like that. Yes, even the devotee doesn't care a pinch for even Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, like that, because devotees are the most exalted personalities as the servants of Krsna, still they think themselves lower than everyone, and that humble attitude is their credit. What credit is there for someone who is himself actually lower than everyone but claims that he is better than everyone, or even he may claim that he is lower than everyone, still what is his credit? But the devotee, being the topmost grade of living entity, when he gives all credit to others and takes nothing credit for himself, that is his credit. Thank you, along with your good wife Himavati, for helping me in this way. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda --- *Whenever you feel some discouragement, please immediately come to me and live with me for some time ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** February 17th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney My Dear HansaduttaPlease accept my blessings. 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. I will be in Auckland up to the 25th. of February and in Calcutta after the 2nd. of March. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** April 21st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Hansadutta Das Adhikari: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 7, 1973 and am pleased to accept the following boys and girls as my initiated disciples: Ram Mohan Das (Reiner); Jnanavigraha Das (Joachim); Tirthada Das (Thomas); Hrimati Dasi (Helga); Santimati Dasi (Ulla); Durgama Das (Dario); Premchand Das (Werner); Kamaksi Dasi (Karin); Uktal Das (Ulfert); Atmavidya Das (Axel); Gobhata Das (Gerhart); Ama Das (Amin); Ramgati Das (Ronald);—and Nikhilananda Das (Niko); and Vaidyanath Das (Erland), these two boys I have already informed their names in reply to a letter from the Hamburg temple. Beads may be sent to Revatinandana Swami. I am also enclosing Gayatri Mantras for the 14 disciples and 10 sacred threads duly chanted upon by me for the men disciples. You show them how to count on the fingers, and let them hear the mantra chanted by me on the tape through the right ear. .I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- The dictaphone I left there for repairing may be kept in London after it is repaired ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** May 6th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 2, 1973.I am very glad to hear how our festival program is going on so nicely in Germany. These festivals will be successful all over the world. As GBC member it is your duty to carefully make a broad program for implementing Krsna Consciousness in every sphere of life, in this way we will become respected as the most important members of human society. Regarding the special preface for German Bhagavad-Gita, yes I will do that. You have got the right idea when you say that, "I am always very anxious to know if I am pleasing you or not." Lord Caitanya set the example when he said that "I don't have any love for Krsna. If I had any love for Krsna, I would have died long ago from the separation." So one should always think of himself as unqualified. That you have opened one branch in Stockholm, Sweden is very good to hear. Please continue to send men out in the interior, village to village and town to town. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** May 18th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Heidelberg, West Germany My Dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 12, 1973, and have noted the contents carefully. Thank you very much for your report of the London situation. We can understand from this incident that the most important point is that everyone, especially the leaders, must always stick to the basic regulative practices that I have given, especially 16 rounds each day. So, now what can be done? I expect to be going to London sometime after the first week of June. You may come there at that time. I am very pleased to note that you are opening another center in Zurich. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** June 12th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Heidelberg, Germany My dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 2, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. I have not yet received any copies of the Swedish booklet. I am very, very pleased that you are continuously holding festivals. Concerning the introduction to Bhagavad-gita, why not just translate the introduction from the English Bhagavad-gita? What is the difference? You may also add the names of these prominent German men that you have mentioned, that they have also appreciated this Bhagavad-gita. This may be added as a note at the end of the introduction. This German Bhagavad gita is a very important achievement and the credit goes to you for your dedicated efforts. Thank you very much. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** June 17th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Heidelberg, West Germany My dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 13, 1973 accompanied by two copies of German BTG #19.The magazine is gorgeous, better than Dia Nippon. Continue the standard, increase the pages, increase the articles, increase the distribution. May Krsna bless you more and more. Offer my blessings to your wife. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** June 29th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Heidelberg, West Germany My dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21 June and I have carefully studied the contents, including photos of posters from the festival in Heidelberg. Your report is very encouraging to me. The communists by dry philosophy have spread practically all over the world. We are holding festivals, feasting, philosophy and salvation—why shall we not spread our influence and overthrow them? Regarding your plan to travel around the world staging such Hare Krsna Festivals—yes, do it, you have my blessings. Your progress in translating work is very nice. It is actually most important of all that this translating of books is going on at the same time as the festivals. I have seen the photographs of your festival blocking the traffic and I am very much encouraged. The pictures should appear in all languages and you should write an article for BTG.The devotees recommended by you for initiation I gladly accept and their new spiritual names are as follows: Richard—Sutapa das; Rolf—Sudesna das; Erich—Citravesa das; Otto Karl—Niskrodha das; Hans—Gananath; Jesshardt—Nispapa das; George—Gopesh das; Ruth—Ramya dasi; Margot—Mrdani dasi; Karsten—Kuruksetre das; Renata—Ratipriya dasi; Rolf (Hamburg)—Nirahamkara das; Andreas—Asvasena das; Ditmar—Aya das; Wolfgang—Visnuyasa. As far as the GBC meeting is concerned I must be there wherever they meet; therefore we must meet at least once a year in Mayapur. Not only GBC shall meet but many devotees from all parts of the world. In Mayapur we now have facilities to accommodate more than a thousand people. We have a four story building and enough space so that even on the balcony we can accommodate thousands apart from the rooms. There are all marble floors and there is always natural ventilation. At least next March we must meet together. We have in Mayapur a doll-making department and we are manufacturing mrdangas also. If possible, some of your men may be sent there to learn these two works. For yourself you should make your next attempt in Moscow, if it is possible. I am going to London. So if convenient you should come and we can meet there. I see that Himavati is busy in distributing prasadam—send some for me. Now you have a proper field husband and wife, please do it nicely. Your transcendental competition is there in Shayamasundar. I want to see who will come out triumphant. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** October 12th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Heidelberg, West Germany My Dear Hansadutta: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report dated October 4, 1973 and I thank you very much for it. So your Sankirtana Parties are collecting very nicely, especially Amsterdam. As long as we go on preaching in this way, we will not starve. It is good that the Berlin party is travelling. To be stagnant is not good. Just like I am an old man, but I am always travelling. I am glad that the Hamburg Deity worship is going on nicely. Wherever there is Deities there must be first class care, arati, bhoga, cleanliness, dressing, regular classes. If this is not possible, then better to travel. Your translation process is very good, so do it nicely. So you are doing excellent preaching, while I am here fighting with Mrs. Nair. I want that when this business is finished to return for Europe or America, perhaps via Africa. You will be pleased to know that the London devotees that you have trained in Sankirtana and book distribution are doing very nicely. This past month they have sent dollars 10,000 to Los Angeles against their debts. Mukunda is there in charge, and Syamasundara is here in India. The German devotees I have seen both in Paris and Stockholm have impressed me by their enthusiasm. . It is very encouraging, so train them nicely. The Germans are very intelligent, and they will be the future preachers. So give them nice translations of my books and you will have tremendous success in Germany. Our success is our enthusiasm. So everything we do should be done with enthusiasm, the chanting, reading, and following the rules and regulations. Regarding the Festival programs, you should not stop because it is not economic. You can earn from book-selling and then spend for the festivals. The festivals are very good for attracting the people, then you can easily inject the Krsna conscious poison into them. You are experienced, senior member of the society, and Krsna has given you excellent opportunity for organizing Central Europe. I am sure you will be able to do something in Moscow. The young men there, are eager, only the government is a barrier. It is a good field there, you simply have to find the means, but rest assured that you will find many customers there. Regarding your service as secretary, you are as good as the others, and sometimes better than the others, so don't say like that. I am very satisfied on you and your good wife, so go on serving Krsna with greater enthusiasm. That will make me happy. Actually everyone one of you my disciples are good, and my task is to find out the fault in you. Yes, just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His spiritual master simply found Him to be a great fool number one. He said that the Lord was unfit to read Vedanta and should just chant Hare Krsna. Your emphasis on book distribution is very good. You have enough centers. Let more devotees come, then consider opening more. The bus program is successful everywhere, so continue it. I hope this meets you and your good wife in best of health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** November 8th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Heidelberg, Germany My Dear Hansadutta Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter with enclosures dated October 26th, and have noted the contents with great pleasure. It is Krsna's mercy that you were able to take in a copy of Bhagavad-gita to Moscow. It is very encouraging that the boy without any association is maintaining the standard. This is due to his chanting 16 rounds and following the regulative principles. Now he should be in your charge, so you kindly guide him and keep him in our atmosphere and utilize him properly, but steadily and cautiously. Yes, you arrange for their marriage. I am writing both Bhagavan Das and Mandakini, the copies herewith enclosed. Their marriage will be very good, and both of them will get some strength. So guide them both as you think best. Yes, have our literature translated into Russian. Why not have our Bhagavad gita distributed underground there as they are doing the Bible? So you support him in any way, and write Mandakini to immediately go there. So far his engagement is concerned, it is not necessary that he join the Christian order. Better as you have suggested to preach amongst their friends and to gradually induce them to take interest. I am also glad to note the work going on in East Germany. Try to impress upon them to make communism God-centered. God is the father of everyone, and we are all His sons. Everything is His property, and everyone has the right to enjoy it. Without being God-centered, Communism will fail. So we have got good potency to be the leaders of the world if we carefully push on this movement. Regarding killing the demons, yes, Krsna has done it. "paritranaya sadhunam/ vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]." But, for us to kill like that we first have to become first class Krsna devotees like Arjuna or Hanuman, then we can fight with the Ravanas and demons. But that requires good strength, and we are not in that position now. Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not kill the demons, but He converted them. So this should be our example. I am glad to note the work of Cakravarti and Prthu at the Belgrade Book Fair. This is real progress. So from all the literatures you are distributing you spend this money for spreading Krsna consciousness in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and East Germany, and prepare men. Put all of our books into the local languages. It is good that you are maintaining stocks of our books for being distributed. Can you supply paper to India? If you can send paper from the Book Fund. We can print some books locally. If it is possible, then send paper samples to me. Here there is a scarcity of paper. I am very glad to learn that you are composing Krsna Book, and also possibly TLC, so you bring the blueprint with you to Mayapur in March, 1974 for our Festival. The report of all the Sankirtana parties is very encouraging. So you are pushing Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement very nicely throughout Central Europe. May Krsna bless you. Yes, I want that you give me the facility to write my books, but I can attend some meetings of important people and elites. You have taken the right view of the importance of my books. Books will always remain. That was the view of my Guru Maharaja, and I also have taken it. Therefore I started my movement with my books. And we shall be able to maintain everything with the sales of the books. The temples will be maintained by the book sales, and if there are no more temples, then the books shall remain. So far my coming to Moscow, yes I will come, but I may not be arrested. Still I shall go, and I shall speak on pure communism. I hope this meets you and your good wife Himavati in best of health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** December 5th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I have arrived safely in Los Angeles by Krsna's Grace and everything here is going nicely. Now, as you know, we require some men for India. Karandhara informs me that you have declined to send any. Our programs there are important and there is a great need. We have not captured very many first class men there so we must import. I am requesting therefore that you send at least one or two first class men from your zone. They should apply for 1 year entry visas. They should not go on tourist visas. Kindly make arrangement for this. My program is to visit some of our U.S.A. branches for some time, keeping Los Angeles as my home base and then to return to India by Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** December 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Heidelberg, West Germany My dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 15, 1973. Previously I have seen copy of German Easy Journey to Other Planets. It is very nice. The printing is very good and I am quite pleased. Thank you very much for helping me spread this transcendental knowledge to the Germanic peoples. It is a great credit for you and all the German devotees and Lord Caitanya will bless you with devotion to His lotus feet. I am very anxious to see our Bhagavad-gita in German so as soon as it is completed, kindly send me a copy. Regarding the Volkswagen bus, if it is not possible to bring in March to India then it can be brought at a later date. Yes, you should go to London and give me a report on the progress there. Mukunda and Madhavananda are sincere workers and are trying to organize things there. So you may go and help them, not interrupt but help. I gladly accept the devotees you have recommended for initiations and enclosed find their names, threads and gayatri mantra sheets. You may chant on the beads of the first initiates and hold a fire sacrifice amongst our members. After that the second initiates may listen to the gayatri tape I have made through the right ear once only. Hare Krsna. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Hanuman **Date:** October 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Hanuman Goswami, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter dated 6th September, 1973, which I have read with great interest. The Argentina BTG and the photos showing Argentine men and ladies chanting and dancing in ecstasy give me great hope that our Movement will have an important place in Argentina in the near future. Our process is simple, all-embracing, we have something to offer for everyone. There is chanting, dancing, feasting and very perfect philosophy, so everyone may be satisfied with our Krishna Consciousness Movement. Now you have traveled all over the world preaching on Lord Caitanya's behalf, and I think you will agree that wherever you have gone whether in South America or in Far East, everywhere, our movement is appreciated. So I simply request you, you are doing the greatest service to the world by giving up everything for preaching this Krishna philosophy, you please continue just as you are doing. Introduce this process of chanting Hare Krishna, distribute as much Prasadam as possible, and if possible see that all our books are translated and distributed as widely as possible. This is the greatest welfare activity, and for engaging yourself and others in this way, certainly you will go back to home, back to godhead. Upon your recommendation I accept the three students you have recommended for first initiation. Their spiritual names are as follows: Marcos Medina: Nityatrpta dasaGeorge Nikenson: Nrihari dasaBeatrice Nikenson: Bhakta dasiNow just as all my other disciples are doing, you take care that they follow very faithfully chanting of 16 rounds daily, and following all of the rules and principles of Krishna conscious very strictly. You should immediately send their beads for chanting on to Karandhara das Adhikari in Los Angeles who is one of the senior disciples I have authorized to chant on beads. Then, after receiving the beads back from Karandhara you can hold a fire ceremony and perform the sacrifice as you have seen me doing so many times. At that time you may give my new disciples their beads and instruct them on the principles of Krishna consciousness. You can advertise this initiation ceremony very widely in Buenos Aires so that as many people as possible may attend the ceremony, including the newspaper, Television, etc. Then at the end of the ceremony, at the end of the fire ceremony have big Kirtana and distribute as much Prasadam as possible. We want the people of Argentina to see how it is possible to live a perfect happy life in this world and in the end go back to home, back to Godhead. Again I thank you for your sincere preaching effort, and I pray that Krishna may bless you with all intelligence and strength for pushing on this movement. Hoping this finds you and all others well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. Regarding Nrihari das (George Nikenson) he must wait at least six months before he may be initiated again as Brahmin. PPS I am sending this letter to you care of Mexico City Temple as your Argentina address has been misplaced ### Letter to Haribolananda **Date:** December 20th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Hari Bol Ananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 13, 1973. Yes, we want to develop our land there and Bhaktivedanta Manor very nicely with cows and gardens. So after discussing the matter fully with Madhavananda and Mukunda you make a practical plan for doing this, simultaneously carrying on the Sankirtana program and book distribution. Kindly keep me informed of the progress there. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Hariprasada **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Hyderabad My dear Hariprasadaji, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated December 27, 1972 and January 2, 1973, and I have noted the contents with great care. Now your brother is here with me and I am talking with him daily what we shall do in Hyderabad. So you needn't worry for anything, I shall satisfy you on all points. The plan is being made and Sriniwas has also seen it, and we have been jointly consulting. So some of our best men are coming there by 15th of this month to take up the matters seriously, and they shall bring with them many many books. As soon as they come there, Kesava may immediately return to Bombay for taking charge of some other very important work here in India. I have a big plan for him, so as soon as he can be spared from his work there, if you think it is all right, he may leave immediately before the others arrive. Yes, your proposal for laying down the foundation stone in March is very much wise. I think by that time there will be sufficient progress made to inaugurate the new temple at that time. I am going to Australia and New Zealand for month of February, but I shall return to Mayapur in early March for celebrating Lord Caitanya's appearance day on 18th March. I am so much appreciating your sincere and determined cooperation for establishing this Hare Krsna movement, not only in Hyderabad, but all over the world. It is not so much important what we actually accomplish by our work, so much as the eagerness to serve Krsna which is behind our working for Him. I can see that you are very, very eager, enthusiastic to serve Krsna in your best capacity, that is your great asset. So long you are so much eager to serve Krsna, without any doubt you will very quickly meet Krsna face to face. Thank you for helping me in this way. Hoping this meets you and your good family in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Hariprasada Badruka **Date:** March 5th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Sriman Hariprasada Badruka: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 27th February. I just arrived here the day before yesterday and I am glad to receive your Hyderabad progress report. The Deities mentioned are too expensive. Of course, we cannot collect money without Deity worship. Without Deity worship there is no life, and there must be preaching also. But the thing is, without Indian devotees rural preaching cannot be effective. They are mostly illiterate, how they will understand? We must avoid the risk of a separatist movement, unity is our purpose; just like in London where the Indians are starting their own Hindu Radha-Krsna Temple. We want to avoid skin disease and the Indian people are like the tannery expert. Such a cobbler is expert at skin disease. They will see our Sankirtana Party and think it is a white dance. Anyway, how to gather Indian devotees, that program is wanting. I shall be going to Mayapur by the 15th, remaining there up to the 22nd. I hope to see you soon and I hope this meets you and your family members in good health. Hare Krsna. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Hariprasada Badruka **Date:** June 13th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Sriman Hariprasada Badruka Mahaboobgunj Hyderabad, A.P My dear Badruka ji, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 6/6/73.My health is not yet recovered, but it is improving very slowly. So, I have been advised to stay here for at least four months, June, July, August and September. After that time it may be possible for me to go to Hyderabad and personally arrange both parts, preaching work and construction of the temple. The difficulty is, unless we have legal possession of the land, how can we get municipal sanction for the construction. Under the circumstances, if Sriman Pulla Reddy donates the back portion of the land as promised and gives us legal right to construct the temple, we can then immediately get sanction from the municipality and begin construction. I am sure that within one year the construction will be complete and the Deity moved to the proper temple. At that time, if Mr. Pulla Reddy thinks it proper, he can donate the front portion also. Otherwise we shall vacate that portion without any doubt. This much I can promise to Mr. Pulla Reddy. So, he may kindly gives us legal right for constructing the temple. I'm sending copy of this letter to Tamala Krsna Goswami at Bombay. You can contact him and do the needful. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jdacc --- -Tamala Krsna Goswami ### Letter to Hasyakari (Howard Bernd), Rathangapani (Randy Buchert), Varuthapa (Warren Havens), Laksmivan (Lawson Knight), Bhaktavatsala (Barry Butler), Bhaktilila (Linda Butler) **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > India My Dear Sons and Daughter, Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Damodara I have gladly accepted all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Now you may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban for chanting them, as I have empowered him to act on my behalf. Or you may write him and request him to send you new beads, as you arrange. I have given you the spiritual names as follows: Howard Bernd/ HASYAKARI DASRandy Buchert/ RATHANGAPANI DASWarren Havens/ VARUTHAPA DASLawson Knight/ LAKSMIVAN DASBarry Butler/ BHAKTAVATSALA DASLinda Butler/ BHAKTILILA DASIMy request to all of you is that you very seriously stick to the principles of devotional service as you have learned them, and especially observe strictly the four prohibitions and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily. In this way you will be always happy. Now you have got the golden opportunity of this human form of life, and it is not by accident that you have met your spiritual master, so if you are actually intelligent you will stick very tightly to your position of Krsna Consciousness and go back to home, back to Godhead. The essential point to remember is that you should try always to please your spiritual master under every condition. That means to follow his orders and instructions very carefully. My first instruction to all of my disciples is that they should help me spread this Krsna Consciousness movement all over the world, utilizing their energy as best they are able to do it. In this way, keeping yourselves always engaged in Krsna's business 24 hours, you will become free from all attachment to maya by Krsna's grace. Just as when the darkness and the light come together, the darkness cannot stand before the light, so maya cannot remain in the presence of Krsna. Always remember therefore to chant Hare Krsna and that will save you in all circumstances without any doubt. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Hayagriva **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta My dear Hayagriva, Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated January 1, 1973, is in hand, and I have noted the contents with great care. Who tells you not to edit? I have never said. I said to stop this intoxication, but not your editing. You say it is rumor only, but I have heard it several times from other persons. So let it remain as rumor, don't let it be fact. That will give me great hurt. I am also coming to Calcutta soon and we may discuss everything further when I come there. And why you are living with that ganja smoker? He has got his wife and family, so you should separate from him and live in the temple as the others are doing. If there is such complaint against our senior men it does not look well. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Hillel Ben-Ami **Date:** January 28th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Washington D.C Dear Hillel Ben-Ami, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter, undated, and I have noted the contents very carefully. Thank you very much for your kind sentiments. Now try and understand our philosophy very carefully by reading all of our books, such as Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and there are so many others. In addition, please follow the regulative principles very rigidly, such as chanting daily 16 rounds on the beads, attending classes, getting up for mangala aratrika. These regulative principles will make us very strong in Krsna Consciousness and very rapidly we can advance in this way. So under the direction of the senior devotees there try and become fixed in your devotional service to the Lord, Sri Krsna, and this will certainly bring complete satisfaction to you and make you eligible for going back to home, back to Godhead, in this very lifetime. Hoping this finds you well, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Hladini **Date:** January 28th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta New VrindabanMy dear Hladini Devi DasiPlease accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 1, 1973, and I have noted the contents with great pleasure. It is so nice to see how enthusiastic you are in executing this process of devotional service and how much you like your engagement there in New Vrindaban. So you continue in this way, always thinking of Krsna, chanting 16 rounds, reading the books, and doing your daily chores all on behalf of Krsna. As your devotional service becomes mature you shall see Krsna more and more, and more and more you shall realize the qualities of the holy land of Vraja. This modern civilization is always artificial. You are actually learning in New Vrindaban the self-sufficient mode of living, simple living, high thinking, that is our policy, and as long as Krsna remains in the center of all these activities, then you are actually in Vrindaban. And the more you please the Deities there with your service, the more they shall reciprocate by bestowing upon you love for Sri Sri Radha Krsna. So I am always looking forward to coming back to New Vrindaban, and I remember very fondly the sandesh, milk, and other nice products that the devotees are preparing there. Thank you very much. Hoping this finds you well, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Ho Hon Pei **Date:** May 10th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Ho Hon Pei, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 3, 1973 and have noted the contents. Thank you very much for your kind appreciation of our Krsna Consciousness Movement. You are having some doubts whether or not the mass of people will be able to appreciate Krsna Consciousness. Yes, it is a fact that most people cannot approach Krsna Consciousness. Just like a rare gem. Only a few men can purchase a rare emerald or diamond so similarly only a few men may actually be capable of grasping the importance of Krsna Consciousness. It is confirmed in the Bhagavad Gita VII, 3.manusyanam sahasresukascid yatati siddhayeyatatam api siddhanamkascin mam vetti tattvatah[Bg. 7.3]"Out of many thousands of men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth."If just .01% of the world's population becomes Krsna Conscious, the whole situation on the earth will change. Just see what has happened. I started alone in 1966 and in just seven years now we are three thousand, and it is growing more and more. So if the intelligent men of the world like yourself cooperate with this all-important mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we can save the world from the state of misery and chaos that now prevails. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Hon Pei **Date:** August 30th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Melbourne My Dear Hon Pei Das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15th August, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. There is no question of giving anything up in Krsna consciousness. That is the sum and substance of the Bhagavad-gita. Arjuna also thought like that "I shall not fight and fell silent" but Krsna did not approve of this sentimental attitude of the Great Arjuna. The whole Bhagavad-gita was spoken to Arjuna simply to convince him that he should work for the satisfaction of Krsna. Therefore Krsna plainly says, "Whatever you do as work, whatever you eat, or give away in charity, do it for Me." This is real Krsna consciousness, to work for the satisfaction of Krsna. So you have good opportunity to serve Krsna by your nice education, go on finish up in the university and simultaneously follow the regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds, and associate with the devotees as much as possible. Your talents can be utilized for Krsna and in due course of time how this is so Krsna will reveal to you more and more. So do not be worried, be jolly in the service of the Lord. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Hrdayananda **Date:** May 10th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Hrdayananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 4, 1973. I am very much pleased by the contents. The green sheets advertising our books to the college professors are very very good. You may send copies to all centers. Your plan to get a large vehicle for traveling with built in shower, kitchen etc. is approved by me. But you should try to get new, because the old ones are always needing repair. We have seen by practical experience. Regarding your going with Satsvarupa Maharaja to Europe for one month. I have received one letter from him saying that he could not go because his presence is too important at our Gurukula in Dallas. It is a fact that Gurukula must be always carefully supervised, it is one of our most important projects. So you can correspond with him in this connection. Thank you very much for your sincere efforts in pushing forward this Krsna Consciousness Movement. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Hrsikesa **Date:** May 16th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Vrindaban My dear Hrsikesa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 8 1973. You are welcome to join us at any moment provided you do so in your original status. You have to immediately leave India for working outside. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda --- cc: Gurudasa ### Letter to Indira **Date:** October 20th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Florissant, Missouri My Dear Indira Dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 24/9/73. Regarding your opening another school, if you can do it, I have no objection. But, it is a great responsibility. To open for a few days, and then close it is not good. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Indira Gandhi **Date:** November 6th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi Srimati Indira GandhiPrime Minister of IndiaYour Excellency Srimati IndiraGandhi Devi: I thank you very much for kindly allowing an interview to my disciples Sriman Gurudasa Adhikari accompanied by his wife also, Srimati Yamuna devi. Perhaps your Excellency is aware of our Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. We are not only preaching the cult by chanting and dancing, but also by presenting in the English language the books of the bhakti cult, especially Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam all over the world. You will be pleased to know that our books are being well received in all parts of the world, and recently we have information from London that in two months time we have sold 30,000 copies of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is.I am sending herewith one copy of my book Bhagavad-gita As It Is as my humble presentation. I hope at your convenient leisure time, you can have a glance over this book, at least the preliminary statement in the Foreword, Introduction, and Preface, which will convince you of the importance of the book. We think that Bhagavad-gita As It Is without a wrong interpretation can solve all the problems of human society, namely social, political, religious, economic, philosophical, cultural, or from any angle of vision, because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is above all deficiency, namely mistake, illusion, cheating, and the imperfection of the senses. So we in our humble way are trying to spread this cult of Bhagavad-gita all over the world, and my American and European disciples, two samples of them are meeting with you, are helping me in this connection. After all, Bhagavad-gita is the sublime cultural knowledge, and of course religion is included there, but it is not fanaticism or sentimental religion. It is based on pure science, philosophy, and logic. I wish that our Indian government will be proud to take up this cultural movement very seriously, so that the whole world will be benefited, and India will be glorified. I hope Krsna will give you the proper sense to understand my humble presentation, and it will be a great pleasure to know you have relished this Bhagavad-gita As It Is without any unauthorized commentation. Thanking you once more for giving us the opportunity to see you in this connection. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Isvara **Date:** July 17th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Isvara, Please accept my blessings. I beg acknowledge receipt of your undated letter and I have carefully considered the contents. I can understand that you wish to remain as householders living outside the temple, and that you have bought your own cottage in Argyll, Scotland. That is perfectly all right. Narottama dasa thakur has sung that it does not matter whether one is sannyasi or householder, simply that one should be always in Krsna Consciousness chanting the holy name. So you describe that you have set up an altar in your home and you are offering prasadam, and this is all approved by me. One thing, however, is that living as a householder you cannot go into the streets and hold sankirtana and sell our books as a means of maintenance. Such sankirtana activity can be done with the devotees of our temple in Scotland, but cannot be done independently. If you wish to live separately you have to earn your livelihood by business, by taking some employment to maintain your home and family. But not by chanting in the street; this is not a good idea for householders. For example, here at Bhaktivedanta Manor the boys and girls go out every day, including householders who are living in householder quarters within the Manor, and they go door to door and take some collection in exchange for books, and in this way we maintain the establishment. All over the world we maintain our centers by such begging, or selling our books. But this is not allowed independent of our established ISKCON centers, so please do not do it; that is my request. As far as opening another center in Argyll, where devotees can come and live and where regular kirtanas may be held for guests, that prospect you can take up with Shayamasundar who is GBC for Great Britain. For the present go on with your decision to live as householders apart, but concentrate on chanting and reading our books and always offering foodstuff to Krsna by prayers. Live blissfully and peacefully as husband and wife, and if you go on chanting 16 rounds daily, Krishna Who is within our hearts, will direct your further as to best way to advance more and more in progressive Krsna Consciousness. We must never forget that this present life is temporary and may end at any moment. So the purpose of our existence should be to become fully Krsna Conscious and go back to Home, back to Godhead at the end of this present lifetime. I will be glad to hear of your further progress. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jadurani **Date:** January 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > New York My dear Jadurani, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 16, 1972, along with photos from Srimad-Bhagavatam. To answer your questions, "self-deception" means that I know I should have done something, I have knowledge of what I ought to do, and still I don't do it. Just like some of our devotees, we have got certain prohibitions, and everyone knows they will be harmful to me to violate, still they do it, despite everything. It is not like running after a mirage in the desert, thinking something water, that is ignorance, not self-deceit. So I cannot think of any example for your illustration just at this moment, but you have got the idea now what is self-deceit, I think you will be able to draw something nice. The depiction of Brahma and the destruction of the material worlds is very nice. When Brahma enters into the body of Visnu, that is ultimately, at the ultimate destruction, not in the partial destruction which you are illustrating. So it is all right as you have done it. So far the picture of three-headed Brahma in the assembly of other Brahmas, I have not seen, so what can I say? Whatever is palatable to everyone, you can do it that way. There is no mention otherwise, so the all Brahmas can be shown four arms. So far the question of all Brahmas riding on swans, at least when they came to offer respects they did not come with swan, they are all standing, they have walked into Krsna's palace. Yes, you may show all Brahmas very big in comparison with three-headed Brahma, otherwise how you can compare the elephant and the mosquito? The picture of my Guru Maharaja is nice. So far your questions about Lord Jagannatha and Ratha-yatra Festival, the first Ratha-yatra Festival was 5,000 years before, when Krsna and Balarama and Subhadra came from Dvaraka to Kuruksetra. So far the festival at Puri, there is no such history, but it must be more than 3,000 years. At least there is recorded history 2,000 years old, because we see in the Aquarian Gospel that Lord Jesus Christ was attending the Ratha-yatra Festival at Puri. Yes, there was attempt by Radharani to take back Krsna from Kuruksetra to Vrndavana. I think that answers your questions, so if you have got any more in connection with your work you may feel free to always write to me. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Jadurani **Date:** May 2nd 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Brooklyn My Dear Jadurani: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 25, 1973. Regarding the drawing for the TLC, you can do it in the same lines as it was done previously. Your drawing for the room of Sanatana Goswami is approved by me. Also approved by me is the sketch by Pariksit Das. Now you can go on making the pictures more and more beautiful and by so doing go back home, back to Godhead. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jadurani **Date:** May 12th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Brooklyn My Dear Jadurani, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 8, 1973. I have noted the contents carefully. I hope that by now you have received my letter of 2/5/73 in answer to your letter of April 25. I have not received any letters from you since then. In regards to your questions in the letter of May 8, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was going to see the temple of Visesvar and hundreds and thousands of people were following Him. He was chanting Hari! Hari! It was not on the bank of the Ganges. It was on a road. It was not a high road but very narrow. Lord Caitanya was a sannyasa should be depicted with shaven head and wearing a short dhoti with folded part in front. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Jadurani **Date:** June 28th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Brooklyn My dear Jadurani, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated June 18 and I have carefully studied the contents. I am very glad to hear you have begun paintings for Caitanya Caritamrta because we will require many illustrations. Re your questions: During Krsnadasa' time there was no Radharani deity, Madan Mohan was alone. Radharani was later introduced. The temple of Madan Mohan was formerly on high level, that is, the original old temple. It is still existent and can be seen side by side with the new Madan Mohan temple. You can write to Gurudasa in Vrndabana to send you two photos of the old and new temple. I will also write him requesting he send such pictures. No, Haridasa Pandit is not the namacarya Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Pandit was the pujari of the temple. As far as the old Govindaji temple is concerned, that is now rejected. It is now newly situated. Both the old Govindaji and Madan Mohan temples were desecrated by the Mohammedans and partly destroyed, but Govindaji deity was removed. The old temples are rejected and these temples are both now newly situated as you will see in the photos. No, there was no Radharani in the temple of Govindaji then; she was later introduced. Yes the deities can be painted similar to the way they are dressed now. There is not much difference in the robes of mayavadis and Vaisnavas, but they generally use a deeper color and we use lighter saffron. Lord Caitanya did not necessarily wear the mayavadi robes. He carried ekadanda, but that is covered by the cloth, they have one rod, we have four rods. But they look the same. Yes, Lord Caitanya carries a water pot. If you sincerely pray to Krsna, He will help you to paint quicker and better. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jadurani **Date:** November 8th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Brooklyn My Dear Jadurani dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 19, 1973. Yes, why not get Devahuti to paint, she's a good painter. Now I want for Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day one book of Ādi lila published, 400 pages at least, hardbound, for being distributed at Mayapur. Regarding the enclosed photo, the Yamadutas are all right. Yes, it is all right to show the subtle body looking just like the gross body. Regarding Lord Caitanya's danda, it was broken for good. So after Puri, He never took danda. So for painting Him as sannyasa, it depends on the time as to whether He had danda or not. The eka danda is all right, as in the Sadbhujah picture I sent. Do not be concerned with how the Mayavadi sannyasi dandas are wrapped because we are not following them. Kapiladeva was a young man, say 15 or 16 years. He appeared as a baby. Salagrama sila is a black stone ball, round, with eyes and nose painted with gopicandana with a golden crown on and placed on one small srngasana. Advaita Acarya was worshiping this way. Regarding the arati ceremony of Svayambhuva Manu, better to have the men and women separate. That is the Vedic system. Not like in the West of co-education, because intermingling of men and women was not at all sanctioned. If he is performing arati, how can he sit in a throne or asana? The young girls on the bank were worshiping Siva linga. It is made from earth collected from the Ganges bank. There was no deity of Durgadevi. These Siva lingas are placed right on the Ganga bank without any throne, wherever there is a suitable place. So why don't you come to Mayapur for sometime, not only you but all others and stay for sometime and finish the paintings locally there. So go on with your chanting of Hare Krsna. You have written "Jaya Vali Hari," but it is "bali hari yai?" meaning "I give you all credit, all glories."I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** January 5th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Toronto My dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 14 and 27, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am especially happy to hear from you about the huge distribution of books in the Canada Zone. That is the most auspicious sign. You are making good progress, that I can understand. As soon as I see that there is such increased book distribution figures, I take that to mean that all other programs are successful as well. I am especially encouraged to note that you have sold 268 of our Bhagavad-gita As It Is in only three weeks' time. That is very very satisfying to me. Regarding your other points, if there is need for stronger president in Montreal, I have no objection if Sripati leaves that place. Main thing is to have always one strong leader at each temple who can maintain the preaching standard to the highest degree. In this way, if our standard program is maintained just to the standard, automatically there will be enthusiasm and increase of preaching results. But Syamasundara has informed me that Sriman Sripati das is English citizen, so if he will like to return for assisting in his home country? They are mostly young boys in London, and they are opening so many new centers in other places of England, Scotland and Ireland, so if he is not required there, or if he likes, he may go there to help train up the young English boys. That is very much required. That seems better service for him than becoming cook only. At least in England he has got opportunity for active preaching and he may utilize his experience to manage things in some capacity. I am so much pleased to hear that your Toronto center has become too much crowded. That is a very good sign. Yes, if Krsna Consciousness is there, Krsna means that He is eternally increasing, so I can understand that Radha Gopinatha have very much appreciated their new home at Toronto. Your temple is at present too small for so many devotees, so if there are extra men they can be sent out for opening new centers and for travelling sankirtana parties. New men can be trained up in your Toronto center. When Krsna sees that you are very serious and sincere to serve Him only, you need not have to worry to get a new place, He will help you in that way. Upon your recommendation, I am very happy to accept the two devotees for second initiation. Now you may hold a fire yajna and give Gayatri mantra to Adyodyapati and Madhuhara. Teach them to chant on the finger divisions and play for them the tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra into the right ear. The fire yajna should be held in the company of devotees only, so long it is restricted to Gayatri mantra initiation only. Two sacred threads, duly chanted by me, along with two copies of Gayatri mantra, are enclosed herewith. So far the concert of Indian musicians and dancers for raising funds for the new temple, yes you may do that, I have no objection. But the concert should be their own concert, not that we are holding our program and they are appearing on the same program, either as our guests or as our co-performers. No, we shall not appear to the public like performers, we are not performers or musicians or dancers. But if the concert is held as a benefit concert, just like in Bombay we have held one benefit concert, of the Zaveri Sisters, Manipuri Dancing Group and nearly Rs. 100,000 was raised for our Juhu scheme. That will be the proper arrangement. So if you hold the concert in the auditorium and advertise these singers and dancers, that it will be their program, and also that it will be a "Hare Krsna Benefit Show" or something like that, that will be best. Of course, we may also appear and perform kirtana at the opening of the concert, and we will sell our books there, and if there is some opportunity to give also short lecture, that will be nice. But if you do all these other performances of aratrika, a drama, like that, perhaps it will appear like it is our program and not the program of the musicians. If there is confusion, if the public is thinking that we are something show or commercial performers, that will not be proper idea. But if the musicians and dancers want to give one concert and donate the proceeds to us, we shall gladly thank them. Yes, that is correct, the deities should never be bathed with water or something like that. Always bathe them with the mantra process. Of course the big deities should be bathed daily! Should not the Supreme Personality of Godhead, if He is recommending to us as brahmanas to bathe so many times, should he not also take bath? There is no objection either to applying the jewels to Their bodies with beeswax or to swinging them in the public functions in the temple on Sunday, so long there is very nice jhulan or swing being profusely decorated. Radha and Krsna may be swung in this way, but you may avoid swinging Lord Jagannatha like that. Yes, that will be very nice if your men go to South America for opening some new centers. They may write to me in that connection. Hoping this meets you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** March 10th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Jagadisa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 1, 1973 and I have carefully examined the contents. Actually, Hayagriva was not doing any managing or editing of BTG except for his own articles. More importantly he was engaged in working on our books, producing those smaller paperback booklets, etc. Such a talent is not so easily replaced, so we must try to bring him back to the standard for his own benefit. In this connection, I have written his wife, Kirtanananda Maharaja, and the GBC to see what they can do for him. Now I think that you can join me as the next GBC secretary for travelling with me by my side. If I go to New York in the first week of April you can meet me there, or if I go to South Africa you can meet me first here in India. What do you think? If there is some difficulty kindly let me know immediately. I hope this meets you in good health and transcendental mood. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** April 21st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Jagadisa Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 18, 1973. I was glad to receive the book distribution results from Toronto and especially the Vancouver Travelling Party. That they sold 100 Bhagavatams in two days is very nice. I think the Bhagavatam is now selling as well as the Gita.. So this is very encouraging to me. Regarding initiations, I am pleased to accept the following boys and girls as my initiated disciples: Girijadhava Das (Gabor); Taraknath Das (Ted); Dustadura Das (Don); Kasiram Das (Joseph); and Jagatikanda Dasi (Janet); Atigarvita Dasi (Anne). I am also enclosing 12 Gayatri Mantras and 7 sacred threads duly chanted upon by me for the brahminical initiations. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- The beads may be sent to Satsvarupa Das Swami at Gurukula for being chanted upon, together with a copy of this letter ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** July 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 17, 1973 and I have considered the contents carefully. There is no objection to going in western clothes in order to distribute my books. It is not necessary that we always wear the robes, but we should always keep sikha and teelock. However, a wig or hat may be worn as you describe. We have to take whatever is the favorable position for executing Krsna consciousness. Do not forget our principles, but sometimes we may adapt such means in order to help distribute books. Somehow or other distribute books and if you can impress people a little to chant then it does not matter about your dress. Regarding your contemplating opening new centers, I have felt the pulse of your country and that is, that wherever we open a small branch it will develop. So now you have to train our men so that the possibility for such opening centers will be good. As soon as you have the qualified men then you can open a small branch. But the travelling part is most important, even more so than the new centers. The travelling sankirtana party must go on. You are setting a very good example in that you yourself are going with the travelling party. The Vedic concept of the commander is that he must be in front in the fight, not that he sit back behind the lines. I think Ottawa is an important place in Canada, so when Krsna sends you more men, you can open and execute our simple activities of chanting, dancing and taking prasadam. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** August 15th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 1, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. The book fund debts should always be cleared very quickly, otherwise how books will come out, so always pay regularly as you collect. To install Deities in a moving vehicle is not very good. There is always danger of falling and breaking. Sudama already has experience of this. Why is Deity worship being introduced? It should not be introduced because it is very difficult to maintain the standard under such circumstances. If you have picture of Guru Gauranga that is sufficient. You are wondering if you did the right thing by giving the Deities to Sudama, so the answer is no. The deities may be brought back and worshiped in the temple as before. The idea of traveling Sankirtana is to distribute books not to do Deity worship, it is very difficult to maintain the standard of Deity worship in the temple, how will it be maintained in a truck? Another thing is that opening temples should not be encouraged at this time. Subala did the same thing in Santa fee years ago, why again he is doing the same thing? Hansadutta in Germany instead of increasing the temples and Deity worship he has increased the Sankirtana parties. He is running on 8 New buses and distributing large quantities of literature, this is more important. Neglectful Deity worship means offense. So make propaganda in this way, but in the bus there should not be Deity worship, simply the picture of Guru Gauranga. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** August 31st 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Toronto My Dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 24, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding the Regina temple, if it is already opened then maintain it, otherwise we should not open more centers at this time, especially in the smaller cities, it is better to go there with traveling Sankirtana parties, that was my point. And the deities in a moving vehicles is all right, providing they are cared for properly, so do the needful. Everything has to be done expertly that is my point. Otherwise your report is encouraging to me, I always look forward to hearing from you. I hope this letter will meet you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** September 27th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Toronto My Dear Jagadisa Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report and thank you very much for it. Now regarding the initiations, I am pleased to accept the following as initiated disciples: Bhadrapriya Dasi (Cheryl Cook), Bhaktimarg das (John Vij), Bhartrihari Das (Andre Marcotte), Sukra Das (Stuart Kess,) Sivarama (Peter Letai), Priyabhakta das (Denis Bernier,) Priyabandu Das (Michael Bernier,) and Praghosa Das (Gaetan Pollerin); and Srikari Dasi (Jade Zafran,) Sadhvi Dasi (Lucy Toillan), and Mohini Dasi (Pat O'Reagan.)I hope this meets you in best of health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** October 18th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Toronto My Dear Jagadisa Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 9, 1973 of the GBC report for Canadian Zone and I thank you very much for it. I am glad that the book distribution is going on there consistently. Regarding the management of the Ottawa and Regina centers try to train them. We have to train sometimes. Whenever there is something extraordinarily wrong, you can remain there for sometime. You should rectify, but not reject. Members are coming to join us to be rectified, not to be rejected. So, try to rectify the incorrigible, and if not possible, then change. What can we do? It is nice that Subaladas Maharaja is travelling. As sannyasi, he should travel. The more a sannyasi travels and preaches, the more he becomes experienced and unattached. Regarding your recommendation, I am accepting the following devotee as my initiated disciple. Bhaktavasya Dasi—Geraldine Luczyk. Yes, I authorize that you may chant on the beads of the newly initiated disciples. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** December 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > ALL GLORIES TO SRI GURU AND GAURANGA! My dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated November 29, 1973.Thank you for the report of the progress of Temples in your Canadian Zone. Now that we have opened some Centers, they must be maintained and our work go on. Book and prasadam distribution, Sankirtana and Deity worship is our only business so these programs must remain energetic. Your number one duty is to see that they are continuously carried on with enthusiasm. One thing is that we shall not open any more Centers for the time being. We have so many programs which require manpower and resources so we now must consolidate our energy. I hereby accept the following devotees as my initiated disciples and their names are enclosed: Sylvan Lushley—Niskincana dasJocelyn Prabhu—Ghosh Thakura dasLinda Ross—Malini dasiLinda Epstein—Rudrani dasiMoria Jones—Pratima dasiMary Everall—Misrani dasiEnclosed also find three sacred threads and six mantra sheets for the second initiates. Hold a yajna and afterwards they may hear the Gayatri mantra through the tape in the right ear. All the initiates should collect daksina and send it to Los Angeles c/o Karandhara. I will consider coming to Toronto later on. For now, carry on as my representative there and be strong and always faithful in Guru and Krsna. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/Kda ### Letter to Jahnava **Date:** August 1st 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Brooklyn My Dear Jahnava Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 20, 1973.You have written so many nice things in praise of me but I think that my Guru Maharaja is great, I am not great he is great. So sometimes by association of the great one appears great. Just like the sun is great heat and light and by reflecting the greatness of the sun's light the moon in dead of night also appears great, but actually the moon is by nature dark and cold, but in association with sun it has become accepted as great, this is the real position. So I thank you very much that you are appreciating my Guru Maharaja who wanted to preach Krishna Consciousness all over the world, he is so great. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Jaya Hari **Date:** June 28th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > London My dear Jaya Hari, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 25 June along with the wonderful literature, "Rathayatra '73, London Summer Festival." The collage of the pictures and the articles in the magazine have been wonderfully set up and I very much appreciate it. I can understand from your attempt that you are doing something wonderful this year. So I think I must accept your invitation. So far my health is concerned, by the Grace of Krsna I have improved very much, about 90%. In the meantime I received one telegram from Syamasundara: "Flying London Wednesday will Telex your tickets Thursday. BOAC Calcutta office." Therefore as soon as I get the tickets I shall try to reserve my seats and reach London as early as possible before 8 July. Thank you very much for your enthusiasm. Offer my beloved blessings for all devotees who have signed the invitation album. I shall enjoy their company when I meet them. I wish to visit the other branches in England. Invite all members of our European centers and make the ceremony very very successful by combined effort. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jayadharma **Date:** November 27th 1973 > 439 Henry Street Brooklyn New York My Dear Jayadharma, Please accept My blessings. I am in due receipt of your kind letter and sweater gift to me and I thank you very much. Yes, the process is to give the very best to the Spiritual Master no matter what the cost. Just like you'll recall in the story of Krishna and Sudama at the Gurukula of their Spiritual Master, because they risked their life to carry out the order of their Guru Maharaj, they were blessed by him to gain eternal Knowledge. So in the same way keep trying to offer Krishna your very best and all blessings will be bestowed on you. I hope this letter meets you in the best of Health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/mda ### Letter to Jayadvaita **Date:** September 22nd 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Jayadvaita: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 8, 1973 and have noted the contents. With regard to this problem I recommend that in your diet you take no spices. Furthermore you should see that the bowels are cleared daily. I hope this meets you in best health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jayananda **Date:** December 1st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Jayananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated November 13, 1973. I was very happy to hear from you. I am always thinking of you and praying to Krsna for your advancement in Krishna Consciousness. That you are engaged in street Sankirtana in San Francisco is fully approved by me. That you are feeling more and more enthusiasm by doing this is quite natural as Sankirtana is our life and soul. My Guru Maharaja used to say, "One who has got life, he can preach."Yes, I remember the old days in San Francisco. Krsna has been so kind upon me to have sent so many sincere disciples to help me push on this Movement on behalf of my Guru Maharaja. You continue with your program there in San Francisco, always strictly keeping our principles and Krsna will bless you with greater and greater realization of the importance of this Movement. I am dependent upon you, my older disciples, to carry it on. Please offer my blessings to your good wife, Trayi devi dasi, and thank her on my behalf for the three nice drawings of Krsna lila. Also, please thank Bhavatarini devi dasi for her drawing of Gopala Krsna. So far how she can serve me, the best service is to chant Hare Krsna always and spread it to every town and village. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/Kda ### Letter to Jayapataka **Date:** April 11th 1973 — **Location:** New York My Dear Jayapataka Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I may request you to send me some of that bitter melon that you are growing there. You take some of that bitter and cut into pieces and dry it, then send. The day after tomorrow I am starting for Los Angeles, so send to me there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- Also I request you to send me some mustard seed oil ### Letter to Jayapataka **Date:** April 12th 1973 — **Location:** New York Dear Jayapataka Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. When I was there last there was one boy who was for making dolls. I want to know how the samples are coming out, if they are nice. Can he teach our students how to do this art? If so, our men can go there and learn, or should he be sent here to USA? Please write to me in this regard at L.A.I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayapataka **Date:** April 16th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Jayapataka Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. With regard to the Mayapur house I may suggest that you make one roof garden. On the top of the house you can put soil of six inches and then plant so many tulsi plants and nice bushes. I like garden very much. Just like here in Los Angeles Temple they have made one very nice garden for me and I sit there every evening. So you please also make a first class Mayapur garden. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsPlease --- report how far the construction is completed ### Letter to Jayapataka **Date:** November 12th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Mayapur My Dear Jayapataka Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 26, 1973 and have noted the contents. Your description of Sridhara Maharaja's birthday celebration is nice, and I thank you for presenting on my behalf a copy of Caitanya Caritamrta. Regarding the Government's plans to construct a three crore tourist lodge, why not give the money to us, and we can construct? If this money is used for four such buildings as we have got plus a temple, this will satisfy the Government as well as our needs. You should try to get them to invest in our residence building construction. Tourists will come due to our canvassing. The Government can construct, and we can manage. I am glad to hear that the doll making is improving, so please continue it. All blessings of Krsna are unto you. You are such a sincere devotee of Krsna, that He must be pleased upon you. I hope this finds you in best of health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- Regarding land purchase give me your scheme and I shall consult Bali Mardan and Karandhara, or we can consider when they come to Mayapur next. ACBS ### Letter to Jayapataka, Bhavananda **Date:** May 9th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Mayapur My dear Jayapataka and Bhavananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 30 and am very pleased by the report. Many students from America will very soon go there to learn the art of doll making as desired by you. It is better to go there and learn the art instead of the teacher coming here. Mayapur is already wonderful being the transcendental birthplace of Lord Caitanya. By utilizing western talents to develop this place certainly it will be unique in the world. As in Vrndavana we have named the temple Krsna-Balarama Temple, similarly I suggest that our Mayapur temple be know as Mayapur Candra temple or Mayapur Candrodaya. Whichever sounds better we should advertise from now. I know there are many weavers who daily go from this side of the river to Navadvipa side for working in handweaving enterprise. So if we can employ some of them along with our own men for manufacturing first class saris we can purchase all these saris produced by you. Such small scale industries are also supported by the Bengal Government. Tarundada is in charge of such industry. I have consulted with Karandhara that we can purchase the saris and the government will be glad to cooperate with us for exporting Indian goods to outside of India. Similarly we can import nice dolls here. Gradually as our men become expert they can manufacture the same thing here. So Mayapur inhabitants can be engaged in such a small manufacturing enterprise as well as farming to become self sufficient. Side by side increase our spiritual consciousness by attending to the temple routine work, Deity worship sankirtana, attending class. The idea is we must have the necessities of our life as far as possible independently. But we should not be business minded. Our main business is to develop our dormant Krsna Consciousness. Side by side we may take to such enterprises as will maintain us very nicely. There is no need of sending the artisan to U.S.A. better send our disciples from here and learn the art there. In this connection manufacturing the mrdanga shells as well as the skin work on it is very essential. If possible our men may learn how to make karatalas also. At Navadvipa, there are many artisans for this purpose. The summary is that our men must learn these four things: doll making, mrdanga making, karatala making and if possible making saris. We want to display doll exhibitions in every center of our society depicting some narration from Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Caitanya Caritamrta, Bhagavad-gita like that. Just like the picture that Arjuna's chariot is placed by Krsna between the groups of 2 soldiers. The Pictures are already there in our books and they are to be demonstrated by doll exhibition. The Krsna-Balarama Deities if it is very successful you can send one photograph to Yamuna in Vrndavana and if needed they may be sent to Jaipur as a model for carving our Krsna-Balarama Deities to be installed at Vrndavana. If possible you can send me some photographs of the dolls already manufactured and I shall give you further suggestions in this connection. To learn how to prepare mrdanga shell is very essential. Regarding land I had already given Jayapataka Maharaja direction to purchase as much land as possible if it is offered at cheap price. But the present law is if the land is not properly utilized any outsider may occupy the land even as trespasser and the land belongs to him as a tenant or owner. I do not know what is the legal implication otherwise I wanted to purchase lands as much as possible in that quarter. Sometimes you consulted the district magistrate who came to see me and he said we may keep maximum 60 bighas of land. So my idea is that I want to purchase all the lands there for developing into a spiritual city but it may be utopian at the present moment. Regarding keeping the Mohammedans in our temple I have no objection provided they follow or rules and regulations. Our philosophy is that we are not this body, outer tabernacle, but one must stick to our principles and live with us like other devotees. The difficulty will be the Mohammadans will not agree to shave their heads and beards. Our principle is anyone can live with us provided he becomes clean shaved, dresses like us, follows the regulative principles and chants the beads regularly. So you can let me know what is the reaction on the Mohammedan side to these conditions. Most of my students are coming from the Christian and Jewish groups but because they agreed to follow our principles there was no difficulty to organize the society. Similarly Mohammedan or anyone else who has no objection to our principles is welcome. I'm so glad that prasadam distribution is going well, the cows are healthy and agriculture products are coming out nicely. So go on with the regular temple worship method and attract more persons. That will engladden me. You have said that the building construction work is finished but you have not written how many stories beside the plinth floor. Mr. Daga wanted to pay 10,000 Rs for one story more. Has it be executed accordingly? Please keep in constant touch with me by sending report at least once in a fortnight. At last I may inform you that I am very much interested to purchase more land. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** March 15th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Jayatirtha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge of your letter dated March 7th. Yes, you may perform the marriages in the Temple room, but after the legal marriage has lasted at least 6 months to a year. Then we can know they are faithful and serious. Yes, I will be glad to attend an engagement in a hall filled with 4,000 people, but I cannot fix a date for my arrival in L.A. at this moment. By the 16th I shall be going to Mayapur and then on the 22nd to Hyderabad until the 26th to Bombay. After that my program is not presently fixed up. Yes, because you have recommended them I accept all of the devotees for first and second initiations. The sacred threads will be coming under separate cover; for the others, their new names are listed below. Larry - Laksmana das. Nancy - Rasaparayani dasiHarold - Hasyayuk das Arlene - Kirtida Kanyaka. Billy - Banamali das Gerry - Rasapurnada dasi. Roy - Ramlal das Theresa -Tarani dasi. Jim - Kuvera das Ronda - Revati dasi. Bay - Bahloka das Cheryl- Saranagata dasi. Mike - Mahajana das Cindy - Bhagavacittarupini dasi. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jose Serratos **Date:** December 4th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Jose Serratos, Please accept my blessings. Yes we require all of our books to be translated into Spanish. In this connection please contact our Haihaya Prabhu at our Mexico City branch or Citsukhananda Prabhu at our Caracas branch as they are managing Spanish translating. Hare Krsna. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Kadamba **Date:** December 8th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Kadamba dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your note and gift of one ring. Just now I am wearing it. Because you have sincerely offered, I must accept on behalf of my Guru Maharaja although I am not worthy. I have met your son. His lovely features are very nice and he appears to be a first class brahmacari. Always be an example to him by being steadfast in Krsna Consciousness and your motherhood will be perfected. Hare Krsna. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Kaliya Krsna **Date:** March 31st 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Kaliya Krsna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 12th March and I have examined the contents carefully. You have committed a very grave error. I am depending on you leaders for the future of our Society, yet there is all this interest in illicit sex life. this is causing me heartache worrying how things will go on. What can I do? I have given you all instructions, why you cannot follow them? Now you are supposed to be a responsible devotee, and this situation must be rectified, it is bad example for others. You have begged for my blessings and I give them to you because you are my spiritual son and I have taken responsibility for engaging you in the service of Krsna. But I think you can from now on follow the regulated restrictions strictly and refrain from any sex life at all, that can be your austerity. Your proposal to go to Chicago Temple under the supervision of Satsvarupa Maharaja and Kirtanananda Maharaja is very good. They are your well-wishers. Now you may take up your activities with determination and seriousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated December 28, 1972, is in hand and I have noted the contents carefully. According to our Vedic process, polygamy is allowed. For example, Krsna married 16,000 wives, Arjuna married 3 or 4 wives, Krsna's father Vasudeva, married 16 or 18 wives, like that. So according to the Vedic system polygamy is not prohibited. But it is not a farce also. Every wife must be provided for sufficiently. Krsna married 16,000 wives, but each wife was provided a palace and He was personally present at each palace. It does not meant to marry many wives and maintain none of them. If anyone is able to keep more than one wife and give them all comforts of life, there is no objection for having more than one wife. But if he creates trouble by marrying, he should not marry even one wife, this is my judgment. Now you can do the needful, taking into consideration the circumstances of the laws of your country, the customs of your people, the reputation of our society, the example which will be set for future devotees to follow, like that. For karmis, the Vedic system of marriage was given by Krsna so they may come gradually to the point of becoming devotees. But for devotees, it is advised to minimize sex life to the point of nil. So if that cannot be done, then there is regulation of sex life by marriage. Actually the system of polygamy is natural because the human entity is meant for transcending the animal forms of life and going back to home, back to Godhead. Therefore there should remain a class of men who do not marry in the society. But that will create an unfavorable situation of excessive population of unmarried women. Therefore it is advised that all women get themselves married, and if there is any man who is better able to maintain wife and family, he is advised to marry as many women as he can maintain and thereby free other men in the society to remain brahmacari. So I can understand that many men of our society have got themselves married only for some disastrous result. That means that not all of our men are meant for married life, but because there are so many women we may not leave them unprotected without husband, that will also not serve us well. Therefore it will be the best idea if those who are well-qualified as husbands to keep more than one wife very much satisfied in every respect, if such men can marry more than once. That will free the others to remain brahmacari. But you must consider very carefully the possibility of becoming scandalized in the public for breaking their laws in this way. And in future also the devotees who are neophyte may not understand our policy in this connection, and we gradually could wind up attracting only a class of men who are very eager for unlimited sex life only. These things must be avoided at all cost. Enclosed please find also the letter-proposal from Syamasundara as suggested by me to relieve me from these decisions regarding husband and wife. Kindly distribute this proposal to all the 12 GBC men in the world. They may write to me their views on the point and give their yes or no answer to the proposal. A few days back Rsi Kumar has come to see me from South Africa and he has handed over to me the sum of $700 in cash. This amount was reserved to pay you for the book sales for December month for South Africa, and it was to be deposited in the BBF there with you. Instead I requested him to give to me here and I am depositing in my BBF here in India. So kindly credit this amount to Rsi Kumar and debit his bill for the amount of $700.Enclosed find also the copy of one letter which I recently sent to Rsi Kumar, wherein I have approved his request to get 15% discount on books sent to South Africa. Because it is a new field and there is more than 15% of import duty and shipping cost, it will be difficult if he has to pay the full amount. Therefore you may credit his account the $700 plus 15% of the total amount which is due to you to date. Very soon Rsi Kumar and Yasodanandana and Gurukrpa will return to South Africa to arrange the program for me to come there after leaving India some time in April. Meanwhile by 1st February I have received the tickets to go to Australia and other places from Madhudvisa. But I shall be returning by March 1st to Mayapur. I have received your description of the books sold during three-day Christmas period, and I am very much pleased upon all of the nice boys and girls who have helped me in this way. I could never have thought it was possible to distribute so many of our literatures. Therefore I can understand it is simply Krsna's blessing us for your sincerely working on His behalf. Actually, that is the secret of my success, not that personally I have done anything wonderful, but that because those who are helping me are sincere, they have done the work, that is the reason for our success all over the world where others have failed. A little sincerity is very difficult thing in this age of hypocrisy and bluff, but I am so fortunate that Krsna has sent me all of you nice boys and girls who are sincerely working. Please convey to all of them my deepest appreciation. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdaN.B. --- So far the opinion of that lawyer is concerned, you may take the opinion of several others who are knowledgeable in these matters before making any decisions. A.C.B.S ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** January 26th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Los Angeles My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter dated January 2, 1973, regarding the book shipments to India. As I have already informed you by telegram, until further notice you should not dispatch any further shipment of books for India. The position is that I have asked Kesava Prabhu to see to all the book affairs here since in the past two years our books have not been properly managed here. After he takes stock of all books in the different centres, and makes out appropriate bills, and generally adjusts things, then we shall think to order more books. The principle to be followed is that whatever the MV Trust is debited in America a similar amount must be paid into the MV Trust account here. In this way things will be adjusted. You may correspond with Kesava regarding further developments. In Bombay we have just celebrated our Second Hare Krishna Festival and it has come out very successfully. More than 20,000 people attended the last evening's program. A special feature was the "Question and Answers" booth where 24 hours a day and night one of our sannyasis answered all philosophy questions. So the people were impressed that we are not seemingly sentimentalists, but have substantial philosophical footing. I hope you and all others in Los Angeles Temple are well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/tkg ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** February 10th 1973 — **Location:** Melbourne Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter of 1/24/73 concerning polygamy and feel that this policy must be strictly prohibited within our society. If it is not it shall only cause chaos, as what was possible under the system of pure Vedic Culture is impossible at the present time. Regarding Syamasundara's opinions I never approved those ideas should be circulated. If anyone strictly follows the regulative principles of Krishna Consciousness then he will always remain enthusiastic and dynamic. So if there are any defects within our Society it is only symptom that the instructions of the Spiritual Master are being neglected. Follow my instructions strictly and always think for giving this gift of Krishna Consciousness wherever you go and to whomever you meet, this is the advice of Lord Caitanya. So you GBC men now decide how to manage things so nicely so that I may spend my time solely for translating my books. This I desire. Each GBC man can act as my secretary for one month at a time as I originally planned. In this way you will all be trained up nicely. Syamasundara Prabhu will returning to London in order to get that building. Your suggestions about marriage are very nice. Marriage is a great responsibility and should not be taken lightly. I shall be in Sydney until the 18th, and shall be returning to India by the first week of March after visiting New Zealand and Indonesia. As Sudama Maharaja has indicated his desire to remain in U.S. Japan may be included in your GBC zone for the present. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdgI --- have had Bali Mardan Maharaja send you one telegram approving your scheme to purchase the apartment building for the M-V Trust ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** February 17th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney My Dear Karandhara das, Please accept my blessings. 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. I will be in Auckland up to the 25th. of February and in Calcutta after the 2nd. of March. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** February 21st 1973 — **Location:** Auckland My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 13 Feb. 1973 and have noted its contents carefully. Regarding Sriman Hayagriva Dasa; it is our duty to rectify him. To create a devotee takes much labor and to reject him in a minute is not to our credit so please try to do the needful in this regard. Consult the other GBC men there, then make a proposal to Hayagriva and if still he is incorrigible then you take the necessary steps. It is not very good policy to move the deities once they have been installed. First thing you should try to get the authorities to reverse their classification of us as a church. Because factually we are not a church. It is true that our congregation is not increasing, simply the inmates are becoming more numerous. We should be classified as a residential temple. This is actually the case in India and it is the same case in Los Angeles. We simply have a bigger family therefore our temple is bigger. If this can be done we will not require so much space for parking and then with this added space we can gorgeously remodel the entire temple. So please try and do this but if this is not possible you may break down the rear wall and add that one room and my sitting room to the temple and my Vyasa Sana may be placed against the side wall with my left side facing the Deities and by back facing the kitchen. Then you will have almost twice as much room in the temple. But the best thing is if we can get reclassified. They have simply classified us as a church for want of any other classification. Regarding the installation of Gaura-Nitai deities, weather it be a GBC man, president, or sannyasi it does not matter. The important thing is that he be a senior qualified man. That is the most important thing. I'll be in Djakarta by the 25th and back in India by the 2nd of March. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** March 2nd 1973 — **Location:** Jakarta My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February*, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. I don't know why they have again made the same mistake not signing jointly, but anyway you can execute the transfer without delay. I am going to India this evening and I shall talk to them further on this matter. In the meantime you can transfer the books as they have requested. I hope everything is going nicely in Los Angeles and I shall be glad to hear from you soon to Calcutta address. We have four places which I have visited—Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, and Jakarta. The preaching was very satisfactory. Sriman Amogha dasa is trying to learn the local language and print some books in the Dai Nippon branch here. So cooperate with him. Your ever-well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ada --- *Received this morning ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** March 15th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Los Angeles My dear Karandhara: Please accept my blessings. I have received your two letters dated March 3rd and March 8th, with enclosures. Trivikrama Maharaja has written me one letter about his going on a bold preaching venture to Belfast, and it is a noble proposal. But I want him to first, with your cooperation, get our Tokyo center registered properly and train up a president before he goes on to another place. I have received some first-class publications of our Isopanisad from Hansadutta and he is also ready to print Bhagavad-gita. And now you tell me that Macmillan, such a big big company, cannot keep up with our men. This is very encouraging news. I have just finished Gita Gan, a verse by verse translation of the Gita into Bengali, and now I am working daily on the Caitanya-caritamrta. Now I am more and more wanting to work on my books and diminish all this travelling. So I am more and more depending upon you GBC. Of course you GBC are in training, but you are all the hope for the future of our movement. So I am glad to hear that my quarters are being readied nicely and that you have purchased me a comfortable car. My program is to leave for Mayapur in the morning and be back by the 19th and on to Hyderabad on the 23rd, then to Bombay by the 26th. From then my program is not yet fixed up. I have received one nice invitation to go Johannesburg and if they can supply the visas in time I may go there, otherwise to London by the 1st and on to L.A. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** March 31st 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Karandhara: Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 22nd March. There is no need of adding further Deities. Once installed it cannot be changed. Do not make it childish, too much addition of Deities will encumber us. At first, either Panca Tattva or Gaura-Nitai Deities may be installed, taking care that there is sufficient space. There is no need to consult with me for these installations, the local president can decide whether the circumstances are opportune. For two houses in M-V we are supposed to get 1600 dollars per month. Now we got three, but we get only $750 per month. What is the benefit? 12-13% interest was the original idea of investing but now you have given calculation for 6 1/2%. I do not know how you have decided this, to take so much burden of maintenance for so little return. You have said Kesava is going to Tokyo as president, but what he will do there? Wherever he goes he cannot stay fixed up long. So how can he manage if he cannot stay regulated? I am not going to Johannesburg, rather I am leaving tomorrow for Zurich for maybe 10 days while they are getting my place ready in London. As soon as I am informed, I will send you my address in Zurich. As far as I know it, my London address will be Piggott's Manor, Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire, London, England. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** June 8th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Los Angeles My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 5/31/73 and have noted the contents. Yes, in Mayapur I am much improved from how I was in Los Angeles. The great advantage here is that there is always open air and a good breeze which is naturally very good for any breathing difficulties. The coughing is almost gone, but still sometimes at night it gives a little trouble. So I am under the treatment of one of the best physicians in Calcutta. I am taking this medicine and am gradually improving. Certainly Mayapur is by far a better place than Los Angeles because you can enjoy the free air here. The climate is not too hot, but a little moist with humidity but on the whole it is very pleasing. Our building is most superexcellently situated, and it is the experience of many respectable outsiders that while the outer atmosphere is unbearably hot, in our building it is pleasing. Regarding your taking sannyasa, I think you are already a sannyasi although not in saffron colored cloth. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said,anasritah karma-phalamkaryam karma karoti yahsa sannyasi ca yogi cana niragnir na cakriyah[Bg. 6.1]"The Blessed Lord said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic: not he who lights no fire and performs no work."So, I know you'll take sannyasi sooner or later but wait for the time when Krsna will decide for this action. You have written nothing about the $25,000 check which I left with you. Whether it is cashed and the business done? I advised Syamasundara to send you a check for $10,000. Whether you have received it? If not you can advise me. I am anxious to know whether that M-V Trust business (house purchase) is complete. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** June 29th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Los Angeles My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 6/19/73 and I have carefully studied the contents. As far as the $10,000.00 due from Syamasundara, he has come to me in Mayapur and he has promised to pay in July. It is very encouraging to hear the arrangement you are making for worship of Their Lordships Sri Dvarakadhisa and Rukmini. Please do it very nicely and I shall be glad to see the completed result. You will be glad to hear I am feeling 80-90% fit again. I am translating, lecturing and taking morning walk and eating regularly. Hoping this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgP.S. --- If you have received 3 checks for deposit in my a/c ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** July 10th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Los Angeles Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I understand you are interested in when I am returning to Los Angeles. Actually just now in London we have instituted a program where important men are coming to meet with me in the evening for discussion of Krsna Consciousness. I have talked with a very famous sculptor, a teacher of a boys college and today George Harrison is supposed to visit. Syamasundara is arranging for visits by many other famous men. Wherever I shall go now this policy of important men being invited to talk with me about our Krsna Consciousness movement should be implemented. You will be glad to know the Rathayatra in London was very successful. The Daily Guardian had a picture on the front page of our cart and stated that we were competition to the monument in memory of Lord Nelson in Trafalgar Square. My health is good and I am taking daily walk and speaking at the class in the morning. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- P.S. I shall return to L.A. by September ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** July 19th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 12, 1973 and I have carefully studied the contents. Regarding deposits in my bank account, yes, in the future you may make deposits in account number 366 8 80613. In the meantime, I am sending a letter to the Bank of America authorizing them to transfer $700.00 from my checking account to my investment account. Here at Bhaktivedanta Manor the place is the nicest possible. It is calm and quiet and the village is neat and clean. I am daily walking in the morning with all devotees and I am taking the usual class from 7-8 A.M. Very respectable gentlemen are coming in the evening. Last night George Harrison came. He has become a great supporter of our movement. He may spend more for expanding our activities. He told me smilingly yesterday, "I shall try to help you for expanding many temples." So arrangement is going on here for installing the deity on Janmastami: Many Indians are also coming and we are proposing to start a Gurukula here in London so that Indian children may be admitted. Indian gentlemen are perplexed because there is no institution to admit children to keep intact the Indian cult. So our idea of teaching sanskrit and English and our books they appreciate very much. If we start another Gurukula here I think it will be not an unprofitable activity. Certainly I will return in September to Los Angeles. It is nice to hear that the work on the new temple will be much progressed by then. Regarding Svarupa Damodara's going to the colleges, Rai Ramananda has also agreed to come. I met him recently in India and he is enthusiastic. Now we shall put this challenge against this wrong theory that life comes from matter. Undoubtedly matter has come from life, and we can present so many practical proofs of this. So let Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda think in their own chemical language how to push this fact to the scientific world. If by Krsna's grace they even partially admit it, it will be a great triumph. My point is even if they partially accept then they have to find out what is the original life. In the sastras we have information that the original life in the universe is Brahma and Brahma is also a product of Garbhodakasayi Vishnu. Garbhodakasayi Visnu is a product of Karanadakasayi Visnu and in this way we ultimately reach Krsna the Cause of all Causes. We have to give a fight to the wrong conception of the unauthorized scientist. Your plan for going to the colleges in California and your titles for the lectures are very much to my liking. You may write to Ramananda to come as soon as possible. He told me he can come and see me in London. Anyway, his coming there is sure, so correspond with him; and make a strong party. Your victory over the scientist who was saying that life comes from dust is very good. We should not take such nonsense from them. We should speak up against such false theorists and say, "Don't talk such nonsense please. Don't mislead the public. You are taking big salaries and leading the public wrongly. It would be better for you to be a street sweeper and earn an honest livelihood instead of cheating."Regarding the contract arranged by Jaya Hari for distribution of books, we want the better terms; so please send better terms. I do not know the terms, so we have to compare. We shall accept the better terms. If Macmillan takes that is best. So I shall ask Syamasundara not to do it and I wait your sending counter-terms. Regarding Mr. Kallman and his new offer of the record, do not enter unless he releases full rights to us. Don't take an adventure with him, he may take advantage of our advertising and not give me anything. He originally was agreed to give me 10% royalty but he never gave me anything. Deal carefully with him. I approve of your plans to divide my downstairs quarters into 3 rooms and utilize it. Regarding incorporation of our ISKCON centers, we want to run all our centers as nonprofit religious organizations; that is the main point. Keeping this point in view too much official control is not good in spiritual life. The centers should remain spiritually fit and independent. Some control must be there as is now. Too much control means so many vouchers. Gradually it will become a mundane institution. All our managers should be spiritually advanced simple and honest in carrying out the orders of the spiritual master and Krsna. That will be a nice standard. Democracy in spiritual affairs is not at all good but breeds power politics. We should be careful about power politics. Our only aim should be that each and every devotee is full dedicated to Krsna, then things will go on nicely. As it states in the Vedas:yasya deve para bhaktiryatha deve tatha gurautasyaite kathita hy arthaprakasante maha twanah[ŚU 6.23]I am afraid of taxing my brain about this Corporation of ISKCON so you and Bali Mardan Maharaja do the needful that will be a relief to me. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** July 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Los Angeles Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed please find three checks. Please deposit them in my Bank of America Account no 366/8-80613, and send me duplicate receipt. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- Enclosure: 3 Checks ($300.00) ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** July 26th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Los Angeles My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated 7/22/73. Everything you have arranged is in order. I have signed the cards. All cheques issued should be entered into the Account Book, and an informing letter should be written regarding: to whom the cheque was made and what purpose: and send one copy to me and one to Bali Mardan. I am also happy to note that Hayagriva is working on The Books. Please keep him carefully, his work is very important for our Movement. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/hda ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** July 27th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Los Angeles My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 22nd, 1973. You are to be congratulated—you have defeated the rascal scientist Mr. Roger Reville from the Big University. Actually, it is not a very difficult task, they have no definite ideas, everything they put forward is doubtful, even they say—"I think", "perhaps", "it may be", "theoretically speaking", and like that. Vedic knowledge is definite. Take for example Padma Purāṇa, there it is said there are 8,400,000 species of life: two million trees, one million insects, four hundred thousand humans. Nowhere do we find about so and so many, but exactly the number is given. Or we see the description of Kali yuga, and we are experiencing it. "People of this age will keep big bundles of hair and thus think themselves very beautiful." So this is going on. "For want of bathing the population of this age will appear like Pisacas"—hippies. Everything is given in Vedas exactly. Why should we go to such men for knowledge? They pose themselves as big leaders, philosophers. But we have to accept our leader according to the standard symptoms—or qualifications. The standard text book for civilized administration is Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. A leader must be peaceful, self-controlled austere, pure, tolerant, honest, wise learned and religious. Not like your President Nixon—a rogue and thief—such men cannot do any good to society, only those who are trained up in the Ultimate Goal of human life, they can lead—because human life is meant for going back to Godhead. Therefore our society is serving the whole world by supplying the missing part for perfect advancement of human civilization, we are supplying the head. Although all parts, such as legs are necessary, the whole thing is useful only when there is a head. So, everything is already there but it is now mixed up, we want to bring the whole world in to order by giving the right directions to all classes of men. Right direction means, to deliver the instructions of Krishna, and because Krishna is perfect, if you present this knowledge anywhere it will automatically defeat all the existing concocted hodge-podge ideas congesting the feeble brains of so-called scientist, philosophers or anyone. When my Guru Maharaja was present even big, big scholars were afraid to talk with His beginning students. My Guru Maharaja was called "Living Encyclopedia", he could talk with anyone on any subject. He was so learned—so we should be like that as far as possible. No compromise—Ramakrishna, avataras, yogis, everyone was enemy to Guru Maharaja—he never compromised. Some God-brothers complained that this preaching was chopping technique and it would not be successful. But we have seen that those who criticized, they fell down. For my part I have taken up the policy of my Guru Maharaja—no compromise. All these so called scholars, scientists, philosophers who do not accept Krsna are nothing more than rascals, fools lowest of mankind etc..So you go on with your work, it is very encouraging to me. Thank you. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. This evening I had talk with Sir Alister Hardy M.A. D.Sc. of Oxford. He is a nice gentleman. ACB;hda ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** August 11th 1973 — **Location:** Paris > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 22 July 1973 and herewith please find another two checks. 11-66/1210 No. 143 for $100.00 and 24-191/1230 No. 298 for $150.00 which you please deposit in my investment account No. 8-80613 Bank Branch 366.Regarding the book transaction with the company Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd. I see that you have already some correspondence with them. On the whole I see that the agreement is not good. So you can do the needful in this connection. Presently we are staying in Paris, coming here on the 9th and going back to London on the 15th August 1973. Yesterday we installed the Deities Sri Sri Radha and Krishna and the ceremony was very nice. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** August 17th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter date August 11, 1973 and the duplicate deposit slips. I herewith send you three more checks;1,111.00300.00108.001,519.00 US DOLLARSall of them may be deposited in my investment account No. 8-80613 Bank of America 366.I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hdaN.B. --- Syamasundara Prabhu is still unable to pay because the things are not sold yet. Let us wait & see. In the investment a/c they do not receive less than $100.00 at a time ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** August 25th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Los Angeles Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed please find one check for 18.38 dollars U.S. Please deposit this check in my investment account at the Bank of America, Culver City branch. Thank you very much. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bda ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** September 1st 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and enclosed bank slip for 250.00 dollars but I have not as yet received the bank slip of another 1,400.00 dollars, I hope you have already deposited the same. I am expecting the receipt voucher at any moment. Regarding initiation of the new devotees, I am sending herewith the names against each of them, the beads may be chanted upon by you and delivered by regular ritualistic ceremony. For second initiation find herewith the sacred threads duly chanted by me and you do the rest work. My schedule of program is as follows; Sweden on the 5th September after returning I shall go to Japan by the 15th via Tehran and India. Then from Japan I shall return to Los Angeles via Hawaii, estimated by the 10th October. Certainly at that time I shall drive on my Rolls Royce car with great pleasure at least for three months. Pray to Krishna that I may execute my touring program without any disturbance. I hope this letter will meet you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** September 27th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara Das: Please accept my blessings. . I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 12, 1973 and am so glad to learn that you have again ordered to Dai Nippon Printing Co., for so many books This engladdens me when I see our literature very widely distributed. This was the subject matter of my Guru Maharaja's satisfaction. He liked to distribute books more than constructing temples. He personally advised me to print books if I have got some money. So by His mercy we are printing books and constructing temples, as well. Although in the beginning we had no such opportunity, but still I brought some books from India, and that was the foundation stone of our Krsna consciousness movement. So I want all our centers should give very much importance in the matter of book distribution. .I am also very much pleased to learn that now in San Diego there is Radha Krsna Deity and They are being worshiped very nicely. Here the land negotiation and compromise with Mrs. Nair is almost complete. We have to pay immediately 14 lakhs 50 thousand, plus stamp duty, etc., so nearly about 16 lakhs. The major portion of this amount is being contributed by Bali Mardan. . Still we have to arrange for transferring 20 Krsna Books. . That you have to arrange and on hearing from you I shall advise you. .Herewith please find a check for Dollars 111.11 which please deposit in my investment a/c. So far my going back to L.A. is concerned, it was my plan to go there by October 10, but I don't think the negotiations with Mrs. Nair will be completed before October 27, therefore I want to go back to Los Angeles after completing this transaction. I approve your proposal for converting Spiritual Sky Incense Co. into a trust, and the trustees as proposed by you are approved by me. Encourage all the GBC members to manage everything very perfectly. We are very much assured that the GBC members are improving gradually, and in the future they will be able to manage world preaching of the Krsna consciousness movement without difficulty. After finishing these Bombay affairs I am thinking not to increase any more branches for the time being. Whatever branches we have already opened let them be managed perfectly. You will be glad to know that Hyderabad land has been donated as gift and I am signing the agreement today. Another thing is that in India we are not getting expected cooperation from the intelligent younger section. Their brain is now obsessed with economic development. The government is encouraging to eat meat and drink. Big, big shops are now opened in every city for selling mutton, beef, and wine. . But the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is now transferred from the Indian hands to the hands of the Americans and Europeans. I think for management of our Indian branches we shall require more men from the Western countries. Formally Western people used to come to India to teach them how to develop industries, railway and other modern activities in politics, sociology and even in religion by spreading Christianity. Now the Western people have to take the leadership of spreading Vedic culture all over the world. I have given the initiation, but the rest of the work will depend on you young men and women of America. Kindly organize things in that spirit and be blessed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and through Him by Lord Krsna. Herewith also find a letter to the devotees of Los Angeles who have deposited a sum of Dollars 256.53 in my checking a/c.You have not written anything about Hawaii affairs. I am anxious to know what is the position. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsEnc: --- 2 ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** October 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. Just now I am finalizing the sale of the land with Mrs. Nair and there is every chance that this time we shall get it. The gift of the land in Hyderabad is now almost complete. In Vrindaban and in Mayapur the construction is progressing very nicely. So we have undertaken very great projects here and by the grace of Lord Krishna they may all come out nicely. But one difficulty is that hardly any intelligent young men are coming forward to help me here. Whatever I have been able to do all over the world it has been due to the help all of you, my disciples, have given me. Here there are hardly fifty devotees to do all the projects, so this is a great strain. Therefore, I want that from all over our Society fifty more men may immediately come bringing to a total of one hundred men. I have requested our Delhi Temple President Sriman Tejyas das Adhikari to find out the best way how these men can come to India and not be bothered by visa difficulties after coming. He has written me as follows:"1. Entry visas for one year should be applied for and triplicate carbon copies sent to me and I will follow up here in pushing it through.2. The occupation should be listed as student-trainee or some such thing but not minister or preacher.3. I should get a complete list of the devotees by Karmi name, spiritual name, and all details such as Passport number and issue date, previous visits to India, etc.4. The entry visa should be multiple entry."So please do the needful in correspondence with Tejyas das and Tamala Krishna Goswami, so that these fifty men may come here as soon as possible. One thing is that British Commonwealth citizens do not require visas for entering India, so if some of the men coming are from these zones that will make it easier. Hoping this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** October 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 15th, 1973 requesting initiation for seven devotees and second initiation for three devotees. Upon your recommendation I accept them as my disciples. Their spiritual names are as follows: Lewis: Upendranath dasaRichard: Premarupa dasaSandy B.: Sanhari dasiSandy F.: Soubardya dasiMerrissa: Mulaprakrti dasiSria: Kadamba dasiDiane: Anandavidya dasiSo now you should duly perform the yajna, chanting on their beads, and instruct them carefully to follow all the rules and regulations. At the same yajna you may also perform the second initiation of the three Brahmins. This yajna is best held in the morning amongst devotees. Herewith also find enclosed one letter from Mr. Alfred Reis written on behalf of Mr. Eustace Paul. . He wants to give us a house but wants me to come there personally. I have written to Rupanuga and Hanuman but whether they have done anything about it I do not know. The thing is that if my presence is required, then he should send round trip tickets for four. I think this will be costly, so if possible try to settle it there. You can contact Rupanuga or Hanuman of Citsukhananda. Hoping this finds you in the best health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** October 6th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 26th, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. Yes, you can go on with your book distribution as you were doing before, there is not any harm. I thought that our men were becoming like hippies, but now I understand from you that that is not the case. So I have no objection. Our main business is to distribute books, and from the reports I am receiving from all over the world, the progress is very encouraging. So far as the woman distributers who have left New York and Boston Temples and have gone to New Vrindaban, they should return immediately and resume their original service. In Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Movement, everyone is preacher, whether man or woman it doesn't matter. I do not know why Kirtanananda Maharaja is encouraging our woman devotees not to go out on Sankirtana for book distribution. Everyone should go out. You have not replied my recent letter about transferring some Krsna books. Now you may keep ready eight Krsna books and I shall advise you where to send them. Hanuman Goswami has written me one letter and requested me to send a copy of my reply to you for forwarding it to him. Please find the copy enclosed and forward it on. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** October 17th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 5/10/73 and have noted the contents. I have also received the enclosed duplicate deposit slip for $125.89. Also find herewith checks Nos. _ for deposit. Regarding the Krsna books being transferred, yes for the time being you may hold it. As we are getting money from the U.S.A. it may not be required, but keep it ready and I shall let you know later on. Regarding Hawaii affairs, let it go on for the time being, and we shall see later on. They cannot go outside the clutches of Krsna consciousness. Regarding the selling of the temple, it was ISKCON's temple, so how can they sell? This is illegal. Gaurasundara was a representative of ISKCON, but he cannot sell and take the money. . This is an illegal implication. I am simply thinking of the luxurious tulsi plants there. Govinda dasi took so much care. How they could have left this place I cannot imagine. Yes, do not attempt to open any more centers. Let them go by busses. That is a very nice program. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** October 19th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two letters both dated October 9, 1973 and have noted the contents very carefully. These things are happening in many corners of our organization. Today I received the same complaint from Kirtanananda, and the reply is enclosed. This is applicable everywhere. Unless we become very strong in Krsna consciousness, it is very risky to handle material things and business. We are naturally business minded, and so as we get some opportunity, that mentality becomes strong. We have already got our book-selling program. It is better not to divert to other lines of business. This boy Rsi Kumar appears to be lost coming in contact with business. I heard he was coming to India and staying in the hotel without coming to the temple. Similarly Hayagriva is also lost almost. So, the situation is not very favorable. There is the story of the bed bug. In the winter season the bed bug appears to be only skin, but in summer season as soon as it gets the opportunity of biting and sucking blood, it becomes fatty. Sometimes we may artificially renounce the world, but as soon as the opportunity of sucking blood is there, we turn again into a bed bug. Therefore it is said in the Bhagavad gita:daivi hy esa gunamayimama maya duratyayamam eva ye prapadyantemayam etam taranti te[Bg. 7.14]"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But, those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it."Unless everyone of us sticks to the regulative principles of chanting, there is no other alternative than fall-down. That is a fact. I repeatedly say this, so if people do not follow, what can I do? You cannot resign your position. You have to tolerate. Otherwise why does Caitanya Mahaprabhu say this verse:trnad api su-nicena taror api sahiṣṇunāamanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih[Cc. Ādi 17.31]These things will happen, and we have to tolerate. We shall talk over this subject matter seriously when I shall return to Los Angeles. Do not be worried. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- I am enclosing herewith two checks, #482 for $200.00 and #148844 for $10.00. Please deposit them in my investment account ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** October 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 13, 1973 and I have noted the contents with great concern. So you may immediately send Nitai Das here to me in India and he may remain with me to do this work. I am enclosing a check for $15.00 No. 175639 drawn on Banker's Trust Co. U.S.A. by the Commercial Bank of Australia, Melbourne. Please deposit it in my investment account. Also enclosed is one slip which needs to be given at the Bank of America Culver City Branch, AttN; Marie. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsEnc: --- 1 check, 1 slip ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** October 31st 1973 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara Das: Please accept my blessings. With regard to my letter dated 23/10/73, you may postpone sending Nitai Das here, because my program for Africa and Australia is not yet fixed up. So I may be returning to Los Angeles sooner, so it will not be necessary to go to the expense of sending him here. He can meet me in Los Angeles. Anyway, I will inform you of my program as it is fixed. Tomorrow I start for Delhi. The new address there is ISKCON, G 12 Anand Niketan Extension, New Delhi 110023.I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsPlease --- read the articles contributed by my godbrother Sri Dr. B.L. Kapur. How they are liked by our readers? ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** November 7th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 25, 1973 and have noted the contents. So far yourself is concerned, whatever is done is done. Now go on with your duty and do it nicely. You are an intelligent devotee. You can understand. Now one thing for Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Appearance Day, I want that there be published one volume of Caitanya Caritamrta. You have got the Ādi lila from Chapter Seven onwards. So at least one volume must be published of 400 pages, hardbound edition. Copies must be there in Mayapur for distribution on the appearance day. So please arrange for this. Another thing is that now my program is fixed up for going to Nairobi on November 23, instant, and from there I will return to Los Angeles via Rome. I will stop there for two days for meeting with the Pope. So I may request you to send one ticket for Pradyumna (P. . Sherbow) Nairobi-Rome-Los Angeles. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- I have received the two bank slips for $298.20 and $200.00 Also enclosed is one letter to Tusta Krsna ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** November 14th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 28, 1973. Regarding the initiations I accept the following as my initiated disciples: Hamsavatara. das—HowardRamacandra das—RonAmrtananda das—FredJagannatha Puri das—JesseSangita devi das—SusanJaya Gopi devi dasi—JaneAtma Shakti devi—WendyChampak devi dasi—ChavaJayagourangi devi—JoanneAnd, I accept the second initiation of the following devotees: Devendranath dasBrahmarupa dasGanedra dasJitavrata dasBhagavaccitta dasiNirakula deviTusti dasiDvijapriya dasiEnclosed please find four sacred threads duly chanted upon by me. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Karnamrta **Date:** December 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > ALL GLORIES TO SRI GURU AND GAURANGA! My dear Karnamrta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 30, 1973 along with the Vaisnava poem. Your humble attitude is very much appreciated by me. Always chant Hare Krsna and as far as possible help me push on this movement by preaching this philosophy and distributing our books. Yes, you may go to India and on your way you may stop in Los Angeles and visit me. I shall be very happy to see you. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/Kda ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** January 5th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > New Vrndaban My dear Kirtanananda, Please accept my blessings. Now I am getting so many requests to take first initiation from temples in your country, and once before I had empowered you to chant the beads on my behalf, so henceforth, as long as I am away from America and Canada, I am requesting all of the temple presidents in that zone of North America and South America to send the beads of the new devotees to you at New Vrndaban. The candidates for new devotees will send me their letters as usual, and I will give them names myself and enter in our records, simply you must chant on their beads and then return to them. Is that clear? Or, if you think it is better arrangement, I think that Bali Mardan has got many many beads in New York which we have sent him from Mayapur, so if you like you may get from him many sets of beads and you may chant them and, whenever requested by my letter only, you may send the new beads directly to the new devotees. Henceforth, then, I shall send copies of my letters of reply to the new devotees, wherever I am in the world, to you, and besides that the new devotees themselves will write to you and send you their beads. Similarly, I have appointed Revatinandana Maharaja in England to chant the beads of the new devotees on European Continent. Otherwise, in other parts of the world, I shall chant them as always. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda --- N.B. How far further construction of New Vrndaban is going on? ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** January 28th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Kirtanananda Swami, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 10 January 1973, and I have noted the contents with great pleasure. I can see that Krsna is giving you more and more facility for developing this New Vrindaban scheme. So this is very nice. I am very pleased that you have acquired some more cows. In Mayapur also we have some cows now. So you are the manager there, and in cooperation with the GBC men it is up to you to see that everything is developed very very nicely and that all the land is utilized properly, not that it is sitting going to waste. So once you are utilizing everything very nicely, then you may increase more and more as you like. So consult with the GBC and you may decide whether it is worthwhile to purchase more land at this time. You write that you have just returned from your second trip to Mexico City. This is very very nice, as you are sannyasi, and sannyasi means to travel and preach the message of Krsna all over the world. So you are actually doing this and Krsna will be very pleased by such activities. Also you are distributing my books. This is the most important work, as anyone who simply takes one of these books, simply by reading may be saved and turned towards Krsna Consciousness. So in cooperation with others, go on traveling, preaching, distributing my books, and this will please me very very much. Regarding your recommendations for second initiation, they may be given the sacred threads enclosed herein. As you are one of the elder members of our Society and you are sannyasi, it is your duty to see that all the devotees are following strictly the regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds, attending the classes, reading our books, and always remaining enthusiastic for executing devotional service. Everyone has got some propensity. The art of preaching is to engage that propensity in the service of Krsna. Whatever we have got, our mind, our intelligence, our possessions, our time, our energies, let them all be used in Krsna's service. So by training people in this way, this will be the success of your preaching work. We have just completed one very nice pandal program in Bombay, and every day thousands of people were gathering to hear the sannyasis preach in our "Questions and Answers" booth. Sometimes the people were staying past 12:00 in the evening to hear your American sannyasis preach this Krsna conscious philosophy. . So we have got good audience for resounding the message of Caitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world. I am going on 2nd February to Melbourne, Australia, and then shall be returning to Mayapur for the appearance day of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.[PAGE MISSING] ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** February 11th 1973 — **Location:** Melbourne My Dear Kirtanananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter and I approve of the initiations of Bill Allan who is now to be called Balaji das, Paul Terry who is now to be called Parambrahma das, Richard Selvin who is now Radhanatha das and Tom Meyers who is now Taru das. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** February 18th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney My Dear Kirtanananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 20th. and February first along with your enclosed plans of the Radha Govindaji Temple in New Vrindaban. From these plans everything seems to be in order except the domes are making the temple look like a mosque. Therefore you please eliminate these domes and consult the Mayapur plan which can be obtained by writing Calcutta for design of the domes. The Deities should be facing East. If you are laying the foundation stone to this temple there is a ceremony which you can observe. First you may have one fire ceremony with four Brahmins surrounding the fire, reading from Bhagavad-gita, Nectar of Devotion, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Teachings of Lord Caitanya. This reading should go on during the entire ceremony. You may also dig one pit about 15 feet deep and have one golden Ananta form prepared, about two inches, put at the bottom of the pit. All during this, Kirtana should be going on. And then five types of various items should be placed in the pit, 5 types of jewels, 5 types of metals, 5 types of fruit, 5 types of grains, 5 types of amrta, like this different panca. These all should be carried down the ladder by the various Brahmins, and as they put each one at the bottom of the pit, the various fruits, flowers, etc. all of the Brahmins should one by one climb to the bottom of the pit and make their offering and chant the first verse of Gayatri Mantra. After this, you may lay some bricks down on top of everything and then begin to fill up the pit with dirt again. When the pit is filled up with dirt again you may put one foundation stone on top of the pit and this pit should be located at the exact corner of the Temple building. The idea of this is that the entire building will be resting on the hoods of the Ananta snake, and this is very auspicious. After this program you may have several days of Kirtana and feasting. The arrangement for chanting on the beads is that when I send a letter to the respective individuals with their new names, they may send a copy of that letter on to you, and on receipt of this letter you may chant on their beads. I am here in Australia now and things are going very well. I will be returning to India by the beginning of March and then to America by mid-April and I look forward to seeing you again then. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** March 6th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. Thank you very much for for your letter dated the 3rd of March 1973 along with your kind daksina $200 check. Thank you very much, I have received your pamphlet inviting to participate in New Vrndavana activities. It is an excellent pamphlet nicely set up, but I am sorry to inform you that your co-founder Hayagriva Prabhu is little disturbed. Sometimes before you told about him participating in intoxication. Then I did not take it seriously, but the same thing is again revived and I am little perturbed. So is it possible to save him from this dangerous position? His is important man in our Society and we cannot allow him to deviate from our principles. Please try to save him. I heard before that Birbadra is under your control, is that a fact? Hayagriva told me is under your control. I shall secure gold Sesa and carry with me for the foundation and most propably while returning to L.A. through New York at that time if the ceremony is being held I shall attend. It will be a pleasure for me. Your vision of 7 Temples on 7 hills is very encouraging. May Krsna fulfill your transcendental desires. The graphic drawings of the Temples are very satisfactory and the devotees working together is very encouraging. May Krsna help you in your noble endeavor to come out successful in the project of New Vrndavana. Your Krsna is most beautiful, just like an attractive boy. I hope this meets you in good health. ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** April 29th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > New Vrindaban My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 24, 1973 with enclosed daksina check for $200.00, for which I thank you very much. Yes, I will come for the ground breaking ceremony because it is special event. So you please send tickets for four of us to come. Regarding the initiations, enclosed are four mantra sheets and one sacred thread chanted on by me for the four brahmanas, and I am pleased to accept the following as my initiated disciples: Sarvesvari dasi (Shelly); Gunyarupini Dasi (Ginny); Gomata Dasi (Gale); Vajresvari Dasi (Elly); Lajjavati Dasi (Lynn); Isvara Das (Mark). So you perform the fire yajna for the brahmanas and let them hear the Gayatri Mantra from the tape which I have recorded into their right ear, and you may chant upon the beads for the first initiates. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher; A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** June 14th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > New Vrndavana My dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 6, 1973 and have noted the contents with great care and concern. The deities may be immediately repaired and worshiped. Now we must take precaution as you have suggested. You may get some guns and some of the boys may be trained as ksatriyas. Such gun shots could have taken place long ago since we are challenging everybody. So we must be prepared to fight. We cannot stop this movement. It is actually a fight against Maya. So Maya may also sometimes cause casualties in our camp. So, we must only thank Krsna and seriously dedicate everything for Him. So, you are Kirtanananda Maharaja, take pleasure in performing kirtana. That is our real weapon against Maya. I am very pleased that the corner stone function was nicely done and successful. Continue the work enthusiastically. Thank you very much for the check for $200.I am slowly regaining my health. It is now the rainy season here and accordingly the digestive process is slowed down. Therefore the rainy season means slow recovery. I was just thinking of you and wondering why I hadn't heard from you in a long time. You'll be pleased to know that your assistant Srutakirti is here. He's feeling all right. This boy appears to be a very sincere devotee. Upon your recommendation I am pleased to accept the devotees you have recommended for first and second initiation. You may chant on the beads of the first initiates and I am enclosing six sanctified sacred threads for the second initiates. Play the tape of me reciting gayatri mantra into the right ear of the brahmanas. The names of the first initiates are: Jim Hessler—Krpacarya das; Jack Mower—Kasyapa das; Chuck St. Dennis—Cakradhari. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda --- P.S. On top of the towers on the temple, you should make Visnu's colus (or cakra) and a flag ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** June 22nd 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > New Vrindaban Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 10 June, 1973 and I have carefully studied the contents. After the shooting affair what precaution have you taken? Bharadraja is here and he gave report that the devotees were very frightened. I further understand that the attack was for the second time. Here in Mayapur there are reports of dacoity at least once, twice in a month surrounding our place. So we have now taken two guns under regular license from the government. So when New Vrindaban has been attacked twice, thrice, why are you not keeping guns? We are not advocates of non-violence when there is aggression we must kill them. So I think you shall immediately arrange for guns and at least 10, 12 men should be trained up so when there is again attack you can properly reply the aggressor. So far as my health is concerned it is improving a little but at the same time another new symptom is developing. Yesterday all of a sudden I have developed eye trouble. They said it is conjunctivitis or something like that. The left eye is swollen and always weeping and I cannot see properly. Syamasundara came here and he also wants me to come to London for talking with some important men. I am thinking of going there by the first week of July but wondering what shall I do if some new symptom of my bad health threatens me in so many ways. But on the whole, if I go to London I think it will not be difficult for me to go to New Vrindaban. Sometimes by the 20th of August I could arrive because Janmastami will take place on the 21st. Just now I cannot promise taking consideration of my bad health. But if I at all go to London there is 90% chance of my going to New Vrindaban. In the meantime I shall be glad to hear from you what defense measures you have taken to protect the life and property of New Vrindaban. This is very important and you must take all steps. Actually the government should have arrested all the gang and punished them properly for their atrocious behavior on unarmed people. Is there an attempt to have the government punish the gang who are well known to your country? We just take measure against occasional attacks by criminals. Hoping this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** July 27th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21st July, 1973. I have noted the contents with great pleasure. Yes! Go on acquiring the surrounding lands and in this way we will establish a local self governing village and show all the world a practical example of spiritual life as Krishna Himself exhibited in Vrindaban. Agriculture and protecting the cow, this is the main business of the residents of Vrindaban, and above all simply loving Krishna. The cows, the trees, the cowherd men and Gopis, their chief engagement was loving Krishna, and in New Vrindaban we want to create this atmosphere and thereby show the whole world how practical and sublime our movement is. I shall go to New Vrindaban as soon as your palace is finished. Jaya! For the small cottages I suggest to construct as the diagram below—wooden beams and between the beams fill with gravel cement. The roof may be tile. The size may be 12' x 15'. This design is especially suitable for grhasthas, who can feel very comfortable there, and you may house four brahmacaris in such place. Every day you can build one such house, ten may be required, and in one month you will have 30 such nice shelters. Regarding Janmastami. Why not continue your festival up to the end of the month as I have suggested. I will be finished here 22nd August. So on 23rd I can start for New Vrindaban. Why do you say "little sannyasi", you are Maharaja—Great King. Like Yudhisthira Maharaja and Pariksit Maharaja—Emperor. Actually you are doing something very, very big—so you are Maharaja. Krishna will bless you. Therefore you are Kirtanananda, one who take pleasure in Kirtana. I hope you are well. ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** August 8th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Kirtanananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your telegram from New York "Festival extended per letter expect Your Grace 23rd, send details"Here Syamasundara has arranged a gorgeous festival beginning 21st till 27th August. Just see the program. August 21st: Chief guest, Indian High CommissionerAugust 22nd: Chief guest, George HarrisonAugust 23rd: Ecumenical day, chief guest, Malcolm Muggeridge and representatives from all faiths. August 24th: Young people's day, advertised 4 days before the event on all young peoples programmes on BBC radio. At least 5000 young people expected to come. August 25th: Businessman's Day, chief guests Mr. Toyoto, and Baron RothschildAugust 26th: Neighbor's Day, chief guest Graham HillAugust 27th: Intellectual's Day, chief guest, D. Wayne, William Burroughs, Professor Alister Hardy. So please excuse me because I shall not be able to come there. When I return to America I will come there. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** August 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Kirtanananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to __ receipt of your telegram recommending new initiates. Their names are as follows: Robert—Vahna DasJoanne—Visvadhika DasiRichkin—Mahabuddhi DasRobert—Padmanyayana DasGeorge Crocker—Cirantana DasFrank Chiesa—Candramauli DasKen Karpovich—Krsnasravana DasRachel Sullivan—Vedajanani DasiI am happy to hear that your program was successful, here also we had some nice programs, and in Amsterdam we also staged a nice festival. So this festival program is very very important and it is especially effective for the mass of people. So go on making festivals and make everyone in America Krishna conscious. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** October 18th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Delhi My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja: Please accept my blessings, and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 16, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. Next time you come to India, you must come to Mayapur in March, not only you but many others. Our Bombay affairs are almost settled by 90%. The conveyance deed is prepared and it will be signed within one or two days. Now this displeasing of godbrothers has already begun and gives me too much agitation in my mind. Our Gaudiya Math people fought with one another after the demise of Guru Maharaja but my disciples have already begun fighting even in my presence. So I am greatly concerned about it. Following in the footprints of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu:trnad api su-nicena taror api sahiṣṇunāamanina manadena kirtaniya sada harih"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly."We must always remember this verse and be as tolerant as the tree, as we execute the Krsna consciousness movement. Without this mentality we cannot be successful. Material nature means dissension and disagreement, especially in this Kali yuga. But, for this Krsna consciousness movement its success will depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements. In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. The materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krsna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity. I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful. One section of men have already gone out, therefore we must be very careful to maintain unity in diversity, and remember the story in Aesop's Fables of the father of many children with the bundle of sticks. When the father asked his children to break the bundle of sticks wrapped in a bag, none of them could do it. But, when they removed the sticks from the bag, and tried one by one, the sticks were easily broken. So this is the strength in unity. If we are bunched up, we can never be broken, but when divided, then we can become broken very easily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Karandhara Das, ISKCON, Los AngelesMohanananda Das, Gurukula, Dallas ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** November 24th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > New Vrndaban My dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. You may be pleased to know that on my way to U.S.A., Los Angeles via New York, I am now staying in London. I have just come yesterday 23rd November, 1973 from Nairobi. The fact is that I was to stay at Nairobi for at least one week, and there was very big arrangement for Hare Krsna festival. The wide circulation of advertisement was there, and it was expected some thousands of people will gather, but the immigration department by their confidential conspiracy did not allow me to enter into Nairobi. Therefore, from the Nairobi airport I immediately arranged to come to London, and last night at about half past eight London time I have come here at Bhaktivedanta Manor. I am feeling very much happy. Here everything is going on very nicely. It has given me much pleasure. Now when I go to New York I wish to meet both you and Hayagriva Prabhu, and if you so desire I can go from New York to your place for a few days. I have got important talks with you for development of our New Vrndavana project, so kindly get information from Bali Mardan Swami, and as seen as you hear that I am there, please come and see me with Hayagriva Prabhu. If you so desire, I shall go to New Vrndavana along with you. Hope this will meet you in good health. I offer my blessings to all the devotees there. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/pda ### Letter to Kirtida Kanyaka **Date:** May 20th 1973 — **Location:** Dallas > Los Angeles My dear Kirtida Kanyaka, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your short note and $15. Thank you very much. My request is that you please take this Krsna Consciousness Movement very seriously. It is a great opportunity to become free once and for all from the clutches of Maya. Maya is very strong, but by taking shelter of Krsna, Maya cannot reach us. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Kirtida Kanyaka **Date:** December 6th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Kirtida Kanyaka, Please accept my blessings. Thank you very much for the Tulasi leaves offered to Lord Caitanya's lotus feet. If one is fortunate enough to receive such holy prasadam then all sinful reactions are immediately purified within the heart and pure devotional service is very easily obtained. I understand that you are especially devoted to the care of Tulasi devi. Formerly our Govinda dasi introduced this Tulasi worship to our Society and I was very much pleased to see it. Now she has temporarily gone away so you must take charge of caring for Tulasi devi in Hawaii. The more you devote yourself to her service, the more you will understand and relish Krsna Consciousness. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Kirtika **Date:** February 19th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney > Buffalo My dear Kirtika devi dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 5th and have noted the contents carefully. Regarding your questions. If your prayers are sincere then Krishna will accept them and if Krishna accepts them then automatically I accept them, and if I accept them then automatically Krishna accepts them. So like this Krishna is everywhere. He is even between the atoms. So therefore wherever you are He will accept your prayers, and therefore I automatically accept. But the most important part again, the prayer must be sincere. The proper method of dressing Jagannatha is as a Ksatriya king and there is no limit to the opulence you can give Him. I am here in Australia, and will be returning to India by March 2nd., after travelling through New Zealand and Indonesia. I will be returning to America in mid-April and I hope to see you then. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Kirtiraja **Date:** March 5th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Kirtiraja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of letter and plans for the new building dated the 14th of February. After some delays, I have just arrived here the day before yesterday. I have examined the plans for the building on West 43rd Street just near the corner of 5th Avenue and I think it is perfectly suitable for us in every way. Please work together with Bali Mardan Maharaja and try your best to secure it. Regarding Jadurani's question about the glue, yes she may use it if it is more practical for our purposes. I shall be going to Mayapur by the 15th, remaining there up to the 22nd. I hope this meets you in good health. Hare Krsna! Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Kirtiraja, Haripuja **Date:** April 12th 1973 — **Location:** New York My Dear Son Kirtiraja dasa and Daughter Haripuja dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 12, 1973 with enclosed daksina of $100.00. I am very pleased with your activities, how you are leading householder life, Krishna conscious. This ideal I want to show your countrymen is only possible on the Krishna conscious platform. You remain steady on this platform, and this will be your benefit. You are one of the trusted managers of the New York temple, and I am very much glad to see that the standard of temple activities is so nice. So Krishna has given you American intelligence, and I think this New York City is the greatest city in the world. So all you managers cooperate together and do something gorgeous. That is my instruction to you, and if you can do it Krishna will be very much pleased with you. I hope this meets you both in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Krsna Gopala **Date:** January 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Delhi My dear Krsna Gopala, Please accept my blessings. Your letter December 30, 1972, is in hand, I have only just now got it, so tomorrow is your Sharadh ceremony of your father, so I do not know if this letter will reach you in time to be of any help in the matter. But for conducting Sharadh ceremony, that should be done in our temple, and feasting should be arranged in the temple. Afterwards, the prasada should be distributed to friends and relatives. Perform kirtana, give lecture and readings, just like our ordinary program. The idea is that in addition we are offering sumptuous prasadam of Visnu to the soul of father and mother. Therefore Visnu's prasada should be distributed in sufficient quantities, not otherwise. I am very happy to learn from you all of the valuable assistance that you are giving to our Tejyas there at Delhi. He is very sincere boy, along with his good wife, and there is excellent field for our preaching work in Delhi city. So as much as possible you may give him your attention and energy for helping me to push on this Krsna Consciousness movement there. You are householder, and you are teaching your family Krsna consciousness, that is the best example of grhastha model life. So go on in this way, and become the perfect example of grhastha devotee family. I think that you may also assist Tejyas by approaching the big men and professional men like members of Parliament, doctors, lawyers, like that, in your city, and enroll them as our life members. This activity of preaching, along with your daily program as you have given me, that will be sufficient to bring you to the platform of perfection in spiritual life in very short time. Thank you for helping me in this way. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Krsnakatha (Kris Carlson), Anala (Anna Carlson) Riddha (Roger May), Maharddhi (Morley Walkowski), Rohita (Randy Hyndeman), Kala (Carl Mulder) **Date:** January 5th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Vancouver My dear Sons and Daughters, Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Bahudak I have gladly accepted all of you as my duly initiated disciples. You may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban for chanting on them on my behalf. There is no difference if I chant them or he chants them, I have authorized him in that way. I have given you the spiritual names as follows: Kris Carlson/ KRSNAKATHA DAS ADHIKARI Anna Carlson/ ANALA DEVI DASI Roger May/ RIDDHA DAS Morley Walkowski/ MAHARDDHI DAS Randy Hyndeman/ ROHITA DAS Carl Mulder/ KALA DAS Now my request to all of you is that you very seriously and sincerely stick to the principles of devotional service, and especially observe strictly the four prohibitions, and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily. In this way you will be always happy. You have now got the golden opportunity of this human form of life, and it is not by accident that you have met your spiritual master, so if you are actually intelligent you will take advantage of Krsna's blessings upon you and go back to home, back to Godhead. The essential point to remember is that by your activity you will please always your spiritual master. That means following the orders and instructions of your spiritual master, and my first instruction to all of my disciples is that they become Krsna conscious devotees themselves and help others to become devotees by spreading this Krsna Consciousness movement all over the world, utilizing their energy however they are best able to do it. In this way, if you keep yourselves always engaged in Krsna's business 24 hours, then you will be freed from all attachment to maya, by Krsna's grace. Just as when the darkness and the light come together, the darkness cannot stand before the light, so maya cannot remain in the presence of Krsna. Always remember therefore to chant Hare Krsna, and that will save you in all circumstances, without any doubt. Hoping this meets you all in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Krsnanandini **Date:** January 28th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Nashville, Tennessee My dear Krsnandini Devi Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I be to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 9/25/72, which has just now been forwarded to me from Vrindaban. So there has been some delay. Please do not be disturbed. So for the time being you may call the baby Bhakta Gaura, and then initiated can take place when she is grown more, not now. So you are my initiated disciple, and I must instruct you to be sure to always follow the regulative principles like chanting 16 rounds on the beads daily, reading my books, eating only prasadam, and in every way trying to serve Krsna. This will keep you purified and help you to advance more and more in spiritual life. So try as much as possible to associate with our devotees and to bring up your baby firmly in Krsna Consciousness. This will be the success of your life. I hope this finds you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Ksirodakasayi **Date:** January 29th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > 85, Duddon Hill Lane,London N.W. 10 My dear Ksirodakasayi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 7 January, 1973, and have noted the contents with great care. Thank you very much for the information enclosed. There is no difference between brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasi. Simply grhastha means that he lives outside the temple with wife, that is the only difference. Otherwise grhastha must follow the same regulative principles and remain fully engaged in the temple activities. There in London we have such big field for pushing on the preaching work, so I want that you should assist the other devotees there as much as possible and cooperate very closely for helping me in this way. These temples, they are just like oasis in the desert for the conditioned souls to quench the thirst of their desire for real happiness. So they must be organized as nicely as possible, and I know you have many talents which can be put to good use. So in cooperation with Dhananjaya and Syamasundara Prabhu, let us work together. You may assist me in this way and I shall be very much pleased upon you. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita that anyone who surrenders unto Me, whether a woman, sudra, vaisya, etc., they all attain the highest perfection of bhakti-yoga, not that now I am grhastha, I am doing karma-yoga, or now I am vanaprastha, I am doing sankhya-yoga, this is all nonsense. So if you read my books, this is explained in so many places that by taking to the path of pure bhakti all the other yogas are achieved automatically, because bhakti is the culmination of yoga and the highest perfection of life. Yet at the same time it is very simple and sublime. So I do not see what is the difficulty. So as I am your spiritual master, it is my obligation to answer any questions that you may have. So please send the tape and I shall reply. Hope this finds you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Ksirodakasayi **Date:** March 4th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Ksirodakasayi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 20th February and have examined the contents with care. I am glad to hear of your successful engagements and the photographs are very nice. It is good that you have invited the other devotees for such a program. Let them come, and combine together in cooperation, not to be aloof. There are always some factions, everywhere in this world we find so many factions. But we must, in Krsna consciousness, do the needful and cooperate. So, I am very glad to see your activities and you please continue to keep up the good work. Just yesterday I have arrived here in Calcutta and by the end of the week I expect to visit our new construction at Mayapur. Arrangements are being made for a very grand celebration on the Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I hope this meets you in good health and spirits. Hare Krsna. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- ACB/rdg ### Letter to Kurusrestha **Date:** February 10th 1973 — **Location:** Melbourne My Dear Kurusrestha, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 16th, and have noted the contents carefully. I can see that Lord Caitanya is giving you good intelligence to carry on in this way and infiltrate all facets of society with the sublime process of Krishna Consciousness, for this is the only way that you can save these rascals. Regarding your progams for specialized public relations department as far as my experiences go, I have seen that this is not very successful, but you may consult Karandhara in this regard and do the needful. Second initiations of Sudarsani dasi and Madhurya-lilananda dasi are duly approved by me. Enclosed you will find the Gayatri Mantra slips. You may have one fire ceremony and they may listen to the tape of me chanting the Gayatri Mantra in their right ear and repeat it. Regarding the first initiations, they are also approved by me and their names are as follows. Dan Swanson is now Dvijati Pujaka das, Christopher Beard is now Carucandra das, Phillip West is now Prabala das and Rebecca Strowger is now Rupa Ramesvari dasi. Will you please send one copy of this letter to Kirtanananda Swami along with their beads of the aspiring devotees for I have authorized him to chant on the beads on my behalf. In all your real estate dealings you may please take all guidance from Karandhara and proceed very cautiously. Always chanting sixteen rounds daily and following the principles, and in this way maya will never touch you. I hope that this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Kurusrestha **Date:** May 16th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Denver My dear Kurusrestha, Please accept my blessings. Upon your recommendation I am happy to accept the devotees you have mentioned, Dattatreya das and Rama Tulasi dasi, for second initiation. Now hold a fire yajna for devotees only. Afterwards, in private, play into the right ear, of the initiates, the tape of me reciting gayatri mantra. Teach them how to count on the finger divisions. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Kurusrestha **Date:** July 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Denver Dear Kurusrestha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 12, and I have carefully considered the contents. Regarding book distribution, everyone, including book distributers, must follow the standard regulations. Book distribution is preaching, it should not be thought of as done for money. It is executed as a preaching purpose. With these guidelines in mind, try to distribute as many books as possible. I can understand your concern about the deterioration of the civilization. Yes, the city will be more dangerous place as Kali-yuga advances. It will be very deteriorating. The modern civilization is so corrupt and as sinful activities are more and more committee, the people will be forced to face more troubles, by nature's order. Our business, however, is simply to take shelter of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra and pray to the Holy Name to give us protection. We shall be unaffected by all that will happen. Krsna will provide us with working facilities. Be assured of this, that the devotees will be protected by the Holy Name. Others will have to suffer in the days that are coming. On your recommendation I have accepted the two new devotees as my disciples. There names are as follows: Brad Weinberg; Bhadrayana dasCathy Serna—Cinmayi dasiYou may hold a fire ceremony for these two, and instruct them conscientiously about the ten offenses in chanting. You may send their beads for chanting to Satsvarupa Maharaja in Dallas. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Kurusrestha **Date:** October 16th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Denver My Dear Kurusrestha Das, Please accept my blessings. . . I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 5, 1973 with enclosed pictures, and you have given me much pleasure. The altar is very nice and so are all the pictures. It appears to be very neat and clean. Please keep this standard. The tulsi also is very nice. It is a fact that the American people are the most fortunate in the world, and that this Krsna consciousness movement is the final touch of fortune. You are doing very nicely, and I thank you very much. Your high school classes are very nice. Take care of the young people for a future Krsna conscious generation. The worship of Lord Jagannatha must go on nicely and cleanly. Regarding your Sankirtana, yes, if anyone chants, tries to follow the rules and regulations, and reads our books, he'll be successful in his life. Regarding the initiations, I am pleased to accept the following as my disciples: Pancanand das—Mike PriceVamsidas—Tom HarovtunianSrinivasa das—Hans OlsonVirachandra das—Dick ErdelBhaktapriya dasi—Christene MossainAlso enclosed is the sacred thread for Makhana Taskara. Let Karandhara chant on the beads and hold a sacrifice. The gayatri mantra should be heard through the right ear from the tape. Please see that all the new disciples do nicely and always chant Hare Krsna. Yes, when I go to Los Angeles next, I will surely come to your Denver temple. The pictures you have sent attracts me. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Kurusrestha **Date:** December 15th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Denver My dear Kurusrestha, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 7, 1973 along with the wonderful photos of Denver Temple. Thank you very much. I am very pleased. Carry on as you are doing. When I return to the U.S. next summer I will certainly consider visiting there. I hereby accept the devotees as you have recommended for initiation and their names are as follows: Emil—Svavasa dasaMike—Vyapi dasaJoe—Naikatma dasaWally—Naikarmakrt dasYou may send their beads of Kirtanananda Maharaja for chanting upon. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Locanananda **Date:** December 6th 1973 > LT_731206_D1 My dear Locanananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 2, 1973. From the Vedic point of view a man can have more than one wife provided he can maintain each of them very nicely. The practical example is our Lord Krsna. He had 16,108 wives but for each wife he maintained a palace with servants and everything. We do not encourage more than one wife, but provided the man is highly responsible and conscientious and the woman agrees then we have no objection. The thing is how you will maintain two wives? You cannot give up one and take another. We cannot be responsible. You will have to manage everything and if there is any legal implication then we cannot be responsible. The Temple cannot pay for you to have two wives so it must be arranged for outside. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:KdaSriman --- Locanananda dasIskcon4 rue Le SueurParis, France 75016 ### Letter to Lynne Ludwig **Date:** April 30th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Lynne Ludwig15163, Sylmar, California 93142 My dear Lynne Ludwig, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter from California dated November 27, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully, although due to extensively travelling and preaching tour in India, I have not yet got the opportunity to reply you at length until now. Your complaint is that you have met two of my young disciples in California and they appeared to you as having "a very negative outlook towards the people they meet." Of course, I do not know the case, what are the circumstances, but kindly forgive my beloved disciples any unkindness or indiscretions on their part. After all, to give up one's life completely for serving the Lord is not so easy thing. And Maya, or the illusory material energy, she tries especially hard to try to get back and entrap those who have left her service to become Devotees. So sometimes in the neophyte stage of devotional service, in order to withstand the attack of Maya and remain strong under all conditions of temptation, young or inexperienced devotees will adopt an attitude against those things or persons possibly harmful, threatening to their tender devotional creeper. They may even over-indulge in such feelings just to protect themselves, and thus they will appear to some non-devotees, who are perhaps themselves still very enamoured by the material energy of Maya, as being negative or pessimistic. But actual fact is that this material world is a miserable, negative place, full of danger at every step, duhkhalayam asasvatam, temporary abode of death, birth, disease and old-age, home of suffering and pain only. To come to that platform of understanding of things as they are, that is not a very common thing, and therefore such persons who attain to it, they are described as "great souls":mam upetya punar janmaduhkhalayam asasvatamnapnuvanti mahatmanahsamsiddhim paramam gatah[Bg. 8.15]This verse is spoken by Krishna, or God, Himself in Bhagavad-gita so who can be more final authority? That means that anyone who has understood that the material worlds are places of misery and temporaryness, duhkhalayam asasvatam, they never return here again, and because they are mahatmanah, the great souls, Krishna keeps them with Him, having qualified themselves to escape this nasty place by becoming His pure devotees. So the point is that to make advancement in spiritual life, everything material, unless it is utilized to serve and please Krishna, must be viewed with a pessimistic eye. We are not very much hopeful for any lasting pleasure or satisfaction for our deepest cravings within this realm of gross matter. You refer to the word "love" several times in your letter, but actual fact is there is no love in this material world. That is false propaganda. What they call "love" here is lust only, desire for personal sense-gratification;kama esa krodha esa, rajoguna samudbhavah,maha-sano maha-papma, viddhy enam iha vairinamKrishna tells Arjuna, His disciple, that "It is lust only . . . which is the all-devouring, sinful enemy of this world." In the Vedic language, their word for materialistic "love" as we call it at present day; "kama" lust for material desire, not love. The word for love, actually love we find in Vedas is "prema", meaning one's love of God, only. Outside God, there is no possibility of loving. Rather it is lusty desire the whole range of human activities, whatever and whenever, so long with this atmosphere of matter, the every activity of the human being—or any living entity—is based upon or given impetus, and thus polluted, by the attraction between male and female, sex-desire. For that sex-life, the whole universe is spinning round—and suffering! That is the harsh truth. So-called love, here, means "you gratify my senses, I'll gratify your senses," and as soon as that gratification stops: immediately there is divorce, separation, quarrel, hatred. So many things there are, going on under this false conception of love. Actual love means love of God, Krishna. Everyone wants to repose his loving tendency in some object which is in his opinion worthy. So it is a question of ignorance only, poor fund of knowledge, where to find that Supreme Lovable Object actually worthy to accept and reciprocate their love. People simply do not know, there is no proper information. Anything material, as soon as there is some attachment, it will kick you upon the face, deteriorate, disappoint you—it's bound to dissatisfy and frustrate you, that's a fact. So these young boys in your country, and all over the world, they are accepting. "Yes, that is fact," and they are getting the right information from Krishna:bahunam janmanam antejnanavan mam prapadyatevasudevah sarvam itisa mahatma sudurlabhah[Bg. 7.19]"After many births and deaths, he who is actually wise surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare." Again Krishna uses the word mahatma, great soul. So these are not ordinary boys and girls, our devotees, that you have met, no. They are to be considered as actually wise, great souls, because they have experienced in so many births the miserable disease of material life and they have become disgusted. Therefore they are seeking higher knowledge, something better, and when they find Krishna and surrender unto Him, they become mahatma, actually in knowledge. This material world is just like a prison-house, a punishing place just to bring us to that point of becoming disgusted and surrendering at last to Krishna, going back to my original mature of eternal life of bliss and complete knowledge. So these devotees, that is their credit, they have done what is "very rare" amongst all men in the human society, sudurlabhah, very rare. So after surrendering to Krishna, that will be the final receptable for investing his love: in God. If somehow or other anyone develops their dormant love of God—love of god is present there in everyone, just like fire is there in the unlit match, covered-over—if Krishna becomes the Supreme Adorable Objectality, the Supreme Friend, the Supreme Master, the Supreme Lover—then, oh, he shall never again become disappointed or unhappy. Rather, because his loving propensity is rightfully placed,mac-citta mad-gata-prana, bodhayantah parasparamkathayantas ca mam nityam, tusyanti ca ramanti ca,[Bg. 10.9]the devotee, one whose life is surrendered to Krishna, is always enjoying "great satisfaction and bliss" and he is constantly "enlightened", always positive, not negative as you say. The advanced devotee is the friend of everyone: yoga-yukto visuddhatma, purified soul engaged in loving devotional service to Krishna, sarvabhutatmabhutatma, he is dear to everyone and everyone is dear to him; and in another place Krishna claims that: yo mad bhakta sa me priya, that His devotee who is very dear to Him, advesta sarva-bhutanam, maitah karuna eva ca, is not envious but is the kind friend to all living entities. The devotee is supposed to be, furthermore, equal to everyone, panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18], never discriminating; this one good, this one bad, no. So these are the descriptions of the more advanced stages of Krishna Consciousness devotees, when has got mature knowledge by development, and at present many of our students are young boys, they are learning gradually and the process is so effective, certain, and authorized that if they stick to it they will come to the right point, as you say, of loving. But that love is not material, that is our point, so it may not be judged on the on the false sentimental platform of ordinary mundane dealings. So to say they are not loving, that maybe true from the materialists point of view—they have given up affection for family, friends, wife, country, race, like that, all based upon the bodily concept of life or flickering sense-gratification—they have become little detached from Maya's love, or lust, and they want Krishna's love, or endless, full, rewarding love, but they have not yet developed to that point, that's all and we cannot expect that all of a sudden, being addicted to so many bad habits, your countrymen, will give up eating flesh, taking intoxication, sex-life, and so many other nasty things, and become overnight great self-realized souls. That is not possible. That is utopian. Just becoming initiated as Krishna's devotee puts him in the topmost category of human society: sa buddhiman manusyesu, sa yuktah krtsna-karma-krt: [Bg. 4.18] "he is intelligent among human society, he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in sorts of activities". And such devotee, no matter he has not advanced yet to the highest level of spiritual understanding, still he is to be considered the most exalted personality never mind he has got any temporary frailties:api cet suduracaro, bhajate mam ananya-bhak,sadhur eva sa mantavyah, samyag vyavasito hi sah[Bg. 9.30]"Even if a devotee commits the most abominable actions, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated,". As you will say, "To err is human", so in the neophyte stage we may always expect some discrepancies are there. Kindly see the things in this light and forgive their small mistakes. The big thing is they have given their life, everything to Krishna—that is never a mistake. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madan Mohan Goswami **Date:** May 11th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Madan Mohan Goswami Shebait, Sri Sri Radha Damodaraji Seva Kunja, Vrindaban (Mathura) Dear Sir, Replying your letter of 4/5/73, I beg to inform you that there is no question of vacating the house occupied by me. I am already paying Rs 10/ per month and there is deposit of Rs. 700/. with one of the Shebait. Now all of you together fix up the legal rent after adjusting the deposit money with interest for the last seven years. If we settle up the pending matter amongst ourselves, we save so much legal expenditure, otherwise I will advise Sriman Gurudasa to take the help of the rent court, at your expense. I don't know what is the content of the letter dated 26/3/73 therefore I am asking for a copy of this letter. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- cc: Sriman Guru das Adhikari ### Letter to Madana Mohana Mohini **Date:** August 19th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Berlin, West Germany My Dear Modan Mohan Mohini, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 13, 1973. I thank you very much for your kind sentiments. To be a fool before the Spiritual Master is a very good qualification. It is not a good qualification to be over intelligent before the Spiritual Master. Even Lord Caitanya presented himself as a fool before his spiritual master. Hansadutta is GBC for your zone and if you have any questions you may inquire from him. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** April 29th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. Your letter has been forwarded to London, New York, and then to here. Regarding Sudama Vipra I have heard that he is in South America, but would like to have it confirmed so please write me in this regard. But you should stay there in Australia; it is not necessary for you to go to China. Regarding reading Mahabharata, why divert your attention in this way? Bhagavatam is also Mahabharata. There are so many books I have presented already, so whatever you have got, just become expert in that. There are many things still yet to be learned. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** May 15th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 7, 1973 and have noted the contents. I am glad to hear that some progress is being made for getting that house in Malaysia. Please keep me posted as things progress in this regard. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. That Lalitananda Vana, who was formerly Hrsikesa Brahmacary my disciple, wants to join us again. Can you give me some information about him as you met him several times in Bombay ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** June 8th 1973 — **Location:** West Bengal > 73-06-8 My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 23, 1973 and have noted the contents. So you may drop the matter of the house in Malaysia. Regarding Hrsikesa das, he is coming here to Mayapur on the 12th of this month and I shall discuss with him at that time what shall be his engagement. I am very pleased with the book distribution that you are doing there, and I was especially glad to know that 160 Srimad-Bhagavatams were distributed in Melbourne alone last Friday. There is good potency, please try further. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** June 12th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 29, 1973 and have noted the contents carefully. So, everything is going on so nicely there. So many books are being distributed. There are good prospects for a new temple. You are going to introduce three rathas this year for Rathayatra. This is all very pleasing and inspiring to me. I would very much like to come there for Rathayatra, but now I am not in very good health, and it is the opinion of Tamal Krsna Maharaja, Bhavananda Maharaja, Jayapataka Maharaja and Jagadisa that it is best for me if I stay here for now so that I may get my health back. However, you may again invite me next year and, if Krsna wants, I will surely come there. Thank you very much. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- Enclosure: The bank slip ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** July 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhudvisa Swami, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 13.73. and have noted the contents carefully. I was just thinking of you, why you had not sent your report. I thought you had become angry because I did not go to your place but came instead to London. But at that time I was so sick - attacked by dysentery. The people in Calcutta became afraid for my life. So somehow or other I recovered by 7th July and appeared fit, so I dared to come to London. Now my health has improved and attended a grand Rathayatra festival here - find clippings enclosed. The overall effect of our festival here was appreciated by everyone, more than 10,000 persons took part and received Prasadam. Syamasundara said that afterwards all people in London have become very friendly with us on account of being impressed with our festival. So when shall I be able to go? I am to go to Los Angeles by the end of August. Thereafter I may be invited to Japan and whenever you call me after that I shall come.30 lakhs cash are required to solve the problem of India. Yes! You can practice the restrictions for Caturmasya. Pradyumna Prabhu will send you these under separate cover. I hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** July 31st 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter recommending new Brahmin initiates. Perform a fire ceremony and have a feast. Sacred threads are enclosed. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** August 7th 1973 — **Location:** U.K. My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and enclosed check for daksina. In the meantime, I have also received a package of photographs. Your festival appears to be just like Jagannatha Puri, it is so encouraging to me to see how very enthusiastic you are working there. Yes! I shall certainly come to your Ratha Yatra Festival next year. Regarding selling books in Karmic clothes; yes, it may be done, there is no harm. This book distribution and Ratha Yatra Festivals should go on all over the world. I want to introduce this Ratha Yatra Festival programme all over the world. If you can actually supply the society with Gaura Nitai deities it will be a great achievement. But one thing is that you should try to find out some strong wood. In India they use Neem wood because this wood is not attacked by termites, if you can find out a similar wood there that will be best, or you may see if you can import this wood from India if it is not too expensive. When you have finished something, then send me a photograph. Regarding the taking of sannyasa of Purusottama I have as yet not received any recommendation from you, so if you recommend him then I shall send the cloth, kaupin and mantra. You can make the rod there. Yes! The accredited teacher may lead a "Gurukula" but first of all let him understand our philosophy perfectly and become himself strong. So I thank you for your support. I have sent one letter and sample of Satsvarupa Goswami's report which I consider to be standard for the other GBC member to follow, so please see it and try to follow his example. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** August 15th 1973 — **Location:** U.K. My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and check for 1111.00 dollars. Regarding the old lady blessing the king, although the part of a constable is not very big, but the blessing is big always. Just as Krishna wants from his devotee a little flower, a little leaf, a little water, or a little fruit, these things are not very big things, still if a faithful devotee offers to Lord Krishna with love and service, Krishna accepts them very gladly. So Krishna's gladness and the devotee's love and sincerity, they are taken into consideration. Similarly when a person offers something in sincere faith and love that is always welcome either by big or small men. So as you are spreading Krishna consciousness in Australia. Hansadutta is also spreading in Germany. He has got 8 vans and they are out regularly preaching sankirtana and selling books and he is now well to do even financially, and I hope you are also well to do, otherwise how you can promise for the next year 11,111.00 dollars. It is very nice. So you continue this system of preaching village to village by increasing the number of Sankirtana parties, it will be appreciated by Guru Gauranga. Do it nicely, you are a fit person, Krishna will bless you. I hope this letter will meet you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** September 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 24, 1973. Your book selling report is very encouraging to me, so much so that I want to go there immediately. Anyway as soon as I get opportunity I shall go to Australia to visit all the nice places you have started and stay there for at least two months. Krishna has given you great opportunity to preach the Krishna Caitanya cult in that remote part of the world. The time was there some years ago when Australia would not allow any colored men to enter, but now you have allowed Caitanya Mahaprabhu to enter Australia and inundated the whole country with Hari Nama Sankirtana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's another name is Pita Baranara Gaura, so by your combined effort I hope that one day Pita Baranara Gaura will rule over Australia. I think that Australia is a great field for these activities as it is evident from the book sales statistics gradually increasing. I am very much encouraged in this respect. I am going on the 5th September for a few days to Stockholm, Sweden, then returning to London, and leaving here on the 15th September for Japan via Iran, and India. I expect to reach Los Angeles by the 10th October. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** September 19th 1973 — **Location:** Stockholm > Sweden My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your zonal report and proposal for purchasing Australian headquarters. You have my full approval for this program. I am very much encouraged to note how you have increased the book distribution and are becoming No. 1 distributer in the world. We have published Caitanya Caritamrta so you can order this nice new book from New York. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** September 30th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 20th, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very glad to note your Sankirtana enthusiasm. These Volkswagen buses are very nice. This is real Sankirtana preaching. Regarding Hong Kong, I think the Sankirtana can be organized there also. Please try to organize it. Your reply to the Hindus regarding another Swami speaking in our Krishna Consciousness Temple is nice. We cannot compromise to satisfy others. The neophyte preaching programme is very good, and this should be introduced in all our centers. Regarding the devotees getting sick, they are not accustomed to eating fatty foods. Therefore, I suggest boiled vegetable taking only little ghee and capati without any ghee. Tusta Krishna Maharaja, Siddha Svarupananda Maharaja and Sudama Vipra Maharaja are good boys and if there are any difficulties, I shall rectify these on my return to Los Angeles via Hawaii. Regarding the Lord Caitanya murti, it is not at all good and I do not approve. Lord Caitanya is stout and strong. There are so many pictures which you can follow. So have the artist start a new murti. Regarding my coming there in December for opening the new Australian Headquarters, yes that will be possible if the opening ceremony can correspond with the celebration of the Disappearance Day of my Guru Maharaja on December 13rd, that will be auspicious. I hope this meets you and all my beloved disciples in Australia well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** October 16th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Madhudvisa Swami, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 28, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding the initiations I accept the following devotee as my disciple: Varaha murti das - Adrian. Also enclosed please find the sacred threads for the gayatri initiations of Gopi Kanta das Brahmacari and Yasomatinanda das Brahmacari. So you can chant on the beads and hold the fire sacrifice amongst the devotees. The mantra should be heard from the tape through the right ear. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** October 22nd 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Madhudvisa Swami, Please accept my blessings. With regards to your telegram to Tamala Krsna Maharaja dated October 19, 1973 I may inform you that I have today sent the following cable to Tusta Krsna Maharaja."Tustakrsna 59215 Kenui Road Sunset beach Hawaii, USAREFER MY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 15 CARE OF SUDAMACOPY BEING SENT UNDER SEPARATE POST DO NOT SELLNEW ZEALAND TEMPLE TO OTHERS IF YOU WANT MONEYI SHALL PAY TO YOU REST ASSURED = BHAKTIVEDANTASWAMI" I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** December 5th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I have arrived safely in Los Angeles by Krsna's Grace and everything here is going nicely. Now, as you know, we require some men for India. Karandhara informs me that you have declined to send any. Our programs there are important and there is a great need. We have not captured many first class men there so we must import. I am requesting therefore that you send at least one or two first class men from your zone. Men from Australia do not require visas so they may go directly. Kindly make arrangements for this. My program is to visit some of our U.S.A. branches for some time, keeping Los Angeles as my home base and then to return to India by Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** December 8th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of the painting you have sent. This is not a good style of painting. It is an artistic style for sense gratification only. I cannot encourage this style—it should be stopped immediately. Paintings should be like the Deities, formal and worshipful. This type of painting is sentimental and not authorized. Paintings should be as our artists in New York are doing. Do not introduce any new styles. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- NB: The picture is good from artistic point but we want to worship the Lord ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** December 15th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 11, 1973. Thank you for the comprehensive report of our Australian theater of ISKCON. I am glad that things are going nicely and that you have settled up the New Zealand affair. Depend on Krsna and He will give you good intelligence. I am pleased that you are managing things so nicely. I have seen pictures of the house you are trying for and it is very gorgeous. If you can purchase it, that will be a great credit for you. Krsna will recognize your service and it will be a great push forward for our movement. I pray to Krsna that you may become successful in this attempt. I have not heard from Tusta Krsna or Siddha-Svarupa Goswamis nor do I know anything of their plans to return to New Zealand. Try to convince them to return to our Society and work cooperatively. That they have gone away is not good thing and it is a deviation from our line of parampara. Rather, avoiding faultfinding and anarchy, they should keep our standards and work maturely and not cause factions and splitting. I am not at all pleased at what they have done, but if they return let us forget what has happened and go forward. As Sannyasins they may preach and you may manage affairs. That will be very nice. We have got so much vital spiritual knowledge to distribute to the public and they are in desperate need of it. The whole world is going to hell and everyone is suffering. In light of this, how can we argue amongst one another and neglect our responsibility for reclaiming these fallen souls for going Back to Home, Back to Godhead. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhukara **Date:** January 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > St. Louis My dear Madhukara, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 22, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care. For these questions arising between married husband and wife, you are requesting me to leave your wife and take the vanaprastha order of life, for these questions you must consult with and take permission from presidents and GBC. Yes, I know your wife Lilasakti, and I know that she is very serious and advanced disciple. But now you are married to her, there is some obligation according to our Krsna consciousness or Vedic system. These things cannot be taken so lightly, otherwise the whole thing will become a farce. Simply get married without considering what is the serious nature of married life, then if there is little disturbance, or if I do not like my wife or my husband, let me go away, everyone else is doing like that. So in this way the whole thing is becoming a farce. You say that your "association together was hindering your advancement." But Krsna consciousness marriage system should not be taken in that way, that if there is any botheration that means something is hindering my spiritual progress, no. Once it is adopted, the grhastha life, even it may be troublesome at times, it must be fulfilled as my occupational duty. Of course, it is better to remain unmarried, celibate. But so many women are coming, we cannot reject them. If someone comes to Krsna it is our duty to give them protection. Krsna has informed us in Bhagavad-gita that even women and sudras and others inferior class of men can take refuge in Him. So the problem is there, the women must have a husband to give protection. Of course, if the women can remain unmarried, and if there is suitable arrangement for the temple to protect them, just like in the Christian Church there is nunnery for systematic program of engaging the ladies and protecting them, that is also nice. But if there is sex desire, how to control it? Women are normally very lusty, more lusty than men, and they are weaker sex, it is difficult for them to make spiritual advancement without the help of husband. For so many reasons, our women must have husband. That's all right, but if once they have got a husband he goes away so quickly, that will not be very much happy for them. Now I do not know the situation in your particular case, I am simply giving you the general policy or background understanding. We should never think of our so-called advancement as being conditioned by or dependent upon some set of material circumstances such as marriage, vanaprastha, or this or that. Mature understanding of Krsna consciousness means that whatever condition of life I am in at present, that is Krsna's special mercy upon me, therefore let me take advantage in the best way possible to spread this Krsna consciousness movement and conduct my spiritual master's mission. If I consider my own personal progress or happiness or any other thing personal, that is material consideration. If there was unhappy adjustment for becoming married, why you got married at all? Whatever is done, is done, that is a fact, but I am only pointing out that once before you did something without proper study of your real responsibility, now you are contemplating again some drastic action in a similar manner. Therefore consider it carefully in this light. There is one verse from Bhagavad-gita: yasman nodvijate loko lokan nodvijate ca yah/harsamarsa-bhayodvegair mukto yah sa ca me priyah, "He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anxiety, who is steady in happiness and distress, is very dear to Me." (12.15) One mistake of judgment often made by the neophyte devotees is that any time there is some disturbance or some difficulty they are considering that the conditions or the external circumstances under which the difficulty took place are the cause of the difficulty itself. That is not the fact. In this material world there is always some difficulty, no matter in this situation or that situation. Therefore simply by changing my status of occupation or my status of life, that will not help anything. Because the real fact is that if there is any difficulty with others, that is my lack of Krsna consciousness, not theirs. Is this clear? Krsna says that His dearest devotee is one who does not put others into difficulty, in fact, who puts no one other into difficulty. So try to judge the matter on these points, whether or not you are putting either your wife or yourself into some difficulty. The right understanding of Bhagavad-gita is Arjuna's understanding. In other words, Arjuna came to the conclusion that he must perform his occupational duty, not as a material obligation, for reasons of wife, family, friends, reputation, professional integrity, like that—no. Rather he must conduct the functions of his station of life only as a devotional service performed for Krsna. That means that devotional service is what is important, not my occupational duty. But it does not mean that because occupation duty is not the real consideration, that I should give it up and do something else, thinking that devotional service may be carried on under whatever circumstances which I may whimsically decide. Krsna recommended Arjuna to remain as he was, not to disrupt the order of society and go against his own nature just for convenience sake. Our occupational duty is not arbitrary, that means once we have taken up some field of action, if we are advanced in our understanding, then we shall not change it for another. Rather our devotion is the important factor, so what does it matter what I am doing so long my work and energy are completely devoted to Krsna? Just like Krsna, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He has no work, neither He has anything to do, still He comes here to teach us this lesson. He accepts not only His occupational duty as cowherd boy, royal prince, but also He accepts married life, He enters politics, He is philosopher, He is even chariot driver during a great battle, He does not give example of Himself avoiding His occupational duty. So if Krsna Himself is exhibiting by His own conduct what is the perfection of existence, then we should heed such example if we are intelligent. Even supposing there is wife at home, with children, that does not matter, that is no hindrance to our spiritual life. And once we have accepted these things, occupational duties, we should not lightly give them up. That is the point. Of course, our occupational duty is as preachers of Krsna consciousness. So we must stick to that business under all circumstances, that is the main thing. Therefore married, unmarried, divorced, whatever condition of life, my preaching mission does not depend on these things. The varnasrama-dharma system is scientifically arranged by Krsna to provide facility for delivering the fallen souls back to home, back to Godhead. And if we make a mockery of this system by whimsically disrupting the order, that we must consider. That will not be a very good example if so many young boys and girls so casually become married and then go away from each other, and the wife is little unhappy, the husband is neglecting her in so many ways, like that. If we set this example, then how the thing will go on properly? Householder life means wife, children, home, these things are understood by everyone, why our devotees have taken it as something different? They simply have some sex desire, get themselves married, and when the mater does not fulfill their expectations, immediately there is separation—these things are just like material activities, prostitution. The wife is left without husband, and sometimes there is child to be raised, in so many ways the proposition that you, and some others also, are making becomes distasteful. We cannot expect that our temples will become places of shelter for so many widows and rejected wives, that will be a great burden and we shall become the laughingstock in the society. There will be unwanted progeny also. And there will be illicit sex life, that we are seeing already. And being the weaker sex, women require to have a husband who is strong in Krsna consciousness so that they may take advantage and make progress by sticking tightly to his feet. If their husband goes away from them, what will they do? So many instances are already there in our Society, so many frustrated girls and boys. So I have introduced this marriage system in your Western countries because there is custom of freely intermingling male and female. Therefore marriage required just to engage the boys and girls in devotional service, never mind distinction of living status. But our marriage system is little different than in your country, we do not sanction the policy of quick divorce. We are supposed to take husband or wife as eternal companion or assistant in Krsna consciousness service, and there is promise never to separate. Of course if there is any instance of very advanced disciples, married couple, and they have agreed that the husband shall now take sannyasa or renounced order of life, being mutually very happy by that arrangement, then there is ground for such separation. But even in those cases there is no question of separation, the husband, even he is sannyasa, he must be certain his wife will be taken care of nicely and protected in his absence. Now so many cases are there of unhappiness by the wife who has been abandoned by her husband against her wishes. So how can I sanction such thing? I want to avoid setting any bad example for future generations, therefore I am so much cautiously considering your request. But if it becomes so easy for me to get married and then leave my wife, under excuse of married life being an impediment to my own spiritual progress, that will not be very good at all. That is misunderstanding of what is advancement in spiritual life. Occupational duty must be there, either this one or that one, but once I am engaged in something occupational duty, then I should not change that or give it up, that is the worst mistake. Devotional service is not bound up by such designations. Therefore once I have chosen, it is better to stick in that way and develop my devotional attitude into full-blown love of Godhead. That is Arjuna's understanding. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Mahajan 2 **Date:** April 25th 1973 — **Location:** Los AngelesMy dear Mahajan and Sharanagata, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your note along with the $60.00 daksina, and I thank you very much. Now you have taken this initiation, and it is a very serious matter. You must always keep very strongly to the principles of Krishna consciousness; rising early, taking bath, attending mongol aratrik, chanting at least 16 rounds on the beads daily, reading our books, going for sankirtan as much as possible. These things, if strictly followed, will keep you always in a purified condition and will give you spiritual strength to defeat maya, and when this body is finished, no more material bodies, but back to home, back to Godhead. This Krishna consciousness is so nice, so sublime. Take it and be happy. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/nkd --- Sriman Mahajan dasa AdhikarySrimati Sharanagata Devi DasiISKCON Los Angeles ### Letter to Mahajan 3 **Date:** December 8th 1973 — **Location:** Los AngelesMy dear Mahajan, Sharanagata devi and Bhaktim Hera, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your note and offering of December 3, 1973 and on behalf of my Guru Maharaj I humbly accept it. I am happy to have you as my second initiated disciples and I request that you take this responsibility very seriously and carry on with this Krsna consciousness Movement. Always be strong in our principles and faithful in Krsna and Guru and success is guaranteed. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- ACBS: kda ### Letter to Mahamsa **Date:** August 8th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Mahamsa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 2nd August, 1973 with enclosures and noted the contents carefully. Sriman Pannalal Pittie and Sriman Seshu are quite right when they say that the clause number five in the deed must be omitted. Tamala Krishna is not right. He says that we can always prove in the courts that what ever we do is in accordance with the rules and regulations of our society. But that clause number five will remain a pin-prick in the whole arrangement. The Hyderabad caste brahmanas came to fight with me on the issue that brahmanas are made by Birth, but we do not follow this principal, therefore now if we accept this defective donation and later on this question is raised that we are getting the Deity Worship maintained by Europeans and Americans who are not born in brahmana families there will be great litigation on this issue and it may be judgement is against us, then what we will do? We have to invest lakhs of Rupees on this temple construction and if later on this is cancelled as you write distinctly "The deed of trust shall stand as cancelled and the property hereby conveyed in trust shall revert back to the author of the trust." So you think we are going to take such risk? Suppose it is going to be reverted to the author of the trust which means he gets the property worth lakhs of Rupees invested by us. Tamala Krishna has no sense that he wants to settle up the things in court as he has done in our Bombay affairs. Un-necessarily he has cancelled our sales agreement with Mrs. Nair and we are suffering so much in litigation. So, he has not gained any experience what is the meaning of going to court. Therefore I can not agree with him that we shall prove in court that we are doing alright. We do not want to keep any clause in the deed of gift which will generate a sort of litigation with the __ in the future. The trust gift must be unconditional. So Sri Pannala Pittie is right and I agree with him. When I was in India Tamala Krishna said that the draft deed would be first accepted by Pannala Pittie and then he would get it confirmed by our lawyer in Bombay. But I do not know why by talking on telephone you should decide such an important transaction. I hope either you or Tamala Krishna should not act anything in this connection without consulting our friends like Pannala Pittie and finally approved by me. So one lakh of Rupees which I promised to pay first in the beginning of this construction, that promise stands good and I shall immediately pay one lakh of Rupees for construction as soon as the deed is finally executed. I hope this meets you in good health.[PAGE MISSING] ### Letter to Mahendra **Date:** December 11th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Pittsburgh My dear Mahendra, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 8, 1973. You should not install the Deities until you have a complete program to see that regulated worship may go on nicely. Until then, simply worship Guru and Gauranga in pictures. I hereby accept Brahma das and Sukhada dasi for second initiation. Enclosed find one thread and two gayatri mantra sheets. Take instruction from Rupanuga Maharaja on how to properly hold the fire sacrifice and have the initiates listen to the gayatri cassette tape through the right ear. I also accept Peggy McArdle for first initiation and her spiritual name is Vidambha dasi. Rupanuga Maharaja may chant on her beads. Thank you for your sincere service and offer my blessings to all the Prabhus there. Always maintain our simple standards and be enthusiastic and serious in pushing on this movement. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Makhanlal **Date:** June 22nd 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > St. Louis My dear Makhanlal, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 8 June 1973 and I have carefully studied the contents. I am encouraged to hear that you have recommended a total of ten devotees for first initiation from our St. Louis temple. Preaching means to increase our family members, so I can see that the preaching at ISKCON St. Louis is going on very sincerely, otherwise so many would not be interested in becoming devotees. So on your carefully considered recommendation, I am accepting these girls and boys as my initiated disciples and their names are as follows: Thomas Doherty—Tamopaha das; Jim Higgins—Niscinta das; Paul Gibson—Punderika das; Lance Nally—Gaya das; Steven Lisowski—Satyamadhava das; Nancy Alderman—Nikunjarasi Vilasi dasi; Deborah Little—Daksinesvari dasi; Ginette Newman—Govindarupini dasi; Donald Parker—Modandin das; Sylvia Parker—Savitri dasiThey may send their beads for chanting along with a copy of this letter to Kirtanananda Maharaja. Now you instruct them carefully that they must chant 16 rounds daily without fail and always follow the four regulative principles as well as engage in daily duties of temple attendance, classes and street sankirtana. The word initiation means "to begin" not that when he is initiated a disciple becomes slack; rather upon initiation he begins spiritual life in earnest. Regarding second initiation, enclosed is one sacred thread chanted on by me, and the gayatri mantra. This should be instructed to Maha Muni in private, have him hear a tape recording of the mantra in the right ear. Hold a fire yajna for the first initiates. You have asked what is the mentality of the demons who attacked New Vrndavana and why did this happen? You should know this already, that there are two classes of men, devotees and demons. The whole history is that the peaceful devotees are disturbed by the demons but that the devotees are always victorious by the grace of Krsna. In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna ordered Arjuna to declare to the whole world that His devotees would never be vanquished. And in the last verse of the Gita, Sanjaya says wherever there is Krsna and Krsna's pure devotee Arjuna there will always be opulence, victory, extraordinary power and morality—tatra srir vijayo bhutir dhruva nitir matir mama. But because we are engaged in warfare with the forces of Maya, there will be casualties. Even Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu a 16-year-old boy was killed at the battle of Kuruksetra. We should be prepared to protect the Deities and always expect Krsna's Mercy, because we are always dependent on Him and we cannot do anything on our own without Him. You have asked about whether nuclear devastation on this planet would effect the Sankirtana Movement. No, there is nothing that can stop the Sankirtana Movement because it is the will of God Himself, Lord Caitanya, that His Holy Name be heard in every town and village. Neither can the demons devastate this planet independent of the will of Krsna. Nothing happens without His sanction. If Krsna wants to kill someone no one can save Him, and if Krsna wants to save someone no one can kill him. For our parts we should just be determined to carry out our mission against all opposition, demons, nuclear war, whatever. The whole universe is finally subject to certain annihilation by the will of Krsna, but devotional service is eternal and is the only certain way one can save himself from devastation. We can preach all over the world that the only way to be saved from collective and individual devastation is to take to the chanting of Hare Krsna. In short, this material world is a very precarious place therefore we should always chant Hare Krsna and seek Krsna's protection. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Makhanlal **Date:** December 11th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Makhanlal, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 4, 1973. Regarding the $100.00 check, send a copy of the cancelled check, both sides, to Karandhara for examination. I accept the following devotees as my duly initiated disciples: Chuck—Caturatma dasAllen—Anirdesya-vapu dasRobert—Pranada dasDean—Prana dasJoanne—Keli-Cancala dasiNancy—Vidamba dasiI am returning their beads by separate post. See always to their welfare in Krsna Consciousness. The conch shell is place on the altar and used for blowing. It is pleasing to the Deity and a bona fide item of worship. Never mind all the rumors you have heard. Yes, if you are able to acquire some farm land and produce grains that will be nice. Especially we want to export grains to India. Do not, however, change or disrupt the existing Temple program. The economic situation is always precarious but we are dependent on Krsna only. Thank you very much for your endeavors in book distribution and please offer your good wife my blessings for her service in this connection. Our preaching work will be measured by the quantity of books we distribute so continue ever-increasingly. Take care that devotees do not become sick. They should always be properly clothed and fed. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Manager of Central Bank of India **Date:** July 14th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Manager,Central Bank of India Gowalia Tank Branch Bombay, India Dear Sir: Regarding account #16066 as well as #767 in the same of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, kindly let me know the present balance of the above two accounts, or if possible, kindly send me a statement of accounts. I am obliged. Yours truly, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Manager of Central Bank of India **Date:** August 5th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > The Manager,Central Bank of India,Head Office Bombay, Fort INDIA Dear Sir, Regarding account number 9-381, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Building Fund. I wish to send some money on account of building fund, as soon as you receive it you have to transfer it for fixed deposit account for 6 months. Please send me the necessary papers for our joint signatures. The purpose of dispatching this money is for construction of temples in India. Prior to this letter we requested you to send us a statement of accounts, but we have not received any such statement till now. Kindly send the statement also. Yours sincerely A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda --- Syamasundara Das Adhikari ### Letter to Marie Priterel **Date:** January 27th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Calle San Luis Potosi 189Mexico 7; D-F My dear Marie Priterel, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 4, 1973, which I have read carefully. It is most unfortunate to hear of the manner in which you have been mistreated by the doctors. But what can be done now about that? At least you have now had the good fortune to come in contact with my disciples. So now you can begin a new life. It does not matter that you do not live within our temple, since you say your health does not permit. But you can make your home a temple for Krsna. First thing is that you should try to follow strictly our regulative principles—no meat, fish or eggs; no intoxicants, including coffee, tea and cigarettes; no illicit sex; and no gambling. Try also to chant as many times as possible the Hare Krsna mantra on japa beads. You may keep a picture of Lord Krsna in your house and after cooking you may learn to offer the foodstuffs to the picture of Krsna. In this way the food you eat will be offered and be spiritual and will help you to advance spiritually. Whenever possible try to visit our temple and attend the kirtanas and discourses. I am sure that the temple president can suggest some way in which you can render some service, if you are willing. Thank you for taking a keen interest in our Krsna Consciousness movement. Hoping this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/tkg ### Letter to Meenakatan **Date:** August 19th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Toronto My Dear Meenakatan, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 14, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. Yes you may return to India I have no objection. We very much need workers in India, so if you go there that will be nice. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hdaN.B. --- Regarding your Problem; you should know by now that if you break one of the four regulative principles then you cannot advance. Advancement is possible only by sincere chanting of the Holy Name. So what can I say, you chant and be determined not to engage in this sinful activity again. But there is no use in writing to me that you are doing something sinful and then you continue to do it on some plea. Stop sinful life and be Krishna Conscious, that's all ### Letter to Minister in charge of Immigration **Date:** November 24th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Minister in charge of Immigration,Naturalization Department,Government of Kenya,East Africa Dear Sir, I beg to inform you that it was so arranged that on my way to America via Europe I was to stop at Nairobi on the occasion of holding a festival known as Hare Krsna Festival, and wide arrangement was made on this account and I was invited to attend the ceremony from India. As such, I arrived on the airport of Nairobi on the 23rd November, 1973. I had my regular visas, health certificate and all necessary things for entering, but after passing through the health examination department, as soon as I entered the arena, some of the officers of the immigration department immediately took out the passports of my men as well as that of myself, and they asked my men to wait. So I had to wait for two hours, namely from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., but there was no definite decision by the immigration department, and whenever I sent my man to inquire, the man in charge simply replied "Please wait". Later on one gentleman came to inform my men that I was refused entrance in Nairobi from higher authorities. As such, he did not inform me what was the reason of my being refused to enter Nairobi, neither there was any written order from the department on me particularly to stop my entrance in Nairobi. Anyway, when I could understand there was no profit asking them the reason of my being refused, I immediately arranged for coming to London where also I have got two branches. Now from London, I wish to bring the matter for your consideration why I was refused entrance into your city without giving any written or verbal reason. According to our Vedic civilization, even if one enemy comes at somebody's door, he should be received like a friend for the time being. The enmity should be forgotten, and even though the enemy guest is there, he should be treated so nicely that both of them for the time being forget that they are enemies. I was therefore surprised that I am a sannyasi, head of a group of cultural movement, namely the Hare Krsna Movement, and I was not allowed to enter without giving any reason for this purpose. I think I am not enemy of your country. I am preaching Krsna Consciousness, or God consciousness, all over the world, therefore I have opened a regular branch at Nairobi. My society is regularly registered in Nairobi as a cultural and religious society, and we have go our own house, and before this I had been in Nairobi twice and there was no objection. Last time, there was another Hare Krsna Festival. One of the ministers of your government, most probably the education minister, was invited, and he very much appreciated our activities. Our principle is, preach God Consciousness all over the world. I think we believe rightly that for want of God consciousness, there is very much confusion all over the world, simply fighting between individual to individual, man to man, nation to nation. Nobody believes anyone. Any sober man will admit the present _ for unifying the whole human society without any consideration of bodily identification so that there may be peace and prosperity on the platform of spiritual identification. Perhaps you have heard the very good name of Bhagavad-gita. Our preaching is on the basis of Bhagavad-gita As It Is. In this Bhagavad-gita it is stated that God is the Supreme Being, and He is the proprietor of all planets and actually He is the enjoyer of all benefits. Anyone who will understand these three principles of life will be automatically peaceful. So, if every individual is peaceful, naturally there will be peace and prosperity in the community, society, and nation of all over the world. This is our principle. We are trying to broadcast this message on the authority of Vedic knowledge. Everywhere we are very much peaceful, trying to reform the character of the modern man. We teach our students to follow the following regulative principles, namely no illicit sex life, no meat eating, no intoxication, and no gambling. These are the negative principles, and the positive principle is to chant always the Holy Name of God. By the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we have become successful everywhere, in all parts of the world. We have no principle striction that one is Indian, one is America, one is African, or one is Hindu, one is Christian, one is Mohammedan. We invite everyone to understand the philosophy and reform the activities of life. This is our mission. I do not know why I was refused to enter into your country without giving me any proper explanation. I am therefore very much grieved by the treatment of your airport officials that they stopped me to enter into your city and make so many people disappointed for breaking usual procedure of the Movement, I wish, therefore, that you kindly let me know what is the reason that I was refused to enter without giving me proper notice, or to my men. Kindly reply me this letter at my Nairobi headquarters as written above, or as I am proceeding to Los Angeles, you can reply me this letter to my Los Angeles address as follows: ISKCON3764 Watseka AvenueLos Angeles, California 90034U.S.A.Thanking you in anticipation for an early reply, Yours very sincerely in the service of the Lord, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/skdbcc: --- ,Founder-Acarya of theInternational Society for Krsna Consciousness, Branches all over the world, numbering 108. His Holiness Brahmananda Swami, Governing Board Commissioner, Africa ### Letter to Mohanananda **Date:** October 13th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas My Dear Mohanananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 26, 1973 and have noted the contents carefully. In my opinion all Gurukula students should be educated free of charge, but outside students may be charged. Our own parents should without obligation contribute liberally, but we should not be hard with them if they cannot pay. Sometimes the parents get money from the Welfare Dept., so whatever money they get for their children must be paid to Gurukula. It is not possible for me to tax my brain on every detail. The GBC should meet in Mayapur in March, and all details of management should be discussed. My inclination is to retire completely from management and devote my time to my books. Let all of you give me this chance and consult amongst yourselves regarding the management. But, on the whole the Gurukula standard should be free education, boarding, and lodging. People shall voluntarily contribute as far as possible. That should be introduced. We cannot enforce that if you do not pay, then take back your child. Rather the opposite. We must give free education to our children. We have to if need be provide money from the incense business or Book Trust, like that if sufficient income is not there.[PAGE MISSING] ### Letter to Mr. Helfenberger **Date:** April 25th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Swiss Credit Bank P.O. Box 60900Los Angeles, Cal. 90060Att: Mr. Leo C. Helfenberger Dear Mr. Helfenberger: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 23, 1973 and have noted the contents. In your Zurich head office the manager told me there would no charges for depositing checks. So there is no difficulty to send you Cashier's Check, but there cannot be any charges. Also, my account is in U.S. $ and not Swiss Francs. If you can confirm to me that there will be no charge for depositing, then I can send you checks. So please tell me what to do. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- cc: Swiss Credit Bank, Zurich ### Letter to Mr. Robert Keene **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > 1529 Alton Drive,Akron,Ohio 44313 My dear Mr. Robert Keene, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 20, 1972, and I have noted the contents with great concern. I do not know what are exactly the facts of the matter, but if there are any discrepancies as you say in the temples of ISKCON, they should be immediately rectified by conscientious officers. Of course, we cannot expect to find always any utopia in this material world, that is a fallacy, and it may appear to someone who is materialistically inclined that what we are doing is not only harmful to our materialistic condition, but also that we are not caring for our students and so many other things. But if you inquire from our students more carefully, you will come to understand that these superficial matters are not very serious in the long run, and that the students are becoming very happy by their acquiring spiritual knowledge and serving Krsna in so many ways. It is said that "one man's food is another man's poison." Because they have become disgusted with this material world, sometimes our devotees appear to have foolishly disregarded everything, that is seen to be something bad in their eyes, but we should not take these things very seriously. Main thing is that these boys and girls have understood what is austerity and the difference between spirit and matter, that is the highest knowledge of existence. Because they are engaged in serving Krsna in this way, you have nothing further to worry, their position in life is very secure and sound because they are going back to home, back to Godhead, without any doubt. Though they may be dressed in rags, still they are more exalted than kings. Nevertheless, I do not know how serious is the actual situation at Boston Temple or at other temples, but I am sending copies of your letter to all ISKCON centers and I am requesting the officers in charge in those places to do the needful as you are suggesting. Yes, if there is anything cold weather, the students should be sufficiently dressed and they should not work under such conditions that they will fall ill. Everything should be managed in a nice way, so that no one is dissatisfied and everyone keeps their health and energy fit for serving Krsna 24 hours. Thank you very much for your kind attention. I hope that everything is rectified to your satisfaction. You have got a daughter who is now become devotee of Krsna, therefore I can understand that you are also very nice persons, everyone related to any devotee of Krsna becomes also great in our estimation, therefore I beg your assistance in this matter by giving something donation towards our temples, or especially the Boston Temple, for purchasing cloth and medicine, and other things for the devotees there. If there is any further complaint, you may please address me at any time and I will try to rectify the matter. Hoping this meets you in the best of health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Mr. Suresh Candra **Date:** June 18th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Mr. Suresh Candrac/o District Commissioner's office Vreeden Roop WB Dem.Guyana, South America Dear Suresh Candra, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 21 May 1973 and I have noted the contents. I am pleased to note that as of January 1st you have given up eating of meat, fish or eggs, as well as intoxicants and gambling. You have asked what is meant by illicit sex. . Sex should be used only in marriage for begetting nice children to raise in Krsna Consciousness. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita that I am sex life performed according to religious principles. Sex life for any other purpose means illicit sex. The use of contraceptive method for sex enjoyment is very sinful. Restraint in the matter of these four sinful activities is achieved by tasting the superior mellows of Krsna Consciousness. You say that you are chanting 15 minutes daily from 8:15-8:30. Please go on and increase this chanting as much as you can and that will help you very much in advancing in Krsna Consciousness. Regarding your request for cassette tapes, we have organized a whole department for distribution of my lectures on tapes and you may obtain them by writing to Golden Avatara. Productions, 3764 Watseka Avenue, Los Angeles, California. Simply by hearing the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness and chanting Krsna's names all dirty things will be cleaned from the heart. Hoping this will meet you in good health, Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mrs. Nirmala Singhal **Date:** June 1st 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Mrs. Nirmala Devi Singhal113 D.J. Road,Vile Parle (W) Bombay—56 My dear Mrs. Singhal, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 28, 1973, and have noted the contents. The demolition of our temple by the municipality has strengthened our position. The municipality standing committee has condemned the hasty action of the municipality and has agreed to reconstruct the shed at their cost. Not only that, the temporary construction shall continue to stay until the court decision is there as to who is the proprietor of the land. Under the circumstances we should immediately reconstruct the Deity shed. Barbed wire fencing should be immediately done to cover the naked land. And if possible, immediately in front of the Deity shed, a temporary pandal should be constructed, with our materials. If it is so done, then I can go to Bombay and begin Bhagavata Parayana, to continue until the court decision is there. This is my desire. I have just now come to Mayapur and am very hopeful to regain my strength and health on account of being in this transcendental atmosphere. Every moment we are passing here in great delight. So, if the Bombay program is arranged, I shall go there as soon as things are ready. I agree with you that my presence in Bombay will improve the situation, but my presence there means that there must be some program of Bhagavata Parayana. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Mrs. Nirmala Singhal **Date:** July 6th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Mrs. Nirmala Sanghal113 Dst.Vileparle Bombay 56 Dear Mrs. Nirmala Singhal, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 29/6/73 and I have carefully noted the contents. Thank you for appreciating my humble efforts on behalf of my spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja and Lord Caitanya. Whatever I have done it is due to their potency in Krishna Consciousness. My only achievement is that I have not changed what they have taught. I am glad to hear of victory in the matter of Bombay property. Now it is rebuilt and people are supporting our cause and finding out more about our great movement. You please help and tell everyone how nice chanting Hare Krsna is. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg. ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** February 21st 1973 — **Location:** Auckland My Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 13 February 1973 and have noted its contents carefully. Your program for working with the TV personalities seems to be very nice. Even though the results are not coming so quickly, please do not be discouraged. But one thing, you should try and get these TV personalities to show our books and advertise them over the air. This will be the real success of our endeavors with the media. I have always stressed that we must become recognized not only by the mass but also by the class. This class section of the society should be encouraged to write letters of appreciation of my books and of our activities. Just recently Rupanuga Das Goswami has had one very successful meeting with Kenneth Keating, the American Ambassador to India and he has agreed to be our chief guest when we open our center in downtown Manhattan. I have said before, Hearing is the first step in God realization; therefore if we can simply convince these big men to hear, then gradually they will come to the point of accepting us. I shall be returning to America in the early Spring and will be looking forward to seeing you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** April 27th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Kelso, Washington My Dear Mukunda Das: Please accept my blessings. I am very pleased to receive your letter dated 4.26.73 and the steps which you have taken is worthy of one who is my disciple. So please revive your old Krishna conscious activities and make your life successful. Do not spoil your life for a woman. According to Vedic culture one must give up association of woman which is known as renunciation or sannyasa. For Krishna's sake Lord Caitanya gave up the association of his wife, although she was never against Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. According to Canakya Pandita one who has no mother and the wife is not obedient, such a home is as good as living in the desert. So you immediately go to London and help in organizing the great temple which we have already purchased. It is understood by telephone conversation that George has already paid the full amount for the new house and Syamasundara is going to take possession of the house by May 1. When it is actually in our possession, it can be made into a great attraction especially for the tourists. Practically Syamasundara, yourself, and Gurudasa started the London yatra together with your wives. Now Gurudasa is in charge of Vrindaban construction, so you and Syamasundara can take charge of the London affairs. I shall be going to New Vrindaban by June 1 and if in the meantime the London temple is taken possession of then I can go there by that time. Anyway I am very pleased by your noble action. Now you do the needful and be happy in Krishna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** October 6th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > London My dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 30th September, 1973, and I have noted the contents. Regarding printing BTG locally in England rather than taking from Los Angeles, you are right, you should not print it in London for the time being. Syamasundara is always utopian. This idea of his is not possible. I am very encouraged by the report of how nicely our books are being distributed. This is our main business all over the world. If you give full attention to this, there will never be any shortage of funds. So I am very glad to note that in London now this programme is becoming well established. Hoping this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** October 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > London My dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 27th September, 1973, I am very glad that within the month of September you have dispatched over $10,000. to the Book Fund. So London Temple is debtor about $50,000. So if you continue with enthusiasm like this within three or four months you can liquidate the amount. This will be a great credit for you. Syamasundara came here on his way to Hyderabad. I have not heard anything from him since he left over one week ago. I do not know what is actually happening about his business. But my rough calculation is that he still owes about $20,000 to the Society's funds. Unless he pays it back as soon as possible, I cannot expect his business to be very profitable. Therefore I have always asked him to stop this business. He says he will stop he does not do so. So many proposed contracts failed, so how he is still hoping to make some profit for this business I do not know. Anyway, now you have taken charge of the management as President. So do it nicely and send me reports regularly. So far I am very pleased with how things are going. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** October 20th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Mukunda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 5/10/73 as well as the copy of the letter from the Indian Deputy High Commissioner. Regarding my seeing the Pope, now I am India, and then I shall go to Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, and U.S.A. So it is not possible to go there at this time. It can be postponed to a future date. I shall let you know. I am glad to hear that your Sunday program is successful. One thing is that you should keep everything very clean. That is the first business. Every room should be as clean as a mirror. The prasadam room should be immediately cleaned after taking prasadam, otherwise you are inviting rats. Be careful. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** November 11th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Mukunda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to inform you that I am fixing my program for going to Nairobi from Bombay on November 23. From Nairobi I shall return to Los Angeles, so if you can arrange a meeting with the Pope then I can stop off there in Rome. So please inform His Holiness the Pope that I shall be returning to USA via Europe sometime after December 1, so if a meeting could be arranged at that time it would be very nice. I am sending a copy of this letter to Dhananjaya in care of American Express, so you can consult with him and do the needful. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Dhananjaya Das, American Express, Plaza di Spagna 38 Rome, Italy ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** November 6th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Mukunda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated October 25, October 29, and the letter from Scandinavian Airlines. So it is a great credit that you have reduced the BBT bill, so make it nil and it will be greatest credit for London. London temple was always bad debtor to BBT, but by your management it is becoming a very good atmosphere. Syamasundara was here, but he has now gone to Hyderabad. It is very good to hear that you are being assisted by Vaikunthanatha and Puranjana. Encourage them and keep good relations with them so things may go on nicely. This is management. Also Madhavananda and his wife are both very good workers and they will be very expert in dealing with the Indians. What about Jaya Hari? He was a very good book distributer. Try to engage him. Another request I have to you is that there have now been two instances of when somebody does not agree you try to get them out by calling the police. This is never to be done. This is the mistaken policy of Shayamasundar, but do not follow this principle. With great difficulty we get a man. We have to reform them. Our business is to become sympathetic to fallen souls. So in future do not do it all. Everything should be done amicably. Regarding the letter from the airlines, does it mean we are entitled to a refund or we can utilize the credit on their airlines? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** December 5th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I have arrived safely in Los Angeles by Krsna's Grace and everything here is going nicely. Now, as you know, we require some men for India. Our programs there are import and there is a great need. We have not captured very many first class men there so we must import. I am requesting therefore that you send at least one or two first class men from your zone. Men from Great Britain do not require visas so they may go directly. Kindly make arrangements for this. My program is to visit some of our U.S.A. branches for some time, keeping Los Angeles as my home base and then to return to India by Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:KdaN.B. --- What about my visas and bank references? ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** December 13th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > London My dear Mukunda das, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 6, 1973. Regarding the type of paper for India, we want the same type as we have already used for Srimad-Bhagavatam and Krsna Book. Karandhara has advised me that Dai Nippon purchases most of their paper in Sweden so you may check there. The size will depend on the presses used in India so you may contact Tamala Krsna Goswami in Bombay about this. A letter has just been received here from Syamasundara about selling jewels. I do not approve of our Temples purchasing jewels. I have instructed Karandhara to issue a newsletter to all our Centers to this effect. It is not a good program. Kindly keep me informed of all developments there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** December 20th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 12, 1973. Regarding the entry certificate from the Home Office of Great Britain, what is the value of such a certificate if it remains at the discretion of the local immigration officer whether or not the certificate can be expeditious in passing through immigration? If you are able to get such an entry certificate for me in London then go ahead, otherwise I do not think it is worth the botheration for me to apply personally. Regarding Bhadra Krsna das, so it turns out that he is a rascal. So forget about him and go on with your business. I have read your sample excerpt from the brochure and it is very nice. Kindly keep me informed of the progress there. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Mukunda, Madhavananda **Date:** December 15th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > London My dear Mukunda and Madhavananda, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed find one letter I just received from Jaya Laksmana das. We want to utilize our land there for raising flowers, vegetables and grains if possible. Jaya Laksmana's suggestions are welcome so please give him all encouragement and facility. Work together cooperatively and develop things nicely there. Hare Krsna. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kdac.c. --- Jaya Laksmana das ### Letter to Naiskarmi **Date:** July 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Evanston, Illinois My dear Naiskarmi devi dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 3rd July. You are exactly correct when you write that Krishna has benedicted you with a first class husband. In Vedic society no girl was allowed to remain independent and unmarried. Independence for women means they become like prostitutes, struggling to capture some man who will take care of her. In this way the so called independent woman has to work very hard to make herself attractive by artificially wearing cosmetics—mini skirts and so many other things. Formerly the girl would be married to a suitable boy at a very early age, say six years old. But although a girl was married early she did not stay with her husband immediately, but was gradually trained in so many ways how to cook, clean and serve her husband in so many ways—up until the time of her puberty. So all the time there was no anxiety because a girl would know—I have got a husband, and the boy would know I have got this girl as my wife. Therefore when the boy and girl would come of age there was no chance of illicit sex-life. And the pychology is the first boy that a girl accepts in marriage, that girl will completely give her heart to, and this attachment on the girls side for her husband becomes more and more strong, thus if a girls gets a good husband—one who has accepted a bona fide spiritual master and is firmly fixed up in his service, automatically the wife of such a good husband inherits all the benefits of his spiritual advancement. So you are fortunate. Go on in this present attitude, serve you husband always and in this way your life will be perfect, and together husband and wife go back home—Back to Godhead. I hope you are well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Nayanabhirama **Date:** January 28th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > New York My dear Nayanabhirama, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1/1/73 and have noted the contents with great pleasure. It is so nice to hear how your wife Daivisakti Devi Dasi is distributing so many books and collecting big big donations for the Lord. This is very very pleasing to me, as our book distribution and collecting of funds is so much important for pushing on this movement. So if all of the devotees in New York can collect like that, at least $100 daily, then very shortly you will have enough funds for getting that big skyscraper for use as the world headquarters of our Krsna Consciousness movement. Regarding the activities of the Vaikuntha Players, it is very nice to hear that you are taking information from our Srimad-Bhagavatam and Krsna Book for presenting everything very authoritatively, without any deviation from the sastras. Yes, one or two of the girls may learn this Indian dance technique, but we cannot take too much endeavor for such things. If they can do it without too much trouble that is all right. Now you continue executing your Krsna Conscious activities, chanting 16 rounds, studying our books, going on sankirtana, worshiping the deity, etc., and in this way you will become advanced more and more. Also as you are senior devotee you must set a nice example for the others to follow. Here also in India we are making drama, and at our Bombay Pandal on the last evening we had one drama about Krsna and the gopis in which the gopis gave the dust of their feet for curing Krsna's headache. This was very much appreciated by the audience. So in this way we can present the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness very nicely for everyone to relish. I will now be going to Australia for one month and shall be returning to Mayapur for the occasion of Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. So there in New York you may make some nice program for glorifying Lord Caitanya and His Associates on that auspicious occasion. Hoping this finds you and your good wife in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Niranjan **Date:** June 21st 1973 — **Location:** West Bengal > _B1 My dear Niranjan, Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter dated 14 June 1973 and have noted the contents. I will be glad to see you here in Mayapur when you are able to come after finishing your exams. Regarding the new names of your sister and mother-in-law—why are you giving them spiritual names? You are not authorized to do this. Spiritual names are given by the spiritual master at the time of initiation. It is not to be done as a whimsical act. Rather, it is done strictly according to regulative principles. I have received your printed invitation and send my thankfulness to your father, please send him a letter of thankfulness on my behalf. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- Sriman Niranjan das Brahmachari44. New Tch. Hostel No.2B.H.U. 9 Varanasi 221005 ### Letter to Niranjana **Date:** March 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Varanasi My dear Niranjana: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 12th of March and I have examined the contents with care. I think because I am travelling so much there is some problem in your letters reaching me. But now I want to leave so much travelling up to my able disciples and finish my translating work. So in a few days I am going to Bombay and then to London by the 1st, and then to L.A. via New York stopover. Yes, I am sorry that I could not see you this year at the Mayapur celebration, it was very successful. But anyway because you are in college please take this opportunity to convince some of your fellow students about this Krsna consciousness. All over the world there are college students who are joining our movement, why not in India? Actually there is no need to give up studies to be a devotee. In America, a number of our students joined with us before they graduated but still they went on to graduate with honors, namely Bhagavan dasa, Trivikrama Maharaja, and others. So just try to convince them in some way. Incidentally, I did not receive any contribution from Prabhas on your behalf at Mayapur. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Niranjana **Date:** May 21st 1973 — **Location:** Brooklyn > Varanasi My dear Niranjana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter dated 10/5/73. Now I have come here to New York. My health is not keeping very well. I'm suffering from cold and cough. I am returning back to India for medical treatment. I can understand your difficult position in preaching work. Not only you, but I also had the same difficulty when I wanted to start this Krsna Consciousness Movement from India. I approached many respectable gentlemen and requested that, "My dear sir, you have got four children, out of them can you spare one only under my guidance, because I want to make a brahminical society all over the world." Everyone replied in this connection, "Sir what benefit will there be in becoming a brahmana??"The position is that the whole world is full of sudras. The sudra's business is to somehow or other catch up some nice service under some good master and get a nice wife and home. That is their success in life. This is the position of India especially. The whole of India is now under technological instruction which means to become sudras. Just like a carpenter can manufacture so much nice furniture by his technological education, but in our Vedic society, the carpenter is considered a sudra. Similarly a tannery expert was called a cobbler. So these things are now lost. Everyone is prepared to become a cobbler, a carpenter, a chemist, a physicist, an electrician and so many other things, but they do not know that after such education one has to depend on other's mercy. So-called highly qualified technologists cannot earn their livelihood without getting a suitable job. It is just like a dog, however stout and strong it may be, it cannot be happy without having gotten a wealthy master. Without being protected by a wealthy master it is nothing but a street dog and he is never happy. So all the students at the present moment are getting educated how to become first class sudras. How they can be interested in Krsna Consciousness, which is the business of high class brahmanas and Vaisnavas? Still it is our duty to preach, and our sincere endeavor for preaching work will be appreciated by the Lord. That much we want. Our mission is to see that Lord Caitanya is satisfied, never mind if we could not turn many of them to this cult. Here is a quotation from Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction, "Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'—upadesa/amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]." Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 7:128. So our mission is, by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we shall try to teach people about the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc., without being depressed whether people are accepting them or not. This is our credit. We shall be judged by the quality of our work and not by the material return. Yes, their arguments are quite reasonable. The aim of our education should be, whatever education we might have got, we must satisfy the Lord by such education. That is the perfection of life. I have therefore asked our chemist friend, Dr. Swaroop Damodara das Brahmacari to refute the theory that life comes out of matter. This is not the fact, rather, matter comes out of life. We have discussed this point very broadly and Swaroop Damodara is convinced that everything comes from life, Krsna—aham sarvasya prabhavo/ mattah sarvam pravartate. [Bg. 10.8]. So, I've asked Swaroop Damodara to invite Ramananda Rao to come and join him to present this revolutionary theory to the learned advanced scientists. We know it certainly that matter comes out of life. Simply we have to present this thesis in chemical, technological words. Svarupa Damodara has already written one small booklet, "Krsna Consciousness, Purely on a Scientific Basis." So this is the business of big, big, chemists and physicists to present the real facts in Krsna Consciousness. Then such education is valid,idam hi pumsas tapasah srutasya vasvistasya suktacyacabuddhi-dattayoavicyuto'rtha kavibhir nirupitoyad uttamasloka-gunanuvarnanam[SB 1.5.22]So, if they do not believe in Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad-gita, then they are called unbelievers, so how can you believe their words. Then we come to the platform of reason and argument. If they do not believe in Ramayana and Mahabharata, then we shall reply point to point by argument and reason. Of course, it is not possible to come to the right conclusion simply by argument and reason, tarko apratisthah..You mention that they have not even heard of Lord Gauranga. So that is their misfortune, and our misfortune also. Our big, big godbrothers in India, they could not preach Lord Gauranga's name all over India. They are simply inclined to criticize me, that my students call me Prabhupada. They could not do anything practical and tangible. They are satisfied with a temple and a few disciples begging alms for the maintenance of the temple. So, we can understand that they have all become sudras. How can they have interest in Bhagavad-gita. Although some of them have been born in brahmana families, but by quality are all sudras. You can do your best, that is very nice, never mind there is no good result. I have gone to the western countries, singlehanded. I tried my best and now people say it is successful. So you can do the same. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Niranjana **Date:** June 5th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Varanasi My dear Niranjana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 31-5-73. I have noted the contents carefully. Yes, if you have got the chance, you may come here to Mayapur to see me. I will be here for at least one month, so, if your exam schedule permits, then you can immediately come here. Come with Dr. Rao also. We have serious consultation. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Niranjana **Date:** October 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Saugor, India My dear Niranjana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 5th October, 1973, and I have noted the contents. I am very glad to know that you have passed your examination and have been awarded a scholarship. There is no difficulty for arranging your accommodation and Prasadam in Glasgow, as we have got our branch there. When you go I shall personally give intimation to our Glasgow center. When you go there, try to preach. You have learned ho to speak English, so you can preach nicely. Always try to give some service, and that will make you successful. I may be coming to New Delhi by the second week of November, so if possible you may try to see me there. We are conducting a large pandal from November 9th-18th at the most important area, LIC Grounds, Connaught Circle. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Niranjana **Date:** October 29th 1973 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Saugor, India My Dear Niranjana Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 17, 1973. I am glad that you like the Glasgow temple and that you are going there to preach. We want that the Indian people participate in this movement of Lord Caitanya. My program is to go to Delhi on November 1 for our pandal program starting November 9. The new address there is: ISKCON, G 12 Anand Niketan Extension, New Delhi 110023. So you can come and see me there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Nityananda **Date:** February 11th 1973 — **Location:** Melbourne > New Orleans My Dear Nityananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 16th and I have noted the contents carefully. I can see from your account that everything is being conducted in a first class fashion and if you continue to spread Lord Caitanya's movement in this way your life will also become glorious. Therefore I recommend that you go on with more enthusiasm to inspire the devotees of New Orleans Yatra and I am confident that through your sincerity you can very shortly be one of the top distributing centres in the world. The initiation that you have recommended are approved by me. Victor Mistretta is now to be called Vrikodara and Darrel Martin is now Dvibhuja. You may send one letter to Kirtanananda Swami along with their beads for chanting on. I have authorized him to chant on the beads on my behalf. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Nityananda **Date:** February 18th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney > New Orleans My dear Nityananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated February 5th. with the enclosed daksine and I thank you for the same. Again I am feeling overjoyed at hearing of your increased distribution program and I request that you increase more and more. There can be no limit to our distribution because Krishna is unlimited therefore devotional service to Krishna is also unlimited, so you may instruct the devotees there about this. Regarding your proposal for having Ratha Yatra in New Orleans I request that you consult with the GBC in your zone, Satsvarupa das Goswami and ask him to discuss this matter with the other GBC men there in America. But one thing is very important. If you decide to do it, then you must do it very opulently, as they are doing in San Francisco. This is very important. I am approving of the first initiation of Debra Hillard. However it is not our policy to give first and second initiations at once. It is better she wait some time. Her new name will be DEBRAJA DASI and also I am agreeing to the second initiation of Shanti dasi. Now you please arrange it so that the Deities are worshiped very very properly and always remain humble in their presence. I am here in Australia and everything is going nicely. I will be returning to India by March 2nd. and then to America by mid-April and I look forward to seeing you again. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. You may hold one fire ceremony and Shanti dasi may listen to the Gayatri tape in her right ear. Enclosed please find one Gayatri slip for her ### Letter to Nityananda **Date:** April 17th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Nityananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 14, 1973 and was very pleased to read of your Sankirtana book distribution results. That you are sending good amount to the BBT even you have smaller size temple is much appreciated by me. I am very much pleased how all you disciples are distributing my books. Just now Karandhara has informed me that he is printing new editions of Krishna Trilogy, Sri Isopanisad, and NOD, all 100,000 copies each, and Krishna hardback sets, 50,000. So I am very much engladdened by this news. My Guru Maharaja used to be very much pleased whenever there was book distribution. So you just continue it solidly, that is my request. Yes, you can install Gaura Nitai Deities in your temple . . Just now we are ordering very nice first class murtis three feet high from Philippines. They will cost $50.00 per set plus shipping. So we can supply you from Los Angles. Enclosed is one brahmana gayatri mantra sheet for second initiation of Debraja Dasi. Now you show her how to count on the fingers, and have fire sacrifice, and she can hear the tape through the right ear. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Nityananda **Date:** July 20th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > New Orleans Dear Nityananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 15, 1973 and I have carefully noted the contents. It is very encouraging for me to see the activities of the New Orleans temple. I can see you have a nice house which you have purchased in the Society's name and that you are taking care to worship Lord Jagannatha with opulence. The picture of tulasi is especially indicative, because if tulasi grows luxuriantly that proves the sincere devotional service of the place. On you recommendation I am accepting the three candidates for initiation as my disciples. Their names are as follows: Miss Jeri Whorrel—Hamsini dasiRoy Roberts—Satyavrata dasDavid Deben—Caturbahu dasYou can send their beads for chanting to Satsvarupa Maharaja in Dallas. Now hold a fire yajna and invite as many guests as possible; hold kirtana and distribute prasadam. I am enclosing one brahmana thread duly chanted on by me for Vrikodara; have him hear the tape recording of me speaking the gayatri mantra, in his right ear and you instruct him in his Brahminical duties. Regarding Radha Krsna worship, yes, when your new temple is completed, so long as you have sufficient Brahmins you may plan to install Radha Krsna deities. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- NB: Thank you very much for your two checks; I am placing them in my appropriate accounts ### Letter to Nityananda **Date:** August 17th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > New Orleans My Dear Nityananda, Please my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 14, 1973. Regarding the deity installation you may consult Satsvarupa Goswami your GBC secretary for this. I have appointed these GBC men to oversee and manage all the affairs of the society giving me relief to do my translation work fully. On your recommendation I accept Srimati Hamsini Devi Dasi for second initiation. Please find the Gayatri Mantra enclosed. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Nityananda **Date:** December 15th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > New Orleans My dear Nityananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 11, 1973. Yes, I received the photo album and it was very nice. Thank you very much. I hereby accept the two devotees you recommended for second initiation and enclosed find two sacred threads and two gayatri mantras. Take instruction from Satsvarupa Goswami on how to properly perform the fire yajna after which the initiates may listen once to the mantra in the right ear from the cassette tape I have made. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Palika **Date:** January 28th 1973 — **Location:** ISKCON Calcutta My Dear Palika Devi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1/17/73 and have noted the contents with great care. You may be pleased to know that your husband has now taken sannyasa order of life for preaching the message of Lord Caitanya. Similarly you have gone alone to Hyderabad for pushing on the preaching work and I am very glad to hear that you have arrived safely. Regarding the two girls from America, I have no objection to them coming to assist you if they agree. It would be good service for all of them, especially Kalindi has suffered some difficulty since her husband has taken sannyasa. But I know that you are very strong in Krsna Consciousness. So very strictly now maintain our principles by chanting 16 rounds on the beads, reading our books, working in every second of your life for serving Krsna. this sincere attitude will make you more and more advance and one day Krsna will reveal Himself to you face to face. Hoping this finds you well and in happy mood, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Parasara **Date:** July 31st 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Evanston, Illinois My Dear Parasara Das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and magazine. 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. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- ACBS: hda ### Letter to Patita Uddharana **Date:** October 14th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Amsterdam My Dear Patita Uddharana Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 9, 1973 and have noted the contents. Yes, regarding your poems, I shall like to see what you have written. The encyclopedia is too great a task. Do not attempt it. Regarding writing, I may quote from the Caitanya-caritamrta Ādi lila, ninth chapter, the blue print of which I have just received from New York.esaba prasadae likhi caitanya-lila-gunajani va na jani, kari apana-sodhana[Cc. Ādi-lila 9:5]"It is by the mercy of all these Vaisnavas and gurus that I attempt to write about the pastimes and qualities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Whether I know or know not, it is for self purification that I write this book."The purport is that for transcendental writing one must be an authorized Vaisnava and should write to purify oneself, not for credit. It may or may not be published, but one who is actually sincere in writing, all his ambitions will be fulfilled. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Patita Uddharana **Date:** June 5th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Edinburgh My dear Patita Uddharana, Please accept my blessings. I have just now received your letter of 16-5-73 along with newspaper clippings. I have also seen some of these clippings when I was in London recently and some devotees from your temple were initiated by me. For the devotees of the Lord there always many difficulties for propagating Krsna Consciousness among the nondevotee demons. But we must learn to tolerate all the difficulties and push on regardless of whatever obstacles we may be presented with. No one can stop this Krsna Consciousness Movement because Lord Caitanya wants that His Holy Names will be spread to every village and town. So go on with the preaching work and keep me informed of your progress. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Prabhavisnu **Date:** January 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > London My dear Prabha Visnu, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 1, 1973, and I am very glad to hear from you the wonderful news of travelling party in England. I think the people of that place are becoming more and more inclined for this Krishna Consciousness movement, they are inviting you to stay at their houses, they are taking books, becoming sometimes devotees—all of these are very encouraging signs to me. If you simply go on in this way, stopping in every village and city of England-Scotland, or if there are other places like Ireland, simply stop for some time, distribute books and hold Sankirtana procession, answer their questions, give some leaflets or small informations freely, distribute prasadam wherever possible, at least some small thing, and if there is genuine interest being shown, then request the townspeople to arrange some engagements for speaking in their schools, or in someone's home, or a hall, like that. In this way remain always without anxiety for destination and comfortable situations, always relying only on the mercy of Krishna for your plan, just go on preaching His message and selling His books, wherever there is interest. We shall not waste time if there is no interest or if the people are unfriendly, there are so many places to go. But I understand from your letter that practically everyone is taking some interest. That means you are presenting the thing in a very nice manner, they can detect that here are some persons who are actually sincere and nice, let me hear them, let me purchase one book. So I can understand that it is not an easy matter to travel extensively over long periods of time without proper food, rest, and sometimes it must be very cold there also, and still, because you are getting so much enjoyment, spiritual enjoyment, from it, it seems like play to you. That is advanced stage of spiritual life, never attained by even the greatest yogis and so-called jyanis. But let any man see our devotees working so hard for Krishna, then let anyone say that they are not better than any millions of so-called yogis and transcendentalists, that is my challenge! Because you are rightly understanding through your personal realization this philosophy of Krishna Consciousness, therefore in such a short time you have surpassed all the stages of yoga processes to come to the highest point of surrendering to Krishna. That I can very much appreciate, thank you very much for helping me in this way. Hoping this meets you and the other men of your party in the best of health and spirits. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Prahladananda **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Austin, Texas My dear Prahladananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 31, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. Yes, that will be the best idea, to move your Austin temple closer to the University where there are so many potential devotees. Of course, we may set up our camp below any tree and preach anywhere, but because they will expect some comfortable place just to their standard of comfort, therefore we provide, but only so they will be more receptive to our preaching. So whatever must be done, must be done. Now in consultation with Satsvarupa, just do the needful and think always in your mind how much what you are doing will be pleasing to Krsna. That standard for pleasing Krsna is simply to spread this Krsna Consciousness message far and wide all over the globe. So if you are engaged in that activity, somehow or other, for preaching Krsna's name and fame, then that is the proper use of your energy and time, and you have nothing to worry further. So go on in this way, serving your spiritual master to best of your capacity, and remaining always fixed and steady in your determination to fulfill the goal of your life, namely, to go back to home, back to Godhead, without further delay. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Prahladananda **Date:** August 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Austin, Texas My Dear Prahladananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 12, 1973.I am enclosing herewith the sacred threads and Gayatri Mantras as requested by you. Hold a fire sacrifice amongst yourselves and prepare a nice feast and distribute to the devotees. Yes that is nice that you are distributing many books. I do not want money, or buildings or anything else, I simply want to see that my books are being distributed and because you are doing that I am quite happy. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Puri Maharaj **Date:** April 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Los AngelesISKCON Los > Angeles3764 Watseka Ave.Los Angeles, Calif. 90034 My Dear Puri Maharaj, Please accept my humble dandavats. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 25, 1973 and I have noted the contents with great interest. While in Mayapur I expected to see you. You would have been pleased to see the excellent building that we have constructed. People say it is a unique building in all of Nadia district. There is ample space for 300 gentlemen to come and visit. The proposal is to construct four such buildings and a big Temple two hundred and fifty feet high. Regarding the house at Puri – the place of Srila Prabhupada – it is understood to be in implication in so many ways. I understand also that Sripad B.D. Madhav Maharaj is also eager to purchase, so I do not wish to make a competitive price. Now I have left India for 6 months and may return by October. If in the meantime some real developments take place you can write to me at my Los Angeles address which follows where I am returning via London and New York. The address is 3764 Watseka Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. 90034 USA. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Puri Maharajji **Date:** January 20th 1973 — **Location:** BombayB > -11 Sea Face Park,50 B. Desai Road,Bombay-26 My dear Puri Maharajji, Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated January 5, 1973 is in hand, and I thank you very much for your kind sentiments. I am going to Calcutta on 23rd instant and we shall remain there until February 2nd, giving programs each night at different places in Calcutta. Then we are gong to Australia and New Zealand for one month, returning to Mayapur by first of March. So if you are able to meet me either in Calcutta or Mayapur, I shall be most happy to see you again and I think that we have got many things to discuss. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda --- Tridandi SwamiSri B.V. Puri Maharaj, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission, Aryapuram-Rajahmundry-1,E. Godavari (A.P.) ### Letter to Purusottama **Date:** October 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Purusottama das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 17, 1973 and have noted the contents. You should know it that without surrender bhakti does not begin. Surrender to Krsna or to His representative is absolutely necessary. I do not know why your understanding of Krsna consciousness is different from that of Madhudvisa Swami's.[text missing] ...s, it is required that 16 rounds be chanted as an [text missing] ...te necessity. Because we have got many duties, [text missing] ...ve minimized the amount to 16 rounds, otherwise [text missing] ...minimum is 64 rounds, but Western people cannot [text missing] ...this. So 16 rounds must be executed. Regarding your recommendations, I accept the following as my initiated disciples: Sutapa Das - LukeAnakadundubhi Das - DavidTrivarga Das - JerryI have chanted on the beads you have sent me, and they are mailed under separate post. But, in future I request you to send the beads for being chanted upon by Madhudvisa Maharaja. This is to avoid the postal charges back and forth. Please see that the new disciples are always engaged in devotional service. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Pusta Krsna **Date:** March 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Paris My dear Pusta Krsna: Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 13th of March, with enclosures. Yes, your study program is nice. By writing according to our realization we become more and more convinced and all doubts are destroyed. I have looked over your essay and I think you are understanding our philosophy rightly. Why don't you write something for Back to Godhead? We can avoid idle conversation and utilize our time in the spare moments for studying slokas from the Gita and Bhagavatam. Practically I have given you more than enough for 50 years at one sloka daily. If we can simply read one sloka daily, that is step by step progress. I said it long ago, that we are trying to make Brahmanas from anywhere in the world. We can offer the intelligent person the opportunity to be trained up in the highest spiritual knowledge and train him up as a preacher himself. That is a very attractive offer, so in your traveling SKP you can preach like that, and quote some important slokas from our books and wherever you go you will be respected and you can recruit some solid devotees for pushing on this movement. So kindly go on with your program. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Pusta Krsna **Date:** April 11th 1973 — **Location:** New York My Dear Pusta Krsna Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I have been informed of the situation of the South African program by Brahmananda Swami who is here with me now as personal secretary, and I want to send you there. There is one boy there Ksudhi Dasa who is very young boy, so I want you to go there to take charge of the preaching program there in Durban. One Mr. Parekh of the Hindu Mandal has written me inviting me to go there and they will pay all the tickets. q 750615 750615 So I want to go there from London on my return to India, and I can stop there. So you go there and make all the arrangements and inform me accordingly and I can come. You can correspond with Ksudhi Dasa Brahmacari at the following address: c/o Popatlal Kara, 201 Gray St., Durban, South Africa, for getting the visas. It will be easier for you to go from London. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Radha-Damodara **Date:** September 30th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Radha Damodara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for the very nice button you have sent me. Preaching work is our main business as this picture on the button shows. I pray that Krsna blesses you with all strength and intelligence to guide the Sankirtana movement ahead in Denver. I hope this finds you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg ### Letter to Rajiblocan **Date:** January 31st 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Miami My dear Rajiblocan das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 20, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. As you are temple president, that is a great responsibility. So you must try to execute it with great care. The main thing is that you must set nice example for the others by following very rigidly the regulative principles, such as chanting 16 rounds on the beads, reading the books, getting up to attend mangala aratrika, etc. In this way everyone shall be encouraged. We must be so careful to train the devotees nicely. Now they have come from the realm of maya to Krsna's place, so it is our duty to keep them there, not that they shall again fall victim of maya. Regarding the question of your wife's initiation, that is certainly approved by me. You may arrange with Kirtanananda Maharaja for receiving beads duly chanted upon by him. Now both of you cooperate for pushing on this Krsna Consciousness movement as this is our only business in this human form of life. I hope this finds you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Ram Prashad **Date:** January 29th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Ram Prashad232, Sector 20-AChandigarh Dear Ram Prashad, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 10, 1973, and I have noted the contents. I am sorry to note that you have not yet received your life membership cards or receipt as yet. I have sent your letter to Bombay and directed the President, Sriman Tulasi dasa, to immediately send you the same. Our Bombay Hare Krsna Festival has been a grand success. More than 15,000 people attended each night and joined in the kirtana and arati, and listened very attentively to my discourses. At the end of the last day seven young men, two from Europe and 5 from India, shaved their heads as brahmacaris and have joined us full time. People are eager for Krsna consciousness, when it is given in its pure form. I am leaving for Australia by 2nd February to visit our ISKCON center there and I shall be returning in March to officially open the first residential block of our World Headquarters at Sridhama Mayapur, District Nadia, West Bengal. Hoping this meets you well, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** India My Dear Ramesvara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 27, 1972, and with great happiness I have read your figures of amount of books sold during three-day period, December 22-24, 1972. It is scarcely believable that more than 17,100 books could have been sold by one temple in three days! That indicates to me that people are at last becoming little serious about this Krsna Consciousness movement in your country. Otherwise, why they should buy our books? But they can see that our boys and girls, devotees, are so much sincere and serious to distribute the message of Krsna consciousness, they are at once struck by seeing them and therefore they appreciate and purchase. This is unique in the world. Perhaps we are the only sincere persons on this whole planet. At least our books are not to be seen anywhere else. So I am so much pleased upon all of the boys and girls in Los Angeles and all over the world who are understanding and appreciating this unique quality of our transcendental literature and voluntarily they are going out to distribute despite all circumstances of difficulty. By this effort alone they are assured to go back to home, back to Godhead. In order to change this materialistic society and prevent them from gliding to hell, first thing is to educate them. All decent men want to give service to humanity, only thing is they do not have information really what is that service. Hospitals, feeding the poor, Red Cross, these are service to the bodies only, not to the man. Service to humanity means jnana. By giving people knowledge, jnana, that is the highest service to humanity. So we are performing the actual welfare work of society by informing everyone through our literatures who is God, who they are, and what is the relationship. In this way everyone who hears our message gets the opportunity to fulfill his actual position as human entity and become delivered from the clutches of maya. So you may understand it that by disseminating our Krsna consciousness propaganda anywhere and everywhere, by selling books, by making publicity, newspapers, television, so many ways there are to spread Krsna consciousness information, you may know it that by utilizing our energy in this way to give everyone access to the Absolute Truth, that is the real understanding of desire to serve humanity. Understanding is one thing, and practical application of that understanding is another. But as devotees of Krsna, being engaged in the practical work of spreading Krsna consciousness, that is already the highest realization. That's all right, that is our real mission, to deliver the world by preaching Krsna's message to others, but even higher realization, the highest realization, is to save oneself. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** February 14th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney My Dear Ramesvara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated February 5th. and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very much pleased to hear of your increased book distribution and it gives me great pleasure to hear of your increased eagerness to distribute my literature. Through the distribution of this literature, we can completely annihilate all the bogus yogi groups in the world. Of this fact I am sure. Therefore there is no need for us to directly attack these charlatans but simply by this distribution of books the sunlight of Krishna consciousness will prevail. It has been brought to my attention that some of my students are not studying. I do not know if this applies to you or the devotees under your care, but I must stress again that we must have our classes one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening and the devotees must also chant regularly their sixteen rounds and follow the principles. The rest of the time they may go on distribution of my books. So I hope you will do the needful in this regard. Still again I must express my appreciation for Sriman Tripurari Prabhu's outstanding service, as well as all the devotees in your party. So my request to you is to go on in this way with more enthusiasm. This is the key. Always remain enthusiastic and inspire others and your life will be glorious and at the end you are sure to go back to Home, back to Godhead. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** August 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated July 29, 1973 and I have noted the contents with great pleasure. There is no doubt about it, to distribute books is our most important activity. The temple is a place not for eating and sleeping, but as a base from which we send out our soldiers to fight with maya. Fight with maya means to drop thousand and millions of books into the lap of the conditioned souls. Just like during war time the Bombs are raining from the sky like anything. So you are the expert in this field. I like also your programme of sending out your best men to teach the others. That is the actual process of Krishna Consciousness. To train others continue this programme so that in the future every devotee in our movement will know the art of distributing books. This is approved by me. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** October 12th 1973 — **Location:** India My Dear Ramesvara: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 19, 1973 forwarded to me from Japan. I am glad to hear of the book distribution success of Tripurari in Chicago. It is reported that he did it dressed in dhoti, but Karandhara says that dhoti is an impediment. So if he can distribute 105 Gitas and 105 Sri Isopanisad in one day in dhoti in Chicago, why not try for this in other places as well. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- N.B. I also thank you for sending the copies of the letters of the people expressing their appreciation of our books. I am glad that these letters are being answered promptly by you. This is important ### Letter to Ravindra Svarupa **Date:** January 5th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay [To Ravindra Svarupa] [PAGE MISSING] fully, it is very nice. So preach in this way, whatever is palatable to the student class, and give them factual Krsna Consciousness. In this way, try to recruit some men from the student class of men for joining us as future leaders of our Society. If we simply go on expanding and there are no qualified men to lead, then everything will be spoiled eventually. So you have got the best opportunity for this great service to Krsna, and I think that Krsna will send you some very qualified men to take instruction from you. But one thing is, do not spend much time for topics that are not concerned with Krsna Consciousness, neither try to speculate about history and other things. But the way you have described it, your program is nice. So if anyone students are serious to learn Krsna Consciousness from you, give them all help and facility, let them accept gradually by their intelligence. Do not force, but if gradually they understand, they will voluntarily accept the life of tapasya or austerity of Krsna Consciousness movement. In this way, by their voluntary agreement to join and follow strictly, they will assist me in the leading posts to spread on Lord Caitanya's message all over the world. Regarding your question is it all right to assign the entire sankirtana party for distributing books so that no one will be free for street chanting? Of course we should not understanding the meaning of sankirtana very narrowly, that only chanting and dancing and playing instruments, no, sankirtana means to glorify the Lord in a congregational manner. So if many devotees are going out daily on the streets and public places for distributing our literature, that is also sankirtana, even if there is no one chanting. Hearing and chanting are essential processes for sankirtana. So if someone is hearing us singing on the street, or if he is purchasing one book and if he reads sincerely, these two activities are the same. So if there is any occasion of necessity, if there are not very many men available or if there is prohibition by the municipal authorities, something like that, we may assign everyone for distributing our literatures, there is no loss for that. But it is always better if there are also some devotees chanting loudly on the street. If there is even one man to two men or a small party who are chanting Hare Krishna, that will increase also the book sales. So if there are sufficient men, and if we have got sanction by the authorities, it is always better to have at least a small party chanting along with as many distributers of books as possible. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Revatinandana **Date:** June 5th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > London My dear Revatinandana, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 29-5-73, and accompanying essay, and have noted the contents carefully. Yes, your article is very nice. It is very important that we now expose the nonsense theories of these rascal scientists who assert that life comes from matter. They say that life comes from some chemicals, but they cannot say wherefrom these chemicals have come. Actually, if we examine carefully, chemicals are coming from life, not life from chemicals. Just like the lemon tree. It is producing so many lemons. In each lemon there is so much citric acid. So, due to the presence of life, so many chemicals are being produced. Also, I have experienced, that one of my toenails has come off due to infection, but now my body is replacing that nail with another one of the exact size and shape as the one I have lost. If I have got such a potency to create, then what to speak of the Supreme Living Being lord Sri Krsna. If the sub-living entities can produce so much chemicals then what to speak of the Supreme living entity. This is called inconceivable potency. The living being has got an inconceivable potency to create. I do not know how my nail is coming. And the Supreme Living Entity or God, has got unlimited potency to create. I do not think that any reasonable intelligent man or scientist can deny. Aham sarvasya prabhavo, I am the source of everything, [Bg. 10.8].Regarding my coming to London for Rathayatra on July 8th, if my health is by that time permitting, then I surely will come there to London. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Revatinandana **Date:** November 14th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Edinburgh, Scotland My Dear Revatinandana Swami, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 27, 1973 and also the letter from Partha Das. I am glad that you are traveling and preaching. This is your main business. For a sannyasi the more he wanders and preaches, the more he becomes experienced. The people benefit, he benefits, and from a material point of view he'll profit. So constantly travel and distribute books as much as possible. I have received report from New York today as follows: "we have just broken all ISKCON records for the number of books distributed. On October 27 we distributed 13,486 books in one day. On Nov. 3 we distributed 13,127 in one day along with 10,000 lugdo's." Now New York is heading the list. Regarding the auto accident, just hold a condolence meeting for Raghava dasa brahmacari and pray for his soul to Krsna for giving him a good chance for advancement in Krsna consciousness. Certainly Krsna will give him a good place to take birth where he can again begin in Krsna consciousness activities. That is sure. But, we offer our condolences to a departed soul separated from a Vaisnava. Do you know that there must be prasadam distributed? After three days after the demise of a Vaisnava a function should be held for offering the departed soul and all others prasadam. This is the system. Yes I have received reports of London that it is going on nicely. But one report is not satisfactory. That chandelier in the temple has been taken away by the supplier because Syamasundara took it on credit and has not paid. I do not know if it is a fact but it is regretable. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Revatinandana **Date:** January 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Revatinandana, Please accept my blessings. Just now I have received some more requests for giving first initiation from Dhananjaya, and now I am receiving weekly not less than ten to fifteen such requests from new students. So it is becoming very expensive to send so many sets of beads such long distance, and it has become little bothersome for me also, so I think now you may be appointed by me to give first initiations to new disciples by chanting on their beads on my behalf. In America Kirtanananda Swami is going that. So now if there are two of you that will give me great relief. Kirtanananda will chant on the beads for new devotees in America, Canada, like that, you can chant on the beads for the European continent new disciples. They shall, of course, still be considered as my disciples, not that they shall become your disciples, but you will be empowered by me to chant their beads and that is the same effect of binding master and disciple as if I were personally chanting. They may continue to send me their letters of request, along the President's recommendation, and I shall give them name and it will be entered by my Secretary in our records, only I will send my letter of reply to you and you will purchase beads there and chant them and send, along with my letter to the new initiates. Is that all right? I shall continue to deal with the matter of second initiations. The sacred threads do not require so much postage to send airmail. ### Letter to Roger **Date:** January 26th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Vancouver My dear Roger, Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter of January 5, 1973, and have noted the contents. Thank you very much for your kind sentiments. By engaging in this Krsna Consciousness Movement you will be perfecting your own life as well as helping others to also come to the platform of God-consciousness. This is the real business of human life, though unfortunately the majority of human beings are neglecting. Now it is our business to wake them up to Krsna Consciousness. Please read my books very carefully and become convinced on this point. Chant Hare Krsna, take prasadam, and follow the regulative principles very rigidly. This will make you more and more advanced in spiritual life. I hope this finds you in good spirits. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Rsabhadeva **Date:** March 21st 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Rsabhadeva: Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 7th of March. Yes, your Temple is always gathering nice devotees and I accept Brian, Leslie and Caroline as my duly initiated disciples and you can send the beads for chanting to Kirtanananda Swami, along with a copy of this letter. Their new names are: Bhojadeva das, Taraka dasi and Mukhara dasi respectively. Now it will please me very much if you all can work together nicely and recruit many more young people to join our movement, it is their only future hope. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Rsabhadeva **Date:** September 27th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Laguna Beach My Dear Rsabhadeva dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 8, 1973. Regarding the initiations I am accepting the following devotees as my initiated disciples: Bhayahari das (Glen,) Visvamitra das (Vern,) Sanka Das (Jim,) Sarvani dasi (Sharon,) and Nirupadi Dasi (Judy). Please see that they all strictly follow our rules and regulations and that they chant 16 rounds minimum on the beads Hare Krishna mantra. Also enclosed is a sacred thread for Diradarsa dasa duly sanctified by me. So you can hold a fire sacrifice amongst the devotees and let him hear the mantra from the tape in the right ear. I hope this meets you all in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** February 14th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney My Dear Rupanuga, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated 31/1/73. After conferring with my various GBC representatives I have concluded that polygamy must be strictly prohibited in our society. Although it is a Vedic institution still there are so many legal implications. Neither are many of our men fixed up enough to tend for more than one wife. Polygamy will simply increase the sex life and our philosophy is to gradually decrease the sex life till eventually there is no sex life. The policy should be that all the women are given the utmost protection. Women are looking for husbands because they feel unprotected so it is up to the senior members to give all protection to the women. Regarding our sankirtana party members dressing up as hippies in order to increase book distribution this is not a very good plan. I am instructing Bali Mardan Maharaja that this should be stopped, that we should not give anyone cause to call us hippies, but the devotees can dress up in respectable clothes like ladies and gentlemen in order to distribute my literatures under special circumstances, but even this program should not become widespread. It should only go on under the supervision of Bali Mardan Goswami and Karandhara das. Wherever there are individuals there is bound to be difference of opinion. Therefore for this purpose I have formulated the GBC. Therefore any new programs or proposals or discrepancies should be submitted before the Governing Board Commission and then their conclusion should be submitted to me for the final approval. In other words I am requesting you as my senior men not to tax my brain with so many details but simply come to a conclusion amongst yourselves and then present this final conclusion for my sanction. In this way I will be free to concentrate on my translation of Srimad-Bhagavatam. I have the information of a few cases of illicit sex in our society but this is not an overall thing. And whether it is or not, the only cure is Hari Nama. You simply be engaged in chanting all day and serving Krishna and any time there is no service, simply chant Hare Krishna. Then there is no chance for illicit sex. As far as studying my books is concerned, I have already given the order. One hour in the morning class and one hour in the evening and if there is extra time during the day it may be used for studying but we cannot expect everyone to be studious. If someone has desired to distribute books all day he may do this, but he must always follow the principles of rising early, chanting 16 rounds, etc. Just as some rich men have no inclination for studying, but still he opens many schools for others to study at. Like this, all of my students may not be inclined to study but they are very much eager to give others the opportunity to read my books and this should not be discouraged. All programs must go on but it is a fact that this book distribution program is very very important. It is real preaching work but I think this program for T.V. and radio is not so important. There are so many T.V. programs. Someone will see us on T.V. and then right after they will see some other nonsense and they will forget. Therefore it is better for them to read my books but I think your proposal for seriously organizing the college programs is first class. If this program is conducted in the proper fashion it can be our biggest book distribution outlet, I am convinced of this. You are advanced devotee and you should use your intelligence to convince the professors that they should use my books in the colleges. This will be the greatest service. Regarding your question about taking Gaura-Nitai Deities with you on travelling Kirtana, this is not so important. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring India He did not bring His Deity with Him. But if you can make proper arrangement then you may take them, but if you say you have no Brahmins then I think for the time being you may postpone this program. I will be returning to Calcutta from my preaching tour in Australasia by the 2nd. of March and therefore I am requesting that you come to Calcutta no later than this date in order to travel with me and be my secretary for one month. If there is any difficulty in this would you please write to me at Auckland, New Zealand for I will be arriving there on the 19th of February. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. I am in due receipt of your most recent letter and I can see if the T.V. agrees to endorse our books and show them on T.V., this is a good program and it must be continued ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** October 13th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Atlanta My Dear Rupanuga Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 29, 1973 together with the campaign materials. Regarding Guyana, if the money is there, so you open an office and print books. That will be all right. Yes, Kesava may be GBC man for South America. That is approved by me. And you can incorporate Central America into the Eastern Zone. So do it with great enthusiasm. I am very glad to learn that men are joining in Santo Domingo. So far as getting a non-American for going to Cuba, you can take a man from Mexico. I am very glad to learn of the book distribution. You keep the paperbook editions. Why people should pay unnecessarily? Regarding your question about the spiritual world and the material world, there may be maya, but one who is Krsna conscious has nothing to do with it, exactly like there is the police department but the law abiding citizen has nothing to do with it. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated: daivi hy esa gunamayi/ mama maya duratyaya/ mam eva ye prapadyante/ mayam etam taranti te. [Bg. 7.14]. In answer to your other question, yes, the heat is bodily temperature. Regarding the initiations, I accept the following as my disciples: Anupama Das (Rupa Goswami's younger brother)—FrankNikhilesvari dasi—NoraAlso enclosed is one sacred thread for Vrajajana Das Brahmacari. . So you can chant on the beads and perform the sacrifice. I also give the gayatri mantra second initiation to Bhagyavati dasi. You can give them the translation right away. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- [PAGE MISSING] ### Letter to Sama **Date:** May 6th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Baltimore My dear Sama, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 25, 1973.Thank you very much for sincerely pushing on Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana Movement in the city of Baltimore. Try to always increase the distribution of my books more and more. This is our most important program for reaching the lost souls of Kali Yuga. We have to educate men about the absolute truth. All of the scientists and other big men are simply cheating the mass of men by making false propaganda in order to take some money from them. We must expose these rascals by strong preaching and profuse distribution of these Krsna Conscious literatures. I am pleased to accept Bhaktin Pattie as my initiated disciple and am enclosing a separate letter for her. Now hold a fire yajna and send her beads to Rupanuga das Goswami for chanting on. Hoping this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Sama, Sammita **Date:** January 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Baltimore My dear Sama and Sammita Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 22, 1972, and I am so glad to hear that you are reopening the Baltimore temple and that you are prepared to stay there your life long for developing it to the highest standard. Yes, I was little disturbed to hear that we had closed down the Baltimore temple before. Baltimore is a very important city of your country and we must maintain our center there at all costs. I can understand by your letter that you are both very serious and sincere devotees of Krsna, husband and wife, so I think that you will have no difficulty in performing your duties there. First business will be to preach widely throughout the city and distribute our books and Krsna Consciousness propaganda. In this way, try to recruit some local men to help you. You are only two persons, therefore big temple with deity worship and so many other things will be impossible to maintain. Therefore if you get a place, simply hold our standard program of kirtana morning and evening, with class, inviting friends and other people that you meet. In this way develop the thing gradually, we are not in very much hurry to get big big house and very comfortable position, no. Our first and foremost business is to spread Krsna Consciousness. So utilize every opportunity that Krsna gives you for preaching His message, that is real meaning of temple management. Hoping this meets you both in the best of health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Sankara Pyne **Date:** October 20th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Sankara Pyne: Please accept my blessing. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15/8/73 and I thank you very much for it and your Vyasa Puja appreciation. It is stated in the Vedas that to anyone who has firm faith in the spiritual master and Krsna, to him all the imports of the Vedas are easily revealed. I am very glad to learn that you are helping in the preaching work by distributing our books to the libraries in Calcutta. This is very important work. The more our books are distributed, the more people will become convinced about this movement of Krsna consciousness, and they will be benefited from it. So you are a nice boy, and I wish that you continue on in this way. My program is to start within the next several days for Vrindaban and Delhi. We are having a big festival in Delhi. Then I will go abroad. I expect to be returning to Calcutta for our celebration in Mayapur of Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day in March 1974, and I look forward to seeing you at that time. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Sankara Pyne **Date:** November 15th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi My Dear Sankara Pyne: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your Bengali letter date 4/11/73. I am glad to learn that my books are being read in the Calcutta University and the National Library and others. Go on in this way distributing as far as possible. You can still advance in krsna consciousness even in the office by chanting and giving some percentage to the mandir. Our philosophy is that all the fruits of our activity go to Krsna for His enjoyment. It does not matter what our position may be. Soon I shall be leaving India, but I shall return in March for Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Appearance Day, and I shall see you then. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Sankarsana **Date:** February 19th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney > Miami My dear Sankarsana, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 26th. and have noted the contents carefully. All of your programs sound very pleasing to me and I request that you write and consult with Visnu Jana Maharaja and the local GBC men, in order to bring about the realization of this proposal. I am here in Australia at the moment and will be returning to India by March 2nd. and then to America in mid-April, and I hope to see you then. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Sarva Suhrit **Date:** April 17th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My dear Sarva Suhrit Dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated and one letter from your wife dated 4.12.73 requesting sacred thread and mahamantra initiation respectively. I am expecting to go to London, and at that time I will personally initiate both of you. In the meantime you should both strictly follow the principles. This is our strength. It is not sufficient for us to just chant 16 rounds, but we must endeavor to chant offenselessly 16 rounds. Even we must be always chanting Hare Krsna, why only 16 rounds. So you are a good boy, but you just do everything carefully, never forgetting Krsna for a moment, and everything will come out for you successfully. I hope this meets you in good health, both husband and wife. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satadhanya **Date:** March 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Satadhanya: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 13rd March. I am very much glad to hear that you have decided to return to Japan and help Trivikrama Maharaja. By now you should have the full fare and be getting ready to go there. I have heard from Trivikrama that they are distributing large amounts of BTGs therein Tokyo, 500 to 1000 per day. So you have had some considerable experience in Japan, and I am requesting that you return as soon as possible and help increase our activities there. I think Tokyo is unlimited, and soon we will have our own place registered there. You are studying Sanskrit, that is very nice. If you can to learn to vibrate some important Sanskrit verses then you will be listened to wherever you go. On my return trip to India next time I expect to land in Tokyo so I can see you at that time. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** February 10th 1973 — **Location:** Melbourne My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 22nd, and 23rd and have noted the contents carefully. I am very much encouraged that you are taking this program of preaching to the college students seriously and this is very important program. Regarding your various questions. First let us understand that polygamy cannot be permitted in our society. Legally it is impossible and neither are there many of our devotees who are prepared to assume the responsibility for many wives. Therefore as I have suggested previously as they do in Christian religion they have so many convent where the women stay and they receive protection. The point is that the women must be protected and it is the duties of the leaders of our society to see that this is carried out. Your program for those who are desiring to take sannyasa is approved by me and I request that you make something concrete and distribute it to all the other GBC members and amongst yourselves you may decide who will take sannyasa. Your question in regard to marriage, we must impress upon the parties involved that Krishna Conscious marriage is not some cheap thing that may be embraced whimsically and at any time thrown off. The boy and girl must be willing to accept each other for life and be prepared to get a job if need be and live in an outside apartment and raise children. These points should be emphasized. Regarding your preaching to individuals, you must use your discretion in this regard. But one thing. Those who come to learn must admit that they do not know who they are, or do they know who is God, and they must be prepared to take to this process. If I go to the physician and ask him will you please tell me all about medicine and I will write it down is that possible? No. You must take to the process. You must enter the medical school, take your internship and do so many things. Like this if you want spiritual knowledge you must take to the process and follow the principles. So therefore if you are spending so much time with individuals they must first admit that they do not know who they are and they do not know who is God. These two things are completely lacking in modern educational systems. And then after admitting these things they must be willing to take to the process. Then they can obtain spiritual knowledge. As far as staying in some boys apartment, this is permissable if everyone in the house agrees to follow the principles while you are there. That is no smoking, no drinking, etc. You may also install a small altar there with a picture of Guru and Gauranga and the Spiritual Masters there and perform mangala arati every morning and hold classes etc. Under these circumstances you can live in others apartments. The point is we must not lower our position but we must educate others to come up to our standards. Regarding your writing, you must know that it is the duty of sannyasa to write always to save the cripple minded man and women. In fact sannyasa must do everything. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** February 15th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney > Los Angeles My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very pleased to hear of your determination in spreading this Krishna Consciousness philosophy on all these campuses. This is a very important program. Right from the beginning of my mission, I have always stressed and encouraged my disciples to work with the college students. You should not be discouraged if people are not coming to your meetings. We are trying to please Krishna. That is all. We simply must go on with our business, to the best of our ability. We must always sincerely try to do our best with great determination. This is the transcendental position. Success or failure, this is not our business. We leave that up to Krishna. My Guru Maharaja said, it does not matter if anyone comes to hear. You go on with your chanting. If no-one hears you the walls will hear. But this does not mean that we should sit down someplace and simply chant Hare Krishna for our own benefit. We should be always anxious to save the cripple minded people with the science of Krishna Consciousness. This is the position of a Vaisnava. One disciple of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Vasudeva Datta prayed to Lord Caitanya, please Caitanya Mahaprabhu, take all these people back to Home, back to Godhead and I will suffer for their sins. Like this, this is the attitude of a pure Vaisnava. Actually the true Vaisnava, he is the only true humanitarian in the world today, for he is interested in the well-being of all living entities. So you will continue on and consult with Karandhara and the other GBC men and formulate some program to preach this Krishna Consciousness in the colleges and this will please me very much. I am approving of the initiation of John Favors who is now to be called GHANASYAMA DASA. From your description he is to be a very nice and intelligent boy so please train him up properly. You may send his beads on to Kirtanananda Maharaja for chanting. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** April 11th 1973 — **Location:** New York My Dear Satsvarupa Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 8, 1973. Now I am concerned that the Gurukula experiment should come out nicely. These children are the future hope of our Society, so it is a very important matter how we are training them in Krishna consciousness from the very childhood. It was yourself who started this idea and it has been progressing nicely. Now you see that it continues to develop. So you should go there and inform me what is the position. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. The simple method I have introduced, namely learn English and Sanskrit, is sufficient. Why the so-called Montessori method? (P.S. handwritten) ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** April 19th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Satsvarupa Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 15, 1973 with enclosure of m/s. Narada Bhakti Sutra. . I have no objection to your publishing it, however there are many, many mistakes in the Sanskrit which have to be corrected, so I am returning the m/s. to you under separate cover. Regarding "Prayers of King Kulasekhara," I never said I was displeased with your publishing it in BTG.Regarding Gurukula, it is not required that parents live there with there children. We can take care of the children, but not the parents. Any parents there must be engaged preaching and selling books, and going on the Sankirtana party. Mohanananda Prabhu has agreed to fully cooperate, now you just direct him. I just want that the children learn English and Sanskrit nicely, that's all. I want that things go on there nicely, it is so important work. If necessary I will come there myself to see how it is going, but only if the climate is suitable, neither too hot nor too cold. This Los Angeles climate is just suitable for me. Regarding dancing, our dancing is ecstatic. We need not waste time 5 hours daily instead of chanting, for practicing. We are not professional dancers, neither we require it. These things should not be encouraged. In New York they have such activities, but they should not be going on in Gurukula. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** August 8th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Dallas My dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and GBC report, it is very nice and I am having it copied and sent to the other GBC Members so they may follow your example. I was not at all inconvenienced by you, on the contrary, I say that you were the best secretary and you did your work most faithfully, I appreciated it, may Krishna bless you. Yes! Before the Spiritual Master a dullheaded fool is required, an over intelligent disciple is not a very good qualification. Even Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented himself as a dullheaded fool in front of his Spiritual Master and faithfully chanted Hare Krishna. So now Krishna has sent you a nice bus, and you also have a good field for preaching. Chant, dance distribute books and Prasadam and everything will increase automatically. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** August 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 22, 1973.You are the only one sending in reports, so I thank you very much for your diligence. If you can arrange for meetings with Professor Dimock and other professors then do it for the month of October and I shall come. Krishna is very kind upon you because he has given you so many responsible tasks. So always think of the Lotus Feet of Sri Krishna and you will find no difficulties in executing the tasks allotted to you by Krishna. Bhaktivinode Thakura used to say all difficult tasks he had to execute for Krishna were considered as great pleasure for him. Regarding the criticism from others, that may be there but we have to follow our own principles. Syamasundara was too attached to his daughter and therefore he took her back, but it is not good. Kindly see that the principles are being followed, deity worship, sankirtana, chanting etc. If we maintain these principles rigidly there is no question of fall down and without any difficulty our progressive march will advance. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** September 16th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Satsvarupa Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report dated Sept. 3, and have noted the contents. So far naming of the Detroit Deities, They shall be known as Radha Kunja Behari. Yes, it is proper etiquette that the sannyasis consult with the local president for anything they need such as men. Regarding the Gurukula I am glad to hear that the one 5 year old boy wanted to stay with us. That is very good. Boys like friends of the same age. Regarding sending the older boys to New Vrindaban. let New Vrindaban have sufficient place for them, then you can consider. Anyway, this will have to be decided amongst yourselves. Yes for Deity worship at least 10 brahmanas are required. Regarding New Orleans, the book distribution must be established not just the Deity worship. This is very important to our movement, so please arrange this to go on. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** October 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your report for Central USA dated September 25th and I have noted the contents with great satisfaction. Your reports are coming more regularly than any other GBC and from them I can understand that things are developing very steadily under your supervision. Karandhara's plan to eventually purchase the entire block of land for Gurukula at the low price it is available is good. Yes, Dayananda is correct. When the boys and girls become ten or twelve years and above, then should be separated. At that time special care should be taken, because once they become a victim of sex their whole life becomes spoiled. I am very glad to learn that Govardhana dasa has become a leader in the deity worship, due to his inspired service. That is the real thing—one who has inspiration of life, he can do anything. Rupa Goswami explains this as "utsaha", enthusiasm. I am very pleased that you and Hrdayananda Swami are traveling and preaching and that everyone was singing and dancing at the kirtana at the U. of Iowa. It is a sign of great success. Your plan to spend up to one month in each big university city sometimes taking an apartment for conducting regular evening meetings is approved by me. But do not open any permanent centers, just take the apartment for a month and then move onto another city. For the time being new centers may not be opened. Whatever centers we have got already, let us organize them very soundly. If more men are available, let them come to India. I have already written to Karandhara that fifty more men are required in India, so if possible, you may arrange for some men to come from your zone. So I am very pleased with your preaching, please continue with all enthusiasm and determination and win the hearts of all your fellow countrymen by offering this authorized process of Krishna Consciousness. I hope this meets you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** November 2nd 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Dallas My Dear Satsvarupa das Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report for the period ending October 1, 1973 dated October 12, 1973. Yes, I have received your report dated September 25, 1973 and have replied it on October 4, 1973. With regard to Dallas Mohanananda has now come to Bombay, and because our Giriraja is returning to the U.S.A. on account of his health. Mohanananda is advised to act as acting president. If you have no objection, he may stay for at least three months. I hope that there will be no inconvenience and that Dayananda will be able to look after his affairs. We have settled up the Bombay affairs and purchased the whole land at a cost of 17-18 lakhs, bribing so many claimants. It was a very hard knot. Now by the grace of Krsna the land is in our possession. We are the proprietors. Arrangements are being made to construct a gorgeous temple with the help of local patrons. The estimate of the Bombay temple is not less than 50 lakhs over and above the 18 lakhs we have already spent on this project. I will especially draw your attention to articles written by Dr. O.B.L. Kapoor. He has many such philosophical articles, and he wants to get the book published by us. I shall be glad to have your opinion in consultation with Karandhara whether we can take up the publication of such philosophical books. Another gentleman whose name is Hari Goswami is a Sanskrit scholar, as well as knowing English. He is enthusiastic to join us. Please let me know if you can utilize him for our Dallas Gurukula institution. He is coming from a respectable brahmana family belonging to Radha Raman goswami house, but he is very much pleased with our activities and wants to join us wholeheartedly. In case you consider his service is valuable, then you have to make arrangement for his passage. These two points, namely Sri Hari Goswami going to Dallas and the publication of Dr. Kapoor's book by us may be consulted amongst yourself, Karandhara, and Bali Mardan, and you please let me know your considered opinions. Here in Delhi arrangements are going on for holding a Hare Krishna festival, and they have secured a very nice house, for the Delhi center. If so required I may stay here at least for a month to organize this new center. You can reply to me at the above address. What is the objection to starting a branch institution at New Vrindaban? There we have already got a vast tract of land, and the atmosphere is very calm and quiet, and they are developing. So instead of purchasing another land, why not use this land for the elder boys? Of course it will depend on your mature consideration amongst the GBC members near about. So make Gurukula more solidified. Up to now it is going nicely. Keep the standard intact. People are appreciating, and they will do so more and more. Yes, regarding the centers reporting to you, if you get the report then there is no necessity to visit. Occasionally you can see how they are doing. Regarding the arrangements for meeting the scholars in Chicago, yes I am also anxious to see scholars. In the meantime our propaganda should be going on for drawing attention of the educational institutions to accept our books at least in the religious courses. Regarding the rascal Bharati, yes, capture this rascal and defeat him in debating, and prove him as a rascal Number one. Regarding the black lady in Cleveland, if she is actually serious about Krsna consciousness, give her a little freedom. Just behave with her a little gently, so she may be encouraged to spread Krsna consciousness amongst the blacks. Actually if she preaches the importance of this movement amongst the blacks, it will be more effective. This racial color distinction may continue, but when a devotee is actually advanced these things will disappear. Therefore we have to be a little tactful how to induce people to take to Krsna consciousness seriously. That should be our main object. Encourage her to sell books. If black men read our books, it will be a great achievement. As your President Lincoln gave the blacks equal rights, let us cooperate with them. Regarding St. Louis, Makhanlal is a good boy. He is a sincere devotee. Jayadvaita Das is a very devoted boy. He tries to understand the philosophy very perfectly. Yes, editing "Back to Godhead" is one of your responsibilities. In the meantime you can train Hrdayananda das Goswami to edit. I think he is a fit man to assist you. Regarding "Back to Godhead" being the most important magazine in the world, therefore I am seeking to see Dr. Kapoor's article for getting attention. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satsvarupa, Hrdayananda **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas My dear Satsvarupa and Hrdayananda, Please accept my blessings. Your letters dated December 25, 1972, are in hand and I am very much encouraged also to see the nice photos you have sent me. Especially I am glad to hear that Mohanananda has returned to Dallas School for taking charge of things there. Yes, he was the original pioneer member of Dallas Temple, so he has returned to develop now everything just to the perfect standard of completion. One thing is, I am requesting that one of my old friends here in Bombay, one Bengali man named Mr. D. C. Chakravorty, may send his three young children to our Gurukula, probably they will be coming there some time next spring. So you may prepare one letter of invitation to Mr. D. C. Chakravorty, c/o Mogul Line Ltd., 16 Bank Street, Fort, Bombay-1, India, wherein you shall certify that his children, namely Basanti Chakravorty, female 9 years old, Somendra Chakravorty, male, 6 years old, and Satindra Chakravorty, male, 6 years old, that these three children have been admitted to our bona fide educational institution at Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., and that you have accepted them to study with you for a period of, let us say, one year's time, and that you understand that the tuition fees and other incidental expenses such as boarding and lodging, clothes, medical expenditures, and so forth, that these maintenance expenses will be borne by the International Society for Krsna Consciousness, and then you may give some credentials and financial statements about our Society. This letter will enable Mr. Chakravorty to get visas for the children, although it is understood between us that if there are any expenses, and we shall of course charge something, then he will pay us here in rupees and we shall bear the cost there in Dallas. There are very strict financial restrictions in India for money going outside the country. You may mention that it is understood by you that their round trip air tickets will be paid for in India by their parents, and that you are expecting them to arrive there some time around the middle of April, like that. If you send the letter immediately to me here at my Bombay address, I shall hand it over to him and do the needful. I very much appreciated your publicity material for the Bhagavata-dharma program, now go on developing it more and more to perfection. I am very much satisfied by this activity, that is your real work for Krsna. In this way, try to recruit some of the intelligent class of student class to take up this Krsna Consciousness philosophy and study it carefully. Try to recruit some of such men to become our devotees. There is need for intelligent young men to train them up as future leaders and preachers to go all over the world for spreading the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If we simply go to the college on one night and leave immediately for another place, it will be difficult to make very much impression upon these students. I think it is better to stay at one place for some time, at least one week, or as long as the students are interested, and try to sell as many books as possible. After your lecture in the college you may request if there are any interested students, that they may make further programs for you in their homes, or in some club or hall, like that, so that you may remain some time longer and concentrate on recruiting two or three good men, whoever appears to be the most interested, and by your diligent preaching to them you may be able to persuade some of them to become our devotees. Of course we shall not expect them immediately to come into the temple, like that, but if at least the seed is planted and they begin chanting rounds and following the principles while continuing their studies at school, that is our great victory. And if they like, they may go and live in one of our centers, wherever they like, and learn further. But we shall not present Krsna Consciousness as anything dry or like set of rules and regulations only, no. Krsna Consciousness is the topmost philosophy also, the highest knowledge of educational experience, so try to impress this aspect of offering the perfect scientific understanding of everything as it is, not the temporary and unsatisfactory and incomplete understanding of things. Try to present everything very logically and always quoting our Sanskrit authorities in connection with the main points, and that will impress them greatly. Yes, and if you also yourselves write something daily, that will sharpen your use of language and you will be able to make your points very clear. And if you dress neatly and conduct yourselves properly, that will help further. Upon the recommendation of Satsvarupa, I shall be glad to accept John Partlin as my duly initiated disciple, and his letter is enclosed herewith, along with his beads, duly chanted by me. Hoping this meets you both in the best of health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Satyabhama **Date:** March 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Hyderabad My Dear Satyabhama: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 20, 1973 and I am replying late because of so much recent travelling. I am here for a few days only, then to Bombay and on the 1st to London for a few days before going on to L.A. via New York. Actually, I don't want our energy spent in that way, to develop a school at New Vrndavana. Rather, all of our children should go to Dallas when they are four and begin their training program there. In Dallas, they have full facility approved by me, I have personally seen that they are doing very nicely there. So, for the younger children to be at New Vrndavana that is alright, but when they are a little older, at four, they should go on to our Dallas facility. Why should the parents not feel attachment for their children, that is natural. But our affection is not simply sentimental, we offer our children the highest opportunity to become trained up in Krsna consciousness very early so as to assure their success in this life to go back to Godhead for sure. That is real affection, to make sure my child gets back to Godhead, that is my real responsibility as a parent. And I have seen that Gurukula offers this opportunity more than any other place anywhere. So I think that you are intelligent girl, and you can explain it to others in this way. ### Letter to Shri Khilnani **Date:** September 29th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi Dear Shri Khilnani: Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 25.9.73 and I have immediately informed the man in charge in Paris to suspend the marriage. the copy of the letter to Bhagavan Das, the man in charge, is sent herewith. So far education is concerned, our philosophy is:sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanamarcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma nivedanamiti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava laksanakriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye' dhitam uttamam(Bhag. 7.5.23-24)We consider one who is a devotee as being first class learned and educated. If you do not like your daughter being in Paris with the devotees, you can call her back. I have no objection. But, our mission is that everyone should be given the chance to become Krsna conscious. Many thousands of boys and girls in the Western countries are seriously taking to this movement sacrificing many things. Especially they do not indulge in illicit sex life, gambling, meat eating, and intoxication. I think your daughter is very fortunate to be amongst the devotees and living a very happy life. But, if you think it is not good, then you can guide your daughter. I have no objection. I am of course busy with so many things, therefore I have forwarded your letter for necessary action. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/dsAt --- cc: Bhagavan Das, ISKCON, 14 Le Sueur, Paris 16, France a meeting for Janmastami in London I was present, and the Indian High Commissioner His Excellency Shri Rasagotra came to our temple amongst many thousands of Indians and Englishmen. If required you can inquire from him how this movement is going on in the Western countries ### Letter to Sir Alistair Hardy **Date:** July 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Sir Alister Hardy, F.R.S.Religious experience research unit Manchester College Oxford OX1 3td Dear Sir Alister Hardy, I beg to thank you for your coming here yesterday evening, we had very nice talks on religious experience, and I have studied your replies to my questions very carefully. My first question was "what is the problem of the human life?" So I have already explained, the problem is that at the present moment there is no proper understanding of God. Human life is especially meant for this purpose, to understand God. That is quite natural, cats and dogs or lower animals or man almost like animal cannot understand God, neither they think such things are necessary, that one should understand God, and his relationship with him. According to Vedic understanding, a human being without understanding of God is no better than an animal, and that is a practical proposition, that is the only difference between an animal and a man. For man there is a religious system—scriptures, it may be Bible, Koran, Bhagavad-gita, Or Srimad-Bhagavatam, it doesn't matter everywhere there is a system, religious system, philosophical system to try to understand the supreme power. In your research institute you are also trying to explain that supreme power. Your research institution is the latest institution to study that supreme power. Therefore the right conclusion is, the problem of the human society at the present moment is to understand God, or as you say, the supreme power. When we speak of power, it means there must be a source of the powerful, for example we may speak of the electric power, so immediately it suggests that there must be a source of power, the power house, and the power house is being conducted by some engineer. So ultimately there is a living force, a living entity. He is Generating the power by mechanical arrangement, and we can experience his power in so many ways. You have tried to explain in your book "The findings of such research might spark off a new phase in religious history, people might be induced to try the experiment of approaching this power in their own way, not by prayer or the alteration of physical events or for national safety or material aims, but for spiritual strength and guidance for a better way of life, or perhaps how best to deal with some difficulty." This is indeed very good. When you say "People might be induced to try this experiment" of approaching this power. Power is energy, so when you speak of approaching the power it means the powerful, power is not independent unless being the power there is a supreme powerful, this is reasonable, to search out the powerful. Without the powerful no power can exist. A politician or a big general exhibits his power as the powerful by his commandment or by his order. Therefore your understanding of the power is not complete, you must induce people to approach that supreme power. We can understand power in wealth, if a man is very wealthy he is powerful and can exhibit his power by spending money. Similarly if a man is very strong he can exhibit his power in so many ways. Similarly if a man is highly educated he is also powerful, he can influence so man men with his knowledge. Therefore we have to accept that behind the power, there must be the powerful, otherwise our knowledge is imperfect. When we understand the powerful then immediately we can know his different powers perfectly. The powerful has multi powers. if a A person can understand what is that powerful God, then he can easily understand what are his powers. So this whole world is being conducted by the power of the supreme person, or the powerful. The only problem that we face is that we are neglecting to understand the supreme powerful. The subsidiary problems as you Have stated, just like over population have been created by man. If we accept that the ultimate truth is the powerful, then the powerful can maintain any number of population, otherwise there is no meaning to Powerful if he is subjected to any limitation. The supreme powerful is unlimitedly powerful, and practically we can see that the problem of overpopulation amongst the animals is not extant. Just like the elephants, they are not thinking where to get food. Or just like the cats and dogs and hogs, they are producing at a time half a dozen Children or more, so in comparison to them man is producing one child, or two children. Formerly man used to have hundreds of sons, at the present moment a man has got two three at most ten sons. So where is the question of over population? We understand from the history of Mahabharata that Dhrtarastra had one hundred sons, but there are many other examples also. Maharaja Rsabha dev had one hundred sons, so they were big prominent men in the history the names of the most prominent men are mentioned. It is therefore safe to conclude that if the King can produce one hundred sons the subjects also can produce one hundred sons, if not all of then at least some of them. So at that time there was no question of overpopulation, we do not find it in the history of Mahabharata. Actually it is not a question of over population but of equal distribution of food. Just like America, they are producing enough food, and there is potency of producing more. But the Government prohibits the farmer to produce more. It is not a problem that the population has increase, but the distribution is mismanaged. Or by industrialization we have reduced the energy for producing food in favor of producing thing other than food. So on the whole it is not a question of overpopulation but of equal distribution of food, or producing food. For want of God consciousness this mistake is there. If God is all powerful, he may not agree, or at least his agency, the material nature, may not agree to give sufficient food to the demons. Demons means Godless persons. We get this historical event from the Srimad-Bhagavatam, that during the time of Maharaja Prthu there was scarcity of food, so the King wanted to punish the earthly deity, because she was not supplying food. He wanted to kill her. But the earthly deity replied, that she has reduced the supply of food because she did not like to supply the demons. So there is no question of overpopulation, it is a question of demons. The number of demons has increased and therefore by nature that supply is minimized. As we were discussing that verse from Bhagavad-gita that "The production of food depends on sufficient pouring of water from the sky" that is not in our hands. Because we have become Godless, because we have stopped sacrifice or Yajna, which means to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supply of rain may be stopped. God may not be angry, but his agents like the material nature, she does not like to give sufficient food stuffs to the demons. That is the version of the Vedic literature. At the present moment the people are all demonic, the do not care for sinful life, unrestrictedly they are killing animals which is the most sinful activity, unnecessary. They are indulging in all kinds of intoxicating habits, and unnecessarily they are indulging in prostitution. The demonic people take advantage of women who do not get husband and take advantage of their body for sense gratification. These things are happening because people have no knowledge of the powerful. So the real problem is want of God consciousness. People should know that power, then other problems will be automatically solved. Similarly the problem of malnutrition, it comes to the same proposition. Because nature is taking revenge on the demonic population malnutrition is also one of the branches of such revenge. Pollution of environment is a problem which people in a America are viewing with great concern. This problem is also due to Godlessness. People instead of producing food they are producing in huge quantities some artificial necessities of life, for which so much industry is working at top speed. Industrialization means to bring the people more and more away from God consciousness. The laborer, the worker in the factory, all of them are sudras, and the capitalist of the industry they are vaisyas, so the whole population is now composed of vaisyas and Sudras, which means the quality of passion and ignorance is now prominent. A passionate person or ignorant person cannot understand the Powerful, only those who are in Goodness or mixed Goodness and passion they can understand the powerful. so there is a necessity of changing the ignorant persons into persons with real knowledge. Therefore these people should be turned to become God conscious, that is our programme. Anyone from any group, either sudra, vaisya, or any group lower than the sudra, we are taking them and making them intelligent and giving them a chance to understand the supreme power. So all around the real problem is to understand the supreme power and all other problems are subsidiary. There is no question of over population of people become God conscious. The all powerful can supply any amount of necessities of the people, and they can eat very nicely and so there is no question of mal nutrition. For want of knowledge of the supreme powerful all these problems have come into being. Then as you mentioned the problems of clashes between racial and national interests which often lead to war. This problem is also due to lack of God Consciousness because God consciousness means to understand that we are all sons of the same family. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, that the supreme lord must be the supreme father. I have got my father, he has got his father and he has got his father on and on he has got his father, in this way there must be one ultimate father, nobody can deny it. So that ultimate father he is God. Therefore in every scripture the supreme powerful is addressed as father, and in the Bhagavad-gita also the supreme powerful is mentioned as the suprem seed Giving father. Because we are forgetting the father, because we are forgetting that we are all the servants of one supreme father we are missing our real relationship between one living entity and another. If we actually understand that we are born of the same father and everything that is there on the surface of the globe, in the sky in the water everything is the property of the supreme Father, then we must understand that everyone has got the right to use the property of the supreme father. Just like in a big family the father is there, the mother is there and the sons are there. The father gives food to the sons as much as they require. One son may be a very voracious eater so he may eat more than the other son, but the father supplies him, he does not stop him, the father is competent to supply all the sons as much as they require. But if one son is hoarding food stuffs, that is sinful. You cannot take more than what you need. We see practically if we throw one bag of grain in the street many birds will come, they may eat two three four or ten grains, but they do not stock away for the future. But if we put a bag of rice into the street and allow people to take there will be regular fight, because every human being will want to take more than his immediate need. So this is also due to lack of God consciousness. If one can understand that the father is there, and he is supplying daily bread then why shall I stock more than I need. the present scarcity of food stuffs is due to hoarding by the capitalist. There is enough food stuff in the world, but at the same time there is a scarcity. If you pay more money on the black market then you will get enough. So from God's side there is enough food, but from our side we are mismanaging everything simply to make more money. Unless there is God Consciousness, understanding that everything is the property of the supreme father, there are so many children so he will supply, why should I hoard food, the problems will not be solved. Now so far as ideology of religion is concerned: Religion means to abide by the orders of God, that's all. God is great, we are his sons, he is supplying all our necessities these are the right understandings. Why should there be any difference in religious practices. If you come to God consciousness then we can understand the birds the beasts the plants everyone is son of God, we have no right to kill. But the so called man made religious systems say the animals are our food and another religion says, "No, no, there should be no animal killing," this difference in practice of religious systems is due to want of God consciousness. If we actually come to the point of God consciousness then all these differences will be perfectly resolved, but unless there is actual God consciousness you will not be able to change the Ideologies. I have asked many Christian Gentle men "Why are you killing when in the Bible it is clearly said, Thou shalt not kill?" they cannot give me any satisfactory reply. In a round about way they try to avoid this question. So all these are due to a lack of God consciousness. So all these problems are due only to a lack of God consciousness. Therefore is you can actually help people to know about the supreme powerful that will be a great help. But I see that your method is not very satisfactory. You are making research by accepting the statements of common peoples expression of religious sentiment. There is no need of research, the result of research in this matter is already there perfectly presented in Bhagavad-gita, all we have to do is accept it and the whole problem of research is solved. You want to establish your conclusion of religious experience by taking the opinions of laymen. A laymans sentimental expression about religious problems is not a practical understanding of religious problems. Religion as we have explained means the orders of God, therefore it must be scientifically studied, what are his orders, how to abide by them. Simply by taking statistics of the sentiments of common men we cannot come to the right conclusion. Therefore for right understanding we are advocating that people take advantage of this institution, International society for Krishna consciousness by hearing about God from authorized books like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam which were directly spoken by God himself, therefore making the whole thing most scientific and practical. I hope that we can again meet and discuss this important matter further. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/hda ### Letter to Sons and daughters **Date:** May 8th 1973 — **Location:** Los AngelesMy dear Sons and daughters, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your very nice letters and daksina of $650.00.Upon the recommendation of Govardhan I am pleased to accept you as my disciples. You new names are: James Ferris - Yamunatatacara dasCharles Wilkoit - Carurupa dasTina Chojnacki - Taijasatmika dasiDonald Chojnacki - Dosavarajita dasLynne Davis - Daksayani dasiChristine Stein - Krodhasamani dasiGregory Stein - Gopalbhatta dasaNow you must all carefully follow these four regulative principles (1) No meat eating, (2) No illicit sex life, (3) No intoxication, (4) No gambling. Always be sure to chant minimum sixteen rounds daily. Study my books carefully, go for sankirtana and engage in Deity worship in the temple. You are all very sincere boys and girls and now I request you to make your life successful for going back to home, back to Godhead. Hoping this meets you in good healthYour ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda --- The New DevoteesDetroit ISKCON8311 E. Jefferson StreetDetroit, Michigan 48214 ### Letter to Sons and Daughters of Atlanta **Date:** November 14th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Atlanta My Dear Sons and Daughters of Atlanta: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 23, 1973 with the silk chaddar. It is very nice, and just suitable for me. Here it is getting a little cold, being the winter season, so I am wearing it. So I thank you all for giving me this gift, and I pray for your ever advancement in Krsna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Spiritual Sons **Date:** April 10th 1973 — **Location:** New YorkLT > _730410_A1 My dear Spiritual Sons, Please accept my blessings. As you have been recommended by Chakravarty Das for initiation, I beg to accept you both as my disciples. Now I have named you Nikhilananda Das for Niko, and Vaidyanath Das for Erland. So you now chant Hare Krishna mantra on your beads at least 16 rounds daily and try to commit any offence against the holy name. In this way you will get spiritual strength for preaching the glories of the holy name to the people. Another thing is that you should follow our the four rules of no intoxication, no illicit sex life, no meat fish, or eggs, and no gambling. This will keep you fit. I hope this meets you in best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Spiritual Sons and Daughters **Date:** July 27th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > New devotees,Evanston My dear Spiritual Sons and Daughters, Please accept my blessings. On the recommendation of Govinda Das I have duly accepted you as my disciples. Human life begins when there is systematic education in the science of God consciousness. Just some days ago I was discussing with Professor Alister Hardy—Head of Religious Experimental research unit Oxford, it was his opinion that the problems of human life are over-population, environmental pollution etc.. But from Bhagavad-gita we understand that God is the father of all living beings, so the father must be competent to provide for all the children, and in the case of the Supreme Father this is actually so—we get it from Vedic Literature "nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13)—Amongst all the Eternals there is one chief Eternal Being and he is engaged in supplying and fulfilling the desires of all the others." Therefore our conclusion was that the real problem is not over-population or pollution, malnutrition etc., but the actual problem is Godlessness. So you are all intelligent boys and girls—therefore my request to you is that you study this science of Krishna Consciousness and solve all the problems of the world by systematic propaganda as far as you are able to do it. I have already given your names in the letter to Govinda das. I hope you are well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/hda ### Letter to Sri Govinda **Date:** January 31st 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Evanston, Illinois My dear Sri Govinda das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 15, 1973, and I have noted the contents with great interest. It is so very nice to hear how the book distribution is going on. This is our main business, distributing these books all over the world and thus turning the minds of the fallen souls towards Krsna. So far the court case is concerned, I shall be interested to hear the outcome. So you may keep me informed. But always remember that Krsna is the Supreme Controller of all that be. I am desiring now to stay six months of the year in Los Angeles and six months in Mayapur, spending my time solely for the translation of Srimad-Bhagavatam and other books so that I may give them to you, my sincere disciples. So it will be better arrangement now if my disciples can take up the management and active preaching. For this purpose I have created so many sannyasis. So as far as possible, try to arrange preaching programs with them as I prefer to remain now in the background translating my books. I am glad to hear that you are taking up the program of deity worship very seriously. This is required. So everything should be first class as you have got full facility, just to the standard of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles I personally advised them in all the different aspects of deity worship, so you may consult, especially with Silavati Prabhu (now in Dallas) and do the needful. One thing though, the deity worship must be completely pure in terms of cleanliness and punctuality, otherwise there will be some offense. Regarding the Radha-Krsna Deities for Chicago, I believe that Syamasundara Prabhu is taking care of this matter so you may consult with him about the shipping date of the deities, etc. You say that you are collecting sizeable funds from incense sale and book distribution, so I expect that you will also increase your payments to my book fund as much as possible. This will be very very pleasing to me, as I am most concerned that these books of mine be printed profusely and distributed all over the world as each book has so much potency for making persons Krsna conscious. So as Chicago is one of the largest cities in the U.S., why not see if you can be the largest contributor to my book fund, although I think that you have got some stiff competition from Los Angeles branch. But if you can beat them, that will be very first class. I am going some time this week to Australia and shall be returning to India in March, at which time we shall hold the celebration on the appearance day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Mayapura. So similarly in Chicago you may have very nice celebration on that day, as it is very important occasion for us Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Sri Govinda **Date:** April 25th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Sri Govinda Das Adhikari: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 24, 1973 with enclosures. Your report has given me unbounded pleasure and I very much appreciate your activities. Your university program has given me much satisfaction, so you try to continue it. Yes, they must appreciate my Bhagavatam because it is nothing business but is a matter of realization. Regarding purchasing apartment house, M-V Trust will immediately purchase and monthly rent may be paid into the Trust. Now you immediately send me scheme and description of a suitable building, and I will send Karandhara Prabhu there with the down-payment to finish the transaction. Your paper also I like very much. It is very nicely done. But, as we have the Back to Godhead paper,* if the men can be used elsewhere in pushing on this movement there is no harm. I want that all you boys use your American intelligence cooperatively in spreading this Sankirtana movement. You are doing solid work in Chicago area and I thank you very much for assisting me in this way. I am pleased to accept the two boys Sandipani Muni Das (Chris) and Madhavendra Puri Das (Michael) as my initiated disciples. You can send their beads with a copy of this letter to Satsvarupa Das Goswami for being chanted upon. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest regarding the apartment house. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- *you have talent to write, please go on writing articles for BTG ### Letter to Sri Govinda **Date:** December 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > ALL GLORIES TO SRI GURU AND GAURANGA! My dear Sri Govinda, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed find the names of the devotees you have recommended for initiation which I hereby accept as my duly initiated disciples: Bryan Davis—Basu-Ghosh dasPaul Wax—Pandrika dasAndy Frenkel—Sankirtana dasPuspu Singh—Yasoda devi dasiPat Langlois—Subhadra dasiEdie Manischewitz—Urmila dasiAlso, find one sacred thread and two mantra sheets for the second initiates. Hold a fire yajna and afterwards the second initiates may listen to the Gayatri mantra tape through the right ear. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/Kda ### Letter to Subrata Lahiri **Date:** January 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My dear Subrata Lahiri, Please accept my greetings and blessings. I have received your letter and I very much appreciate your kind sentiments. It appears that you are an intelligent man because you approach submissively and not to argue. In your letter you mention Bhagavad-gita. Actually the whole purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to revive our sanatana-dharma, which is the eternal occupation of the living entity. Sanatana-dharma does not refer to any sectarian process or religion. It is the eternal function of the eternal living entities in relationship with the eternal Supreme Lord. The English word "religion" is a little different from sanatana-dharma. Religion conveys the idea of faith, and faith may change. One may have faith in a particular process, and he may change this faith and adopt another, but sanatana-dharma refers to that activity which cannot be changed. Man professes to be a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or any other sect. Such designations are not sanatana-dharma. A Hindu may change his faith to become a Muslim, or a Muslim may change his faith to become a Hindu, or a Christian may change his faith and so on. But in all circumstances the change of religious faith does not effect the eternal occupation of rendering service to others. Thus, to profess a particular type of sect is not to profess one's sanatana-dharma. The rendering of service is sanatana-dharma. Factually we are related to the Supreme Lord in service. The Supreme Lord is the supreme enjoyer, and we living entities are His servitors. We are created for His enjoyment, and if we participate in that eternal enjoyment with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we become happy. We cannot become happy otherwise. It is not possible to be happy independently, just as no one part of the body can be happy without cooperating with the stomach. It is not possible for the living entity to be happy without rendering transcendental loving service unto the Supreme Lord, Krishna. I will be staying in Calcutta from January 23, until the end of the month. If it is possible you may stop in and see me. I am looking forward to hear from you in the future. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdb ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** January 26th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Los Angeles My dear Sudama, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letters dated January 9 and January 15, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. Lord Caitanya is very pleased upon those who dedicate their lives for spreading Krsna consciousness. After all, He is the original promulgator of the Sankirtana Movement. So you may know it that in traveling and preaching about Krsna you are very much pleasing Him. This is the duty of a sannyasi, to travel amongst all of our centres for elevating the standard of devotional service. If by your presence in a centre the devotees become enlivened, that is the sign of successful preaching. It is not very difficult. Just read from my books and try and explain the meaning in your own words. It does not matter that you are not so expert at Sanskrit. You just try to realize the importance of Krsna consciousness and make your life cent per cent engaged in Krsna's service—that is perfection. I can understand from your letters that you are following Krsna's dictation and are trying very sincerely to help me in spreading this great movement of Krsna consciousness, and for this I shall always be grateful to you for dedicating everything to assist me. You have my sanction to take with you Gaura Nitai deities. Carefully worship Them, attending to Them with regular aratis and bhoga offerings. Be very careful to maintain a strict standard of worship, and whenever you arrive at a temple you can place the Deity on the altar. I have duly chanted the mantra for Brahmin initiation and sent the thread to Sriman Vaikhanas Das at St. Louis as you have recommended. Hoping this meets you well, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/tkg ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** February 16th 1973 — **Location:** Sydney My Dear Sudama, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of 6/2. and I am very much joyful to hear that you are enjoying you preaching activities there in America. Actually this is our real business, preaching, chanting, distributing prasadam and book distribution. This book distribution is especially an important program and it is first class preaching work. So I encourage you to work with all the senior men there in America and encourage them to distribute more and more of this transcendental literature. As far as your attachment for tending the Deities is concerned by no means this can be considered material attachment, but this is our real desireless state to be always engaged twenty four hours in the service of the Lord. But if the facility for serving the Deities is not there, then we should not be discouraged. This is real detachment. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring all over India He did not bring the Deities with Him. So in our travelling and preaching, Deity worship is not essential but if it is done nicely it can be a very attractive aspect of our preaching work. After consulting with the GBC I have decided that the far east zone can be managed by Karandhara das for he already has extensive dealing with Dai Nippon etc. So he may look after this area for the time being and in the future we will see what happens. So now I am seeing more and more that my senior disciples must take an active role in continuing the high standard of purity which has been established in our Vaisnava line. In your travelling from centre to centre, you must be very careful to see that the leaders are observing the principles of chanting 16 rounds, rising early for Mangala Arati, participating in the morning and evening classes, observing the four regulative principles etc., and if there is any deviation from this standard then it is the responsibility of you and the local GBC representative to rectify it immediately. Within these Vaisnava standards which I have put forward lies the spiritual strength of our movement. So you may please do the needful in this regard. I shall be returning to the U.S. in April and I will be looking forward to seeing you at that time. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ms ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** March 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Los Angeles My dear Sudama: Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 12th March 1973 and I carefully examined the contents. Radio and T.V. programs are alright if we can introduce our literature, like Bhagavad-gita, etc., otherwise there is so much nonsense on the media that they will forget quickly what they see and hear. I am glad to hear that our Krsna das Prabhu is back in our company. He is a good boy, but since he has been married there has been difficulty. So now he is returning with his wife and child and he must be given all encouragement. You mentioned about your Temple bus, and that is very nice. When I saw Rupanuga's bus in New Vrndavana I wanted that there be a whole fleet. But you should not take Radha-Krsna travelling, better you take Gaura-Nitai. For serving Gaura-Nitai there is no offense, but if Radha-Krsna is there and there is some discrepancy, then there is great offense and this should be avoided. Therefore, I gave the same advice to Visnujana when I was in Pittsburgh. The idea of the Temple bus is to attract them aboard back to Krsna and the hippies and college students, anyone, will be very much attracted to the program. Now you have my full blessings, so go out and recruit some solid new devotees to help us push on this movement. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** April 8th 1973 — **Location:** New York > Los Angeles My dear Sudama, Please accept my blessings. Am in due receipt of your letter dated 4/6/73.I am still in New York, but if the climate is not suitable, I may be going to Los Angeles very soon. Your program for traveling on the West coast holding festivals at schools and communes is approved by me. Especially you must try to convince these students to join us. There is nothing else that will save the world from destruction and it is our responsibility to recruit these young educated boys and girls before they become spoiled by the degraded conditions of this so-called human society. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jdaP.S. --- I have started printing of English version of Caitanya-caritamrta ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** August 28th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Brooklyn My Dear Sudama, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 20, 1973.I am happy to note that you are traveling and preaching, this process was also practiced by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the beginning of his sannyasa life he traveled all over India for almost six years and my Guru Maharaja also traveled, and similarly I am also traveling. One thing is that I do not know how practical it is to carry deities in the truck, by the jarring of the vehicle there may be some damage and also I think that it is not possible to keep the top standard of worship, cleanliness, punctual offerings etc. We must be very careful about deity worship, if it is neglectful then it is very offensive and that will not help us, we should not do it simply for show. My suggestion is that all our buses should be outfitted with the picture of Guru Gauranga, that will be quite nice. Main business of traveling buses is to distribute books profusely, what do you think? On your recommendation I accept Pat Hedmark as my duly initiated disciple and his name is Praghosa Das. For the second initiate I am enclosing 3 sacred threads and four Mantras. Hold a fire ceremony and distribute Prasadm generously. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** September 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Brooklyn My Dear Sudama Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 28, 1973. I have noted the contents carefully. My sanction for the deities in the touring van is still there. But I have heard that sometimes the deity falls down, so these things are objectionable. Touring and book distribution, side by side, this is the main business. The general public will not be very much interested to see the deity, it is our personal business. When you contact with the mass of people Sankirtana is the main business. So considering all these point you do the needful, I have no objection. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** December 10th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Oahu, Hawaii My Dear Sudama das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 10/4/73 and have noted the contents carefully. Regarding the Hawaii situation, do not worry. I shall rectify when I come there. They are chanting, this will save them. Otherwise, they are all good boys, and they cannot go away. It is not hopeless situation. Whenever you meet them, tell them that Prabhupada is coming and that they should not give up the chanting, never mind they can do whatever they like. Send me their address and I shall write them. Where is Govinda dasi? Regarding what is a Vaisnava, Vaisnava means that when others see him, they will also chant Hare Krsna. So why not give them the chance of seeing by wearing the beads, tilaka, and sikha? You are not paramahamsa that you can do whatever you like. So my advice to you is that you remain ideal Vaisnava internally and externally, and everyone will respect you. Don't be agitated. They will come back because they are chanting maha mantra. You keep your standard and try to help them, but don't become influenced by them. Regarding the Deity worship, it must go on nicely. Govinda dasi was doing very nicely. Decorate with flowers and incense and have arati and offer bhoga. Regarding your travelling plans, yes that is good. You can go in bus all over the islands. Live there for sometime and make Honolulu your headquarters. Sometimes you can visit Japan and the neighboring islands. For a sannyasi, travelling gives him more experience for serving Krsna. So far your health is concerned, Hawaii is very good climate. You can take bath in the sea, and that will keep your health. Take dhal, especially urd, arhad, and tour, a little cheese, peanuts, green vegetables, especially squash leaf. Please offer my blessings to Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi. I have not heard from her. She is the center of Hawaii organization. Let her cooperate with you. She is a good preacher. Sometimes reverses may be there, but just depend on Krsna. Balabhadra is a very good boy. Make him in charge, also Govinda dasi, and you come and go. Yes, you can go to Brazil. Also, you come to Mayapur on Mahaprabhu's appearance day as many as possible at least for a week. Yes, the Gaura nitai Deities may be taken out for festivals. I am glad to hear of the excellent book distribution that is being done there. From other parts of the world there is also very good report of book distribution. That is our main propaganda work. So you go on with your preaching work and I will be pleased to receive your report regularly. Enclosed is the sanctified sacred thread for Krsna Caitanya dasa. Now hold a fire sacrifice amongst the devotees and let him hear the gayatri mantra from the tape through the right ear and teach him how to chant it three times daily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sukadeva 2 **Date:** January 29th 1973 — **Location:** CalcuttaMy dear Sukadeva das, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1/8/73, and I have noted the contents with satisfaction. Thank you very much for your kind sentiments. This attitude of serving first the spiritual master is the correct one, for only by the mercy of the spiritual master can one obtain the mercy of Krsna. Just as we sing every morning yasya prasadad bhagavad-prasado yasya prasada na gatih kuto 'pi, in this way the disciple advances more and more in understanding God. So if you simply execute with full faith the instructions that I have already given you, then you will see so many people will be sent by Krsna to become devotees because of your sincerity. So as you are my appointed leader, you must also see that the others are following very strictly the regulative principles like chanting 16 rounds, reading my books regularly, rising early for mangala aratrika, these things will keep us purified for advancing more and more in Krsna Consciousness. So far your request for initiations for Patrick and Jane, that is approved by me. So far the infant is concerned, let him wait until he is older. You may receive the beads chanted upon by Kirtanananda Maharaja and hold the fire sacrifice. Concerning the second initiations for Ojasir das Brahmacari, Smaranananda das Adhikary and his wife Samsaramochan Devi Dasi, that is also approved, and you will find enclosed the Gayatri threads. So hold the fire yajna and for those who are initiated as brahmanas, teach them how to count on the finger divisions, and play the Gayatri mantra tape in their right ear and have them repeat it along with my vibration word for word, then hang sacred thread on his neck as usual. Girls don't require thread but can responsively chant the Gayatri mantra. In each individual case the instruction should be given and the mantra replayed. The giving of the Gayatri mantra can be held after the fire yajna and each devotee can come alone to you to receive the thread. Yes, the spiritual master is also present in his picture, though more importantly he is present in his teachings. I think this is explained in one letter that has already been distributed. If you have further questions try to get them resolved by your GBC man, Karandhar, because now I wish to spend all of my time for translating my books like Srimad-Bhagavatam, so I may give them to you. Thank you very much for assisting me in this way. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- ABCS/bmdgSukadeva das Adhikary, Seattle ISKCON ### Letter to Sukadeva 4 **Date:** August 20th 1973 — **Location:** EnglandMy dear Sukadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and the enclosed pictures of your Altar. Everything appears very very nice and I am very much pleased, thank you so much. On your recommendation I accept the boys named by you for first initiation. Their names are as follows. D.A. Norton Jr. - Abhinanda DasN.P. Coty - Nistula DasG.J. Folsy - Simha DasS.D. Kadetz - Sura DasR.E. Smith - Ragamathani DasiD.A. Gilles - Samharina DasiP.J. Walter - Vidhatri DasiT.L. Joyce - Tripuramalini DasiHold a fire ceremony, and distribute sumptuous prasadam to one and all. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- Sriman Sukadeva Das Adhikary400 18th Ave. E.Seattle, Washington 98112America ### Letter to Sukadeva 6 **Date:** December 5th 1973 My dear Sukadeva, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 4, 1973. Thank you very much for increasing the book distribution in Seattle. My Guru Maharaja was most pleased to see books distributed so continue to increase it more and more. Yes, your debating program is approved by me. If we study the Bhagavad-gita thoroughly we can defeat all philosophies. Yes, I can come to Seattle. I am going to Mexico City and Chicago to return to Los Angeles around December 24th. So after that we shall consider coming there. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:kda ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** March 4th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > 17 My dear Sukadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 15th February and have examined the contents with care. By your good recommendation I am pleased to accept Leroy Howes and David Joy as my initiated disciples. Their new names are: Paramatmananda Dasa and Pavaka Dasa. To save time and money, kindly forward two sets of japa beads to Kirtanananda Swami in New Vrndavana for the proper chanting, and then you may perform the fire sacrifice. Now they must always follow the regulated principles, such as 16 rounds at least each day, attending Mangala Arati, etc. and gradually they will come to the stage of spontaneously loving Krsna. You also have my permission for the second initiation of Sikhandi dasi and you can obtain an initiation tape and instructions from Karandhar in Los Angeles. Now, keeping very clean, she must never break the regulated principles. A pure devotee always thinks himself as not-devotee. That is a good attitude. If one thinks he is big devotee that is not good, thinking that he is first degree. We should not be puffed up, a devotee avoids it, remaining always in the second degree. A dog is a faithful servant. To become lowest dog is to become on the highest platform of service. Krsna has given everyone something extraordinary and to serve Krsna with one's extraordinary talent means successful life. I hope this meets you in good health. Hare Krsna. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- ABCS/rda ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** July 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Seattle Dear Sukadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of July 19, 1973 and I have carefully considered the contents. Regarding the starting of a society newsletter, I think there is no need for it. Do not unnecessarily increase your responsibilities. What responsibilities you have make perfect. Besides, we already have our society journal, Back to Godhead. As for receiving news of other centers, why should you be so anxious? The news is always the same, sankirtana is going on, deity worship, with little change. We should rather turn our interest to learn from the books more and more. We should inquire about Krsna. Temple life is going on with little change, but we should become habituated to read the books more profoundly. Then if you have some questions about Krsna consciousness as in the books, you can ask an elder Godbrother or write to me directly. That will help you make progress. I am glad to hear all programs are going on well under your direction in Seattle, Washington. On your recommendation, I accept the named devotees for first initiation, and their new names are as follows: Donald Welton: Candravidya dasKaren Welton: Kadambaripriya dasiWally Prohaska: Visnuyasa dasJudy Prohaska: Kantimati dasiYou may give the gayatri mantra to Prsni Garbha dasi by playing the tape of me chanting gayatri into her right ear and explaining the principles of suci. Hopes this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- Send beads to Satsvarupa Maharaja—Dallas for chanting ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** November 14th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Seattle My Dear Sukadeva dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 25, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding your going to other's meetings, yes, you can go to preach but do not pick a quarrel or have any violence. Try to attract the sincere devotees there. Regarding the Gaudiya Math books being circulated there, who is distributing? Who is sending these books? The Gaudiya Math does not sell our books, why we should sell their books. Who has introduced these books? Let me know. These books should not at all be circulated in our Society. Bhakti Vilas Tirtha is very much antagonistic to our society and he has no clear conception of devotional service. He is contaminated. Anyway, who has introduced these books? You say that you would read only one book if that was all that I had written, so you teach others to do like that. You have very good determination. Yes, you submit reports to me at least once in a month. Yes, I can come to Seattle, why not? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Susan Beckman **Date:** August 29th 1973 — **Location:** Herts > England _A1 My Dear Susan Beckman, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 24, 1973. I have noted the contents carefully. Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of Godhead in this age has delivered the medicine for all problems of the world by his introducing the Sankirtan movement. Sankirtan means to chant that Holy names of the Lord and to give up all other engagements. The chanting is a process of purification. Just like we use soap to cleanse the body, this is material, but the chanting is spiritual cleansing. The three stages of cleansing are first to clean the mirror of the mind. In the Bhagavad Gita it is said, "The mind is the best friend and the worst enemy, for one who has learned to control the mind it is the best of friends but for one who has failed to do so it is the worst enemy." Due to long term association, the mind absorbed in material things has become contaminated, or dirty, the chanting process purifies the mind. Then the next stage, when the mind is cleansed one becomes free from the symptoms of material existence. Material existence means to be always hankering and lamenting. I must have a new automobile, I must have more money, I must have good wife, I must have this I must have that. Then when I have the thing, I lament, I have lost my wife, I have lost my money, I have lost my car, simply lamenting. So the second stage is to be free from this anxiety. The third stage isBrahma-bhutah prasannatmana socati na kanksatisamah sarvesu bhutesumad bhaktim labhate param"He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto me." Bhagavad Gita 18/54The next verse continues, "And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God." It is further stated in the Gita that when one is so situated even in the midst of greatest danger he is not disturbed. In other words when one has achieved perfection in chanting the Holy name of God he is always joyful, even death does not disturb him, what to speak of other things. The conclusion is that one should learn the art of chanting the Holy name of Krishna 24 hours a day and that alone is the remedy for all problems of material existence. How is it possible to chant 24 hours a day? Lord Chaitanya gave the hint, "One can chant the holy name of God in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street, more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all kinds of sense of false prestige, and always ready to offer all respects to others. In such a humble state of mind one can chant the Holy name of God constantly." So I cannot give you any better advice for your problem, simply chant Hare Krishna and everything will be all right. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- Susan BeckmanISKCON Spiritual Sky3835 Main StreetCulver City, CaliforniaU.S.A. 90230 ### Letter to Svarupa Damodara **Date:** October 29th 1973 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Tustin, California My Dear Svarupa Damodara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 15, 1973 and was very glad to read the contents. Regarding your book, "The Origin of Life," I have already given you the points, so you can inquire from me any intricate question in this connection and I shall try to reply. In the meantime I have received a letter from Ramananda and I am enclosing herewith. I think you can send him a ticket by arranging with Karandhara so he can immediately come there. When I come there to Los Angeles in my presence both of you can discuss threadbare all questions and put them in a satisfactory way. The headings you have selected are nice. Now I may add one heading which may be the conclusion as follows: "Original Life is God." Because the soul is eternal (which you have discussed in point 2), the origin of life, God, is eternal. We have to fight with all these so-called leaders, scientists, and philosophers, just like Krsna came to kill all the demons because the whole world is full of demons. Regarding the translation work, if you can translate into German or other languages of Europe, then it will be a good help. They are very much eager to publish in other languages there. I am glad to note that you are keeping an altar in your place. If the Dr. offers his obeisances, that goes to his devotional credit. All our processes of seeing the Deity, taking caranamrta, playing instruments, taking prasadam all go to the credit of devotional service. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** December 13th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bombay My dear Tamala Krsna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letters dated December 6th and 7th and have carefully noted the contents. I have already advised Guru das to remain in Vrindaban. There is no need for him to come to the U.S.A. at this time. Regarding our Bombay project: I am sending Yasomatinandana das there. He is a qualified engineer and he may deal with Mr. Shah and others. That will relieve you from this work. He is very competent and intelligent. He will return with Giriraja. He is our man and if he requires, he can take help from Mr. Shah. We should keep them all as friends. This is a very important point. Let our men and Mr. Shah do the needful—we don't require to hire any outside engineers. Regarding Mrs. Thirani, try to please her. She is the grand-daughter of Mr. Birla and the sister of Ashok Birla. She is a very important lady. Regarding the printing press for India: the press at ISKCON Press is too old and not practical to send to India. We are ready to manage a Press in India, but where is the money? We require new offset printing equipment. If we print in India we can get a much cheaper rate. Now, also there is a world-wide paper shortage but I have asked Mukunda in London to investigate exporting paper to India. I am in favor of this scheme but whether or not Mr. Gupta and others will support it and will the government allow? The news of the preaching work in New Delhi is very nice—continue with it. There are many intelligent men in that quarter, mostly European. So far as the Russian correspondent, try to convince him about our philosophy. We want to unite the world on the platform of Krsna Consciousness under one state, one government, one religion and one scripture. It will be successful if we work cautiously and maintain our standards. Just now I was reading Krsna Book. It is very interesting and entertaining and written so even a child can follow. In our childhood days we were reading one book, "Folk Tales of Bengal". It was very widely read, especially by children. So why not introduce the Krsna book for the same purpose? You may get some sanction from the Minister of Education. It is a very nice book for student study—they will get our cultural idea and learn to read English. Yes, I approve of the Life Member Committee for the Temple construction in Hyderabad. You may do the same in Bombay also. Yes, the pandal program in Hyderabad may be cancelled at this time. It is not timely at this point. Concerning our Vrindaban project, along with the residential quarters, the remaining work on my quarters must be finished up immediately for my residence. Now your most important business is to finish with Mrs. Nair all matters, especially the income tax certificate and to get sanction from the Municipality for all our plans. See to these matters above all else. Thank you for appreciating this Krsna Consciousness more and more. Carry on faithfully with Krsna, work with greater and greater enthusiasm and be blessed. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** December 21st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bombay My dear Tamala Krsna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed find a copy of a letter I have just received from Hari Charan Goswami. As he states therein, he is willing to teach our students Hindi and Sanskrit. We want to introduce this program of teaching our students Hindi and Sanskrit for two reasons. First of all, as I have already explained in a previous letter, if we can establish a bona fide language school then our American and European disciples can acquire student visas for coming to India. This will solve our visa problem. Secondly, if our students can actually preach in Hindi, periodically quoting Sanskrit, it will be a very good credit for us and very respectfully received by the Indian people. I have asked Dr. Kapoor in Vrindaban and also one pandita named Nrsimha Vallabha to also teach our students Hindi and Sanskrit. The curriculum can be two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening and the panditas can be paid Rs. 200 per month. Our students, however, must be prepared to apply themselves and actually learn the languages. Mr. B. R. Mohatta, our life member from Bombay, has just today visited me in Los Angeles and we have discussed this matter of the language school. He has advised that we take sanction for our school from different branches of the Indian Government such as the educational department, the social welfare department, and the cultural department. He says that we must approach them on the platform of wanting to present and develop this school for its educational and cultural value but not to place any stress on any religious import. Otherwise we shall not get any support from the government. He has described to me how the Rama-Krsna Mission is getting so much support from the government only on the pretext that they are keeping schools and medical clinics. Factually their schools and clinics are for namesake only and they are using the government's support to mainly propagate their philosophy. So in this way we also must take government support by tactfully presenting a solid and organized proposal. I want very much that this project should be initiated immediately and followed through with all necessary attention and endeavor. Now I have given some hint and I am turning the matter over to you for execution. I am standing by to hear from you whether or not we have obtained municipal sanction for our plans for our Juhu Beach scheme. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** December 24th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bombay My dear Tamala Krsna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 19, 1973 and I have carefully noted the contents. I have received all your previous letters and have replied to each of them. Regarding the rents collected from the apartments at our Juhu Beach property, this money must be kept and spent only for Deity worship and Temple maintenance. It must not be used for any other purpose. Regarding Vrindaban construction, we are trying to make an arrangement with one gentleman here in the U.S.A. for giving him dollars and taking rupees in India at the rate of 22 1/2 rupees per dollar. Presently the Book Trust and Gurukrpa and Yasodanandana Swamis' travelling sankirtana party are collecting the $100,000.00. To date approximately $30,000.00 has been collected. We are waiting to see if the arrangement with this man for three to one rate exchange will actually materialize and at the same time are still collecting the funds. So it may take one to two months so for the time being you will have to stand by for these funds. Meanwhile construction of the Vrindaban Temple should go on with whatever you have there. The Temple construction should go on first and later the residential quarters. You may assure the life members that they will surely get their residential quarters without fail, but first the Temple must be built. The $100,000.00 being transferred is for the Vrindaban project and other arrangements will have to be made for the new kitchen and pavilion in Mayapur. Whether or not the Rs. 30,000 has been repaid to my fixed deposit account from the money I advanced for purchasing our Juhu Beach property? It was supposed to be repaid before my coming back but I do not know if it has been done. Yes you keep the Rs. 2 lakhs reserved for purchasing the Mahatma Gandhi building. One thing is the Rs. 65,000 from the BBT savings account actually belongs to the Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust. This I have discussed fully with Giriraja and Karandhara and Giriraja will explain what is to be done in this connection henceforward. Whatever has been done in the past we shall not try to make up for but I want that now this Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust money to be very carefully managed and deposited into a separate bank account and not be spent under any circumstances without my direct order. Giriraja will explain the details to you in full. Regarding the Mahatma Gandhi building, the price is fixed up at 3 lakhs to be shared into 5 divisions. 3 parties may be paid Rs. 60,000 apiece on the condition that they will take the money and immediately vacate. Then we shall make a trust over the property. When I was last there I discussed this matter with Mr. Chowdry the lawyer so keep ready the 2 lakhs for this transaction and when I return this will be squared up. Yes I am ready to go to Dvaraka. I have never visited there so now I am taking the opportunity. Similarly, Mr. B.R. Mohatta who was recently here in Los Angeles, has promised me accommodations at Allahabad and Haridwar for the Kumba Mela observances in these places next year. Also Mr. Bhogilal Patel who has given Rs 25,000 donation has also promised accommodations at Haridwar. So I have never seen Haridwar also and I am getting older so before my last days I wish to visit the holy places in Northern and Southern India. Mr. Badruka has promised to make arrangements for my accommodations in Southern India so you may fix up the program. I have previously written you that our man Yasomatinandana dasa shall take charge of the construction in Bombay. He is very nice and enthusiastic devotee and a qualified engineer so he shall be the manager of the engineering and construction. Thank you very much for carrying on our work in India so faithfully and responsibly and I pray to Krsna always for your protection and advancement. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:KdaN.B. --- I am only anxious for the municipality sanction and Mrs. Nair's income tax certificate. Please __ this immediately. Gargamuni has written a long letter so many __. When you go to Calcutta see what is the matter. Let me know what you have done ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** December 31st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bombay My dear Tamala Krsna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. I have recently received one letter from Sridhara das Brahmacari who has left Bombay and gone to Vrindaban. He reports he is disappointed having been removed from his job of managing construction in Bombay. Sridhara is a very good boy and a hard worker. While I was there it was fixed up that he should take the responsibility for construction work. Why was he removed? Now Yasomatinandana is coming to join you and he is a qualified engineer. Between he and Sridhara they can, I think, manage construction affairs without your having to put a karmi professional in charge. We have to manage our men in such a way that they may bend to our will but not break. After all, our work is purely voluntary. If they become angry and leave then our work is defeated. I have directed Sridhara to return to Bombay and work with Giriraja. Please give him some facility so he may work happily. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDGN.B. --- Mr. Asnami has phoned that I.T. certificate is obtained. Now what _ further about municipality? ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** April 9th 1973 — **Location:** New York > Bhopal, India My Dear Tamala Krishna Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am now here in New York temple where things are going on very nicely, but I am anxious to have from you the report of the Bhopal activities. Please write to me here at your earliest. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** April 18th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Tamala Krishna MaharajaPlease accept my blessings. I have left India on April 1, 1973 so now it is almost 20 days and I have received no report from India. There are so many questions and answers for India, the Bombay, and Hyderabad, but I am in darkness. Giriraja is silent on the Chagganlal case, and what about the deed for Hyderabad, and whether Mayapur building is completed. This time when I return to India I want to see Mayapur completed. What is the Bhopal preaching report? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** April 27th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Tamala Krishna Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated _ from Bhopal and also one forwarded to me from London with enclosures dated April 11, 1973. I am so pleased to learn of the successful preaching; now go on in this way. If possible in Kanpur there is one man ready to receive you. You can open correspondence. In this way you visit all the important cities and you will get thousands and thousands of life members. We can organize in each and every factory of Mr. Birla Sankirtana Movement and in this way can save the country from Communist tendency if a big man like Birla cooperates with us. In Indore we have got many life members who will help you. The certificate the Governor has given that you are the real sadhu should be published. If possible the Governor may be induced to become life member so that other government men may follow. Tejiyas Das has already made many M.P.s life members. I am anxious to know about the Mayapur progress. I want that the house must be completely finished before my returning. In London we have purchased land. Mr. Birla wanted to construct temple there. His idea is that the government would not object to sending this marble there so that the carved pieces may be sent and if expert men go there to construct the temple it will be very nice. Some men from U.S.A. are going to Mayapur for doll making, so teach them nicely and we shall be asking doll exhibit in London. Many tourists come there, and it will a great attention for the tourists. Now all you senior members work very hard and let me retire for writing books. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** June 5th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur My Dear Tamala Krsna, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 6-1-73, and have noted the contents carefully. Yes, Mrs. Gandhi should be informed of all these incidents, how our temple has been dismantled by the municipality. So, what is the meaning of the recommendation of the standing committee that we should immediately be able to reconstruct at the cost of the municipality. Is it useless? I thought that the standing committee's resolution was final but from your letter it appears there is no meaning. What has happened to the new act of February 1973 declaring the tenant of the land to be considered proprietor or owner. Anyway, I have already written to Giriraja my opinion of what should be done. Had it been the case of some Mohammedan, there would have been great riot. But Hindus are such cowards, therefore no action has been done. Regarding Hrsikesa das, he may come here to Mayapur and I will discuss with him what his engagement shall be. He speaks fluent Bengali, so he may teach the local boys here at our school. My health is improving slowly. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** June 17th 1973 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bombay My dear Tamala Krsna, Please accept my blessings I have received your telegram regarding Syamasundara asking devotees to leave India to be guests in the new London temple. So let Syamasundara come to Mayapur and we can discuss this and correct any difficulty. Regarding our involvement with the property in Bombay: by chance we have been entangled but now a strong committee should be formed of our life members. Let them take it up, otherwise what can be done? Our men should be engaged for preaching—why should the preaching be stopped? I was very much encouraged when you and Gargamuni Swami purchased jeeps and formed a travelling sankirtana party. So why have you stopped it? Let the matter of the property in Bombay be dependent on the life members. They have paid us for membership and we have paid them, so they are also concerned. Giriraja and a small staff can stay but they must be given visa facility. The next thing is if you take up this travelling sankirtana party seriously. Just as in USA they are sending buses from U.S. centers to the villages so you can do that and entrust this Bombay matter to our life members. Hoping this will meet you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** June 25th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta Dear Tamala Krsna Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. Recently Mr. Brijmohan Mohata, along with his wife, niece and other family members, came to see me at Mayapur. He is very much pleased with our movement. He has given me one idea to educate our men in Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati for preaching work in the interior part of Bombay. I think it a good suggestion. If you are really serious in this matter you can immediately engage some of our men to learn these different languages. He has already given us a place to stay and for this proposal he will continue his patronage. So try to execute this part of our propaganda immediately. Another point is that some friends suggest here that because I am the chief man and signatory in the Sales agreement, and as I did not cancel the agreement with Nair, I have the right to revive. Anyway, there is a suggestion by Syamasundara that I may go to London for meeting very important men there in the new house given us by George. Regarding your complaint that Syamasundara was canvassing some of our Indian workers to go to London, that I have already stopped. So there is no cause of anxiety in this regard. Finally, I want to make some definite settlement of Bombay affairs before I return to Europe or America. If there is a suitable place for me to stay for a few days in Bombay I can go there immediately and from there I may go to London. So far my health is concerned I think I am 80-90% fit to move so there is no cause of anxiety. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** June 28th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Bombay My dear Tamala Krsna Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. Please let me know how much you have deposited in the BBT account since you have taken a loan of 1 lac 50,000 on the Mayapur scheme. I have advised Gargamuni Maharaja to deposit part of his collection to the BBT account against the loan. The BBT is in the Gwalior Tank Road Branch, Central Bank of India, but Gargamuni Maharaja says you have opened another account in the Indian Overseas Marine Lines. Please let me know what is this idea? I never knew of it. Your early reply will be much appreciated. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** July 20th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor [To Tamala Krsna]BombayARRIVING AIR INDIA FLIGHT 108 3.25 AM SATURDAY 15th: BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** July 20th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Bombay Dear Tamala Krsna Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15 July, 1973 and I have carefully examined the contents. Yes, I am prepared to pay the entire amount for purchase of the land at Juhu. But Mrs. Nair cannot increase the price. If she wants to increase then we will demand she return the 5 lacs rupees, plus interest and damages. So she has already got something like 2 lacs, so as soon as the conveyance is made and taken to the register, we will immediately pay cash, about 12 lacs rupees. You ask that I arrange to have 9 lacs of rupees ready from America for this purchase, but so far you have already paid 2 lacs, 3 lacs are in the bank—so if we have to raise 9 lacs from outside India then my question is what are you collecting there? Anyway, collect as much as possible and I will fill the balance. Rest assured, that if required, we can even draw the money from the U.S.Now you have taken a loan of Rs 1,50,000 from the BBT, so with these excellent collections you are now taking I request you to fill up that debt and then collect further, and the balance I shall arrange. I have read how you have dispersed your recent collections to repay BBT, and Vrindaban construction and it is all right. Please deal cautiously and do not spend unnecessarily. I am glad to hear that you have various plans for publications, but first finish this affair and then you can attempt to publish many books. I have read your report on Hyderabad and the present state of affairs there, and it is all right. Regarding Delhi, Madhavananda has also gone there and I have written to him how he can be engaged collecting with Tejyas at the government offices. Yes, your plan for people paying for a guest room at Vrindaban is very nice. The idea is they pay the price of the room and they may come there for their lifetime duration. This practice is called bhetnama, where a room is reserved for a donor for a lifetime. You will be able to secure much money in that way as many gentlemen will want to come to Vrindaban. So arrange to accommodate them in the new temple. You should also arrange for that in Mayapur building. Yes, Mayapur construction must be completely finished before I return. The next time I come there must be no more workers or carpenters with their "tack-tack" sound. I would have continued to stay in Mayapur but the hammering sounds drove me away. When you are completely finished I will go there, otherwise not. You will be glad to hear that I am eating and working nicely here. The village is neat and clean and I am walking daily in the morning with the devotees and taking the class from 7-8 A.M. It is calm and quiet here and people are coming to talk with me in the evenings. George came to meet with me and he is very enthusiastic to cooperate. Rathayatra was very successful here, as 10,000 people attended and prasadam was distributed. See enclosed newspaper. There will not be a GBC meeting in Janmastami, New Vrindaban. The important thing now for GBC members is that they go on working. It is not important to hold a meeting for passing resolutions etc. The best time and place is Mayapur on Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. That is not only the best for me but for everyone. Mayapur is meant for that. If possible all devotees from all our centers should go for 8 days at that time. There is no need for the Janmastami meeting. Go on working and send me regular reports. Besides, I will not be going to New Vrindaban for Janmastami. They are having a deity installation here in London and they are making huge arrangements for many important men to attend this ceremony. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- Enclosure: news clippings ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** July 27th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Bombay My dear Tamala Krishna Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter dated 22nd July. It is very encouraging to note that the work on our BTG and other Books is going on. Actually producing and distributing books is our most important engagement, all other engagements culminate in this one end—distribution of books. Anyway our festival here was very well received and I was so much encouraged by the whole thing that I was able to walk and dance the entire way from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square. The newspapers showed one picture of our Ratha next to the statue of Nelson and caption was "Krishna—a rival to Nelson". So all over the world our men are working hard to push this important message. I know that you are very hard working all the time and therefore your life is becoming perfect and sublime. Thank you for helping me so much. I hope you are well. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/hdaAs --- we are in possession of the land we must fully utilize it for our purpose. We must therefore hold Sankirtana Festival immediately and arrangement must be done with the help of all Hindu leaders like __, __ etc. ACBS ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** August 6th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Bombay My Dear Tamala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. Hansadutta has sent you one copy of a letter addressed to the Manager, Central Bank of India account No. 9-381 I.S.K.CON. Building Fund. Previously I asked them to send me a statement of this account, but I have received no reply from them. Please therefore go see the manager with a copy of the letter already sent you and the enclosed letter. I wish to send money to this account as you asked me in your letter dated July 15, 1973. But one thing I'm asking you, whether any negotiation has taken place or not. If no negotiation, then why transfer money unnecessarily to be blocked. Please therefore let me know definitely on this point so I can do the needful. Previously I heard that Giriraja had opened another Book fund account in the Overseas Bank. Is this correct? If so what is the balance amount there, that I also want to know, and who is jointly signing checks in the Overseas Bank. If there is any such account please immediately transfer to the Central Bank of India Building Fund Account and let me know all these points in detail, this is absolutely necessary. Whatever amount you have collected, that also deposit in this account. But the main point is whether any negotiations or settlement. I am prepared to send the balance of 9 Lacs, but I do not wish to block this amount without definite understanding. Kindly reply this letter immediately. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** August 8th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Bombay My Dear Tamala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 2, August 1973 and I have noted the contents very carefully. Yes! Hrsikesananda Maharaja may collect money for Vrindaban, that will be nice. But I notice that you are to collect one Lakh only, how is that? You are GBC so you should collect more than the others, you should collect the highest amount. One thing is that the Hyderabad scheme is hazy, so that collection may be spent for Vrindaban. See the correspondence with Mahamsa above. Yes! your idea to install Krishna Balarama first is all right. It would be nice if all the deities can be installed at the same time, but if it is not possible then installation of Krishna and Balarama is all right. I am very pleased to note that in Delhi they are doing the life membership programme. Previously I suggested this to Madhavananda and now he is doing it, that's nice. I also was meeting big Government officials and distributing my Back To Godhead in that way, at that time there were no books. I have already written to you in my letter dated July 20th 1973 that I will dispatch the 9 Lakhs if negotiations are fruitful. (See enclosed letter). You show three Lakhs and I shall show 9 Lakhs. Yes! I have received the Bank statements from C. B.I. I shall talk of this thing later. Out of the 150,000 Rs/. you have repayed only 27,000 Rs/. you have to complete this immediately so 3 lakhs will be shown from Gowalia Tank Branch and 9 Lakhs from C. B.I. Head office, so whatever money you collect use it to fill up this blank. You fill up the 50,000 Rs/. and I shall show the balance of 9 lakhs in the C. B.I. Head office. So pay immediately another 30,000 Rs/. and free the second 50,000 Rs/.The collections from your part meant for Vrindaban may be sent later because the construction is going on there. First of all fill up if you are serious about negotiations. I have met Mr. Therany in Zurich and he is a nice gentleman, he will pay as promised, so keep him satisfied. Observe many festivals, that will keep both public and devotees alive. Temple means festivals and Festivals means chanting and distribution of Prasadam. Regarding Hyderabad, I have got the draft and letter and the reply is sent to Mahamsa and you. If you have got a copy then you ask Mr. Vakil that the clause No. 5 shall be omitted. You cannot go to Hyderabad unless approved by me, you will understand everything from the enclosed letter. But I am happy to know that the preaching is going on. Above all our preaching must go on. If we do not get that land then we may purchase some other land, that is not a very difficult thing, but preaching is our real business. If Mrs. Nair's solicitors are serious then we can show bank reference by the 25th August 1973.Gargamuni told me that he collected 50,000 Rs/. of which the major portion was spent to pay for bills that Madhavananda left unpaid. If this is a fact then it is most dangerous. Let me know. Gargamuni is sending you reports, but have you not received this report? I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda --- enclosure ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** August 11th 1973 — **Location:** Paris > Bombay My Dear Tamala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. In continuation of my last letter regarding transfer of money to India for purchase of Hare Krishna Land (9 Lakhs Rs/.), I beg to inform you that transfer from this side may not be difficult, but if there is no commitment from their side I do not wish to transfer the money for being blocked. To get back the money from India is a great botheration. In other words, unless I am sure that they are going to sell I am not going to transfer the money. Regarding your telegram worded as follows: "Sending draft Hyderabad deed in your name. Send me Bombay your power of attorney for Hyderabad transaction. Urgent." I have not as yet received the draft. One draft which was sent by Mahamsa was not approved by me. I have already sent you a copy of a letter addressed to Mahamsa. So when I receive the deed sent by you and it is approved by me, I will send you the power of attorney. If Mrs. Nair is not going to sell us the land then what next step we have to adopt? you cancelled the sales agreement on the condition that she would return our money and damages which she has not done till now. On account of her failure to return our money can we not withdraw our letter of cancellation and thus take specific action on the sales agreement? We fixed a criminal case against her for attempting to dispossess us from the land, and what happened to that case? The idea is that if she is not going to sell the land to us, and at the same time does not return our money with damages and interest, and occasionally tries to dispossess us from the land, then what steps we have to take? Our clear point is that either she must sell to us, and we are prepared to pay cash 12 Lakhs Rs/., or she must return our money with damages which amounts to 5 Lakhs Rs/. We should stick to these two points in consultation with your legal committee. She has given us so much trouble and botheration, she must pay at least 5 Lakhs Rs/. for our money due from her principal interest and damage. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** August 15th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Bombay My Dear Tamala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 9th August 1973. I am sending you the copy of a letter sent to Mahamsa that was sent to you in reply to your letter of 2nd August which should explain everything clearly. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hdaNB. --- Mr Pulla Reddy gave us the land as a donation and why he is making now this land as a trust property, why not outright gift land? These are very important points. I have not heard anything from you about Mayapur and Bombay affair. If Mrs. Nair is not definite of selling to us, then what is the purpose of transferring the required money to India. I can transfer the money immediately on hearing from you. I have already written you one letter from Paris ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** August 21st 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Bombay My Dear Tamala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. Please immediately send me the names and addresses of all the foreign devotees in India. Please also their passport numbers and nationality. I am just now speaking with His Excellency The High Commissioner Rasgotra Maharaja Krishin and he has promised to help us with the devotees who are being harassed by the Indian authorities. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** August 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Bombay My Dear Tamala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 16th August 1973. So the Hyderabad situation should be cautiously dealt with and Mr. Pittie should be consulted. When the final agreement is made send me a copy and if I approve then I shall send you the power of attorney. Herewith please find fixed deposit certificate xerox copy for 143,727.78 which is equal to 10 Lakhs Rs/., now deposited with First National City Bank in the name of ISKCON on the 20th August 1973. So you can utilize this xerox certificate that we have money. I will send you further certificate of deposit in the bank for 161,000.00 equivalent to 12 Lakhs Rs/. So I think Mr. Vakhil will be convinced about our financial position and we have got 50 branches in the U.S. alone, so if required we can raise immediately 50 Lakhs Rs/. but we do not wish to block the money unnecessarily especially in India. So at any moment 12 Lakhs Rs/. can be paid to Mrs. Nair without any difficulty. From here I have got my program in Europe up to 15th September. I have got my program in Stockholm also 5th to 9th September. So most probably I shall go to Japan on the 15th September directly from London. If in the meantime the Nair affair is fixed up then I shall carry the money with me and go to Japan via India. Find herewith 2 xerox copies about our financial position, you can do the needful. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- N.B. I have received one complaint from Indian devotee at Mayapur Prabharupa Das Brahmacari that he is mal treated by our American devotees. Kindly inquire into this matter and do the needful. Either Indian or foreign whoever joins us they are not under any obligation, our only tie is Love of Godhead. It should be our definite policy that nobody is ill treated that he may go away. We recruit a person to join us after spending gallons of blood. Everyone comes for reformation, you cannot expect everyone to be perfect, rather it is our duty to make everyone perfect as far as possible. So we shall be very much cautious and careful in this connection ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** October 29th 1973 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My Dear Tamala Krishna Goswami: Please accept my blessings. So I have arrived here in Vrindaban, but so far the project is concerned, why the money is so irregular? Tejiyas reports that in the past three months you have sent Rs. 5,000/- and since then nothing. How will the project go on? So I think that the 3 lakhs from Birla may be dispatched to Vrindaban either the whole or part. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** October 31st 1973 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My Dear Tamala Krsna Goswami: Please accept my blessings. This is to introduce you to Hari Goswami of the Radha Raman Mandir in Vrindaban. He is coming to Bombay and will meet you, so please receive him nicely. Later when our buildings are completed, he will join our movement and live with us. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsPlease --- give him one copy of Srimad-Bhagavatam ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** November 7th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Bombay My Dear Tamala Krsna das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1/11/73 and have noted the contents. So why Mrs. Nair has not given the tax certificate. What is the cause for delay? What answer does her lawyer give you? Regarding the fencing, why depend on others? That there is delay means we cannot depend on Mr. Shetty to do the work. We have to do ourselves. He proposed he would sit down and supervise. If he does so, that's nice. Otherwise we have to arrange for our own men to work. Yes, we want to begin the temple construction immediately, so let them approve the plans. In the meantime finish the fencing, cleansing, and painting the residential quarters. If possible make the privy a little usable. It is not a practical idea of Mr. Birla to first collect half the money and then construct. People will pay as the construction goes on. If they are doubtful, then they can form a temple construction committee and see that every pie is used for temple construction. At least Mr. Birla must give whatever he has promised for Vrindaban. Vrindaban needs money, but we can't press him for Bombay. If he likes, he will give, but he is such a rich man he can pay for both. I am glad to learn that you are preaching nicely. It is very important business. Unless our men understand thoroughly the philosophy, how will they be able to preach? After fencing, you can make one big electric light post to illuminate the temple ground. So you replace my Rs. 30,000/- personal deposit, and when you've done it, please let me know. Regarding Mohanananda I have already written to Satsvarupa that Mohanananda may remain in Bombay for at least three months. I think you can keep him to assist you so you can go for collecting, and he can manage locally. Gradually he will also collect, but now India is foreign to him. But you should know that Krsna has sent him, so keep him nicely. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** December 1st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Tamala Krsna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. After stopping in London and New York, we have now safely arrived in Los Angeles. I am anxious to know if there has been any response from the Home Minister of India to the letter I wrote him while I was in New Delhi regarding the Indian Government assisting us in the development of our Juhu Beach Project. Our idea is to construct a hotel for American and European tourists to come and learn about factual spiritual life. While they are coming, there will be foreign exchange and the Indian Government is very much in favor of this. In this way, if we can convince them to help us by granting permanent visas for 100 to 150 of our men it will be a solution to our visa problems. Also, why not solicit a loan from the Government for 2 crores for developing our Juhu Beach Tourist Hotel. We will repay them in foreign exchange. You can point out that we have already invested up to 20 lakhs in foreign exchange so our projects in India are advantageous to the Indian economic development. This is the key to Governmental support in India. Emphasize these points in all dealings with the Government. Please let me hear from you the developments and current news of our India projects. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/kdac.c. --- Tejiyas das Adhikari ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** December 5th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Tamala Krsna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letters dated November 29th and 30th. Regarding the refusal of my entrance into Nairobi, no reason has yet been disclosed for the denial. I have written one letter, a copy of which is enclosed herewith, but there has been no reply. You may get the letter published in India. After proceeding to London I heard from Brahmananda Maharaja that on account of the denial of entry a commotion was caused amongst the people so the President of Kenya verbally said he was issuing a letter with permission for myself to enter. I waited in London but it did not come so I proceeded on to Los Angeles. The idea is to curtail the Indian influence in Kenya, either political or religious. That I can understand. Brahmananda Maharaja was allowed but not myself or my secretary. It was a great trouble for me. From Bombay to Nairobi took nine hours, then six hours waiting in the airport and then 9 hours to London. It was a great strain. I rested for three days in London. Regarding our Bombay project: somehow or other the foundation should be dug immediately. Yasomatinandana Prabhu, who has a degree in structural engineering, is here and I have requested him to go to India with Giriraja who is recovering. They will come as soon as possible. Regarding visas for our American devotees coming to India, I have made arrangements with the Consulate General of India in New York to grant six month student visas, renewable in India, for all our men. The premise is that we want our men to come to India to learn the Sanskrit language so that we can study the Vedic literature. So you must arrange for a teacher to coach these boys in Sanskrit. It will be very nice, they can learn Sanskrit and at the same time allowed visas. The Consulate General was very kind to meet and help us in this way. Also, I met with the High Commissioner of India in London and requested him in the same way. If our schooling is established we will get rid of this visa problem. Regarding the Government loan for our tourist hotel, we have already invested twenty lakhs so they may loan us at least 1 crore. Do it carefully. If we construct a very attractive hotel many tourists will come just like the Holiday Inn. So far as the arrangement with Australia for trading books for ghee, go ahead and do it with my permission. Karandhara has agreed. If you think there is a good opportunity for getting surplus food grains from the U.S.A. then you may come here for sometime to work on this scheme after Giriraja and Mohanananda have returned to Bombay. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda ### Letter to Tamala Krsna, Giriraja **Date:** July 14th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Bombay Dear Tamala Krsna Maharaja and Giriraja, Please accept my blessings. When I was leaving Calcutta I received your phone call mentioning that Mrs. Nair was eager to settle up the Juhu affair but since then I have not heard anything from you whether she is actually serious or whether she has given anything in writing. If she has not given anything in writing there is no value of her verbal statements. All settlement must be made very carefully. In the meantime, I have sent one letter to the Central Bank of India regarding our Bhaktivedanta Book Trust account. A copy of that letter is enclosed. Please do the needful. Since I have come here to Letchmore Heath, I am improved in my health more than in India. The place is very calm and quiet. It is sufficiently spacious also. I walk within the village daily in the morning along with devotees and it is very pleasant. I am holding morning class from 7-8 A.M. So things are going on nicely. . There are about 40 devotees living with me, similarly there are 30 devotees in 7 Bury Place. Sometimes I go there. Things are being managed there nicely. So I shall be glad to hear about Bombay affairs and as you send me every month statements of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, kindly send me that also. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tamala Krsna, Jayapataka, Bhavananda, Gargamuni **Date:** February 10th 1973 — **Location:** Melbourne My Dear Tamala Krishna, Jayapataka, Bhavananda and Gargamuni, Please accept my blessings. While travelling here to Melbourne I was thinking how wonderful our Mayapur project is and how it can be developed in the future. I want that Mayapur be self-sufficient by having its own production of grains, vegetables, fruits and milk products etc., to the extent that you will be able to feed at least 500 men daily. This will be better than trying to arrange for maintenance funds to come from outside. So we can make some scheme for purchasing sufficient quantity of land. The land there is very fertile and if our men can manage the program then we can go ahead. The low land we can purchase at 600 rs./bigha and the high land at 800 rs./bigha. So now you all make inquiries for purchasing as much land as we shall require and immediately inform me how much money shall be required. One thing to consider before we take any action is that if we buy lots of land, the government may become envious to feed so many men without them working etc. and the communists there are notorious for confiscating property. So I am concerned that if we develop this scheme the government may take some action against us. If you can develop an educational institution, that may help to pacify them. I shall be in Sydney until the 18th, and shall then be going to New Zealand and Indonesia. I shall return to India during the first week of March. Hoping this finds you all well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** August 15th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Tejiyas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 1, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. If you make some of the big Government officials interested in our movement then our strength will increase. Because we are in the material world sometimes we require that help. Another point is that if a government officer becomes our admirer or member then many others will follow, so try to make them sympathisers. It is good news that you have got the L.I.C. ground for holding our festival, maybe I shall be back in India at that time. Last time the L.I.C. festival was unique and successful many gentlemen wanted to increase the period, so try for the maximum period provided with Prasadam distribution. If possible arrangements should be made so that the kitchen can continue to cook and Prasadam distribution may go on continuously, in Delhi this is not difficult. If you do so the richer section of the public will contribute food grains, flour, ghee etc. Your idea to get our men made as official government guides is nice, also if the government agrees to build one or two room in our temple that will be good. If respectable gentlemen become interested in our Krishna Conscious Movement then our temple in Vrindaban will stand first, because all other temples in Vrindaban gather general mass of people without philosophical understanding. Some 50 years ago some Christian priest went to Vrindaban and inquired from many residents why Krishna enjoyed Rasa dance with other wifes which is against the Vedic principle, but nobody could satisfy him. On this point my Guru Maharaja said that Vrindaban is inhabited by neophyte devotees. So we wish our temple will be able to reply anyone in the matter of Krishna Consciousness, then many modern philosophers and scientists will come to Vrindaban, that will be very much prestigious. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** October 13th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi My Dear Tejiyas Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 6, 1973 and have noted the contents. I am glad to learn that your festival preperations are well under way. My program is that by the 25th of October I shall go to Delhi for one or two days and then to Vrindaban up to the 8th of November. I will come to Delhi on the 9th for the festival, and on the 19th or 20th I shall have to start for Nairobi. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** October 17th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Delhi My Dear Tejiyas Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 13, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding your new place, yes, if many more devotees actually remain there, it is a good scheme, but as we have got four or five branches in India I do not wish to increase more centers. Indians are not joining. This is the deficiency of our movement. Only mediocre Indian men are joining and not the very intelligent class of Indians. But, Delhi is a nice place. Formally you proposed Sundar Nagar. What happened to that? If the book distribution facility is there, then it is a first class place. The more we distribute books, the more we get solid ground of preaching work. So far continuing the Deity worship after the festival, that is a very nice proposal. Try to give it a shape. So between 20th to 25th instant I am coming to Delhi for going to Vrindaban. So I may stay in Delhi for one or two days, and then come back from Vrindaban during the festival. In the meantime please inquire if from Delhi to Nairobi there is any flight 747.Bali Mardan is trying to get me a Mercedes car. So he has asked me who will be in charge of it in my absence. So I have suggested your name. So I think in the new building there is garage also. Another thing, I want a diplomatic passport. Please inquire in this because I am always travelling, and this kind of passport will facilitate my travelling. I am a preacher of Indian culture, why they should not give me this kind of passport. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** December 3rd 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Tejiyas das, Please accept my blessings. I have five days ago safely arrived here in Los Angeles by the Grace of Krsna. Since leaving India, I have not heard from you. Guru das has written that the work has stopped in Vrndaban for want of finances. What is the position of your collections in New Delhi? I am arranging to collect and send money from here for the Vrindaban project and I also want you to concentrate on collecting there. We want to finish this project as soon as possible so that we will have our Center firmly fixed up in Vrindaban. Kindly report to me the progress in this connection. Regarding Mr. Aggarwal's offer to print our abridged Bhagavad-gita As It Is: whether or not he is still serious for this proposal and have quotations for the production been taken? The price should not exceed Rs. 2 per book. The size may be reduced a little to meet this budget if necessary. We want to sell for Rs. 3 at most. This edition is especially meant for the student class. We can print and distribute in India but cannot export them. It will be better not to sell them through bookstores but rather direct to the consumer. The stock should be kept in our custody at our own warehouse. How things are going on at our Delhi Center? There is a good opportunity for cultural discussion to be held there, especially amongst the foreigners, so try to arrange some programs. There must be feasting also, if not weekly then at least occasionally. All our life members and patrons should be invited. For example Mr. Bridge Mohan Chandiwalla who recently donated Rs. 5,000 is very favorable so we must endeavor to keep his sympathy and support. You may inquire from Mr. Kilnani, who was previously a commissioner in Germany, what is the procedure for bringing one automobile into India. Recently he has imported his Mercedes Benz so we also have an auto we want to take to India. How to go about it? Kindly reply soon bearing all news. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/Kda ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** January 2nd 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi My dear Tejiyas, Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated 21 September 1972 is in hand and I am especially glad to note that you have got that apartment in Bengali Market, Babar Road. Now you have got facility for spreading Krsna consciousness in Delhi, and I know that you are very sincere and serious preacher, therefore Krsna has given you to utilize on His behalf. You have mentioned one life member meeting and some queen is helping, but I do not understand what queen that is or what is that life member meeting. You may please inform me everything in connection with the Delhi business, I am always anxious to hear from you. I think that they have sent you books from Bombay so now you distribute them as profusely as possible and make also life members, as many as possible. I am informed there are many so-called hippies staying at Delhi, so you try to recruit some of these men or other local men to assist you there. Your description of struggling is to be understood as the mercy of Krsna, and when He is satisfied by your giving energy in this way just to please Him despite all conditions of difficulty, then you need not worry for money, there will be sufficient and more. I am including herewith one letter to the Minister of Home Affairs. You present him with a full set of our books, including Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, like that, and give him also my letter. Try to present them personally to him. Actually you may take this opportunity of being situated at Delhi to make every Parliamentary member our life member also. You can get the list of addresses and systematically approach each and every member of Parliament to become our member also. So many big big lawyers, doctors, government ministers, professional men are there in Delhi, I think more than any other city of India, and they are all intelligent men, they can be easily recruited for life member by simply showing the books and requesting them to kindly help us in this way. So make many, many life members amongst this class of men, that will be your great contribution. Whether there were any news clippings on the Parliamentary proceedings that you sent me? Hoping this will meet you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** January 5th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi My dear Tejiyas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 1, 1973, and I am very happy to learn from you about all of the progress in Vrndaban and Delhi. You are coming to Bombay very soon, so we will speak at more length when you see me. When you come we shall discuss with Mahamsa and Yasodanandana about the funds for Vrndaban building work. I am very glad to hear that Puranjana has been able to obtain the CCP Certificate for Rs. 2 lakhs. That is very important business. Without books we will make no progress in India, because practically everything we have done so far in this country has rested on these books. So I am very glad to hear that they are selling nicely in Delhi also, now try to tax your brain for finding new ways and better ways for distributing our books widely to the intelligent men of Delhi city. Yes, when I used to live in Delhi the Americans purchased many copies of my Bhagavatams and they left standing order for any further books which I might publish in future. So you may approach them and they will take minimum 18 copies per volume, as per our former agreement. When you come here you can discuss further with Yadubara all these things, such as the Thompson Press work and other things regarding the books. I have made order from Dai Nippon for 5,000 of each of our big books and 10,000 of each smaller book for distributing in India. We shall henceforward concentrate our full energy in this program of distributing books in India. We shall not be very much concerned any more with properties and big big temples, now we have got our place at Vrndabana and our place at Mayapur, that is sufficient, now let us spend our hard-earned money for printing Krsna's books and distributing widely all over India. If someone steps forward to donate us land or building, that is another thing, but we shall not be very much interested to spend for that. There are four pillars of a successful business, and that is land, labor, capital and organization. So first is the land. If you get nice land, then everything else will follow. So we have got place, labor, you are gradually getting more, we have got some capital, and we are organized, therefore I see no reason that we shall not be very much successful in India, as we shall be also all over the world. Regarding Puranjana's going to Vietnam, I think all of the Americans and other Westerners, soldiers, have left that place and now there are only American bombers flying there to drop bombs and go away. So what is the use for one man to go and try for preaching to people of Vietnam? If there is some scope for preaching there, that is a different matter, I shall be very happy to open our ISKCON center there. But I was thinking before that many American soldiers were there, therefore I suggested. So you consider these things carefully, and we shall discuss further when you come here. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** March 15th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > New Delhi My dear Tejiyas: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 12th and have examined it with great pleasure. This program of approaching MPs is very very important. If you can get this petition approved, that would be a great boon to our movement. Even if 15 or 20 MPs join our Society that will be a new chapter for us. And your petition is very attractively worded. Actually India is the spiritual leader of the world but the fools and rascals are trying to sabotage the position. Your school preaching is very much welcomed by me. We are in need of new recruits to carry out so many ambitious programs here in India, so if you can infiltrate the school system as you did in America that will be a great service. Yes, this program for the factories I have already outlined. Let the labor-management disputes be finished by prasada and regular kirtanas with temples right on the premises. Your statement that "no intelligent man can resist becoming the member" because of our books is a very good observation. Now these beautiful books have become the firm basis for our movement and any intelligent person in any part of the world cannot but fail to admire them. Devotees there or visiting must follow our regulated principles under your direction or they need not stay. Devotees should not be in India on their own business or on a whim, they should have our GBC approval. Everyone must be favorably engaged. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Thakura Haridasa **Date:** January 28th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Los Angeles My dear Thakura Haridasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15th January, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. It is very nice to see that you are so enthusiastic for assisting me in pushing on this Krsna Consciousness movement. That is very nice. Now make sure you chant the 16 rounds every day on the beads, attend the classes, and follow all the regulative principles very rigidly. This will make you more and more advanced. In addition everything must be executed with great enthusiasm. You must be very enthusiastic to serve Krsna. You have asked many questions, but for this question-answering I have created 12 GBC men. The GBC man in your zone is Karandhara. So you may please consult with him, and whatever he decides, that is all right. I am now desiring to utilize my time only for translating these books like Srimad-Bhagavatam so that I can give them to you, my disciples. So if the management is taken over by the GBC, in cooperation with the temple presidents and the other devotees, then I will be free for this purpose, and I shall be very much indebted to you all. So the general policy is that for brahminical initiation the candidate is recommended first by the temple president or GBC man, then it is considered. So please continue your book distributing very enthusiastically. This shall please me very much. And please try and work cooperatively with the other devotees for pushing on this great movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Hoping this finds you well, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bmdg ### Letter to Thakura Haridasa **Date:** April 23rd 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Thakura Haridasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 21, 1973 and also the screenplay "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" from Mr. Diamond. So it is good work that you are getting important man to understand the importance of Krishna consciousness in the modern world. If the important men of your country use their wealth to support this movement then the whole face of the society can be changed. Just like the scientists they are getting millions of dollars from the government for their researches. But, have they been able to cure death, disease, old age, and birth? That is not possible for them because they are ignorant of spiritual science as given by Krishna in Bhagavad-gita. So we have to push this knowledge in the world and so money is required. So it is very nice Mr. Diamond has given $3,000.00 for the Book Trust, that is practical help. I can understand from the play he is talented man. Now you have to impress upon hm, that when talent is used to glorify the Supreme Lord, that is perfection of talent. . Just like one of our students, he is scientist, Ph.d, and he can present God by scientific statement. He has written one small book presenting God consciousness based on scientific statement very nicely so we are publishing it. So I request you to seriously become convinced of this Krishna consciousness movement as you are understanding it and by strictly following the rules I have given you, you will get strength to convince others nicely. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tosana **Date:** February 11th 1973 — **Location:** Melbourne My Dear Tosana, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 25th. and have noted the contents carefully. Your dedication to Srimati Tulasi-devi is very laudable and I am sure that if you consult with Karandhara das he will give you all assistance to help make your dream come true. But carving tulasi beads should not be your sole occupation. You should also go out for street sankirtana and distribute my literature for the cripple minded masses, and whatever spare time you have you can carve some tulasi beads for me to sanctify. But whatever you do should be done with wholehearted enthusiasm and strict adherence to the principles of chanting 16 rounds, rising for mangala arati, following the four basic principles, always remaining clean etc. You may consult with Karandhara das and request him to approve your second initiation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Trai **Date:** March 4th 1973 — **Location:** India My Dear Trai das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your nice report dated the 20th of february and I have carefully examined the contents. Your plans for increasing book distribution are very good. If so many books are being sold then very soon we will be finished the second edition. Distribution of all these books is making a firm basis for our movement. The educated gentleman you mentioned who has now become a nice devotee should develop into a very good preacher. Your policy of encouraging his chanting is good, gradually Krsna consciousness is developed, that is natural. That London doctor that Kesava mentioned to Rupanuga Maharaja is bogus. Depend on Krsna and consult a general doctor. Nobody can guarantee life. It is a little hellish but withoutKrsna nobody can be a saint or relieved from distresses. Regarding Pyari Mohan, Ramacarya, and Nanda devi dasi taking second initiation, if you recommend, that's alright. But now they must keep very clean and never break the regulated principles. Purity is the force and if the people in general notice that we are clean both inside and outside that is to our credit. Regarding your last question, yes, you may call Their Lordships Radha-Gopivallabha. Now I have enclosed three sacred threads duly chanted by me. In Rupanuga Maharaja's absence, you may obtain a tape and instructions from Bali Mardan Maharaja in New York and hold one fire sacrifice. Hoping this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Trai **Date:** July 19th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Trai Das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your special delivery letter of July 17, 1973 and I have carefully examined the contents. I am glad to hear from you that everything is in order at our Boston temple and that the house is nearing completion in repairs and rehabilitation. This will very much increase the prestige of our Boston center so that respectable people will come and sit and hear about Krsna Consciousness. Please do not worry regarding some rumors that were being circulated here by outsiders about the Boston ISKCON temple. I can understand the actual position from your letter; so please push on with all programs as you are doing. Krsna Consciousness is factually the only solution to all the suffering which is besetting fellow humanity and all living entities. So we have great responsibilities in discharging our duties in devotional service. I am enclosing one brahmana thread chanted on by me for Mathuresh das. You may play the tape of me speaking gayatri mantra into his right ear and instruct him in the duties of Brahmin. We have to be real Brahmins, not just in name, and in that way we can set an example for the whole civilized society to follow. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Trai **Date:** July 31st 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Iskcon Boston My dear Trai Das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of you letter Dated July 13,73.I am glad to hear that the Boston temple is looking up. Enclosed please find one mantra and thread duly chanted upon by me. Hold a fire ceremony and distribute Prasadm. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Trai **Date:** September 4th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > England My Dear Trai, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 30, 1973.The two boys are gladly accepted by me on your recommendation, their names are as follows. Ronald- Kamalasana Das and Peter - Prthusrava Das. Please give them good instructions regarding our Krishna consciousness philosophy and hold a fire ceremony and distribute nice Prasadmto all the devotees. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- (Beads may be sent to Kirtanananda Swami for chanting upon.) ### Letter to Trai **Date:** December 8th 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Trai das, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 2, 1973. Thank you very much for pushing on our book distribution program so enthusiastically. Kindly offer all the devotees there my deepest gratitude for their wonderful service in this connection. I understand from Karandhara that you are one of the most staunch supporters and workers for distributing our books and I assure you that it is the highest service to my Guru Maharaja. Thank you very much. I hereby accept the devotees you have recommended as my duly initiated disciples and their names are as follows: Edward S. Basu Gopala dasDonald Narindra dasErnest Nityasiddha dasGary Krsnarcana dasMichael Bhudhara dasRita A. Govinda-vallabha dasiRupanuga Maharaja may chant their beads. Take good care of them all and always be an example for them to follow in Krsna Consciousness. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Turya **Date:** January 27th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta > Mexico City My dear Turya dasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter of December 21, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. The reports that have come from our Mexico City temple have always been encouraging and I am glad to learn that now you wish to increase your service still further. Krsna is unlimited, and His devotees' service should also be unlimited. Since you have more than five brahmanas who can participate in worshiping large Radha-Krsna deities, and you have done nicely in worshiping Jagannatha, you can order marble Radha-Krsna deities. Make the worship of Radha and Krsna most opulent, profusely decorate with flowers, celebrate all the festivals and in this way automatically large crowds of people will be attracted to your temple. I am enclosing the Gayatri mantra sheets for Laksmi-priya Dasi and Kusa Devi Dasi as you have recommended them. Now you can perform the fire sacrifice in the assembly of devotees only and teach them to count on the fingers. They may hear in the right ear the Gayatri mantra chanted by me on tape recorder. Every one of my disciples should become so nicely trained that they may all develop the brahminical qualities. Hoping this meets you all well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Turya **Date:** March 8th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My dear Turya dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 29th January 1973 and I have examined the contents carefully. Your project for a Temple sounds all right to me, and even if you don't get that particular building, Radha-Krsna Deities are approved for the present Temple. Of course, I want that you can work out all these kinds of details with Karandhara, your GBC secretary. Yes, the name Gokulananda for your new son is approved by me, now raise this Sankirtana man up very carefully in Krsna consciousness. Now you can be an ideal householder and one of our Society's leaders, so kindly follow the regulated principles strictly. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Tusta Krsna **Date:** November 7th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi > Sunset Beach, Hawaii My Dear Tusta Krsna Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your telegram dated October 29 reading as follows:"DEAR SRILA PRABHUPADA, PLEASE ACCEPT MY HEART AT YOUR FEET RECEIVED YOUR LETTER AND TELEGRAM TODAY TEMPLE WILL NOT BE SOLD ALL PAPERS TO BE SIGNED OVER TO YOU NEVER INTENDED TO CLAIM PROPERTY OR MONEY AS MY OWN DETAILED LETTER FOLLOWS PLEASE FORGIVE ANY CONFUSION OR ANXIETY MY BLUNDERS HAVE CAUSED YOU—YOUR SERVANT TUSTA"I am at present in New Delhi awaiting for our festival here, so your telegram has been redirected from Bombay. I am so much pleased to read it because I know that all of you, Siddha Svarupa Maharaja, Sudama Vipra Maharaja, and yourself, are all good souls, and so I also know that Gaurasundara is also of this same level, but I do not know why this disruption has taken place. If there is any misunderstanding with the GBC men, that can be readjusted by mutual understanding. I wanted to see you all to mitigate this misunderstanding, but I was very busy in Bombay for the same Juhu land of Mr. Nair. Perhaps you remember that you introduced Mr. Nair to me. Now he is dead and gone, but he created so many obstacles. So I had to pay them so many lakhs of rupees black, but now the position is that it is purchased, but still there is a little discrepancy. I hope this will also be squared up without delay. So kindly take my word and do not leave our society. If you cannot agree with the GBC, I can take up your matter personally and do the needful. I love you all very much, and if you go away and stay independently that will be a great shock for me. I want to meet you all together. Let me know where I shall go to meet you. Just now I have received the news that in Hawaii the tulsi plants are drying for want of watering. How has Govinda dasi left the tulsi plants which she nourished so lovingly? Please therefore all of you go to your respective positions and revive your devotional activities without any further delay, and if you cannot cope with the GBC men, which I suppose there must have been some disagreement, I shall deal with you directly. But, do not leave the Krsna consciousness movement, at any cost. If possible kindly let me know where is Gaurasundara. On my behalf please request him to come back to the temple and save the tulsi plants. Ask Govinda dasi also on my behalf to do this without delay. Kindly treat this letter as very urgent and do the needful. Awaiting your early reply. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- cc: Karandhara Das, ISKCON, Los Angeles, Madhudvisa Maharaja, ISKCON, Sydney ### Letter to Tusta Krsna, Beharilal **Date:** October 15th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Tusta Krsna Maharaja and Beharilal Das, Please accept my blessings. News has come to me that you want to sell our temple to somebody else which I cannot believe. Even that you have been in charge of the New Zealand center, now you have taken it as your personal property and you have demanded from Madhudvisa Swami the price of the temple. This is all amazing to me. I do not know what is your decision. Tusta Krsna has already left and is in Hawaii with Siddha Svarupananda Maharaja. I never believed that again you would go back to your old habits, giving up the Krsna Consciousness Movement in a whimsical way. Please do not do this mistake. It will be a great calamity for you. If you have any misunderstanding with the GBC member, you should have let me know. But I do not think there can be any misunderstanding. When I was last at the New Zealand temple, everything was so peaceful and hopeful. Now all of a sudden you have changed that program and taken to your original ways? I am so much aggrieved to receive all this news. For Krsna's sake, do not do these things. I request Tusta Krsna to go back to New Zealand and take charge of your duties, and when I shall go to Australia, I shall go to New Zealand and see things personally. Please do not leave Krsna. You will not be happy. That is my request. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Tusti **Date:** May 20th 1973 — **Location:** Dallas > Los Angeles My dear Tusti dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 17, 1973. Thank you very much. You ask: "You said when you gave me the name Tusti dasi, 'Now you can be satisfied without eating.' Do you mean that I should eat very little?" Yes in spiritual life one must be careful not to eat more than is required to keep body and soul together. The most important point is that one becomes satisfied by serving Krsna rather than by serving the senses. Now, please always follow the four regulative principles and chant sixteen rounds minimum every day without fail. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Umapati **Date:** November 26th 1973 — **Location:** London My Dear Umapati, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 30, 1973 and I have noted its contents carefully. As far as your grhastha community committee, I have no objection as it has the approval of Karandhara prabhu and he is there for you all to take advice from. One thing is though that we should not take such meetings and committees too seriously, as in the ultimate capacity our chanting is the only thing that will save us. However, if sometimes devotees should like to come together and chant Hare Krsna and discuss, just as we instituted our Istagosthi program, then this of course I have no objection to. Please offer my blessings to my beloved disciples there, and please extend my well-wisher to your good wife. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/mda ### Letter to Upendra **Date:** January 9th 1973 — **Location:** Bombay > Melbourne My dear Upendra, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated Jan. 2, 1973, and I have noted the contents with great care. I am very sorry to hear that you must undergo one operation of surgery upon your hernia condition, that is preventing you from opening a center in Perth. Yes, I can appreciate that you have opened so many centers now, all over the world, so never mind if some others may have to go there in your place. You take good rest and become very healthy by the time that I shall come there in February. If I get the opportunity I shall also go to that Hare Krsna farm near Melbourne City, 80 miles, and if you prepare some place for me to stay. Hoping this meets you in the best of health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sda ### Letter to Vamanadeva **Date:** April 10th 1973 — **Location:** New York My Dear Vamanadeva Das Adhikari: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your offering of $20.00 and thank you very much. I understand that you are now in London for helping to make our new place there a nice temple. So I will be very pleased if you make this English house into first class temple for Lord Krishna. London is very important center, so you do the work nicely. I hope this meets you in good health and also your good wife and child. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Vamanadeva **Date:** August 17th 1973 — **Location:** Bhaktivedanta Manor > Florissant, Missouri My Dear Vamanadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 12, 1973, and I have noted the contents. I am referring your letter to Satsvarupa Goswami since he is the GBC Secretary for your zone. I have made him in charge of Gurukula so he is competent to answer your question, please write to him in matters of managementI hope that you are feeling well. Please offer my blessings to your good wife Indira dasi. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:hda ### Letter to Vegavan **Date:** November 9th 1973 — **Location:** New Delhi My Dear Vegavan Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 24/10/73 and have noted the contents. It is very good to hear of your programs in the high schools. Please continue and increase this program there. It is a nice name you have chosen for your son, Murali Dhara Das. I give all my blessings to your son. Please raise him as a Krsna conscious child and be happy to become parents of a nice Vaisnava. I hope this meets you and your good wife in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Vijitatma **Date:** March 8th 1973 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Vijitatma: Please accept my blessings. I have received your $100.00 daksina and I thank you very much for it. Actually, everyone is trying to enjoy Laksmi without Narayana. Ultimately, the Mayavadi is envious of Krsna and wants to enjoy the original Laksmi, therefore they call each other "namo Narayana", they sit around and address each other as Narayana. This is the greatest offense, and they are actually unfortunate because they do not engage in devotional service. The Goddess of Fortune Laksmi is fickle towards the materialist, sometimes he is prince and sometimes he is pauper. But Laksmi cannot leave the side of Lord Narayana and wherever Lord Narayana is worshiped with care, good fortune and opulence is there. Therefore, the devotee is known as the most fortunate, and you American boys and girls are the most fortunate of all, now make everyone else fortunate by spreading this Krsna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/rdg ### Letter to Vrndavana Vilasini **Date:** May 20th 1973 — **Location:** Dallas > Los Angeles My dear Vrndavana Vilasini, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated. Thank you very much for the very nice bead bag and kurta. I am very pleased to hear that you are distributing many of my books, especially Krsna Book. You are a very sincere girl. Please continue to engage wholeheartedly in Krsna's service and there is no doubt that you may go back to home, back to Godhead in this life. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/jda ### Letter to Yasodanandana, Gurukrpa **Date:** December 1st 1973 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Yasodanandana and Gurukrpa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I have two days ago arrived at our Los Angeles Center after going through London and New York. I have been informed by Karandhara Prabhu that you both are presently traveling and collecting money for our Vrindaban Project. I am very glad to hear this. Just today we have received a letter from Guru das that the construction has stopped there due to lack of funds. Somehow or other we must complete this Vrindaban Temple so in this connection we require at least $10,000 per month from the U.S.A. for one year. Karandhara can manage $5,000 per month for the BBT and M-V Fund so I request that you both remain in America for 1 year further and collect and send a minimum of $5,000 per month to Guru das for the Vrindaban Temple. I understand that you are both anxious to return to India for preaching but at this time our preaching must be to first complete the Temple construction. After that is finished up then you may certainly return to India. You are both my older disciples and Sannyasis so I am dependent on yourselves for helping me push on this Movement in this way. Please send immediately $5,000 to Guru das. If you can send more, that is all the better but at least $5,000 per month must be sent by yourselves for the next 1 year. Please confirm that you agree to this proposal. Pray to Krsna that our humble attempts to spread Krishna Consciousness may be successful and that we may always please the acaryas and Vaisnavas by our service. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/Kda ### Letter to Yasomatinandan **Date:** July 20th 1973 — **Location:** Herts > England LT_730720_F1 Dear Yasomatinandan, Please accept my blessings. I heard you were transferring to our Los Angeles center but I do not know if you have left our Chicago center yet, so I am sending copies of this letter to both places. The thing is Brahmananda Maharaj is having difficulty translating literature into the Gujarat language in Nairobi. There is a large Gujarati population there and he has had some of our literature translated by a non-devotee translator. You know well the havoc which can result if a nondevotee tries to give his interpretation of Krsna. Although Krsna understanding is very easy for those who are simple and submissive devotees, for the duratma, Krsna is very difficult. So if at all possible we want all our foreign language books to be translated by devotees. I think you are already working on Gujarati translations of our works, so please immediately correspond with Brahmananda Maharaj at our Nairobi center and offer your services as translator. Take this as a great responsibility and it will please me very much. I will be glad to hear your progress in this important matter. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- Yasomatinandan das BrahmacharyISKCON3764 Watseka Ave. Los Angeles, Ca ### Letter to Yasomatinandana **Date:** October 28th 1973 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Evanston, Illinois My Dear Yasomatinandana Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 13, 1973 and have noted the contents. So far your arranging to bring other men with you to India for opening a center, that is all right, but if they come as tourists and then go away that is not good. This kind of coming and going is a waste of money. Karandhara can arrange at least one year visa. In that way if you can bring some men here then it will be helpful. But, I think you can get local men here. That is the preaching process. Yes, you can have the gayatri mantra, when I am coming to Los Angeles. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Yasomatinandana **Date:** December 29th 1973 — **Location:** Los AngelesLT > _731229_A1 My dear Yasomatinandana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 27, 1973. I am very glad to hear you are now about to leave New York for working at the great task of spreading Krsna Consciousness in India. Lord Caitanya has said those born in India have the special responsibility to spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world. So almost all Indians have ignored this injunction by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But now by the grace of my Guru Maharaj I have brought this message to the West and now you and your god brothers and sisters are helping me in bringing it back to the people of India and all over the world. It is a fact that all humanity's suffering is due only to lack of Krsna Consciousness. I have received your check of $6,800.00 and I thank you very much. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SGMIskcon439 --- Henry StreetBrooklyn, N.Y. 11231(handwritten) N.B. Please tell Bali Mardan that (unreadable)