# Letters — 1974 ### Letter to A. K. Shivdasani **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > 15E (2, self help co-operativehousing society Ltd.,St. Francis Road,Vile Parle) West,Bombay, 400 056 My Dear Sri AK Shivdasani, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated 10/11/74 and have noted the contents. We are having discourses here every evening at 7:30pm on Srimad-Bhagavatam and you are cordially invited to attend the discourses as well as the Arati and the Kirtana. Regarding the opening of the Vrindaban Temple that will take place on the Ram Navami day, the appearance of Lord Ramacandra, April, 1975. So you can discuss further with Giriraja for making the necessary arrangements. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Abhirama **Date:** February 1st 1974 — **Location:** Hong Kong > Miami, Florida Dear Abhirama das, Please accept my blessings. In his latest GBC report, Rupanuga Maharaja wrote that you are delinquent in sending him regular reports. The system of temple presidents sending twice monthly reports to the GBC was devised by me to facilitate my receiving news of all the centers through the GBC. You are free to write me directly when the occasion arises, but do not neglect to send regular reports to Rupanuga Maharaja. I hope everything is going well in the Miami temple and I will be glad to see you at our Mayapur meeting. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Abhirama **Date:** August 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Coconut Grove, Florida My Dear Abhirama das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 15, 1974 and have noted the contents. I have accepted the students upon your recommendation as my initiated disciples. Their spiritual names are as follows: David Milo Cramer—Dhruva dasErnest Czwal—Drsta dasThomas Gribble—TakrahariJohn Paul Gribble—JagatsakhaRon Jermakakian—RajakariJoseph Rizzo—RagaputraJerome Schein—SrisaJoseph Cyril Streb—SarvopamaMarsha Bryant—ManiniAurora Gribble—AkancaniFarnie Spottswood—Srutirupa devi dasiDonna Tonkinson—DrsyaJohn Jill—JambavanAs you have suggested, you may hold a fire sacrifice and the beads may be chanted upon by Rupanuga Prabhu. You should impress upon the new disciples that they are taking vows before Radha and Krsna, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas. They must always chant at least 16 rounds daily and avoid the four sinful activities. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Acarya Prabhakar Mishra **Date:** May 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi My dear Acarya Prabhaker, Please accept my greetings. I am due receipt of your letter dated 24/4/74 and I have noted the contents carefully. Sometimes in the year 1950 or 51 I first met you in Jhansi and since then we were very intimately connected and you took Hare Nama from me and I also expected in the future both of us would preach the Krsna Consciousness movement all over the world. So practically more than 20 years have passed and you are working in a different field of activities. I am also working in a different field of activities. But by Krsna's grace again we are trying to come to one platform. Your statement that present educational system has produced no good effect is confirmed by the sastra: Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincanasarvair gunais tatra sanaste surahharav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunamano-rathenasati dhavato bahih[SB 5.18.12]Human life is especially meant for spiritual education or Krsna Conscious education. For eating, sleeping, sex life and defense it is not very much necessary for the human being to receive education, because naturally every living being has natural education for these demands of the body. Therefore for the human being spiritual education is essential: atatho brahmajijnasa. You are a competent scholar and very intelligent personality so if you understand this philosophy of life then immediately I shall be able to cooperate with you. Our Krsna Consciousness movement is specifically based on Bhagavad gita as it is. We accept Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead with full opulences of wealth, power, potency, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. If we want perfect education then we must follow the principle of Bhagavad gita. Such education will help the whole human society. In all different fields of activity, social, political, religious, cultural, economic and so on. If you take up this principle then the educational department should be divided into four divisional departments for advancement of knowledge. There are many departmental institutions for giving education just like medical, engineering, legal, administrative etc. But there is no educational institution where real ideal Brahmanas are educated according to Srimad-Bhagavatam brahminical culture, or to educate a certain section as ideal, perfect persons is essential in human society. At the present moment all over the world, hardly you will find such ideal men on top of society. So this class of men is essentially required if we want to keep peace and harmony with one another. I am trying to do this work and now we have got a very nice place in Bombay. I invite you immediately to come and see the place and I am prepared to amalgamate or affiliate your institution with ours. I think when I was in Delhi I went to this place Kirti Nagar and stayed two or three days with you. You are paying Rs 1,250 rent—that is not very much considering present circumstances. Please let me know the area of the place and under what terms you are in possession of the land. If possible, you can immediately go to my secretary at the following address: G 12 Ananda Niketan Extension, new Delhi 110023. My secretary's name is Tejyas das Adhikari. We have a temple there and the quarter is very nice. But if some suitable arrangement is made we can take up your place at Kirti Nagar on the approval of my secretary there. So the best thing is you may come immediately at Bombay at the above address and probably I may go back to New Delhi along with you because I have to go to Vrindaban before I go to Europe. I am expected in Rome on the 23rd of May and then Geneva, Paris, Stockholm and London and then I will return to India. In Vrindaban I am constructing the big temple you have seen. I hope you will approve my scheme in Vrindaban. On the whole, it is Krsna's grace that after more than 22 years you are still coming nearer for cooperation so please let me know when you are coming. Yours affectionately, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Acyutananda **Date:** May 31st 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > Hyderabad My dear Acyutananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 25th, and I have noted the contents. It appears there is good chance we may get permission for our men to enter Jagannatha Puri temple if we can present the right documents. My idea is that you present the enclosed statement proving our men are bona fide Hindus to Swami Cinmayananda who you say is sympathetic to us on this point. Have him copy this statement on his own letterhead and sign it. In addition, take a similar signed certificate from Mr. Sujya Narayana Rajooa who is the Endowment minister of Andra Pradesh and who came to receive us at Tirumala. I think with signed statements from these two this will be enough and that we do not have to get the government sanction. So if you can take these statements from these two men it will be an important achievement for our society. Try for it in earnest and Krsna will help you. I am glad to hear the Hyderabad temple is so enthusiastic for preaching. Please keep me informed. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Acyutananda **Date:** June 8th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Hyderabad My dear Acyutananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of May 25th and have examined the contents. You should not write anything to Madhava Maharaja's camp. You may have talked many things with Mangala Niloy but why write him in black and white. The letter must not be sent. Their policy has been all along to suppress me and take credit for himself. Their proposal for cooperation is a myth. They haven't done anything which is cooperative. You know in a recent article they managed to write in such a way that Madhava is doing the world movement and we are his subordinate. From the beginning that has been their mentality. So there is no possibility of cooperation with them. Rather you should avoid strictly meeting with them. They are not after preaching but material gain and reputation and adoration. Otherwise why they are non cooperating with me? So no cooperation is possible. Do not think or indulge in loose talks. Be careful always. Let us do the duty of propagation sincerely and seriously on our own principles. Krsna and Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura are our only hope and they and helping us. If anything thing has to be done it is to be talked on the higher level between Madhava Maharaja and myself, but I know his mentality is different and there is no possibility of cooperation. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- ,ACB/sdg ### Letter to Acyutananda **Date:** June 14th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Hyderabad My dear Acyutananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your most recent undated, letter. I am glad you have received my letter and mailed it to Swami Cinmayananda; so we shall see if they are able to help us so that we may enter Jagannatha Puri Temple with our disciples. Regarding your philosophical question, if the Bhagavad gita is part of Mahabharata which is considered smrti, how can we claim Bhagavad gita to be GITOPANISAD, or one of the Upanisads which are sruti? Actually because the Gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead it is sruti. But people take it as smrti because it is part of the Mahabharata. We take it as sruti as far as we are concerned. The purport of sruti is to make one advanced in understanding the Absolute Truth. Here the Absolute Truth is explaining personally, therefore the Gita should be taken as sruti. But they take it as smrti because it is part of the Smriti (Mahabharata). In one sense it is both sruti and smrti. Please yourself and Mahamsa Swami work in full cooperation with Karandhara Prabhu who is leaving Paris today for Bombay. You may send him regular reports as he is taking over from Tamala Krsna Maharaja, as GBC of India. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Acyutananda **Date:** June 27th 1974 — **Location:** Denver > Hyderabad My Dear Acyutananda Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 5, 1975 and have noted the contents. Regarding the question of New Vrindaban that should be referred to Kirtanananda Swami who can deal with it directly. I am glad to hear that your Bangalore program was a success. Your question of how did Sukdev Goswami hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, it was in the womb of his mother. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Agent, Central Bank of India **Date:** November 17th 1974 The AgentCentral Bank of IndiaCamac StreetCalcuttaHare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Rd.Juhu, Bombay 400 054 IndiaRe: Savings a/c No. 831 in favor of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- Dear Sir: Please credit the interest derived from my Fixed Deposit Receipts directly to my above Savings account every month or when it is due. Kindly acknowledge receipt. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Agent, Central Bank of India **Date:** December 3rd 1974 > The Agent Central Bank of India Camac Street Branch10, Camac Street Calcutta-17VIA REGISTERED A.D.Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road Juhu, Bombay 400 054Re: Credit of interest on L.T.D. 5/17 for Rs. 73,000/- to my H/S A/c 831 with you Dear Sir: I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 21, 1974 and have noted the contents. As requested by you I am herewith enclosing herewith the Deposit Receipt as referred to above duly endorsed by me for crediting the interest monthly to my S/A/c 821. As I am now out of Calcutta, the Deposit Receipt certificate may be kept in your custody until I collect it upon my return. I am also enclosing herewith one check for Dollar 1000.00 No. _____ which please credit to my S A/c 831 and oblige. Please acknowledge receipt. Thanking you. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- Enc: 1 Deposit Receipt & 1 check ### Letter to Agent of Central Bank of India **Date:** December 30th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > The Agent of Central Bank of India Camac Street Branch Calcutta Dear Sir: Please refer to the enclosed True Copy of a letter sent by myself on December 3, 1974 by registered mail. Up to this date I have not received any acknowledgement of receipt from you and I am very concerned in this matter. Please inquire as to why it has taken so long and immediately notify me as to whether you have received the document and the check which I enclosed in my letter of December 3rd or not. Thanking you. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta SvamiACBS/ps ### Letter to Ajita **Date:** January 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Ajita, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 21st, 1973. I can understand from the propaganda you are making that you are trying your best at your center there. Especially, even though the weather is cold you are emphasizing Sankirtana book distribution. So that is very important and that is why we are opening Centers. Also, you should keep on your work with trying to approach the educated class in this—teachers of religion in the schools and colleges. You write to say that the students are surprised to hear our description of God-consciousness in such a scientific manner. Yes, because there is no education at all in the principles of the soul and what is God, and what is transmigration of the soul in the next life; therefore, the people are rejecting religion as sentimental and backward but they are not finding any relief in material activities. So our presentation all over the world of the scientific principles of God-consciousness is the greatest benefit to them. Therefore, those who are sincere will be very grateful for our presentation. So go on presenting it as you are doing it and be always sure to keep strong by following the spiritual principles; otherwise, everything will automatically degrade. So I am confident that you will keep up the practices as I have taught them and do not unnecessarily add anything. It is very good news that you are becoming well known in Sweden as this is the wish of Lord Caitanya that everywhere His Name should be known. Now regarding the house, the house you have at present is nice but there is no big hall there but on the back side there is open land. If you can construct a Temple there then that would be nice. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. Try to approach Stockholm University Nobel Prize authority in this connection. If things are going nicely, next summer I may go there ### Letter to Ajita **Date:** April 7th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Stockholm My dear Ajita, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 4/1/74, along with the new publication in Swedish of my English work, "Krsna Consciousness the Topmost Yoga System". Of course I cannot read Swedish, but looking through this book has given me unlimited bliss. After all, this is my prime duty, to publish books on Krsna Consciousness. The printing of the book appears excellent, and that you are "profusely distributing" the book all over Sweden is the crowning success of our movement. We will conquer Europe with these books. I can only thank you again and again in sincere gratitude for producing this literature, and pray to Krsna to bless you with all spiritual advancement. I am planning to go to Paris, France in the second week of May, and while I am there I can also visit you in Stockholm. Let me know if you can arrange a meeting at the university for that time and then I shall be able to go and join you in spreading Krsna Consciousness to the people of Sweden. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ajita **Date:** April 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Stockholm Dear Ajita, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 9 April. The devotees recommended by you for initiation are accepted by me as my disciples, and their new spiritual names are as follows: Arne Ekstrand—Aristahe dasLena Nilsson—Sriharini dasiInga Scavenius—Iccha dasiBe sure to instruct them on chanting at least 16 rounds daily and avoiding the four offenses—as that is the life of Krishna Consciousness. We get devotees after much difficulty, now you have to keep them nicely and see they are always engaged in serving Krsna. I want to come to Stockholm on my upcoming European tour. Bhagavan das has been arranging a number of festivals for me to speak at as well as meeting important people in Rome, Paris and Geneva. Please get in touch with him and if possible schedule a meeting with some important men of your country who may be interested in understanding the science of Krsna. Of course hardly anyone is interest in achieving his real self interest, love of Krsna, but our presentation is so scientific that learned persons are appreciating it all over the world. So if some of the leading citizens of Stockholm want to meet with me, or if you can arrange a festival with Bhagavan das and Hansadutta then I can include it on my tour. Please fix up a time when I can come conveniently as after visiting Paris I shall be free to come to Germany and Stockholm also if you like. You can write me care of our Vrindaban temple where I am going in a few days. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ajita **Date:** September 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Stockholm, Sweden My Dear Ajita das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 8/18/74 and the contents have given me much pleasure. You have given me all happy news. The festival success is very encouraging to me. So go on with your festivals. Everyone will like this movement, it is such a nice thing, what Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given. You have captured the essence, and therefore you are successful in being able to distribute it to the people of Sweden. I am very glad that I have got such good disciples as you. The program is already there, publish my books and distribute to your best capacity. Yes, every town and village, that is what Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted. Krishna will bless you for your sincere effort. The price for the property you have mentioned is very cheap. You should purchase it. It is very nice that there is water all around it. Certainly I will take the first opportunity and shall go there to visit you to see how you are doing. You have the intelligence how to execute this mission. That I see. Remain sincere and fixed up and enthusiastic by following the rules and regulations and chanting 16 rounds. Then you will remain spiritually strong. Then maya cannot disturb you. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ajita **Date:** October 19th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Stockholm My Dear Ajita das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 2, 1974 and have noted the contents with pleasure. I am glad to learn that you are expanding all your activities, and I very much appreciate your efforts in this connection. Lord Caitanya will bless you. I am pleased to accept the following as my initiated disciples and their names are as follows: Per Jaderstrand—Prapujaka dasa, and Margaretta Jaderstrand—Mahamedha devi dasi. Upon your recommendation I accept for second initiation Aristahe das Brahmacari, and enclosed is his sanctified brahminical thread and the mantra sheet. When you hold the fire sacrifice, impress upon the devotees that they are taking vows before Radha and Krishna, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas, so it is a serious thing. The gayatri mantra should be heard from my tape recording through the right ear. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ajita **Date:** November 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Spanga, Sweden My Dear Ajita dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 16/11/74 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I accept Dvarakesa das Brahmacari for second initiation as twice born brahmana. Enclosed is the sacred thread duly sanctified by me, and the mantra sheet. Now hold a fire sacrifice and he may hear the gayatri mantra through the right ear from my tape recording. The mantra must be recited three times daily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Aksayananda **Date:** December 10th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Aksojananda Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 10/12/74, and upon your recommendation I am accepting for twice born brahminical initiation Sriman Muktananda das Brahmacari. Enclosed is his sacred thread duly sanctified and his mantra sheet. Now hold a fire sacrifice, and let him hear the mantra through the right ear, and impress upon him that he is taking vows before Radha and Krishna, the spiritual master and the Vaisnavas. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Aksayananda, Pancadravida **Date:** June 14th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Bangalore My dear Aksojananda Maharaja and Pancadravida Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of 3rd June from Bangalore. Do not be discouraged if so far the collections have not been very great in terms of money. More important than the results is the activity. Krsna wants to see that you are fully engaged with all sincerity in preaching His glories; that will please Him, not a certain amount of money. Moreover, if you remain determined in that activity, then automatically the results will come. It is like a woman who becomes married; if she immediately desires to have a child, that is not possible. But because she is associating with her husband, after due time, in 9 months she may have a child. We have to be enthusiastic, determined and patient in the execution of our duties. Continue to send your collections to the BBT in Bombay. I shall be glad to hear the progressive reports of your preaching, and now you may report regularly to Karandhara Prabhu and take up management affairs with him, as he has gone today to India to take over GBC affairs. Hope this finds your sankirtana party members in good spirits by careful following of all regulative principles. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Aksobhya **Date:** September 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Dallas My Dear Aksobhya das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter regarding the Krishna Bowl game, and it should be stopped immediately. This thing will be a taxation on the brain on the young children. Why are you inventing? Why you are not satisfied? You are all only inventing and spoiling money. You should teach the children perfectly Sanskrit and English instead of spoiling time and money. The children cannot pronounce correctly the Sanskrit. Let them read it correctly, that is wanted first. They must pronounce nicely English and Sanskrit. The English is no difficulty. If you can do this, then your education is all right. You may introduce contests, but if the children and also the older devotees cannot pronounce Sanskrit correctly, it is all a useless waste of time. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Alfred **Date:** December 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Teton Village, Wyoming My Dear Alfred: Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your kind letter dated November 9, 1974 and have noted the contents. Most probably I am going to Hawaii by the middle of this month of December, and I shall let you know as soon as I reach there. I shall be glad to see you in Hawaii for making some project for improving the land there. I shall pray to Krishna for your ever increasing advancement in Krishna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Alfred Ford **Date:** July 16th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Teton Village, Wyoming Dear Sriman Alfred Ford: Please accept Krishna's blessings and be happy. Hare Krishna. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind letter dated May 22, 1974. I do not know why it is so much delayed. Anyway I was not here and I have just come here one week ago, so I am sorry that replying your letter is delayed so much. So far as your questions are concerned, in India a sannyasi or a person in the renounced order of life is always honored. Even in this fallen down condition of India a sannyasi is honored everywhere, and he has no problem for his living condition. So you are correct that a person in the renounced order of life is honored. Unfortunately some unscrupulous men take advantage of this renounced order dress and being filled up with all material desires they commit so many wrongful things, and the people in general take note of it and gradually the honor for the sannyasi is dwindling. Exactly like a person having received some counterfeit money is always afraid of being cheated, but this does not mean there is no good money. So unscrupulous men on account of this age of Kali yuga are taking advantage of sannyasi dress and are exploiting the people. So there is very awkward, and even a genuine sannyasi is sometimes in trouble. In the sastras therefore it is stated that unless one is perfectly detached from material things he should not be allowed to accept sannyasa order.asvamedham gavalambam sannyasam pala paitrkamdaivarena sutotpattim kalau panca vivaijayet[Cc. Ādi 17.164][TEXT MISSING]with fish, and meat, and getting children begotten by a husband's brother should all be completely stopped in this age. I am very glad that you are so much inquisitive about the sense of the sastras. Yes, Krishna always gives shelter to the surrendered soul. Krishna never allows a brahmana to be killed. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated as follows.kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati[Bg. 9.31]"My dear son of Kunti, be assured and declare it to the whole world that My devotee is never vanquished." Krishna is also worshiped as namo brahmanyaya devaya. His first business is to give protection to the cows and the brahmanas. Now this question may be raised why are so many cows being killed in the slaughterhouse. The answer is that those who are killing cows, according to the decision of karma kanda, these killers of cows will in the next life be cows, and the cows who are killed will become men and kill the killers. The word flesh is called mansa which means the animal in future will kill me and eat. This is called karma bandhanam, bound up by the laws of karma. If you kill some living being, he will kill you in the next life. According to Manu samhita, the Vedic lawbook, a murderer is hanged and thereby released from sinful activities so that in the next life he may not be killed. Life for life sentence is given to end the result of sinful activities in this life instead of waiting for the next life. Unfortunately people at the present moment do not know what is the next life, what is this life, what is karma, how one becomes entangled, how one becomes free. The modern education is void of all this enlightenment. They are kept in darkness without any knowledge of the values of life. Our Krishna consciousness movement is a great boon to the human society. We are trying to save the human society from all kinds of suffering, past, present, and future. If you read all our books, Bhagavad- gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and others, you will get all the answers to your questions. Still I shall be very glad to answer besides that. By the by I beg to invite you to our opening ceremony of our newly constructed temple of Krishna Balarama at Vrindaban beginning from August 8-15. I think we have exchanged some correspondence but I have never seen you. It will be a great pleasure to see you at your convenience. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Alfred Ford **Date:** October 28th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Teton Village, Wyoming My Dear Sriman Alfred Ford: Please accept my blessings. Sudama Maharaja has brought me the news here in India that you have already purchased the house in Honolulu and have given the key to Sudama for taking possession. Thank you very much for your kindness. Krishna will bless you with more opulence and knowledgeHuman life is meant for acquiring knowledge and detachment to the material world. Knowledge means to understand that everything belongs to Krishna. Krishna consciousness means that everything including myself are different energies of the Lord and as such should be utilized for the purpose of Krishna. Krishna wants that all living entities should live with Him, as the father likes the whole family to live with him. Our Krishna consciousness movement is to educate people how to re-enter the family of Krishna and thus become eternally happy and blissful. I am expecting to visit Hawaii latest by April, 1975, and I hope I shall be able to see you at that time. Thanking you once more. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to All GBC and Presidents **Date:** July 17th 1974 — **Location:** Dallas MEMO TO ALL CENTERSTo all GBC and Presidents: Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Srila Prabhupada has especially requested that henceforth there should be no approaches made to Alfred Ford or his family members for donations for temples. Prabhupada will personally handle these types of communications between Alfred Ford and our Society. Also all devotees when writing a letter to Srila Prabhupada should include the return address on the letter and not only the envelope. Sometimes the envelope gets lost, and if there is no return address on the letter it is difficult to address the reply. All temples should be sure to print their full temple address on their letterhead, and not just have the name of the society with a blank space for the camp address which is sometimes omitted by the writer of the letter. I hope this meets you in good health. Your servant, Brahmananda SwamiApproved: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to All ISKCON Centers **Date:** March 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Memorandum to All ISKCON Centers My dear disciples, Please accept my blessings. Now that our ISKCON is growing into a huge, world wide organization, it has come to my attention that sometimes centers are printing my literature, taking collection and spending all outside the jurisdiction of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. This must not go on. I specifically formed the BBT to invest in it exclusive rights for the printing of all literature containing my teachings, writings and lectures. In this way the collections are to be divided fifty percent for printing new books and fifty percent for construction of temples. The BBT can authorize a center to print, as in the case of foreign translations, with the agreement that when the foreign printing becomes financially solvent they will pay royalties to the BBT. But all printing of ISKCON literature must be by the BBT or under their sanction and approval. If temples print independently it will be at the cost of the books I am myself printing, and could eventually cause the financial ruin of the BBT, meaning I could not order new books from the printer or have sufficient funds for construction of temple projects. I trust this is now clear and you will all do the needful. If you have any questions in this matter you can write me directly or consult with the GBC representative. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to All ISKCON Presidents **Date:** July 30th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay To ALL ISKCON Presidents: This is to introduce Sri and Smt. Kartikeya Mahadevia of Bombay who are my good friends and our Life Members. They are now making an extensive tour of American and European cities and will be especially visiting all our centers. I want that they should be well received and accommodated and also given prasadam, and they may be offered whatever assistance they may require on their journey. Sri Mahadevia has kindly hosted me in Bombay before we have gotten our own place, so I am eager to see that he and his wife are nicely received at all our temples. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsResolution --- , 29 July, 1974 ### Letter to All Temple Presidents **Date:** December 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay To: All Temple Presidents: Please accept my blessings. This is to introduce our life member, Sri Narinder Natha Bagai. Please try to help Mr. Bagai in every respect during his visit to your Temple, and provide him with boarding and lodging free of charge. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/GdB ### Letter to Amarendra **Date:** March 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Gainesville Dear Amarendra, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotees recommended by you for first initiation, and their spiritual names are as follows: Don Rousse—Dhanesvara das AdhikariLisa Ronss—Candrt devi dasiHeidi Ranebhy—Nagari devi dasiTheir beads may be chanted on by Rupanuga Maharaja. You may hold a fire yajna and speak about avoiding the ten offenses in chanting. Please instruct these students in all ways so that they can advance nicely in your care in Krsna Consciousness. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Amarendra **Date:** April 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Gainesville, Florida Dear Amarendra, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your recent undated letter along with enclosed new paper clippings and I thank you very much. I have studied your statements in the papers and you have repeated my ideas and at the same time sounded like a politician, and this combination is very effective. You are certainly the right man for this preaching work. They have taken you as a serious candidate and according to your statement, you feel you may even win. So I am very much encouraged by this political field in America. The people there are very intelligent and they take your statements seriously. I do not need to tell you to push on with this work in serious concentration because I see you are already very determined. In this connection you may see a letter I have just sent yesterday to Rupanuga Goswami in which I have described the need for our political devotees to always stay firmly fixed up in the regulative principles so they will be actually brahmanas. Preach on the basis of the division of the society into four orders, as without this the society is useless and people cannot be happy or even have the necessities of life. I am keeping your newsclippings in a special scrap book and reading them to my important guests in India to show them the potential of this movement. Unfortunately in India they do no take it very seriously; it is up to you in America to actually accomplish something in terms of introducing the principles of Bhagavad gita As It Is into government. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Amarendra **Date:** June 10th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Gainesville, Florida My dear Amarendra, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 6/6/74 and have carefully noted the contents. I can understand that you want to run for political office, but we can not spend money even if we have money. If you have money of your own and you want to spend it for running for office you can do that. But for running we not only have to draw on the society's money but also on our men. This is not desirable. By competing with the politicians we may drop from our spiritual ideal. Our actual business is to become brahminical. We want to train some ksatriyas but that we can do in our own communities. Where is the money for this political work, that is my main question. And also, so much attention paid in this area is a diversion from our spiritual life. Your every well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ameyatma **Date:** December 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Ameyatma dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil together with photos of the paintings and card, and layout sketch. Regarding the two portrait paintings of myself you have done, both are nice but the close-up one is better. Regarding the sketch of the Six Goswamis I think it is some imagination. Too much imagination is not good. It is better not to go beyond the limitations as described in the Sastras. What is that scaffolding? So better not to do this idea. Regarding the painting of the arati ceremony, yes do it as it is described in the song. The ceremony was held inside. No arati takes place in the open. Lord Caitanya was a householder at the time. Navadvipa lila means householder lila. The form exhibited was the Panca-tattva form, as it is described: dakhine nitaicand bame gadadhara. Not only are Brahma and Lord Siva but all demigods are offering. And, everyone has got sikhas, why you are asking if only Narahari and others have got? Srivasa was grhastha, and Advaita acharya was grhastha. Regarding your suggestion for a big, big index, who will do the work? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Amogha **Date:** August 5th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Double Bay, Australia My Dear Amogha das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 16, 1974 with enclosed clippings and the Christian paper Southern Cross. The articles are very nice, and I am very pleased how the Christian community are appreciating our movement. Actually we have no quarrel with them. We accept Lord Jesus Christ as the son of God and he was a great Vaisnava. Because he appeared in another country does not mean that we should not offer him respect. If we stick to our principles as I have given you, more and more these priestly class they will come to respect us and appreciate something of our philosophy. Therefore I stress so much the devotional rules and regulations. I very much liked the report of the prasadam distribution at the club for businessmen. So I thank you very much for kindly sending me this report. I understand that you are preparing to go to Jakarta for preaching. So just go on as a sincere servant of Krsna, and you will be blessed by Krsna. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Amogha **Date:** October 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Alexandria, Australia My Dear Amogha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 7, 1974 with enclosed copies of the Library orders. I thank you very much for this. It is very good that our books are being appreciated by the learned circles. If our books are distributed more and more in this way, there will be unlimited scope for spreading this movement of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world. And, personally I become very much encouraged when I get the report of my books being distributed. Regarding Indonesia program and Gaura Mandala Bhumidas assisting and so far collecting money in Australia for the project, these things should be consulted with the GBC man. Please give me relief from all the managing so I can devote my brain to the literary work. It requires a great deal of concentration. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Amsu **Date:** August 13th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Toronto My Dear Amsu das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 23, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the worship of our Gaura Nitai by women pujaris, we worship Lord Caitanya in His householder life when He was with His wife, and not as a sannyasi. So, it is alright for women to do this service. But, besides this, service is spiritual and there can be no material designation. In Bhagavad-gita it is stated by Lord Krishna: striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te'pi yanti param gatim. The principle is that everyone who is properly initiated and following the rules and regulations can worship. This activity can not on the material platform. According to the smarta vidhi, women cannot touch deity during menstrual period but the goswami viddhi allows. But it is better not to do it. One thing is that the seva can never be stopped for any reason. This also for the cooking. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Ananda Keshore Maharaja **Date:** March 6th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Vrindaban Dear Ananda Keshore Maharaja, Please accept my greetings. Your letter dated February 28th, reached me very late, on the 5th of February. So I am sorry I couldn't join you. Thank you for your invitation. I am expecting to go back to Vrndavana in the second week of March. I will be very pleased to see you there. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Annada **Date:** November 25th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Ahmedabad My Dear Annada devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 20, 1974 and am pleased to hear that you are well. When I was in Delhi I was sorry to learn that you were ill, so I immediately informed your husband that you must be cared for. Anyway we have to depend upon Krishna in all circumstances. As long as the body is there there will be different degrees of health and unhealth. We have to tolerate these things just as we have to tolerate the seasonal changes of sometimes hot sometimes cold. You are a devotee, and so Krishna will protect you. Always think that Krishna is with you. He is present in His name, so you are always associating with Him. I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Aradhana **Date:** January 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu > Montreuil, France Dear Aradhana, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated January 13, 1974.I can understand that you are feeling disturbed because your wife has left you, and also that you are not living within the association of devotees at our Paris temple. My advice to you is that you associate always with Krsna through chanting the Holy Name. If you are always with Krsna there is no question of moroseness or anxiety. Further than this, Krsna will give you intelligence through sincere chanting, how to progress further in Krsna Consciousness. It is a fact, however, that to be happy and peaceful in spiritual life, the association of devotees is essential. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Areya **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Spanga, Sweden My Dear Areya Devi Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 13rd, 1974 in which you request to become married. You can consult this matter with Hansadutta who is my representative. He is Grhastha and he can advise you in this matter. Please go on regularly chanting your rounds and pushing on Krishna Consciousness philosophy to everyone you meet. This will help you remain fixed in devotional service. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** April 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Tehran Dear Atreya Rsi, Please accept my blessings. Very suddenly Tamala Krsna Goswami underwent treatment for a surgical operation for a hernia. Now he is completely invalid and cannot move. It will take about two weeks more to recover, and then he desires to go to the U.S.A. for preaching work, and retire from the GBC.We have discussed about you because immediately you have no portfolio. I am now in India, so in my presence another GBC may not be required, but if required in my absence, my question is whether it will be possible for you to take charge? Kindly guide me how it will be possible, while keeping you occupation intact. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** July 24th 1974 — **Location:** New York Tehran[To Atreya Rsi]URGENT IMMEDIATELY NO SUITABLE PLANE GOING DIRECT TO BOMBAY YOU ARE INVITED TO VRINDABAN FESTIVAL A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** August 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Tehran My Dear Atreya Rsi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 28th 1974. I am glad to note that you had nice Rathayatra festival for the Indian community there. I am especially pleased to note that for Vyasa Puja and Janmastami you have so many Iranian devotees there. This is your real success if you can convince the local men to become Krishna Conscious. This is preaching. You know that I went to your country America alone. None of my godbrothers helped me. But, I was able to convince you to become Krishna Conscious. Now you can convince others. This is Krishna Consciousness. Please increase the preaching activities there and I will surely visit you there on the next opportunity. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** November 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bombay F. Attarc/o Arthur Young & Co.Iranians' Bank Building, Fifth Floor Avenue Takht Jamshid Tehran 15, Iran My Dear Atreya Rsi dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 28, 1974, and it is received so late on account of touring. I have sent you one telegram as follows: AUDIT YOUNG ATTAR TEHRAN LT COME AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE NOVEMBER 30 -AC BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI.You say that you are all fools. When you can understand that you are a fool that means that you are a little intelligent because you can detect your own foolishness. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to remain a fool just to teach us how to make progress in spiritual life. All Vaisnavas not artificially but seriously think themselves as foolish. The more we remain foolish, the more we remain eager to learn for spiritual advancement in life. Now you are a practical business manager, so we are expanding by Krishna's grace; so try to make some formula so our institution may go on without any difficulty. In your letter to Ramesvara you call for a meeting of GBC to develop a system of management and communications which will eliminate chances of recurrences. This is a good suggestion you have made, so when we next meet together, you must give it some practical shape. You have also mentioned to repeatedly offer obeisances to your spiritual master. This is very important. A disciple should offer dandabats, not namaskara. The more one becomes fixed up in guru obeisances, the more he advances in spiritual progress. yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau [ŚU 6.23].I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Atreya Rsi **Date:** December 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Tehran My Dear Atreya Rsi das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 18, 1974 with enclosed letter about the restaurant. Why you could not come to India? I had wanted you to come to discuss some matters. Bhagavan dasa also wanted you to come. Anyway I know the people of Tehran they like hatha yoga very much. I understand Parivrajakacarya Swami is teaching a course combining both hatha and bhakti yoga to attract the people. This is a very good idea. Somehow or other inject the bhakti yoga. That will save them from the degradations of sense gratification. Regarding the restaurant, what kind of restaurant it will be? The people of Iran are very rich and they can supply money for this purpose. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Attorney General's Department **Date:** November 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Canberra Dear Sir: This is to inform you that I, the undersigned, am the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON and the world leader for all of its branches. I have appointed 12 direct representatives to manage different sectors of the world, and they are known as Governing Board Commissioners. I have appointed Madhudvisa Swami (Mr. Michael E. Morrissey) as the GBC Secretary for Australia. Mr. Morrissey is my sole agent in Australia and my official representative, and he has supreme authority there in all matters. Signed, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- Founder-Acarya ### Letter to Badarinarayana **Date:** October 8th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Ann Arbor, Michigan My Dear Badarinarayan das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 4, 1974 and am glad to read the contents. You have a nice house, six devotees and a good field. Now that you have opened the temple do not think to close it even if there is some difficulty. If there is any difficulty, you go and just depend upon Krishna. Krishna will help you, that is a fact. I have given order that once a temple is opened it cannot be closed under any circumstance. This is bhakti cult. In whatever condition I will depend on Krishna. So do your work sincerely, husband and wife, and you will have good success there. I know that they college students in your country are dissatisfied with this material education. Always be eager to present this cult to them and try to save them from the degradation of modern civilization. You be pure, and teach them to be pure. The process is there. Follow very strictly our rules and regulations and maya will not be able to touch you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Badarinarayana **Date:** December 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Ann Arbor, Michigan My dear Badrinarayana, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 27/10/74 and have noted the contents carefully. I am always happy to hear of the wonderful activities of spreading Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtana movement. Your activities are very pleasing. Going door to door, person to preach the message of chanting Hare Krsna is actually the yuga dharma for this age. In other yugas there are different processes for self-realization but in kali-yuga the real method is simply chanting Hare Krsna and trying to encourage everyone else to do the same. So your program is perfect. It is very nice that you are also making so many new devotees. This is the fruit of our activities. So continue your program in the same way with added enthusiasm and your life will be perfect. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Bahudak **Date:** March 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vancouver Dear Bahudak, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted for first initiation the following devotee recommended by you: David McLeod—Devagiri dasYou may send his beads to be chanted on by Jagadisa. Be sure to instruct him in the avoidance of the ten offenses and how he has now vowed in all seriousness never to fall down on the four sinful activities. I have also accepted one devotee, Prabhupada dasa Adhikari, for second initiation, upon your recommendation. Please impress on him that this second initiation is not awarded cheaply or automatically, and that he must be very strict in following the regulative principles of bhakti yoga. I am enclosing a sacred thread and gayatri mantra. Have him hear the tape of me chanting in the right ear. I have also accepted Riddha das Brahmacari for second initiation. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bahudak **Date:** December 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bridesville, Canada My dear Bahudak, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 21, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to hear about your new farm-asrama existing there. We want to develop many such farms all over the world. Your are enthusiastic and intelligent and it appears that you are managing in nicely. Why not call it New Gokula instead of New Mayapur. I think that is better. It is alright that you have purchased machinery and are using on the farm but if you can do without as much as possible that is better. It sounds as if the living conditions there may be a little extreme. But if the devotees can learn to tolerate as you say they are determined, and can stay and work there that is very good. And I give all encouragement to them. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, Ch. 2, text 14; matra-sparsas tu kaunteya, sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah, agamapayino 'nityas, tams titiksasva bharata [Bg. 2.14] O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed. So remember Krishna's instructions in the Bhagavad-gita and continue to work with all enthusiasm and encourage the others also to do the same. As far as you opening a local Gurukula program there, I have no objection if it can be done nicely. So consult with Satsvarupa Maharaja for further instructions. To develop a farm community such as the one you are doing, it requires much hard work and endurance. But if you work sincerely then Krishna will give you all facilities and men. Therefore continue working and follow the good example that the devotees in New Vrndavana have set and everything will go very nicely. If you have any specific questions you can refer to New Vrndavana and they may be able to help you. Upon your recommendation I have accepted the following as my disciples, and their names are as follows; Doug—Daksina das, Robert—Ranjita das, Margie—Madhumati devi dasi; Danny—Dharmarupa das, Sharon—Subhavrata devi dasi. Their beads may be chanted on by Kirtanananda Swami or Tamala Krsna Goswami. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/psN.B. --- Also I have accepted Partha, Uttama, __, Bhadra for 2nd initiation—threads enclosed ### Letter to Bahudak **Date:** December 19th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bridesville, Canada My dear Bahudak, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Dec. 3, 1974 and have noted the contents. The pictures of your newly installed Deities are very very nice. And you can name them Sri Sri Radha-Madan Mohan. The Deity worship should be done very carefully and nicely. Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana, srngara-tan-mandira-marjanadau, yuktasya bhaktams ca niyunjato'pi, vande guroh sri-caranaravindam. You should make sure that there is nice arati program; six arati daily at least. You should make sure that there is nice fresh, clean dress every morning, nice bathing ceremony every morning, nice offerings of prasadam. You should see that the Deity is tended for and cooked for only by the duly second initiated brahmanas. The Deity should have nice flowers everyday etc., etc. You should try to bring Them up to the highest standard, such as we have in Los Angeles or New Vrndavana. Sri Sri Radha-Madan Mohan have kindly descended in Their arca vigraha form now you must receive Them with that consciousness. And by serving Them you will all develop pure love of Krsna. Thanking you for helping me in my mission. Occasionally send me report of how things are going on there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Bahurupa **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > P.O. Box 2152Long Beach, CA My Dear Bahurupa Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated September 24th, 1974. I am pleased to hear that you are chanting 16 rounds daily and reading my books regularly and following the four rules. In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop. Krishna Consciousness is not a hackneyed thing but it is something which is our natural and original consciousness. Presently our consciousness is clouded just like a mirror becomes covered with dust So the cleansing process is this chanting and hearing and doing some service and trying to please the Spiritual Master. By this process our consciousness becomes clear and we are able to understand everything. So far Gayatri Mantra is concerned, of course it is not such an important thing. The main thing is to chant Hare Krishna but you can consult with the GBC. Jayatirtha and get his recommendation. The Hare Krishna mantra is sufficient for becoming Krishna Conscious. You may please me the most by reading my books and following the instructions therein and by becoming fully Krishna Conscious in this life time. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Baja Panalalji **Date:** February 5th 1974 — **Location:** New Delhi > Hyderabad My dear Baja Panalalji, Please accept my blessings. I thank you for your letter dated December 28, 1973 regarding a change of plan. I understand from different sources that you want to construct the Temple portion by your choice, so I accept the plan submitted by you in place of the original plan. Krsna is Bhavagrahi Janardana. Krsna has many Temples big and small, besides that He has his own abode in the Spiritual Sky, Goloka Vrndavana, so all our plans are under the jurisdiction of Bhavagrahi. To serve Krsna under a certain transcendental mellow according to one's spirit of service, everything is accepted by the Lord. So your decision to improve the first plan is certainly very much appreciated by Krsna. The work will go on and further advance with your full cooperation in order that we may be able to fulfill the job as soon as possible. I am thinking to go to Hyderabad by the end of March and certainly it would be great pleasure to me to stay under your shelter and I am looking forward to this opportunity. Hoping this will meet you in good health and my all good wishes for all your family members and servants, and my sincere regard for you. Thank you once again. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bal Krsna **Date:** June 30th 1974 — **Location:** Melbourne > Redfern, Australia Dear Bal Krishna, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram of June 28, 1974.Allow me to congratulate you and your wife for giving birth to a new child. Now see that she is raised in Krsna Consciousness so that at the end of this life she can go back to Home, back to Godhead. As far as my blessing is concerned it does not require my physical presence. If you are chanting Hare Krishna there and following my instructions, reading the books, taking only Krsna prasadam etc., then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord Caitanya whose mission I am humbly trying to push on. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Balabhadra **Date:** October 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Edinburgh, Scotland My Dear Balabhadra das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 10, 1974 and have noted the contents. I understand that all the others from Scotland have gone to Bhaktivedanta Manor, so why do you not go there also and get recommended by the temple President for Brahminical initiation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Balabhadra, Ratnaranjini **Date:** August 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Edinburgh, Scotland My Dear Balbhadra das and Ratnaranjini, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your kind appreciation on the Vyasa Puja Day. Your sentiments are appreciated by me. It is stated by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura it is only by pleasing the Spiritual Master that one can be assured of pleasing Krishna. So my only request to my disciples all over the world on this day is to go on pushing on this movement with determination and sincerity, rigidly following the principles I have given you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Balavanta **Date:** July 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Atlanta My Dear Balavanta das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 9, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the initiations, I am pleased to inform you that I have initiated them as follows: Mike Munoz—Mahejya dasLinda Hynes—Naradi devi dasiDoreen Mercado—Dhara devi dasiSo you can have their beads chanted upon by Kirtanananda Swami. My only request is that you see to it that all our men are strictly following the rules and regulations as I have given. I am only concerned for your spiritual life. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Balavanta **Date:** October 20th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Atlanta My Dear Balavanta das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 5, 1974 and have noted the contents. For naming your temple, our New Navadvipa is already there, and Navadvipa is the same as Mayapur. So your temple shall be named New Panihati. Panihati is the place where Gaura Nitai would assemble for Sankirtana performance and where Raghunath das Goswami supplied a big feast of prasadam for all the devotees. The book distribution should not be curtailed. You can first have a little chanting, then book distribution; but book distribution is also chanting. Upon your recommendation I accept the following as my initiated disciples and their names are: John Johnson—Jitakrodha dasa; Susan Neuoff—Surasa dasi; and Cindy Sacco—Svaha dasi. I also accept Naradi devi dasi for second initiation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Balavanta **Date:** March 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Atlanta Dear Balavanta, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotees for first initiation according to your recommendations, and their spiritual names are as follows: Gene Johnson—Jvarajit dasaRon Brunch—Ramanotsuka dasaElaine Magyer—Titiksa devi dasiYou may send their beads to Rupanuga Maharaja for chanting. Instruct them carefully in avoiding the ten offenses, and make sure that they and everyone in the temple is chanting at least 16 rounds daily, without fail. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Balavanta **Date:** April 28th 1974 — **Location:** Tirupati > Atlanta, Georgia Dear Balavanta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 18, 1974.As for political speaking, first of all, don't go so much into the details of the affairs. Our message is that people should elect pure God Conscious leaders, that is our main statement. We cannot go into details. As a side touch you can speak on inflation. Yes inflation is due to paper currency. As for land ownership, in the Vedic civilization the land was given to the people for cultivation not for ownership, and a tax was collected which was 25% of the person's income. The land belonged to the state and the man would cultivate it and pay 25% to the state. If he has no income then he doesn't have to pay. If he doesn't pay tax he may be disowned of the land. One cannot get land from the government unless he agrees to produce something and if everyone produces food then there is no scarcity. At least he has his own food produced by himself. Now people are educated as sudras. They are going to work to produce what is not urgently needed by society. The actual social structure should be that the 1st class intelligent class, the brahmanas should be for studying and educating people for God Consciousness. The are the gurus of all other classes. They second class, the ksatriyas give protection from dangers and they can distribute the land. The third class Vaisyas are for producing. So after the first, second and third class, the remaining should help the upper three classes, then everyone will be employed. As for speaking this knowledge effectively, that requires a little experience. The more you are experienced then you will be able to give examples. Your work in America with the God We Trust Party is very inspiring to me. If anywhere they will take seriously the principles of Bhagavad gita As It Is, that will be America. We are getting good response and being taken seriously as I have seen in the reports from Amarendra there is even prospect that we may capture some post. I have written a letter to Rupanuga Maharaja and you may get information from him on the importance of our men themselves following the brahminical regulative principles, least in the midst of political work you forget the aim of life which is to remember Krsna. So go on as you are doing enthusiastically and give me information. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Balavanta **Date:** June 10th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Atlanta My dear Balavanta, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 6, 1974 and I have carefully noted the contents. My point is that I cannot employ the society's money in political campaigning. Moreover it is illegal for the society which is a religious society to pay for political campaigns and would cause us to lose our tax exempt status. The alternative, to make a separate brain, separate funds, and separate manpower is a diversion from our spiritual goal. The other political parties are spending lavishly so how can we compete with them. We do not have enough money nor do I wish to spend our money in this way. Therefore I say it is better to stop. You say you plan to run for U.S. Congress. But for this, you can draw no money from the society. So your plan is utopian. Better concentrate on developing the brahminical qualities in the devotees there; that is more important than running for political office. I hope you understand my points. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** April 13th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn Dear Bali Mardan, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of April 29, 1974 with copy of the $50,000 check. I have also received a telegram from you today reading "Money traced to Central Bank of India Madurai 1 Tamil Nadu South PO Box 8 Second cable sent to transfer funds to Bombay Gowali Branch". Now Giriraja reports that the check has finally been deposited in the Gowalia Tank Branch. I have also seen your reports of BBT loans to temples for various projects in the upcoming months. Regarding using New Vrindaban land for building for the older Gurukula boys it is a very good idea. As for the younger children it may be better to keep them in Dallas. But there are only 100 of them; whether they actually need new buildings in Dallas? This is to be investigated and decided upon by the GBC.As for my own activities as you have requested, my schedule is: leave for Hyderabad April 18; after one week in Hyderabad I will travel one week in southern India; by middle of May I will leave India for Paris, and will travel 4 or 5 days in each place to Geneva, Rome, Sweden, then 3 or 4 cities in Germany. Then I may go to Rathayatra in Australia and back to India by Janmastami. After that I will go to England and then the U.S.What is the news on our buildings in New York? Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** August 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Brooklyn My Dear Bali Mardan das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated. Regarding the temple opening ceremony, it has been postponed on account of the temple being unfinished. It will take three months. After opening the temple, then I shall leave India. That is my program. So far going to Honolulu is concerned as you have invited me, I can go there during the winter season, as I did last year, sometime after October. Yes, I can be made President and Trustee of the Corporation as you have suggested. Now I want to make an International Trust Board for the whole Society. For this purpose I request Taittiriya to make a draft. If she has made it by this time kindly send it to me. What happened to that house that was proposed to be purchased by Alfred Ford? I have received one letter from Sudama das Goswami that both of you had some hot conversation on the points of management, but I request both of you not to become agitated on any controversial point. A Vaisnava is supposed to be more tolerant than the tree and more forbearing than the grass. Besides that we have taken a great mission of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, so everything should be done very diligently and soberly so that our missionary activity may not be hampered. All of our members are giving voluntary service, so they should always be encouraged in their service attitude. The other house which is[TEXT MISSING]The money is being invested by Mr. Ford, and we can utilize the house for our Hawaii center. I think this project is nice. Yes, it is already settled about Hansadutta replacing Karandhara. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** August 30th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Brooklyn My Dear Bali Mardan das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 15, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the illegal taking of the Japanese currency from the country, do not do these things. Also stop the pen stealing. This is not good, and should be stopped. Regarding Ādi lila Chapter 6 and balance of Chapter 5 that has been sent with Bhakta das, so I have been informed. A portion of the Madhya lila has also just now been posted. Regarding Karandhara, he has already been informed that I have accepted his resignation from BBT. It is all right that Tamala Krsna borrows $10,000 for a bus and that Chicago borrows $10,000 to purchase their present building. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** September 5th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Brooklyn My Dear Bali Mardan das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 28, 1974 and have carefully noted the contents. My only anxiety is to guide you. Krsna sometimes makes me sick just to examine how much you have learned to conduct the business under my guidance, with a little independence. You should never act independently, because my guidance in my words are always there. The main guidance is all of us should remain spiritually strong by chanting the minimum number of rounds and following the rules and regulations. The GBC should personally observe strictly all the rules and regulations and they should become the practical example to others. Then everything will be all right. Then there will be no fear of being victimized by maya. Regarding the International Trust Board, we are now expanding and so our interests should be carefully guarded. Certainly the 12 GBC members are being trained up strictly under my guidance so that they will protect the interest of the society very, very carefully. All our property should be well protected, and I think in every document my name as Founder-Acarya should be mentioned. Special care should be taken that no property can be sold or mortgaged by local managers as was done by Gaurasundara. This is my only concern. BBT management should be rigidly done very carefully, and I think Ramesvara is a good manager. He can be appointed BBT secretary. I approve BBT moving to New York, because of their freehand dealing. Ramesvara may be made your assistant and remain with you. It is all right that no others be appointed as Trustees at present. Regarding the matter of Sudama Maharaja there will be no more discussion. Immediately this should be stopped, this matter. Sudama Maharaja should be encouraged. He is doing nicely. Practically the old branch was abolished. Since he has gone there, things have improved very much. So he should be encouraged very much in his activities. Amongst ourselves there must be very liberal and friendly dealings. This is not an ordinary thing that if somebody has got some fault he should be cut. He should be reformed by amicable dealings. We are training our men since a long time. It is very difficult to get trained up assistants. Regarding the library party in each GBC zone that is a good idea. Regarding the 24 hour kirtana as a regular temple function, do not do anything impractical. If it is not possible, then don't do it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** October 20th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Brooklyn My Dear Bali Mardan das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 13, 1974 together with the copy of S.B. 3:4, color photos and slides hand delivered by Gopala Krishna. The book is nice. The printing, binding is nice, but the paper is a little inferior, especially the end paper. It is good that you are getting it done quicker. The slides and photos of the Deities are also nice, and I can see that the programs are going on nicely. Now there is one matter for your urgent attention. Gurudasa has suddenly left India. So when you were there recently you mentioned how you were liking to remain in Vrindaban with your wife for some time. So I may request to go immediately to Vrindaban together with your wife. Then from here we can go to Japan together, and if we get the Gaurange Hall, we can go to New York. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** November 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Bali Mardan das: Please accept my blessings. I have sent you one letter dated 20/10/74 but not yet received any reply. The copy is enclosed herewith. I request you to come here and see me in India. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bali-mardana **Date:** December 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Honolulu My dear Bali Mardan, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. I have to talk with you in detail. Everything can be adjusted by our sincere will to serve Krishna. I do not know why Sudama and yourself are trying to organize another party by some reason or other. The best solution was suggested by me that both you and your wife may stay with me. After all, both of you are my disciples. It is my duty to guide you for spiritual advancement. So, I wanted to go to Hawaii immediately, but the Bombay business has obliged me to stay here a few days more. After this, I have a program to go to Mexico, so I was thinking of going via Hawaii and to meet you all to study personally what can be done for all the misunderstandings that have taken place. The money you wanted to return, kindly send directly to either of these banks in Bombay: Bank of America, a/c no. 16026, INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS "MAYAPUR VRINDAVAN FUND." or First National City Bank, Bombay a/c no. 17168, "ISKCON MAYAPUR VRINDAVAN FUND." I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Bankatesh **Date:** August 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Amsterdam My dear Bankatesh das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter and have noted the contents. I suggest that you confer with Hansadutta prabhu who is in Germany. Perhaps you can go to another temple either in Germany or in Paris. Hansadutta can check with Prthu prabhu to take care of this matter. Paris is the nearest temple to you so if you like you can go there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Batu Gopala **Date:** March 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Cleveland Dear Batua Gopala, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotees recommended by you for first initiations, and their spiritual names are as follows. Dan McGready—Divyanga dasaMichelle—Maharajani devi dasiPaula—Pramada devi dasiTheir beads may be chanted on by Jagadisa Prabhu. Please impress upon them that their chant must avoid the ten offenses, and that they must chant the minimum 16 rounds without fail, and be very careful to keep themselves free of the four sinful activities. They are in your charge so you must set the example. I am also sending gayatri and sacred thread for Rasikhananda das Brahmacari for his second initiation, and also Gauranga devi dasi. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Batu Gopala **Date:** August 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Cleveland My Dear Batu Gopala Das: I have received your letter dated 3/8/74.Please accept my blessings. It is all right that you have remained there to do your duty. One should not leave a place if there is important business to do. That should be the principle. Here the temple opening has been postponed until the temple and asrama are fully completed. Yes, send the photos of your Deities, and I shall offer my obeisances. Regarding the art of management, constant changing is not good. Even if there is some fault in management it should be corrected, not changed. Besides that, Vaisnava philosophy is that everyone is addressed as prabhu, or master. Everyone should consider himself the servant of the other. That will make management very nice. Yes, you remain there in Cleveland permanently and manage it very nicely. That will please me. Regarding the restaurant, you should not name it as you have suggested, but "Hare Krishna Restaurant." That should be the name. In each restaurant there should be the picture of Lord Caitanya, and the foods should be offered and distributed to the respected customers. There should also be a tape recorder playing the Sankirtana in mild voice. Regarding the secretary for the Central Zone, I have now re-appointed Jagadisa Prabhu who has returned from India. Regarding the devotees whom you have recommended, I accept them upon your recommendation and their initiated names are as follows: John Haslett—HalayudhaMarjorie Haslett—Manovega deviChris Hayes—KhangiPlease see to it that they follow the regulative principles strictly. That is your responsibility. You may send the photos of your Deities here to Vrindaban. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Batu Gopala **Date:** September 7th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban ClevelandMy Dear Batugopala das; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 21, with enclosed photographs. So Kirtanananda Maharaja has installed Deities. But without twenty devotees how you can have Deities? Your men are coming and going so why you are having Deity installation? You must have twenty devotees. Kirtanananda Maharaja, he should supply those devotees since he has authorized the installation. You can name the Deities, Radha-Muralidhara. Regarding taking the Deities out on sankirtana as advised by Tamala Krsna Goswami, occasionally the Deities may come and go, however you can let Tamala Krsna Goswami guide you in this connection. Regarding having your wife do the management, if there are no men available then what can be done? But now there is some difficulty in the management there is no question of opening up any restaurant. Do not open any restaurant. I am glad to see that you are living an ideal grhastha life. That is very good. The more you will become Krishna conscious the more you will forget sex life. Sex life is the original root cause of material bondage. When one takes to Krishna consciousness gradually sex at last becomes abominable, then he is fit to enter back to home back to Godhead. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb ### Letter to Behari **Date:** October 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Vrindaban Dear Behari das: Please accept my best wishes. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 12/10/74 and have noted the contents. I could have recommended something for you, but you could not reply me a proper account, what was collected and what was spent. Several times you gave me different figures, so how can I recommend you. I hope this meets you in good health. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** February 1st 1974 — **Location:** Hong Kong > Paris, France Dear Bhagavan, Please accept my blessings. I was very anxious to receive a letter and your recent report is very encouraging. The pictures sent by you are very welcome and very nice, and I thank you very much. Now print as many literatures as possible in french language and distribute. If you have any money left from the recent donations of $20,000.00 I request you to spare something to contribute to our Vrindavan construction; it can be sent to account number 230 of the Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh Branch, New Delhi. Work combinedly and Europe can be made filled with Sankirtana. I have found all the countries eager to receive our message, especially France and Germany. Narottama dasa Thakura has sung:goloker premadhana, harinama-sankirtana, ratina janmila kenetaysamsara-visanale, divanisi hiya jvale, judaite na kaimu upayaSankirtana is imported from Goloka Vrindaban it is not material musical rock and roll. It is actually imported from Goloka. Narottama sings, Everyone is burning in the materialistic way of life. That burning can be extinguished only be employing Hare Krsna maha-mantra. It is a fact that the western countries are in blazing fire of material enjoyment. But as soon as they take to Hare Krsna surely they will find peace and happiness. There is no doubt about it. I have accepted the devotees you have recommended for first initiation and their spiritual names are as follows:*John Jean-Guy Bouchre de Belle—Jayantakrt dasaJohn, Jean Keraval—Jayakula dasaKathy de Poo—Kanti-dasiClaude Landemaine—Kausi dasaI will be glad to see you at our meeting in Mayapur. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- *You can chant their beads henceforward. Hope to meet you at Mayapur ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** March 24th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Bhagavan das, Please accept my blessings. I have received the names of the devotees recommended by you for first initiation, and upon your word I have accepted them as my disciples. There new spiritual names are as follows. Francine Steinberg—Rangini deviJenny Gilbert—Jagatkirti deviDanielle Mary—Dandakesa deviMaureene Remila—Mandahasa deviYou may chant on their beads and hold a fire yajna in the temple. As GBC you must see that they and all the devotees in the temples are first of all chanting at least 16 rounds on beads. Be sure they are aware of the ten offenses to chanting, and that they remain enthusiastic about improving their devotional service in that way. I have accepted for second initiation Sakirta das and Dayamrgya das and have enclosed sacred threads and gayatri mantra. Have them hear the tape of me saying the mantra through the right ear. I will be eager to hear regular reporting from you on activities in your zone, which you may send to me at my Bombay address. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** April 6th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Paris Dear Bhagavan dasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 30/3/74 along with the French edition of Back to Godhead which is certainly a great pleasure for me. I can see by this publication and by your report that things are going on nicely in Europe. All your programs are approved by me; simply if you keep on with it, slowly but surely we will become very solidly situated there with many devotees and books and temples. Krsna simply wants to see our desire. I will be glad to come to Paris on your invitation for the second week of May. I will also be able to visit Geneva, Sweden and Rome if you will arrange programs for me. As you know, I must return to India for the Janmastami celebration in August. So if I fly from India to Paris and arrive the second week of May, then I may stay no more than 4 or 5 days each in Paris, Geneva, Stockholm and Rome, and then go to Germany and stop at three or four centers there also. Then in late June I may go to Australia. Satsvarupa can write you further concerning the fixing up of visas, arrival dates etc. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** August 21st 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Paris My Dear Bhagavan das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of all the letters requesting initiations. I am pleased that you are treating this matter of initiation as a serious business. I have accepted the following as my disciples: BOYSAmyot, Robert—Avyaya dasCochet, Gerard—Krtajna dasBouvant, Bernard—Bhutakrd dasBrinster, Phillipe—Bhima dasMougard, Yves—Mahabala dasPerrin, Jean—Prakasatma dasVerraes, Jurgen—Viruha dasVoyer, Bernard—Vrsakrti dasGIRLSChabaud, Odile—Sasvatpavana dasiGiralt, Carmen Guptalaya dasiHeudebourg, Marie—HomavatsalaJako, Gislaine—JalapriyadasiSchaufuss, Ann—Satarupa dasiVautier, Annie—Visesa dasiI am also enclosing a sanctified thread and mantra sheet for the second initiation of Abhinanda das. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhagavan **Date:** September 29th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Paris My Dear Bhagavan das: Please accept my blessings. Recently at Bhaktivedanta Manor they have held one election for President and Hansadutta was present. But I am receiving so many contradictory reports as to what was the outcome. So I have advised them to again hold election with all members present, and I request you to go there to see what is the outcome of the election. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhagavan Prabhu **Date:** October 18th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur My Dear Bhagavan Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 30, 1974 and have noted the contents. I have not received any telegram from you, but I understand that you will be coming in about a weeks time. Srila Prabhupad confirmed upon my suggestion that you go straight to Bombay first. In this connection Srila Prabhupad said the following: "So far I have studied there is a clique of some enemies to acquire the land and spoil the whole scheme. So we have to save ourselves. Even if there is no sanction to build further buildings, we should maintain what we have got. We should not let anyone infringe on our rights. The book distribution program must be thoroughly organized."The threat is in relation to a road that is being built there. This you can study when you go there. Regarding the book distribution, Gargamuni Swami and Jayatirtha recently were sent to Bombay especially to organize the BBT there. They have made some suggestions. I have brought to Srila Prabhupad's attention your remarks regarding Hansadutta's report of Paris, and he does not know why Hansadutta is meddling in Paris affairs. A neighboring GBC man can be called in for help, but if he gives the wrong report, what can be done? I have already written you what things to bring. Most important is the small manual typewritter and the day/date wristwatch. For Sruta Kirti you can bring dates and granola and honey for his special diet. I hope this meets you in good health. Have I seen the new copy of the French Ishopanishad? Your servant, Brahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryApproved: ACBS ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** January 26th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu > San Diego Dear Bhakta das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 22, 1974.Your report is a very good one and very pleasing to me. Your combining enthusiastic programs of both sankirtana and temple worship in San Diego, should be followed by all our centers. As for first initiations, I have accepted the devotees whose names you have recommended to me, and their spiritual names are as follows: Jeannie Pennera—Kamatavi devi dasiRay Flores—Rudravapu dasaMark Weldman—Natanga dasaDaniel Koenig—Dhanadhyaksa dasaRegarding Second initiation, I have been asking the presidents to reconsider the devotees they want to put forward for brahmana before asking me to accept them. The criteria is that they must be initiated for one year, and during that time they have to be following the prescribed chanting of at least 16 rounds, and all the regulative principles. I am also asking that they write a statement before you in all seriousness stating that they have not broken any of the promises of the first initiation, and that they will go on steadfastly chanting the prescribed rounds. In this way I am hoping to stop whimsical recommendations for second initiation. So please follow this rule. You can ask me freely to make devotees initiated for first initiation provided they are enthusiastic and following the rules, but be very cautious before awarding second initiation, even though you have a need for brahmanas in the temple. Regarding Rathayatra, I think there is no need for you to have a separate festival since you are so near San Francisco. But you may hold other festivals in San Diego, as you describe in your letter. That will be very pleasing for everyone. I shall be glad to see you and the devotees from San Diego at our grand meeting in Mayapur for Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** April 13th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > San Diego Dear Bhakta das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of March 27, and I have noted the contents. Now Madhudvisa Maharaja has written me that you have been posted as president of San Francisco, and that you are very enthusiastic to increase all programs there. I do not know who is now president of San Diego, but I will answer the points in your letter. I never said I was displeased with the American temple presidents for not sending more money to India. You go on expanding there as you are doing so wonderfully. When there is spare money that can be sent to India. For example, you write that you that you have received an extra $10,000. So that can be sent immediately to my personal account in the Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban which is in the name of the Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust current account number 668.There is no question of installing more than one set of Radha Krsna deities. The smaller set of Radha Krsna deities may be set on the altar at the feet of the larger ones, as you describe. But they are not installed. Regarding Srinivasa Svarupa it is very pleasing to hear that this Indian boy wants to surrender his whole life to Krsna. There is no harm if he finishes college and gets his degree. If possible, he can live in the temple and attend the university daily. At any rate, he should carefully follow all the regulative principles and associate with his fellow devotees as much as possible. The university is well known for demonic association, but if he is able to keep up his devotional practices and protect the creeper of devotional service, then he may complete his degree. I think there is more advantage in Bir Krsna remaining fully engaged in his temple duties than in going back to college. What would be the practical benefit of such degree? So many new devotees are coming there in San Diego. Now instruct them carefully and keep them in your care. Please inform me when you actually receive the $10,000 and when you are sending it. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** June 4th 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > San Francisco My dear Bhakta das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of May 21st and I have noted the contents. I am certainly making all plans to attend Rathayatra in San Francisco on July 7th and 8th. I will be going to Australia for their Rathayatra on June 29th and after that Jayatirtha is arranging my tickets for coming to U.S. I would like to attend the Rathayatra in Chicago on July 6th and, come to San Francisco on the evening of the sixth, so you may prepare to receive me then. Regarding your looking for a more suitable building and location for the San Francisco temple, one thing is be very careful you don't again buy a place in a bad neighborhood or neighborhood that is about to become bad. And although you are at the same time looking for a farm community land outside the city, you must keep a temple in the city of San Francisco also. So we can discuss things further when we meet. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** June 28th 1974 — **Location:** Melbourne > San Francisco My dear Bhakta das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of June 17, and have carefully read the contents. I am glad to hear you have been thinking of me and have arranged a nice house near the temple for my stay there. As you know, I will be arriving 6:30 P.M. from Chicago on United airlines on July the 6th. I am also looking forward to attending the grand festival of Lord Jagannatha. You have said rightly when you write that the devotees are working to please me by distributing my books. My mission on behalf of my guru maharaj and Lord Caitanya, to spread Krsna Consciousness would never have been so successful if it had not been taken up by enthusiastic boys and girls such as in San Francisco, especially through distribution of books. I can, however, only stay a few days in San Francisco after the Festival. I am due back in Vrindaban, India by about the 25th of July, and I wanted to visit Los Angeles as well as other cities in the U.S., so that does not leave me much time for staying in one place. My plan presently is to leave S.F. for L.A. on the 11th July. So any engagements you can make in S.F. before that time will be fine. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** July 8th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > San Francisco My dear Bhakta das, Please accept my blessings. I have gladly accepted for first initiation those devotees recommended by you and their spiritual names are as follows. Tom Guild—Tatvavit dasaArt Yri—Acyuta dasaDebbie Yarber—Dhanistha deviLeaf—Lila smaranam deviBala—Bala dasaNow be sure these devotees know and vow to follow the four rules and that they are chanting at least 16 rounds daily. Initiation does not mean they have completed all spiritual perfection and now they can relax but it means now they have begun spiritual life. If they are true to their vows they will _ all perfection in this life and be eligible to go back to home back to Godhead. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:sdgPS. --- I have also accepted Charles and Alice French for first initiation and Sriman Brikasanga das Raksana das, Srimate Havirdani dasi and Kamatavi dasi for second initiation. Now go on following all the regulative principles and enthusiastically engage yourselves twenty-four hours in the service of Sri Sri Radha and KRSNA. Alice's spiritual name is Atma-maya dasi and Charlie's is Tapan Misra das ### Letter to Bhakta dasa **Date:** November 24th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > San Francisco My Dear Bhakta dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 10, 1974 with enclosed photographs of the Hare Krishna Restaurant. It is very nice. I had been there to Stanford University. So you can get Mr. Malkani in New York to help you in the restaurant. He went there to start a restaurant, but now he is cooking in the New York temple, so you arrange for him to help you. Are books being sold also in the restaurant? Regarding the Ratha Yatra Festival, keep it always gorgeously alive, but do not change the principle. The principle should go on as usual. Yes, it is all right to make something in the park as you have suggested. Why you want to change the wheels? This is unnecessary. Don't do this. Keep the old system strong, and if necessary repair it. Don't change from this to that. That is your American disease. This is very serious that you always want to change everything. Spoked wheels will never be as strong and hard as the old way. Never do this. Neither there should be any separate float as you have suggested for me. Regarding having the crowds come forward to touch Lord Jagannatha's feet, that will also be impossible to manage. So for the time being this program may not be taken. Regarding the devotees you have recommended, I am pleased to accept them as my disciples and their names are as follows: Marilyn—Manini devi; Jamie—Janjapukandhi devi; Carol Hansen—Kelilalita devi; Carol Tungate—Kalpalatika devi; Huber—Hanumatpresaka dasa; Steve—Satkrta dasa; Lou—Lankesa das; Kirk—Kalanidhi dasa. Also I accept the following as twice born initiated brahmanas: Vatsala dasa; Sasikhala devi; and Vaisesikha dasa. The sanctified threads and the mantra sheets are enclosed. Hold a fire sacrifice, and the gayatri mantra should be heard through the right ear from my tape recording. I am glad to see that you are taking these initiations seriously. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhakta Dennis **Date:** September 25th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta > Big Bear Lake, California Dear Bhakta Dennis: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter with enclosed essay on the "black holes." So you have scientific mind and you want to use it in the service of Krsna. This is very good, and this I want that scientists step forward and preach Krsna consciousness. We are not preaching something fanaticism nor dry philosophy. Krsna consciousness is jnanam and vijnanam, practical knowledge. So I have given all the points in my books, and you should read them thoroughly. I have shown your essay to Dr. Svarupa Damodara and he has read it. He is returning soon to California, and you can see him and discuss how to improve it. You should write more because it is very important subject matter. Side by side to your writing you should also chant regularly Hare Krsna. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhakta Lance **Date:** December 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Coconut Grove My dear Bhakta Lance, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter date Nov. 1, 1974 and have noted the contents with care. My simple request is that you remain in association of devotees and continue to chant your 16 rounds daily and follow strictly the four regulative principles and read our books daily with great care. In this way your Krsna Conscious advancement will be assured success and at the end of this life you will go back to Godhead, back to home, and live with Krsna eternally. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Bhakta Mark **Date:** December 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Bhakta Mark, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil, and have noted the contents. It is very nice that you have met with my disciple, Visnujana Swami and you should try to remain with him and learn as much as possible about this wonderful philosophy of Krsna Consciousness from him. In regards to your initiation it is necessary that you are recommended by one of my elder disciples, such as Visnujana Swami himself or any one of our temple presidents. If he feels you are ready for initiation he can write me a letter and recommend your initiation to me and then we will see. For now I simply request you to continue with this wonderful Sankirtana program and remain as you say in your letter, cent per cent engaged in serving Krsna and spreading Krsna Consciousness in every way possible by mind, body and words. You can use all of your talents for spreading Krsna Consciousness. So please work closely with Visnujana Maharaja and whatever he says try to do it. And always chant Hare Krsna. As far as the seven transcendental meters for singing the names of the Lord, that is not so important for now. Better to try to increase the purity of the chanting first, that is our most important thing. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Bhakta Steve **Date:** December 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > San Francisco My dear Bhakta Steve, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Oct. 28, 1974 and have noted the contents. It is very nice that you have joined the Radha-Damodara travelling Sankirtana party and that you are engaged in spreading the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu along with Visnujana Swami and Tamala Krsna Goswami. I think it would be very nice if you would make nice silver jewellery for the Radha-Damodara Deities and in this way your talent will be used in the most perfect way. Please continue reading our books with great care, studying again and again and staunchly following all of our regulative principles and always stay in the association of devotees, chanting Hare Krishna. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Bhakti **Date:** March 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > San Diego Dear Bhakti das, Please accept my blessings. I have received from you the name of one devotee recommended for second initiation, Santipani devi dasi. So I am enclosing one gayatri mantra. Have her hear the mantra through the right ear, of me chanting gayatri. I have already cautioned you that the second initiation should be given out only when you are certain that the devotee is really following all our principles, so now instruct her further on the seriousness of following the regulative principles of Krsna Consciousness. All the devotees there are in your charge so by your example they will best be encouraged to enthusiastic advancement. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhaktijana **Date:** April 10th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New York Dear Bhaktijana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 1, 1974.Since you are facing so many difficulties alone in Harlem, New York City, I think it would be better if you return to Mayapur, under the direction of Bhavananda Maharaja and Jayapataka Maharaja, and I have no objection to your return there. Now that the building there is complete, we are making it an ideal asrama. So if you go back there, you must find a suitable engagement. It is not a place simply for sleeping. If you think you can find suitable engagement there and stay always engaged either in chanting, reading, cleaning or some other work, then it will be nice. As far as funds for returning there, you will have to take collection there in New York. So I think this plan, as suggested by you, is best. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bharadraja **Date:** January 25th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu > Mayapur Dear Bharadraja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 2 January 1974.Regarding a photographic exhibit in Mayapur. This is an important part of our Caitanya Festival in Mayapur. Bali Mardan is here and he has agreed that the photographers at ISKCON Press can blow up photographs of our propaganda work and men can take them who are going to Mayapur. As for mounting them, however, that you can do there, and arrange them into an exhibit. I have got good reports of your working on the dioramas. I will be pleased to see your work when I come to Mayapur. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhavananda, Jayapataka **Date:** January 6th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Mayapur Dear Bhavananda and Jayapataka Maharajas, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 25, 1973, from Mayapur. Thank you for the information. I have advised Karandhara to send immediately $4,000 to Gargamuni Maharaja and you take the Indian exchange for $4,000 from him immediately. I am writing this letter today January 6th at 8:00 P.M. and I have advised Karandhara to send the money by telegram. Probably you will get the money tomorrow or the day after. The exchange of $4,000 is about Rs 32,000. Out of this 32,000 purchase Goswami Maharaja's land for 5,100 and the balance 27,000 you can open an account, the Mayapur-Vrndavana Trust Fund. The MV Trust is registered here and I am sending you a copy of the trust so that the bank will immediately open a MV Trust account. The signators will be three, namely you two maharajas and myself. Two signators out of three will be valid for drawing money. You deposit the balance Rs 27,000 in this account. I shall try to send more money as soon as I know the account is open and you can purchase land as much bighas as possible. But don't purchase more land than we can utilize. My only desire is that our temple must be a living temple by chanting Hare Krsna Mantra and distributing prasadam as well as distributing books to the intelligent class of men. This time we shall have the first part of Caitanya Caritamrta published 400 pages. I am working on Caitanya Caritamrta continually. So by the time I reach India, maybe the first week of February, I hope that by that time my quarters will be completely open for use without any difficulty. I am glad Bharadraja and others are learning laboriously how to model. materials like bamboo, thatch and tarpolin you can purchase if the prices are cheap. I cannot say how many will be required, but purchase and keep in stock. If Tirtha Maharaja is having a big showing then we have to show more and let everyone see what the American model makers can do. What exhibition of models are you going to show? I am glad hundreds of visitors are coming by our songs. You are already working hard there now work harder and Krsna will give you all facilities. My full blessings, with Krsna's consent, are upon you all. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- cc: Gargamuni Swami N.B. If you want to send me a telegram before February 1st, you may send it to our Hawaii address: ISKCON Hawaii, 1578 Ala Aoloa Loop, Honolulu, Hawaii 968. After that date, you may telegram my c/o our New Delhi center ### Letter to Bhavananda, Jayapataka **Date:** April 20th 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Mayapur Dear Bhavananda and Jayapataka Maharajas, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters of April 15, 1974 and I thank you. My point of view is this: whatever money you require I am already sending and will continue without hesitation to send, but I must be satisfied the money is properly spent. The first point is if I send you money for a certain purpose it must be spent for that purpose. Money for land must be spent for land purchase; if I send money for constructing of a kitchen it must be spent for that. Also, if you purchase land it must be properly utilized. It is no use purchasing land to be wasted by costly laborers. If you actually produce some grains or vegetables, then where is the necessity for further money for maintenance. For maintenance we require 100 rupees per head without any risk for purchasing lands and cultivating the same. I understand there are only 20 men there at present, so utmost 2,000 rupees is necessary for maintenance. I am not competent to understand everything concerning what you plan to do, but that is my rough estimate. You have tried to explain by long letter which I have not gone through yet. In the meantime go on the above principle: money spent must be used for that purpose intended. That will keep it very clear. I know you are working hard and sincerely. I have no business to criticize you but as head of the institution or your spiritual master, it is my duty to find out your faults. Even Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented himself as faulty before his spiritual master. To remain faulty before the spiritual master is a good qualification so he is subjected to rectification. But if one thinks he is all perfect then there is no scope for rectification. Don't be sorry when I find fault. That is my primary duty. Canakya pandita says one must find fault with disciples and sons, it is good for them. I hope things are going nicely and progressively. The money is with Giriraja: he has send Rs 50,000 in two installments, the balance is kept with him and you will get it timely. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgN.B. --- Previously, eighty thousand rupees was taken from Hyderabad for Mayapur. (RS 80,000.00) I am not sure of the exact sum but Gargamuni Maharaja will have a record of it. So now that Hyderabad construction is going on, this money is required by them. Please see that it is returned by you as soon as possible ### Letter to Bhavatarini **Date:** April 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Bhavatarani; Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of March 24, 1974, and I have noted the contents. I can understand that due to material circumstances you are feeling distressed, and this large sum of money which you are about to receive is also causing you distress because you don't know what is the best thing to do with it. I very much appreciate that although you are filled with doubts and suspiscions and although you have many of your own plans for what to do and how to live, you have, nevertheless put the matter before your spiritual master and asked him to direct you. This is a great qualification, and this attitude made Arjuna eligible in the Bhagavad-gita, to receive the full mercy of Krsna's instruction. If you are actually going to receive $24,000 I think the best thing is to contribute it to the Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust Fund which you can do either in the U.S. or in India. You have learned from the devotees who have been here, what a large scope our plans are for these two centers in India. During the festival hundreds of devotees from countries all around the world all very much appreciated that these transcendental spots, Mayapur and Vrindaban are place of spiritual inspiration for all devotees of ISKCON. They are the best places in the world to come and chant Hare Krishna and prepare for going Back to Home, Back to Godhead. So you can help by your contribution so that all your Godbrothers and Godsisters can come and find shelter here. As for yourself and your child, these places are for you also. You can come to Mayapur where you can have a separate room, also Bombay this facility is there and it is very comfortable, or Vrindaban, or L.A. or wherever you choose. My only desire for my disciples is that they chant Hare Krishna Mantra at least 16 rounds, follow the rules and live in association of devotees then you will be happy and peaceful and not disturbed. As for money for Hawaii, that we will arrange in a different way. You can consult with Sudama Maharaja how to send money to the Mayapur Vrindaban Trust Fund whether through the Los Angeles Union Bank, which can be handled by Jaya tirtha, or direct to my account in Vrindaban. I will be glad to hear from you further in this matter. You have already done much service in raising two children and sending them to Gurukula, so you should not be so disturbed by temporary inconveniences. You can also arrange from this contribution to go on paying tuition for your children at Gurukula, as far as possible. You can write me if you have any further questions. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- *or Liberty Bank, Honolulu where I have a/c ### Letter to Bhavatarini **Date:** May 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Honolulu My dear Bhavatarini, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 23, and I have noted the contents. Your enthusiastic response to my instructions is very encouraging. Actually the disciple is supposed to find relief from all his problems just by carrying out the orders of the spiritual master. Just as Arjuna in the beginning was completely confused and lamenting, but after accepting Krsna and hearing from Him he said, "Now my illusion is over, and I am prepared to do whatever you say." If the guru is a representative of the Supreme Lord in disciplic succession and the student is sincere, only then he can get him out of the clutches of the material energy to become situated in spiritual happiness above all material desires, in Krsna Consciousness. As you say you have on hand a check for $41,880.83, I request you deposit that in the Mayapur Vrindaban Trust Fund. The last time I was in Hawaii I established an account in this name in one Honolulu Bank. You will find a Savings Deposit slip enclosed. You can just fill in the exact amount and deposit it with the main branch of the Liberty Bank in Honolulu account 35785, in the name of Mayapur Vrindaban Trust Fund. As for the $150 you will be receiving each month for the next five years, I think that will be sufficient tuition for your two children at Gurukula, and that will oblige your debt to Gurukula. As for Sudama Maharaja, it is better that he write to me separately; I will send him money from here for his projects. If you like to come to India you will be most welcome. The sites at Mayapur and Vrindaban are just for my American and European students who can come and get the benefit of these holy places. You seemed to have taken a new grasp on Krsna Consciousness when you say, "As for where to live, my only concern now is to live where I can best serve you." A pure devotee actually has no problems for himself; wherever he is he can read books like Krsna Books and chant Hare Krsna, get some prasadam and always think of Krsna. Prahlada Maharaja prayed like that: I have no problem for myself. The only concern of the devotees is that so many rascals are suffering in the concocted civilization of illusory sense enjoyment, how can they be saved? So our Krsna Consciousness movement is made for that saving the rascals. This donation you are making in all sincerity will also help us to push on and make some effect in bringing persons back to home, back to Godhead. I will be glad to hear from you, how you have disbursed the money and how you are settling up your personal situation. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhima, Krsna dasa, Sanat Kumara, Nityananda, Samba, Joseph **Date:** May 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Nairobi My Dear Bhima dasa, Krsna Das, Sanat Kumara, Nityananda, Samba and Joseph, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letters which were sent to me by Paramesvari Das Brahmacari on the 15th of April. All of the sentiments expressed in all of your letters are just according to the Vaisnava parampara. This means that you are understanding the Krishna Consciousness philosophy rightly and I am very pleased. It is a fact that by serving the spiritual master one becomes free from material life and makes spiritual advancement. I have not done anything personally, very wonderful. I am simply serving my spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja and all the acaryas in the disciplic succession. If I have done anything of credit it is that I have not changed their teachings. I have not added anything of my own interpretation. So I am very happy that you are finding Krishna Consciousness very blissful in the Nairobi temple and this will be the key to your success. That you also follow exactly as I have instructed in my books to my disciples such as Brahmananda Swami. That means to rise early, clean the body and clean the clothes. I have seen films of the Deity worship in Nairobi and it is very gorgeous. Proper Deity worship means to be clean, punctually and nice offerings of foodstuffs. Brahmananda Swami can teach you these things. You are fulfilling my great hope. Because you are native Africans, you are the best ones to convince other Africans to become Krishna Conscious. Unless they become Krishna Conscious they can never end their suffering. We can not expect every single African to take to it. But if only a small population can take it seriously it can do real good. Therefore you are the real leaders of the Kenya nation. Please take seriously what you have learned and help spread this happy life to everyone you meet in Africa. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhogilal Patel **Date:** September 7th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My Dear Bhogilal Patel: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter forwarded by Giriraja as well as your telegram dated September 6, 1974 regarding the Haridwar bungalow. I thank you very much for it, and when I am fit, I will take advantage of it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhumata **Date:** January 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Bhumata, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 27, 1973. I can understand that you are sometimes experiencing difficulties but that you are very sincerely trying to become Krsna Conscious and that you have a number of persons there who are interested in your presentation of Krsna Consciousness. Actually this material world is full of suffering conditions and the only way to become free from these sufferings which are due to past sinful activities is to chant Hare Krsna. In this age no other method of rectification is possible. Along with the chanting of Hare Krsna we have to rigidly observe the prohibition of four sinful activities. If only these things we can do our lives can become perfect. I think you have my books so please study them carefully. There is no other scripture which can compare to the Vedic scriptures so we should study these scriptures exclusively. When one becomes an initiated disciple although he has respect for the Christian Bible, nevertheless he must understand the Bhagavad-gita and must apply all study there and not spend time unnecessarily with other literatures. Therefore if you can chant and follow the four regulative principles and read our books only I am sure you will find a relief from all difficulties. Regarding marriage matters and second initiations, these things should be taken up with GBC representative for that zone. More and more I wish to not be involved in management affairs and want to devote me time to translating books so please have some trust in those representatives I have placed as Temple presidents and GBC members. They know the standard procedures in these matters and they can advise you. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG ### Letter to Bhurijana **Date:** May 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hong Kong My Dear Bhurijana, Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter of May 1st, 1974, and have carefully noted the contents. It comes as a shock to me that you have stepped down from your duties as president of our Hong Kong center. Your move is not satisfactory to me, but what can I do? If you are persistent about your desire to leave you are free to act on your own. You are actually the experienced man for Hong Kong; you were constructing a temple according to our last letter, getting ready to publish Chinese publications, organizing the Chinese boys and conducting childrens' classes. Everyone, of course, has his independence. That is the cause of our material life. Misusing that minute independence we are out of the spiritual world. If you want to go as husband and wife to see your parents that is not bad, but why avoid your responsibility which you have already taken? At least develop your assistant Devaprastha and when you see he is able to do nicely then you can change. I don't think a new man can manage as nicely as you were doing. I will also write to GBC of Hong Kong, Madhudvisa Maharaja, and learn if he plans to send a new man there. As for your future plans, you write that you are not sure where you will go after arriving in New York, and it is not certain that you will live with devotees. How will you advance without association of devotees? I do not exactly follow your thinking, but for the time being you can go. But I think you can come back and work diligently in Hong Kong. In your absence Madhudvisa Maharaja can be informed. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bhurijana **Date:** August 17th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Singapore My Dear Spiritual Son Bhurijana das: Please accept my blessings. I am very glad to receive your letter dated 8/7/74 from Singapore. I am very pleased that you have gone to that place simply on my order, alone, to preach the message of Lord Caitanya. I like this kind of spirit in you very much. You know I went to your country also alone, in old age, because of the order given to me by my spiritual master. So I get great pleasure when I see my own disciples from America going to far off places leaving their rich nation with all facilities and their families, to preach. The secret of success in spiritual life is to satisfy one's spiritual master. This is the essence. You have captured this. So now go on in this way and do not falter. Follow the regulative principles and devotional practices I have given you. This will keep you fit. Be patient and determined, and ask everyone you meet to please chant Hare Krsna. I shall be very glad if you send me regular reports of your attempt. I hope this meets you and also your good wife in best of health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhurijana **Date:** October 6th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > East Brighton, Australia My Dear Bhurijana Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15, 1974 from Singapore and have noted the contents. So wherever you find a suitable place you can go, always keeping sure to follow the regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds. Whatever service you can render that is welcome. Do not deviate from the principles. You are a good soul, and your wife is also a good soul. I hope you get a good child. But, you must be careful not to deviate from the principles. I think Hong Kong is the best field for you. You started there and remained there for so many years and you have all acquaintances there. You can start a temple there provided you are strong enough. That will please me very much. But if you stick to our principles it will not be difficult. One thing try to remember is that a temple should not be started whimsically. It must be given very careful consideration. And once started, a temple cannot be closed whimsically. You must be fully prepared to maintain nicely the temple. You must consider carefully. Once a temple is started, it cannot be closed in any circumstances. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhurijana **Date:** December 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Melbourne My Dear Bhurijana das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 7, 1974 with enclosed check for Dollars 100.00. So you stay wherever you are peaceful, but do not forget Krishna consciousness. That is my request. I have received your check, and thank you very much for it. Now Krishna has blessed you with a daughter. The name Vrindabanleela you have chosen is very nice. Trivikrama Swami has published one Chinese literature, On the Way to Krishna. I have not read it of course, but it appears very nice, with my photo on the cover. I have asked him to organize the center there. So try to help him even by correspondence, and sometimes try to visit there because you are experienced in Hong Kong affairs. I shall be gong to Hong Kong and Tokyo shortly, and thereafter to Australia in the month of January, as Madhudvisa Swami has invited me for the temple opening and installation. I hope this meets you in good health, and also your wife. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Bhurijana **Date:** April 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hong Kong Dear Bhurijana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 21st and I thank you very much. It is very good news for me that you are stressing regulative temple life in your new quarters in Hong Kong. The regulative principles are designed to take us gradually to the platform of spontaneous love of Krsna, which is the perfection of human life. Those who think they have already attained such perfection and give up the regulative principles are called sahajiya, or those who take things cheaply and simply imitate. This early rising, holding classes, going out regularly for sankirtana, worshiping the deity are the very substance of devotional life. You will certainly by your sincere devotional example attract more and more sincere Chinese boys and girls to Krsna Consciousness. Even if, due to family ties, they cannot move in the temple, try to engage them as much as possible in translating work, sankirtana, reading, and at least coming to the temple to take prasadam. I understand you have a new address but you have not described the actual situation. Try to send pictures if you can. How much is the rent? What kind of temple construction are you referring to? Please give my thanks to your good wife Jagatarini for working with the childrens' classes. I am very very proud of you both as you have given up everything and gone to a far away part of the world just on my order to carry out the will of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that the chanting of the Holy Name be heard in every town and village. Of course I will be very eager to see the new Chinese publication. Please go on with it, and send me something as soon as it is published. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Bijay Kumar Kannungo **Date:** November 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bijay Kumar Kannungoc/o Bharata Coal & Coking Ltd.No. 4 Fairlie Place Calcutta-1 Dear Sri Kannungo: Please accept my blessings. I would like to especially invite you to come here to Bombay. We have kept two rooms vacated for you, so you can come with your wife and family to visit. I hope this meets you and your family in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Brahmananda **Date:** January 4th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Nairobi, Kenya My dear Brahmananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report dated December 26, 1973. It is good news that you are now 14 strong at Nairobi. It will be nice if Shakti Mata can take care of the girls in the Temple. She is a very able woman. One thing, though, women should live separately. I know you can do it there because you have ample space. Train the Negro devotees to speak Swahili and many will join you. They will be very attracted to your program of halava distribution, chanting and dancing and they will join you. Yes, if we have too much money then unwise spending enters. You have just enough to get by and you are therefore having to spend wisely. What has happened to my case with the immigration department? Has no action been taken? This is not good. Please reply on this point. Hoping this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG ### Letter to Brahmananda **Date:** January 26th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu My Dear Brahmananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 15/1/74. I have noted the contents carefully. I have received my copy of special BTG. It is very nicely done. I thank you very much. With great pleasure I note that although the Government of Kenya did not allow me to enter the state, my work was not hampered on account of my absence. In your last letter I was informed that Cyavana Swami has left your protection and gone to South America. I don't know why he has done so. As a sannyasi he is free to travel all over the world but when he was working under your supervision he should have taken your permission. This kind of independence is not very good. I'm quite confident of his sincerity, and I shall be glad to be further enlightened on this matter. Anyway, you have dedicated yourself to the service of the Lord, therefore you are always glorious. I'm very much indebted to you that you have gone so far away from your own comfortable country for the service of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and this service will be appreciated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Please go on preaching like that and you will be blessed. I think Krsna did not let me go in Africa because he wants to see you all work independently of me. I'm getting old and can not move, so if you all my students work 10 times more than me that will be great pleasure for me. The decision to train African people to be nice preachers is a nice idea. If you train the African to preach that will be a nice reply to the African Government for not letting me come there. So try your best and Krsna will give you the necessary intelligence, and send me occasional posts. That will give me satisfaction. I'm starting for India via Japan and Hong Kong next Monday. I'm glad to note your statement "Our position is not as precarious as it was before." If you sincerely preach everything will become smooth, and our preaching work will become smoother and smoother. One thing is very gratifying that you are doing the preaching work in Africa without any financial help from here. But in India the case is different. We have to send always financial help from America. I have collected and dispatched to India about 40 lacs of rupees. Even today I have dispatched to Gargamuni Swami $5,000, or about Rs 50,000 by telegram. Krsna is arranging everything. Let us work cooperatively nicely all over the world. It is a great task. Let us be cognizant of our responsibility. I hope this will find you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Brahmananda **Date:** February 14th 1974 — **Location:** New Delhi > Nairobi Dear Brahmananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 24, 1974, which has only reached me now due to travelling. I appreciate your spirit in wanting to retaliate against the Kenya government for their not allowing me to enter the country on Krsna's mission. I think, however, that the proposal of international demonstrations at the embassies of the Kenya government would be a waste of time. If it could not be done from there why waste our time in such demonstrations. Rather let us answer this atrocity by converting all Africans to Krsna Consciousness. Please keep in the front of your attention my desire that you convert the Africans. I know you have some of them already now train them up, so that even if you are forced to leave, they will be able to carry on Krsna Consciousness on their own. That is your real work rather than promoting international demonstrations abroad. Better you work the poison at home, and make the Africans Krsna Conscious, then my mission will be served. I will be glad to see you when we all meet at Mayapur. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Brahmananda **Date:** June 17th 1974 — **Location:** Frankfurt > Nairobi My dear Brahmananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of two letters from you dated 4/6/74 and 12/6/74.I am glad to read that you are eager to join me as my permanent secretary and that your major concern is to help provide me with "a conducive environment to translate" my books. That is my desire also. On the other hand, I can understand the programs are developing in Kenya and therefore you want a strong replacement before you leave Africa. I think Gargamuni Maharaja can do it nicely. I have written him a letter inviting him to go to Africa and also Karandhara has gone to Calcutta to talk with him directly about this. So we shall see whether he is willing. It is very good news that there are persons there who want to cooperate to help us start a Varnasrama College Project and that they may supply us land for living as an ideal community producing our own food from the land. So this should be followed up carefully. I was glad to receive you second letter and the letter from the Ministry of Home affairs stating that they have no objection to my coming to Kenya. Yes, I would like to go there after the Vrindaban ceremonies. Hopefully you will have joined me by then and we can go together to Kenya and from there to South Africa where Pusta Krsna Maharaja is trying to arrange a program for our coming. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Brahmananda **Date:** December 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Honolulu My dear Brahmananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of telegrams dated the 18th, 20th, and 21st of December reading as follows respectively: JAYATIRTHA REPORTS HONOLULU SUDAMA SUBAL BROKEN AWAY WITH SIX MEN TAKEN OVER RESTAURANT STOP TEMPLE PROPERTY IN NAME OF ONE OF THEIR MAN NOT IN SOCIETY NAME AM GOING THERE IMMEDIATELY GROUNDWORK GOING ON HERE STOP TROUBLE IN FRANKFURT SIXTY ARMED POLICEMEN RAIDED TEMPLE TEMPLE JAILED LEADERS IMPOUNDED VEHICLES AND BANK ACCOUNTS///HONGKONG SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED ONE INITIATED CHINESE GIVES MONEY AND TRANSLATED THREE CHAPTERS GITA STOP TEMPLE CAN BE MAINTAINED BY INDIANS TRIVIKRAMA ALONE MORE MEN REQUIRED URGENTLY TOKYO TODAY///GURUKRPA WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR JAPAN HONOLULU TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION HAS GIVEN ANOTHER 63,000 HONOLULU TODAY-Brahmananda Svami. You should stay in Honolulu and see that things are settled up there. Sudama must return the property to the Society's name, otherwise we will take action immediately. After things are settled there, you should go immediately to L.A. and take a direct flight to London and then Germany. I want to know what has happened there. How the situation can be rectified? Please keep me fully informed of all progress. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/psN.B. --- Madhudvisa Svami has written one letter postponing the installation until May, 1975. Therefore you need not be too much hurried to finish everything by Mid-January anymore. I want to know fully what is the position of Bhaktivedanta Manor (I think it is not good) and Germany. You must analyze these problems very carefully and make frequent reports and I will give you further instructions. ACBS ### Letter to Brian Fleming **Date:** March 6th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Glasgow, Scotland Dear Brian Fleming, Please accept my blessings. I have received you undated letter from Glasgow, Scotland. You write that you are becoming very involved in Krsna Consciousness but your wife is not very interested and you want to know from me whether you should leave her. It is not necessary to leave your wife. The important thing is that you yourself become Krsna Consciousness, she cannot check you one way or another, but you must yourself surrender to Krsna and be engaged in devotional service. We do not say that one has to leave home. Either you leave home or remain there, and whether or not she becomes Krsna Consciousness, you go on with your progressive interest and participation in this great movement. By and by if you are strong in your determination, she may also follow you. If you have further questions you may write me or consult with the devotees in the temple. Actually I have already answered all questions in my books such as Bhagavad-gita, so kindly read them and chant Hare Krishna Mantra. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Brian Marvin **Date:** March 15th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear Brian Marvin, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your long letter dated February 14, 1974 and I have examined the contents. Your first question is, how can the Vedas be considered eternal since they contain many historical references? But history is also eternal. For example, six months ago there was summer now there is a new season, and in another six months summer again. This calculation of one year is history but the summer and winter seasons are also eternal. There is a saying, "History repeats itself." Why make a distinction between history and eternity. Things are happening eternally; this is history. You have asked why the four Vedas are written in a different type of sanskrit from classical. This is not extraordinary. In India, sanskrit pronunciation is different in the North and South, and there are many different dialects. So the Vedas may also be presented with some differences within. You have further questioned how the Vedas can be 3,000 B. C. in age. Modern historians cannot pick up when the Vedas came into existence. From our historical references, however, we understand the Vedic knowledge has been current since the time of creation but the knowledge was originally accepted in disciplic succession from spiritual master to disciple. Later, when Vyasadeva found the peoples' memories decreasing he wrote it into language. Otherwise it was existing by sruti, or hearing. So when this hearing began there is no history. He simply recorded the sruti, and there is no question of change. We have to understand Vedic knowledge on the authority of the disciplic succession not from mental speculators who are simply rascals and have no entrance into the Vedic knowledge. You mention Sankara, but Sankara hid so many things, so it is no wonder he did not mention Bhagavatam. There are great authorities of Bhagavatam and it is they we have to follow. Similarly, the Bhagavatam is mentioned in an earlier Purana means that the whole language is sruti. Although the Bhagavatam may not have been written the tradition was there. It is written by Sridhara Swami quoting the Puranas, that the practice was to write out the Bhagavatam by hand and present it to a learned man. The Bhagavatam we have is the same Bhagavatam. It was originally spoken in four slokas by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to Lord Brahma. All these descriptions are in my books and I request you to read them very carefully as you are a learned scholar. I appreciate your humble attitude, and I have a good report of your activities from Jagadisa prabhu. Please go on increasing in Krsna Consciousness and you will find all spiritual understanding and happiness not only for you, but for whomever you meet. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Caitya-guru **Date:** February 7th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My dear Caitya guru, Please accept my blessings. I was very much shocked when I learned from Tamala Krsna Maharaja that you have left our company and were living outside. Anyway, I was always thinking of you and your letter of Jan. 26, 1974 gives me much relief. Why you should be sorry if someone says you are Indian, he is American, Indians are no good, Americans are good. Why be affected by bodily relationships? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised us—and as an older, grownup student you should know it—that we have to become humbler than the blade of grass and more tolerant than the tree, and then we can execute our service and chant Hare Krsna. If Indians are bad then I am also bad, as I am an Indian. But they have accepted an Indian as their guru. So Indians are both bad and good according to the behavior. If they have accused you as bad because you are Indian, yet they have accepted a bad Indian as guru. Don't be afflicted by all these external features of our bodily relationships. Be steady in Krsna Consciousness and do your duty so you may be blessed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna and make your life successful. I am going to Bombay on the 13rd instant—please come back and if you feel inconvenience, it doesn't matter whether from Indians or Americans, you can live with me because I am an Indian. I hope you will feel no difficulty. You must come back when I go to Bombay. We are neither Indian or American; our real identity is that we are all servants of Krsna. Always remember this philosophy and all these external affairs will not trouble you. Hope this finds you in good health, and more when we meet. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Caitya-guru **Date:** October 15th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Chandigarh, India My Dear Caityaguru das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 29/9/74 and have noted the contents. How long do I have to bring devotees from abroad for preaching here in India? You must recruit local devotees. That is wanted. I went to New York without any Indians to help me. You are Indian and this is India, so you cannot create? One experienced man must go and create local man anywhere; that is real preaching. Brahmananda Swami reports that what invitations you have got in Batala it was very difficult to make Life Members there. Alone you cannot do anything. It is not possible. Neither it is possible to give you any assistant immediately. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Candanacarya **Date:** August 31st 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Candanacarya Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 15, 1974 and have noted the contents. You, and the others who have signed your proposal, should know that the BBT advanced to Spiritual Sky money without my consent. Now Spiritual Sky cannot return the money to BBT. What is the answer of Karandhara to this implication? Before becoming returned in his BBT position, he must answer this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Caru **Date:** May 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Melbourne My dear Caru, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 29, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am glad to hear, although there were many difficulties, that Madhudvisa Maharaja will be able to return to Australia with permanent residence status. Please have him write me as soon as he returns. I do not have the exact date of your Rathayatra in June, although I think it is June 21. As for going there my present itinerary is that I am going to Rome on May 23 for a week, then a week in Geneva and then a week in Paris. So I may not be in London when it is time to go to Australia. You have written that you are arranging tickets for London-Sydney-Delhi. It is a little difficult to make exact arrangements at this time. But I plan to leave for Australia from Europe. Then from Australia I plan to go to San Francisco via Honolulu, in order to attend the July 8 Rathayatra in San Francisco. Your entering politics is good. You should make political propagation on the basis of reforming the whole human society. The leaders must be an ideal class of men, with ideal character, free from the four sinful activities: no meat eating, no gambling, no illicit sex and no intoxications, as well as chanting. They should chant the names of God. This is essential for leaders. Leaders must be ideal men so others will follow them. So make propaganda on this basis. We are Krishna Conscious candidates, so our political propaganda must be 100% Krishna Consciousness. As to importing the HARMONIST or doing one locally, do as suitable. It is a nice proposal to distribute such a newspaper. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Caru **Date:** August 13th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Melbourne My Dear Caru das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 17th. I am forwarding your letter to Madhudvisa Swami for necessary action. The idea is very good. You do it as you see fit. Hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Caruhasa **Date:** July 20th 1974 — **Location:** New Vrindaban Los AngelesMy Dear Caruhasa das; Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter undated and also seen the picture book. You should know it that Krsna is not a plaything. These things should strictly not be done.* If you do this, then Krsna will become a fairy tale. Please drop this matter. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:bs --- *About trying to have karmis make a movie on Krsna Book ### Letter to Caruhasa **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My dear Caruhasa das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 26th 1974 with the enclosed slides. I appreciate your interest in making the Krishna book film but it is not important for now. I therefore think that you could use your talent better if you work with Yadubara. In Hawaii I understand that he is making TV programs. So you can go and help with him. I do not care very much for these filmings because by presenting Krishna in this way it makes it something like fantasy. It is better to have people to read my Krishna books what I have written so that they can understand Krishna fully. I think you can understand this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Central Bank of India **Date:** June 24th 1974 — **Location:** Melbourne > Central Bank of India Gowalia Tank Road Branch,Bombay, India Re: Account Number 16066 in the titleof The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Dear Sirs: Please be informed that it has hereby been resolved by myself, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- , the Settlor, and the Trustees of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, that the following persons shall henceforth be empowered to act as signatories and executors of the above mentioned account at your bank:1) A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami2) Giriraja das Brahmacari3) Karandhara das AdhikariI, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the Settlor of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, shall have full power and authority to act alone on all matters pertaining to the above mentioned account; whereas Giriraja das Brahmacari and Karandhara das Adhikari, Trustees of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, shall have the same powers by acting conjointly on all account matters. Thank you for the attention to this matter. Very truly yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta SwamiSettlor ### Letter to Christy Hendryx **Date:** December 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Seattle My dear Christy Hendryx, Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your letter date Dec. 3, 1974.Thank you for the information about your land in Oregon. I think the best procedure is for you to contact either our temple president in Seattle, Washington whose name is Sukadeva dasa or you can write a letter to our headquarters in Los Angeles to Jayatirtha dasa and they will be able to make the proper decision and let you know about this land offer. Thank you again. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Cidananda **Date:** September 7th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Santa Cruz My Dear Cidananda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your five letters. I am glad to know that you are in good health and practicing Krishna consciousness nicely. So far the question of marriage, this is generally not the concern of a sannyasi. Therefore I have asked the temple presidents to take care of this matter in a mature and responsible way. I therefore request you to approach the temple president there and the GBC and ask for their advise. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdbP.S. --- If you can remain a Brahmacari that is the best way of life ### Letter to Citsukhananda **Date:** January 5th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Citsukhananda, Please accept my blessing. On your recommendation I am accepting the following devotees as my initiated disciples and there Spiritual names are as follows: 1st Initiation Wilfredo—Varesa Ricardo—Urdhvabhaga Pedro—Puruji Harry—Tarksya Carlos—Durantavira Steve—Siddhajana Salvador—Gopesa Jorje—Kavi Teo—Krato Solvai—Subhanana Dasi Bula—Tilakaini Dasi Maria—Modani Dasi Anthony Velasquez—Pitamvara Lenox—Vasuki Anthony—Vama Reinaldo—(now here in Los Angeles) Simhadasa 2nd Initiation Viraha dasa Pramona dasa Tamoha dasa Vara devi dasi I have duly chanted on the threads of the three men recommended by you for Second initiation, Viraha, Pramona, and Tamoha, and you may also distribute gayatri mantra to Vara devi dasi. Play the tape of gayatri mantra in their right ear and instruct them regarding Brahminical principles. For those receiving first initiation impress on them the importance of chanting at least sixteen rounds daily without fail and always observe the regulative principles. You may hold fire yajna for the initiates and instruct them on the ten offenses to chanting. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG ### Letter to Citsukhananda **Date:** July 14th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Trinidad My Dear Citsukhananda das: Please accept my blessings. I am glad to receive your letter dated July 5, 1974 and have noted the contents. You can immediately secure that land, and I am asking Saurabha from Vrindaban to send you the sample plans exactly like our Vrindaban temple. When the time is ripe, I shall be very glad come there and open the temple. Krishna may bless you because you are doing so much for Krishna. Try to have a nice temple for Krishna at Trinidad. It is an important place. I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Citsukhananda **Date:** August 31st 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban TrinidadMy dear Citsukhananda das; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 19, 1974, with enclosed clippings and a copy of the Hare Krishna News. Your work there is very much pleasing to me. Take good attention to the negroes and they will come out good devotees. How many copies have you printed of your local newspaper? I think that everyone will be interested in it. Regarding life membership, Brahmananda Swami can instruct you. You say that the money can be sent out; there are no objections from the government to do this? Please give the details how you can send the money here. One thing, is the Society registered there? So I am glad to learn that you are with your wife and doing very nicely. Combine together and do everything well together. Raise your children in Krishna consciousness and be an ideal household couple. Your wife is a good devotee, that I know. But one thing, do not pick up any childish quarrels together, live peacefully and go on with your Krishna conscious business. You deserve all good encouragement for the work you are doing there. Regarding the plans for the temple, you should send to Saurabha a site plan for the area of the plot and then he can send you the plans. If possible also send photos of the plot. Be sure and mention what is the exact area of the plot and he can make the plans accordingly. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb ### Letter to Cyavana **Date:** March 6th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Santiago, Chile Dear Cyavana Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I was glad to receive your letter of 1 February, 1974.It is very encouraging for me that you are preaching in Santiago, Chile and you are getting good reception from the student class. This is just according to the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and so He must be very pleased upon you for assisting me in spreading Hare Krsna to every town and village. Please go on and try to establish something substantial there and develop it. Here at Mayapur we have had a GBC meeting and I have selected Hrdayananda Swami as GBC for South America. He will be coming there and can help you in making arrangements for the printing of books in Spanish. Always follow our principles and actively preach, and Krsna will always protect you. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Cyavana **Date:** July 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Melbourne > Dakar, Senegal (West Africa) My dear Cyavana Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of 24 June which has just been forwarded to me here in Australia. I am relieved to know your whereabouts again after not hearing from you for some time. You want to see me and I also have some important things to discuss with you, so the best thing is if we meet at the end of July in Vrindaban, India. Today I am leaving for the United States to attend Rathayatra in Chicago and San Francisco but at the end of July I will reach Vrindaban. We are having a very big festival there on Janmastami when we will open our Krsna Balarama temple by installing the deities. So you must also attend to help in conducting the ceremonies. I will therefore see you in Vrindaban by the end of July. If you wish to correspond with me before then you can write to the Los Angeles address. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Cyavana **Date:** November 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Nairobi, Kenya My Dear Cyavana Swami: Please accept my blessings. I have seen your telegram to Brahmananda Swami and am glad to learn that you have opened a center in Zambia. You have made some progress there since going and I am pleased. You are a good worker. All my disciples they are good boys, intelligent, and hard working. I pray to Krishna that you all may use your intelligence for Krishna's service and not for any personal ambition. We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern. Now Caitya-guru is going there, and I understand that Dinanath and others will also go to Africa. So engage these men nicely, and Krishna will give you all facilities according to your capacity for serving Him. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Damodara **Date:** January 16th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu My Dear Damodara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 3, 1974.I have accepted as my disciples, those devotees recommended by you, and their spiritual names are as follows: Edward Striker, Aindra dasaNeil Kallmyer, Nilambara dasaJames Machuga, Jagara dasaPamela Machuga Padma malini devi dasiNow instruct them very seriously about their responsibilities. To promise to follow the four prohibitive rules and to daily chant sixteen rounds means they cannot deviate. You can hold a fire yajna and inform them that in promising before the Deity and before the spiritual master, one cannot later break the rules without being punished, just as in the law court one is held for perjury. If we simply follow these instructions however, spiritual life becomes very simple and we can go back to Krsna in the spiritual world at the end of this life, which is the success of the human life. You may send their beads for chanting to Kirtanananda Maharaja. As for the second initiation, I have accepted those disciples whose names you have sent me, Laksmivan das, Varuthapa das and Krsnabhava devi, and I am enclosing two sacred threads and three copies of the gayatri mantra. Please instruct them and show them by example as well what is the character and practice of a brahmana. They should hear the tape of me chanting the gayatri mantra through the right ear. Your political preaching is encouraging to me. We should expose before the public eye that the lowest class of men are now taking the posts of leaders, and therefore there can be no peace or happiness. I have given the idea for a poster which shall be entitled: "Select Real Leaders—Don't Spoil Life", and it will depict devotees as leaders, illustrating that real leaders have to be free of meat-eating and animal slaughter, illicit sex, intoxication and gambling. This poster is being prepared in L.A. and I want it distributed all over the world, and you can use it widely in your campaign for Mayor of Washington D.C. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Damodara **Date:** March 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > India Dear Damodara, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotee recommended by you for first initiation and his spiritual name is as follows: Douglas Duty,...Dandi dasaHis beads may be chanted on by Rupanuga Maharaja. Please hold a fire yajna and speak to him on the ten offenses against chanting. Personally see that he is chanting at least 16 rounds daily, without fail. By your own example you have to keep all the devotees enthusiastic and that is done by strict adherence to the regulative principles. Hope this finds you in good health, and I will be glad to hear of your progress in political sankirtana. Your political sankirtana Godbrothers, Balavanta and Amarendra are here in Bombay helping us for some time, but I have informed them that their real work is in the USA. So you are in the nation's capital and if you can get support it will be grand preaching for our movement. Anyway, we are simply presenting the truth, which is that outside of Krsna Consciousness there is no hope for betterment of the troubled conditions of modern affairs, rather they are going to hell without check. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Damodara **Date:** June 8th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Washington, DC My dear Damodara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of June 5, 1974.I have asked you to stop the political program because actually you cannot organize as the others can. We cannot manage with separate money, separate brains from our regular ISKCON propagation. It is not so easy to do politics, moreover it is a filthy atmosphere. So do not indulge in it. I am glad to hear all the participants have stopped. So you convey to them my instructions in this matter. We have an immense field of work in distributing books, reading and chanting and working for Krsna in many fields. And the aim of it is to always remember Krsna. Some philosophers think that in response negatively to the nasty consciousness of material life we should become "thoughtless" but this is not Krsna Consciousness, nor is it possible to become void or like a stone. Our process is to purify the thinking by always thinking of Krsna, actively and positively. You have asked about Rupanuga. So I have asked him to not remain secluded but to work vigorously as grhastha now that he has returned with his wife. There is nothing wrong in his preaching as you are and so many GBCs, as grhastha. So although it is officially a falldown from sannyasa, there is no loss if he will become more enthusiastic by this way. So please continue to cooperate with him and implement all our regular programs. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgP.S. --- Yes you should give up the political offices and our men should return to working in the ISKCON centers ### Letter to Damodara **Date:** November 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > India My Dear Damodara das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 12, 1974 with enclosed photograph. The photo is nice. Thank you. Yes, it is all right that you retire from the president post to do preaching. You are one of the elder students, so you should be careful to always set good example for the others. Maya is undoubtedly very strong, and we have to be very vigilant like soldiers in a fortress. We should not let maya enter into our activities, but keep all of our activities Krishna conscious. I have faith in you, so always try your best to serve Krishna and your spiritual master, and you will be all successful. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Danavir **Date:** October 17th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Los Angeles My Dear Danavir das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 27, 1974 and am very glad to read the nice report of the activities there. Jayatirtha was just here, and he also gave a nice report. I wanted that you Americans use your talents in spreading this cult, and I can see that you are doing that. In all departments you can use your talents and thus do the greatest benefit for the entire world. So my mission has come out a success by the mercy of my guru maharaj who sent me on this mission. That was my only qualification in coming to your country, that I had the blessings of my guru maharaj. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Daughters **Date:** July 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > London My Dear Daughters: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your notes, and I thank you very much for your daksine. It was a very nice visit to the Bury Place temple. It is from there that we started our London activities, and I am so glad to see that the Deities are being decorated there the best. You are all working very hard, and this will not go in vain. Whatever we do for Krishna, that is to our eternal credit. Thank you very much. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dayananda **Date:** January 7th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Dayananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 30, 1974, and I have carefully examined the contents. On your recommendation, I am glad to accept the following devotees as my disciples, and their spiritual names are as follows: Geoffrey Simpson—Jyotir das Shawn Kennedy—Stavya das Kenneth Grenham—Kedaranatha Nancy Grenham—Kama-nagari You may send their beads to Kirtanananda Maharaja to be chanted on. Please impress upon these students that they must now chant at least 16 rounds daily without fail, and strictly observe the regulative principles. If they follow these things their spiritual advancement will be very swift. You may hold a fire yajna for the initiates. I have accepted the devotees whose names you have sent me for second initiation, Aksobhya das, Jnanagamya das, Carucandra das, Rathangapani das, Krsna Kumari dasi and Bisa Laksi dasi. I am enclosing 4 sacred threads chanted on by me, and 6 copies of the gayatri mantra. Have them hear the mantra on the tape through their right ear, and instruct them carefully on Brahminical life. I am always thinking of and appreciating the important work you are all doing there in our Krsna Conscious Gurukula. Please keep steadfast in the program as I have instructed. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Dayananda **Date:** March 24th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas Gurukula Dear Dayananda, Please accept my blessings. I have received you written note of 3/8/74 with names for initiation. I have accepted the devotees named by you as my disciples and their spiritual names are as followsSherry—Syamalangi deviDebbie—Dyuti deviGary—Giri dasaIt is very pleasing to me to accept also some of our older Gurukula students who you have recommended as ready for initiation. Ekendra das Brahmacari and Dvarakadhisa dasa Brahmacari have already been given their spiritual names by me. Catton—Katyayana das Brahmacari, and Lisa—Manisa devi, are also now initiated devotees. All initiated devotees must chant at least 16 rounds daily, without fail. Now that they are initiated there is no question of not doing their rounds. You may hold a fire yajna and Jagadisa Prabhu may chant on their beads. In court when a person swears to tell the truth he can be punished by perjury if he does not take it seriously and tells a lie, so those who will promise before the deity to follow the rules and regulations of initiated disciples will be punished if they fail to do so. I am certain, however, that under your able guidance all the boys and girls are enthusiastic in their duties for Krsna. I have received your recommendation for second initiation for Ram Gopala and Baladeva. das Brahmacaris. I am enclosing sacred thread for them as well as gayatri. Have them hear the tape of me chanting gayatri through the right ear. I will be pleased to hear your latest reports from Gurukula. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Dayananda **Date:** April 11th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas Dear Dayananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of March 29, 1974 and I have noted the contents. It is extremely assuring to me to hear that Gurukula is doing nicely. The importance of the school in Dallas cannot be overestimated, both for our ISKCON movement, and for the outsiders as well, indeed it is important for the whole world. I was discussing this point in my lecture last night here in Bombay, that human life means tapasya, and tapasya must begin with brahmacaryena, life at Gurukula. The boy is supposed to lie down on the floor, collect alms for the spiritual master—not that they are trying very hard to make a comfortable material arrangement. But the result is that although in this age everyone is born a sudra, we are producing first class brahmanas who can actually do good for their fellow man. I think also that you are the right man to be in charge of our school. It is especially nice to hear that the boys are becoming first class preachers; that is especially needed. Without preaching, our institution becomes all rubbish. So it is very good they are becoming good preachers. So along with Jagadisa you investigate the practical aspects of expanding by purchasing new buildings. Expand, develop and make it a unique institution. As for Canakya sloka, I think the best thing is if I translate it myself and send it to you for printing, rather than wait for Pradyumna. Please go on developing nicely. When I come to the U.S. next time I would like to go to Gurukula and stay there for some time. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Dayananda **Date:** August 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Vrindaban My Dear Dayananda das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 10, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the candidates for first initiation, I have initiated them as follows: Gary Dallman—GambhiraMike Mitchell—MahavarahaButch Eichelburger—BhusayaHector Veriell—HemangaChristina Kennedy—Krsna devi dasiPlease see to it that they follow strictly the rules and regulations as I have given you. Regarding the second initiations, I am especially concerned that the second initiations not be taken cheaply. Brahmins are expected to rise early in the morning and follow strictly all the devotional practices. So I am enclosing the sanctified sacred threads and mantra sheets for Niragadev das, Paratpara das, Rajarshi das, Nirnasa das, and also a sheet for Vrajaraja devi dasi. So hold a fire yajna and impress upon them that they are taking vows before Radha and Krsna, the spiritual master, and Vaisnavas. Everyone must always chant 16 rounds and follow the four regulative principles. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dayananda **Date:** November 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas My Dear Dayananda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated September 27, 1974; nil; and October 15, 1974. I understand that due to financial needs you are doing Sankirtana party in order to raise funds. Regarding the solution to your getting the necessary funds as well as your request for men to lead the Sankirtana, this must be decided by the GBC and not myself. If they cannot solve this problem, then what is the meaning of GBC? They must arrange it for you to receive the necessary funds so that you do not have to be asking me for money. This is what I want. So you consult with them, and inform me the result. Regarding your recommendations for initiations, I accept the following as my disciples and their names are: Mike Pugh—Mayesa dasa; Beverly Pugh—Vaisnavapriya devi dasi; Raymond Crowe—Rajendranandana dasa; Jan Crowe—Lokahita devi dasi; Joe Torres [Joseph Terrones—ed.]—Jyotirmaya dasa; Raymond Kennedy—Ramadeva dasa; Dennis Winiker—Dhanurdhara dasa. I also accept for second initiation Subandhu dasa and Jayasri devi dasi, the sancitified thread and mantra sheets are enclosed. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dennis **Date:** December 6th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > London My Dear Dennis: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 22, 1974 and have noted the contents. So regarding the situation that if you leave your wife and your son, she will be broken hearted, therefore I asked you to stay. It is better for you to remain with your wife and son and chant Hare Krishna as much as possible, and Krishna will personally give you direction. It may be that Krishna will make your wife agreeable to your line of action. And if your wife agrees, and your son he is already doing, that will make your life very happy in Krishna consciousness. The best policy is to chant Hare Krishna all together husband, wife, and son at least a half hour daily. If your wife joins with you in chanting, then the whole problem will be solved. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Deoji Punja **Date:** September 7th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Lautoka, Fiji Dear Deoji Punja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 7, 1974 forwarded to me from USA. So I thank you very much for your sympathy. I have written to Subaladas Swami to accept your invitation, and I understand that you are arranging for his tickets. So please keep me informed of the progress there. Hare Krishna. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Deoji Punja **Date:** November 13th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Punja & Sons Ltd.P.O. box 125Lautoka, Fiji My Dear Deoji Punja: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 25, 1974 and am glad to read the contents. It is very good that you have already opened the center and registered the Society. This is good beginning. One thing, regarding registering, is that our system is to keep the name of the Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- Prabhupada on all registration documents, as well as all stationery, books, and publications. So I see the name there on the letterhead in Subaladas Swami's letter, so it is all right. In this way do it. Yes, try to get the land you have mentioned and construct a nice temple. That will be a great credit for you. I think the people there will be very much attracted to this movement. It is being received enthusiastically all over the world. So I thank you very much in this connection for your cooperation in the service of the Lord. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Devaprastha **Date:** May 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hong Kong My dear Devaprastha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 4, 1974 and have noted the contents. I understand that you are now taking over affairs in Hong Kong. I received the letters from Bhurijana and have referred the matters to GBC, to Madhudvisa Maharaja. I regard Hong Kong as an important center and I agree with your statement very much that if the Chinese are approached intelligently they will become strong devotees, because their moral character and steadfast nature is very strong. As you know I was there recently although I did not see you then. I also observed this in the Chinese people and appreciated it very much. But we need experienced devotees, otherwise how are we going to maintain a center there. Now I know you are a experienced manager but sometimes you have left. So you are now enthusiastic to stay and manage. So do not leave anymore and stay, then it is alright. Please give me further reports on your communications with Madhudvisa Maharaja. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:sdg ### Letter to Devendranatha **Date:** January 16th 1974 — **Location:** Hawaii My Dear Devendranath, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 15, 1974.I have considered your proposal to go to California and start a farm if you can acquire some land. I have been giving instruction to Sudama Maharaja for development of Hawaii center, of which you are presently a member, and our plans include acquiring land here and farming flowers and vegetables. I find hawaii a very suitable place for Krsna Consciousness, and want that a very strong center be established here. Therefore I think the best thing, if you are inclined to farming is to remain and cooperate with Sudama Maharaja and Bali Mardan and Balabhadra and develop Krsna Conscious farming and cow protection here. The tendency for always changing is not good. So I hope these proposals will be agreeable to you. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Devotees **Date:** September 24th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta My Dear Devotees: Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter received at Vrindaban and your prayers for my health. By your prayers and by your chanting Hare Krishna, and by the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva I am recovered from the serious illness. So let us go on with the spreading of this sublime cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world. My only request is that you all remain enthusiastic and pure by strictly following all the rules and regulations and the devotional practices of chanting 16 rounds. I hope this meets you all in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dhananjaya **Date:** January 5th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Dhananjaya, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated. So it is very good news. Now recruit more Italian devotees. It is a very good chance to have a center there in that important city. Organize everything and when it is all going nicely I will come. As for seeing the Pope, I can see to that when I go there. Mr. Pant knows me well. Please convey my greetings to him and I shall be glad to see him when I go to Rome. You say there are important Indians there so make them all life members and distribute our books to them. As for Italian marble, if it is cheaper there, why not? Italian marble is known to be very good. I am sending you a photo of the L.A. deities. Ask a cost estimation for deities 40" high and then we can consider. Krsna may be black or white, Radharani is always white. I am very encouraged that you are helping me so strongly in carrying out the wishes of my Guru Maharaja. I request all the devotees there please cooperate and become very serious about Krsna Consciousness. By your pure example and following regulative principles you will be spiritually strong and attract many Italians who are looking for the actual meaning to life. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG ### Letter to Dhananjaya **Date:** January 26th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu > Rome Dear Dhananjaya, Please accept my blessings. I'm so glad to receive your Special Delivery mail containing BTG. I am so glad to see you have given another step forward in our activity of pushing on the Krsna Consciousness movement. Rome is certainly a very important place in Europe. Big, big headquarters of the Christian world headed by the Pope. The people are naturally religiously inclined there, and I am sure if our movement is properly organized there, surely we shall get many devotees. Please try to remain there and go on propagating Krsna Consciousness as far as possible. My special thanks to you because you have immediately published the magazine. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- I hope you are going to Mayapur also ### Letter to Dhananjaya **Date:** November 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban My Dear Dhananjaya dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 9, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the land purchase, these soil tests are unnecessary. All the land in that area needs fertilizers, that we know. Anyway, you can give up this. If there is doubt, then there is no need for purchasing this land. I am glad to note that the Home Minister is looking into the visa problem for our men. The idea is that we are spending so much for constructing these projects but no local Indians are coming forward to join us. So who will manage these projects? We require the foreigners to manage. In Vrindaban we will keep at least 50 foreigners. It is very good that the Governor Mr. Reddy has visited our temple. He should be invited for being the Chief Guest and Inaugurator of the new temple. I am writing to him in this regard separately. Krishna has sent both these Governors. Regarding your inquiry about your position, that is a bona fide position to remain a servant of the servant of Krishna [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. So for the time being you can help Tejiyas in Delhi collecting and preaching. In the meantime please go and see the Manager of Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban with the enclosed two letters and take replies. I also want to know how many Fixed Deposit Receipts are in their custody. Give me all the numbers and amounts. They should keep the certificates but you should mail me the particulars. It is good that your wife is there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dhananjaya das **Date:** October 18th 1974 — **Location:** MayapurMy Dear Dhananjaya das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 15, 1974 with two bank receipts enclosed. I have noted the contents and am very pleased with the progress going on there. Things are going on. That I wanted. The classes and program must continue. That is the life of the temple. Everyone must attend the morning and evening program, otherwise it will be a dead temple. Regarding the land purchased, I am enclosing one copy of one letter to Pranava. The land purchase should be done according to this letter. I shall advise the Bank to pay the necessary money, but the sales agreement and the conveyance deeds must be sent to me for my approval. If necessary I shall advise the bank to give a letter of credit to the Vendor, then upon completion of the conveyance, this amount shall be paid in the presence of the registrar. You can inform Pravana that I have received his note together with 8 forms hand delivered by Daiva Shakti, but I have already sent him the first batch of forms signed and registered post. I understand from his letter that he is coming to Calcutta, and after that he will work on getting the land from Seth Hanuman Prasad Poddar, so he can discuss it with me when he comes here. Regarding the MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy, have you taken his address? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsEnc:1 ### Letter to Dhrstaketu **Date:** March 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear Dhrstaketu, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 28, 1974 and I have examined the contents. Yes, it is all right that you devote your time to painting instead of street sankirtana. The main thing is that you be engaged in some worthwhile work for Krsna without wasting even a moment. Unless we are constantly engaged then there will be sickness and illicit sex automatically. So there is a good need for pictures in our preaching work, especially in illustrating our books, and if you are seriously painting I have no objection to your proposal. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Dhrstaketu **Date:** November 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas My dear Dhrstaketu das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 1, 1974 and have read the contents with care. With regard to the offenses you are hearing it is not ghosts as you say, but they are creations of your mind. The mind is indeed wretched as you say. Therefore Krishna says that for the endeavoring transcendentalist he must first control the mind, and then by controlling the mind he will have peace. He says: jitamanah prasantasya, Paramatma smahitah. "For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquillity." [Bg. 6.7] In this age the easiest method for controlling the mind, as taught to us by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is the chanting of Hare Krishna. Do not give very much importance to this thing. Chant Hare Krishna. That is my instruction to you. I hope this meets both you and your wife in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dina Bandhu **Date:** September 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Portland My Dear Dina Bandhu dasa Adhikari: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 15, 1974 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I have accepted as my initiated disciples the following devotees and their names are:1. Ed—Edhaniyasvabhava das2. Pat—Pati das3. Linda—Lila deviAlso enclosed are sanctified threads for Mahi Barta das, Krta krta das, Sarva das, Sretha das, Now hold a fire sacrifice and impress upon the devotees that they are taking vows before Radha and Krsna, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas. Everyone should attend mangal arati and chant 16 rounds daily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dinadayadri **Date:** May 26th 1974 — **Location:** Rome > Ferndale, Michigan My dear Dinadayadri, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of May 8, 1974.You are a very good girl and a sincere devotee therefore, even though you have experienced difficulty you are remaining pure in Krsna Consciousness and keeping faith in Krsna and the spiritual master. This faithfulness has pleased me very much. So many great devotees have had to undergo difficulties, and the great example among women was Queen Kunti whose family life was perpetual danger, but because she always thought of Krsna she was saved. There is no question of your returning to Nara-Narayana. He has remarried, and I also informed him when I was in L.A. last time, that he should keep his one wife, living peacefully in L.A. You have got one child, so now make Krsna your husband and take shelter of our temple. The Detroit temple where you are now is very suitable I think, and you say you are much inspired by devotees like Govardhana and the others. So take spiritual instructions from your elder Godbrothers and sisters, forget the past, and make all progress in Krsna Consciousness without any material lamentation or hankering. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Dinesh Candra Sarkar **Date:** September 26th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta > Hooghly, India Dear Dinesh Candra Sarkar: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 6, 1974. I am going to Mayapur tomorrow morning, and you are welcome to come to our Sri Candra doya Mandir there and see me. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dixit **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My dear Dixit das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 23rd and have noted the contents. Yes your idea about minimizing the expenses of the Juhu project are very good. I have just written a letter to Giriraja suggesting that they do this and the way is to localize the collecting program. They should collect their funds from the local people in Juhu and Veille Parle Scheme. So I have given them a plan for taking subscriptions from respectable men who are living in that area. So I may request that you help them to make these subscriptions amongst the local inhabitants. I think if you work with them in this way then everything will be alright. Service to Krishna is the perfection of all relationships. You may know that we have had to postpone our temple opening here due to the buildings not being completed, but we hope to complete by three months time. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Dr. Channa Reddy **Date:** December 13th 1974 > Governor of Uttar Pradesh Raj Bhavan, Lucknow BY REGISTERED POSTHare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road Juhu, Bombay 400 054 My Dear Shri Reddyji: I thank you very much for your kind acceptance of invitation, and I have read your letter dated November 19, 1974 with great interest. Your acceptance of the authority of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam through the blessing of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given me so much transcendental bliss that my ecstasy knows no bounds. Very rarely do we find such an ideal devotee like you in the political field. Actually speaking, according to the Vedic conception of life, every head of the state should all become rajarsi, which means a king or governor or ruling chief should be as ideal as a great saint or rishi. Therefore formally saintly kings were many in the field of history of the world. The Mahabharata means greater bharata. So we find saintly kings like Maharaj Yudhistira, Maharaj Parikshit, Maharaj Bharata, and so on, what to speak of King Lord Ramachandra. The whole history of the battle of Kurukshetra is based on this principle of finding out a rajarsi on the throne of the kingdom. Lord Krishna Himself took part in this battle of Kurukshetra to install Maharaj Yudhistira on the throne of the world empire and to pluck out the usurper king like Duryodhana from the seat of the ruling power. Bhagavad-gita, the essence of all Vedic literature, was firstly being taught to the rajarsis or the saintly kings. That is recorded in the Bhagavad-gita Fourth Chapter: imam vivasvate yogam, proktavan aham avyayam/ vivasvan manave praha, manur iksvakave ‘bravit. (4:1)So at the present moment there is great need of rajarsis on the head of the ruling government. So I am glad to see you on the throne of Uttar Pradesh as Governor, and I expect your administration should be as ideal as the former rajarsis. At least I expect that you should try to give an example of an ideal Governor from the holy place of Uttar Pradesh where is situated such holy places as Ayodhaya, Varanasi, Prayag, Mathra, Vrindaban, Hardwar, etc. In Bhagavad-gita it is stated : yad yad acarati sresthas, tat tad evetaro janah/ sa yat pramanam kurute, lokas tad anuvartate. “Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men will follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by his exemplary acts, all the world pursues.”I wish that your tenure of office may be an exemplary administration with reference to the principles of the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam. I thank you once more for your becoming our chief guest on the day of Sri Ram Navami, the inauguration ceremony of our temple in Vrindaban. I wish that you may come there one day before the ceremony and remain there at least 24-30 hours in Vrindaban, and by the grace of Krishna Balaram I may arrange for your comfortable stay in our ashram house which is completing construction. I want this opportunity so that we may talk a little bit on the principles of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam in the matter of political, social, philosophical, religious, and cultural development of the human society. I am pushing on this Hare Krishna Movement all over the world with an idea of uniting the human society on the principles of Bhagavad-gita As It Is. I have already established many, many temples all over the world. One of the temples you have already seen is our Vrindaban construction, and similarly I want to establish a great center in Bombay because Bombay is the most important city in India. Many foreigners come the Bombay to enjoy the Juhu Beach atmosphere, and there are already many foreign hotels like Sun ‘n Sand, Horizon, Holiday Inn, and so on. So in order to attract the foreigners I purchased land in Juhu 20,000 sq. yards just one block after the sea beach, and I am trying to get sanction for constructing the temple, but it is being hampered by the dilatory method of the Municipality and the Police Commissioner. Just after purchasing the land we submitted our plans to the Municipality, and the Municipality wanted the Police Commissioner’s sanction, and thus we submitted our application to the Police Commissioner on November 15, 1973. As advised by the Municipality we submitted our plans to the Police Commissioner as we received the reply as follows: B No. 5622 of 19673Adm. Office of the Commissioner of Police, Bombay, November 17, 1973From the Commissioner of Police, BombayTo Shri Mohananandas Das AdhikariInternational Society for Krishna ConsciousnessHare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram RoadBombay 54Subject: Permission for digging of a plot for ConstructionDear Sir: Reference your letter dated November 19th 1973 on the subject noted above.2. There is no objection to your digging the allotted space for the temple structure at Hare Krishna Land, Bombay 54.3. You are advised to approach this office a-fresh for a “No Objection Certificate” when you decide to construct a permanent structure at this site in question, after plans have been approved by the Municipal Commissioner. Yours faithfully, Sd/For Commissioner of Police, Gr. BombayAs advised in this letter our engineer and architects applied for the final sanction by the Police Commissioner and we received a surprising letter as follows: B No. 1033 of 1974Office of the Commissioner of PoliceBombay 6th March, 1974From the Commissioner of Police, BombayTo,Shri Motilal KhannaConsulting Engineers and ArchitectsMotilal Khanna and Associates3rd Floor, Khanna MansionOpp. G.P.O., FortBombay- 400 001Subject: -“No Objection Certificate” for the construction of a Temple for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu, Bombay 54Dear Sir: Reference to your letter No. 7274/BMC/1731 dated the November 21st, 1973, on the subject noted above.2. It is regretted that your request for the grant of “No Objection Certificate” to the construction of a temple on Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road, Bombay-54, cannot be granted on the following grounds-The construction of a temple may lead to more traffic congestion on Juhu Tara Road. The bhajan singing which had been complained about in the past, is likely to be a nuisance in future as well. Yours faithfully, Sd/-for Commissioner of PoliceThe matter is since then suspended, and later on we proved there is no nuisance, neither is there any difficulty to the traffic. It was properly enquired by the Traffic Police, and we gave over land for extending the road, and the Municipality has accepted the proposal in their letter as follows: MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF GREATER BOMBAYK Ward OfficesTata Compound, Near Andheri Fire StationS.V. Road, Andheri WestBombay Postal Index 400 056To: Shri B.N. SharmaArchitectural SyndicatePlot No. 92 Jaiprakash NagarRoad No. 5, Goregaon, Bombay- 400 063Sub: Handing over setback land S. No. 2A, H No. 4 &5 along Juhu Gavthan Road, Juhu, Property of Hare Krishna Land International ConsciousnessRef: IOD No. CE/5128/BS II/AK/16.5.74Sir: You are requested to advise your client to hand over the set back land a [indistinct] has been prolonged since November, 1973 and no final decision has been made either by the Municipality or the Police Commissioner. Recently we reminded the police commissioner, the copy of which is enclosed herewith, but still have not received any final decision. According to the permission for digging letter and according to the Municipality advice, we have expanded the internal road to 30 feet, sacrificing many trees cut down and have dug the ground in many places, and taken out the barbed wire fences. In this way we have spent Rs. 25,000/-, and yet have not gotten the permission for the construction for the temple on some plea or other, for the past more than one year. So I am very much perplexed in this connection. Yesterday our men went to see the Police Commissioner. Now he says that not in writing but verbally, [indistinct] months, but on account of this situation I have postponed my [indistinct] of my preaching activities, and at last I am taking your shelter. If you kindly help me as a Life Member of our Society, because you [indistinct] We do not belong to any political party or any sectarian religious conception of life. We are just spreading the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam, and we had no difficulty in constructing temples in every part of the world, except here in Bombay where we have been choked up.[indistinct], bowing down before Me, these great sould perpetually worship Me with devotion.” So temple means worshipping the Deity, performing the Sankirtan, and the Police Commissioner remarks most obnoxiously that it is a nuisance. So in this way the matter[indistinct] has been prolonged since November, 1973 and no final decision has been made either by the Municipality or by the Police Commissioner. Recently we reminded the police commissioner, the copy of which is enclosed herewith, but still have not received any final decision. According to the permission for digging letter and according to the Municipality advice, we have expanded the internal road to 30 feet, sacrificing many trees cut down and have dug the ground in many places, and taken out the barbed wire fences. In this way we have spent Rs. 25,000/-, and yet have not gotten the permission for the construction for the temple on some plea or other, for the past more than one year. So I am very much perplexed in this connection. Yesterday our men went to see the Police Commissioner. Now he says that not in writing but verbally, that it requires Government permission. I therefore request you to help me in this great perplexing situation. I was to go to the foreign countries, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Honolulu, Fiji, Australia, and South Africa for two to three months, but on account of this situation I have postponed my touring at the cost of my preaching activities, and at last I am taking your shelter. If you kindly help me as a Life Member of our Society, because you know everything about us. We do not belong to any political party or any sectarian religious conception of life. We are just spreading the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam, and we had no difficulty in constructing temples in every part of the world, except here in Bombay where we have been choked up. As you know from the above facts there is no cause for obstructing us. If the temple is a nuisance, there is another temple just in front of us already there. Our temple has never been accused of the so-called nuisance, and I do not know why the Police Commissioner has raised this question. Anyway I have dared to take shelter of Your Excellency just to request you to contact the Governor of Bombay and request him to do justice to us, by personally seeing the records and files called for from the Police Commissioner of Bombay. Please recommend our case for constructing the temple as we are innocent in the matter of so-called intrigues and politics. By this act of your generosity I wish Krishna will bless you, and I shall also pray to Krishna for your long and prosperous life as you will save us from this great unnecessary anxiety. I hope this will meet you in good health, and with my good wishes and regards I beg to remain, Yours affectionately, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- Enc: 1 ### Letter to Dr. Ghosh **Date:** November 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Gyan Bhawan22, Minto Road Allahabad 211002 My Dear Dr. Ghosh: Please accept my greetings. I am very much thankful for your nice letter dated November 8, 1974 and the presentation of the copy of Pancamrta written by you. I saw the verses formally also. If anyone reads these verses regularly certainly he will make progress in his spiritual life. I have now advised my secretary to send you immediately one copy of my Caitanya Caritamrta. by registered post. Since you left Bombay, I had been to many places in Europe such as Rome, Frankfurt, Paris, Sydney, Fiji, Honolulu, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, New Vrindaban, New York, London, and then here to India. I was thinking of you, but was missing your address. Regarding the charitable dispensary, I am not very much enthusiastic for this enterprise because nowadays to keep a proper dispensary pushing on requires much attention and money also. I have heard from the authorities of the Rama Krishna Mission that their charitable dispensaries of hospitals are mostly run by paid men, as formally no intelligent medical practitioner was joining them to run it on. Therefore I may suggest that if you are really inclined to retire, you are welcome to live with us. We have got three very nice places in India in Bombay, Vrindaban, and Mayapur. We have spent many lakhs of rupees for constructing these centers, and if you live with us in any one of them, you are welcome. You can live with your good wife as vanaprastha, and when you decide to do so, we may maintain a small dispensary for taking care of our own men. But for the general public opening a charitable dispensary is not in our program at least for the time being. I shall be very glad to hear from you at your convenience. Further I beg to inform you that all my temples and centers here in India are being managed by my foreign disciples. I want that they should be admitted as immigrants. They have embraced this Vaisnava religion and have given money for constructing these temples and are managing them. Although we have got a few Indians to join, they are neither educated or expert. In Allahabad you are known to so many lawyers and judges. Kindly consult with them how my foreign disciples can get immigration status in this country. If they were forced to leave, I will be in a great disturbed condition how to manage all these centers. Kindly find out immediately some good lawyer. I think Sir Tej Bahdur's son maybe helpful in this connection. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dr. Ghosh **Date:** December 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Allahabad My dear Dr. Ghosh, Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15th December, 1974 and have noted the contents. I thank you for your kind appreciations. Our movement actually has been predicted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He said that in every town and village all over the world His name would be heard and it is actually happening. Our centers are developing so nicely even in the Muslim countries and countries where Buddhism is the major religion. That proves that this Vaisnava, Sanatana Dharma is not some sectarian philosophy. It proves that what Krsna speaks in the Bhagavad-gita is universal and is applicable to anyone and everyone throughout the world. Therefore they are actually accepting and they are taking to our restrictions. They are chanting Hare Krsna and learning Srimad-Bhagavatam and therefore their lives are becoming happy. I am simply trying to repeat the words of Sri Krsna without any adulteration or twisting and I have full faith that by doing so His message will become well-known throughout the world. Now our books are being so much accepted throughout the universities and colleges as well as amongst the general mass of people. It is really astounding. We are selling literally thousands and thousands of full sized volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam everyday, in different parts of the world. I am glad that you enjoyed our article in the Bhavan's Journal. You are cordially invited to come and visit us anytime here in Bombay at your convenience. I am planning to stay in Bombay until mid-Jan. and then I shall go to Australia. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy **Date:** November 18th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay His Excellency Dr. Marri Chenna ReddyGovernor of U.P.Raj Bhavan, LucknowYour Excellency: Please accept my greetings and the blessings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I am so much thankful to you that you came to see our temple under construction in Vrindaban and supervised the work going on there. As you came all of a sudden, we could not make arrangement for your proper reception, but I am so pleased to learn that you have voluntarily agreed to visit our temple during the opening ceremony. Tentatively the date is fixed up on Sri Ram Navami, the Birthday of Lord Ramacandra. Probably it will be the fixed up date because we are depending on the progress of the construction work. If you kindly give me your consent, we can print your Excellency's name on the invitation card as the Chief Guest and Inaugurator of the temple. You are already our member as well as a great devotee of Lord Krishna, so we shall feel it a great privileged if you kindly agree to this proposal. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, Sd. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Dr. Santosh Kumar **Date:** December 20th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Dr. Santosh Kumar Dept. of Medicine Mc Master University St. Joseph's Hospital Hamilton, Canada Dear Mr. Kumar, Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 18, November 1974. I thank you very much for your kind appreciations of our movement. Actually this Hare Krsna Movement is going all over the world, because the message of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is spoken. I am just like a peon carrying the message of Lord Krsna and Lord Krsna's message, being perfect, it will be appreciated everywhere in any part of the universe. So far others are concerned, as you spoke of Satya Sai Baba, he wants to claim himself as Bhagavan, unfortunately. He can not give any faultless message. The definition of Bhagavan is given in the sastras as one who possesses six kinds of opulences. Nobody is greater than Bhagavan, Krsna. Therefore if we take Krsna's message we will actually be benefited, otherwise not. It will be partial and insufficient. In reply to the last part of your letter I request you to understand properly the message of Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literatures. You are an educated Indian. According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhus order every Indian should learn properly the Vedic conclusion and preach all over the world. That is the best welfare activities. You can be very much help to our present activities, so you can be better than others invited from India. I request you to read our books and whenever you find difficulties you can ask me for clearance and it will be my duty to serve you. I thank you once again for your very kind appreciation of our Hare Krsna Movement. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/psk ### Letter to Durgesh **Date:** December 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Southall, England My dear Durgesh, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 12, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Thank you very much for your sentiments. It appears that you have understood our philosophy very nicely, and that is a great boon for someone who is as young as yourself. The perfection of human existence is to somehow or another develop Krsna Consciousness and the sooner that one can develop his Krsna Consciousness the better. Not that I will wait until I become old man, then I will become spiritually advanced. No, it is better if one starts immediately. So there is no question of your discontinuing your efforts in Krsna Consciousness. By all means you should continue practicing Krsna Consciousness everyday. But that does not necessarily mean that you have to move into the Temple immediately. It is also important to get some education. So for some years you should remain studying in school. But on the weekends with your parents permission you can go to the Temple and stay there but do not fall behind in your school work. And everyday you should follow the Krsna Conscious principles that our devotees in our temples follow which means rising early, chanting 16 rounds, eating only Krsna prasadam, no meat, fish or eggs, no illicit sex life, no gambling and no intoxication. This is the process. So follow it strictly and at the same time learn some practical knowledge from your school studies. And then later it may be more appropriate for you to join our temple as a full time brahmacari. But in all circumstances always chant Hare Krsna. That is a must. In the Bhagavad-gita it says; tesam satata-yuktanam, bhajatam priti-purvakam, dadami buddhi-yogam tam, yena mam upayanti te, [Bg. 10.10]. To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. So do not be in distress. Simply try to engaged yourself constantly in devotional service and develop your love for Krsna. And in this way Krsna will give you all facilities for coming to Him. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Durgesh **Date:** December 27th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Southall, England My dear Durgesh, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter 10-12-74 and have noted the contents carefully. It has been recommended to me by the leaders in London that you should move into our temple as a permanent brahmacari and that your father will allow it if I also recommend. After studying your letter carefully and seeing the devotion and sincerity that you possess I am also very much in favor of your staying at our temple as a brahmacari. In my previous letter I had said that you could go to school during the week and live in the temple on the weekends. But I did not know how serious and determined you were to become Krsna Conscious. Someone as determined as you should be given facilities to spend cent percent of his time in Krsna Consciousness. Therefore I would be very happy to see you living in the temple, following all of our principles of pure life and becoming an expert scholar in Vedic knowledge, through studying my books diligently. This is real education. The so-called education that they are teaching in the schools and universities today is simply useless knowledge which is all based on atheistic and speculative theories. The teachers themselves are following no real authorities in wisdom neither do they set any good examples for their students. By going to school today there is always the danger through bad association of becoming entangled in so many unwanted things such as illicit sex, intoxication etc. Therefore definitely the best thing for you is to live in our temple in London. Please request your father on my behalf to let you do this. If there is any hesitation on his part please request him to write me and I will try to clarify things. If you go to live at our temple, because of your age, you should have a written statement from your father showing that he has given permission. Then authorities will not think that you are a run away. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Embar Sampath Kumarachar **Date:** April 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mysore State My dear Embar Sampath Kumarachar: Please accept my blessings. I am very glad you are coming to the U.S.A. You are welcome in any of our temples there. As you may know, our most important temples are in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Vrindaban, West Virginia, Philadelphia. So you are welcome to stay in any one of these temples and you can stay there as long as you like. I especially invite you to our children's school, Gurukula, in Dallas Texas. If you so desire you can take part there to take the post of head sanskrit teacher. As soon as you are in the U.S. go to Dallas. This latter can be taken as sponsoring your stay in any temple; we will pay all charges for boarding and lodging. Please send me five or six photos of yourself so I can send letters instructing my different branches as mentioned, so there will be no misunderstanding. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Evening News of India **Date:** May 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Advertiser Box 25854Evening News of India Bombay 1 Dear Sir, With reference to your advertisement, "Wanted Land", we can offer you a plot of vacant land, area about 6,000 square yards very good location near Juhu Beach, on lease terms only. Please offer your best. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Frederico **Date:** October 24th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Lisboa, Portugal My Dear Frederico: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 3, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to learn that you are translating the Bhagavad-gita As It Is into Portuguese. Be careful not to change anything but present it exactly as it is. This is how we receive Bhagavad-gita through the disciplic succession as stated in the Fourth Chapter. By this translating work you will learn our philosophy very nicely. It is very important to broadcast Krishna consciousness all over the world. This is the great need of modern civilization. If you are going to France why not visit our Paris center. There you should get chanting [japa] beads, and begin chanting Hare Krishna mantra on the beads. They will show you how to do it. This is most important for advancing in spiritual life. Yes, as you have understood, prasadam is offered only from the category of fruits, vegetables, grains, milk products, and sugar. This is according to the Bhagavad-gita wherein Krishna states what He accepts. We have four rules that all my students follow. They do not take any meat, fish, or eggs; no gambling, no intoxicants, including coffee, tea, or cigarettes; and no illicit sex life. Try to follow these four rules, and Krishna will bless you with quick advancement in spiritual life. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Frederico Lourenco **Date:** October 14th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Sintra, Portugal Dear Frederico Lourenco: Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil with enclosed drawings, and I thank you very much. Regarding prasadam, Krishna does not accept any foodstuff offered by a person who is not a devotee. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated: patram puspam phalam toyam/yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. So the importance is stressed on the bhakti, the devotion. Krishna does not accept anything unless one is a pure devotee of Krishna. How to become a pure devotee of Krishna, you have to chant Hare Krishna and follow the four regulative principles of no meat eating, intoxication, illicit sex, or gambling, and you have to follow a guru who is expert in the science of devotional service. If you are serious about understanding Krishna consciousness, you can live with us for some time in one of our centers with your father's permission and learn the science and do the needful. Your drawing attempt is very nice. Thank you. Where did you get the om? Om is not required. Krishna is sufficient, but there is no harm. You should read Bhagavad-gita As It Is carefully verse to verse and word to word, and you will be benefited, and if you have any difficulty to understand anything I shall be very glad to have your inquiry. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gandharva **Date:** November 6th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Seattle My Dear Gandharva dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 19, 1974 and have noted the contents. So you have done you duty at the last moments of your wife's life so that she could hear them chanting. As to where she has gone, that depends on what she was thinking of at the time of her passing away. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: anta-kale ca mam eva/ smaran muktva kalevaram/ yah prayati sa mad bhavam/ yati nasty atra samsayah [Bg. 8.5]. "And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt." To remember Krishna requires practice, and this is most easily done by chanting Hare Krishna mantra. I have told Nitai to spread the ashes here in the sea. The maha mantra is the only mantra that need be chanted. Do not neglect this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gangamayi **Date:** May 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Gangamayi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your undated letter. I am glad to hear that you are determined to stay and live in the temple now and that you are becoming very much attached to the Deity worship and very serious about serving the Deity along with Malati Prabhu. I hope your restlessness is finished and that you will remain a faithful servitor in your duties with the Deities. Your comment is well taken that you have little or no knowledge of the politics. So you remain uninvolved and just continue to simply follow the authorities and concentrate on improving the Deity worship. If you chant at least 16 rounds daily and read our books, no contamination can touch us. I hope to see you in the near future at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gangamayi **Date:** October 18th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > London My Dear Gangamayi devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 21, 1974 and have noted the contents. There have been many letters coming from different quarters regarding the election; therefore I have called for a re-election in the presence of all members and two GBC men. You can have a written ballot, and whoever receives the majority vote, he shall be the president. You are right that politics should be avoided. In my personal life I did not participate in the political diplomacy of my god-brothers. I was simply thinking how to fulfill the order of my guru maharaj. He gave me his blessings, and I was saved from any implication. Now I am trying to carry out his instructions strictly, and it has come out successful. I note that you are planning to come to India, and I have no objection. We will be needing experienced pujaris for our Vrindaban temple. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gargamuni **Date:** April 13th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta Dear Gargamuni Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 4, 1974, and I have noted the contents. I am glad to hear that the Calcutta temple is progressing nicely under your direction, that devotees are going out daily distributing books and collecting. As far as my meeting with the indutrialist G.D. Kothari and others to discuss building a Calcutta temple, my present schedule is that I am remaining in India until May 15, and then going to Pairs, France. On April 18 I am going to Hyderabad for a week and from there spend a week in South India traveling. So after that, if such a meeting can be arranged before I leave? Otherwise, when I return to India at the end of July I can meet. Regarding your complaint that Jayapataka Swami does not give you account of the money you send there, please try to rectify this amongst yourselves. I have sent Brahmananda Swami your elder brother, to Mayapur just to help organize their management. Now among yourselves you are all senior members, rectify this rift between Calcutta and Mayapur. Your idea to send Mayapur Rs 6,800.00 monthly for construction costs only, and let them make up that same amount monthly which is their maintenance money, is a good plan. I have heard there is good chance for life membership in Nadia area, and Panca Dravida Maharaja can train up others how to do it. You all must push on cooperatively and spare me from too much management intervention; that will be your success. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgP.S. --- I want to organize a women kirtana party singing the Gita Gan. Can you help me? ### Letter to Gargamuni **Date:** June 13th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Calcutta My dear Gargamuni Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two recent letters. I find in both these letters you have especially desired to call Tamala Krsna Goswami to act as GBC. But he left India particularly thinking himself not very fit for management. He has now gone for preaching work with Visnujana Maharaja and recently Karandhara met him and Tamala Krsna Maharaja is now unwilling to come to India for GBC management work. Therefore I have called Karandhara Prabhu to act as GBC in India. He has practical experience in various lines of management work. I hope he will replace Tamala Krsna Maharaja better than anyone else. Tamala Krsna Maharaja said that you are not following the regulative principles. I do not know why you should do like that. Anyway, if there was any discrepancies in that way I hope you will rectify it and fully cooperate with Karandhara Prabhu. I am coming to India on my way to Sydney to stop for one day in Bombay on June 23rd. If you so desire you can see me in Bombay on the 23rd. Further, Brahmananda Maharaja wanted to remain in India and act as my secretary, but there is no proper man to replace him. Sometimes back you also wanted to go to Africa. If you still feel like that you can consider on the matter and I shall call Brahmananda here in India to act as my personal secretary. Hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gargamuni **Date:** June 19th 1974 — **Location:** Frankfurt > Calcutta My dear Gargamuni Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. With further reference to my letter of June 13, 1974 I beg to inform you that a difficulty has arisen in that we have not yet received visa permission from the Australian government. As such, it may be that I will not be able to meet you in Bombay on 23 June as previously informed. In case I do not go to Australia I will go to U.S.A. via London. So unless I meet you on my return to India by the 25th July, do not go outside of India. I want to discuss on some important subject matter and want to meet you and Karandhara together. That is the idea. In case we do not get the visas and I cannot go to Bombay on June 23rd, then I will send you a telegram. But if you do not receive a telegram that means I will go to Bombay on the 23rd June, and will see you there. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgc.c. --- sent to Hare Krishna Land, Bombay ### Letter to Gargamuni **Date:** August 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Calcutta My Dear Gargamuni Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 2/8/74 and have noted the contents. You have not mentioned anything about receiving my letter dated 14/7/74 about purchasing the Pani Hati property. I want to know about this, so I am enclosing the copy of the letter. Regarding Karandhara's comment that Mayapur and Calcutta were the best organized centers in India, that I know. I have full faith in you, and also Bhavananda and Jayapataka Maharajas. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gargamuni **Date:** September 5th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Calcutta My Dear Gargamuni Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated 19/8/74 and 1/9/74 and have noted the contents. So you can fix up the Hindi High School Program as you have proposed, and we shall go. You can fix it for three weeks from now at the end of September. Regarding Kanpur program I could go for one or two days but in my present state of health it is hard to travel. Regarding books supply, Giriraja informs that a shipment is due in mid September and they have already received the shipping documents. All titles have been ordered, and I have instructed Brahmananda Swami, Bhagavan, and Giriraja to take immediate steps. You must have sufficient stock of books. You can send your order to Giriraja, and as you are sending Rs. 10,000/- monthly, you should be supplied with the same amount of books. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gargamuni **Date:** October 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta My Dear Gargamuni Swami: Please accept my blessings. Regarding the registration of ISKCON Calcutta center as a separate entity, it should be clearly understood by you that the registration cannot be applied for unless my express sanction is there. No papers should be filed without my permission. Any papers you may draw up must be submitted to me first before filing. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gargamuni **Date:** December 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta My Dear Gargamuni Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 2, 1974 with enclosed copy of Trial Balance from June '73 to June '74. and also your telegram reading as follows: ONE THOUSAND RUPEES BOOKS SOLD MAYAPUR RAS PURNIMA DAY THOUSAND VISITED CHANDRADOYA MANDIR PRASADAM DISTRIBUTED—GARGAMUNI SWAMI.So this is very nice. Why not reprint our Gitar Gan in Japan fifty thousand copies? Our temple is getting more and more famous. It is already famous as the sahib temple. And it will become even more famous when there is gate. __ walls, kitchen, prasadam pavilion, and lake. Then it will be very nice. So I am looking forward to seeing these things when I return to Mayapur. This next Sunday I am planning to start for Honolulu. Please send the monthly trial balances. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gargamuni **Date:** December 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta My Dear Gargamuni Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of the photos of Vrindaban as well as your telegram reading as follows: WORK STOPPED ON KITCHEN DOLLARS EIGHT THOUSAND NEVER RECEIVED PLEASE ADVISE—GARGAMUNI.So what I can do? Brahmananda Maharaja informs me that Jayatirtha told him on the telephone that the money was sent. So you have to check with the bank why it is not yet received. But why the work should be stopped? I understand you are considering a property on Camac Street opposite Central Bank of India and the price is Rs. 20 lakhs. So whether the property is worth Rs. 20 lakhs? Is there sufficient land to build a nice temple there? I do not think so. Anyway, we will not move out of our present place. You are paying rent only Rs. 1100/- monthly. Our men can continue to live there, and we can construct a nice temple on this other property. What is the area? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- Why you do not supply the straps and the brass rings on the __ ### Letter to Gargamuni Swami **Date:** October 7th 1974 — **Location:** Nadia > -E1 Dear Gargamuni Swami: Please accept my humble obeisances. Srila Prabhupad has requested me to ask you to kindly bring Mr. Nannungo and his wife Chhavi here to Mayapur to make the Orissa scheme. Prabhupad will talk with him about how much he is prepared to help. The three month tourist visas of Sruti Kirti, Nitai, and myself expire within three weeks time. Could you please send down the necessary forms that we can fill out along with other requirements such as how many photographs are required for an extention of the tourist visa. We of course would prefer not having for all three of us having to go into Calcutta to the immigration office personally. Can we get an extension of more than three months? I hope this meets you in good health. Your servantBrahmananda Swami-/bs Personal SecretaryApproved: ACBS ### Letter to Gaura Gopala **Date:** November 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mayapur My Dear Gaura Gopala dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 6/11/74 and have noted the contents. My program in India is not yet fixed up. I may go out in December to Honolulu. Anyway Yasomatinandana dasa has written you to come, if he has written you to come, then you can come immediately with the Hindi typewriter. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to GBC Godbrothers **Date:** September 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear GBC Godbrothers: Please accept our humble obeisances. Srila Prabhupada has become very disturbed at the news that Hansadutta Prabhu has closed the Edinburgh temple without consulting Srila Prabhupada and has asked us to issue the following memo. No GBC man can whimsically do anything without consulting Srila Prabhupada, especially in the matter of opening a new temple and closing an old one. Such activities must be absolutely regulated and cannot be done without consultation of Srila Prabhupada and other GBC. In the annual meeting in Mayapur the activities of the whole year should be resolved, and the GBC cannot do more or less than that. In addition Srila Prabhupada reiterates that all GBC must strictly follow the rules and regulations and do what Srila Prabhupada does. We must be the strict prototypes of Srila Prabhupada. We must be pure by preaching and chanting. To close a temple is a very serious business, as well as opening one. It means that we are calling Krsna to come and reside there. Once Krsna is there, we cannot tell Him to now leave. Whimsically closing a temple means we do not understand what is devotional service and violates bhakti. Only under very extraordinary conditions can a temple be closed when there is consultation. Even then a temple is not to be eliminated but moved to an other place. We hope this meets you in good health. Approved Signed A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- Brahmananda SwamiBali Mardan dasBhagavan das ### Letter to Giriraj Prabhu **Date:** September 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear Giriraj Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances. Ramesvar has written that Dollars 78,531.75 has been transferred from L.A. to Bombay American Express account. Please have this money transferred by Telegraphic Transfer to Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban Branch a/c No. 6685, ISKCON Savings Fund. Ramesvar also informs that you have received there the equivalent of dollars 7,500 from Life Members, so this should also be sent by you here to Vrindaban is the some manner, He has deducted this amount from what he has transferred from Guru Kripa's collection. I am also informed that you have received Rs. 50,000/- for a donation for Vrindaban project, so please arrange for this immediate transfer as well. Are you having a spare key to Prabhupad's elmira (metal) in his bedroom? If so, the ms. of Madhya Lila is lying there and is needed by Nitai. I hope this meets you in good health. Your servant, Brahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryApproved A.C.B.S ### Letter to Giriraj Prabhu **Date:** October 7th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > -F1 Dear Giriraj Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances. Regarding your letter dated September 27, 1974 Srila Prabhupad requests the following to be included in the article for "Holymen of India." It should be very nicely written that so far cultural contribution/is world concerned, Srila Prabhupad stands first above all other Indian holymen. Many have gone to the west an abroad, but on one has done what Srila Prabhupad has done. He has completely brought the Vedic culture to the West, and they are following completely. He has transplanted it. This simile of transplanting should be elaborated. As we transplant a tulsi seedling and then it becomes a full grown plant, so Prabhupad has made the Vedic culture flourish all over the world, without harming or changing anything. When transplanting you have to be very careful of the seedling. If you harm it even slightly it will not grow again. Similarily Prabhupad has not superficially transplanted the Vedic culture. Please send the final draft. I hope this meets you in good health. Your servant, Brahmananda SwamiPersonal Secretaryapproved: ACBS ### Letter to Giriraj Prabhu **Date:** October 17th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > _F1 Dear Giriraj Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances. I am in do receipt of your registered letter dated October 7, 1974 with enclosed true copy of gift deed and CBI receipt for the fixed deposit certificates. Srila Prabhupad would like to know what is the balance of the Central a/c in American Express Bank. We are expecting that shortly L.A. is to transfer Dollars 40,000.00 in that account, and this money should be kept there until you receive the balance pf that account to date. Srila Prabhupad had also given to you for deposit into his personal account in CBI Gowlia Tank Branch Dollars 2,000.00; Dollars 1,000 from Tejiyas and Dollars 1,000 from himself; so please report on this. You can send the deposit receipt from the Bank. Did you receive the copy of the Bhubaneswar gift deed? I sent a photo copy to you. This should be returned to me. Please acknowledge receipt. Let me know if it is necessary for a document form form Geeta Devi Saraf. Regarding the new Life Membership fee. I understand you compromised with Gargamuni Swami by creating a Patron Membership for Rs. 2222/=, but what are the additional benefits of a Patron Membership? Tejiyas das writes that he is also getting 90% success with the increased fee. I note that you are ready to accommodate Srila Prabhupad in his come there. In the meantime what about this road that is being constructed? You have not given any report about the intended Government seizure of Hare Krishna Land. What was the results of the hearing? Do not send Jashomatinandana to Punjab. He should remain in Bamcay and work there. Enclosed is the letter to CBI regarding the extended Fixed Deposit. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Jayatirtha was to inform you to send five copies of each book to Calcutta, Gargamuni Swami, to fulfill the Embassy Order gotten by Vrindaban De.Your servantBrahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryApproved: ACBS ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** February 6th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Bombay[To Giriraja]DISPATCH BIRLAS FIFTY THOUSAND IMMEDIATELY TO PUNJAB BANK MOTI BAGH BRANCH NEW DELHI IN FAVOR OF VRINDABAN CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT.BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** July 20th 1974 — **Location:** New Vrindaban > Bombay My Dear Giriraja das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 11, 1974 the copy of which was forwarded to me here at our New Vrindaban. I am very pleased to know that things are going on according to routine. This morning we held a meeting of GBC members, and I have sent a telegram addressed to Karandhara as follows:"YOUR RESIGNATION ACCEPTED AFTER CONSULTATION WITH GBC GIVE CHARGE TO JAGADISHA"—BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMISo you note this and inform others. Jagadisa is immediately going there to India to take charge. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** August 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My Dear Giriraja das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 7, 1974 hand delivered by Panca Dravida Swami. Regarding the installation ceremony here at Vrindaban, it will be done before next Janmastami, and if the cement can be obtained, it will be done after three months. It is good that you have almost completed the new cement godown and the cowshed. I am very glad that people have offered to donate cows. Regarding your Janmastami program expectation of 10,000 people, it is very good. Thank you very much. I am very much pleased what you are doing. Give the people nice prasadam. This is what is temple—life. Chanting, dancing, prasadam, this is what I want. Regarding getting the USA money for your Sunday feast program, no that is not required. Local people can contribute. There are many temples that are getting donations from the public. In Bhuleshvar there is one Hanuman temple, and they are getting grains and ghee from the public. If you try, you can also get. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** August 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My Dear Giriraja das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 14, 1974 and have noted the contents. I was very glad to learn that you had such a nice Janmastami celebration and that even our Mr. Setti was dancing during the kirtana. Actually it is due only to him that the plans for the residence quarters were approved by the Municipality. I have today received in the mail a receipt from the Municipality for the amount of Rs. 4,230/- as fees for cultural center. Regarding Yasomatinandana's college programs, you should give him full facility for this preaching work. This should be very much encouraged. He is a good preacher in Gujarati and Hindi. Regarding engaging the men, it is required that nobody should sit idle. Regarding reducing the expenditure, you should reduce the conveyance account by 50%. You should localize your preaching and collecting programs as much as possible. The attempt should be made to raise monthly subscriptions from gentlemen in Juhu and Ville Parle Scheme. No one will give less than Rs. 5/- and you can collect Rs. 20,000/- monthly if you organize it properly, so you may not have to go downtown. Juhu and Ville Parle schemes are developing rapidly and all important men are coming to this side. You make up some monthly subscription books like a passbook with the name and address of each subscriber each with a number and the amount of the monthly subscription and the date paid, and when the subscription is collected the subscriber signs his name. In this way three or four men can go house to house. Now that our temple is recognized, everyone will pay. Now there is a food program that is popular amongst the local people, so they will pay. They can also pay in goods such as rice and dahl. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** September 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My Dear Giriraja das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 29, 1974 with enclosures and have noted the contents. Regarding my health, I am improving by the grace of Krsna. Thank you very much for taking so much care of my health by praying to Nrsimhadeva. He is very kind. By all your prayers He will surely take care of me. It is very good that you are making life members daily locally instead of going to the city. Better to get sympathy in the neighborhood. As soon as they will see our activities, they will be very much pleased. You must keep in touch with them, that is their real complaint. It is a very big scheme. Hundreds of thousands will give for this scheme. Let them come in the evening, see kirtana, take prasada, and liberally contribute. They will feel releaved to contribute to such a good cause. Try to publish in Hindi and Gujarati our literature. On Hare Krishna Land no proposal for rental of even a pinch of land shall be entertained by you. Strictly this should be followed by you. No more tenants. What tenants we have, if they peacefully vacate, you can give compensation. Do not entertain any proposal for tenancy for any corner of any pinch of land in the Hare Krishna scheme. It is good that you have gotten the tax exemption number. Send me a copy of the article you will write for the publishing house. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** October 1st 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bombay My Dear Giriraja Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 26, 1974 with enclosed draft of your article. Regarding the Tax Commission Notice, I understand from Mr. Sethi that at time land in the vicinity of his house was selling for Rs. 60/-, so we have not paid less. The most important point is that Mr. Nair wanted to give us the land at a concessional rate because we are a charitable institution. I have already sent under separate post (Registered), the photocopy of a land donated to us in Orissa, Bhuvaneśvara, and I have asked Mahamsa Swami to also send the photocopy of his gift deed. So we get so many donations of land, due to the charitable nature of our organization. Regarding the tax exemption for research, we are doing actual research of the Vedic literatures. In this connection you can give the quotations from the many professors in America regarding how they are receiving my books which are heretofore unknown and unavailable to Western readers. Furthermore we are doing active research. We are demonstrating how people can live peacefully and simply, according to the correct civilization. Our ideas are not man-made imperfect ideas, but perfect scientific conclusions. In addition I have a number of Doctorate students in various fields of science, Dr. Svarupa Damodara, Dr. Wolf-Rottkay, Dr. Rao, and others. They can act as the Heads of the research. We are presenting ideal living on Vedic principles of purified life of no illicit sex, no meat eating, gambling or intoxication. Regarding Manasvi's going abroad, one department that is very important is the tenant and rent department. There are some tenants who are occupying but they are not the original tenants. We must be very careful that in our presesnce the original tenant may not be replaced with someone else. Regarding increasing the Life Membership fee, that you will have to adjust amongst yourselves. Yes, you can move my things into the new quarters. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- I am returning the draft with corrections and additions as per enclosed. I have just received notice from Hansadutta that he has sent Dollars 4,000 to Central Account for Food Relief. That money may be immediately transferred to Gargamuni Swami Calcutta account for use on construction of the Prasadam Distribution Pavillion. ACBS ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** October 17th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bombay My Dear Giriraja das: Please accept my blessings. I have received the report of Bombay from Gargamuni Swami that things are being mismanaged. Why you are building this road without my sanction? This road will spoil the whole scheme. Why are you letting the dictation of the municipality spoil the whole thing? This road must be stopped at any cost. Fight in the court if required. I am sending Gargamuni and Brahmananda to save the situation. They are authorized to take any action in this connection. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** October 19th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bombay My Dear Giriraja das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 14, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the tax commission case, we are receiving approximately Rs. 18,000/per annum including the tax payments, which means at 10% interest the value is Rs. 1,80,000/-. So we have paid Rs. 14,50,000/-; less Rs. 1,80,000/is Rs. 12,70,000/-. So we have paid Rs. 12,70,000/- for 6,000 sq. yards; which means we have paid approximately Rs. 200/- per sq. yard. At that time the rate was not more than Rs. 150/- per sq. yard; so we have paid more than the market price. This argument should be placed. Regarding the road, if by sacrificing the wide road we have gotten the sanction of constructing according to the layout plan, then there is no harm. Regarding construction, begin something. Begin little, little, so it can be understood that we have begun. At least one foot high walls should be built up on all buildings. That should be done. Saurabha can go there for one week because now Dhananjaya is there and can look after things while Saurabha is gone. That is nice if you get the NOC from the Police by two weeks time. Keep Yasomatinandana engaged in college programs. When I come to Bombay at the end of this month or the beginning of next month, if he can arrange my lecture on Bhagavad-gita in all colleges and universities, I shall speak to the students very gladly. It is good that boys are joining us and shaving up. Yes, whoever may live with us must shave and take kunti beads, otherwise they may come and go. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** October 20th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bombay My Dear Giriraja das: Please accept my blessings. I have seen the BBT Memo to all centers dated October 16, 1974 together with the inventory of book stock prepared by Bhugarbha das. Now henceforward you make the following arrangement for getting payment from the temples for BBT. For all book orders the BBT will present the invoice and shipping documents to your bank a/c BBT for collection. The orders may be shipped by rail, so the temples will pay the invoice amount in order to receive the shipping documents from the Bank, and then collect the goods. Now that the inventory has been sent to all centers, there should be no complaint that there are no books being made available. Let them pay for what they order, and you fill the orders promptly, so there should be no difficulty. Now I am sending Nayana Bhirama and his wife to Bombay for distributing books. They are enthusiastic for clearing up the book stock there. Give them all facilities for selling the books, as well as their maintenance and travel, and let us see how they can do. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Giriraja **Date:** October 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bombay My Dear Giriraja das: Please accept my blessings. Gargamuni Swami has returned with copies of letters from the BMC architect, the Bandra Asst. Engineer, and the letter regarding the land acquisition. Regarding the property evaluation, I have already written you how we have paid Rs. 200/- per sq. yard. From the developed portion we are receiving income per annum of Rs. 18,000/- including the tax deductions. The current rate of interest for an investment is 10%, so the value for this portion is Rs. 1,80,000/-. For the entire land we have paid Rs. 14,50,00/-; so the value for the undeveloped portion is Rs. 12,70,000/- (for 6,000 sq. yards) or Rs. 200/- per sq. yard. If they are calculating the value at Rs. 130/- per sq. yard, then we have paid more than the market value, not less. Regarding the road, you must immediately install at the front of the road a permanent iron gate, like the one on the opposite property, with one dharwan or guard. This is very important and must be done immediately. No tenant will be allowed for any reason to park his car on any part of the road. You can make one parking place for their cars on the portion of land opposite the well next to the block where my old flat was where the during the pandal there was the kitchen. But, no trees should be torn down. The tenants can pay something for the parking facilities. You should also make a formal request for increasing the rent of all tenants for the cost of the internal road, otherwise where will the cost of the road come from? I think we can enhance the rent for road improvement. If necessary, you can engage one lawyer for doing all these things, if Mr. Asanani is not helping. Regarding the construction, you should immediately begin work on all four of the remaining flats. The work must begin whether you have got sufficient cement or bricks. If you have to lay only one brick, then do that. I may be coming there next week, so you can prepare for that. Regarding distributing the books to all centers, they must pay for whatever they order, even if they order less. If they do not pay cash, then do not fill the order. Regarding their old debts, let them pay whatever they can. But, for what they order, they must pay for. You can ship them whatever way, transporter or whatnot, but it must be COD.I understand that Manasvi has returned, but he should not be given any responsibility, nothing. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gopala Krsna **Date:** April 27th 1974 — **Location:** Tirupati > Brooklyn My Dear Gopala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of April 15, 1974 and I have noted the contents. Regarding the $1,200 you have saved for contribution. You may send it to the Head Office of the Punjab National Bank, Parliamentary St., New Delhi, advising them to immediately transfer the exchange in rupees to their Vrindaban branch, in the name of the ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust Account number 668 current account. I will personally see that it is spent in the best way. I am asking Pradyumna to send you a list of Vaisnava functions which you can give to the Indians who are inquiring about it at the New York temple. Other than the bona fide Vaisnava functions we cannot divert our devotees' attention to such participation in so called religious functions. This has spoiled the Hindu religion into a hodge podge pseudo religion. For advancement in Krsna Consciousness we should simply concentrate on Krsna; therefore we can help them but the function has to be in connection with Krsna. There is no question of a devotee becoming a sudra if he does certain work. No, a devotee is never a sudra. He is transcendental. Because their activity is done in transcendental loving service unto the Lord, it is all on the transcendental plane, brahma bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. You should not quit your present job, it is good service to Krsna. Although you may be working hard, you are always working for Krsna; so do not be confused about your position and never forget Krsna in any circumstances. Your father came to see me recently in Bombay. He talked with me for hours and took prasadam and enjoyed. He looks strong and healthy and I think he is now cured. Henceforward you can send all contribution to the above trust fund. I know you are doing your work for Krishna, so continue it, and send me information on how you are doing. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gopala Krsna **Date:** November 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Gopala Krishna das: Please accept my blessings. I have read your letter dated November 21, 1974 addressed to Brahmananda Swami with enclosed picture from "Back to Godhead." Even they have changed her face, still it was not possible to hide the fact that she is old, like great grandmother. Because you are a devotee you could not tolerate the nonsense. You are a very good boy. I know that whatever money you have left over from maintaining your family, you give that to the Society. You do not even keep anything for yourself. This is very good. It is very good that you are still trying for a new building. It is long overdue. Why not the same Park Avenue building if it is available? I think that if you all try, it will not be difficult to obtain the required money to obtain it. You have marked that she bought a Toyota car with temple funds, so how could she be a Toyota. You have used your common sense. She wanted to hide herself in so many ways, just like this picture, but she could not. Bali Mardan says that taking milk is also the same as eating meat, therefore you can eat meat. Therefore does it mean that because what I eat all turns to stool, then I should eat stool? If everything I eat turns to stool, does it mean I should eat stool? Is this sound logic? He was a sincere boy, but he has fallen down by bad association. Still I can rectify both of them, provided they agree. If possible send me his address. I want to write to him. I asked him to correct himself, not to leave. Anyway if he agrees he can be corrected. Jagai agreed to the terms of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and was corrected by the Lord. I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gopala Krsna **Date:** December 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear Gopala Krishna das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated December 16th and 21st, 1974 and have noted the contents. The only thing I am thinking is that you are getting good money to be used for Krishna. So anyway, if you look after Spiritual Sky business, I have no objection. Hansadutta is here and I have discussed with him. I have given the decision over to the GBC men. Whatever they decide, I shall accept. Regarding Gurudasa, he is in L.A. and has engaged himself in preaching work, so I have advised him separately. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Gopijanavallabha **Date:** April 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn Dear Gopijanavallabha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 3, 1974. The names submitted by you for initiation of devotees in our New York temple are duly accepted by me. The spiritual names of my new disciples are as follows: Charles Schisler—Caturvyuha dasaEdward D. Schindler—Indriyesa dasaHumberto Colonia—Hunkara dasaJoe Fairbank—Janesvara dasaNick D'Angelo—Nirantara dasaPeter Drivas—Preraka dasaWalter Bryant—Uttariyadhara dasaWayne Boyd—Vipramukhya dasaRoy Edwards—Ramabhadra dasaNow so many new devotees have to be carefully kept and instructed so from the beginning they chant 16 rounds daily without fail and always keep the four prohibitive principles very strictly. The GBC man, Bali Mardan may chant on their beads and you may hold a fire yajna in the temple. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gopijanavallabha **Date:** September 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Brooklyn My Dear Gopijanavallabha dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 30, 1974 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I am initiating the following disciples. You must see that they strictly follow the regulative principles, the four prohibitions as well as the devotional practices of arising early, taking morning bath, putting on tilaka, attending mangal arati, chanting japa 16 rounds, and attending Srimad Bhagavatam class. This is the duty of all my initiated disciples, whether they are big or they are small. Actually in our movement there is no such thing as big or small. Everyone is a devotee. So everyone is expected to follow the devotional practices. Here in Vrindaban I am enjoying my disciples how they are speaking. So two times daily everyone must attend the classes. During the morning and evening times there should be no business, simply kirtana, chant, dance, and be purified. Do not be paramahamsa that now I haven't got to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Don't be a better paramahamsa than your Guru Maharaja. I go and sit and I enjoy the lectures and how they are performing kirtana. So as I am doing, you must also do. Everyone can become a first class speaker. Simply cram the purports of my books. The references are there, the philosophy is there. Everything is there. So if you do it, everyone will be pleased with your speaking. The names are: Avritt Brown (Alankara das); Conrad Joseph (Kundali das); Edward Kelly (Adarsi dasa); Richard Masla (Rasatala dasa); William Oliveres (Viprahita dasa); Glenn Covin (Gunabhrt dasa); Luis Martinez (Lokasaksi dasa); Andrea Martinez (Atapatrini devi dasi); Inge Graves (Isa devi dasi)I am also accepting upon your recommendation Rasaraj and Indriyesa das as twice initiated brahmanas. Enclosed are the sanctified threads and a mantra sheet. See that they and all brahmanas say the gayatri mantra three times daily. So hold a fire sacrifice and let them hear the mantra from my tape recording through the right ear. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gopijanavallabha **Date:** December 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Gopijanavallabha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 1, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Regarding the abhiseka ceremony, actually it is to be done. There were mlecchas activities. But it does not required to be done because hari nama is going on, but if it is done for the general satisfaction, it will be better. It is Krsna's mercy how easily they were purged out, otherwise it was reported that they were creating a very dangerous situation. Regarding the discounts from BBT, that may be stopped. You should receive books at the regular temple price. Then when there is the necessity of money the BBT will supply for purchasing the house. No further discount is required. I am simply surprised how Bali Mardan became so influenced. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gopijanavallabha **Date:** December 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Gopijanavallabha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 27, 1974 and have also seen your letter addressed to Brahmananda Swami dated November 21, 1974. I never said that what Taitiriya was doing should be overlooked because of getting the buildings. Anyway where are the buildings? Bali Mardan says he will know who she is in the next 8 weeks, so just see he has made her pregnant twice, thrice, and he does not know who she is? I was tolerating because she was to give the buildings. Bali Mardan said she was this and that, and so I believed. Anyway somehow or other they are out. This is nice. So you all have acted very sensibly. So go on with your Krishna consciousness business. Rupanuga and Kirtanananda Swami I understand are going there, so organize things nicely. We shall try to save Bali Mardan from this fall down. He is a good boy, but he has been mislead. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- What about getting a new building there? This I want ### Letter to Gopijanavallabha **Date:** December 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear Gopijanavallabha, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Nov. 24, 1974 which was sent to Hong Kong. I think by this time all of your questions in your letter have been answered. I am very anxious to get that building in New York City. Rupanuga has given photographs as well as floor plans in his most recent letter. I like it very much, so I want you to immediately take it. As far as the $300,000 down payment I don't think there will be any difficulty with that. Keep me informed on this matter as the negotiation has already begun. So you along with Rupanuga keep the atmosphere there very pure by holding regular classes, having morning and evening arati and kirtana programs and ensuring that everyone chants their 16 rounds and follows the four regulative principles without fail. And try to increase my book distribution as much as possible. I hope this meets you all in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Gopijanavallabha **Date:** December 27th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay BrooklynMy dear GopijanavallabhaPlease accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegrams dated the 23rd and 24th of December and have noted the contents which reads as follows "WE WOULD LIKE TO INTIMATE THE FOLLOWING QUALIFIED DEVOTEES FOR ABHISEKA CEREMONY JANUARY 1 DOUGLAS CURRIE FRANK NATALI GABRIEL FRIED BHARAT JAGERNAUTH ORVILLE GRIFFITH PAUL HERSHEY TAB MATTLER KAREN SILVERSTEIN KATHY MCGUIRE PAULA GENSTSCH FOR SECOND BHADRA SEN LOKA MANGALA SADACARA TIRTHAPADA ALARKA DUKHAHANTRI HARANETRANI THEY HAVE ALL WRITTEN NICE PAPERS RUPANUGA CAN CHANT BEADS IF PRABHUPADA AUTHORIZES PLEASE WIRE NAMES AND AUTHORITY FOR 7 BRAHMANAS CAN ALL INTIMATED DISCIPLES POUR WATER ON SMALL DEITIES AT ABHISEKA AS IN LA YOUR SERVANT GOPIJANA BALLAVA DAS" "PLEASE INCLUDE BHUMI DASI AND MATSYA DAS FOR SECOND INITIATION GOPIJANA BALAVA DAS."I have answered your telegram also by telegram but I am confirming with this letter and also enclosing threads and mantra sheets for the second initiations. I have accepted as initiated disciples for first initiation the following; Douglas Currie—Darpaha, Frank Natali—Pravartaka, Gabriel Fried—Gopisa, Bharata Jagernauth—Bhtadi, Orville Griffith,—Arcita, Paul Hershey—Paramaradhya, Tab Mattler—Taraka, Karen Silverstein—Kamra, devi, Kathy McGuire—Kamalini devi, Paula Genstsch—Parasakti devi. Their beads should be chanted on by a sannyasi preferably Kirtanananda Swami if he has not already done so. I have accepted the following for second initiation Bhadra Sen, Loka Mangala, Sadacara, Tirthapada, Alarka, Dukhahantri, and Haranetrani. Also Bhumi dasi and Matsya das. I hope everything is going nicely there. Always keep yourself engaged in Krsna's service and maya will never attack. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Gosainji **Date:** July 15th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Vrindaban My dear Gosainji: Please accept my dandabats and my love for your children and grandchildren and my regards for Ma-gosaini. So I am reaching Vrindaban by the 26th of July, and at that time Panchu may see me and we shall settle up the things so that he can begin his work from the first of August. We wish to hold a grand festival of the opening of Krishna Balarama temple at Raman Reti. There will be seven days function, and the arrangement has been made that anyone who visits our temple may be supplied with sumptuous prasadam both kachi and pakki. So let Panchu take over this plan and when we meet we shall arrange this plan. Further when we meet at Vrindaban. With regards, I beg to remain, Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** March 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Chicago Dear Govinda das, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotees recommended by you for first initiation, and their spiritual names are as follows. Miriam—Mekhala devi dasiLinda—Lalana devi dasiRon—Ranganatha dasaRuth—Ruci devi dasiHave their beads chanted on by Jagadisa Prabhu. Our whole Krsna Consciousness rests on following the regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds at least, daily and without fail, and avoiding the four sinful activities. Without following the regulative principles, so called devotional service is simply a disturbance. So be sure to always take care of the devotees in your charge in this respect. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** April 30th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Honolulu Dear Govinda dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your very long letter and descriptive behavior of Gaurasundara. I have received also a telegram from Sudama das Goswami that the land is already in possession by Sudama on behalf of the Society. On the whole, I see Gaurasundara as a victim of a woman. Anyone who becomes a victim of woman, his falldown is inevitable. In our society the girls and boys mix, intermingle together and this is practically impossible to stop because you western people are accustomed to the habit. Sometimes my Godbrothers criticize me for intermingling of girls and boys. But there is no way out of it—you girls and boys will mix even if I say so they cannot avoid it. They sit separately in the temple and then outside mix again. So this was not possible from the beginning. Therefore I get the boys and girls married. But nature is so strong that in spite of being married they are attracted to the opposite sex. These things can be avoided when one is very much advanced in Krsna Consciousness. Krsna's Name is Madan Mohan, the conqueror of lusty desires, or the cupid. Unless one is very much attracted with Krsna one cannot give up or avoid attraction of Cupid. Those who are fixed in chanting Hare Krsna Mantra and always reading the books and following the regulative principles they can be saved. Otherwise, there is no question of being saved from the clutches of Maya. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14].To you my advice is, because you are very intelligent and educated girl, you forget your relationship with Gaurasundara. Now you become mixed up in Krsna business and live like a chaste Hindu widow woman. There are many ideal young Hindu widows who do not dress nicely at all, do not comb the hair, and who take bath three times daily in the Ganges, wear white sari and are engaged 24 hours a day in chanting Hare Krsna Mantra. The vivid example is Visnupriya devi, Lord Caitanya's wife. When Lord Caitanya left home accepting the renounced order of life, sannyasa, at that time Visnupriya was on the summit of youth, 16 years old, but when her husband became sannyasi she also became greater than sannyasa. She was chanting her rounds on the beads and after one round she was collecting one grain of rice. In this way all day and night, as many rounds as she could finish, that many grains she would cook and eat. Just she how much austerity she underwent! Visnupriya is the incarnation of the Goddess of Fortune but to teach us how much austerity and penance she underwent, I think you should follow the footsteps of Srimati Visnupriya. You have good writing capacity, and good artistic ability. Now devote your life to chanting Hare Krsna and if possible write articles on Krsna Consciousness, as many as possible with your own paintings and send it for publication to BTG. Forget this nonsense Gaurasundara. These are all material relationships and have nothing to do with spiritual advancement. Engage your life fully for Krsna Consciousness. Only chant Hare Krsna Mantra day and night, read books and expressing the philosophy in your own words write articles for publishing in BTG. Don't bother anymore with rascals like Gaurasundara or anyone else. Take Krsna as your Supreme Protector and Krsna will help you in all respects. Practice this prescription and you will be happy eternally. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Govinda **Date:** May 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Evanston, Illinois My dear Govinda Das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 30, 1974 and have observed the contents. The enclosed newspaper story, "Krishna followers freed from police harassment," is just further testimony of the great victory made by Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Chicago. I understand that the Chicago area is the most lucrative place in the world for distribution of our books and that you have done very careful work in getting all permission. Therefore this rumor that within a few years there will be police repression and people will have no more money to buy books and sankirtana will stop is completely bogus. Whoever told you that is a rascal, saying it in my name. I never said that. Rather sankirtana movement will expand, continuing so long as we are sincere. When I came in the beginning I began to expand it and it is now going on and there is no question of it stopping. Therefore go on with your life time plans making secure in distributing of books. There is no cessation. This movement is eternal. It is very wonderful news that you have permission to hold Rathayatra downtown on the main street on Saturday, July 6 and tens of thousands of people will view the cart. I have been invited to attend the Rathayatra in San Francisco which is July 8. So I am hoping also I will stop in Chicago on my way to San Francisco and observe the festival with you. I will inform you further regarding sending us plane tickets, when our European tour is more fixed up. We can discuss further your plans for securing a new building when I come there. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Guptaji **Date:** February 7th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Calcutta My dear Guptaji: Please accept my blessings. Sometime back, in your letter dated 23 September, 1973, you wrote as follows, regarding the front portion of our Vrindaban temple land given in charity by Geeta bai, wife of Kasiramji Saraf:"Sri Nandalal Saraf has already arrived and visited our temple. I introduced him to Swami Gargamuni Maharaja. We discussed with him for the donation and transfer of land at Vrindaban. He said that sometime back he has already replied a letter to Vrindaban that you can utilize the land in the manner you want. you can take it into construction."Now as we are very much eager to utilize this land as a nice front entrance, so I sent one telegram to Kasiramji Saraf, as follows:"Hare Krsna Prabhupada now in Vrindaban until the 13rd. Now settle up front piece of land as promised."I received one telegram from him, reading:"Front part of land will be used for other purposes, as decided earlier. Letter follows."This statement of Kasiramji has given me much concern. He said personally to me that under dictation of Srimate Radharani he has given the land to us in charity. We have invested already lacs of rupees for constructing a temple, and now if he uses the front portion for other purposes there will be great damage to the view of the temple. As for your letter under reference, you said Nandalalji gave us permission to use the land as we like, but still we waited for final decision. But this is the position. Will you kindly see Mr. Nandalalji, brother of Kasiraj and settle this up so we can go on in our progressive construction work. Kindly treat this as very urgent and reply to us at our Bombay Center because I am going there on the 13rd. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gurudas Prabhu **Date:** October 14th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > _E1 Dear Gurudas Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances. Your letter to Srila Prabhupad dated October 3, 1974 in transit has been received. Srila Prabhupad affirms that he never gave you permission to leave India, but only to leave Vrindaban. You left without informing me of you intentions. Now you are asking for him to write a letter so you can collect money. But what about the monies you have already received? Where is the account? So far I know you have received from Murtidas Dollars 4,000.00; from Nanda Kumar 1700.00; from Srila Prabhupad before he left India Rs. 60,000/-, and from Karandhar Rs. 40,000/-. You must present the account of how these monies were spent before getting any facility for collecting additional funds. As GBC I must request you not to try to collect any money until you account for this money. What is the need of your going outside of India to collect? Ample money is already coming without your having to go, and Srila Prabhupad has taken responsibility for providing funds whatever you need himself. He wanted you to stay in Vrindaban and manage there. Why have you left? I hope this meets you in good health. Your servantBrahmananda SwamiPersonal Secretary, GBC-/bsApproved: ACBS ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** January 4th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Vrndavana My dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. Regarding Vrindaban affairs I have written one letter to Tejiyas a copy of which is enclosed. I am coming soon to see that the Vrindaban construction is finished by Janmastami. I will take care of the necessary funds. In the meantime, do the needful now to purchase all the materials. I have received a letter from Bishan Candra Seth requesting to advance his brother Mr. Kapoor up to 5,000 Rupees but I am replying him that he may be advanced 1,000 Rupees to be returned at the rate of 50 Rupees per month from his salary. Besides that I wrote you one letter regarding my account in the Punjab National Bank. I have not heard anything from you in this. A copy of the letter sent to you previously is enclosed herewith. Hope this finds you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** January 9th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 27, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding transfer of money from the U.S.A., I have somehow or other arranged to transfer about $20,000; $10,000 of this is for purchasing land with a view to maintaining our temples in Mayapur and Vrindaban, and $10,000 for completing Vrindaban temple. I have already sent $4,000 to Mayapur for purchasing land there and I am coming to India by February 1st with the money for Vrindaban construction. In the meantime you can purchase as much material as possible and as soon as I reach India by February 1st, I shall pay them immediately for their bills. I am thinking of coming to New Delhi so when we meet in New Delhi we can pay the bills for materials you have purchased. Most probably you will be purchasing in New Delhi. Temple construction must be finished by or before Janmastami. If you can finish my portion on or before my reaching India then I can personally go to Vrindaban and see what is the situation and how to manage. I can remain at Vrindaban through the month of February to estimate and supervise temple construction and then by the 1st of March I may go to Mayapur. The money sent by Tamala Krsna Goswami is given by Bhogilal Patel, and Giriraja told me that was his contribution for the temple. Never mind, you can employ all collections in India for the asrama, but the money I shall take will be devoted to finishing the temple. For finishing my quarters I don't think it will require more than Rs 5,000. Do the needful and I am coming with the required money. But what you have heard from Giriraja, some utopian 22 lacs, is not correct. So begin work immediately. Regarding starting a school in Vrindaban, we don't want any school for studying philosophy. Simply a school for teaching our members sanskrit and Hindi. Dr. Kapoor has expressed his inability to teach language, that's all right, for the time being we don't require any philosophical teacher. Start with Hari Goswami for teaching Hindi and Sanskrit. Regularly he can teach 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening. He can be paid a reasonable renumeration, maybe at least Rs 200 per month. He can be assisted by another teacher available in Vrindaban. I have noted down the Punjab National Bank Account number, 6112, and I thank you very much. Most probably, I will be leaving January 14th to Hawaii on my way to India. Our Hawaii address is as follows: ISKCON, 1578 Ala Aoloa Loop, Honolulu, Hawaii. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** January 17th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu > Vrindaban Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I was surprised that Tamala Krsna Goswami and you all are contemplating cancelling the Vrindaban touring of our devotees going to Mayapur. In my opinion it must be carried out. Just to give you help I am enclosing one letter to Sripada Radhika baba of Imlitala. Enclosed find one Bengali letter to deliver to him. He will introduce you to the son of our panda. I paid this man the sum of Rs 100 recently, so Radhika baba will introduce him and with his help just arrange the program of visiting Vrindaban. Thousands of people go to Vrindaban daily. They make the arrangement of visiting so many holy places. Arrangement should be made. If we have no place, still there is no scarcity of place in Vrindaban. There are hundreds of dharmasala. The panda will arrange for the dharmasala for three days, namely the 12th, 13rd and 14th. The pilgrims shall stay there for 3 days. Buses should be engaged to take the devotees one day to Govardhana and Radhakunda, Nandagram and Barsana. The other day, Dauji and another day to some other places. From dharmasala the buses will take the devotees to visiting places and then come back to their respective dharmasala. If there is a little inconvenience, still the devotees must visit Vrindaban. In Mathura there are dharmasalas of Krsna-janma-bhumi and Jaya Dayal Dalmia constructed just for foreigners. Arrangement should be made with the help of the panda. This touring will enhance our prestige for the Krsna Consciousness movement. People will appreciate devotees from foreign countries visiting Vrindaban. It will attract the attention of the Tourist Department of government. Immediately, Tamala Krsna Maharaja and Gurudasa, you must arrange, with the help of the panda. The party can not only be headed by our leaders, but with the help of Indian assistants like Caitya-guru, Sacidulal. Arrangement must be made like that. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgc.c. --- Tamala Krsna Goswami, Gargamuni Swami ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** January 19th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. Please find enclosed a copy of a letter to the Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban Branch, and a copy of the transfer advice of $100,000 from the Security Pacific National Bank. On receipt of this kindly see the manager of the Punjab National Bank in Vrindaban and see if they have done the needful. I am reaching New Delhi airport February 3rd, at 4:30 A.M. on Pan American flight number 1. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgEnclosures: --- a) copy of letter to Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban Branchb) True Copy, money order transfer ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** April 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I have not heard from you in some time and I am eager to hear a report on construction of Krishna Balarama Temple. Have you obtained the marbles slabs, are they being set in? Please let me know how things are going on by sending a report to me in Bombay. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** April 24th 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Vrindaban Dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 21, 1974, and I have examined the contents. Regarding you report on construction progress I am glad to hear the building is roofed, however what about the backside residential quarters? Please give me up to date information on all phases on the construction. As for the purchase of a car for Vrindaban, we shall first finish the construction and then we can think of the car. I have received a letter from Tejyas on the same day as yours. I am sending him the checks he has requested for construction, but he has requested one check for "Lalita Prasad", for Rupee 3,000 which you say is a down payment for four sets of clothes for the deity. But we cannot pay for these dresses. It was already agreed that you and Yamuna would collect separately for the deities, not that it would come out of the construction fund, but now you and Tejyas are requesting it come out of construction. Besides that, why go to the tailor? Lalita Prasad charges extraordinarily. We don't want to go to them. Whatever our devotees can make, that is all right. Have you already contracted from them? This check cannot be issued neither is it our plan to pay from construction for the deities. Where is the money you collected for this purpose? When you next meet Dr. Kapoor offer him my respectful obeisances. I am sure Viswambar Goswami is educated, and advanced in judgement and I am pleased he is not disturbed. But Dr. Kapoor can expose Purusottam goswami about his deal with the late Puri Goswami of the Gaudiya Math. If the mystery of his acquiring 50,000 rupees of books from Puri is exposed then his so called leadership will come to an end. He knows better than I and you can ask him about Purusottam Goswami's acquiring books from Puri—which is a mystery not yet disclosed, but every Gaudiya mission man knows the incident. Your idea to have Hari Goswami conduct a deity worship class starting July 1st is a good, welcome idea. One defect in Hari Goswami is that although he wants to cooperate he wants to keep himself a little aloof as a goswami. I wish that he should mix with us with open mind, without reservation. Sometimes he hesitates to accept prasadam from us and he likes to cook for himself. If he desires to cook that means he keeps aloof. If he kindly teaches our men how to cook and worship the deity and he also takes prasadam along with us it will be a great achievement. Of course it depends on his discretion, but if he keeps aloof from us that is not very much desirable. As least he should come forward on the sastric injunction, arcya visnau siladhir gurusu naramatir vaisnave jati-buddhir. I do not think there is any difference in the method of deity worship he is teaching but you can also consult me. You ask me how to recruit strong devotees to come there. You have to prepare strong devotees, not import them. You yourself become strong devotees and teach others by your example. Importation is not a good plan; everyone should be strong by behavior and action. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** July 1st 1974 — **Location:** Melbourne > Vrindaban My dear Gurudasa, Please accept my blessings. I am spending my last two days in Australia and after this I shall go to the U.S.A. In the meantime, I wish to give you some instructions regarding our Janmastami installation in Vrindaban. The main thing is the ceremony shall be conducted by our own men. We do not have to be dependent on taking help from persons who will not even eat with us, thinking us inferior. All over the world, in Paris, New York, Australia etc., our men and women are worshiping the deity very nicely and I am very proud of their worship. There is no reason why we have to think we are dependent on any Indian goswami in order to conduct our ceremony in Vrindaban. So you understand this and be convinced of it, and let them come as invited but we shall conduct the affair ourselves. You can also arrange to have the Her Govinda dramatical players and our own players as well. There should be abundant prasadam for whoever comes all day long. The kitchen should go on. So see there is sufficient stock of rice, attar, ghee, etc. The life members should be especially cared for and invited. We shall manage our own affairs. If they come that is good but if not we shall manage. From our side everything should be done nicely. All big officers in Mathura and Vrindaban should be invited. Goswamis and godbrothers also. Also invite local Marwaris and invite Parthak also. Practically by distributing a general invitation card we shall invite everyone. All the inhabitants of Vrindaban will be invited to come and see the deity and take prasadam. There should be special arrangement for life members, Mr. Birla and many other respectable visitors. There is no question of money. Let it be a first class, 1-A arrangement. Krsna will provide all expenditures so try to make it gorgeous. Gorgeous means sufficient stock of prasadam and temple decorations as gorgeous as possible. The internal management of dressing can be done by Yamuna, Madira and Jayatirtha they are all expert. The sastric direction can be from Pradyumna. Furthermore, try to get the land if possible within one lac rupees. If he doesn't agree we don't mind we can see the other land. Also Mr. Jaya Purna of Karnapura came to see me, so invitation should be extended to him. Invite all local asramas and sannyasis as well. I do not hear of Pranava; I sent him a telegram but there is no reply. The whole management should be done combinedly. Do not fight amongst yourselves, as that is my only anxiety. I shall leave for Vrindaban by 25th July. In the meantime, reply to me at L.A. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Gurudasa **Date:** December 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Guru das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated, December 28th, 1974 and have noted the contents. You also organize a party like Tamala Krishna's and preach like that. I like that-more of preaching. If Yamuna has left you, why remain as grhastha? Better take sannyasa like Tamala Krishna Gosvami. I know Yamuna has Krishna in her heart. She'll not be spoiled, but let her have some temporary independence and be more Krishna Conscious. I am glad you have sent the money to India that you have collected. Now, you left Vrndavana on account of Yamuna, but she has left you there also, although you wanted to live with her. Anyway, try to forget all this material attachment and try to be attached to Krishna more and more. Actually, I want many parties like the party of Tamala Krishna and Visnujana, and they can preach all over—USA especially. So, Tamala Krishna has attained experience in this type of preaching work, so you also take advantage of this experience. If you like, you can stay with him for some time. If you can preach there, it is better that you remain in USA. Vrndavana will be managed somehow or other. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Gurudasa, Pranava **Date:** September 26th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta > Vrindaban My Dear Gurudasa and Pranava: Please accept my blessings. This is to request you to go see Sri Seth Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Churuwalla Thek, Swami Ghat, P.O. Mathura, U.P. He is the managing director of a large plot of land near Birla Mandir between Mathura and Vrindaban. He will give us 25 bighas at Mathura Gochar Bhumi as a concessional free gift. So immediately go and see the land, and if suitable then immediately take it. Do not be disturbed that it is a little far away from our temple. That we shall be able to manage, and it is not a problem. If you can manage this land nicely, they can give more. They want to see that the land is used for cow protection. The land is meant for this purpose. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- cc: Mr. N.K. Poddar, 34 Raja Santosh Road, Calcutta-27 This is to inform you that on October 5, 1974 one lakh will be transferred to Vrindaban so there will be no difficulty for purchasing the other land if the negotiations will be complete by then ### Letter to Gurukrpa **Date:** August 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Tokyo My Dear Gurukrpa Swami: Please accept my blessings. You have sent some money for Mayapur and Vrindaban projects and I am very much thankful to you. This money was properly utilized for development of the Mayapur and Vrindaban schemes. Now I am in Vrindaban, but you may have been informed that the opening ceremony has been postponed until the temple and asrama are completed. I would like to know how much money you have collected and how it was spent. Formally it was understood that money was paid to Dai Nippon and BBT paid to M-V Fund. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gurukrpa **Date:** September 1st 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Tokyo My Dear Gurukrpa Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 27, 1974 and have noted the contents. I note that you have remitted for M-V total of $185,807.00. You say that after this last payment to Dai Nippon, you will not be able to send any legal payment out of the country. But, Ramesvara has just written that after this payment you will be able to make all future payments to my account direct. Please clarify this. But, there are Indian merchants there who can help you. If they understand that we are using the money here to build temples, they will help. You must use your best judgement. What can I advise? Regarding the allurements of money and women, Krsna will protect you. Caitanya Mahaprabhu at a young age took sannyasa and Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was also thinking like you are thinking. So as a friend Sarvabhauma wanted to teach Caitanya Mahaprabhu Vedanta. The result was that Bhattacarya had to learn Vedanta from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and became his disciple. So Krsna is always strong. If you are fully engaged in Krsna's service attraction of women will be a myth only. It is only Krsna's grace. Of course we are old men now, but even old men they are attracted still by women. So even old man or young man, if one's mind is fixed up in Krsna's lotus feet, there will be no such mundane attraction. Even a woman in the dead of night with all attractive features could not affect even sligtly Haridasa Thakura. So it is a very pleasant job transcendentally. So much so that women and money is no attraction to a devotee. A devotee knows how to engage himself and others in the service of Krsna completely, as well as all the wealth of the world in the matter of propagating Krsna consciousness. Rest assured. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gurukrpa **Date:** September 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Tokyo My Dear Gurukrpa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I have received your request through Bhagavan das to initiate the following as twice initiated brahmanas. Upon your recommendation I accept them. Enclosed are the sanctified threads and the mantra sheet for Vamsivadana Suvasa das and Nischintya das. You can hold a fire sacrifice and they can hear the mantra from my tape recording through the right ear. They must chant the mantra three times daily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gurukrpa **Date:** October 17th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Tokyo My Dear Gurukrpa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 30, 1974 with enclosed Credit Note No. 125 from Dai Nippon for Dollars 39,474.73. I am very glad to receive it, and I thank you very much. My blessings are there for you in your collecting program. After all you are already Gurukrpa. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- After consultation with the Trustees of the Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust, it has been decided to appoint you as a Trustee. Please affirm your acceptance of this appointment. ACBS ### Letter to Gurukrpa **Date:** November 14th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Tokyo My Dear Gurukrpa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 5, 1974 and have noted with pleasure that you have paid DNP Dollars 100,000.00 since September last. Here in Bombay only Dollars 86,500.00 approximately has been received, so I am enquiring from Ramesvara. It is very good that some of the men have the missionary visas and that you are getting Japanese boys to join. You say that the Japanese are less intelligent, but when I was in Japan I saw that they were inclined towards this movement. If you deal with them nicely, they will come out very good devotees. Yes, in mid December I may go to Hawaii and I shall stop in Japan. I shall make two stops, Hong Kong and Japan. It does not matter that it will be cold. I do not think it will be colder than your Western countries in Europe and America. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gurukrpa **Date:** December 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Tokyo My Dear Gurukrpa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 26, 1974 and have noted the contents. The Credit Note from DNP for Dollars 60,338.98 was not enclosed however. Regarding how the money is being spent for Vrindaban project, I have written to Saurabha Prabhu for a report, but it has not yet come. As soon as it comes, I will reply you. You must be satisfied how the money is being spent. Why are you having immigration difficulty, when others have gotten the missionary visas you mentioned in your last letter? We have already got our tourist visas for Japan and will be coming soon. Regarding the preaching there in Japan, the Japanese people are giving money, even more than America; that is preaching. Somehow or other they are giving service to the Lord. This is wanted. Regarding the latest money mentioned above, it has not yet been transferred to India, and I am enquiring from Ramesvara. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Gurukrpa **Date:** December 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Tokyo My dear Gurukrpa Swami, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated December 20th and 22nd, 1974 and have noted the contents. Also I have received one Credit note no. 134 from Dai Nippon for the amount of 63,752.54 in US dollars. You take this project in Hawaii. Brahmananda Svami is there, so talk with him about it. It will be nice if you make your headquarters in Hawaii. You go sometimes to Tokyo and again come back. If there is any US bank (I think there is one Liberty Bank), you can remit through their Hawaii branch. I have got an account at that Liberty Bank in Hawaii. After you give that 100,000 dollars to Ramesvara on Jan. 10th, then you can send money to Hawaii. Until then, the money should come to India. We require it here. The Liberty Bank pass book is with Jayatirtha. You can open an account, HONOLULU TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION account.*Also regarding sending money out of Japan, you can find some firm in Japan who has to take payment in USA and the matter will be solved. Many Japanese goods are sent to USA. So, payment can be exchanged exactly like with Dai Nippon. If you can take attention as much as possible in Hong Kong, that is very good. Regarding your trip to USA, you'll get men, as many as you require. So far as Central and South America is concerned, that is Hrdayananda's jurisdiction. Regarding Ganesa Puja, I have received some letters from persons requesting to also perform it. I have explained to them that ultimately it is not required, but if you have some sentiment to get the blessings of Ganesa in order to get huge sums of money for service of Krishna, then it can be done, but privately. I have instructed them that if they want to do it, they must send me at least 100,000 dollars monthly—not less. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps --- *The Japanese bank pays dollars in exchange of yen. I _ __ ### Letter to Haihaya **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Rome My Dear Haihaya das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 7, 1974 and was glad to hear from you. So I want you to organize Rome temple for the time being. When you train up someone and produce sufficient literatures in the Italian language, then you go to the Spanish speaking countries. We have got a few books in Spanish language, and they are selling them in south America. I look forward to seeing the Italian Sri Isopanisad. In France they have now published. There is very good scope in Europe for this Sankirtana movement. If you just spread this chanting in Europe, then it becomes Vaikuntha. Side by side push on the literature distribution as far as possible. This should be done very vigorously, and you will have great success there. My guru maharaj was always very pleased when even a small pamphlet was distributed. So I thank you for your assisting me in this mission to fulfill the order of my guru maharaj. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** November 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > West Germany My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 11, 1974 and also the new German books KRSNA, TLC, and LIFE FROM LIFE, and also the record "Krsna Meditation." I thank you very much. It is all very nice. May Krsna bless you with more and more publishing work. I am always thinking of your Frankfurt Schloss center. The songs which I have recorded there I have heard today on the record, and they are very nice, especially the "Prayers to the Six Goswamis." It has come out very successful on the whole. I hope the German people will like the Bengali tunes. What is the report of how they are selling? Whenever you call me for coming there I shall come. Never quit the Frankfurt palace. It is very nicely situated, in a open place. The landlord is a good gentleman, so keep good relations with him and his wife. The report that the newly published books are all selling like mad is very, very encouraging. Now publish more books. Make more translations. You have not yet published Bhagavatam and also Krsna Book Second Part. Is this translated or not? And what about "Leben Kommt Von Leben?" Are they also selling? I have never studied science, but I am challenging them. They may take me as crazy, but I am not crazy. I am right. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** November 14th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Taunus, West Germany My Dear Hansadutta dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 5, 1974 with enclosed clipping. Yes, I have received the new books and have already written to you my thanks. You are appreciating the chastisement of your spiritual master, and Krishna will bless you by this appreciation. What six books have you given to the printer? This further publication of books means that you go further to Krishna six steps more. Your news of more publishing after seeing the newly published books is very happy news for me. Thank you. Overflood Europe with German books. I think that the German people are the heart of Europe, and your march will be followed by Bhagavan dasa in French language. Regarding publishing the Life from Life in English it should be grammatically correct because it is written book. Yes, it will be very good if you publish a book of lectures. Regarding going to New York, oh yes, certainly you can go. I have telegrammed Bali Mardan to come here but not yet received any reply. I understand from Nitai that if another man can be sent; he mentions Jagannatha dasa; then work on Madhya Lila will be shortened by half and he can also help in the Srimad-Bhagavatam work now resumed after completing Caitanya Caritamrta. So it will be very helpful and convenient to have this boy. Now the transfer for the Food Relief is not enclosed in your letter. Did you send the copy or the original? It must be done by Registered P Sto payment immediately. When sending money, it must be done by Registered Post. A.D.Regarding the lectures of Patita Uddharana dasa that is very good. Somebody must speak, and he has taken the task, I am writing him in this connection. It should be encouraged. So you have Caitanya Caritamrta almost translated, achah! Thank you. You are pukkha BBT Trustee. You are business-like and sincere and assisted by your good wife. She is chaste and also sincere. You say that before meeting me you could not read or write, so this is all Krishna's grace. If He likes, he can make a crow into a peacock. That is His grace. Krishna consciousness is so valuable that it plays wonderful, and there are many instances within our society. Similarly I was a crow, and now they consider me a peacock. But, I was trying to be a peacock whenever there was the opportunity. I took the endeavor to publish the "Back to Godhead," but I wasted so much time. Ultimately Krishna saved me. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** November 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Taunus, West Germany My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 12, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the grazing land at Bhaktivedanta Manor, it is not very clear from your letter whether you have got the sales document or not. Whether it is at the Manor or not? How are these documents being kept? Mukunda cannot do this work of seeing George and negotiating with him. If possible you try to meet George and settle. You meet him, and neither Mukunda or anyone else should do it. Regarding your saying that Satsvarupa said I spoke something about some plan for distributing books in Russia, I never said anything. Regarding saligrama sila, forget it. There is no need of installing. Kirtana is most important thing and book distribution. Regarding my saying that Atreya Rsi is GBC of material affairs, yes, I said that. Regarding Bali Mardan, he came here, and I have asked him to live with me for some time. He will inform me at the end of December. So we have to wait to decide at the end of December. I hope this meets you in good health. Regarding the initiations, upon your recommendations I have accepted the following as my disciples and their names are as follows: Ulrike—Amsumala devi dasi; Sabine—Snata devi dasi; Joachim—Jalandhara dasa; Achim—Haraka dasa; Thomas—Taponidhi dasa; Beth—Visoka devi; Detlinde—Dinasarana devi; Ceamack—Candravalipati dasa; Marco—Mahakarta dasa. I also accept the following as twice born initiated brahmanas: Udvargha dasa; Ravinari dasa: Manidhara dasa; Modananlasa devi; Manimanjari devi; Manda devi; Ramburu devi; Silpakarini devi. The sanctified threads and mantra sheets are enclosed. Now hold a fire sacrifice, and the brahmanas may hear the gayatri mantra through the right ear from my recording tape. You are authorized to chant on the beads. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- cc: ISKCON New York Please do the needful regarding the enclosed letter from Mr. Patel ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** December 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Taunus My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 21, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding introducing the records in USA, yes, why not, but do not minimize the book selling. Better if a different party is engaged in record selling, so that the book selling may not be affected. Both book selling and record selling are good, but book selling is better and permanent. Record selling is temporary. It is very encouraging that you plan to publish one volume per month of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Regarding selling the books in Germany, if you want to hire people to sell books, yes, why not? It is due to the scarcity of men. So German people are not coming to join this movement? So far I have seen your German devotees, they are very enthusiastic and steady workers. So if you get some good souls to join, then there will be no difficulty for selling the books. So it doesn't matter if we are selling more or less, so far the publications are there. We may sell or not, but the books must be there. The present Das Hare Krsna Kochbuch is very nicely printed, especially the picture of Krsna and His friends eating. It is very glorious. We wish to join His party, but it requires great tapasya. For many, many lives these boys performed tapasya to join His party and eating with Him. I see that you are charging the equivalent of Dollars 4.00. Yes, they must pay. Regarding the interest of Miss Thakura, very good, that's nice. Keep friendship with her and introduce our books. Give her prasadam, and after all she is woman, flatter her. Then she will remain pleased, so keep her as friend. Regarding the new proposal for a farm, yes arrange for it. So make it another like our New Vrindaban. You have already named it Govardhana Hill. That's nice. If possible add Giri Govardhana Hill. How far is it from the Frankfurt center? As you have recommended for initiation Lisa Reuter and Willy, I have accepted them as my disciples. Their names are Lekhasravanti devi dasi and Bimbasya dasa. Please see to it that they chant on their beads and follow the regulative principles carefully. You are authorized to chant on their beads. I understand that the boy Jagannatha dasa will join the editing party in Hawaii. Thank you very much. Regarding the loan to Stockholm, yes, that's nice. They must return it again. Yes, we must invest our money in books and land, but no there will be no collapse as you have anticipated. Everything will be adjusted by the grace of Krsna. From my own experience I have seen when first class rice was selling at 8np. per kg, and now that is being sold at Rs. 8. That means that it is 64 times higher, but still people are eating, and the man who lives in care of the footpath he is also eating. So the man in care of the foothpath, and the man on the 30th floor of the sky scraper, they are living and still the inflation is going on. Man-made laws cannot work any rupture in Krsna's plan. Better let us remain now under Krsna's shelter fully dependent, and we shall remain unaffected by all the man-made difficulties. So concentrate on publishing books as far as possible, and sell, and spend the money accordingly. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated: sa gunam samatityaitan/ brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26] The devotee is transcendental to the material modes. On the whole I am very much pleased with your publishing extensively in the German language. It has given me great pleasure. One thing, for our books the words "Bhaktivedanta Book Trust" must appear on the spine of the jacket. Formally it was being done, and now it has been stopped. These things should always be there. I have seen it on the latest Bhagavatams. Regarding the DM 5,000 transfer, yes that has been received and sent to Calcutta for Mayapur Prasadam Pavilion. So for transferring money we have opened new accounts so from New York money can be sent through First National City Bank to their Bombay Branch in favor of International Society for Krishna Consciousness Mayapur Vrindaban Fund A/c No. 17168; and from Los Angeles they can send through Bank of America to their Bombay Fort Branch also in favor of International Society for Krishna Consciousness Mayapur Vrindaban Fund A/C No. 16026.Karandhara is no longer BBT Trustee, so his name can be removed from the accounts and your signature can be added. Bali Mardan is on the marginal stage. Things will be decided when I go to Hawaii. It is my opinion that he has fallen victim to the woman. Maya is very strong, but if we try to save him by our combined efforts, because he is a good asset. So I am trying to save him from the victimization. It is also my opinion not to move the Press to L.A. but keep it in N.Y. Removal is not my opinion. It will be very much expensive and not much improvement. Yes, make the management nice. Yes, also send some responsible Englishmen here to India who will not have the visa problem. Regarding purchasing the Schloss, yes I like that Schloss. Does the price include the adjoining lands or not? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- N.Y., W. Ger ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** December 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 27, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. If there is a possibility of moving the Press within a year, then you may not move the Press now. It will be a unnecessary expense. Rupanuga's letter in this connection is not yet received. Yes, New York needs a big house. I am not expert in giving my opinion in this matter, so you three, Ramesvara, Radhavallabha, and yourself consider and do what is best. Regarding the couple Lisa and Will, upon your recommendation I can accept them as disciples, but other business of purchasing the farm that I cannot tax my brain. Regarding the BBT and the Society corporation, yes I want this kind of umbrella corporation. But if there is any difficulty, we have got BBT already tax exempt in India. If there is difficulty in getting BBT tax exempt in USA then we have got it here. You say that the lawyer suggests that BBT be a satellite organ of ISKCON, but does that mean that BBT is separate from ISKCON or not? Ramesvara gives the hint that ISKCON may go into liquidation. I cannot think of it. But, anyway, I cannot at any cost risk BBT if ISKCON goes into liquidation. Why risk the BBT by amalgamating it into ISKCON? Therefore I want to keep BBT separate. Or there is no need of keeping a separate BBT account. The BBT is here in India. That BBT may or may not keep an office in Japan where the majority of the books are printed. The printer ships the books to, say, ISKCON LA, who can warehouse and distribute to other ISKCON centers. BBT India issues the advice what amount ISKCON LA has to pay the printer. And ISKCON LA pays 50% directly to the printer for goods received and 50% may be deposited in the ISKCON Mayapur Vrindaban Fund, to be used for temple construction or purchasing property. In this way there is no need of keeping any separate BBT account which may be taxable. And, ISKCON LA acts as the appointed agent of BBT India. So, if ISKCON LA goes into liquidation, BBT India will not be affected. If the agent goes into liquidation, does it mean that the supplier must also go into liquidation? So ISKCON LA receives goods and pays according to advice received from BBT India. Regarding the film making BBT has already financed the film, so the film is made, so let them sell it and finance other films. Continually it is not possible for BBT to finance. So let them sell and finance and make films. Regarding Spiritual sky becoming independent from ISKCON, that's all right. I have no objection. But whatever the owe to BBT must be repaid. We have already suggested that Spiritual Sky be separate, but all debts must be repaid to BBT.Regarding the bindery, yes, if it is losing concern, then it must be sold. Who has financed the money to purchase the bindery? And who has financed the purchase of the farm for New York? Yes, someone is definitely required for BBT in New York. We shall decide in our next GBC meeting. Regarding the new lawyer Mr. Whitehorn, what he has informed about the other lawyer Mr. Sherman, just see. But who knows if this present man is a competent lawyer? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- I have received reports from Madhavananda, Bhagavata das and others that the number of devotees at the Manor has decreased. This is not a good sign. Why has this happened? I am planning to reach Honolulu by December 20th ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** December 27th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I have just received one letter from Tamala Krishna Goswami which is very encouraging regarding his preaching program in the United States. He has requested to take a loan from BBT for $30,000 to purchase three more buses. I fully authorize this. Therefore please do the needful. Fifty percent of BBT funds ar for printing books and fifty percent are for construction of temples. So these buses are like temples, moving temples. Therefore you should give him the loan. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** December 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Hansadutta das, Please accept my blessings. Now, considering the European situation in a meeting between Myself, yourself and Bhagavan das, I think Madhavananda should become president of London and Prabhavisnu should become president of Amsterdam and you can arrange this. Regarding the grhasthas living in the temple, I have already discussed with you in detail, so do the needful. The principle is that we make propaganda for devotees to come. Don't ask any of them to go away. That is not our principle. So, make nice arrangement for all the devotees there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/pscc --- ; Madhavananda, Prabhavisnu ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** April 7th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hamburg Dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. From reports I have received it appears that affairs at Bhaktivedanta Manor and Bury Place London have deteriorated to the critical stage, and therefore I am asking you to go there immediately and see what can be done. Mukunda wrote that three brahmacaris recently left the Manor and in order to strengthen the sanmkirtana party he has asked Revatinandana Maharaja and his party to stay at Bhaktivedanta Manor, and also Prabhu Visnu. Madhavananda who is presently here in Bombay said that such keeping of the extra men at Bhaktivedanta Manor was not necessary, that things simply had to be better managed, and he felt Mukunda could not do it. Now I have received yet another report, from Puranjhan das Adhikari of Spiritual Sky England, and he reports that all help is needed and that a bill of 4,900 pounds on rent for Bury Place temple has just been presented, and he intimates that both London and Hertfordshire temples are in jeopardy spiritually and financially. Therefore, I am asking you to go there immediately, and try your best to rectify the situation. The devotees have also requested you to go, so they will trust in your decisions. I myself am planning to go to Paris by the second week of May, so at that time we can meet and discuss how best to run these affairs. If our temples cannot even be maintained then it is a great defect in our management of the society. Neither can I be expected to deal in these matters and also pay attention fully to the translating of my books. Between Mukunda and Madhavananda they are opposing camps and cannot cooperate, and Syamasundara is not even present. So go at once and do the needful. You may write to me at Bombay until the second week of May when I am leaving for Paris. At that time I intend to visit also Geneva, Rome and Sweden not staying for more than 4 or 5 days at each place, and then I will go to Germany and visit 3 or 4 cities. A Mr. Hans-Werner Erdman of D 8011 Baldham bei Munchen, Fichtenstrabe 11 visited me in Bombay and was very enthusiastic for my visiting Germany. He was wearing sikha and said he would make arrangement for my travel tickets and visiting prominent men. You can get in touch with him and if he is serious plan together my visit to Germany. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgN.B. --- Mr Erdman's phone is: Telefon Sammel-Nr 08106/8596 ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** April 21st 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report of April 11, 1974.Your activities in book publication and distribution in the German and other European languages is very engladdening to me. I am enclosing the latest letter I have received from Wolf Rottkay and I am glad you have been able to engage him; cultivate this man, he is an important elderly professor in a U.S. university and wants to be engaged in Krsna Consciousness. Your chart for reporting book and record distribution is approved by me, as from this chart I can quickly see how the centers are doing. Yes, by all means you may print my morning walk speaking about "Life comes from Life" into a small book; this argument should be spread, as any intelligent man will be convinced that our discussion is thoroughly scientific and exposes the so called materialistic scientists as rascals. So go on printing and distributing as many books as possible; this is your real work and your personal success. From you report of an hour long kirtana at Moscow Airport, I understand that the sankirtana movement has already begun there and now it will go on further. I am also enclosing the names of 13 new disciples recommended by your. This is the result of our preaching propaganda, when our family members increase. Now be very careful to see to the growth and protection of the devotional creeper of these new devotees in your charge. By now I hope you have received my telegram and letter sent to Hamburg advising you to go to Bhaktivedanta Manor for managing affairs there. There were so many letters and reports coming from Mukunda, Puranjana, Bhaja Hari, Prabhu Visnu and then contrary reports from Madhavananda and with Shayamasundar away affairs seem perilous. I hope you are able to settle things up in regard to the debt of the Bury St. temple and temple organization at the Manor. Now Shayamasundar has wired me that he will send tickets for myself and three secretaries for coming to London. I have asked him to send me tickets and I can leave India for London about May 1st. As I have already informed you I am going to Paris the second week of May and Bhagavan das is arranging for a tour of Geneva, Rome and Sweden. I may also visit cities in Germany if you will arrange for that. So when I arrive in London if Syamasundara sends tickets, or when I arrive in Paris, I shall discuss these matters further with you. Now we are in South India at Hyderabad and will visit the Balaji temple in Tirupati and then return to Bombay prepared to leave for London on May 1st. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgcopy --- to ISKCON Heidelberg ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** May 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 28, 1974 and I have noted the contents. There is no question of asking you to go away from Bhaktivedanta Manor. I have received word also from other sources that the situation has improved since you have come there. I have sent a detailed letter to Mukunda and this explains my desire. So I am going to Europe, due to arrive in Rome on May 23rd. Until then, you must remain there and manage. When I go to Europe we will hold a joint meeting, and decide what to do. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** May 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 9th from Bhaktivedanta Manor as well as your letter May 6th from Holland. I am going on May 17th to Vrindaban, to take a last look at the construction before going to Europe, and I may also buy a piece of land in Vrindaban. Then according to the itinerary given us by Bhagavan das we are leaving the 23rd May to arrive on the same day in Rome, Italy. On the 24th and 25th there is a Hare Krishna Festival in Rome, and we will stay there until the 30th when we are to go to Geneva for another festival and for meetings with the World Health Council. Then on June 6th we are scheduled to arrive in Paris, France and there are meetings there all week. Thereafter, on your invitation I will go to Amsterdam on the 15th of June and on the 22nd go to Koln, and then Heidelberg and Sweden. My plan is to attend the Rathayatra ceremony in Chicago in the U.S. on the 6th of July and then the Ratha Yatra in San Francisco on July 8th. So I will have to leave Europe by the 5th July or 6th July. That means I will not visit London on this tour. After San Francisco, I will travel to visit Australia, stopping at Hawaii. And after Australia I will return to India in time for the Janmastami celebration which is on August 9th. After the celebrations in Vrindaban, I will be free to visit England and the U.S. So these are my elaborate travel plans, and we shall see what Krsna desires. Having received your reports and Puranjana's report of May 7th I feel that the situation in London and Bhaktivedanta Manor is well under control. So there does not seem an immediate need for me to go there. What do you think? Another thing, is that we have received a serious criticism that one of our very important Indian life members, Mr. Brij Mohon, M.P. visited Bhaktivedanta Manor, and was refused entry. He even had a letter from Tejyas das introducing him. This has caused much concern and Gargamuni Swami is postponing his scheme to take life members on a tour of many of our centers, thinking the centers are not ready to receive guests. Please investigate this report of the turning away of a life member at the Manor and let me know. There should always be one or two rooms available for a life member. In your report you say 450 Indians visited on Sunday, so how could one Indian be turned away? Who turned him away? For yourself, you should continue GBC management of England and we can discuss further when we meet in Europe. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgCopy --- of the telegram sent to Syamasundara. c/o ISKCON N.Y.:"Tamala has gone to N.Y. to speak to you. When I was in Hyderabad Bal Krishna showed me many checks which were not cleared. If you have money why did you refer to George when asked by London temple? Hansadutta is liquidating Londons debts so how can I ask him to leave? Discuss the matter with Tamala and do the needful."A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** June 8th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Hansadutta, Please accept my blessings. Syamasundara has voluntarily suspended his responsibility as GBC and I am enclosing my letter to him in this regard. So you may continue as GBC. So I have asked Syamasundara to tell the others to cooperate and I am sure this will alleviate all party feeling. We have to keep Krsna always in the center, and then although there are disturbances and sometimes fall downs we will be able to work together and keep our society intact. Some people recommend that in the face of so many nasty thoughts which occur in material thinking, we should try to become "thoughtless", but this is never possible. Our Krishna Consciousness principle is not to become thoughtless but to purify the thinking to always thinking of Krishna. So try to spread and encourage this philosophy of thinking of Krsna, after thoroughly assimilating it yourself. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- N.B. I have accepted for initiation the devotees recommended by you and their new spiritual names are as follows: Matthew Norton—Manihara dasaAnn Norton—Amekhala devi dasiYou may chant on their beads. So we are awaiting your sending us plane tickets so we may leave on the 16th June for Frankfurt, Germany ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** September 7th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 10, 1974 forwarded from Bombay. The photo you have sent is a nice picture. I am getting it framed. So in Germany when I was there I was very, very hopeful. There is good scope for preaching Krsna consciousness there. The people there are very intelligent. They are prepared to accept the real truth. Germany was always famous for its intelligent population. You are also appropriately fit to push on this cult in Germany. It will be a great success. Get the German people to take this movement seriously. Utilize the money you are collecting there for printing more and more books in German language, and profusely distribute our books in German language. I am very pleased that you are printing in German the books you have mentioned. Regarding the farm, the exhibition is there in New Vrindaban. Kirtanananda Maharaja has organized very nicely. The same principle you can follow and organize it in Germany. Let the people be happy with self sufficient food grown in the field with milk products. When I was in Frankfurt round our place I was so happy to see the farms and the cows. Unfortunately they will kill the cows. So if we organize a farm without killing any cows, that will be a great example in that country. Instead of killing cows, if we let them live, we can get so many nutritious foodstuffs filled with vitamins. I have seen in New Vrindaban how happily our devotees are living there with fresh air, fresh vegetables, and ample milk. Simple living in cottages. What you want more? We should not neglect the upkeep of the body, and we should save time to chant Hare Krsna. This mission should be propagated. Save time and chant Hare Krsna. Now you publish in German language all our books and distribute. Krsna will help you in every respect. The BBT collection should be spent 50% for publishing and 50% for construction of temples. At the present moment the Mayapur-Vrindaban projects are going on, so as soon as there is an excess of money it should be utilized here. Not a single farthing should be invested in any business enterprise. Formally it was so done without any sanction. So be careful. Regarding printing, you can print in U.S.A. or any other country. U.K. also has big presses, I have heard that Belgium is also good. Also Holland, and Germany is also good. Try to revive the Ratha Yatra next year in London. Agree to follow all their instructions, but the ratha must move in procession as it was done previously. People enjoyed it, both European and Indian. Everyone enjoyed. Why there should be this restriction for public enjoyment? This is injustice both the Indian and European people. Regarding Madhavananda he will work more and more enthusiastically. Both husband and wife. Combined together they can do herculean task. And they are devotees also. He is good worker. Encourage him. It is nice that you are purchasing the houses in front of Bhaktivedanta Manor. Yes, have London pay BBT as much as possible. They owe a great amount. Regarding record albums, it is something sentimental. They will purchase and hear for sometime and throw it and purchase another. A book purchased will remain, and once even one line is read, that will benefit the reader. Regarding the printing, it does not matter where you print our German books. Never mind the cost whether it is a little more or less. Wherever it is convenient. We are not after profit. The important thing is good printing and binding so that the people will be impressed. A book sold rather than a record will be a solid sale. Regarding your trip to U.S.A. you say that you will be tactful and respectful in your dealings. That should be the motto of all GBC. Be tolerant, and if there is any deficiency, rectify it. All our men have volunteered good service, so the background is good will. So everything should be done on the basis of good will. Regarding transferring to ISKCON FOOD RELIEF, you can transfer to ISKCON American Express a/c # 3002, Bombay. When you transfer, be sure to notify them by letter what the money is for. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** September 12th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I have just now received some letters from London from Madhavananda and others brought by Paramahamsa Swami who was there. Regarding Madhavananda being the president, if he received the vote, why you have opposed? You must be impartial. My recommendation is that he must be the president. He has been chosen by the vote, and I am giving the casting vote for him. He is doing things very nicely there, so he must be the president. Prabha Visnu should go on Sankirtana, and Madhavananda should be president. Everything must go on. The women are doing nicely, so why are they being changed from the pujari to the Sankirtana? These things should be done by the President. These are internal things, and you should not interfere. I do not approve of your changing the women. It should be the choice of Madhavananda who should be the pujari. Why did you close Edinburgh without asking me? Paramahamsa reports that you have closed the Edinburgh temple. Edinburgh was doing nicely. You can't close a temple without asking me? Is this too much to do this? Our propaganda is opening temples, and you are closing them. We are not for closing but for increasing. I do not approve of this. If possible the Edinburgh temple must be re-opened again. If you close the temple, what is the management? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu pushed the Sankirtana movement, but He never said to close the Jagannatha temple or the Govindaji temple. In Edinburgh we had a nice house, why you have closed it? Why you have whimsically done this? If possible the Edinburgh temple must be re-opened. Don't do anything whimsically without consulting me. I made the GBC to give me relief, but if you do like this, then where is the relief. It is anxiety for me. This is the difficulty, that as soon as one gets power, he becomes whimsical and spoils everything. What can I do? If anything has to be changed, that can be decided at the annual GBC meeting, but not whimsically. I am not in favor of closing even a small temple. It is not a plaything to close a temple or to start a temple. When we open a temple we are inviting Krsna. So you can't say to Krsna, go away. You have no feeling what are the ideals of a temple. You should always consider that we have invited Lord Caitanya, Lord Jagannatha, and Radha Krsna, and if we close it, it is an insult. How can we call Them, and then say get out. We should always feel when we open a temple that the Deity is living and not dead stone or wood. It is a great offense. Before opening a temple it must be considered a hundred times, and after opening it cannot be closed. It must be maintained.arcye visnau siladhir gurusunara matir Vaisnave jati buddhih"One who considers the arca murti or worshipable Deity of Lord Visnu to be stone, the spiritual master to be an ordinary human being, and a Vaisnava to belong to a particular caste or creed, is possessed of hellish intelligence."If the Edinburgh house is still available, it must be re-opened. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Bhaktivedanta ManorResolution, 9 September, 1974 ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** September 29th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Frankfurt My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter from Los Angeles dated September 10, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding Bali Mardan we have decided to review the complaints and do the needful at the next GBC meeting. Bali Mardan came to me when I was in Vrndaban and he showed a tendency for retirement, because he knows there are so many complaints against him. Three or four times he said he would like to live in Vrindaban. So anyway he has given service to the Society, but when there are all GBC present they may consider the complaints and do the needful. But, so far I have studied, if all the GBC so desire, he can retire. Personally I wish all the existing GBC may be trained up so perfectly that in the future in my absence they can manage the whole Society very nicely and strongly. That is my desire. At least in this stage of my life it is not at all desirable that there be any factions amongst yourselves. Try to settle up amicably and correct yourself. One man is trained up with great difficulty especially in spiritual life. Everyone has got some weakness and deficiency. It is better to correct or mend it than to break it. It will be best to discuss this in an open meeting of the GBC and then do the needful. Regarding the booklet of appreciations, it is better to have the general appreciations than the individual prospectuses you have suggested. By reading one can estimate all the books such as Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, Nectar of Devotion, Krsna Books, etc. Regarding the International Publishing House under one roof, the principle of management is that everything will be managed by BBT. We have so many centers but the management is done by the GBC and myself. So what is the difficulty? It is a question of management, but not that all staff come together. Any big establishment has got different works and staff in different place. Recently I met one big manufacturer from Kannauj. He has got his factories in Orissa, Mysore, etc., but the whole thing is being managed from Kannauj. What is being manufactured in Orissa cannot be brought to Mysore. It is the capacity of management, but not that we bring everyone together. Regarding the closing of the temples, no temple can be closed for any reason. You have done a great mistake. I am sending you a copy of a letter I have written in this connection. We have to consider very carefully before opening a center, and once opened it cannot be closed. It is disastrous. What you have done is not at all allowed. I am very disappointed that you have done this. Even you did not consult me. Why? Now you want to purchase a farm, but can you manage? Why are you closing all the temples and then opening a farm? do you have sufficient men to maintain a farm? Why are you purchasing a farm? Regarding BBT lending Bhaktivedanta Manor dollars 25,000 for purchasing a house in Letchmore Heath, the BBT has no money, that is what I think. It is lending to Australia Dollars 100,000 and prepared to lend to Paris Dollars 100,000. I do not know that after lending this money there will be anything more. Lending for opening a temple is the business of BBT but not lending for residential quarters. Regarding the temples being mismanaged, these things will be discussed at the GBC meeting here. Yearly once or twice there should be a GBC meeting held to discuss all these intricate questions. This meeting can be held once in India and once in Europe or America in my presence. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** October 1st 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Frankfurt My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your two letters dated September 19 and one September 20 with enclosed copy of the money transfer to Bombay Central account. Regarding the election at Bhaktivedanta Manor, as you have suggested an election of all members present should be held to make a final selection. I have already suggested this to Mukunda. Another meeting should be held, and I have already asked Bhagavan das to be present, so there will be two GBC's and all members present. Out of the two candidates whoever is elected by the majority vote, may be the president. Regarding Edinburgh temple, yes it should be re-opened. I have already explained that once a temple is opened it cannot be closed. Before opening we must consider very carefully, Worship in the temple means to personally call Krsna, and He personally comes, therefore the arrangement must be there for the temple worship to go on nicely before opening any temple. In Vrindaban there are many dilapidated, important temples started by the Gosvamis, but still they are not closed. They are becoming debtor and debtor and the temple building is practically falling down, but still the Deity worship is going on somehow or other. This is the principle. Closing a temple we cannot do. It becomes a farce and is against the bhakti cult. Our principle must be to carefully consider before opening any temple, and once opened it cannot be closed. In Germany you have to follow this principle. Once opened it cannot be closed. Somehow or other you have to manage to continue the temple worship. That is the devotional cult. If they are closed and it is impossible to re-open, then what can be done? If there is no Deity, then it doesn't matter. If possible re-open the Hamburg temple and transfer the Deity again and worship. A center without a Deity can be closed, but a center with a Deity if closed it is a great offense. The Deity is not an idol; it is Krsna. We cannot say to Krsna personally, now go away. I am glad to hear about the Gita sales and the publishing of the new books. Therefore I have appointed you as BBT Trustee to publish the German editions of our books as much as possible. I quite appreciate that one main center may remain there and from there the preaching may go on, but no attempt may be made to open a new center without being confident that it will go on. Strictly this principle should be followed. Before opening a temple it has to be carefully considered, and once opened it cannot be closed. Henceforward completely forget the idea that any present temple can be closed. That you should forget. Don't do it again. At least you should re-open Hamburg and Edinburgh and the Deity should be transferred there again. The book sales are very encouraging, increasing, increasing. It is very good news. Thank you, I want this. Record selling is temporary. Even George Harrison's record sales do not continue for a long time. But, a book sold becomes a permanent matter for enjoyment. We read the scriptures again and again and it is still fresh. When there is time I go on reading my own books. Regarding increasing the distribution in USA, yes I expect better service from you. Therefore I have appointed you BBT Trustee. Also, Ramesvara is a very nice boy. You can go to USA, that is all right, but if your European and German men are doing well in Europe, why their attention should be diverted by going to USA. For technical help they can go, but it is better if the local men are trained up to do it, like the boy Tripurari. Regarding book production staff coming together under one roof, I have already replied this point. These things will be discussed in our open GBC meeting and decided. Regarding Bali Mardan, yes if the buildings do not come, then it is doubtful. I understand that one devotee is engaged as Taittareya's personal servant. No devotee can be engaged as personal servant in this way. Otherwise everyone will do this. Regarding Spiritual Sky donating to BBT, yes it is all right if some contribution comes to BBT. It will be a welcome facility for expansion of temple activities. Regarding Paris loan, unless full consideration is made in this matter, we cannot lend money to Paris. Your calculation should not be neglected in this matter. Your statements expressing your surrender to your spiritual master is proper. If this principle is followed you will remain pure and always protected by Krsna. Always follow my instructions and my example. This should be your life and soul. From Madhavananda I have heard that there is some worship of yourself by the other devotees. Of course it is proper to offer obeisances to a Vaisnava, but not in the presence of the spiritual master. After the departure of the spiritual master, it will come to that stage, but now wait. Otherwise it will create factions. I am having the Dollars 4,000 you sent transferred to Calcutta for construction of the Prasadam Distribution Pavilion here in Mayapur. They say it will accommodate one thousand persons and cost Dollars 25,000.I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- cc: Bhaktivedanta Manor ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** October 15th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Frankfurt My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 27, 1974 with enclosure of LICENSE. George should be addressed directly in this matter. It must be explained to him what we want. Don't sign this agreement. We do not recognize Harrisongs. Any agreement must be between George himself or whomever he says. We have taken this house from George not from Harrisongs. Why did Mukunda approach Denis O'Brien? George has his own attorney. What is the position of Denis O'Brien? Some time ago there was an agreement made regarding the grazing land on the Bhaktivedanta Manor property. So far I know it was done through George's attorney. I want the name of George's attorney and a copy of the agreement papers regarding the settlement. Also I want George's personal address where I can write him one letter. Yes, under the circumstances we cannot trust George; therefore the temple construction must be considered in the next GBC meeting. Is this at Syamasundara's instigation; but you haven't mentioned anything like that. Or is it at the instigation of the neighbors of Letchmore Heath? So for the time being you go on as we are. For the temple construction find out some place nearby. There are many houses. Let us go on with the Deity worship without any correspondence with them. You can find out there was some old newspaper that said George has given us the house. My picture was published. Where can I write George personally? Regarding publishing the philosophy book, first of all I want to see the copy after it is edited. Hayagriva can do it. He is paid for that. Gurudasa is coming to London, but he cannot be allowed to collect on any account. Enclosed is one letter from Brahmananda Maharaja to me that will explain. Regarding German Switzerland territory, you cannot do anything with them? You cannot make any adjustment? Why are you referring to him this small thing? I think George's home address is Henley-on-Thames. I have been there. Is this the correct address? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- Do not instigate anything with them from our side. It is not necessary to contact them regarding the house. Go on with your business. For building the temple you can purchase some nearby land and construct. There are so many lands there I have seen. We are going to spend so much for the temple, so what is it to purchase some land? If for some reason you have to vacate, then you can say we are constructing our another place. Anyway, you depend on Krishna. We do not depend upon anyone other than Krishna. ACBS ### Letter to Hansadutta **Date:** October 19th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Frankfurt My Dear Hansadutta das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 9, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding your statement that your success is due to your dependence on serving my lotus feet, yes, that is the instruction of the Bhagavad-gita. Krishna advises Arjuna to work to his bet capacity but not to think that he is the best capable. We should work to our best capacity and depend for the result on Krishna. After all, our life is dedicated to Krishna's service, and Krishna will give us intelligence, capability, and all kinds of success. I know you are doing your best capacity. Depend for the result on Krishna. When I point out some discrepancy of my disciples, it is always with good will so you can become the best servant of Krishna. There is nothing of material grudge. Kindly remember this. I am very much satisfied that you are increasing the publishing program. I have received a nice report from Puranjana that the Book Fair was fairly successful. My request is that you print as much as possible and distribute profusely. That is the great success of our movement. If the Hamburg Deity is moved but worshiped, it is all right. Yo do not have to reopen if it is inconvenient. What you have said about considering a thousand times before opening a temple, that I want. Not that you should open a temple whimsically, and then close whimsically. Regarding the farm, farm opening is not very essential, but if you can do it conveniently, then do it. The varnasrama system is for convenience sake in the material world. It has nothing to do with spiritual life. Acceptance of varnasrama means a little easy progress to spiritual life, otherwise it has no importance to us. For example, all my European and American disciples have no varnasrama position, but spiritually because they have followed the rules and regulations and also my instructions, their advancement spiritually is being appreciated by everyone. Always remember that varnasrama life is a good program for material life, and it helps one in spiritual life; but spiritual life is not dependent upon it. After all the system of varnasrama has to be realized before accepting spiritual life; and the renounced order of sannyasa is the last stage of varnasrama. Regarding starting a travelling Sankirtana party with yourself at the head, yes it is approved. It is good. Regarding the London affair, what can be done. This is the American and European habit of diplomacy. Unless there is spiritual advancement they will do by their nature like this. The whole thing should be corrected by diverting their attention to chanting and the regulative principles. We have to tackle these problems very carefully. In Bengali it is said wherever there is the goddess of fortune, there are varieties of responsibility. When I was alone there were not so many letters of so many problems. Regarding your dancing in the middle of the kirtana, it is not wrong. It is completely right. If in your kirtana everyone dances in ecstasy it is perfectly all right. That is spiritual enthusiasm. I have not received the new books. I have learned about them from Puranjana, but I have not received them. Maybe they are held up due to a postal delay in Calcutta, but anyway I am so pleased that you have published. Even I have not seen them, I am pleased and obliged to you. Continue this work. Whenever there is any publication in any language, it enlivens me 100 times. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hanuman **Date:** October 14th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Montreal My Dear Hanuman das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated. I had heard that you have since gone to Buenos Aires, so please let me know what is your program. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hari basara **Date:** April 20th 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Spokane, Washington Dear Hari basara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 7, 1974 along with other letters and literature regarding the World's Fair exposition in Spokane, Washington. According to your letter you suggest I come and speak in the middle of August. But in order to insure good attendance at the event in order to sell the tickets and make profit you think it best if I appear with a popular music group. These arrangements make us too dependent on other parties. We should not be dependent on others but should present our own program. Since there are so many conditions and risks involved, better you yourselves do as much as possible to spread Krsna Consciousness there by distribution of literature, kirtana and prasadam, and that will be as effective as my personally coming. Besides, I must be in Vrindaban for Janmastami so my schedule makes it difficult for me to be in Spokane, Washington. I am very keen on the distribution of my books and I am very indebted to all of you for your untiring efforts to see that every man and woman in America get one of my books. If they simply read one page, even if they do nothing else, they can become perfect. I have read the plans of Ramesvara and Tripurari to attend the fair and distribute to the thousands of people who are coming; whatever transcendental tactics you leaders think best for distributing the books you can employ. Please keep me informed of your progress as the Fair develops. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Harikesa **Date:** November 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban My Dear Harikesa das: Please accept my blessings. I have seen your letter dated October 28, 1974 addressed to Brahmananda Swami and also the enclosed letter from Gurudasa. I have also received the report from Gopala Krishna, especially how nice is the prasadam program there. Thank you very much. You have improved the situation there so much. and I am very much obliged to you. I want that our Vrindaban temple to be the first class temple of India. Already people are saying that it surpasses all temples of the district in beauty, and I think it surpasses all temples in India. So now it must be managed very nicely. You have followed my instructions for making the kirtana program there the center, so I know that everything will go on nicely there. Regarding Gurudasa, please inquire as to how much he has collected and send me the report. I want to know what he has collected and what was the expenditure. Encourage the U.K. devotees to stay in India because they do not have any visa problem. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Harikesa **Date:** November 7th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban My dear Harikesa das: Pleaser accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 31, 1974 and have noted the contents. Thank you for giving me the account of Gurudasa. What is that hotel bill for Rs. 1200/-?I have already written you one letter of thanks for your taking care of the Vrindaban temple. I note that you are reducing the expenses, but why did the Treasurer leave? Even if you restricted the spending, then why did he leave? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hasyakari **Date:** March 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > ISKCON Buffalo Dear Hasyakari, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of names recommended by your for first initiation. On your word I have accepted them as my disciples and their spiritual names are as follows. Philip Cote—Phanamandita dasaKeith Weber—Kalpavrksa dasaRon Burnstein—Muktakesa dasaCheryl Denbroff—Siladitya devi dasiCandy Burton—Kamya devi dasiPam Parker—Padmahara devi dasiYou may send their beads to Rupanuga Maharaja for chanting. Hold a fire yajna in the temple and impress on all these new devotees that they must chant at least 16 rounds daily, without fail and refrain from the four sinful activities. If one observes just these principles he will be rapid progress in spiritual life. I am also accepting the following devotees for second initiation: Krpamaya das Brahmacari and Gopinatha devi dasi. I am enclosing one sacred thread and gayatri mantra. Get the tape of me chanting the gayatri and have them hear it in the right ear. This initiation should be taken very seriously, and those who accept it have to prove exemplary or it will become a farce. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Hayagriva **Date:** March 25th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Vrindaban Dear Hayagriva, Please accept my blessings. Since a long time I did not hear from you, but I am very anxious to see you. Here in Bombay we have a nice spot. We are now in possession. It is just like a garden house. I shall be glad if you come here and live with me for some time. With my love for your wife and children, I beg to remain, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Hiranyagarbha **Date:** August 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > New Vrndavana My Dear Hiranyagarbha das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 26th 1974 and have noted the contents. Jagadisa prabhu has informed me that he has already gone over the points with you at New Vrndavana recently. In teaching the children, you should refer very carefully to my books. The qualities of a brahman as mentioned in BG chapter 18: sama dama tapasocam [Bg. 18.42]. You must teach these qualities. These qualities will naturally come out, if you just give the process purely. The information is there in my books so if you strictly adhere to them then your program of teaching will be successful. First of all you must teach by your personal example. This is the principle of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu (apani acari bhakti pracaram). So you yourself must chant 16 rounds and follow the regulative principles and automatically they will do as you are doing. Then they will become strong Vaisnavas. Regarding the initiation of Jon Walsh, please let me know if he was initiated there in New Vrndavana. If not then I will initiate him. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Hladini **Date:** July 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Vrindaban My Dear Hladini devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 17, 1974 with enclosed photographs of Lord Jagannatha. I can see that you are very nicely taking care of the Deities, and this is much appreciated by me. Now you stick to this process of worship of the Deity and you will advance more and more in Krishna consciousness. I very much enjoyed my stay in New Vrindaban, and was glad to see everything going on very nicely. So now just cooperate with the leaders there and expand it more and more. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hrdayananda **Date:** March 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear Hrdayananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I was pleased to appoint you as GBC of South America in the hope that you will organize the printing and distribution of my literature there, on the scale of the U.S. and European Zones. I have been informed there is a very good chance for spreading Krishna Consciousness in South America. Just as Hansadutta and Bhagavan have gone to foreign countries and arranged for a solid program of translation, printing and distribution of my books by sankirtana party, so you will also find the devotees in South America willing to help you in this noble project which is for the benediction of the suffering humanity. My own Guru Maharaja stressed the printing and distribution of literature even over gorgeous temple construction, and I also was printing even before I have big temples in the U.S. So you may follow the footsteps of the previous acaryas, while always strictly following the regulative principles for spiritual strength. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Hrdayananda **Date:** June 4th 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > Mexico My dear Hrdayananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 10, 1974. I was eager to receive your first GBC report and I have carefully noted the contents. As GBC your first responsibility is to keep yourself spiritually fit and see that all the devotees in your zone of management are chanting 16 rounds, rising early and strictly avoiding the sinful activities. If they are doing this, then management will be at your finger's end. Of course I am encouraged to hear that in each center you have stressed the distribution of my books and you are seeing that devotees daily go out for sankirtana as a primary devotional item. So you have a very wide range of area to cover and many things to look after, please do it very soberly, consulting when necessary with your GBC Godbrothers. Our progress is slow but sure, when walking down the street, we first place one foot down and when it is firm we take another step. We want to firmly establish centers in South America. I fully agree that the centers should be as far as possible manned by men who are native to the country; that will make our position even stronger, just as in the USA all you men and women have managed. As far as Brazil, why not go in first with sankirtana parties, distribute books in Portuguese, and then we can see later about opening a center. As far as counsel is concerned, simply keep up your fresh utsaha or enthusiasm for service. That will accomplish wonders. And always remain ideal yourself by strict adherence to the bhakti principles. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- , ### Letter to Hrdayananda **Date:** August 17th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Mexico My Dear Hrdayananda das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 16, 1974 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I have accepted the following students as my initiated disciples, and their spiritual names are as follows: CARACAS:Walter—Vanasancari das; Miguel—Munipriya das; Elba—Adhara das; Thais—Tadakari das; Janoski-Jayahatakosthaka dasSAN JUAN:Magaly—Manohara dasi; Americo—Adhari das; Guillermo—Gopa dasSANTO DOMINGO:Rafael—Rasakeli dasi; Ramon—Rajivalicana dasMEXICO:Orasess—Prabhudas; Miguel Angel—Mantri das; Fernando—Kutahanta das; Georgina—Jaladhosa dasi; Malena—Mathura dasi. I am also enclosing sacred threads and sheets for Havi das, Purujit das, Urdhvabhaga das (CARACAS); and SAN JUAN; Raghupatiprana das, Vaisnavananda das, and Bhuvana Rasini das; TSKP—Kirtideva das. So hold fire sacrifices and you may chant on the beads. Impress upon the students that they are taking vows before Radha and Krsna, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas. Everyone must always chant 16 rounds. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hrdayananda **Date:** October 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mexico City My Dear Hrdayananda das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 26, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to note that you are seeing that the devotees are maintaining the devotional practices. This is the secret to success. Therefore I am stressing it. And, if you also stress it and show yourself as an ideal Vaisnava, then you are my representative in fullness. We are not after titles and designations. Lord Caitanya made it a principle that we must teach by personal example. This is what I have tried to do. So if all of you my disciples do this, then the future of our movement will be glorious. I am glad to note the publishing work you are doing, and I look forward to receiving the books printed. I am pleased that you are personally seeing to the translation how it is done. Actually these books are the foundation stone of our movement. Whatever we are is resting on these books, so far reading them and distributing them. This should be our only motto. Your invitation to visit Mexico and Caracas sounds very nice, and I shall be very pleased to come there. I shall be going to Hawaii sometime in December, and than I can come wherever you like. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Hrdayananda **Date:** December 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mexico City My dear Hrdayananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Nov. 27, 1974 with enclosed Spanish BTG and have noted the contents very carefully and looked through the new Spanish BTG. This new BTG is done very nicely. The printing is very beautiful and I thank you very much for doing such a nice job. I am very glad to hear you have printed 100,000 copies of this magazine. Now give them to everyone. Also I am very happy to hear the other books will be coming out very soon. If you can finish Bhagavad-gita As It Is in Spanish and show me at the Mayapur festival that will be very sublime. Please print as many books as possible, this is my real pleasure. By printing these books of our Krsna Conscious philosophy in so many different languages we can actually inject our movement into the masses of persons all over the world, especially there in the western countries and we can literally turn whole nations into Krsna Conscious nations. Thank you for representing me there in LSS by stressing the importance of attendance to the morning and evening programs and following all of the spiritual practices. This is wanted. Without these things there is no devotional life. And by your example many others will also become strong. Regarding my coming to Mexico City and Caracas, yes I want to come there very much. Now we are in Bombay trying to get permission from the government to build our temple. And it appears that we will possibly be getting the permission next week. If this works out then I will immediately be going to Honolulu and from Honolulu I can go directly to Mexico City, then Caracas, and then to Australia by the end of Jan. If the Bombay situation is not settled up I may have to stay till mid-Jan. or so and then in mid or end of Jan. I will be going to Australia to stay for one month. After Australia we had planned to go to S. Africa for two weeks, but if this does not work out then I could come to Mexico City and Caracas at that time. Anyway I will let you know as soon as our plan becomes definite. I am always anxious to hear your reports of new book publications and sales. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Hrdayananda **Date:** December 27th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Hrdayananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 17, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Also I have received the books newly printed in Spanish language; Krsna, vol. 1, Beyond Birth and Death and the new Spanish BTG. The printing job is done very nicely. I hope to see many, many more of them coming in the future. Especially as you mention in your letter, Bhagavad-gita complete by the Mayapur festival this year. That will be very nice. It is very good that people are pleading for devotees to come in Brazil. You should send some competent men there to help direct them and establish two centers there if possible. As far as my coming there is concerned, I can come immediately. And the programs that you mention in your letter would be very nice. Try to arrange many such programs with all different kinds of respectable gentlemen, philosophers, scholars, educationalists, etc. We will be coming by way of London where we will probably stop for a few days. Also we will be stopping in Bermuda on the way from London to Mexico City for one or two days to have a program there if it can be arranged. In this connection we have contacted Rupanuga das. One telegram has already been sent to you to inform you of this and to request tickets immediately. If you have not sent the tickets as of yet please send them without delay. The tickets should be sent to the Quantas office in Bombay. They should be Bombay to London by Quantas Airlines, London to Mexico City by British Airways or Quantas if possible, via Bermuda and Nassau. The tickets should be open so that we can make reservation as is necessary according to our schedule. The tickets should be made out to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/pscopy --- , Paramahamsa Swami and Neal Gorton Delmonico. Three tickets are required. If you wire them to the Quantas office in Bombay it will only take a few days. If you can arrange nice programs in Brazil then I will also be very pleased to go there. It sounds as though the people there are very eager for Krsna Consciousness. So let us have a program there also. Thank you again for printing so many nice books. Continue distributing them in huge quantities and Krsna will shower His blessings. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami sent to Mexico Cityn.b. Our arrival date in Mexico City should be a little after mid-Jan. As soon as exact dates are fixed up you will be cabled immediately ### Letter to Hugo Salemon **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Balistraat,1 Amsterdam OOST My Dear Hugo Salemon, Please accept my blessings I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 8th, 1974. So far your worship of Lord Jagannatha in your home and your becoming initiated. It is alright provided you have the recommendation of the temple president. I am very glad to see that such a young boy as yourself you are taking serious interest in this Krishna Consciousness Movement. Please continue in this way Our process is something universal. It cannot be checked by any means. Anyone in any place, in any country can chant Hare Krishna. If it is possible to go to the temple, then take advantage of the temple. A temple is a place where by one is given the opportunity to render direct devotional service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. In conjunction with this you should always read my books daily and all your questions will be answered and you will have a firm basis of Krishna Consciousness. In this way your life will be perfect. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Indian Airlines Airport Manager **Date:** July 30th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Indian Airlines Airport Manager Palam Att: K.K. Syal, Asst. Commercial Manager Re: One green leather suitcase, one small brown brief case, and one mat Dear Sir: With reference to your letter Ref. No. PAL:BAG: 2 3/4 RSM: 6657 with copy to Sri Balavanta das Adhikari, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., dated 25/7/74, I may inform you that I am prepared to take possession of the above mentioned baggage. Sriman Balavanta das is my disciple. You can deliver the baggage to me, and I shall take responsibility for having it returned to him. You can hand over the baggage to the bearer of this letter who is acting on my behalf. Thanking you. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- CC: Sri Balavanta das Adhikari ### Letter to Indra-pramada **Date:** May 25th 1974 — **Location:** Rome > Brooklyn My dear Indra pramada das, Please accept my blessings. I have just received a copy of Back to Godhead number 62 and I wish to express to you how pleased I am with the layout and design of the magazine. I have been especially admiring the pictures in the story of our Los Angeles center, and the way the pictures are placed and the use of the color throughout the magazine is very pleasing to me. I think this American company Donnelly, is better than Dai Nippon and the magazine is improving more and more. Try to keep up this present standard and think of new ways to make it always fresh and attractive. Krsna is all attractive and evergreen, and you must use your talent to layout the magazine so that Krsna appears in print as He is. Thank you very much and offer my good wishes to Jayadvaita and everyone who has worked on this issue. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to ISKCON Artists **Date:** May 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear ISKCON artists, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of April 19, 1974 and have noted the contents. I will answer the points as best as I can.1. Fresh rice and paddy grains are simply some grains. Still in this country of sandalwood pulp and rice grains are used to put on the forehead in different blessings.2. Saci should wear a nice sari and nice ornaments, wearing vermillion on the part of her hair. She is dressed not like a queen but a well to do householder.3. As a baby, boy and young man Lord Caitanya should be dressed opulently. Ornaments are essential.4. Show the land opulent for the appearance of Maharaja Prthu.5. & 6. These questions require researching the Bhagavatam. I have asked Pradyumna to look them up for you.7. No Prthu does not have effulgence. He was a saktyavesa avatara, a living entity empowered.8. Dhruva should be just as he is shown in your sketch.9. The sketch is all right. An orange-red dhoti is all right.10. The airplanes are all right as drawn.11. The demigods planes are almost equal to the Vaikuntha planes.12. Yes, the inhabitants of a particular Vaikuntha planet have the same arrangement of symbols in the hands. Nanda and Sunanda should hold as follows: lower right: conch, upper right: disc, upper left: club, lower left: flower.13. Pracetas should be not clean shaven, but with beards as mendicants. Siva is different colors. Not always yellow. There are eleven kinds of Rudras.14. No, Siva should not be wearing a garland of skulls. Yes, he can be wearing a short dhoti. 15. They should all be standing around the fire at the sacrificial altar. Do not show the horse there. 16. Yes, although you may not know what Maharaja Prthu or Sita look like, they are present in your paintings due to your consciousness. I am always pleased and looking forward to seeing more beautiful pictures in our books. In India we make life members simply from the high quality and appearance of our books with illustrations. Our society is unrivalled in this respect and this is your credit who are working so selflessly to illustrate my books. Thank you very much. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jadurani **Date:** May 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear Jadurani dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your undated letter, and I have examined the contents. You mention that in the picture where Lord Caitanya is discussing with the Kazi about cow killing, Lord Nityananda is there with a drum. No, there is no mention of Him being with a mrdanga. He should not have a shaved head as a brahmacari but in the same feature as we always see the two, Gaura Nitai. Nityananda was brahmacari and became grhastha but you should always paint them in the Gaura Nitai style and feature you are already accustomed to doing. Do not feel frustrated about the slowness in producing paintings. Simply paint as many as possible. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jadurani **Date:** September 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Brooklyn My Dear Jadurani devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated August 14 & 20, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding Picture #1, it was not enclosed, but yes Mother Yasoda feeding Krsna is parental love, or sometimes you can show Krsna with great difficulty placing the slipper of Nanda Maharaja on his head. Yes, sketch #2 is all right; it is supported in the Caitanya Caritamrta. #3 is also all right. #4 is also all right. Regarding #5 Visnu, Laksmi must always be with Mahavisnu. Yes there should be devotees around the garden or town. Yes, they would look like Visnu. Lord Visnu is never alone. Inside the building is proper. #6 of Krsna and Balarama fighting as bulls is completely rejected by me. It is not good. You have made it demoniac. Make Them as they are themselves, as boys fighting. Never show like this. Everything is there in the Krsna Book. Don't imagine. Regarding question #7 why red background? You can show the full Visnu form. Regarding #8 the color is referred to in the text, so you have to see that portion of the book. Regarding your letter of August 20, Narada can have yellow dhoti. Brahmacaris can be shown in both yellow or saffron, both are correct. Yes, you can make the flower ships as you have described. Why have you discontinued writing the mantras on the bottom of the portrait paintings? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jadurani **Date:** October 9th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Brooklyn My Dear Jadurani devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated and have noted the contents. The answers to your questions are as follows:1. For the portraits of Gaura Kisora and Jagannatha das Babaji, yes you can use the mangalarcana prayers, and also the same for Bhaktivinode Thakura.2. You can sign your paintings with your personal names.3. Regarding Devahuti's painting for Ādi lila, yes you can use it. I think it is nice. You can also use the painting you had suggested previously. Both can be used.4. Yes, it is understood that your paintings are offered to the Deities when they appear in books or on the temple walls. It is understood like that.5. Regarding asking me questions, yes you can ask, but unless it is sanctioned by me, you cannot act on it. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** January 8th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Toronto Dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report dated December 31, 1973, and I have carefully examined the contents. It is encouraging to me that you are closely supervising our five centers in Canada, and from the most recent report it appears that things are going nicely. My idea in forming the GBC is that I may be spared from the management and use my time for translating books. So please continue to correspond and occasionally visit the centers in your zone to see how they are doing. Our program as we have received it from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is perfect, now you simply have to implement it without any changes. Your emphasis on book distribution is quite right. I can understand in the northern centers it is very cold now, and yet you report they are still going out for sankirtana party. Please convey that I extend all blessings to those boys and girls who are trying to distribute our books even under difficult conditions. Regarding Spiritual sky incense business in Canada, the best thing is if you can find some competent managers to handle this so all your time is not spent in selling incense. I understand that you have taken it on because you wish all the centers to be financially sound. So now that you have been managing the business for four months, you should find a suitable manager to take it over. Are you approaching universities and schools and attempting to get our books placed in classes? This is another important phase of our preaching work. My present itinerary is to leave for Hawaii on January 14 and then reach New Delhi, India by the first week in February. I am very concerned that our temple in Vrindaban be completely constructed by Janmastami next, and I am going to personally see to the progress of that project. I hope to see you in Mayapur for the celebration of the Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya when all GBC shall sit down and chalk out the next years program. Hope this finds you in good health. I am enclosing the gayatri mantra for Atigarvita devi upon your recommendation. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** January 24th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu > Toronto Dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed is a copy of a letter I have recently received from Bahudak, president of our Vancouver temple within your jurisdiction as GBC of Canada. Bahudak's description of his plans to move to a farm are not clear, nor have I received any letter from you in this regard, as he implies. What will be the program at this farm? How will people be attracted there? Who will work it? What about the present temple. He appears to plan to want to "close the door" to their present temple. So he has asked me for a decision, but until I know more clearly what is his plan, I cannot decide. This matter should be taken up by yourself, so please consult with him and give me a cool-headed appraisal of what Bahudak is thinking and what is the actual situation in Vancouver. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** March 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Toronto Dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted those devotees who you have recommended for first initiation, and their spiritual names are as follows. Keith Haslar—Kamsahanta dasaLorraine Haslar—Lokadrsti devi dasiDrew—Duryodhana guru dasaBe sure to carefully train them in offenseless chanting, by avoidance of the ten offenses to chanting. You may chant on their beads and hold a fire yajna. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgN.B. --- I am also enclosing sacred thread and gayatri initiation for the following second initiate recommendations. Girijadhava das Brahmacari, Kasi ram das Brahmacari, Taraknath das Brahmacari, and Sukra das Brahmacari. Have them hear the tape of the mantra in the right ear. I think you are aware that this second initiation should be taken very gravely and not childishly, so please impress upon them their new obligations. At this time I am also sending you two accepted initiates from the Regina, Canada center as follows: Norman Allard—Nandikesvara dasa, Linda Allard—Mandari devi dasi ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** May 10th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Evanston, Illinois My dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 26, 1974 and noted the contents. I can appreciate that you are traveling widely in your recently expanded zone and you plan to first become acquainted with the temple presidents by traveling is good. As far as you leaving Uttama Sloka in charge of Toronto and sending Sripati to Montreal, that is alright. I know Sripati was already there in Montreal and he is experienced. Regarding your Gurukula report, why are the older boys being sent to New Vrindaban? What are the facilities like, what is the program there, what is the need for them to move? As things are not fully explained in your letter, I am inquiring regarding this very important change. As for buying a new house and land in order that the pre-school children may go there, what is the need of them being separate. If they cannot rise early, why should you take care of such young ones at Gurukula. But if they are rising early and attending arati, then why must they be separate from the other little children? Please explain further. You are right when you say Deity worship must be maintained. This is most important. I know Nandarani is expert in Deity care but I think she is working with the children. Your wife is also expert, so she can maintain the sewing and Deity worship program. But the standard must always be kept up. Sankirtana is also a part of Vaisnavism. All our activities are a part of Vaisnavism. So Sankirtana should also be developed at Dallas. Yes, I have heard myself about Winipeg, that it is a big city in Canada. So if you think it better to move Regina center there that is approved by me. Yes, you plan to keep headquarters 1/2 year in Chicago and 1/2 year in Dallas, that is approved by me. Please send regular reports. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** June 18th 1974 — **Location:** Frankfurt > Evanston, Illinois My dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your zonal report of May 28 and have examined the contents. From your report it appears that the transfer of the older Gurukula boys above ten years old has proven successful. I am glad to hear they are housed in a clean building with electricity and hot and cold water and that their teacher from Dallas is with them instructing them just as before. I am always eager to hear that Gurukula is going well so be very vigilant that this program with the older boys in New Vrindaban as well as all levels of teaching at Dallas are just to the standard as I introduced it. There is no more important school in the world, so it requires careful guidance. Yes, the farm plan in New Orleans is fine. But one thing is if we get land we must first be sure we will be able to fully utilize it, otherwise, if we cannot use it what is the use? I want the world to see by our example that life can be lived naturally, peacefully if one is self sufficient with land, some cows and chanting Hare Krishna. That is the idea of purchasing land. It is not necessary that every temple have a farm, but as many as can be efficiently managed locally is all right. Let them see our centers are self sufficient. Whatever can be managed conveniently. If they can manage a farm in Detroit also, what is the harm? Yes, consult with BaliMardan and if the new building required for our Montreal center is reasonable in all respects then purchase it. I can understand that you are travelling widely and managing many projects over a great area. Krsna will give you stamina and intelligence to carry out more and more projects successfully in His Name, provided you are sincere and remain strong spiritually by following the regulative principles. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** June 25th 1974 — **Location:** Melbourne > Evanston, Illinois My dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter mailed to Germany, and I have examined the contents. As of your writing, Govardhana Prabhu, the Detroit president had left his post and was living in the Chicago temple, because he was not chanting his sixteen rounds. I hope by now he has taken your advice and has returned to his post and is following the chanting with full knowledge. In your previous letter you stated that the deity worship in Detroit was superexcellent and that all programs were being expertly managed by govardhana. Why should he leave therefore? You write he is chanting 14 rounds daily; so you are experienced and know what to do in this case, simply encourage him to chant 16 rounds. The injunction is kirtaniya sada hari, one should always be chanting all day. The 16 rounds is just a minimum I set for my disciples so they will chant at least that much. Actually chanting should always be going on. So I will be anxious to hear that Govardhana has returned and is chanting more seriously, aware that he must do so to remain free from the clutches of maya. Regarding the techniques for book distribution, it is all right if the devotees dress like the young people they are selling the books to. The main thing is that the innocent are given the books and the chance to become Krsna Conscious by reading them. You have to see that our book distributers are also reading my books and following all the regulative principles, then it is all right selling in public in that way. So I shall expect to see you in Chicago on July 5 for the Rathayatra and we can discuss more. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** September 6th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Toronto My Dear Jagadisa das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. So you may remain wherever you may be peaceful. You may resume your GBC duties as secretary for the Central U.S.A. Zone. GBC means that one must be ideal Vaisnava. That means there must be strict observance in following all the rules and regulations. This is your main responsibility, and then to see that all others are following strictly. Then everything will be all right. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** September 29th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Toronto My Dear Jagadisa das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram dated September 25, 1974 as follows: REQUEST PERMISSION TO PURCHASE BUILDING IN TORONTO STOP PRICE 200,000 DOLLARS RENOVATIONS 100,000 DOLLARS STOP VERY REASONABLE FOR TORONTO CONSIDERING THAT PROPERTY COSTS IN TORONTO AMONG HIGHEST IN NORTH AMERICA STOP LOCATION SIDE LAYOUT PRICE ALL FEATURES EXTREMELY SUITABLE PLEASE REPLY IMMEDIATELYJAGADISASo, if suitable you can purchase this house immediately. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** November 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas My Dear Jagadisa dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter November 2, 1974 and have noted the contents. I have also received the enclosed clipping from Ottawa and the information about the property. This property must be considered by the GBC. If it can be properly utilized, it is nice, for Varna-asrama College and dairy farm. With 100 acres for cultivation you can make much production. The land is attractive. If it can be utilized by the opinion of the GBC, then it is good. I think it should be utilized. For which center will it be purchased? Regarding Gurukula, they are in financial difficulty, so introduce book distribution. Sankirtana and Book Distribution should be pushed side by side, and there will be no difficulties. That is our experience. If men are available, yes, you can open a center in Kansas City,; that will be nice. Regarding moving the older boys to New Orleans, that is to be decided by the GBC.Regarding the lollipops, there is nothing wrong. It is something attractive I can understand, an introduction of friendship. What is the wrong? It is sugar, so it can be offered to the Deity. Just like here we can offer sweets purchased from the market place. It is stated in the sastras that if you pay something for it, it is purified even if there is some fault in it. Regarding Chicago that you paid off Dollars 35,000.00 is wonderful. You are a good manager. As GBC please see that the temples are maintaining the standards, and I will be very much thankful. The article is nice, the "elevator" is this Krishna consciousness movement. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagadisa **Date:** December 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Toronto My dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 9, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Regarding your first question, you have not committed such a serious offense. My request is that you atone for your actions by engaging in devotional service with great enthusiasm. Wherever your health is good, you should remain there and serve. Regarding Gurukula I am very happy to hear that the financial crisis has passed. That is very good. This is real management. As far as the children are concerned, people are accusing us sometimes that our children are undernourished, underfed and note cared for properly. So it is good that you are seeing that they are happy and healthy. They should be given milk at least 8 ounces a day if possible 16 ounces a day. Dahl, capati, rice, vegetable this will keep them fit. If possible a little bit of fruit also. As for fixing up the Deity house in Dallas with marble altars, this is not necessary for now. We shall see later on. For the time being organize the health, education and care of the children and continue the Deity worship as it is going nicely now. Deities are satisfied with bhakti not marble. Therefore try to increase the bhakti. I think that you should immediately try and get the church in Toronto. Take it immediately. Church is always cheaper as there are not many other purchasers. This way we can bargain with them and bring the price down. The psychology behind it is that the Christians will hesitate to tear down a church. They would rather see it still standing. Gradually you should buy all the churches and make them into temples. There are so many churches actually they should give us these churches free, if they were actually God-conscious. But they are sectarian. Anyway purchase this church immediately. It is not very costly. $200,000 you can arrange. If it is available from BBT at this time then I have no objection. You can make the $150,000 loan from BBT. I do not know though if that much is available. Increase the Rathayatra festival in Chicago. Make it twice as big, that will be very nice. This festival must be introduced wherever possible. It is so nice. In connection with your using your efforts to make television shows, no, that is not important now. Don't waste time in this way. Better to have nice festivals like Rathayatra festivals. If they see us on television show then the next moment they will forget. But if they come to a festival and participate that is eternal benefit. Now you are raising your third child. So more and more you are becoming responsible for these living entities who are your dependents. You must see that they do not take birth again in this material world. That is your duty. Therefore you and your good wife must endeavor strongly together to become fully Krsna Conscious through this simple, sublime process that I have given. By simply following this process without deviation, chanting 16 rounds, following the four regulative principles, attending classes and mangala arati, rising early, these things will gradually bring you to the platform of pure love of Krsna. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Jagadisa, Jayatirtha **Date:** November 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas My Dear Jagadisa, Jayatirtha, andDayananda dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 1, 1974 and have noted the contents. So for maintaining the Gurukula at least the cost price for the books must be paid. Gurukula can take the profit for its maintenance. BBT cannot pay for maintenance of the temples. BBT can only pay for printing and temple properties and construction. Why are the Spiritual Sky accounts being serviced by Los Angeles rather than by the Dallas devotees? I hope this meets you all in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagadisa Pandita **Date:** December 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > San Francisco My dear Jagadisa Pandita, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. My opinion is that it is not necessary for us to utilize these different musical talents for spreading Krsna Consciousness. I would rather see people follow strictly the path of Lord Caitanya and His Sankirtana devotees. We are using mrdanga, karatala, that is enough. We are not musicians. We are Krsna bhaktas. Therefore we do not stress so much importance on these different musical talents. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is God Himself. Had He thought it would have been better to spread Krsna Consciousness by another way He would have done so. But no, simply with mrdanga and karatala, traveling and chanting Hare Krsna, asking everyone to chant Hare Krsna, preaching simply Srimad-Bhagavatam philosophy, this is the process. There is no need for us to try and add anything to this simple method. It will only be a distraction. Therefore I request you to follow the simple path of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and help me spread this wonderful mission all over the world. Keep yourself pure and fixed up in Krsna Consciousness by following the basic principles that I have given; chanting 16 rounds daily, following the four regulative principles, rising early, attending mangala arati and classes etc. This is of the utmost importance. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Jagajivana **Date:** September 6th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Buenos Aires My Dear Jagajivana Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 8, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am glad that you are enthusiastically taking up book distribution and have increased to 15,000 pieces per month. You have rightly understood the potency contained within my books. So far as being leader is concerned, leader means spiritually not materially. This you should understand very clearly. If spiritual potency and strength is there, then material intelligence will automatically follow. We must have a solid foundation of chanting and following the regulative principles. Then one is fit to lead others. I hope you will understand this point. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagannatha **Date:** November 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Vrindaban My Dear Jagannatha dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 13, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding your joining the travelling party for Sanskrit work, I have no objection, but these things have to be decided amongst yourselves. I do not know how the Press is managed for doing this work. Who will do your work if you leave? These things you all have to manage. My business is to write the books, and it is your responsibility to publish them. If you are talented to work on the Sanskrit department, then you should do that. This is important work. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagannatha-suta **Date:** October 1st 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Brooklyn My Dear Jagannatha Suta dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 12, 1974 with enclosed copies of issue No. 6 of the New World Harmonist. Simply to criticize what is gong on in the material world, what is the profit? Nature is working, and unless one is a devotee he will be disturbed by nature. Daivi esa guna mayi/ mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. The rascals are such that they do not even ask why they are suffering. So if we discuss the food shortage, what is the benefit for us? A human being must put the question of why am I suffering. Animals also suffer but they have no sense to put the question of why. The materialists are trying to adjust the disturbances of nature in so many ways. But after so many attempts at adjustment have they been able to stop suffering? They are so rascal that still they are suffering after so many adjustments, and yet they do not ask why. We must enquire for the solution. This is what we must discuss in the Harmonist. After all we have already got our Back to Godhead. Simply to discuss ordinary things, there are so many papers already discussing. Simply saying there is scarcity, that everyone knows. We must give the solution. I am not discouraging you. When you say that the solution is there in Srimad-Bhagavatam that is nice. But, what is the solution that you must give and thus render real service to the people. I think this style of paper will be easily taken by the people. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jagatikanda **Date:** October 15th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Ottawa My dear Jagatikanda devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 12, 1974 with enclosed silken bead bag. I thank you very much for it. I am now using it for my chanting beads, so it is a welcome gift. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jaya Hari **Date:** June 17th 1974 — **Location:** Frankfurt > London My dear Jaya Hari, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of 11 June 1974.I am presently travelling through Europe and in the past weeks have held many programs in Rome, Geneva, Paris and now Germany. I, therefore, have no time to carefully study and decide on your proposals. The best thing is if you can come and meet with me personally after I have finished this present tour. I am planning to go to Vrindaban for Janmastami, for the opening installation ceremonies of our Krsna Balarama Temple. If you can come to see me in Vrindaban I would be glad to discuss and plan with you what is best for your devotional service engagement. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jayadvaita **Date:** September 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Brooklyn My dear Jayadvaita das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 3, 1974. I have the proposed advertisements for BTG and I approve them. I have also seen the article by Brahmananda Swami and it has been returned to you with Dayananda together with corrections. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/sda ### Letter to Jayadvaita **Date:** December 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New York My Dear Jayadvaita das: Please accept my blessings. I have seen on the new books printed that on the spine of the jacket the words “Bhaktivedanta Book Trust” have been omitted. Formally they were there on all the books. It is understood from Ramesvara that you removed these words. Why did you do this? Who authorized it? Did Bali Mardan authorize it? These things must be there. Please see to it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayadvaita **Date:** December 20th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear Jayadvaita, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 1l, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Yes, in the future you should make sure that all the books, no matter what size or color, have the words Bhaktivedanta Book Trust under the logos. Whether it is clear or unclear it should be there. Yes you are correct, when one associates with one who is in illusion or mislead naturally he will also become influenced by that illusion. So you must pray to Krsna to protect you from such bad association. Do not forget our most important business which is to develop pure Krsna Consciousness by following our strict regulations and Vaisnava standards, and always be engaged in service. Yasya prasadad bhagavata-prasadao, yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi, anyway by Krsna's grace everything is going on there very nicely. So you are one of the officers there, please continue working very enthusiastically and setting a good example for others. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Jayapataka **Date:** September 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Mayapur My Dear Jayapataka Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1/9/74 and have noted the contents. By the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva I am improving in my health. Regarding the citizenship, you should apply as many as possible. You can read, write, and speak Bengali. So take citizenship. The local officers are in favor, so they will grant. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayapataka **Date:** November 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mayapur My dear Jayapataka Swami: Please accept my blessings. This is to inform you that yesterday Giriraja has sent by T.T. Rs. 2,25,000/- to American Express Bank a/c No. 090031. Now the wall and proposed rooms and other works must be finished by Gaura Purnima. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- cc: H.H. Gargamuni Swami, Calcutta ### Letter to Jayapataka **Date:** November 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mayapur My Dear Jayapataka Swami: Please accept my blessings. Enclosed please find the copy of the letter to Gaura Govindas das asking him to come to Bombay. Why he has not yet come? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayapataka, Bhavananda **Date:** April 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mayapur Dear Jayapataka and Bhavananda Maharajas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of—undated, and I have carefully noted the contents. As for the advance of Rs 25,000 so that work can continue at Mayapur, that has already been sent from New York by Bali Mardan. There has been some delay in receiving it here but from our Bombay BBT account we have already forwarded the sum of Rs 25,000 to Calcutta, so that question is already answered. You have the money and work should go ahead full force to be completed as agreed. As far as the cows suffering from no good shelter, why have you not built them something solid? I sent $5,000.00 on one occasion and then $4,000.00 previous to that, for construction for the cows. So why are they not protected? Your report on the harvest of crops is a paradox, when compared to the fact that you have to spend money for maintenance. If there is so much harvest, you have cows, vegetables, then why do you require money for maintenance? I have read in your letter how the brahmacaris find it very difficult to plough. It will be very difficult if we do not work the land ourselves. The difficulty can be overcome provided we are sincere. I think we can use modern machines, to drive a tractor, for example, is as easy as driving a car. Suppose we hire a tractor for the time being. I heard they are available from Krishnanagar. In America they take to agriculture; they are farmers although they are not Indians. So why can't the Americans work and farm in India? We just have to adjust in order to raise as much crops as possible for the animals and men. I have seen many farmers near New Vrindaban working nicely with tractors and growing food. One day Kirtanananda Swami hired one and within two hours he tilled many acres of land very nicely, although it was not even land. So in Mayapur it is even land; in a few hours we can till all the land we possess. My point is if somehow we cannot utilize the land then why purchase it at such expenditure? Self help doesn't mean Rs 10,000 spent monthly. As for working with the architects, if you think the soil test is necessary you can consult together, you two and Gargamuni Maharaja and Brahmananda Maharaja and decide yourselves. Tamala Krsna goswami has no extraordinary experience, so you can do it yourselves. Tamala Krsna is sick now, recovering from a hernia operation, and after he has recovered he is going to America. Yes, it is a good idea to go preaching in Bangladesh. If possible some men may go there. Gargamuni has some experience; when he went there it was Pakistan but still he had good reception. If you go to Bangladesh and establish a center it will be a great achievement. We have a center in China and one in Moscow why not Bangladesh and Pakistan? As for Panca Dravida Swami, I know he is a good preacher and collector. Let him work there for some time and then come back. He is needed in South India and Acyutananda Maharaja is waiting for him. But it will depend on Panca Dravida, he can decide himself which part of the country he can preach best in. Wherever better facilities are we should work, it doesn't matter if it is Nadia or South India. So please go on all working together in cooperative spirit and do the needful; then I may be spared taxing my brain over so many matters and I can go on my real work of translating. I will be glad to hear your further progressive reports. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jayapataka, Bhavananda **Date:** May 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mayapur My dear Jayapataka and Bhavananda Maharajas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 28, April, 1974.You write that you are very careful utilizing funds that are sent for that particular purpose. In all matters of management this careful attitude must be taken. I have been requesting my disciples for sometime to release me from the management aspects of ISKCON so I can be free to translate. And you two are managing one of our biggest centers. I cannot close my eyes when there are big management difficulties, so when I see things going wrong, money mispent, things not used properly, then I have to take part. But if you can relieve me of worry of management in Mayapur it will be a great relief for me. Krsna will give you more and more intelligence on how to do this if you sincerely endeavor. Up to 5,000 to 10,000 rupees for purchasing land there is always available from the Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust fund. You write that you now have Rs. 9000/ so another 10,000/ will be made available to you for this purpose. As for the hand-tiller from Japan that you are using on a trial basis, you should ask Bali Mardan to supply you this Japanese machine. He has good connections in Japan. He can provide you that same Japanese motor hand-tiller much cheaper or even free. The news that you are able to keep up the prasadam program which is now up to 1500 persons on Sunday is very welcome and I hope you can continue this without stoppage. The success of Bhavananda Maharaja's English lessons of the Varnasrama College has given me great pleasure and I am sure many devotees will come from this program. It is a first class idea. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jayapataka, Bhavananda **Date:** November 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mayapur My Dear Jayapataka and Bhavananda Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 10, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding not building the second story on the Prasdam Pavilion, whatever you think is best is all right. Whatever you all three consult and agree is all right. Hansadutta has sent RS. 15,000/00 for the Food Program, and Bhagavan dasa has given the check to Gargamuni Swami for the Pavilion. So money is there. That is no difficulty. Only the projects must be finished by Gaura Purnima. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayapataka, Bhavananda, Brahmananda **Date:** March 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mayapur My dear Jayapataka Bhavananda, and Brahmananda Maharajas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your express letter which arrived in Vrindaban March 19th, and I have noted the contents. Of course I do not know what is the actual expenditure, but I request you to finish the business as far as possible and the money will be supplied. But this time when I go I want to see that everything under construction is completed. Brahmananda Swami has already gone there to help you in this connection so kindly do the needful. Combine together and get the things completely done. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** May 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Jayatirtha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your telegram in which you inquire about making available $130,000 for use by the Spiritual Sky Touring program bringing life members on a tour around the world. This touring program has been postponed. So for now do not bother about this capital. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** June 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > Los Angeles My dear Jayatirtha, Please accept my blessings. As you know, since the March GBC meeting in Mayapur you have been asked to manage affairs of the west coast U.S. zone until a permanent GBC man for that zone could be selected. From my careful observation of your activities especially in Los Angeles and the other temples, I can understand that you are doing very well as GBC representative for the west coast. Therefore I am appointing you as the regular GBC representative with full standing, for heading affairs in the western region of the U.S.A. I have already instructed the president of the Seattle temple in a recent letter, to sent new initiates beads to you for chanting. I know you will discharge the duties of GBC with full responsibility, especially seeing that the spiritual life in the temples is not neglected. I am having my secretary send a newsletter to all GBC informing them of your regular GBC status. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** June 18th 1974 — **Location:** Frankfurt > Los Angeles My dear Jaya Tirtha, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of May 25, 1974 with the list of names for initiation. I appreciate that you say you have very carefully considered the names and the candidates have had several interviews and written statements before you would consider them, both for first and second initiation. I am especially concerned that the second initiation not be taken cheaply and devotees who do not even rise early be recommended for brahmana. Therefore I have accepted the devotees recommended by you and their new spiritual names are as follows: John Maley—Caitanya Simha dasaRhonda Maley—Racitambara-deviEugene Edwards—Urjasvat dasaMark Molinero—Mahesvasa dasaKathryn Ruesnik—Kusala deviJoe Masters—Jitamrtyu dasaSharamine Bruce—Sailodgata deviAlfredo Ruiz—Abhipraya dasaMichael Pickup—Manya dasaYou may hold a fire yajna and chant on their beads and impress on them they are taking vows before Radha-Krsna, the spiritual master and the Vaisnavas. They must always chant at least 16 rounds daily and avoid the four sinful activities. The brahmanas threads and gayatri are enclosed for brahmacaris Hasyapriya, Bopadeva, Dharmaksetra and Anila and the girls Meena Arcana, Pancali, Mulaprakrti, and Mahati devi. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** August 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Jayatirtha das: Please accept my blessings. With regard to the collections of Gurukrpa Swami that he pays to DNP henceforth, the equivalent amount should be transferred to India as follows: 50% to Mayapur Project in care of American Express Calcutta ISKCON a/c # 090031; and 50% to Vrindaban Project direct. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** September 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Jayatirtha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 1, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding my retiring and resting in Hawaii, if Krsna desires I shall do it. I like Hawaii very much. Somehow or other secure that house. I am anxious to go there. Although I am Indian I see now that the Indian climate does not suit me very much. The sickness I had, I never had such experience in the foreign countries. I think the dangerous point is now over, and I am improving slowly. Not only that but several members have fallen sick in this season in Vrindaban. I am very much anxious for all of them. Even Srutakirti has to return. His health is not very suitable. Similarly Bharadraja has also fallen sick. So kindly arrange for their dispatch to L.A.So I am confident that you are an experienced manager, so do the needful and somehow or other secure that Hawaii house. What about the property income? Has the quarterly income been deposited in the Fund. I am anxious to know. Regarding Ramesvara being made BBT Trustee, I have no objection. I have already written to Bali Mardan that he can be made the secretary to the Trust Board, and then later on we can see if required he can be added. He should be taken as one of the important members. He is doing nicely. At the upcoming GBC meeting we shall discuss it further. He can be made the official secretary for the time being. I have already informed this to Bali Mardan. So you act as GBC and see things are going nicely. Now Bharadraja and his wife have become expert doll makers. So give him all facilities. Let all those with artistic talent assist him. I want very extensive doll exhibits in every center. My guru maharaj used to spend lots of money on doll exhibitions on Srimad-Bhagavatam. So I am sure that if we make doll exhibitions very prominent many tourists and visitors will throng in our temples. Bharadraja and his wife have made here some dolls superexcellent successful. So utilize their talent and get others to assist them. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** September 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Jayatirtha Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 9, 1974 with enclosed deposit slip. Regarding the collections of Gurukrpa Swami I have instructed to Ramesvara that the entire amount should be transferred to the Bombay American Express account. Ramesvara has written that he has sent only a portion of the collection. Regarding the Dollars 40,000.00 in Hawaii, Dollars 5,000.00 has been lent to Sudama das Goswami, and I have called for Dollars 35,000.00 for purchasing land here in Vrindaban. I have advised Liberty Bank to transfer the amount to Bank of America Branch No. 600, and I have advised Bank of America to transfer the amount via telegraphic transfer to Punjab National Bank New Delhi with special instructions to transfer to their Vrindaban Branch account 668. So kindly see that this is properly done. We are purchasing two pieces of land for about Rs. 2 lakhs and another piece for Rs. 35,000/-. I am trying to utilize this money for purchasing land here. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 12, 1974 copy of which to all GBC Secretaries. My only requet is we must spend money very cautiously and not to waste. For improvement we can spend. I am simply afraid that money may not be wasted. So when I saw that the sanctuary was not being finished it gave me some agitation in my mind. So if people say it will be better than Birla Mandir, then your labor and expenditure is a success. I am confident that you are a good manager. So you do the needful, so by your management I will get good satisfaction. You are a good manager and a devotee also. That is a good qualification ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** October 27th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Los Angeles My Dear Jayatirtha das: Please accept my blessings. I understand from Bhavananda and Jayapataka that you have agreed to give Dollars 8,000.00 from BBT funds for construction of the second story of the Kitchen here. So, you can do this. The money may be sent to Gargamuni Swami in Calcutta, and he will forward here. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** November 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Jayatirtha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram reading as follows: LIBERTY BANK TRANSFER OKAY BUT FIRST LETTER NEVER REACHED BANK OF AMERICA SO MONEY NOT TRANSFERRED UNTIL MONDAY 21ST INFORMING TEJIYAS TO CHECK PUNJAB DELHI REGARDING ARRIVAL -JAYATIRTHANow one thing is that Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban Branch, reports on having received on October 8 from New Delhi Rs. 277,991/-. If this transfer is not the Liberty Bank money, then what is it? I have not received any word that the transfer of the 21st has arrived. Also Gurukrpa Swami wrote me on September 30 with a Credit Note from Dai Nippon for Dollars 39,474.73. He said that this money was already in Los Angeles at that time and that you have been advised to transfer the money to Bombay, but it is not yet received at this date. Also I requested Ramesvara through Brahmananda Swami on September 19 to transfer the balance of Gurukrpa's payment to Dai Nippon of Dollars 108,000.00. Ramesvara had deducted Dollars 22,490.63 for various expenses, but this money must be paid for by BBT and not deducted from the M-V construction funds. So this amount should also be transferred here immediately so that work in Vrindaban may not be hampered. I hope this meets you well in health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** November 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Jayatirtha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram reading as follows: C D RATE DOWN TO 8 AND HALF PERCENT PLEASE ADVISE ON RENEWAL -JAYATIRTHASo, yes it can be continued. It is 3 per cent less than what they were giving. What can be done? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wishes, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- Your following cable is just now received. CD'S EXPIRING NOVEMBER 7 AND NOVEMBER 15 PLEASE ADVISE IF ANY CHANGES DESIRED OTHERWISE THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY RENEW FOR 119 DAYS -JAYATIRTHA.So it is all right ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** November 10th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Jayatirtha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your cable reading as follows: FIRST C.D. MATURED NOVEMBER SEVENTH 9858 DOLLARS INTEREST EARNED TRANSFERRED TO PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK VRINDABAN ALSO 8000 DOLLARS BBT LOAN FOR KITCHEN PROJECT MAYAPUR TRANSFERRED AMERICAN EXPRESS CALCUTTA -JAYATIRTHA.So it is all right. I did not know it was a loan. In name money comes to India in loan but it is never repaid. In name there are so many loans, like to Spiritual Sky and now it is not being repaid. And everyone is taking loan from BBT. That is the only source of our income. But if everyone takes loan, then how can it go on? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** November 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Jayatirtha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated October 25 and November 9, 1974 with enclosed receipts from the bank. The business card of Mr. Thomas Orr was not enclosed however. I have also received your cable reading as follows: 13,000 DOLLARS GIVEN BY GURU-KRPA TO ME IN JAPAN LAST MONTH DEPOSITED IN BANK OF AMERICA SAVINGS ACCOUNT NOT TRANSFERRED TO INDIA REFER MY LETTER OCTOBER 25 -JAYATIRTHA.Now enclosed please find one letter to Bank of America. Please see that this letter is executed properly. The Punjab National Bank is taking too long to credit the transfers. You have sent on November 7th and they have credited on November 20th, so we have lost interest for 13 days. So the Bank of America account is now opened. We have also opened an account with First National City Bank in Bombay, and Brahmananda has cabled the account number to Ramesvara, as it is understood he was to transfer Dollars 60,000.00 given by Gurukrpa. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- N.B. From your description of the Hawaii estate, it sounds very attractive. The tickets are received here, and I shall inform you when we plan to go. ACBS ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** December 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Jayatirtha, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 5, 1974. Regarding the GBC meeting to be held in Mayapur 1975, the meeting should be held five days before the actual festival is to begin and it will be held in my presence. As far as your proposals are concerned the real thing is that we must make broader constitution of the management by GBC. But the difficulty is that our GBC men are falling victim to maya. Today I trust this GBC and tomorrow he will fall down. That is the difficulty. If the GBC men are so flickering then what to speak of the others. Unless this problem is solved whatever we may resolve it will not be very useful. We shall discuss this at our meeting. If the GBC men can ever manage properly then I shall get some time for writing my books. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps --- N.B. I have just spoken to Bhagavan dasa who received your call today. If by Krsna's grace, things go well here, then I may be coming to Honolulu in two weeks. Thank you for keeping the temple in sound condition. Please make sure that sankirtana, classes, etc. all continue without fail ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** December 27th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Jayatirtha, Please accept my blessings. I have received your latest receipt from Bank of America dated 15, November, 1974 confirming $4235.43 that was sent to the Punjab National Bank in New Delhi. But I have not received as of yet any statement from them, indicating that the money has come. I have written them for that statement. Gurukrpa has deposited $63,752.54 to Dai Nippon under Credit note no. 134, dated December 19, 1974. Kindly animate this amount to Bank of America, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Mayapur-Vrndavana Fund, account no. 16026 in Bombay. I am enclosing one letter from Urdhvareta das to you and I request you to look it over very closely, make copies and present its proposal to the different GBC members. Ask them to send their opinions to you. Then please summarize these opinions and send them to me. Then I can decide on this matter. Thank you very much for installing the very nice Radha-Krsna Deities in Denver which I have named Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. The photographs which I received from the installation where very, very beautiful. I appreciated them very much. So do like that in every village and town. The matter is in the American hands. It must go on very nicely. That is my desire. My program is now to go to Mexico City and S. America on invitation from Hrdayananda Goswami. I will probably be stopping over in London on the way. I should arrive in Mexico City a little after mid-Jan. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** February 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Jayatirtha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 4, 1974.It is very reassuring for me that all our most important affairs located in world headquarters in Los Angeles are being well cared for under the guidance of your good self, Bali Mardan and Ramesvara. Therefore I have not become disturbed on that account because I know the BBT, Negotiations with Dai Nippon and financial matters are being taken care of even though Karandhara has left his post. Your desire to give me relief from having to worry about these matters shows that you have understood my desires, and I thank you very much. It is nice that you have taken this occasion to impress on the devotees there the necessity to be very serious in executing regulative principles, otherwise we will surely fall away. One who sticks strictly to these principles, will not, however fall down. Your statement, "The residents of New Dvaraka are praying for your mercy" is very nice. Let us meet all at Mayapur and chalk out a years work for our great mission. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** March 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear Jaya tirtha, Please accept my blessings. I have received two letters recently from Gandharva das Adhikari of the Los Angeles Temple. He is feeling some inconvenience, as he states it, due to the younger devotees not showing proper respect to him as he is their elder, old enough to be their father. So they should show the proper respect, as is befitting a Vaisnava, who offers respects to one and all. It is sometimes difficult for elderly people to live in our ISKCON society, so you have to make it as congenial as possible for them and see that they are peaceful in all respects. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgc.c.: --- Gandharva das Adhikari ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** March 15th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban My Dear Jaya tirtha, Please accept my blessings. There is a great blunder by the Union Bank in the matter of dispatching the monthly interest of $760.27 (Seven hundred and sixty dollars and twenty seven cents).As informed by your telegram they dispatched this amount to my account through the Charter Bank. I do not know when the Charter Bank received the money they advised the Punjab National Bank, however, on the 1st of March with some vouchers to be signed by me. As I was not here the vouchers were kept and yesterday I signed them. These vouchers have again been sent to the New Delhi branch to be again dispatched back to Vrindaban. According to the manager of the Vrindaban Punjab National Bank it will take 15 days. It has taken one month until I can get the money. That means we are losers of one month interest in transfer. How is it to be counteracted? We cannot wait so long to get the money here. The money, $100,000,00 (One hundred thousand dollars) which was dispatched through the Security Pacific Bank was immediately received in Vrindaban by the Punjab National Bank. Therefore to send money through the Security Pacific Bank is advisable because they have some corresponding interrelationship with the Punjab Bank. To send money through the Security Pacific Bank is profitable and safer. Under the circumstances you should immediately see the Union Bank Manager Mr. Art Schnieder and arrange to remit next payment through the Pacific Security Bank advising Punjab National Bank to immediately transfer, and if the Union Bank cannot do so, then I think I will have to transfer the account to the Security Pacific Bank. Please go and see the manager of the Security Pacific Bank whether they have direct correspondence with the Punjab National Bank, New Delhi. On the whole, see the money is remitted without delay. This is a great havoc that we haven't received the first installment yet, and I do not know of the second installment. Clear the matter and let me know by letter. Also see that a letter of advice is sent from the Union Bank. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** March 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay. My Dear Jaya tirtha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 20, 1974. I have noted the contents and duly received receipts for money deposited in the Union Bank. I understand three checks totalling $1,278.21 are sent for collection to various countries and you will notify me when these are credited to my account at the Union Bank. In your letter you made no reference to my letter of March 15 to you, and I am therefore enclosing a copy of same. Please let me hear from you on this. I want arrangement that the money from my interest of the Certified Deposit arrive at the Punjab National Bank three days after remittance by the bank in the U.S. If the Union Bank cannot arrange this I want you to inquire to see if the Security Pacific Bank is able to do it, as stated in my letter of March 15.In reference to your proposal that you switch banks in order to get higher rates that should be investigated very carefully that the bank is very reliable. Hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** May 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Jayatirtha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 16, 1974 and have noted the contents. Concerning how to induce grhasthas to take part in Krsna Consciousness activities rather than in activities of Maya it is very simple: they should attend the temple program rigidly. Morning arati, classes, sankirtana. We have given houses with the purpose to execute devotional service exactly like the Brahmacaris and sannyasis. Otherwise, why purchase houses near the temple? The whole idea is to live near the temple and take advantage of the temple program. Regarding the apartments, how is the rent being collected and where is it being deposited? Locana das may deposit his contributions with the Mayapur Vrindaban fund for going to the Krsna Balarama temple. Kindly advise the Union Bank to send the monthly interest to ISKCON Mayapur Vrindaban Trust Fund. I still don't know how many installments they have sent or how quickly they are getting the money to the Punjab National Bank in Vrindaban. As for grhastha worshiping Gaura Nitai deities that is only for those who live far away from the temple and cannot attend. Otherwise such worship is redundant: there is already deity worship going on in the temple and they should attend the aratriks, not install their own deities. The householding community in Los Angeles or any of our temples is not meant to be independent from the temple program. The impression of Lord Caitanya's feet which you brought from India may be kept in a picture, not that it is worshiped as a deity. Keep it as a picture. I will look forward to your regular reports. I know you have multifarious and complicated affairs to manage in our Los Angeles Center, and I know you are doing your best there. Just pray to Krsna to give you intelligence how to manage it all. The most important thing is that we must be ideal Krsna Conscious persons, and then we can attract others. This means chanting, reading my books, going on sankirtana, following the regulative principles and worshiping the deity. Whoever take part in these things, no matter what he has done of sinful activities before, will automatically advance in spiritual realization. This is the simple process and if we follow it we will become ideal. Otherwise, they will become victims of women and wealth. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** May 5th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Jayatirtha, Please accept my blessings. I have received your recent letters of April 16 and April 25 and have noted the contents. You have also written in a letter to Satsvarupa that temple donations are being put toward the Indian BBT debt. Please, let me know in this connection what is the amount taken from donations and transferred to the BBT account for the book debt by India? Also I will request you that as much book debt amount as you receive from donations you should again dispatch that amount in new books to India. There is not sufficient stock of books here. Whatever variety of books are in stock send according to the amount paid against the debt. I think you are aware Gargamuni Maharaja has formed a spiritual sky tours program and will be bringing about 70 life members on a world tour including of course the United States. I need to know from you whether the BBT has sufficient capital in the bank to cover the amount of $130,000.00. This amount will be required to cover their expenditure. Regarding the grhasthas houses, we have given these houses with the purpose that they should execute devotional service exactly like the Brahmacaris and sannyasis. Otherwise, why purchase houses near the temple? The whole idea is to live near the temple and take advantage of the temple program, which means morning arati, classes, sankirtana and all services connected with the temple. They are also members of the temple. Locana das may deposit his contributions with the Mayapur Vrindaban fund which will also go for the Krsna Balarama temple as is his desire. I am still not aware how fast the remittance is going from the Union Bank to the Punjab National Bank in Vrindaban. For example I have not received a report on when the interest for April, due payable April 10, actually reached Vrindaban. I have written the Punjab National Bank about this and am awaiting their report. You have asked about Gaura Nitai deity worship by the householders in Los Angeles. That is for those who live far away from the temple and cannot attend. Otherwise, such worship is redundant; there is already deity worship going on in the temple and they should attend the aratis, not install their own deities. The impression of Lord Caitanya's feet which you have there may be kept in a picture, not that it is worshiped as a deity. Keep it as a picture. Regarding your invitation that I attend the Rathayatra festival in San Francisco, on July 7th, it is possible that I may attend depending on when I finish my European tour. I am due to arrive in Rome on May 23, then after a week Geneva, the Paris and possible Stockholm, Germany and England. If there is time I can fly directly from Europe to Los Angeles and go to the festival, then as you suggest, go to Australia Rathayatra via Hawaii. This is known as jet-age parivrajakacarya. For the present I will be staying in Bombay for about two weeks, then to Delhi and Vrindaban before leaving for Rome. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- P.S. I want the monthly interest from the Union Bank to go to account 668 at the Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban, called "ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust Fund". At present they are sending the interest to the account number 6112. "A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami". So please go to the Union Bank and find out how this change may be brought about and let me know. Also I am enclosing a check for $21.00 (twenty one dollars) which I have received here. I want you to deposit this for me in the Union Bank, ISKCON MVT, and the savings deposit slip is enclosed ### Letter to Jayatirtha **Date:** May 5th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Jaya tirtha, Please accept my blessings. I have received a letter from Atreya Rsi das dated April 18, 1974. In that letter he mentions your name as follows:"I have received one letter from Jagadisa Prabhu who has been told by Tamala Krishna das Goswami Maharaja and Ramesvara Prabhu that recently more than one million dollars in funds from BBT, MVT and other contributors have been transferred into your personal accounts and that only yourself is in knowledge of the exact details of deposits and withdrawls."This report is inaccurate and very dangerous and it has concerned me very much. Since your name is mentioned here as making this report kindly write to me and let me know what is the actual fact as to what you said. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Jayatirtha & Karandhar **Date:** November 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Jayatirtha & Karandhar Prabhus, Please accept my humble obeisances. Regarding the corporate status of ISKCON in relation to Spiritual sky, it is desirable that Spiritual Sky separate itself from ISKCON so that ISKCON will not be subject to any debts incurred by Spiritual Sky. It is expected that in the near future the tax shelter that was offered to Spiritual Sky by ISKCON will not be available when the U.S. tax laws are changed. It is also understood that the Spiritual Sky management intends to separate itself from ISKCON in the near future. Further, in a memo dated October 16, 1974 written by Ramesvara it is stated: "For a number of reasons the temples around the Society in general have been completely dropping Spiritual Sky over the past three months as a permanent business function." Jayatirtha has also indicated that the future Spiritual Sky personnel policy is to phase out devotee participation as fas as possible. Therefore the conclusion is that the formal separation between Spiritual Sky and ISKCON should be concluded immediately. You are requested to make Spiritual Sky a separate entity and apart from ISKCON at the earliest possible. It is also considered that if a suitable price can be gotten for the business, then it may be sold. I hope this meets you in good health. Your servants, Brahmananda Swami, Bali Mardan das Adhikary, Bhagavan das AdhikaryApproved: ACBS(Initialed by Prabhupada) ### Letter to Jayatirtha, Sudama **Date:** October 24th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur My Dear Jayatirtha and Sudama Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am writing you because I have not received any letter from either of you regarding the banking business with Liberty Bank, Honolulu. I am very much anxious to know about this banking affair, so why are you not informing me anything? I have sent them my passbook and a withdrawal slip to pay Dollars 35,000.00 to Bank of America Branch 600, Los Angeles. I have also written Bank of America to transfer the amount to Punjab National Bank, New Delhi with special instructions to transfer the amount to Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban Branch, Account No. 668.Please immediately inform me about this matter. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Jayatirtha, Los Angeles; Sudama Goswami, Honolulu ### Letter to Jitaprana **Date:** December 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Dallas My dear Jitaprana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 10/10/74, and have noted the contents. Your desire for leading a sankirtana party, preaching and travelling is a very good one and I suggest that you talk to your temple president or GBC and try to arrange such a program if it is possible. If we sincerely try to serve Krsna then He will give you the ability and the facilities. So please continue your service with great enthusiasm and follow strictly all of our principles and regulations. This is the way to spread our Krsna Consciousness movement, the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. First of all one must become spiritually strong by following these basic principles staunchly and by learning our philosophy fully. Then his preaching will be very potent and many many people will become attracted. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Jose **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta My Dear Sriman Jose, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated November 1st, 1974 and I have noted the contents. I am very glad to see that you are seriously taking up this Krishna Consciousness Movement. I understand that you are distributing my books in Calcutta and I am very pleased by this activity. I also note that you are translating my books into Spanish and this of course will help our cause there in the Spanish speaking countries. So continue on with this service and Krishna will bless you. Unfortunately the leaders do not take this Krishna Consciousness movement as being very important. They would rather see to the development of various types of sense gratification. They think that this is progress but actually we understand that this leads to degradation of human society. So Krishna Consciousness movement is means to solve the actual problems of the world, So therefore it should be taken up very seriously. You yourself should be purified by following the rules and regulations very strictly by chanting Hare Krishna and by co-operating with the temple authorities. In this way you can make your life perfect as well as everyone you meet. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Kanu Gandhi **Date:** March 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Boston Dear Kanu Gandhi, Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 16 March, 1974.Regarding the sale of the temple building at 40 North Beacon St., the best thing is to go and consult with our president in charge of the Boston branch, Trai das Adhikari. Your desire to keep a personal temple room in your home is commendable, and you can do that in any case, wherever you are, by keeping an altar and offering your food to the Lord as prasadam. Our main purpose for keeping a large temple, however, is for inviting the public. I came to the U.S.A. just to try to give a chance to as many people as possible to take to Krishna Consciousness, because it is the only hope for humanity in this increasingly demoniac, godless age. So if you are seriously interested in maintaining a Vaisnava temple, why not go and try to help my disciples there in Boston, whether they are going to sell and relocate or remain, if you are financially able to assist them, that will be taken by Krishna as a great service. The young men and women at the ISKCON temple are giving everything they have for giving others a chance to come and worship at an authorized Radha-Krishna temple, so I request you to inquire into their situation and help them maintain our Vaisnava temple in the important city of Boston. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** May 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Encino, California My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. After receiving your letter of April 12, 1974, I sent you a telegram requesting you as follows: "Come immediately to Bombay. Everything is all right. Krsna will bless you." But I have received no word from you as yet. If you are not coming to India please let me know what your program will be. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** May 10th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Encino, California My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 1, 1974. I am glad to hear that you are agreeable to and making plans to come and join with me. Everyone has some potency. You have special potency. Do not waste it in the service of maya, but use it in the service of Krsna. Although there is inconvenience, we must endure it with a vow and finish our business in Krishna conscious service. As for you joining me, the following is my schedule; I will be leaving India on May 23 for Rome where I will be going to Via Misttetta 2, near Piazza Lodi, Rome 00182. On the 30th of May I will go to Geneva, Switzerland and will be at 9, chemin du Credo 1213 Petit Lancy. And on June 9 I will be arriving in Paris and will stay in Paris for a week. After this our program is not fixed up. I may tour in Europe or travel. So I hope you will be able to join me either in Rome, Geneva or Paris. I am very eager to meet with you so please try your best to arrive in Europe while I am there. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** July 14th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Vrindaban My Dear Karandhara das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your express letter dated July 6, 1974 and have noted the contents. The festival must be gorgeously done. It should not be poor. If there is a scarcity of money, it will be supplied. There must be full prasadam for all the guests. You plan for that, and I will supply the funds. Complete prasada distribution must go on. Regarding the temple not being finished on time, that is your responsibility. What can I do? I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsMy --- Dear Saurabha dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 25/6/74 redirected from Australia. In the meantime I have received one letter from Karandhara Prabhu, so I am replying two letters conjointly. I also request you to draw an exact similar plan like that of our Vrindaban temple and send it to Trinidad at the following address: ISKCON, 21 C Penbroke St., Port Of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies. The idea is that we have got a land there, one half acre, and we want to construct a similar temple like Vrindaban there. So I hope at your earliest convenience you will send the site plan at least to Trinidad as soon as possible. We have a proposed temple in Bhaktivedanta Manor, Letchmore Heath, London, and I hope in the meantime you might have received the same request from Madhavananda Prabhu. I am a little agitated in mind because Karandhara's letter says that there may be some work to be done even during the time of our festival. So far prasada distribution, it must be very gorgeously done for seven days. There is no scarcity of money. I shall supply. Simply you have to manage things. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** August 31st 1974 — **Location:** Mathura Dear Karandhara Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances. I have received your letter with enclosure dated August 21, 1974 and presented your proposal to Srila Prabhupada of his writing a memo to the negligent temples. The following was his reply:"I am not going to manage Spiritual Sky. This is ridiculous. Why they are dragging me into the management. Now the acharya is meant for handling business? Jayatirtha should handle this. He is the manager. Jayatirtha and Karandhara are the chief men. they should manage. Why I have to manage? They have big, big brains. Why they are failing? Now the Founder-Acarya has to manage. Without my consent the BBT has financed."He has suggested that the GBC take steps to correct the Spiritual Sky mismanagement, and that local GBC men request the temples under their jurisdiction of those listed in your letter to pay instead of Srila Prabhupada writing himself. He said that this is not the business of the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON.A memo to all GBC is being sent in this regard. I hope this meets you in good health. Your servant, Brahmananda SwamiPersonal Secretary ### Letter to Karandhara **Date:** October 8th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Los Angeles My Dear Karandhara das: Please accept my blessings. I am very pleased to receive your letter dated 9/11/74 and have noted the contents with great delight. The thing is where is the question of making any conspiracy. The materialistic man creates diplomacy and conspiracy for sense gratification. Everyone wants in the material world some reputation, profit, and some adoration. But so far we are concerned we are being trained up by following the footsteps of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye/ mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi [Cc. Antya 20.29, Śikṣāṣṭaka 4]. "My Lord I do not want any monetary gain, neither any number of followers, or wife, but simply I want to be engaged in Your causeless devotional service, which means I do not even want salvation." So if actually we follow the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, where is the question of conspiracy? This whole institution was started singlehandedly without any capital. I went to your country with only Rs. 40/- and 200 sets of books. So if we take the capital of the whole business, it was the books and the Rs. 40/-. The Rs. 40/- was not even touched because Indian Rupees currency could not be spent in your country. In 1967 when I came back to India the Rs. 40/- was paid for the taxi cab. The 200 sets of books was sold, and I was maintaining myself with great difficulty. Now by the grace of Krishna books sales have increased tremendously, and whatever money we are spending it is from the books sales; or whatever money is also being squandered that is also from the book sales. Now by the grace of Krishna we have got sufficient properties all over the world, so there cannot be any diplomacy or conspiracy by any sane man. All these properties and opulences, whatever we have got, this will not go with me when I go away from this world. It will remain here. I am training some of my experienced disciples how to manage after my departure. So if instead of taking the training, if in my lifetime you people say I am the Lord of all I survey, that is dangerous conspiracy. As alleged by you I have received complaints against Bali Mardan and his wife, so seriously so much so that the girl has declared that Bali Mardan is an incarnation of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on my name. In India some of the important members they have collected huge amounts in the name of the Society and spent it luxuriously. I wanted you all my experienced disciples should manage the whole institution very cleverly without any personal ambition like ordinary materialistic men. The Gaudiya Math institution has become smashed, at least stopped its program of preaching work on account of personal ambitions. So whatever is done is done. I shall request you all not to be personally ambitious. I shall do everything in my power to fulfill your personal ambitions, but that will be done in due course of time when you are fully trained up and following the regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds. So complaints against Bali Mardan is very serious, and I have appointed an enquiry committee, consisting of three men. Let us know the report. So far yourself is concerned, you know I had full faith in you, and whatever you did I never objected. But, in the meantime twice thrice you resigned. That has given me a little agitation. So kindly follow the regulative principles regularly chant 16 rounds and make up the deficit in Spiritual Sky, and gradually everything will come to its right position, and I hope Krishna will help us to adjust the present situation very peacefully. I believe all my students they are very serious devotees, maybe sometimes influenced by maya, but they can be corrected and the whole thing will go on as usual without any difficulty. Please try to help me in this connection in this endeavor. I hope you are living very peacefully with wife and children without being disturbed by anything else. More in my next. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Kausalya **Date:** January 12th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Kausalya, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of January 5, 1974, and the wonderful photograph of Radha Gokulananda, which arrived here safely. The sentiments you express are very praiseworthy in devotional service. Especially it is pleasing to me that you are so happy in your service to the deities. Krsna Consciousness means blissful life, and also that blissful life is eternal and full of knowledge. You say rightly that you are very very fortunate to be serving the Lord. So please work with the other ladies and with your Godbrothers at Bhaktivedanta Manor and make it such a blissful, peaceful atmosphere that many persons will be attracted to come and live with us. You will be glad to hear I am having the picture framed and put in a prominent place in my room. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ken Kaffke **Date:** October 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Ken Kaffec/o Russel Grisham P.O. Box 571Sausalito, California 94965 Dear Ken Kaffke: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your card from Radha Kunda with enclosed Travelers Cheque for Dollars 50.00. I thank you for this, and I am glad to learn that you are appreciating my books. The opening of the Vrindaban temple has been postponed to after March, 1975, so if you like you can come to our Gaura purnima celebration at Mayapur and then to the Vrindaban festival at that time. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** January 7th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your requests for initiations of devotees at New Vrindaban, contained in your letter of December 30, 1973. Upon your recommendation I am glad to accept the disciples for first initiation, and their spiritual names are as follows: Susan Burchell—Madanalasa dasi Jim Newsham—Jayanta dasa Evelyn Newsham—Candrarekhika dasi Sandra Chiefa—Kunjari dasi Haynes Busby—Hari-dhama dasa You may chant on their beads and instruct them seriously to always chant at least 16 rounds daily and obey the regulative principles. Only in this way is spiritual advancement possible. Your recommendations for second initiation, Taru das, Radhanath das and Parambrahma das are accepted by me and their sacred threads and gayatri mantras are enclosed. See that they hear the mantra from the tape I have made, and have them hear it in their right ear. Give them further instructions on standards of a Brahman. Thank you for the daksina check for one hundred dollars. Go on developing New Vrindaban: next month I am coming there. Is my apartment completed? Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** January 7th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 30, 1973. I was very pleased to hear your report of our cow protection program, and I had part of your letter read aloud to a group of devotees how you have one cow who will be giving 70-80 pounds a day. The cow is so wonderful and valuable in society. But you should also use the bulls by engaging them in tilling the ground. People may call this the primitive way but it is very practical for engaging the bulls—have them work in cart loading, transporting, etc. Regarding Srutakirti, I proposed to him that he go to New Vrindaban but he said he did no like farm work and so he wants to go to Caracas and perform deity worship in the temple. So I have already asked him but I will say again, how you require him at New Vrindaban and how he should work nicely there with the cows, under your guidance. You inquire whether you can make cheese? Why cheese? Make sufficient ghee. If you can send ghee to India that would be nice service as there is scarcely any ghee there. Cheese is not good. We should produce ghee so all our centers can have enough ghee. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** January 12th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > New Vrindaban Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I have received your two questions which you conveyed to Satsvarupa on the telephone. Regarding installing larger deities at the New Vrindaban farm temple, which is now exclusively for brahmacaris, yes, why not? Brahmin brahmacaris are very nice for deity worship. You have asked about Balarama Krsna deities. No, Balarama and Krsna are already there as Caitanya and Nitai: Vrajendranandana yei, saci suta hailas sei . . . The best thing is to establish Gaura Nitai deities. In Vrindaban we are establishing Balarama Krsna deities because most of the temples there have Radha Krsna and there is not Balarama-Krsna. That has a different purpose. We should not imitate that. Better to have Gaura-Nitai, Radha-Krsna, and Lord Jagannatha—that system must continue. Regarding what to do with the skim milk after the ghee has been produced. So far I have experience in India, after churning the butter the remnant is called gohle this gohle is called sour milk. Sour milk can be taken by the members of New Vrindaban along with food. In India in villages they have enough milk and sour milk is taken in place of water or in dahl with salt and pepper. So sour milk should be taken by the devotees and ghee used. Cheese is very valuable. Sometimes it is used by sweet meat shops in India and it is called khurcha. If you like you can make cheese but we require much quantity of ghee. My idea is that in India there is a great scarcity of ghee, but I don't think it is practical to send ghee from New Vrindaban to India. Anyway, go on developing New Vrindaban into an ideal community, and I shall be pleased to see the new additions when I come there. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** March 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Vrindaban Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I have received from you the name of one devotee recommended for second initiation, namely Anadih das Brahmacari. So I am enclosing sacred thread and gayatri mantra. Have him hear the tape of me chanting the mantra through his right ear. Give him all good instruction and incorporate him into the New Vrindaban scheme according to his best service propensities. I will be glad to be receiving your regular report on New Vrindaban which you can mail to me at the Bombay address. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** October 5th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > New Vrindaban My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 24, 1974 with enclosed check for Dollars 500.00, color photos, building plans, and one letter and check for Dollars 50.00 forwarded by you. I was thinking that I have not received any check from Kirtanananda since considerable time passed, so immediately Krishna has sent the check. Thank you. Regarding New Vrindaban I was very happy when I was there, not only myself but all devotees and GBC members all enjoyed the atmosphere of New Vrindaban, especially the cow protection scheme. May Krishna give more facilities to advance the cause of New Vrindaban, and I am expecting very soon to go there and live in my proposed palace at least for some time. From the pictures anyone will see that you have organized New Vrindaban very nicely. It is just like Krishna's Vrindaban. Now they are happy in New Vrindaban both animals and men. Here in one picture is Kirtanananda instructing the cow to chant Hare Krishna. In another picture the boys and the cows are being taken equal care. Everyone is living very peacefully and eating very nicely. There is so much land. This is real Vrindaban life. In Vrindaban Krishna calls the cows each by his own name. When cows were purchased in the beginning I have seen them crying because the calf was taken for killing. They can understand. Not that they are animal and cannot understand. The neighboring farmers come and they are astonished at the nice preparations made from their milk. I see in the small cottages they are living very, very happily. The cows are grazing, and the male members are doing the work. Local flowers are used for the garlands. Yes, New Vrindaban is almost a small state. Some of the rogues are envious. Rogues are always envious when they see something nice. Even Hayagriva will not leave that place. He is living very happily there. The plans for the palace are very nice. It is a temple, like Jagannatha temple. It is very calm and quiet there. I like it. In the beginning when Hayagriva purchased, I immediately gave him the idea of New Vrindaban—cow protection. On the whole our New Vrindaban scheme is successful. There is one vacancy in the GBC Board, so myself in consultation with Brahmananda Maharaja and Jayatirtha Prabhu, we have decided you can fill up the post. This will be confirmed in the next GBC meeting. In the meantime I wish you may accept this responsibility. My desire is that some of our experienced members who have proved their sincerity of service may form the GBC Board so that the management of the whole institution may go on smoothly, and I may be relieved of affairs of management which hampers my writing of books because my attention is diverted. At present the following members are on the GBC Board: 1. Jayatirtha, 2. Hrdayananda, 3. Rupanuga, 4. Jagadisa, 5. Satsvarupa, 6. Brahmananda, 7. Madhudvisa, 8. Hansadutta, 9. Bhagavan, 10. Bali Mardan, 11. Tamala Krishna. So I request you all to follow strictly the regulative principles, especially the chanting on the beads. GBC means to be a practical example to all residents of temples and devotees. If all of us follow this principle of purity, our spiritual position will remain sound, and maya will not touch us. mayam etam tarantite. A fully surrendered soul always remains untouched by the hand of maya. Otherwise it is not possible. Recently there has been some provocation in our Society regarding Bali Mardan and his wife. Jayatirtha has received a bunch of complaints. Similarly Brahmananda Maharaja has also received, so far so that his wife is eating chicken in the temple. This has hampered me very much, so I wish to form an investigation committee of three members, namely Tamala Krishna Goswami, Rupanuga Prabhu, and yourself. I am informing them also in this connection with a copy of this letter. So you combine together and investigate about the charges against Bali Mardan and his wife made by the following devotees: 1. Tosana Krishna, 2. Cindy Liston, 3. Kirtiraja, 4. Omkara Dasi, 5. Navadvipa 6. Ramesvara das, 7. Sudama Swami, 8. Jaya Ram das, 9. Sunita devi, 10. Gopala Krishna, 11. Atreya Rsi, 12. Anonymous. Kindly try your best to stop this provocation in our Society and I shall be much obliged to you all. Please submit your combined report as soon as possible. Also regarding the devotees you have recommended, I have accepted them and their names are as follows: Mike Hoare—Manonatha dasa, Tony Riccardi—Tejomaya, Alfred Tarantino—Ajeya dasa, Terry Sheldon—Tapahpunja dasa, Catherine Conners—Khastha devi dasi. I have also accepted the following as twice initiated: Candramauli das, Krsna-sravana das, Gopinatha das, Krpacarya das, Vahna das, Cirantana das, Gomata devi dasi, Vidya devi dasi, Bhaktiniddhi devi dasi, Vrajasana devi dasi, Vrajeswara devi dasi, Visvadika devi dasi. The threads duly sanctified are enclosed. You can impress upon the initiates that they are taking vows at the fire sacrifice before Krishna and Radha, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas, so they should not deviate or fail to follow our principles. I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Tamala Krsna Goswami, New YorkRupanuga Prabhu, Miami ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** October 25th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > New Vrindaban My Dear Kirtanananda Swami: Please accept my blessings. In India ghee is needed in our temples. I want to know if you can supply ghee by exporting it from USA. The quantity is 100 lbs. for Mayapur and 100 lbs. for Vrindaban per month. I am prepared to pay you for it in dollars at the fair market price. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** November 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Vrindaban My Dear Kirtanananda Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 22, 1974 with enclosed copy of Brijbasi Spirit and your check for Dollars 500.00. Thank you very much. Here in India one important Hindi paper has published a big article on your New Vrindaban and they much appreciated it, and gave very good report. I have asked them to reprint the article here. So you develop New Vrindaban to your hearts content, and when my palace will be ready I shall go there and stay. I like very much that place, very calm and quiet. Yes, following the rules and regulations is the real qualification of GBC. We have made things easy for being qualified for such position, but still they are violating. Haridasa Thakura only took one of the items, the chanting, and he was so affectionate to Lord Caitanya. He was doing nothing, just chanting, but that means that he was doing everything. Your conclusion is very good and I very much appreciate that GBC or XYZ you are always servant of Krishna. That is wanted. I have not yet received the written report of the Enquiry Commission, but one telegram is received and I am telegrammed Bali Mardan to immediately come here. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- The names for the newly initiated devotees you have recommended will follow in my next letter ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 18th, 1974, with your recommendations for first and second initiations. The following are those who I have accepted as my disciples and they are to be given the Hare Nama Initiation. Their names are as follows. Jerry Boy—Janakisa Dasa. Bill Jones—Bimbadhara Dasa. Cris Hall—Krpamaya Dasa. So far these second initiations are concerned, I accept the following as duly initiated twice born Brahmans. Yajnabhuk Dasa. Lalitasakhi Devi Dasi. Rasa-lila Devi Dasi. The appropriate sacred thread and mantra sheets are enclosed. You can chant on the beads and hold a fire sacrifice and the Gayatri Mantra can be listened to through the right ear from my tape recording. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Kirtanananda **Date:** November 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Kirtanananda Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 6, 1974 with the enclosed investigation report. In your letter you mention a recent letter relating to Bali Mardan's plan to infiltrate East Coast temples. What is that letter? Regarding the prasadam, I never approved Mr. Malkani cooking in the temple. He is not initiated. Of course he is Hindu, but he went there to start his business. But, he is not initiated to cook in the temple. Any paid cook is not desirable. Who was cooking formally? He wanted to start his business, not to be engaged by us. The independent cooking done in the temple kitchen is not good.*Why Taittiriya should have a servant? Godbrothers are not meant for being servants. Without the spiritual master's order, nobody can utilize the service of a godbrother as one's personal servant. We address each-other as prabhu, so how can we engage our godbrother as servant? Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu engaged Govindadas who was His god brother as His servant, but that was only on the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's spiritual master. So the best thing is that Bali Mardan live with me. This is the only solution. Regarding ghee for India, what is the price? Australia is also sending in exchange of books. We have received from Australia ghee for Rs. 10-per kg. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- *The right thing is that only twice initiated brahmana disciples cook in the temple ### Letter to Kirtiraja **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Los AngelesSriman Kirtiraja das: Please accept my blessings. I have seen your letter dated November 12, 1974 addressed to Brahmananda with enclosed samples of the Christmas cards and the calendar. The pictures are very nice. This sort of painting was done during the Muslim Moghal period. But, we don't encourage Christmas greetings. They are nice pictures undoubtedly. It is all right, but the general public will take Krishna as an ordinary man. This will deteriorate from the standard. Every picture is with the gopis. People are generally inclined to man and women connection, and by selling these pictures will affirm their sinful activities in the name of Krishna. These are not meant for the common man but for advanced devotees. If we would distribute them, they would misuse it. I hope you can understand this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Kirtiraja das Adhikary **Date:** November 24th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Kirtiraja das AdhikaryBBT3764 Watseka AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90034Dear Kirtiraja das AdhikaryPlease accept my humble obeisances. I am due receipt of your letter dated November 10, 1974, and have noted the contents. Regarding the correct form for Srila Prabhupada's name for appearing in publishing books, it should be as follows: BHAKTIVEDANTA, SWAMI A.C.You should see that henceforth all 13 volumes of Srimad Bhagavatam are listed, in Four Cantos, and that they are published by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The Krsna books can be listed as: KRSNA. However in the formal name of the Society the KRISHNA form is used. I hope this meet you in good health. Your servant, Brahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryApproved: ACBS(Initialed by Prabhupada) ### Letter to Kisora **Date:** December 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Edinburgh My dear Kisora, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 11-12-74 and have noted the contents. If you like you can come immediately to Bombay and work under the direction of Giriraja who is also anxious to have you as an assistant. At the present moment there are no facilities for householders, therefore you can come alone and in a short while when the householder facilities are better than you can call for your wife. I will be here in Bombay until probably mid-Jan. then I may go to Australia. Please follow all of our regulative principles, such as rising early, attending classes and without fail chant 16 rounds and follow our 4 regulative principles. Without these things your spiritual life will be hampered. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Krpasindhu **Date:** March 6th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur Dear Krpasindhu, Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your report of activities in the Regina, Canada temple and your presentation of pictures of Radha and Krsna Deity which are very attractive. I hope you are becoming more enthusiastic by your stay in Mayapur and when you return to Canada you will go on increasingly in your preaching work. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Krsna dasa **Date:** April 5th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Stockholm Dear Krsna das, Please accept my blessings. Here in India we require paper of the size of "Back to Godhead" magazine, and I wish to know if you can supply it from Stockholm. We would like to purchase first-quality paper, so please let me know the ways and means. Send paper samples and prices and also let me know how things are going on there. I have not received a report since Ajita sent one in January. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Krsna dasa **Date:** June 9th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > San Francisco My dear Krsna das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 30 from San Francisco. It is pleasing to me to here you are happily engaged in devotional service and living as an ideal grhastha. Please go on as you are doing: keep your business separate and wherever you remain keep your family in Krsna Consciousness always chanting Hare Krsna and observing the regulative principles. Cultivate your business for Krsna, remain happy in Krsna Consciousness and always serve Krsna. Your name is already Krsna das so your new boy may be given the name Krsna das-anudas, the servant of the servant of Krsna [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. This was the position desirable to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Krsnakatha **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Toronto My Dear Krsnakatha Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated September 30th, 1974 and have noted the contents. So far I know the paintings are coming out nicely from the press so if you like you can remain with your wife in Montreal. You can also paint like Devahuti does by the instructions of the press managers. There is no hindrance of your being a householder so far as distributing books are concerned. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu had many householder disciples who would preach Krishna Consciousness. I understand recently in Toronto the entire temple distributed many "Isopanisads" and other books. So you can engage your self in spare time in this book distribution without any hindrance. Side by side you can also paint pictures for Krishna. In this way fully engage yourself in Krishna's service. That is what I want. Nothing else. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Ksirodakasayi **Date:** May 11th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > London Dear Ksirodakasayi, Please accept my blessings. Since the Mayapur and Vrindaban festivals in March I have been mostly staying here in our Hare Krishna Land. It is a large estate and requires much management. Today I was talking with Caitya Guru das Brahmacari who is the ground manager here and he suggested that your good self come here to take charge of general management here as the younger devotees are having so much difficulty. Actually the idea of a more mature Indian for management here is very suitable to me. The karmis who the boys deal with here are always cheating them, and only because I am here I catch so many things. As I am leaving on the 23rd May for a tour starting in Rome, I am fearful what will happen here in my absence? I take this suggestion of yourself as manager of Hare Krishna Land as a very sound idea. If you are agreeable to help by service in this way then come immediately to Bombay and help the situation. Giriraja das Brahmacari is the president here, Manasvi and Yasomatinandana and Caitya guru and the important managers, but they are all very young men with not much experience of the world. I understand you are now prepared to take on full time service of this nature, so I think this is the best place for you. I have invested about 20 lacs in this property and already the routine devotional service, deity worship and sankirtana is going on, but at present the police commissioner has denied us sanction to build our big temple according to our plans, and also the status quo is threatened as I do not think the boys can manage the buildings and land which we own here. Potentially things can be very wonderful here but it requires strong management which I think you can do. So consider my proposal seriously and I hope you will be able to come and lead management of Hare Krsna Land. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgPS. --- I am coming to Paris by the 9th of June 1974 ### Letter to Ksirodakasayi **Date:** August 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > London My Dear Ksirodakasayi das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your kind appreciation on the Vyasa Puja Day. Your sentiments are appreciated by me. It is stated by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura it is only by pleasing the Spiritual Master that one can be assured of pleasing Krishna. So my only request to my disciples all over the world on this day is to go on pushing on this movement with determination and sincerity, rigidly following the principles I have given you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Ksirodakasayi **Date:** October 18th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > London My Dear Ksirodakasayi das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 28, 1974 and have noted the contents. Yes, the Mahabharata is an authoritative book. It is considered the fifth veda. But, quotations must be given from the original Mahabharata. Regarding your question on demigod worship, there are so many demigods, and the qualities may be overlapping. Demigod worship is meant for materialistic men whether in goodness, passion, or ignorance. Those in the transcendental position above the qualities of the material world worship Visnu. Most people do not know that Visnu is the ultimate aim of worship. The varna-asrama system is organized with this purpose, to worship Visnu. So far we are concerned, we never recommend to worship any demigod either in goodness, passion or ignorance. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Kurusrestha **Date:** February 14th 1974 — **Location:** New Delhi > Denver Dear Kurusrestha das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 24, 1974 which has only now reached me due to my travelling. Your report on activities in Denver center is very comprehensive and I can understand you are feeling full responsibility for all the devotees and operations under your care. Actually the more selfless dedication you apply yourself with, the more Krsna will be pleased and the more he will give you intelligence how to expand the preaching in His Name. The devotees you have recommended for first initiation are accepted by me and their new spiritual names are as follows: John Kuiper—Jyoti dasaBuddy Woodley—Bhara-dhariSuzanne Soucy—Svarga-dasiBobbie Mendelson—Puja-dasiInstruct them in the chanting process and the seriousness of following the vow to chant at least 16 rounds daily and avoid the four sinful activities. I hope you will be coming to Mayapur for the Appearance Day celebration of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Your well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Kurusrestha **Date:** December 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Denver My dear Kurusrestha, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 12, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully, along with the photographs and installation souvenir. I thank you very much for your kind donation of $100.00. Your report is very encouraging and I was very, very happy to see the wonderful photographs of your installation ceremony there. That installation was very, very auspicious. From the photographs it appeared so nice and Vedic. I was looking at those photographs again and again. Such a wonderful ceremony. So now you must see that the service to your Deities will go on very nicely. You should make it first class, just like in our Los Angeles and New Vrndavana centers. You have a very nice temple room there and now Radha and Krsna have come. So you must treat Them very nicely. Then many many devotees will be attracted by the bhakti. I am also glad to hear that in your temple no one misses mangala arati and that everyone is becoming steady and peaceful in their service. It sounds as if you are taking care of your men very nicely. This is first class management. Please continue in this kind of management. Regarding your farm, that will be very nice. But be sure to maintain your temple there in Denver. It is a very beautiful temple. Do not loose it. Also your idea of forming a trust between ISKCON and the leading men in the Indian community is approved by me. That is very nice. Let the Indians take part in our movement and help us to push on this mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In that trust you must be very careful to make sure that my name is registered there as the founder-acarya and that I am to be the ultimate authority. In other words, in any case of necessity of vetoing or cancelling any decision made by the other trustees, I should be able to do like that. My decision should over-rule all the other trustees combined. I have accepted the following devotees for first initiation; Martin Babor—Madhvacarya dasa, Bruce Roberts—Bahulavan dasa, Jenny Roberts—Jalasayi devi dasi, Steve Schecter—Siddhanta dasa, Joe Asheraft—Jitadusana dasa, Tove Olson—Trpti devi dasi and Richard Santoro—Rangaji dasa. Their beads can be chanted on by Kirtanananda Swami. I have accepted the following devotees for second initiation; Svavasa dasa Adhikari, Tadit devi dasi, Dhanavir das Brahmacari, Arthada dasa Brahmacari. Their threads and mantra sheets are enclosed herein. Make sure that they hear the gayatri mantra from the tape of myself. They should hear through the right ear. Your Deities names are Radha-Govinda. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Kuvera, Rebati **Date:** July 16th 1974 — **Location:** Dallas > Los Angeles My Dear Kuvera das and Rebati devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 12, 1974 with the enclosed check of $100 as daksine for your first anniversary if initiation. I thank you very much for this and thank you for your kind letter also. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Lilasakti **Date:** November 5th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > London My Dear Lilasakti devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 26, 1974 with enclosed photograph of your Krishna. Krishna is so kind that although he is ajit, unconquerable, He can be possessed by the devotee. From love He allows this. This is the great position of the devotee. I am glad to see that you are advancing in Krishna consciousness by this worship of the Deity. This is the practical application to what we find stated in the Bhagavad-gita, man manah bhava mad bhakto, mad yaji mam namaskuru. We do not speculate on what Krishna says but we follow whatever He says implicitly. I also follow this process. Every morning I go to the temple and see the Deity and offer obeisances, so I expect each and every one of my disciples should also follow what I have given in this connection, arising early, taking bath, attending mangal arati. yuktasya bhaktams ca niyunjato 'pi. The Deity is non-different from Krishna Himself. This we have to understand. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Lilavati **Date:** May 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Lilavati, Please accept my blessings. As for your questions you have asked for clarification in the KRSNA Book when Maha Visnu says to Krsna and Arjuna that you are my incarnations in my appearance as Nara-Narayana. So you are asking how this can be so. The answer is when Krsna comes all the incarnations are within him. Actually this is a very intricate question. So not be so concerned about it now. When you become more advanced you will be able to realize these things. You have asked if the Yadu dynasty has continued beyond Satasena. Yes, there are ksatriyas who claim to belong to the Yadu dynasty today especially in Mathura and nearby places. How to acquire the quality of patience. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has already given us that answer: One can chant the Holy Name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street, more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the Holy Name of the Lord constantly. So there will be, that in our preaching we will meet with many tribulations, that is patience. So I understand you are recuperating from an operation. So spend this extra time reading all our books, chanting as many rounds as possible, and if you can go on doing my tapes. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Lilavati **Date:** August 6th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Geneva My Dear Lilavati devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 14, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to learn that your illness is cured. You can take it that it is Krsna's mercy. So now I think you have got good engagement there, so continue it always thinking of Krsna at every moment. At present Vaikunthanatha Prabhu is doing the typing of the tapes, so if you remain there and work in the pujari department nicely, then that will please me. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madame Srimate Lilavati Munshi **Date:** March 12th 1974 — **Location:** New Delhi Dear Madame Srimate Lilavati Munshi; Kindly accept my greetings. When I was in Mayapur I received your invitation letter dated February 26; I received your letter on March 3rd, and was not able to attend, but I thank you very much. I am returning to Bombay by the end of March. If at that time you are there I shall be very glad to meet you. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhava **Date:** May 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Paris My dear Madhava devi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 1974. Yes there is no objection to your casting clay forms of Deities into plaster. I understand you are a nice artist in this medium, so make Deities of Gaura-Nitai and send me photographs of the forms. We can discuss this further when I come to Paris. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** September 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhavananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 10, 1974 hand delivered by Paramahamsa Swami with enclosed color photos and cans of ghee. Your success there has given me great pleasure, and I thank you very much for your sincere service in fulfilling the mission of my Guru Maharaja. In the foreign countries you are getting so many Indians, and they are not getting even here in India. Now in U.K. the Indians are getting life. They are Krsna conscious, but now they are getting the chance to serve Krsna. The pictures are wonderful, and I am getting them framed and will hang them in my quarters here. We are creating new life for the Indians in England. This is your credit, both husband and wife. You are so enthusiastic. Kausalya was loitering as an uncared for girl in Honolulu. She saw me and offered her obeisances, and I immediately picked her up. Now by coming to Krsna consciousness she is coming to her full potency and strength. There is great potency for developing there in Letchmore Heath. You should purchase the entire village. Whenever I go to Letchmore Heath I remember Vrindaban and say it is Vrindaban. It is like seeing from Kesi ghat the other side of Vrindaban. It is like that. If they do not like the noise of our kirtana there, we shall make it more noisy. So go on performing Hari kirtana for the villagers. They shall get out, not us. Simply by the noise of kirtana the demons actually go away. I am advising them here to make the center here attractive to all kinds of men and to follow your example. Regarding Damji, it is not good that he pushes his guru to sit down with me. This should be cautiously avoided. Anyway, if his guru has gone away and is not returning that is all right. The Indians are there for so many years, but they had no place. There are so many Hindu centers but no life. Here is life, as I can see in these pictures. It is good that you are making a parking lot, and that you are splitting the collection for BBT and construction. Krsna is giving you chance because you want to serve. It is all Krsna's grace. Krsna says "tesam satatam yuktanam . . ." Anyone who is sincerely engaged in My service I give him the intelligence. So if Krsna gives the intelligence who can compete with you? Krsna is the most intelligent. Regarding the election there for President of the temple, I understand that you received the vote. So you should be the president. I am putting my casting vote for you. I have informed Hansadutta this by post. I am very shocked that he has closed the Edinburgh temple. This is very serious matter. Why has he done this? It is against the principles of devotional service to whimsically close a temple. I have written him that the temple must be reopened if possible. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- You may inform Kulasekhara that I have received his letter in the above connection ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** October 1st 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhavananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram dated September 28 reading as follows: OBEISANCES RECEIVED PLEDGES FIFTY THOUSAND FROM LIFE MEMBERS INITIAL DONATIONS FOR TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION YOUR CONSENT OVERRULED BY HAMSADUTA STOP AM CONFUSED PLEASE INSTRUCT YOUR EAGER SERVANT—MADHAVANANDAI have also received your letter dated September 20, 1974 and noted the contents. Regarding the election I have already suggested that you hold another election in the presence of Hansadutta and Bhagavan dasa with all members present, and to take that decision as final. There are so many contradictory statements in this matter. Regarding the Parikrama in the village if they object, then don't agitate them unnecessarily. They are Christians, so why do it? You say that the houses are being put up for sale, but where is the money to buy them? What about the Life Member fees you are collecting? If you are keeping them for temple construction, they may be used to purchase these houses for the householder devotees. BBT loan is not meant for residential quarters. You purchase and they will pay rent and you get interest. Use the temple construction fund for this purpose. You say that you have gotten L50,000 in pledges, but we will require much more. Regarding the 99 year lease, yes do it and construct the temple. I know that George will not ask us to vacate. He is not that type of man. But, still there should be some relationship. We don't want proprietorship. Krsna is the proprietor and He will manage His own affair. But, the worker must be very sincere. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** October 6th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhavananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 2, 1974 with enclosed pictures. Regarding Hansadutta, you cannot criticize him. Hansadutta is liquidating the debts. You were there but you could not liquidate, but Hansadutta has come and he is liquidating. Canakya Pandit says that a happy man is he who lives at home and who has no debts. London was so much in debt that it was something shameless. I have not said anything until now, but I was very sorry to see in the temple that the chandelier was taken down. The temple was almost dark without the chandelier. I had told to Syamasundara that I wanted it, and he borrowed, but then he could not pay, so it was taken. I am prepared to give you fair chance, but you cannot criticize Hansadutta. Let there be re-election in the presence of two GBC men. We should utilize our talents without being envious of others. You should do your best, but you should not be envious of others. In material life there is simply envy of others progress, but in spiritual life one encourages another, "Oh you are doing very nice." That is Radharani. She says oh here is a very nice devotee. Please Krishna, you accept him. From the pictures it appears that the Deity worship is going on very nicely. Krishna is very satisfied by His face. He looks very healthy. He is very fond of milk and butter. He is a butter thief. You have now got cows, so offer nicely. I have asked that the picture be framed. I think that the Deity worship is almost better than our Los Angeles center. The Life Member room is very nice. They should have like that here. The Ratha is very gorgeous. I have already written that if there is complaint, you should not agitate the villagers. If you have complaints against Hansadutta, then they can be presented at the GBC meeting at Mayapur and a decision can be taken. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** December 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhavananda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 1, 1974 and have noted the contents. Of course I was here in India, so I could not attend your Diwali-Govardhana Puja function, but I understand it was very nice. I am glad to understand that you are living and working peacefully with the others there. This is required. If we also fight and preach Krishna consciousness, what will people say? Therefore Lord Caitanya has stated: trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. Another symptom of a sadhu or spiritually advanced man is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam by Lord Kapila: titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva dehinam [SB 3.25.21]. The symptoms of a sadhu is that he is tolerant, merciful, and friendly to all living entities. I may also refer to a letter to you from Mr. Mody dated November 1, 1974. It appears that Kausalya has annoyed him very much so that he could resign his membership. So I want to know what is the cause. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** January 1st 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Madhavananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 19th, 1973. I can understand that you are seriously absorbed in trying to push on our movement in England. Regarding your point about the tax returns from donations made to our Society, this can be a good opportunity for us so please go ahead and try to make our status like the churches in England who are receiving 40% tax refund from donations. There should be no difficulty since we are a registered group in getting this status. So please do it in cooperation with Bhaktipremode who is an experienced businessman and understands how to do it. You also work with the accountant, Mr. Amin, and manage the affair. Since one Center has to be our leading Center in London, you may make it the Bhaktivedanta Manor for the legal purpose of registration. You say that one person must be in charge of the accounting so you are getting experience with your friends Mr. Amin and Bhaktipremode so you become the responsible person for this affair. Take instruction from them and do the needful. The very hopeful program, I want to construct very big Temples in England so please take care and do it nicely and expertly. Regarding expanding the various programs such as Sankirtana in England, if you work combinedly you can do it. Hansadutta may also come and assist you. He has good experience in Sankirtana. As for sending devotees to India, I may have said to send 14 men, but if you have 2 or 3 experienced men who are ready to go now, send them immediately. You should not send devotees who do not intend to stay there and work there. That is simply a waste of money. The English boys are able to stay 3 years in India because they are citizens of the Commonwealth so we should take advantage of this. Hence they should go as soon as possible, especially those who are fixed up and steady. The main difficulty there seems to be lack of full cooperation. I have written to you to become responsible and to manage things. However, at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, as anywhere, the local president is in charge. That is Mukunda. The reason why there is difficulty and competitive spirit is that everyone wants to be supreme. That is the difficulty. You have experience in the standard of our Krsna Consciousness Temples so you have to work together with Mukunda and combinedly raise the standard of the English Temples to our Krsna Conscious standard. Everyone should follow the rules and regulations. This is very important. There is a standard of behavior for devotees living in the Temple and everyone who lives in the Temple must follow that standard, or else we will automatically fall down. We have been given such a nice big facility at Bhaktivedanta Manor so it is not for our eating and sleeping. Rather, on receiving such a nice place from Krsna we should take it as an indication that we must now work harder. So I know that all the boys and girls there are enthusiastic to follow, so you leaders see that the Krsna Conscious standards in regard to initiation, cleanliness, dress and activities of the devotees, the restriction of association between men and women, all be strictly followed. Devotional service cannot be done whimsically. In regard to security, yes there should be security. There should be 1 or 2 men who are in charge of the Deity room. I have written a letter to Mukunda in this connection and I hope you will together see that this is done. I am asking you to take a new heart and try to cooperate with each other there. There is always some difference because we are not impersonalists, we are personalists and everyone is different. However we have our standard so everything must be conducted on the basis of Krsna Consciousness as I have taught it. You and your wife are there and you are both experienced members so why not take advantage and try to improve the situation there rather than think of moving? If we have to constantly move until we find the situation where there is no personal difficulty in relationships then we may never get down to our real work. Just put our differences aside and work for the greater cause to organize a nice Temple there. I will be glad to hear from you on these points. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** January 4th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Madhavananda, Please accept my blessings. One of my disciples, Niranjana das Brahmacari, has won a scholarship to study in Glasgow, Scotland. Allow him to stay in our Temple and take prasadam there. Hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG --- cc: Niranjana das Brahmacari ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** February 1st 1974 — **Location:** Hong Kong > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Madhavananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 14, 1974.Please see that accounts are kept carefully, not that money is taken for whimsical expenditure. Be vigilant. Syamasundara has made a scandal by taking money of the society's and investing it in business. This kind of thing should be carefully watched. I am still awaiting repayment from Shayamasundar. Please pursue the projects underway. Your attempt to construct a temple from donation of life members is welcome. Also your plan to get large tax returns. Now do it cooperatively. You are intelligent and experienced—all work together there for the glory of Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement. I am leaving tomorrow night for New Delhi and shall be there by the 3rd February. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** July 20th 1974 — **Location:** New Vrindaban > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhavananda das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter hand delivered by Brahmananda Swami. I have written to Saurabha Prabhu to send you the same pattern plans for your temple construction. You should build in the same pattern, not different. More when we meet soon. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** August 6th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhavananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 3, 1974 and also the juicer. Regarding the meeting you propose, you may arrange it, and I shall come. For Janmastami I am already engaged here, but your proposed meeting is very encouraging. So when you expect me, let me know, and I shall make my program. The Indians there have been cheated by so many rascal swamis who have come simply to collect money and then leave. So our work will be done locally. Regarding the plans for the temple, I have just now spoken with Saurabha and you shall be getting the plans very soon. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhavananda **Date:** August 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Madhavananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram dated August 14, 1974 and am very glad to learn that you had a very successful Janmastami celebration. This is Krishna's special mercy upon you. I think our next big upcoming project will be in London. You are a fortunate boy, both you and your wife. Wherever you go, you are successful in your devotional service. So I am looking forward to ever-growing success there in London. The Indians there are now coming to realize that they have been simply cheated by all the rascal swamis and yogis. So you must be sincere, always strictly following the principles and work with determination and patience. The secret of success in spiritual life is to please your spiritual master. Then, and only then can you be sure that Krsna is pleased. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** January 12th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Sydney Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 7, 1974.Regarding the confusion you have about receiving book from India, you may go ahead and send ghee in exchange for the books. I have already discussed this with Karandhara. The books were given to India. From India there was no possibility of sending money. Therefore if you get the books you should send ghee in return. I have seen the monthly book distribution report and your name, Australia, is first among the world distributers. This is very pleasing to me and indicates you are leading all others in preaching and spreading the mission of Krsna Consciousness. As for obtaining a deity after the style of Bankebehari, we shall discuss that further at another time whether it is possible. I am going back to India via Honolulu on next Monday. I am very much encouraged by your activities in selling books. So not only you shall supply ghee in exchange of books supplied by Gargamuni Swami. In the future we may need large quantities of ghee in our different centers because after going back to India I shall see that in every temple food distribution goes on nicely. Australia is famous for producing wheat and milk products. My question is whether you can supply as contribution to our ISKCON centers in India, wheat and ghee in exchange of books. If it is possible then consult with the Trustees of BBT and consider the matter and do the needful. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** March 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the two Melbourne devotees for initiation as recommended by you and their names are given as follows: Charles of the Sea—Praceta dasaChristian—Camari dasiPlease instruct them in the ten offenses to chanting and hold a fire yajna there. You may chant on their beads. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** April 6th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > San Francisco Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am not exactly certain of your whereabouts now; I trust your arrangements for visa are going on and that you will soon be back in Australia. I am presently fixing a traveling schedule for visiting Paris, France in the second week of May. Then I will visit, Geneva, Rome, Stockholm, and three or four cities in Germany, each place for no more than four or five days. So since I will not have to return to India until August, after Europe I can go to Australia for your Rathayatra if you can purchase our tickets. You can reply to me here in Bombay until the second week of May, when we shall go to Paris. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgc.c. --- to ISKCON MELBOURNE ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** April 11th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > San Francisco Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of March 31, from San Francisco and I have noted the contents. I do not think that you have failed in your work there, but by your going and preaching it appears the temple life has much improved. That you could not convince Bhutatma to stay as president is not your fault. Now you stay at New Jagannatha Puri, your first spiritual home until you are sure the new president, Bhakta dasa is fully understanding of how to conduct things. I know he has done nicely in San Diego. One thing is they should never consider leaving or selling that building, but they should stay there as Radha and Krishna are staying, and it is a nice temple as evidence by the fact that over 250 people attended the Sunday feast by your report. The description of the play, "The Death of the Yadus" is all right. I have written you earlier that my plans are to travel to Paris by mid May and then spending 4 or 5 days in each place, I will visit Geneva, Rome, and three or four cities in Germany. Then I will be prepared to go to Australia for Rathayatra. So let me hear from you in this regard. I am glad you have cleared your visa matters and that you can return to your GBC zone of work. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** May 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. Please find the enclosed copy of a letter I have sent to Bhurijan. He has written me that he has stepped down from his duties as president of Hong Kong and has given them to Devaprastha. I think Bhurijana was doing nicely preaching to the Chinese boys but he has written that he is uninspired and feeling incapable and wants to spend more time with his wife. This sudden turn of events is a surprise to me. Moreover he admits that the boy who is taking over, Devaprastha has been very unsteady in the past. So whether you want to send someone there who is more steady and will stay there and develop. There is definite potential there and it is a wealthy city. If you can enlighten me more on the subject of why Bhurijana is leaving I would appreciate it. I heard you were still in Los Angeles. When will you be returning to Australia? Jaya tirtha has written inviting me to the Rathayatra in San Francisco on July 7. I will be in Europe until the end of June and I may go to the Ratha yatra in San Francisco on July 7. Jaya tirtha said the festival is so timed that I can also go to the Australia Rathayatra also. What is the date of your Rathayatra? I have written you several times on this point, whether you want me to attend Rathayatra in Australia. If you like I can leave San Francisco and fly to Australia via Hawaii. So let me hear from you on the above mentioned points. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** May 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Melbourne My dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I understand that you are preparing for my arrival for your Rathayatra. I am not sure of your Rathayatra date but I think it is at the end of June. However at this time I will be in Europe. I am to arrive in Rome on the 23rd, then on the 30th to Geneva, then June 6 to Paris. On June 15 I go to Koln where Hansadutta has arranged a lecture tour continuing in Heidelberg and Amsterdam through July 6. So it will not be possible for me to attend Rathayatra if you have scheduled it for June. I am immediately going to the US after Europe to attend Rathayatra in Chicago on July 6 and then Rathayatra in San Francisco on July 8. From there I will come to Australia toward the middle or end of July. If it is possible for you to reschedule your Rathayatra for the end of July then I will attend. But I will come to Australia at that time anyway. I do not know if you will be able to reschedule your Rathayatra. So if you wish to communicate with me I will be in the European cities as dated above. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** May 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Melbourne My dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your telegram dated May 16. I have also received a previous telegram in which you said you sent us tickets Air India, London-Melbourne round trip. However I will not be going to London. My schedule is to leave tomorrow morning to Delhi-Vrndavana and on the 23rd of May go to Rome. Bhagavan Das has made a tour including Rome, Geneva and ending June 15 Paris. Thereafter Hansadutta has invited me to Amsterdam June 15. There is a meeting in Koln, Germany June 22. Immediately thereafter I can leave to Melbourne from Koln and stay as you requested through June 29. As regards to the tickets you have already sent I have not received them yet and we are leaving tomorrow. Moreover they are for London departure. I think the best thing to do is to cancel the tickets and arrange new tickets for us from Koln to Melbourne and return. You can mail these tickets to me care of Paris, France center so long as they reach there by June 14. My party consists of three; myself, Neil Delmonico (Nitai) and Stephen Guarino (Satsvarupa Maharaja), (Pradyumna has left us for sometime). I will expect your tickets when we arrive in Paris and I will be very pleased to attend the gorgeous Melbourne Ratha-yatra festival. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** May 28th 1974 — **Location:** Rome > Melbourne My dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I have heard that you are very keen to make the Melbourne Rathayatra very wonderful and you have requested extra instructions. One thing is there are many band parties—if you can get band parties to join that would be nice. Our men should hold kirtana just in front of the ratha, and other parties may proceed before us. I think we will accept your invitation to join us when we break our journey to Melbourne by stopping somewhere in Malaysia, probably Jakarta, where you say we have good friends who would like to accommodate us with a place to stay. We shall inform you positively of the date of arrival there when we receive our tickets from you in Paris and confirm the flight. So I think we shall arrive in Melbourne no later than the 26th of June. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** July 9th 1974 — **Location:** San Francisco My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. After leaving your place I went to Chicago and then San Francisco and in both the places the Rathayatra ceremony was very successfully performed. Now about the convent which you showed me, I think that place is suitable for us and is possible we can purchase it. So the reasonable price should be on the land value. So far the buildings are concerned they have already dismantled part of it and it will be our expenditure to rebuild. Consider this points and talk with the realty man at what price they can sell the property to us. I am going today to Los Angeles and along with me there is Bali Mardan. So if the matter is successful then you can call L.A. I shall be there at least for a week. How much financial help you require from the BBT you can talk on this and we should do the needful. Hoping this meets you in good health, and everything is going well there. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** July 17th 1974 — **Location:** Dallas > Melbourne My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I may request you to send three men to go with Subaladas Swami to Fiji for preaching and opening a temple. There is one Indian man there who wants to give $50,000 for construction of a temple there. Please do this as soon as possible. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** August 13th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Melbourne My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. Please find a letter enclosed from Caru das which I am forwarding to you for necessary action. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** August 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrndavana My dear Madhudvisa Swami, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your kind appreciations on the Vyasa Puja Day. Your sentiments are appreciated by me. It is stated by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura it is only by pleasing the Spiritual Master that one can be assured of pleasing Krishna. So my only request to my disciples all over the world on this day is to go on pushing on this movement with determination and sincerity, rigidly following the principles I have given you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** August 30th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Melbourne My Dear Madhudvisa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 14, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the convent, they have put an awkward condition that the chapel must be demolished. Never before has this been done. Indirectly they have denied to sell to us. Never mind. Find out another property. That ten men have just joined us is our real success. Yes, you can use the book sales money and repay as you have proposed. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- Take help from Rev. Powell ___ that and the Bishops of Melbourne. The proposal is ___ and they can rectify it ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** September 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Glebe, AustraliaMy Dear Madhudvisa SwamiPlease accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 3rd, 1974 and have noted the contents. I have also received the enclosed pictures of the proposed house. I am thinking that you are a very sincere devotee. I am remembering that during my recent visit there in Australia how during the kirtana you were seeing to my personal and not letting anybody come forward and still leading the kirtana. When you begin the chanting, everybody becomes captivated, and you can go on without stopping. I feel happy that even after my departure, things will go on. I am happy that I have got so many sincere devotees who will carry on. That is my happiness. I like Australia very much because of your book distribution. So sell books and secure money and purchase the house and pay BBT conveniently. From the photos it appears that the house is very nice and sufficient for the present. Still the convent was a better place, and Dr. Powell and the bishop of Melbourne could advise them why they are insisting on this point of dismantling the chapel. Anyway either of the houses you can secure. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** September 25th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta > Glebe, Australia My Dear Madhudvisa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated dated September 6, 1974 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples.1. Mr. Ashok Jeram Patel—Astasiddhi dasa2. Ian Saller—Yamalarjuna dasaPlease see to it that they follow strictly the four regulative principles and chant 16 rounds minimum daily on the beads. I hope this meets you in good health. You may chant on their beads. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** October 25th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Melbourne My Dear Madhudvisa Swami: Please accept my blessings. In India ghee is required for our temples. I want to now if you can supply 200 lbs. per month in exchange for books. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Melbourne My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your two letters undated. And I am glad to learn that you are moving into your new Australian Headquarters and look forward to receiving your complete report. Regarding the initiations upon your recommendation I am accepting the devotees as my disciples and their spiritual names are as follows; Broad—Bhuvanadhara Dasa. John J—Jagadvira Dasa. Jean—Gayantidevi Dasi. Keith—Krpakara Dasa. Dan—Dhami Dasa. Maryanne—Matida Devi Dasi. Bruce—Bhaskara Dasa. Sandy—Samjata Dasa. Diane—Deva Deva Priya Devi Dasi. I am also accepting the following as twice born initiated Brahmans and their mantra sheets and sacred thread is enclosed. Ramprasada Adhikari. Raminia Devi Dasi. Gopala Devi Dasi. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd --- Now hold a fire sacrifice. The devotees can hear the gayatri mantra through the right ear from my recorded tape. You are authorized to chant on the beads ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** December 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Melbourne My Dear Madhudvisa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 5, 1974 with enclosed plans of the newly purchased house. It all appears very wonderful. It is very good that the Deity is facing East. Yes, the room above the Deity should be kept vacant. Yes, you can store Ratha Yatra festival gear or books there, also. The proposed pinnacle should not have Om, but shastic or cakra, Krsna's weapon. So everything is nice, and I shall be glad to come for the Deity installation and temple opening in January. We shall come from Honolulu via Fiji. I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** December 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay MADHUDVISA SWAMIRECEIVED YOUR LETTER IT WILL BE NICE I COME FOR YOUR TEMPLE OPENING IN JANUARY ARRANGE FOR ITAC BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI ### Letter to Madhudvisa **Date:** December 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Melbourne My Dear Madhudvisa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 25, 1974 and have noted the contents. Yes, it is a good idea to ship ghee 1200 lbs. twice yearly. You can ship once in January and once in June. I shall talk further with you, when I come there next month. In the meantime you can let me know to which port the ship generally comes to India, whether to Bombay or Calcutta. Which port is nearer? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Madhukara **Date:** August 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > New Vrndavana My dear Madhukara das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 25th 1974 and thank you very much for your nice sentiments. Just as you were pleased that I was able to visit New Vrndavana, so did I also enjoy my visit to New Vrndavana. You are producing nice vegetables from the earth and ample supply of milk from the cows so what more do you want? Just chant Hare Krishna and everything will be alright. Regarding the two twenty dollar checks that you had sent previously. It has not been recorded because of the change of secretaries. I suggest that you contact your bank whether or not the checks have been deposited and you can inform me. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mahadeva **Date:** March 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur Dear Mahadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter which has been hand delivered to me here in our temple. We will present our program at Bhaktivedanta Manor exactly in the line of Lord Caitanya, by kirtana, prasadam distribution and speaking from Bhagavad-gita. We cannot deviate even an inch in order to attract the followers of the ecology philosophy or any other materialistic, utopian movement. You say you know a number of influential leaders of this group, but what is the use of knowing them, since you yourself found them deficient and left them? Our ideal Vedic community will attract everyone on its own merit, and we shall be glad to welcome and accept everyone who comes without our compromising in order to attract them. As far as your plan to convince Prince Charles, heir to the throne, about Krsna Consciousness, this is another utopian idea. Do not work at it. I request you to live with your Godbrothers as a regular brahmacari and prosecute our standard practices for spreading Krsna Consciousness by book distribution, distribution of prasadam and preaching to interested people. I think you should stay in India. Our Mayapur temple is better than any temple in the U.S. and Europe, and everyone is appreciating it as very gorgeous. So there is a full program here and I request you to take on duties here and do not go wandering around. I have heard of the report of your stealing from the temples, and Mukunda has requested that you do not go back there. Therefore I recommend as the best thing that you make a fresh start and stay here in India where there is such a great need. You English boys have good facility here, not having the visa trouble that the U.S. devotees have, so take advantage of this and cooperate with me in this way. That is my request. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Mahadeva **Date:** April 24th 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Bombay Dear Mahadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 17, and I have noted the contents. Syamasundara has invited me to go to London and if he sends tickets as promised then I am going by the first week of May. I shall personally study the situation as mentioned by you and make my judgement personally. At that time I shall consult with Syamasundara. But why is your presence necessary? As a devotee you should be satisfied serving the Lord anywhere. Why are you so anxious to return to London? Therefore I shall request you not to start yourself in that way until I personally go there. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mahamsa **Date:** February 5th 1974 — **Location:** New Delhi > Hyderabad My dear Mahamsa Swami, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter dated December 26th, 1973. I have come back from Europe and America on tour and am now in New Delhi. I have seen both plans. After taking into consideration all of the points in all of your letters, the points in Sri Raja Sahib Panalalji's letters are all very good. So I prefer his plan the most, particularly I understand from different sources that he may like to construct the Temple portion. So we shall follow Sri Raja Panalalji's plan and under his leadership I think all members will be very much encouraged. Now in cooperation with all life members of Hyderabad, immediately begin construction and make this one of the great temples of the south. Hoping this meets you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mahamsa **Date:** August 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Hyderabad My Dear Mahamsa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 12, 1974. Regarding the initiations I have accepted them as my disciples and their spiritual names are as follows: Krishna das—KauravesvaraRavindra—RaghavendraYou may hold a fire sacrifice and chant on their beads and impress upon them they are taking vows before Radha and Krsna, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas. They must always chant 16 rounds daily and avoid the four sinful activities. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mahamsa **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Hyderabad My Dear Mahamsa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am enclosing herewith a bank draft on Punjab National Bank No. 224835 dated 20/8/74 for the amount of Rs. 60,000/-. Please acknowledge receipt. The balance Rs. 40,000/- will be forwarded to you at the end of this month. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mahamsa **Date:** September 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Hyderabad My Dear Mahamsa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I have seen your letter to Bhagavan das and upon your recommendation I am pleased to accept the following as twice initiated brahmanas: Sriman Vasugosh das and Madhavendra Puri das. Enclosed are their mantra sheets and sanctified threads. You can hold a fire sacrifice and they can hear the mantra from my tape recording through the right hear. The mantra must be murmured at three times daily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mahamsa **Date:** November 25th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hyderabad My Dear Mahamsa Swami: Please accept my blessings. If you have got a copy of Bhavan's Journal, Diwali Number, No. 8 November, 10, 1974, you can see on page 197 under the heading "Our Reader's Page," there is a question: "Should non-Hindus who have adopted the Hindu way of life e.g. the followers of the Hare Krishna movement, be allowed to enter Hindu temples?"So immediately you reply to the Editor of Bhavan's Journal, Dr. K.M. Munshi Marg, Bombay—400 007, enclosing the letter of Swami Cinmayananda's letter about the approval of learned panditas and sannyasis about the Hare Krishna movement members entering into Hindu temples. You can mention also that we are allowed to enter into the biggest temple in India, Tirupati, as well as Nathadwar where the head of the temple received us very well and presented some gifts. Except the Jagannatha temple in Puri no where have we been checked admission. This time we wish to go to the Jagannatha temple again, and let us see what they do. The Hindu Vishva Parishad approves us as rigid Hindus as it it will be clear from the letter of Swami Cinmayananda. So immediately write a letter and send me a copy of your letter as well as Swami Cinmayananda's letter. We shall request them to publish the letter of Swami Cinmayananda in this connection as well. Last night your mother came to the temple and talked with me. Sometimes you can send her some news of your health, but not very much correspondence, after all she is mother. Lord Caitanya used to also please His mother by sending prasada and men with news. I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mahamsa **Date:** December 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hyderabad My dear Mahamsa, Please accept my blessings. Upon Acyutananda Swamis recommendation I have accepted the following as my duly initiated disciples: Rangacari—Radhasaran dasa, Amarnath—Aradhana dasa, Chalapati—Chandrodaya dasa, Asoka—AmiyaVilasa dasa. There beads have been chanted on by me and have been sent by __ das brahmacari to Hyderabad. Please make sure that these boys follow the 4 regulative principles very carefully and chant 16 nice rounds daily. They must rise early, attend mangala arati and all classes. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Mahamsa, Giriraja, Gargamuni, Gargamuni, Jayapataka, Tejiyas, Gurudasa **Date:** June 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > His Holiness Mahamsa Swami, Iskcon Hyderabad Giriraja das Brahmacari, ISKCON BOMBAYHis Holiness Gargamuni Swami, ISKCON Calcutta His Holiness Bhavananda Goswami, Mayapur Candrodaya His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, Mayapur Candrodaya Tejyas das Adhikari, ISKCON Delhi Gurudasa das Adhikari, Krishna Balarama Temple, Vrindaban TO PRESIDENTS OF ISKCON CENTERS IN INDIA My dear ___, Please accept my blessings. After meeting here in Geneva with Karandhara das Adhikari and several other GBC members, I have decided to send Karandhara to India to replace Tamala Krsna Goswami as the new Governing Body Commissioner for India. I know from experience that Karandhara is a highly qualified devotee and I feel confident in placing him in such an important position for our society as head of affairs in India. It is a great relief for me. Karandhara is very enthusiastic to begin his new assignment and will be leaving for India in a few days. Please give him all cooperation and work together for advancement of our mission to make the people of India Krishna Conscious. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mahatma **Date:** May 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > San Diego My Dear Mahatma das, Please accept my blessing. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 20, 1974 and I have noted the contents. Regarding your wanting to give up household life for vanaprastha you may do it and spend your time positively by going on traveling sankirtana, provided it is recommended by the temple president and there is facility for taking such a party. Taking of sannyasa order is in one sense only a formality. I was preaching and writing for eight or nine years as Vanaprastha and then in 1959 I took sannyasa. So if after a few years as Vanaprastha your behavior is ideal sannyasa can be considered. If you actually are serious about taking out a travelling party your main activity should be to distribute books. By this most powerful preaching we are becoming very influential in your country and people are seriously reading the books and considering the importance of Krsna Consciousness. It does not require that you be sannyasi to take a travelling sankirtana party, nor do you have to be vanaprastha for that matter. There are travelling parties led by all orders of life going out in your country. Lord Caitanya taught that we do not very much care whether one is sannyasa, grhastha or whatever, so long he is fully serving Krsna. So do not act independently, but if there is facility, you can stay out and distribute books and travel with the sankirtana party, as you already have experience. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mahesvari **Date:** May 26th 1974 — **Location:** Rome > San Diego My dear Mahesvari, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 11. I am very sorry that your husband Mahatma das has taken my letter to him in the wrong way and has told you to get married to another man although you are only 20 years old and have a 7 month old son. This is a most irresponsible and nonsensical proposal on his part. I never wrote or intended that he should leave you. He can stay out and distribute books on sankirtana, but for that he can remain grhastha, nor does it means he perpetually remains on sankirtana party forgetting his responsibilities. You write that you badly need your husbands instruction and security, therefore, this is natural, so he may go on sankirtana but he must also spend time with you as you require, not in the mood of sense gratification but for cooperation in Krsna Consciousness. So you may take this letter to the president of the temple and he must do the needful so that Mahatma das does not set an irresponsible example. For your own part, do not be bewildered. Go on chanting Hare Krsna and simply trust in Krsna as the dearmost friend. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Malati **Date:** January 7th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Malati, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 22, 1973. You write that things are in a crises in England, with oil shortage and IRA bombing. Therefore, we have to take shelter of Krsna. If Krsna wants to kill us that is not wrong, if it is His desire. Our business should just to be to follow the regulative schedule, deity worship, distributing prasadam, chanting, book distribution and never mind the material danger. Krsna Consciousness means to be on the platform of deathlessness. Every sloka in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam is informing us of this. If you read these books carefully you will understand this platform of deathlessness as opposed to the material condition in which no one wants to die but no one can check death. When I was there I saw the Deity was nicely dressed. So continue all your programs at Bhaktivedanta Manor and Krsna will save you. Madhavananda and Kausalya are an able couple. I have already written to Madhavananda and Mukunda about their difference of opinion. We have so much work to do, we cannot lose our solidarity. Do not cause a crack there with any fighting spirit or competition. Whenever I hear complaints or disturbances in our centers my mind becomes too much disturbed and I cannot properly translate my books. So please spare me from such disturbance by cooperating all together Godbrothers and Godsisters. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Malati **Date:** June 17th 1974 — **Location:** Frankfurt > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Malati, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of June 15, 1974.I can understand by what you have written that you are advancing in Krsna Consciousness. By your unalloyed service to the Deities you are becoming more and more attracted to the spiritual world and seeing the material world as a condemned place of no happiness. So our business as Vaisnavas is to increase our natural attraction to Krsna and try to tell others about this great hopefulness to human life. So please go on as you are doing. Your husband is struggling to make his business successful, so let us hope he comes out a grand success. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Malati **Date:** December 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > London My Dear Malati devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated November 19, and December 3, 1974, and have noted the contents. So why the devotees in London are unhappy? What is the situation? Yes, it is a very good idea to join with your husband. Try to bring him in line. Induce Syamasundara to follow the regulative principles and chant Hare Krishna, and then his position will be secure. Do you think his business is improving or not? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Malati **Date:** December 25th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > London My dear Malati, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 21, Dec. 74 and have noted the contents carefully. I want you to stay there in London. This is my order. Hansadutta cannot make you leave. If necessary you can show him this letter. To prove that your Guru Maharaja wants you to stay there and execute your devotional service in London. Concerning that remark by Himavati about your being guilty because you are the wife of Syamasundara who has done horrible things, therefore you must suffer, that is not a fact. Your husband has done nothing horrible. Maybe he has made mistake but he has not done anything horrible. I have asked Brahmananda Swami to go to London as soon as possible from Hawaii and investigate the situation there. I am very concerned about this problem and I hope Brahmananda Swami will be able to clear things up there. When he comes you can inform him of what has happened there. If your husband, Syamasundara is not even keeping correspondence with you how can we know what is his position. Please try to advise him to return the money he owes as soon as possible. Chant 16 rounds, follow all of our regulative principles then everything will be alright in a very short time. I am hoping he will do like this. So you please continue your devotional service, cooking etc, and you can also keep giving Bhagavatam class if you like. Women in our movement can also preach very nicely. Actually male and female bodies, these are just outward designations. Lord Caitanya said that whether one is brahmana or whatever he may be if he knows the science of Krsna then he is to be accepted as guru. So one who gives class, he must read and study regularly and study the purport and realize it. Don't add anything or concoct anything, then he can preach very nicely. The qualification for leading class is how much one understands about Krsna and surrendering to the process. Not whether one is male or female. Of course women, generally speaking are less intelligent, better she has heard nicely then she will speak nicely. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Manager of Bank of America **Date:** September 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > The Manager Bank of America Branch #600, Main Office Los Angeles, Cal. U.S.A Dear Sir: I have advised Liberty Bank, Main Office, Honolulu, Hawaii to transfer $35,000.00 to you in favor of our account #6004-7143, International Society for Krishna Consciousness Inc. Mayapur-Vrindaban Fund. On receipt of this amount please transfer to your New Delhi, India correspondent Punjab National Bank with special instructions to transfer the amount to their Vrindaban Branch, Punjab National Bank, account #668 ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- It is understood from the State Bank of India that they are also your correspondent. I would like to know whether it is possible for you to transfer our money directly to the State Bank of India, Mathura Branch. Kindly inform me if you are having correspondence with their Mathura Branch. A.C. B.S ### Letter to Manager of Liberty Bank **Date:** May 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > The Manager Liberty Bank, Main Branch Honolulu Dear Sir, This is to introduce Mr. Brent Selden, who is the president of the Honolulu branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. I am authorizing him to make a withdrawal from account no. 35785 in the amount of $5000.00. I have mailed him a withdrawal slip for this purpose. Kindly oblige. Thanking you in anticipation. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Manager of Liberty Bank **Date:** September 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > The Manager Liberty Bank Main Office Honolulu Hawaii, U.S.A Dear Sir: Enclosed herewith please find the passbook for savings account #35785 and a savings withdrawal form in favor of Bank of America Branch #600, Main Office, Los Angeles for transferring immediately $35,000.00 in favor of account #6004-7143 International Society for Krishna Consciousness Inc. Mayapur-Vrndaban Fund. Please acknowledge receipt. Thanking you. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- The passbook may be kept with you until I collect it from your office ### Letter to Manager of Punjab National Bank **Date:** April 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Manager, Punjab National BankVrindaban BranchAttention: Mr. A.N. GuptaDear Sir; Regarding the fixed deposit ISKCON Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund, receipt RNPIK 270090 for Rs 743,879.80 (Rupees seven hundred and forty three thousand, eight hundred and seventy nine, eighty paise only), due on May 2, 1974. This receipt is kept with your New Delhi Moti Bagh branch, in the custody of the bank. Now on maturation of this fixed deposit receipt the amount should be dispersed as follows:1) RS 100,000.00 (Rupees one hundred thousand only) be transferred to ISKCON Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund account number 3876 with your Moti Bagh, New Delhi Branch.2) Rs 143,879.80 (Rupees one hundred forty three thousand, eight hundred and seventy nine, eighty paise only) plus the accrued interest be deposited in the ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban current account number 668 with your Vrindaban branch.3) The balance Rs 500,000.00 (Rupees five hundred thousand only) be again fixed deposited for three months. So kindly acknowledge receipt of this letter and let me know you have done the needful. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- Founder-Acarya, of InternationalSociety for Krishna Consciousness, Inc ### Letter to Manager of Punjab National Bank **Date:** April 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay ManagerPunjab National BankMoti Bagh BranchDear Sir; Enclosed herewith find one copy of the letter dated 8 April, 1974 addressed to your Vrindaban branch. They have sent one telegram reading as follows: "Refer Letter Dated 8/4. Ask Motibagh Office To Send Fixed Deposit Receipt No 270090 To Us—Punjab National Bank"Kindly send the receipt which is lying in your custody immediately to your Vrindaban branch by Registered post, and oblige. I am forwarding this letter to my secretary, Sriman Tejyas das Adhikari in New Delhi. Kindly do the needful. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgc --- c. Tejyas das Adhikari ### Letter to Manager of Punjab National Bank **Date:** April 24th 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Manager Punjab National Bank Vrindaban, Dist. Mathura, U.P.Attention: Mr. N. Gupta Dear Sir;With further reference to my letter dated April 8th, and your reply of April 15, I beg to request you to transfer 3 lacs (Rs 300,000.00) to your Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh, New Delhi account Iskcon Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund account number 3867 in place of the one lac (Rs 100,000.00) previously said. Therefore the fixed deposit amount will be 3 lacs (Rs 300,000.00) instead of five lacs (500,000.00). Thanking you for your reliable service. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgc.c. --- Tejyas das Adhikari, New Delhi ### Letter to Manager of Punjab National Bank **Date:** November 19th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > The Manager Punjab National Bank Vrindaban Branch Dist. Mathura, U.P Dear Sir: I have received from my Los Angeles Headquarters by mail Remitter's Advice from Bank of America dated November 7, 1974 No. 588183 that the amount of Dollars 9,843.18 was transferred to you via cable. To date I have not received any acknowledgement from you. If you have not received the money at this date, then immediately enquire from your Head Office as to what is the delay. If you have received the money, which should be by this late date, then you must inform me. How can I arrange things if you do not acknowledge receipt of the transfers? I have also not yet received any reply from you to my letters dated 29/10/74 from Mayapur, West Bengal, and my letter dated 6/11/74 from Bombay. Please acknowledge these letters. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- ISKCON, New Delhi & Vrindaban ### Letter to Manager of Punjab National Bank **Date:** January 19th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu > Manager, Punjab National Bank Vrindaban Branch Sahji's Temple P.O. Vrindaban, Dist. Mathura U.P., India Dear Sir;I beg to inform you that my banker in Los Angeles, California, has transferred one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) to you for credit for my savings account number 6112, in the name of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgN.B. --- , and I hope you have received the money by this time. The purpose of sending this money is to construct our Krsna-Balarama temple at Raman Reti in Vrindaban. This money is a contribution of my ISKCON temples here in the U.S.A.Kindly note this and if you have received the money by this time kindly transfer rupees one lac (Rs 100,000.00) to the Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh branch, New Delhi in favor of account number 230, Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund. The balance money may be kept in fixed deposit accounts for three months in the name of Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund, (ISKCON).Kindly make a reply to this letter to our Delhi Temple, as follows: ISKCON G 12, Annand Niketan Extension, New Delhi 110023, to the attention of Tejyas das Adhikari. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Please find enclosed copy of Money Transfer Order ### Letter to Mandakini **Date:** December 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Mandakini, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 22, December 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. You mentioned in your letter that you are getting only a tourist visa for Moscow. But my original plan was that by marrying this man you would be able to get a permanent resident/permit there in Russia as his wife. But apparently this is very difficult. Therefore I think for now you should remain there in __, executing your devotional service, preaching nicely, caring for the Deities nicely. Try to get some type of permanent residence permit for Russia. If you can not get this residence permit then I think it is better not to go there. We shall see as Krsna desires. Please continue engaging in Krsna's service with staunch determination, not to be defeated and engaged in Maya's service even for one second. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Markandeya Rsi **Date:** May 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Markandeya Rsi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 16, 1974.You are of course welcome to come to India, but if you are not living in a temple now in the association of devotees, how can you expect to live that way in a foreign country like India? My point is, just coming to India may not automatically be the solution to your problems. You say the U.S. is too demonic, but unless one takes shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna within the society of devotees, he will be inconvenienced wherever he goes. So you have to consider seriously within yourself whether you are ready to live with the devotees and follow the regulative principles and schedule of temple life. To practice austerity requires that you understand my books or else it is like army rules and regulations. So whether you have understood the philosophy thoroughly enough to live with the devotees? If you are prepared to live as a devotee then why not first consult with the temple leaders in Brooklyn and get their good advice for your situation, whether it is better for you to come to India. You have asked what is the origin of the black race. This is not an important question. Why should you be curious about the temporary body. If I am very interested in knowing about my clothing that I am wearing only temporarily it is not a very important thing. We have had many bodies which we change like sets of clothes; to be very absorbed in the present body one has, whether it is black or white or yellow is not the sign of a wise person or Krsna Conscious devotee. As to whether the personality of Kali was black, (African) may not have been so. After all, Krsna is black also, although His body, is different, He is sat cit ananda. So our inquiries should be on the point of Krsna not in references to the so called race or religion or nationality of this temporary miserable body. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Miss Johnson **Date:** August 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > El Cerrito Dear Miss Johnson, Thank you for your letter dated July 15th 1974. Regarding the lecture that I gave at the Rathayatra festival, I think if you contact our San Francisco temple, they might be able to provide you with a transcript. If you speak with the president there Bhakta dasa, he may be able to suggest ways that you can use your public relations in the service of Krishna. First of all you should get our books and read them, especially our Bhagavad gita as it is and Srimad-Bhagavatam. As you begin to understand the philosophy then you will be able to present our movement so that many people may become attracted to this authorized process for developing our dormant love of God. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Arora **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Toronto My dear Mr. Arora, Please accept my best wishes. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated. I thank you for your very nice sentiments. I appreciate the affection that you have for our movement. Please continue to go to the temple and upon recommendation from the president, we shall see about initiation. I shall be glad to see you either here in India or when I return to the West and we can talk further. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Mr. Asnani **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My Dear Mr. Asnani: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 17, 1974 and have noted the contents. I have today informed my centers at New York and Dallas to receive Mr. & Mrs. Malkani and arrange for their accommodation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Jayakar **Date:** October 9th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bombay Dear Mr. Jayakar: Please accept my best wishes. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 13, 1974. I was very ill in Vrndaban as you know. Now I have come to Mayapur, Navadvipa. Here it is a very open place. Sometimes when you come to Calcutta, you can visit this place. You can come direct by motor car. You can contact our man, Gargamuni Swami at 3, Albert Road, and he will arrange for your transportation. It is a very nice, open place. Here we have got our temple and nice accommodation for respectable men. I will be going to Bombay, and I am just waiting for my new apartment to be finished and the construction to be completed. I think it will be ready within one or two weeks time. It is at Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu, Bombay-54.As soon as I reach Bombay it will be my duty to inform you and my great pleasure to meet you again. I hope this meets you in good health. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Jiri Svoboda **Date:** September 6th 1974 — **Location:** Vrndavana > Mr. Jiri Svoboda494 Huron St.Toronto 5, Ontario Canada Dear Mr. Svoboda: Please accept my best wishes. Thank you for your letter dated July 25, 1974 and I am glad to know that you have come to appreciate our Krsna consciousness movement and the philosophy we are trying to spread throughout the world. I hope you will try to regularly visit our temple in Toronto and have association of the devotees and attend the classes on the Bhagavad-gita. So far as your translating the Gita, I suggest you write to Hansadutta dasa Adhikari who is in charge of this area of the world. You can get his address at our Toronto temple. He will be able to advise you further in translation work. Actually not only the problem of nationalism, but every problem of the world is due to a lack of Krsna consciousness. That is the only scarcity. So try to learn this philosophy nicely in association with other devotees and certainly you will be able to do great benefit to your fellow countrymen. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Mr. Kapoor **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban Dear Mr. Kapoor, I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 19th, 1974. I have recently heard from Bhagavan Das the GBC secretary for India, and also from Tejas that the accounting records are in a shambles and there has been some mismanagement on your part, So upon rectifying these discrepancies we shall see further regarding your position of your working within this Society As well as your proportionate raise in salary. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Mr. Lourenco **Date:** August 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Sintra, Portugal Dear Mr. Lourenco, I am in due receipt of your letter and thank you very much for it. I am glad to learn that you are so much keenly interested in our books Bhagavad gita as it is. It is stated in the Bhagavad gita that out of many thousands of men only one is searching for perfection. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati sidhaye [Bg. 7.3]. So even in your young age you have taken to this process of Krishna Consciousness. This means that in your previous life you were advanced in yoga but somehow or other you were not able to complete but now you have taken to it as if automatically. This is also explained in the Bhagavad gita 6th chapter regarding the yoga bhrastras those who have fallen from the process of yoga and who automatically take to the principles of God consciousness in their next life. Regarding performance of Sankirtana yajna, this is explained in my book the nectar of devotion. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us the chanting of the Maha mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. It may be performed as sankirtana congregational chanting in public. This done by our sankirtana parties that go daily into the streets in many cities of the world. Or this yajna may be performed quietly and privately with one's self by chanting on beads. This is known as Japa. So this I think can be performed by you very easily. We have a temple located in Paris at the following address: 4 reu Le Sueur, 75016 Paris, France. You are welcome to go and stay there for some time to learn Krishna Consciousness. You can write to them and they can give you information on obtaining many of our other books. We have a book on the story of Krishna. It is called Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I think you will like this book very much. These books are in disciplic succession. They are authorized and they are giving the real process of Krishna Consciousness never before made available to the English speaking world. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Mr. Majumdar **Date:** September 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Calcutta Dear Mr. Majumdar: I am in due receipt of your in Bengali dated 5/9/74 and beg to inform you that at present I am very sick. The subject matter you have inquired from me is very grave and cannot be replied haphazardly. It appears you have no deep study in the matter, and if you are serious about it you have to live with us for some time to understand. As a summary study I may inform you that human life must lead to God realization. Without God realization there is no difference between human life and animal life. All the Vedic literature is aimed at making human life a success by God realization. In this age that God realization is made very easy by chanting the holy names, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has very kindly introduced this method 500 years ago, and it has proved a very potent and active process. God being absolute, His holy names, form, pastimes, etc., are not different from Him. So this requires deep study and understanding, otherwise it is very difficult to understand. I have got my program to go to Calcutta by the end of the month. At that time you can try to meet me. But unless you intimately associate yourself with the devotees in this connection, it will be very difficult for you to understand the whole procedure. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Ogata **Date:** September 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Mr. Ogata Overseas Division Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.Tokyo, Japan Dear Mr. Ogata: Please accept my greetings. I hope this meets you in good health. I am writing after a long time. I used to send you Hindi composed papers, photo ready, adding to it some colored pictures. The cover types were also turned into Hindi reading. I would like to know if it is possible to print this Hindi magazine from your good press. Kindly send quotation for 32 pages, simple black printing, and cover colored on four pages, same size as the Back to Godhead. Kindly send quotation for the minimum quantity you print, and what will be the charges F.O.B. India. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Perry Muckerheide **Date:** October 12th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Mr. Perry Muckerheide9520 Del Grove Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Dear Mr. Muckerheide: Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 12, 1974 and have noted the contents. From your letter I can see that you are an intelligent boy and that you have desire to assist me in spreading this movement of Lord Caitanya all over the world. Due to the influence of the Age of Kali everything is deteriorating, but by taking to this chanting of Hare Krishna mantra our real life of bliss and knowledge is awakened. But before saving others we must first see that we ourselves are protected from the dangerous effects of maya. Therefore my recommendation to you is that you should associate yourself with my disciples in one of our Krishna Consciousness centers, practice our regulative principles, and study my books very carefully. You are now living very near to our Los Angeles center, so please take advantage of this and participate fully in the program there. In this way your intelligence will become more and more purified and in consultation with the others there Krishna will give you the proper idea of how to spread Krishna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Poddar **Date:** September 26th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta > Calcutta Dear Mr. Poddar: Please accept my best wishes. Enclosed is a copy of the letter to my disciples in Vrindaban regarding the land. The letter that you write to your father, kindly send me the copy. I hope this meets you well. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Punja **Date:** July 17th 1974 — **Location:** Dallas > Lautoka, Fiji My dear Mr. Punja: Please accept my best wishes. I wish to inform you that I am sending one of my elder sannyasi disciples to Fiji for preaching and opening a Krishna consciousness temple there. Three other men will also go there to assist him. His name is His Holiness Subaladas Swami. Please see that he is taken care of there. He will be arriving within one months time. I hope this meets you well. Sincerely yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Punja **Date:** December 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Lautoka My dear Mr. Punja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 12th December, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. I think also that Vijayadhvaja das must not be very responsible if he has sold this van in his own name and appropriated that money to his own use. Therefore he should not be in charge there. Because you are eager to distribute my books and magazines and because you are chanting 16 rounds daily I think that you are trustworthy and qualified to be in charge there. So you can go ahead and register our Society there with taking all proper and necessary steps. Before the finalization of registration takes place I would request you to send me one copy of the constitution for our society there so I can approve it finally. My name should be there as the founder-acharya, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/psn.b. --- I should have full authority in all matters. Vijoyadhvaja das can continue to preach there and kirtanas if he likes. But it is my desire that he leaves the management and handling of money and registration to your good self. He should be encouraged to help by being a strong preacher and attracting many devotees amongst the local men. As of now I do not know if I will be going to Fiji or not. I am thinking of leaving Bombay for London sometime in the beginning of January. Then I will be going from London to S. America. You mention in your letter that you will be going to the United States and London in May or June. I may also be there at that time. Please keep me informed of the progress there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Please continue the distribution of my books and magazines as much as possible. This is very much pleasing to me. Thank you ### Letter to Mr. Quinn **Date:** December 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Cobourg, Canada Dear Mr. Quinn, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Nov. 1, 1974, and have noted the contents. Thank you for your kind sentiments. You are a very fortunate person that you have come into contact with our Krsna Consciousness movement. The perfection of human life is to somehow or another advance in spiritual life and achieve love of Godhead and go back to Godhead, back to home. The animals and lower forms they can not achieve this perfection of life. So in this human form of life we have to consider ourselves very fortunate and take advantage in this human form. Because in the next life we don't know what kind of body we may have; maybe dog, maybe pig, maybe tree, maybe fish. So we must take advantage of this human form of life. My recommendation to you is that you somehow or another put yourself in a situation so that you may have as much association with our devotees as possible. Either remain in the temple or visit the temple frequently with your family. If you continue to read our books very carefully and try to understand our philosophy very deeply, this is nice. Also it is a must that you chant Hare Krsna at least 16 times daily on your beads and follow all of the regulative principles that we have given. If there are any questions on these points you can discuss with Jagadisa Prabhu in Toronto or any of the devotees in Toronto. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Mr. Rameshchandra Lalidji **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear Mr. Rameshchandra Lalidji: Please accept my blessings. I have received a report of the progress of Hyderabad. I am pleased to note that the construction has already started and the columns have come up to beam level. I appreciate very much your interest in propagating the teaching of the Bhagavad-gita, and it is because of the assistance of men like you that we are constructing a temple in Hyderabad. I am pleased that the work is proceeding now at good speed and request that you assist in completing the temple by next Janmastami, and I will come to inaugurate the opening ceremony. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. S. N. Sharma **Date:** September 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Mr. S.N. Sharma Mahila Ashram Bilwara (Rajasthan)Bhilwara, India Dear Sir: Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of your letter in Hindi and have noted the contents. To join our mission first of all you have to become a pure Vaisnava. For this purpose you have to remain with us and live the techniques in your life. Then you can be trained up as a preacher. We do not allow anyone become a preacher unless he is strictly following the Vaisnava principles of no eating meat, fish, or eggs; no sex outside of marriage; no gambling; and no taking any kind of intoxication whatsoever. You must also chant 16 rounds Hare Krishna on the japa beads. So if you are interested, you can practice these things within our association for some time. Then we shall consider you for preaching work. I hope this meets you well. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Saral Gupta **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mr. Saral Das Gupta,No. 2532, Sector 35C,Chandigarh,Punjab My Dear Sri SK Das Gupta, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated 11/10/74 and I have noted the contents. I am very glad to note that you are taking active interest in our Krishna Consciousness Movement and are helping to preach this philosophy. Our movement is not a passive movement but it is active. We are trying to awaken the sleeping humanity to reawaken themselves to Krishna Consciousness. At present humanity by and large is working simply for sense gratification. This is to be considered illusion. Actual life is devotional service to the Supreme Lord. By this devotional service one can become perfect and not become a cat or a dog. Please continue to take interest in our movement and read our books and chant Hare Krishna. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Mr. Sarkar **Date:** October 24th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > _F1 Dear Mr. Sarkar: Please accept my best wishes. Your letter dated October 17, 1974 has been received, and I may inform you that Srila Prabhupad is expected to be on Calcutta on Wednesday, October 30, 1974 for one day only. So you are welcome to come and see him after 5:00 P.M. I suggest that you confirm these plans with the Calcutta temple, 3 Albert Road, before coming. I hope this meets you in better health. Faithfully yours, Brahmananda SwamiSeen: ACBS ### Letter to Mr. Saxena **Date:** April 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Jaipur, Rajasthan Dear Mr. Saxena, Please accept my greetings. I thank you for your letter of 16 April, 1974 addressed to our Bombay temple. For the present I am staying in Hyderabad and from here I will go to Tirupati to Balaji and by the 1st of May I will return to Bombay. I am very much pleased to know that you are trying to organize a home for retired gentlemen for fully devoting the rest of their lives for service to Lord Krsna. My Krsna Consciousness movement is especially meant for this purpose. I wish that from the very beginning of life everyone should be enlightened with Krsna Consciousness, because the human life is very important for fulfilling this mission. The mission of human life is to understand the real constitutional position of the spirit soul and to know that everyone of us living entities is an eternal servant of Krsna. So if your organization takes this mission seriously I shall help you to my best capacity. I am preaching this Krsna cult all over the world and have published many books based on the Bhagavad-gita and Upanisads and Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vedic literatures. If your society becomes a life members of our society you can get all these books already published and for life membership you can inquire from my office at Hare Krsna Land, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu, Bombay 54.Our principle is to become gradually purified by avoiding the four principles of sinful life, namely 1. no illicit sex, 2. avoidance of all kinds of intoxication, 3. avoidance of all kinds of eating of meat fish or eggs, 4. no gambling. And if one chants Hare Krsna Maha Mantra with a vow of at least 25,000 names daily minimum that will assure him all spiritual advancement. If you have time you can chant 100,000 times daily. I wish that you society's members may take up this vow; it is not very difficult. On that sound background if you read Bhagavad gita As It Is then you'll make rapid progess in spiritual life. In this connection I may quote a verse from Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu by Rupa Goswamiadau sraddha tatha sadhu-sango' tha bhajana kriyatato nartha nivrttih syat tato nistha rucis tatahathasaktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudancatisadhakanam ayam premnah prahur-bhave bhavet kramahTHIS is the process. Thank you for your letter, and I am always at your service. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mr. Seibert **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Mr. Seibert, Please accept my best wishes. I am in due reciept of your letter dated September 27th, 1974. I am glad to hear that you are determined to fight maya and take up this Krishna Consciousness philosophy. So go on reading my books and attending the temple regularly. By this process your spiritual life will develop. You should also be sure to chant 16 rounds on your beads if possible. This is the recommended way to become Krishna Conscious in this age of Kali. In this age it is very difficult to become God Conscious, but if we receive the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is the most merciful of all incarnations, as certified by Srila Rupa Goswami, then certainly we will be successful in our attempt for spiritual life. So this is the movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and if you take advantage of it you will see how your attraction to material life diminishes in proportion to your attraction for Krishna, which will increase more and more. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vddSpecially --- the Nectar of Devotion ### Letter to Mr. Setti **Date:** October 17th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bombay My Dear Mr. Setti: Please accept my blessings. I have received the report from Gargamuni Swami that things are not being managed properly there. I do not know anything about this road. It must be stopped immediately. I am sending Brahmananda and Gargamuni there to sve the situation, and shall be very thankful to you if you help them in every way to stop this road making. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mr. Shastri **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > P. Damodara Shastri Dairy House 1st Floor Sevasi, Baroda, Gujarat Dear Mr. Shastri, Please accept my best wishes. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Aug 3rd 1974. I am sorry for any misunderstanding. You are welcome to visit any of centers as a life member and enjoy all the facilities. The tour around the world has been called off, however you cannot expect for us to pay all transportation costs. When you go to Europe or America you be sure to visit our temples and they will receive you nicely and that you use the facilities there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Mr. Winter **Date:** October 8th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Amsterdam My Dear Mr. Winter: Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 16/9/74 and have noted the contents. Regarding what you want to do, I suggest that you discuss the matter with my secretary, Hansadutta das Adhikari. He is my secretary and you can discuss the matter fully with him. He can be reached at Schloss Rettershof, Konigstein, Taunua, West Germany. I hope this meets you in good health. Yours faithfully, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** January 1st 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I have received one letter from Madhavananda in which he mentions that the Deities at the Bhaktivedanta Manor are not protected. So you are the president of the Temple and therefore you are responsible for all areas. Who is in charge of the Deity room? It must be secured at night, every window and door must be locked and you must personally see to this. You have had sufficient experience at Bury Place that the Deity was attacked. You have already experienced that so you should not be negligent in this matter. Please see that adequate security is given to the Temple, especially to the Deities, so that They will not be exposed to any attack. I have answered Madhavananda on various points so you may see his letter. The main thing is that if the matter is to go ahead there must be a cooperative spirit between yourself, Madhavananda, Syamasundara and the others. I understand from Madhavananda's letter that there is great opportunity for spreading Krsna Consciousness among the Indians and expanding all our programs there in England so I shall be glad to hear from you on these matters how you are pushing forward to make our mission successful in England. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG --- N.B. What happened to immigration matter? ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** January 8th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles [To Mukunda] BHAKTIVEDANTA MANOR LETCHMORE HEATH HERTFORDSHIRE NEAR RADLETT LONDON ENGLAND PAMPHLET PICTURE MOST OBJECTIONABLE STOP IMMEDIATELY LETTER FOLLOWS BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** January 12th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 27, 1974 and I have carefully examined the contents. Regarding your proposal newsletter to all-ISKCON branches for recruiting men for agricultural work at Bhaktivedanta Manor. This is not a practical plan. No one from a for country will go to London for agricultural work. If you cannot find local men, how can expect men from other countries to come and work? I have experienced that even men of this country do not go to New Vrindaban. You know, Srutakirti who was my personal servant. He has now become married and Kirtanananda Maharaja asked him to go to New Vrindaban but he said he doesn't like farm life. People are now accustomed to live in the city and if all of a sudden he is transferred to the village then certainly he feels difficulty. Especially in the western countries, gradually even farmers are leaving their professional business and going to the city to enjoy facilities there. If you get local men to work at this agricultural attempt that will be better. Otherwise, don't spend time and money in distributing this newsletter. You are thinking of many plans but without consulting me do not enact anything. I have received your telegram that you have stopped release of the Gokula Vrindaban literature, per my telegram. There was a picture of a cow's head and you have painted it according to your own idea. It was a cow's head with t-lock and no body of the cow. How did you think like that? A cow's head is an advertisement for the slaughterhouse or for a beef shop, and you have painted one with t-lock. I think your thinking is not always to the standard. Don't spoil much time in that kind of thinking. Try to read our books. You are the president there so you must be very conversant with our philosophy. The other picture was objectionable because the photo of our temple is advertised as Gokula Vrindaban. It has, however, already been advertised as Bhaktivedanta Manor, Headquarters of European ISKCON. I am pleased that you stopped issuing the literature. But people will not be induced to come by issuing some literature. In the temple there must be activities which will attract people to come. Our activities are arati, kirtana, classes, just as we do here in Los Angeles. Everything is done in conformity to a regular standard. For example, all the temple members, without exception must rise by 4:AM and attend mangala arati. Everyone living in the temple must agree to the standard by proper understanding of the philosophy of tapasya. We cannot expect our guests to follow all our principles, but whoever lives in the temple must follow. That means all must sit down together and hear the Bhagavatam class just as I held it day after day when I was at the Manor. There should be a regular daily schedule of events and it should be followed closely. After the class and breakfast everyone should go to their respective duties, deity worship, sankirtana, clean-up and so throughout the day this atmosphere of constant engagement will produce the truly happy result of transcendental life. So you should set the example and also see that the others are following. Our buildings are not for our sleeping in and eating like hotels, but whoever wants to join us should understand the philosophy of regulated devotional service. Here in L.A. they have elaborate Sunday festivals and erect a tent on the front lawn. There are hours of kirtana, a philosophic lecture and lots of sumptuous prasadam distribution. Another thing is, here they have a 24 hour security guard, with pistol and holster who is in the temple at all times. So you should do this like this. From your letter I can understand that you are always working hard and trying to improve things there. I am very much obliged to you for this and please go on in this spirit more and more improving the temple atmosphere. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** February 1st 1974 — **Location:** Hong Kong > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 14, 1974.I am glad you are cooperating with Madhavananda. That I want. As long as we are sincere there is no question of split amongst us; the split only means someone is not sincere, otherwise there is no question of it. I have received the returned bank statements and letter regarding my entry certificate. I shall take this matter up with the embassy when I go the New Delhi. I am glad to hear you are correcting the pamphlet for the Bhaktivedanta Manor. I share your confidence that if done rightly, we can attract many persons, to visit the Manor and take prasadam and chant Hare Krsna. That will be a great victory, and if they can take our books and hear the philosophy then we can make devotees out of them. This great responsibility is in your charge. I have given you all the guidance and hints and it is described in all my books. Now it is up to you. Please keep our principles firmly and everything will come out successful. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** February 7th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 23, 1974.I am glad to hear that you are now concentrating on improving the regulative life of the temple rather than so much advertising with brochures. This is very nice; this is what I want. A good example is better than precept. The pamphlet is precept, but if we don't follow the precepts ourselves then such advertisement is not good. That Pusta Krsna Maharaja is assisting you in raising the standard at Bhaktivedanta Manor is also good news. He has written me that he is needing English boys to join him in South Africa as the English of all nations have free entry there. He is very hopeful of preaching and distributing books in Capetown. So if possible, help him by offering some English boys, and after some time he may go to South Africa with the boys. I am already trying from here for my entry visa to the British Isles. Next time I come I shall enter with entry visa. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** March 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed please find a recent letter which was mailed and addressed to me, by Sarva Suhrit. By this letter he has put into writing his criminal intentions. I think you know him also, and there is no telling what he may actually attempt to do. Therefore I want you to go to the proper Scotland Yard investigators and present the letter by Sarva Suhrit. He constitutes a menace; he should be punished and a court case should be taken if necessary. Of course, as preachers we have to expect to face so many opposing elements, and actually we are doing so. Moreover, we are always protected by Krsna. But this crazy threat for our destruction should not go unchecked; please do the needful and let me know the outcome. You may send your regular report on activities at Bhaktivedanta Manor to me here at my Bombay address. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** March 27th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 21 March and I have examined the contents. That the standard of Krsna Consciousness deteriorated while you were away two weeks, and three brahmacaris have left Bhaktivedanta Manor is not good. But neither do I think your proposals are very good for organizing a strong center by stopping Revatinandana Swami's travelling party and having the president of the London temple Prabhu Visnu and others stay with you at the center. It seems you are always asking others to come for some time to work with you and organize, then after they leave you turn to some one else to come and help. Madhavananda is here with me in Bombay and I think he is the right man to work with you permanently at the Manor. I sent him there for that purpose, to organize things as he has experience of the management and organization of a temple life. So between you and he, if you will mutually cooperate, there should be sufficient power to run things nicely. Revatinandana Swami should not stay there but his travelling party should go on for preaching and distribute many books at the colleges and schools. Also Prabhu Visnu is supposed to stay in London as he is the president there. As far as separation of men and women in Bhaktivedanta Manor, that should be strictly observed in the main temple building; between single men and women there must be strict division and strict observance of no illicit sex. The householders may continue stay as they are in the cottage house, living peacefully as grhasthas. Whether grhasthas, sannyasa or brahmacari everyone has to be completely engaged all the time in devotional service. That is the meaning of good management, to see that everyone is engaged 24 hours a day, and not sleeping unnecessarily or talking idly. I think Madhavananda has good ideas and is a good organizer. So he is returning to you in a few days; you two please work together so that devotees will be enthusiastic to remain and work at the Manor. We have such a nice variety of engagement there, sankirtana, deity worship, gardening—there is no scarcity of important work. I shall be eager to hear from you further how things are going in all departments, at our European Headquarters. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** May 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I was in Hyderabad and on my return to Bombay I received your letter of April 15, 1974.I am glad to know that on the arrival of Hansadutta things are improved very nicely and problems are being solved gradually. It is understood that Hansadutta delivered a letter through Manasvis' wife and she has re-directed the letter to Hyderabad but I have not received the letter. In the meantime, I have received the following telegrams from Syamasundara. The first dated April 13, reads as follows: "My most humble obeisances departed India today for America all signs favorable for good success kindly inform care Brooklyn Temple how where you wish funds repaid also how many where to send your tickets for London plus expected arrival date. Suggest early May for English fragrant Springtime' June like flavored gold, July for the most spectacular Rathayatra ever, celebrated August meet her majesty etc., hundreds of the world's best British men anxiously awaiting to accommodate and serve you in unrivalled fashion with opulence respect public acclaim befitting Visvacarya. Especially George preparing some wonderful surprises like your classes with Prince Charles. Hrsikesananda also safely in London, your eternal servant Syamasundara das."The second, dated April 27 from New York:"Obeisances New York deal closed for hundred hundred thousand dollars Hansadutta sent England for politicking power grabbing without consulting me. Kindly order him to leave England or I shall never return there. Tickets forthcoming pending Hansadutta's leaving, your servant, Syamasundara das."So the first telegram was replied by me and a copy of the letter is sent here. I have not replied to the second telegram. But according to the first telegram he was to repay the money, as he asked where he should deposit the money. But the second telegram showed he failed to acquire the money. Now he promises he will not return to London unless Hansadutta goes away. How can I ask Hansadutta to go away when he has improved the situation? From Puranjana's letter, Hansadutta is ready to pay back the dues owed to the landlord at Bury Place. Under the circumstances, Hansadutta must continue to act as GBC until Syamasundara settles up all monetary dues to the society and others. The center has become cumbersome on account of mismanagement. Things must be settled before Shayamasundar can take charge again. These bills presented by different creditors on account of jewelry business must not be paid by ISKCON. Syamasundara was never authorized to do the business at the risk of the society's money. Everyone was expecting me to arrive there by the first week of May, but this was dependent on Syamasundara sending tickets. He has now refused to send tickets. This is not very happy news. Either he has no money to purchase them or he has withdrawn his promise. In both cases the dealing is not very happy. I may be going to Rome by the 23rd of May and I will be in Europe in several places. Then I may go to London or may call a meeting in Paris and decide things for our future management. In the meantime, the letter which Hansadutta handed to Manasvi's wife may be sent again by copy as the original is missing. Madhavananda has written that his engagement working to make life members has been taken away because you are yourself now working at life membership. But why should his engagement be taken away? What is the difficulty if you both work at life membership? Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** August 30th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Mukunda das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 3, 1974 with enclosed copies of the clippings. So something is being done about this discriminatory action. You can keep me informed of further progress. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** September 29th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Mukunda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 22, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the election of President, a president can only be changed by vote. If no vote was taken, then the president cannot be changed. Neither Hansadutta can change the president whimsically or can anybody else change the president. According the "Direction of Management" the GBC cannot change the President but only by vote can it be done. The GBC's business is to see that the President and the members are doing nicely, following the regulative principles, and chanting 16 rounds and that other things are going on nicely. If it was decided by vote that Hansadutta would select the president then Hansadutta is right. Without authority Hansadutta cannot change the election. If the vote was in favor of Madhavananda, then Hansadutta cannot whimsically change the vote. But, if by vote he was authorized to select the president, then whomever he selects is right. I was not informed by my secretary that Hansadutta was authorized by vote to make the selection. But, why was Hansadutta authorized if the vote was already taken? This I do not know. On the whole I understand there are so many contradictions, so in the presence of all members you may take the vote again and decide finally. You may inform Prabhavisnu that I have received his letter dated 22/9/74.I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Mukunda **Date:** November 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Mukunda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 16/11/74 from Germany with enclosed documents. Do not sign these documents. Let Bali Mardan explain to me what is the idea. No, without removing shoes nobody can visit the temple. Where are the arrangements for a ramp? Neither you should make it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Muralidhara **Date:** March 7th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur Dear Muralidhara, Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter sent to Mayapur with a list of questions regarding your painting pictures for my books. The answers are as follows.1. Kardama Muni should look something like you have pictured Vyasadeva, with beard and top know of hair, not as you have pictured him in your drawing. Generally munis have beards.2. a) The kinnaras and kimpurasas should look like demigods.b) Ghosts and hobgoblins look all rights as you have them pictured.c) There is nothing peculiar looking about Yaksas and Raksasas; they are meat eaters. Just as meat eaters in the ordinary world do not look different. You may show them eating meat, or something like that.d) The Manus should look like kings, they should not have beards, but mustaches.3. As far as wearing beards one class of men like Advaita Prabhu never wore clean shaven appearance but always had a beard. The other process is to be nicely clean shaven, by the barber. King PratapaRudra was a king so he should not wear a beard but mustaches.4. Svarupa Damodara should look like a brahmacari. He should not have a beard.5. In Panca-tattva everyone has an effulgence, but especially Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda6. The Mayavadi sannyasis generally wear their dhotis up over their knees, and because Lord Caitanya took sannyasa from a Mayavadi sannyasi He is shown like that. So He is seen like this as a sannyasi.7. Lord Nityananda never took sannyasa. He was independent, like a brahmacari, and later he became married.8. You may depict both the sages and Yaksas on the ground in the battle with Dhruva.9. Yes, show Dhruva's soldiers along with him.10. Ghosts sometimes manifest a body and sometimes they do not. When they took a body it was golden.11. Dhruva was a Vaisnava, portray him like that. There is not harm that he have a mustache, also helmet, ornaments, and pearl necklace.12. Svayambhuva Manu is a king, portray him with mustaches. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya is clean shaven.13. The picture you have enclosed of Siva Linga is approved by me and it is in the right proportion. It may be black or white according to the stone. Feel free to write me if there are further questions so that our paintings are completely bona fide by the parampara. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Muralidhara **Date:** June 9th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Brooklyn My dear Muralidhara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of May 16, received only now in Paris. Regarding your questions for painting: The enclosed sketch of Lord Visnu visiting the sacrificial arena of Maharaja Prthu is all right as it is, the architecture is nice. Visnu should rest His left hand on Garuda's shoulder. But in the picture of the four kumaras visiting Prthu Maharaja, why are the Kumaras seen as if coming through the ceiling from above? I think it would be better if they were coming inside through the doorway. I am sorry to hear of your wife's poor health. You have tried so many treatments, pills and better climates and visits to doctors, but there is no improvement. I think you can admit her to the hospital on a longer term basis for recooping her health. You should not expect to have children until she is in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Muralidhara, Jadurani, Artists **Date:** May 25th 1974 — **Location:** Rome > Brooklyn My dear Muralidhara, Jadurani and artists of the art department, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 22, hand delivered to me by Atreya Rsi prabhu. As far as your questions which information you urgently need for completion of the paintings, the answers are as follows. It is correct to show Prthu Maharaja giving a speech to the Kumaras inside his home. For Lord Visnu's appearing at Prthu Maharaja's sacrifice, the sketch you have enclosed is all right. Lord Visnu should rest His left hand on Garuda. As for the wooden sacrificial instrument mentioned during Daksa's sacrifice, yes you can use it in Maharaja Prthu's sacrifice.[ILLUSTRATION]It looks like this. It is a block, like the bottom on a guillotine on which the animal is made to lay his head and then his head is cut off. When Prthu and Archi appeared they looked about 30 or 40 years old. They were dressed opulently like King and Queen with crowns. So I am glad that you are fully absorbed in your work and very concerned that it be executed just to my satisfaction in parampara standard. This is your perfection. I am hopeful we will continue our cooperation as I have many many more books to write if you can only keep up with me in publishing and painting. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Murti **Date:** March 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles Dear Murti das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter in which you propose to come to Vrindaban with your wife to help with deities, construction and preaching at our Krishna Balarama temple. After consulting with the authorities there, we all agree it would be a very good idea. So please make arrangements for your transfer here. Our Vrindaban temple is perhaps our nicest building in the whole movement and I want at least 25 good men here at all times. Because it is Vrindaban, those who come should be exemplary so that all the people of Vrindaban, even those who would be prone to criticize, will see that we are actually following the six Goswamis headed by Rupa Goswami. I want that those who come here, whether grhasthas or sannyasis, behave on the level of real goswamis. Goswami means controlling the senses and always glorifying Krsna by varieties of engagement in devotional service 24 hours a day. You may write to Gurudasa further about your plans. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Murtidas **Date:** October 13th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > New Delhi My Dear Murtidas: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 3, 1974 as well as your Sankirtana report. I do not know why you are not satisfied with your service there in Delhi. I am very glad that now Tejiyas is regularly collecting and sending to Vrindaban for maintenance, so what is the harm of your helping? This lamentation you have got is not good. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma/ na socati na kanksati [Bg. 18.54]. This is not Krishna consciousness. Do not lament, but go on with your collecting engagement enthusiastically. This is what pleases me. Why are you doubting? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Nadia **Date:** January 11th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Atlanta, Georgia Dear Nadia das, Mayapur das and Godrumia das; Please accept my blessings. Gurukrpa Maharaja has recommended you for first initiation, and I have accepted you as my disciples. Your spiritual names follow respectively: Eddie Yazegean—Nadia dasRon Pala—Mayapur dasJesse Mathis—Godrumia dasI am also accepting Kritagama and Pundarika das Brahmacaris for the second, Brahminical initiation. Your sacred threads chanted on by me are enclosed, as well as gayati mantra. Please secure the tape of me chanting gayatri mantra from the temple president there and hear it through the right ear, under his supervision. Receive further instructions on brahminical life from Gurukrpa Maharaja. I am very pleased that you are working together on travelling sankirtana to collect funds for Mayapur and Vrindaban. Please distribute as many of our books as possible and Krsna will be very pleased. And always be vigilant that you do not grow lax in following the regulative principles and always chanting 16 rounds at least, every day without fail. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Nalinikanta, Ratnesvari **Date:** August 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Nalinikanta das and Ratnesvari devi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your kind appreciations on the Vyasa Puja Day. Your sentiments are appreciated by me. It is stated by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura it is only by pleasing the Spiritual Master that one can be assured of pleasing Krishna. So my only request to my disciples all over the world on this day is to go on pushing on this movement with determination and sincerity, rigidly following the principles I have given you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Nandalal **Date:** June 9th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Honolulu My dear Nandalal, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 23, just received here in Paris. It is good news that you are finding engagement in distributing my books all day in Hawaii. So there is no question of taking other engagement; distribution of my books is the highest kind of preaching, and thus the best engagement. So take it as Krsna's mercy that you have come to Hawaii and engage there full time as it is a very important place. Regarding your deity. So long as you are not living separately, you may put your deity on the regular temple altar, and as they are caring for the deity and feeding and dressing and cleansing, so the temple pujari may also give your deity the proper care and worship. The explanation given by Ramesvara that sankirtana is Lord Caitanya's lila, which he compares to the gopies trying to engage others in Krsna's service, is the correct understanding. Please inform Sudama Maharaja that I have received his May 27th letter and that I am encouraged by the progress of the farm as well as the continued book distribution. I have asked Yasodanandana Swami to help out in Taiwan where there are only two men, rather than come to Hawaii. By now Sudama Maharaja should have been informed by Bali Mardan that myself and my two secretaries will be stopping off in Hawaii on our journey from Australia to the U.S. and that we will arrive July 3rd on Quantas airlines at 8:45 A.M.. We will stay for 30 hours and he should arrange for our staying in Honolulu. More when we meet. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Nandalal **Date:** October 18th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Honolulu My Dear Nandalal devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 6, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the hole in the Deity, no do not repair it like you have stated. You can fill up the hole with wax, and go on worshiping. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Nara-narayana **Date:** December 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Nara-narayana das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 28th, 1974 and have noted the contents. For the time being, continue doing what you are doing consulting Hansadutta and others. I shall advise you. Whatever income you are getting, give to the temple. Go regularly to the temple and raise your child. There is no need of loitering here and there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Nari **Date:** September 6th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Buffalo My Dear Nari devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. The problems you write of indicate that your spiritual foundation is very weak. To make advancement in Krsna consciousness one must decide whether he is going to be serious or not. If one is actually serious, then by chanting Hare Krsna 16 rounds daily, following the four regulative principles, and reading my books, certainly you will make advancement, and these such problems will fall to the side. I therefore request you because you are an initiated devotee to take up Krsna consciousness seriously as you promise at the time of your initiation, and be happy in Krsna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Navayogendra **Date:** December 10th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Nairobi My Dear Navayogendra das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your Diwali card forwarded to me from Mayapur. So I have received reports that you are doing nicely there in Nairobi, making Life Members daily. So you are a experienced preacher and this is to your eternal credit. If we can do something even a little thing, in the service of Krishna in this life, then it is considered that this life is a success. So you are sober, intelligent boy, you can understand our Krishna consciousness movement. Please work with continued enthusiasm, strictly following the chanting of 16 rounds daily and maya will never be able to touch you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Nayanabhirama **Date:** August 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Vrndavana My Dear Nayanabhirama das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your kind appreciation on the Vyasa Puja Day. Your sentiments are appreciated by me. It is stated by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura it is only by pleasing the Spiritual Master that one can be assured of pleasing Krishna. So my only request to my disciples all over the world on this day is to go on pushing on this movement with determination and sincerity, rigidly following the principles I have given you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Nilambara **Date:** November 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Detroit My Dear Nilambara dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated together with letters from your friends and I am glad to see they are taking serious interest along with yourself in this movement of Lord Caitanya. Try to understand this philosophy very nicely and get more numbers to join. I am especially interested to see the Americans spread this movement. America is already blessed by Krishna, and if they become Krishna conscious, they will become more glorious. There is an Indian saying, "fragrance in gold." Gold is already valuable, but if it has got some nice fragrance, then it becomes even more valuable. If some percentage of Americans become Vaisnavas, it will be wonderful for the future of the world. It will be a great example for the world. So you yourself take to the process with heart and soul and always follow my instructions, and Krishna will bless you to convince many souls to become Krishna conscious. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Niranjana **Date:** April 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad > Glasgow, Scotland Dear Niranjana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 9th April from Scotland. You are asking what should your preaching work be now that you are attending the university. So the first preaching work is that yourself should become an ideal devotee. Lord Caitanya said that one should first make himself perfect and then attempt to instruct others. There is no point in telling another man to stop smoking if you yourself are smoking cigarettes. Even though you are mixing with all kinds of the student class at the university, you must strictly refrain from the four prohibitive sinful activities, and as an initiated student you must not let a day pass when you do not chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krsna Mantra. If you can follow just these things nicely that in itself will be strong preaching by behavior. You should also always wear Kunti beads around the neck and wear the marking of tilak. People will inquire from you and you can tell them about Krsna Consciousness and sell them books also. You should also try to associate with the devotees in England and Scotland. If possible, visit the temple on Sundays and whenever you can, and always read my books. I will be coming to London in the first week of Maya and if you can come and see me at Bhaktivedanta Manor that will be very nice. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Nityananda **Date:** May 27th 1974 — **Location:** Rome > New Orleans My dear Nityananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 29, 1974.On your recommendation I have accepted Robbie Bernstein and James Steelman a my initiated disciples, and their spiritual names are as follows: Robbie—Rajendra dasaJames—Jvarajit dasaPlease work with them carefully so they will always keep up chanting their rounds and remain enthusiastic to follow the principles. I am also accepting Jogindra vandana for second initiation who has been initiated for two years. I want to stress to you to be very cautious about giving me recommendation for second initiation. There are four orders of life, it is not that everyone has to be a brahmana just because he has been initiated 1 or 2 or any number of years. Especially if one cannot even rise early for mangala arati he should never be given brahminical initiation. All your programs are encouraging to me and keep sending me information. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Nrhari **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Nrhari Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated September 27th, 1974 from San Diego. I have also received the photograph of your new son Mahaprabhu Das and he appears to be very nice so keep him carefully and raise him in Krishna Consciousness and your life will be successful. I am forwarding your letter to Hrdayananda Swami. The contents of your letter are very complicated and I hope that he can settle this matter peacefully. It appears that you do not have to pay back these debts, anyway you should all work this out amongst yourselves. Although there may be some difficulties within our Society, these things are not very important. What is important is that we should simply fix our mind on Krishna's Lotus Feet. This is His instruction in the Bhagavad-gita. So we associate with one-another so that we can assist each other in hearing and chanting about Krishna. That is the purpose of our Society. This you will not find in the materialistic society where all hearing and chanting is simply concerned with sense gratification. So our desire is Krishna and we want to go back home—Back to Godhead where Krishna lives eternally. So you simply follow my instructions as I have given to you and surely your life will be a success. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd --- N.B. I understand that you are translating "Bhagavad-gita As it Is". Please continue this work and Krishna will bless you. I want to see that my literature is widely distributed. In Spanish language there is great scope for distributing our literature and preaching to the people of South America ### Letter to Nrsimha Caitanya **Date:** June 5th 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > San Diego My dear Nrsimha Caitanya, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your undated letter and I have examined the contents. Your reports of the devotional progress of San Diego are very convincing, this combination of book distribution and public festivals is very good for bringing the people to an attraction for Krsna Consciousness. Go on holding as many festivals as possible. I am especially attracted to the pictures you have sent of Radha Giridhari, the deities of San Diego ISKCON. I have placed one picture on my desk and I am always admiring the beautiful decoration and the transcendental beauty of these deities. So although your temple may not be one of the largest you are excelling in deity worship; if you can maintain and increase this standard, everything will come successfully. Regarding the $10,000 you are receiving shortly from your lawyer. Yes, you may keep $1,000 for the local expenses you have mentioned, and the balance $9,000 may be sent to my Mayapur Vrindaban fund which you can submit by mailing to Jayatirtha with instructions it be deposited in ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban fund. Thank you very much for this help in our projects to make beautiful temples in India for all of my foreign students. Do not worry about past mistakes and falldowns. Krsna has given you a new chance in taking care of one of His ISKCON temples, so the future is very bright. There is nothing to worry about, simply yourself be ideal to all the devotees there by chanting as much as possible and following carefully all the regulative principles. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Nrsimha Caitanya **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > San Diego My Dear Nrsimha Caitanya Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 12th, 1974, with enclosed letter from Saunaka Dasa Brahmacari. I am very glad to read of all the wonderful activities in Krishna Consciousness that you are engaging in in San Diego. I can understand that you are managing a very nice temple there. The temple is meant to invite everyone to come and take shelter of the Lord. The temple is the opportunity for all conditioned souls to render some service t Krishna either in the matter of Hearing, Chanting, Offering, Cleansing, Reading or taking prasadam. Therefore you are by managing the temple as a president you are doing a very great service to humanity. So please continue in this way and make it nicer and nicer. I am also glad to note that you are distributing the books in increasing numbers. We want that our book distribution should be increased more and more in the coming year. Regarding the devotees whom you have recommended for initiation I am pleased to accept them as my disciples. Their spiritual names are as follows: Mike—Mahahasaumya Dasa. Ken—Ksamaula Dasa. Karen—Kriyasakti Devi Dasi. Dilana—Duravanya Devi Dasi. I am also please to accept Saunaka Dasa Brahmacari as twice born initiated Brahman. Enclosed is the sacred thread sanctified by me as well as the mantra sheet. Please hold a sacrifice and the Gayatri mantra can be heard by him through the right ear of my recorded type. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vddN.B. --- The beads may be chanted upon by Kirtanananda Swami or Tamala Krishna Goswami ### Letter to Padmagarbha **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Padmagarbha Das, Please accept my blessings, I am in due reciept of you letter dated October 22nd, 1974 regarding your proposal to spread Krishna Consciousness in Germany village to village by horse and wagon I do not know if this is a practical suggestion, but if the preaching goes on I have no objection. You can consult with Hansadutta in this connection to see if he approves. Preaching is the important thing and not the mode of transport, So if it can be done I have no objection. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Panalalji **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban My Dear Panalalji: Please accept my blessings. I would like to thank you for the Rs. 15,000/- that you have pledged towards the construction of the Hyderabad temple. I am also pleased to hear from Mahamsa Swami that the construction has started and the columns have come to beam level. Since you are the most elderly devotee, I request that you please overlook the construction and fund raising from time to time. If the temple is completed by the coming Janmastami, I will come for the installation ceremony. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Pancadravida **Date:** November 24th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bangkok My Dear Pancadravida Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 19, 1974 and am glad to read the contents. Never mind if you do not get the visa for India. We can preach anywhere. We have to preach both in heaven and hell. There is a Bengali saying that a husking machine will husk the rice whether in heaven or in hell. So where-ever Krishna desires we will preach this movement. Try your best to establish a center in Bangkok, and the men here who have to leave India for visa difficulty, they can go to Bangkok and remain there and get the visas from there. Here now there is visa difficulty, so a center in Bangkok will be good. Manasvi can go to Bangkok to assist you. He speaks Hindi and can be valuable. He has already told Brahmananda that he will go. So take this as Krishna's desire, and we are servants of Krishna, so our only business is to try to satisfy Him. You are a sannyasi and I have got full confidence in you that you can do very nicely there. Everywhere this movement is accepted, so please keep me informed what is the progress there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Pancadravida **Date:** December 27th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bangkok My dear Panca Dravida Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am very interested to know how the program in Bangkok is going. I have just written Trivikrama Maharaja in Hong Kong that you and he can work cooperatively together and maybe arrange some big programs in Hong Kong, and you can go there, or arrange big programs in Bangkok and he can come there. Anyway you are both very near so this may be beneficial for both of you. Please make sure that you and your assistances are keeping yourselves fit in Krsna Consciousness by chanting 16 rounds daily and following all the principles very strictly, holding classes, rising early etc. Then the program there will be sure to be successful. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Pancadravida **Date:** December 31st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bangkok My dear Pancadravida Svami, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated December 18th and 20th, 1974 and have noted the contents. Sankirtana if it is not possible, never mind. Try to organize a meeting and impress upon the people Srimad-Bhagavatam philosophy by explaining. Manasvi can explain in Hindi and you can explain in English. This is also Sankirtana although not singing. So, where sankirtana is hampered, we can go on with kirtana and distributing magazines, that is more important than sankirtana. That is Brhat-mrdanga. Getting registered we must. I may come there as soon as the Bombay business is finished. Regarding Mr. Sachdeva, instead of writing him, because I am unknown to him, I am thinking of going to talk with him directly. Sankirtana within the Hindu community is prohibited? If it is very difficult to pull on there, then there is good field in Fiji. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Pancadravida, Aksayananda **Date:** June 28th 1974 — **Location:** Melbourne > Bangalore My dear Pancadravida and Aksojananda Swamis, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your travelling sankirtana report of 11 June, 1974.Your work in Bangalore is very commendable and the report is pleasing to me. Go on preaching and making life members and distribute my books as much as possible. This is exactly the meaning of Lord Caitanya's teaching and by carrying it out surely you will receive His blessings which is to achieve Love of Krsna. Your report that a Christian gentleman became a life member being attracted to our books is also our experience. Just today we spoke at a seminary in Melbourne, Australia, and the young Franciscan monks listened very respectfully. When speaking to Christians we never say our religious system is better than theirs but we speak on the principles of love of God, Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo [SB 1.2.6]. They become convinced and pleased to hear our explanations of God consciousness based on the Vedic conclusion—if they are at all sincere. So whenever you come upon such gentlemen or institutions try to place our books there and make them life members also. I shall be glad to hear from you again. Be sure to regularly send all collections to the BBT. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Pancaratna **Date:** May 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear Pancaratna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and packet of information including prospectus for getting engagements in schools and colleges. Your list of achievements by college course, Yoga club and programs in general is very impressive, particularly that you have a regular four credit college course at Fordham University wherein the students are required to read some of my books. The idea of employing an interested professor and making him the co-teacher seems to be a major break-through in our attempts to teach at the colleges. I am very happy about this. Now as you have described the process to me, make a newsletter and distribute this information to all the centers, so they can try to get the assistance of a college professor and gain accredited courses. The world is most sorely in need of education in Krsna Consciousness, but due to the ignorance of the age they are not interested in knowledge of the self. So if by labeling the bottle in some way more to attract them we are still able to teach Krsna Consciousness, let us do it. Krsna has given you good intelligence because of your sincerity; as he sees we are humble and sincere about propagating His message He will give us more and more opportunity. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Paramesvari **Date:** May 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Nairobi My dear Paramesvari, Please accept my blessings. I understand that for over two months since Brahmananda Swami has been away from Africa, you have been in charge of the Nairobi center. This is a great responsibility. Brahmananda Swami has noted that you have not only maintained the center but in his absence on your own taken collection and done the necessary work so that now the temple building is owned by us. I have always wanted this for our Nairobi center. So it is a great credit for you. Therefore this work you are doing for maintaining the African devotees, teaching them the rules and regulations of Krishna Consciousness, is the most important work of the work and I thank you very much. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Pariksit **Date:** October 9th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Brooklyn My Dear Pariksit dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 13, 1974 and have noted the contents. The answers to your questions are as follows:1. Regarding Krsna das Kaviraja, there is no such information, but as far as possible, he was brahmacari.2. Lord Nityananda and the associates appeared in the room.3. The stick held by Lord Nityananda is like your sketch.4. The bodily hues of the devotees of Lord Nityananda, why green? But, it can be done, there is no harm.5. You can continue not showing Srimati Radharani's feet. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Parvati **Date:** December 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Parvati, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. Thank you for your kind sentiments. You should try to become expert at making these nice milk products. The cow is the most wonderful animal and she is so beneficial for human society, giving so many gifts in the form of milk products. And you can turn all those milk products into wonderful preparations to offer to Radha-Krsna and thus your life will become perfect. Please continue advancing in Krsna Consciousness by this wonderful method; reading our books daily, chanting 16 rounds daily, following the regulative principles, rising early, etc. Thank you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Parvati **Date:** December 27th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Nairobi My dear Parvati, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 21, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Thank you very much for trying so hard so many times to send me milk sweets, like sandesh, etc. Unfortunately this last time they went bad on the way here, therefore they were not in offerable condition. The fact that you have offered them to me is what counts. Not so much whether I have personally eaten them or not. So thank you for your sincere efforts in pleasing me. Under all circumstances you must remain in the association of devotees. Do not let yourself fall out of this association. Even if it is very difficult and there may be many problems or disagreements still simply by remaining in the association of devotees and follow our regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds, rising early etc., you will become purified. If you leave the association of devotees to follow these regulative principles will be very difficult. Therefore stay in the association of devotees and continue making nice milk preparations for the Deities. And when I come there this spring I will be glad to accept them three times a day. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Patita Uddharana **Date:** November 14th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Patita Uddharana dasa: Please accept my blessings. I have understood from Hansadutta Prabhu that you are giving lectures in the temple. I have seen the column from the Gujarati newspaper and I am very pleased. Somebody must speak, and you have taken the task. I offer you my thanks. You are an elder disciple and you have heard what I am speaking, so you should just speak what you have heard and it will have potent effect. This is the power of the parampara, disciplic succession. So you must be prepared to meet all opposition because practically everyone is mayavadi. They do not have faith in Krishna's words in Bhagavad-gita. Therefore we have a great responsibility to present Krishna's words without any change. Please do the needful. Your speaking should be continued. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Patita Uddharana **Date:** December 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Patita Uddharana das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 21, 1974 and have noted the contents. It is nice that you had a nice Diwali-Govardhana Puja celebration. I have not received any photos however. Regarding the Indian gentleman Krishna Das, he can go to Dallas and teach Sanskrit and English, or he can come here to Bombay if he likes. As you are doing secretarial duties there at the Manor, there is one matter I would like you to look into. There is one man Mr. Mody. What happened? He is a big man. Now Kausalya has irritated him. Try to compromise the situation, and inform me. I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Patita Uddharana **Date:** December 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Patita Uddharana das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1974 and have noted the contents. So in your letter you are not finding fault with anyone. So you are good Vaisnava. You do not find fault with anyone. This is the qualification. We should always think ourselves very humble and meek. This you must know. So we have to all cooperate amongst ourselves, otherwise what will people think if we ourselves fight with one another? A devotee is always ideal in behavior. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Patita Uddharana **Date:** December 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Patita Uddharana, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 11 Dec. 74 and have noted the contents carefully. You should send a copy of that document to me immediately of if Hansadutta is coming to Bombay you can send it with him. Please keep me informed of the position with Mr. Mody and also of Mr. Kewal Krishan. I hope things are going on well there. I am depending on you as one of my elder disciples to set a nice example for the others to follow. This is very much wanted. You must become ideal in all respects, following all of our principles; rising early, chanting 16 rounds, attending classes, eating only Krsna prasadam, etc. This simple formula will make everything perfect. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/psN.B. --- Received your hand-delivered letter with copy of the surrender and plan. Thank you ### Letter to People of Bangkok **Date:** December 14th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay BangkokTo the People of Bangkok, ThailandPlease accept my best wishes. I am sorry I am not able to come but I must remain here in Bombay for some pressing matters. So I am sending my secretary His Holiness Brahmananda Maharaja who will represent me. The Krishna Consciousness mission is not sectarian. We want to do what the United Nations has failed to do. The human form of body is an opportunity for solving all the problems of life. Through evolution we come to the human life for solving this problem. The real problem is the repetition of birth, death, disease, and old age. But there is another status of life where there is no birth, death, disease, and old age. The Krishna Consciousness movement is the means for promoting the human being to that status. This is a great science, and it is elaborately explained in the Bhagavad-gita. So our mission is to give this benediction to all humanity. Let us cooperate together on this basis so that it will be a more effective United Nations, We shall be united on the basis of the prime need of human society, spiritual life. I hope this meets you all well. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Prabhakar **Date:** May 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi My dear Prabhaker, I thank you very much for your letter dated nil, and I have carefully noted the contents. I have the same feeling upon you as my beloved son. And I still maintain the feeling hoping you will be a great help in the Krsna Consciousness Movement. The ideas given by you are provisionally accepted and it is possible for us to join together. Still, we need to meet to talk in detail. I am leaving the country by the 23rd May and before leaving I may go to Vrindaban via New Delhi to see how the temple construction is going on. I am glad to know you met Tejyas which I requested you to do in my last letter. Anyway, if we meet in Delhi before I leave the country that will be nice. I shall inform you of the exact date of my going to Delhi and I will be glad to meet and discuss with you. Thank you once more for your letter. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Prabhas **Date:** September 17th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Mayapur My Dear Prabhas das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter in Bengali. I request you to learn the doll making more perfectly, and when I shall go the the foreign countries by the month of April to New York, I will take you with me. In the meantime learn more perfectly the doll making. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Prabhavisnu **Date:** December 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Prabhavisnu das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 9, 1974. I am very glad to learn that you are all working peacefully together. This is the most favorable atmosphere for cultivating our Krishna consciousness. And if people see us working together nicely, they cannot criticize anything against our Krishna consciousness movement. Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following devotees as my initiated disciples and their names are as follows: 1. Soley—Sarvasagara dasa; 2. Angela—Aksunnasakti devi dasi; 3. Jackie—Janardanaprita devi dasi. Their beads may be chanted upon by Hansadutta. I am also accepting the following as twice born brahmanas upon your recommendation: Brsabha dasa; Jaya Laksmana das; Jnana das; and Jalastitha devi das. Their mantra sheets and sanctified threads are duly enclosed. Now hold a fire sacrifice. The gayatri mantra can be heard through the right ear from my recorded tape. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Pradyumna **Date:** November 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta My Dear Pradyumna dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated. I think you should stay. Your presence is required. If you are leaving because of your wife, then your wife must agree to pay for your return fare. If she agrees, then you can go. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- cc: Delhi ISKCON ### Letter to Pranava **Date:** March 30th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi My dear Sriman Pranava das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 28th March and I have noted the contents. Last time when I was in Vrindaban I saw both the lands and we decided that we shall take both of them. The first land which is front side four bighas on the road and six bighas behind, if they are prepared to give us the land for payment of Rs 28,000.00 or less we can take. That we settled up last time. And in between the two lands, the two bighas that also we can take never mind the land is rough, still we are prepared to take it. The other land, twenty bighas, ten bighas in front and ten bighas at the rear can be taken at a total price of Rs 70,000.00 or utmost, Rs 75,000.00. In this way, if the land is available we are prepared to pay immediately. You have suggested it will cost Rs 90,000.00 but that is too much. The front portion at Rs 4,000 and the rear at 3,000, so 70,000 or utmost 75,000. So if they are prepared, arrange for the purchase of the land. My money will be ready the second of May. You can do the needful. In Bombay we are meeting the opposition peacefully and I hope things will come out successfully. Kindly ask Tejyas to send me a statement of account of Delhi, in the name of Vrindaban Construction Fund, Punjab National Bank. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Pranava **Date:** October 8th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Vrindaban My Dear Pranava Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram dated October 5, 1974 reading as follows: RECEIVED YOUR LETTER WORKING ACCORDINGLY LAND ALREADY ARRANGED GURUDASA LEFT FOR LONDON TRANSFER ONE LAKH CONSTRUCTION FUND—PRANAVADASI have already asked Bombay to transfer one lakh of Rupees through the Bombay PNB to the PNB Vrindaban Branch account No. 668. So please go and enquire whether they have received the money. Regarding Gurudasa going to London, it is surprising to me. Anyway I have sent Dhananjaya das Adhikari to act in place of Gurudasa. Please try and help him, both you and Saurabha. He is very nice, obedient boy. He will be very much helpful in Vrindaban, so please cooperate with him fully. He has already left for Vrindaban with my instructions and a letter to the bank. Regarding the land, you say it will be settled up near about Rs. 90,000/-, so why are you asking for Rs. 1 lakh? But, I have not received any report of enquiry in the affairs of the land, whether Prabhakar Misra assisted you in this connection. Anyway the draft conveyance may be sent to me one copy immediately made by our lawyer. I think he is Mr. Maheswari you said. So do everything very carefully. Our money is collected with great difficulty. I want that not a single farthing may be at stake. Anyway the money is already there. Simply let me know when and how the money is to be paid to the other party. The usual procedure is that a bank cashiers check may be paid at the time of registration by the government that the land is being transferred to us. Please send me immediately the draft of conveyance deed made by the lawyer. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Pranava **Date:** October 11th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Vrindaban My Dear Pranava das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 3, 1974 with enclosed eight forms by Registered Post. Before this I have written you one letter dated 8/10/74. Please refer to that. The land will be purchased as I have already instructed in the name of ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust. The money Rs. 1 lakh has already been transferred to this bank account. As per my letter dated 8/10/74, when the conveyance deed is prepared, and when I approve it, then I shall advise the bank to pay the amount before the Registrar. That is the way of payment. Regarding the registration fee, I have purchased the Bombay land paying half and half. This is the system. I cannot invest more than 1 lakh in this transaction, including everything. But, your estimate is for more than that. Somehow or other I have secured this Rs. 1 lakh. It is not possible to pay more than this amount. Generally a sales agreement is made when the papers are examined and the title certificate is taken from a bona fide lawyer. Then the conveyance is prepared on stamp paper. Then it is registered. This is the procedure. So where is the sales agreement? You have not mentioned anything whether Pravakar assisted in this connection. The money is already there. There is no question of money, but everything must be done according to regular procedures. The eight papers sent by you are returned herewith duly signed in two places. Please do everything very carefully. All documents should be made in English. From Bombay on 7th instant the money is transferred to a/c ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust No. 668.I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Pranava **Date:** November 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban My Dear Pranava das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 28, 1974 and have noted the contents. Even if there is a slight doubt in this land purchasing matter, we shall not purchase. There must be no doubt. This man is legal-minded you say, therefore to my mind it is doubtful. It must be very cautiously examined. Mr. Maheswari must be satisfied, and he must issue a Title Certificate before the conveyance can be made. On the whole if there is a slight doubt even, do not make attempt to purchase this land. That is my request. We cannot risk the money as well purchasing some litigation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Pranava **Date:** December 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi My Dear Pranava das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 29, 1974 with enclosures and have noted the contents carefully. In a letter from Tejiyas to Brahmananda Swami dated November 12, 1974, he writes, "The land transaction is taking an extraordinary length of time." And, in a letter from Dhananjaya to me dated November 9, 1974 he writes, "There has also been a problem with the map of the property . . . and so far both parts of the map have never been presented together to the advocate. Therefore the advocate is also dubious as to the validity of the transaction." On the strength of these two letters I have dropped them idea of purchasing this land. Now it comes to light we have to deal with three separate agreements and they will not take payment from the bank. So considering all these points, I think this transaction may be dropped. On the previous reports submitted I have already dropped the matter. Also, as we have to divert so much attention to fertilize the land, I do not think it is suitable for our purpose. When I return to Vrindaban, then we can reconsider this transaction. The documents which you sent are returned herewith. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Presidents of all centers in Europe and America **Date:** April 21st 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad CalcuttaTo The Presidents of all centers in Europe and America: The bearer of this letter, Sriman Ranajit Sene, is a life member of our Society. He is going to visit Europe and America, so he should be received in every center as a life member. If he wants to stay in the temple he should be given facility. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Professor Stillson Judah **Date:** November 20th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Professor Stillson Judah Librarian and Professor of the History of Religions Graduate Theological Union Library2451 Ridge Road Berkeley, California 94709 Dear Professor Judah: I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated November 1, 1974. I understand you have sent your book to my Los Angeles address. At present I am in India at the above address. Most probably my secretary in Los Angeles will direct the book here, and I shall read it with great interest. I am very much pleased that you have taken our Krishna consciousness movement a little seriously. That is very good. Lord Krishna says that when the leading men of the society accept it, then it is followed by the common men. I wish the leading men of the human society may understand the background of this great movement. It is on the basis of God consciousness. Every living entity especially in the human form of life is potentially God conscious. Unfortunately the modern leaders of the society have made the common man forget God somehow or other. Our humble attempt is to revive the forgotten consciousness of the human society. Without being God conscious you cannot expect perfection in the human society. It is said in the sastra that if a person is God conscious, then all good qualities manifest in his person, but without being God conscious no material quality can make anyone a respected gentleman. Therefore it is essential to teach God consciousness in every school, college, and university to revive man's dormant God consciousness. I hope you will continue to cooperate with us in this attempt. Thanking you n anticipation. I shall read the book when I get it. Yours very sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Punjab National Bank **Date:** November 19th 1974 — **Location:** BombayLT _741119_C1ResolutionAt the meeting of the members of the Bureau of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness held at their Head Office at the Hare Krishna Land, Juhu, Bombay on the 19th November, 1974, the following resolved:1. That the Savings Account No. 1123 be enclosed and that the current balance be deposited in the Current Account to be opened. Signed: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- Brahmananda SwamiDatted this 19th Day of November, 1974-/bs ### Letter to Punjabe National Bank **Date:** November 19th 1974 — **Location:** BombayLT _741119_D1**Resolution**At the meeting of the members of the Bureau of the International Society for Krishna consciousness held at their Head Office at the Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu, Bombay on the 19th day of November, 1974, the following was resolved:1. That a Current Account be opened with Punjab NationalBank, Bengali Market Branch, New Delhi.2. That the name of the Current Account be INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS (ISKCON).3. That the account will be be operated jointly by Sriman Tejiyas das Adhikary and Sriman Pralad Rakshaka das Brahmachary, whose signatures appear below. Attested Signatures: Tejiyas Das AdhilkariPrahlad Rakshaka das BrahmacharyBrahmananda SwamiSigned: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Puranjana **Date:** April 7th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Puranjana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 3, 1974 and I have noted the contents carefully. Because of the critical condition of affairs at Bhaktivedanta Manor and Bury Place London, and the inability of present managers to work out a solution together, I have asked Hansadutta to go there immediately and take charge of the situation. It is not good that things have deteriorated to such a stage as you describe in your letter, but let us try to rectify and save the situation. I myself will be traveling to Paris in the second week of May, for a tour of European cities, and I will meet with Hansadutta then as well as other leaders, and we will make a decision for the permanent leadership of the centers. For the time being work with Hansadutta and stop the bickering and conflicting camps. You must work hard to absolve the debts you have massed so we will not lose our standing there. If everyone is strictly chanting at least 16 rounds daily and reading the books and observing the regulative principles then management will be at our finger's end, and there will be no difficulty in maintaining Krsna Consciousness. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Puranjana, Bhaja Hari, Jananananda, Rohininandana, Partha, Mahavisnu, Nara Haridasa, Patita Uddharanadas, Mukundadas **Date:** October 16th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Puranjana, Bhaja Hari, Jananananda, Rohininandan, Partha das, Maha Visnu, Nara Haridasa, PatitaUddharanadas, and Mukundadas: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 14, 1974 hand delivered by Puranjana das: Regarding the intended election, I have no preference for anyone. Whomever gets the majority election, he has my vote. I hope this meets you all well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Purnaprajna, Narayani **Date:** August 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > India My dear Purnaprajna and Narayani, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your kind appreciation on the Vyasa Puja Day. Your sentiments are appreciated by me. It is stated by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura it is only by pleasing the Spiritual Master that one can be assured of pleasing Krishna. So my only request to my disciples all over the world on this day is to go on pushing on this movement with determination and sincerity, rigidly following the principles I have given you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Pusta Krsna **Date:** December 6th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Johannesburg My Dear Pusta Krishna Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 12, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding my travelling, no, I have not stopped travelling. I am trying to go on like a young man, but sometimes the health does not allow. That is beyond my jurisdiction. So you have finally gotten the visa for South Africa. So we are trying to get the endorsement on my passport for going to Africa here in Bombay. I will come to South Africa. Brahmananda Swami suggests that we come after going to Australia. We shall remain in Australia up to end of February, and will be able to spare two weeks in South Africa, because I must be in India by mid March. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- We were not able to get the S.A. endorsement in Bombay in time, so we shall try for it in Australia ### Letter to Pusta Krsna **Date:** February 7th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bhaktivedanta Manor Dear Pusta Krsna Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 18, 1974.Your report is very encouraging to me, that you distributed 110 Gitas in two days in Capetown, South Africa. You also find that there is good preaching to be done there among intelligent Indians and Europeans. And for the people in general you can hold kirtana and distribute prasadam sumptuously. So I understand you are now at the Bhaktivedanta Manor assisting Mukunda in strictly following the parampara and encouraging all the devotees in that direction. When your work is done there, you may return to South Africa, and I have asked Mukunda to help you with some men for South Africa. I am also very pleased with the reports I am getting from Brahmananda Swami, so please cooperate with him in Africa. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Pusta Krsna **Date:** April 27th 1974 — **Location:** Tirupati > Cape Town, South Africa Dear Pusta Krsna Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of April 21, 1974 and I have noted the contents. Yes, I think the advise given by Brahmananda Maharaja is sound, namely not to worry about maintaining a permanent center in South Africa but travelling with sankirtana there for distributing books and preaching, which you say is a good field there. We do not have so many men; it requires at least five men to maintain a center, so I approve of your plan to close the center and travel in South Africa. As for the deities of Gaura-Nitai, yes you may take them on travelling sankirtana and worship them. Please keep me informed of your activities. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- A.C. Bhak/sdg ### Letter to Pusta Krsna **Date:** October 16th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Durban, South Africa My Dear Pusta Krishna Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 24, 1974 and am glad to read the contents. Your success with the South Africans there is very good. I have initiated the boy and girl, and their spiritual names are as follows: Gokulendra dasa and Rocani devi dasi. You can chant on their beads. You must get more South Africans to join and make our mission solid there. The Indians they are hopeless so far I have seen, so get the Europeans to join as many possible. Regarding the draft situation, let them go from the college to the temple. They can stay with us for some time and then go back and forth. In the colleges they can introduce our books. We are getting very good written appreciations from learned circles in USA of our books and many libraries and universities are ordering an open order all of the books as they are published. Regarding the book distribution to the Indians, yes that was my program. Hold a meeting and sell books. These books are not fiction or imagination. If the Indians like the authority of the books, take advantage and distribute profusely. I see in the photos of Gaura Nitai they are wearing lungis, but They wear dhotis. You have made it become a lungi. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Radha-Kanta **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > New Vrndavana Dear Radha Kanta, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 1974 hand delivered. You should understand that when you sat at the fire sacrifice upon your initiation, you made a vow to the Spiritual Master at that time. So, you should not break these vows. You say that you appreciate the association of devotees but how will you withstand the material attraction? If you are not chanting Hare Krishna offenselessly and regularly? Affection for the spiritual master and following the instructions of the Spiritual Master is the same. My instruction is that all of my disciples must attend the mangala arati and chant 16 rounds daily. This life is very flickering. At any moment you may die so we must cling very close to the instruction of higher authorities, the spiritual master and Lord Krishna in Bhagavad-gita. So I think that you can follow the instructions. You are intelligent hard working boy. In the meantime until you get stronger, you should remain in the association of devotees. In this way you will get a taste for spiritual life. In Bhagavad gita it is stated: mac-citta mad-gata-prana/ bodhayantah parasparam/ kathayantas ca mam nityam/ tusyanti ca ramanti ca [Bg. 10.9].I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Radhavallabha **Date:** May 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear Radhavallabha, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated. Now you are preparing the publications of Vol.1 and Vol.3 of Caitanya Caritamrta. As far as subtitles all the volumes should have on the cover just as it is on the cover of Vol.2, "The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu". As for the subtitle on the inside title page which is now printed in Vol.2 as "Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the renounced Order of Life," you can make a subtitle suitable according to the subject matter of the subsequent volume. But the phrase "The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu" should appear on the cover of every volume. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Radhavallabha **Date:** May 31st 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > Brooklyn Dear Radhavallabha, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter regarding the printing of the first volume of Caitanya Caritamrta. As for introduction, you may use the Introduction I have already written and printed in Teachings of Lord Caitanya' I think it will also be suitable for Caitanya-caritamrta. As for dedication, please use the following:"Presented to my friends and devotees who like to read my books and approached to request me to render the great Caitanya-caritamrta into English."You have also inquired whether the picture of Lord Brahma and Visnu on the back cover of Srimad-Bhagavatam Third Canto volume one may be used. Yes, there is no objection to go on using it as it is. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Radhavallabha **Date:** September 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta > Brooklyn My Dear Radhavallabha Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 14/9/74 with enclosed advance copies of BTG No. 66. The color is not at all good. It is not attractive, and not as good as Dai Nippon. Why is the printing being changed from Dai Nippon? This Los Angeles quality is not good. The standard quality of Dai Nippon must be maintained. On what consideration is the printer being changed? I do not know anything of the printer being changed. In my opinion no one can print better than Dai Nippon. Why is the plan changed without my consent? Why there is need of supervising the Kingsport printer? There was no need of supervising in Japan, but here it requires supervising. That means there is some discrepancy. So why these things are changed? We cannot change the quality of printing for the matter of a little change in the price. This printing is not approved by me. Repeatedly changing of printers is not at all good. We cannot approve any printing less than quality of printing of Dai Nippon. I am sending copies of this letter to all BBT Trustees for necessary action. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsCC: --- Bali Mardan, N.Y.; Hansadutta, London, Ramesvara, L.A ### Letter to Radhavallabha **Date:** September 29th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Brooklyn My Dear Radhavallabha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram dated September 26, 1974 and have noted the contents. Your telegram reads as follows:"FOR JADURANI'S NO. 23 PAINTING WHAT SHOULD LAKSMI HOLD IN HER FOUR HANDS PLEASE REPLY BY CABLE—RADHABALLAVA"Laksmi holds in her two hands lotus flower and offers blessings with the other hand like you see with the murtis of Radha Krsna with palm open and facing forward. I have never seen Laksmi with four hands, so I do not know what she is holding. I do not think it necessary to reply this matter by cable. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Radhavallabha **Date:** November 3rd 1974 — **Location:** India Dear Radhavallabha Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances. your letter addressed to Nitai Prabhu dated 25/10/74 has been brought to Srila Prabhupada's attention. Regarding book production, Srila Prabhupada is most concerned that you finish C.C. Ādi:1 as soon as you can and at least by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's disappearance day as you have anticipated. Regarding the indexing for Srimad-Bhagavatam, that has caused some confusion. From you letter it appears that you are printing a one volume index covering the first four Cantos, in a softcover edition. But, the indexes for the First and Second Cantos have already been published at the concluding volume of the Canto. Why are you now changing the procedure? Since the indexes for the first two Cantos have already appeared, why not just publish indexes for the next two Cantos which have not yet appeared? And, even if you bring out indexes for all the first four Cantos, since the entire work is not yet completed, you will again have to do the work over again when the succeeding Cantos are published. Anyway you can do it as you are doing it, but it is advisable to consult directly with Srila Prabhupada on such a matter specially if you are making some change in any of the publishing, that should be consulted with Srila Prabhupada first. Kindly do this. Prabhupada is expected to remain in Bombay for one month so that the samples of the newly printed books may be sent here. I hope this meets you in good health. Your servant, Brahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryApproved: ACBS ### Letter to Radhavallabha **Date:** December 3rd 1974 — **Location:** India Dear Radhavallabha Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances. I am in due receipt of you letter dated November 20, 1974 and also your telegram regarding the S.B. indexes. I have discussed the points of your letter with Srila Prabhupada. He said that yes, it was a very good idea to offer the first published edition of C.C. Ādi:1 to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on his disappearance day, January 1, 1975.Regarding the S.B. index idea of separate volumes, Prabhupada does not like this idea. He said that we are selling the books mostly to casual customers, so what will be the fate of the index for them? They will never see the index. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada prefers that each volume have its own separate index. This system should be revived. I hope this meets you in good health. Your servantBrahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryApproved: ACBS ### Letter to Radhavallabha **Date:** December 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Radhavallabha das: Please accept my blessings. I have seen your letter addressed to Brahmananda Maharaja dated November 26, 1974 and I am glad to learn that the situation in New York is proper again. Thank you very much. So now do everything nicely and cooperate together, and keep everything purified. That is the brahminical qualification, truthfulness and cleanliness, satyam and saucam. These are the first qualifications. Then controlling the mind and the senses, simplicity, full knowledge, and practical application of knowledge, and faith in the Vedas and the spiritual master. Those who are initiated by the brahminical thread, their first duty is to maintain cleanliness and truthfulness. I hope you can understand the importance of this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Radhavallabha **Date:** December 10th 1974 — **Location:** India My Dear Radhavallabha das Prabhu, Please accept my humble obeisances. Srila Prabhupada has requested me that you should please publish one new book of Lord Kapiladeva's teachings. The book should consist of Prabhupada's purports to Chapter 25 of S.B. #4 as well as all the lectures he has given on these verses here in the last month and a half. The title of the book should be: Kapila's (the son of Devahuti) Sankhya Philosophy. The tapes of these lectures have been sent to L.A. via one devotee returning to Washington D.C. (4 tapes) and Bali Mardan (3 tapes). The balance of 4 tapes is with Srutakirti and he will hand them over to you in Hawaii, via Ramesvara. Prabhupada suggested that Hayagriva could edit the lectures into the purports for making this book. I hope this meets you in good health. Your servantBrahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryApproved: ACBS ### Letter to Raghunatha **Date:** April 7th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > St. Kilda, Australia Dear Raghunath, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of April 1st, and I have noted the contents. You have analyzed that you are distressed because you are not given an engagement in Krsna Consciousness. This observation is correct, unless we are engaged with all our senses and intelligence in serving Krsna where is the question of Krsna Consciousness? We are reading here in the evenings how in the 4th chapter of Bhagavad gita Krsna has arranged for catur varnam, the social division of four orders, whereby everyone has some engagement according to his propensity, his quality and work, and thus everyone can go back to Godhead while performing their work. You complain that as a householder it is very difficult. Especially you want to preach. There are examples of great preachers who were householders, such as Bhaktivinode thakur, although we cannot hope to imitate him. You have not mentioned whether you are attending the activities of the temple and associating with the devotees in Melbourne, and these things are essential. Madhudvisa Swami is my representative in charge of devotional affairs in Australia and if you will discuss the specific situation with him, he will see that you become engaged in work just suitable to your situation as a householder. I will be glad to hear you have found proper service, as this is our whole secret of success. So long as you are chanting and reading our books and raising your family in Krsna Consciousness you are already engaged in the best service. Your desire to do more and preach is a sign of advancement; now confer with the devotees there and find out the best practical preaching assignment. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ramesvar **Date:** November 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Ramesvar: Please accept my humble obeisances. Your letter dated October 20, 1974 has been received and I have been asked by Srila Prabhupad to enquire who has had this document prepared without Srila Prabhupad's authority being given? It is understood from Bali Maradan that it has taken over one year to prepare this document at a cost of of Dollars 10,00.00. Who has ordered this money to be spent and who has paid for it? When this questions are answered, Then Srila Prabhupad will reply your letter. I hope this meets you in good health. Your Servant, Brahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryApproved: ACBS ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** August 13th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 8, 1974 and also your letter dated July 18, 1974 with enclosed Chinese edition of Back to Godhead. I understand from your letter that you have loaned Hong Kong center $1500 for printing Chinese edition of Krsna Reservoir of Pleasure. Regarding Macmillan, for our missionary work, we want to distribute more books and at a lower price. If they want to increase the price, then terminate the agreement. You must see the contract—if they can increase the price whimsically. Consult with lawyers if the agreement can be terminated. If we can print the Bhagavad-Gita at a lower cost, why they are insisting to print themselves at a higher cost? We can give them a press who can print at a lower cost so why they are insisting to print at a higher cost? Macmillan cannot increase the price unless their raw materials are costly. But we can help them to print it at a lower cost, so why they won't agree? Regarding sales figures, please endeavor in this way. The sales figures—this is the only solace in my life. When I hear that my books are selling so nicely, I become energetic like a young man. It is very good report that the printers are surprised at our sales figures. Regarding moneys collected, do not keep this money. Immediately spend on printing books. Perhaps we may require money for building purposes. This should be strictly followed: 50% for printing and 50% for building. No money should be invested for any business purposes. I have got information that Bhagavan das is purchasing in France a building just suitable for our purposes. He may require $100,000 for this purpose. Let me know if it is possible. I think it is possible but I want to hear from you. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** August 30th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 20, 1974 and have noted the contents. I note that Gurukrpa Swami will pay Dai Nippon $150,000 at the end of September and you will pay the Mayapur-Vrindaban account after October 8, 1974. It is good that he will be sending his collections thereafter directly to my account here in India. Your program for printing the Spanish literature is approved by me. Do it nicely. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** September 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 25, 1974 and have note the contents. Yes, it is good that you have understood me about not investing any BBT monies in business. Regarding the Spanish publications, it appears that these versions are shorter in length than the English ones. One thing is that Gurukrpa Swami has written that he will not be able to legally send any more money out of the country after the final payment to Japan, but you have written in your last letter that he would be transferring money into my account. Regarding my health, I am improving by the grace of Krishna. Thank you very much for taking so much care of my health for praying to Nrsimhadeva. He is very kind. By all your prayers He will surely take care of me. Kindly follow all rules and regulations. That will give you spiritual strength. We should always be in touch with Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. That is by chanting Hare Krishna. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** September 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My dear Ramesvara das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of the August BBT report dated September 1, 1974. Thank you for sending it, it has given me much pleasure. I am now improving in my health and soon will be leaving Vrindaban for Mayapur. The new form for book distribution in South America is very encouraging. So print largely and distribute. Just as large temples there can distribute easily over 1,000 Isopanisads each day, then you will very easily distribute 100,000 copies per month, so do it. I very much appreciate your report of Sarvabhauma prabhu who distributed 138 hardbound books simply because of hearing about my letter. That is very, very nice. They are all very nice, Krsna will bless them. This boy he immediately attempted and Krsna immediately responded. So this is the success of your book distribution. So if are books are distributed nationwide that is the success of our movement. I note that Beyond Birth and Death is going to be reprinted. This book is selling very nicely. Everyone is anxious to know what is beyond birth and death. They believe only in ghosts, but they do not know that their is actually another position; tatra dehantara-praptir; you have to change your body for another. So by Krsna's grace you are becoming a good manager. So stick to Krsna's service and He will give you more and more intelligence and more and more managing power. Krsna will be happy and you will also be happy. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/sda ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** September 15th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 6, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the Macmillan contract, if there is no mention in the contract of price increase, how they can do it? Consult a lawyer. But if by paying $20,000 to $25,000 we can be free of this contract and can print ourselves that will be better. Since they have broken the contract by increasing the price, we can compromise with them, and pay them something and be free from the contract. I am hearing so many things about management. My request is that until I am able to return to the USA you all please work peacefully. At our next annual meeting at Mayapur all complaints and counter complaints will be heard in the presence of all GBC and I will also be present. In the meantime work peacefully without disturbing the situation. In Bengal there is a proverb that even if there are some dead metal utensils but when they are together they make so much noise, so what to speak of living utensils. So this is natural, but since we are all pledged to work for Krsna we should follow the principle of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. This is Vaisnavism. So my request is do not be agitated. Let us do our duty honestly. Krsna will give us the intelligence to do everything nicely. So far my health is concerned, I am improving daily, although I am not quite fit to the standard, but I hope that a change will come about during this seasonal change of October so that I will be fit enough to return to USA by next April by the time our Gaurange Hall will be complete. With great jubilation we shall open this hall for the glory of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Europeans and Americans are very agitative, but since we have all taken a pledge to the service of Krsna, we have to change this habit for the peaceful service of Krsna. Everything will be all right by the grace of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In the meantime do not be agitated and remain Krsna conscious. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** September 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 10, 1974 with enclosed report of the BBT Loan Accounts. Your resignation will be placed before the GBC meeting at Mayapur and a decision will be taken at that time. I hope in the meantime you will come to your real condition of mind. Your duty is to carry out my orders. There cannot be any question of resignation. If anyone surrenders to Krishna wholeheartedly and engages in His service he cannot say later on I resign. It is not something like material service. Once surrendered, it cannot be withdrawn. So never mind. Don't be agitated. Any complaint may be put before the GBC meeting. In the meantime go on with your duties. That is my request. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- I have received your letter dated August 5, 1974 with enclosed letter from the Macmillan editor, but this biography is not very important. ACBS ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** October 1st 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur Dear Ramesvara Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 5, 1974 and have discussed the contents with Srila Prabhupada. The Dollars 5,000 which you have collected for Food Relief may be sent for the construction of the Prasadam Distribution Pavilion here at Mayapur temple. One thousand people will be able to be fed at a time and it will cost Dollars 25,000. Gargamuni Swami has pledged to provide one half of the funds. Hansadutta Prabhu has just sent Dollars 4,000 for Food Relief which will also be used for this project. Please send your money directly to Gargamuni Swami's Calcutta account, with a separate letter to this effect. Regarding the Dollars 10,000 already sent, Rs. 55,000/- is now in Calcutta and they are planning to purchase the grains necessary. The balance of the money was spent on the Vrindaban Janmastami Festival as a loan, of which Rs. 10,000 has been repaid. Bhagavan Prabhu has more complete details on how this was done. I hope this meets you in good health and spirits. Your servant, Brahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryApproved: (signature)ACBS ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** October 9th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 9/12/74 and have noted the contents. I have already told you to go on with your business of distributing my books. There is no need of transferring the BBT accounts to New York now. Let it go on as it is. Regarding Bali Mardan, there are so many charges and counter charges. We have appointed an enquiry committee, and let it be finished and we shall do the needful. I have also written to Karandhara, and you can read the letter so that everything may be cleared. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** October 11th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 24, 1974. There is no need of changing the signatures. It is all right that Jayatirtha continue signing checks jointly with you for normal business matters that have been approved by the trustees. So let it go on. Your report of the book distribution there is very encouraging. Make program to distribute our books all over the world. Our books are being appreciated by learned circles, so we should take advantage. Whatever progress we have made, it is simply to distributing these books. So go on, and do not divert your mind for a moment from this. I have full confidence in you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** October 25th 1974 — **Location:** West Bengal Dear Ramesvara Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances. There have been two letters from GBC men to Srila Prabhupada regarding street chanting and book distribution, and there seems to be some discussion about the two. Srila Prabhupada has said that book distribution is more important that street chanting. Book distribution is brihat kirtana. It is literally kirtana in the sense that the books are spoken and therefore anyone who reads a book is hearing. Because his books are recorded and transcribed Srila Prabhupada calls his books spoken kirtanas, or recorded chanting. So book distribution is also kirtana and should not be considered less than kirtana. The reason book distribution is greater than chanting is because the effect is wider. A purchased book goes into a person's home and will be read by others, whereas street kirtana only benefits those in the vicinity who hear. Two cases are cited. In Portugal one boy, who is only 11 years old, has become a devotee. He offers prasadam and is translating Bhagavad-gita As It Is into Portuguese with the help of his mother. He got several of our books at a bookstore in Lisbon and has asked his father who is just now coming to USA to get him all available Srimad-Bhagavatams. Prabhupada remarks that our books went there to Portugal but we did not, but still he has become a devotee. Then in Tokyo airport Prabhupada tells how one Japanese youth approached Srila Prabhupada and asked if he could speak with Srila Prabhupada. When Prabhupada said yes, the boy asked, "Where do you get all the knowledge that is in your books?" So by comparative study book selling is more important. Srila Prabhupada also pointed out that is the West sometimes the street chanting is considered as a farce. Also in India. At first street chanting was tried but was met with mostly derogatory reaction. Therefore there is mostly Life Membership preaching in India, which is of course book distribution. But on no account should street chanting be stopped. Prabhupada has never said that street chanting should be stopped. The chanting can go on for a little while and when a crowd is drawn books can be distributed. When I mentioned to Srila Prabhupada that when in L.A. last, there was the system of book distribution all week long and on weekend nights full street kirtanas, he said that was a good system. Regarding the claim that devotees have difficulties maintaining Krishna consciousness by only doing book selling with not enough street chanting, Prabhupada remarked that if things deteriorate that is another thing, but it is not the fault of book distribution. Book distribution must not be neglected.********************Srila Prabhupada received an advance copy of S.B. 3:4 which was printed in the USA in five weeks with the quality practically as good as Japan. Prabhupada was also informed that the index of the Third Canto will be a separate volume, as well as for the Fourth Canto which will have a separate volume index. When we mentioned to His Divine Grace that this is the system of encyclopedias to publish separate volumes for the index he said that we could advertise his Srimad-Bhagavatam as "The Encyclopedia of Spiritual Life." S.B. 4:4 has also been given to the American printer and three remaining volumes of S.B. 3:3, 4:2, and 4:3 have already been printed in Japan. That makes 13 volumes of S.B. not including the index volumes! Prabhupada's translation of Caitanya Caritamrta is almost finished, only two more chapters left in the whole book. Then he will resume S.B. starting with Canto Five. This was Srila Prabhupada's reason for taking up C.C. by working on C.C. the Press was given time to publish all the backlog of S.B. that was piling up. By exact coincidence Prabhupada is finishing C.C. just as they have finished publishing all of S.B. through the Fourth Canto. Now as Srila Prabhupada resumes S.B., they can publish the C.C.********************MAYAPURHere at Sridhama Mayapur, Srila Prabhupada gave further impetus to the main temple project. It will be a 30 story skyscraper temple based on the following verse of Brahma-samhita:goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasyadevi-mahesa-hari-dhamasu tesu tesute te prabhava-nicaya vihitas ca yesugovindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami[Bs. 5.43]There will be the main temple that will extend upwards the full 30 stories, as well as different levels depicted in doll tableaus, first the material world, devi dhama; then mahesa dhama, then vaikuntha dhama, and finally goloka vrindaban. Already a competent engineering firm in Calcutta, which is the only firm in India to use an IBM computer in its calculations, has been contacted for making the foundation. "It will not be difficult", assured Srila Prabhupada. He further revealed, "I have named this temple Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, the Rising Moon of Mayapur. Now make it rise, bigger and bigger until it becomes the full moon. And this moonshine will be spread all over the world. All over India they will come to see. From all over the world they will come...Krishna will supply the money. Don't bother. The money will come either locally or from USA."When informed that the government here will pay 2/3 of the cost for road and bridge development if 1/3 is put up locally, Prabhupada said we should immediately inform them that he will put up 1 crore (dollars 1 million), and they can give 2 crores to develop the entire Mayapur area. He wants roads parks, gardens, like the descriptions of Dvaraka in the Krishna Book. Prabhupada personally surveyed the sites for a large lake as well as the second residential building. He called for a wall with a large front gate to be built. Work on a spacious kitchen complex near the Bhaktisiddhanta Road is progressing, but Prabhupada ordered that a second story should be added so that women and householders can live there and that the kitchen operation in the present residential building be moved there so that additional guest rooms can be added in the present kitchen and women's quarters. A dollar 25,000.00 Prasadam Distribution Pavilion attached to the new kitchen complex will also be built. Gargamuni Swami has pledged half the cost, and Hansadutta Prabhu has sent dollars 4,000.00 from Germany and promises more. 1,000 people will be able to be served prasada at one sitting. Turning to philosophy, Prabhupada had some things to say about his godbrothers. "He is just sitting on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace waiting for people to come and give money. He has taken that now this is his own hereditary property. He has taken it that he and Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur were associated together in an enterprise, and now that the senior partner is gone, it is his property."We should make a scheme so that everybody will come here and not there. We are not competing with Yoga Pith but with the proprietor of Yoga Pith. Actually the birthplace of the Lord is not as important as the place of His activities. Kurukshetra is more important than Mathura, because the whole world knows the Bhagavad-gita. It is because of the activities of the Lord that people take interest in His birthplace. The "karma" is more important than the "janma." Even when Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was present people went to see him at Jagannath Puri, but they did not come to His birthplace, because His activity was more important than His birthplace. To His birthplace we offer our namaskars, but from the place of His activities we get inspiration. And, what was the Lord's activity at Puri? It was preaching. Our temple must be active with preaching and not a dead place."It was pointed out to Srila Prabhupada that of all the temples in Mayapur our mangol aratik at 4:15 A.M. is the first of the day and that at Chaitanya Math it is suspected to take place after sunrise. When asked if he wanted to see the new temple for Bhaktivinode Thakur that has been constructed near the entrance at Yoga Pith, Prabhupada replied, "I do not want to see how he has made Bhaktivinode Thakur the gatekeeper."Within our movement Mayapur temple is the first. "Nowhere do we have such a nice temple in such an open place," Prabhupada remarked on one morning walk. In Bombay a shipment of 2,000 kilos of Australian ghee has been sent by Madhudvisa Maharaj. It will be sold to the Indian temples and used for the festival for the opening of the Vrindaban temple to be held after the Gour Purnima festival in April. For the Mayapur festival ghee will be supplied by each and every devotee who comes. Everyone should bring one tin of ghee. It can be brought for personal use. I mentioned to His Divine Grace that air fares will be increased next year due to the petrol shortage, and this might affect the number of devotees who attend the Gour Purnima festival. Prabhupada asked me, "How much foodstuffs have you eaten in your whole life?" Quite a lot I had to admit, not understanding why he asked this question. "And what is the cost of all these foodstuffs?" That I could not say. "So, do you stop eating because there is so much cost? No. You go on eating and whatever is the cost, you spend. The principle is that if you have got money, then you can spend, but if you do not have money, then you cannot spend." So as many as possible should surely come if the money is there. One evening Srila Prabhupada revealed what he said was his theory, that the moon is covered with ice, to explain why the moonshine is so pleasant. Moonrays are very soothing, and we find in many places describing the pleasing effect of the moon, nitai-pada-kamala, koti candra-susitala, ye chayaya jagat judaya. This is because the moon must be covered with ice. In the morning after his lecture from the Prayers of Queen Kunti in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada takes great pleasure in the kirtan with the devotees singing and dancing very nicely. The large temple area affords ample space for everyone to take part in the [indistinct] dancing, and as we move to and fro up and down the temple Prabhupada pelts us with handfuls of flowers. Afterwards he circumambulates the Deity house of Radha Madhava three times, each time ringing the temple bells three times and turning around completely in front of the Deities. On October 30 Prabhupada will start for Bombay. There on Hare Krishna Land he will stay in a flat that has been newly constructed for him. There is one report that the land there is now worth one crore, whereas we paid only 14 1/2 lakhs for it. More in my next. I hope this meets you in good health. Your servant, Brahmananda SwamiPersonal SecretaryN.B. Srila Prabhupada's tentative plans are to remain in India through the April temple opening in Vrindaban, and then start for the USA.What needed to be repaired on that Adler typewriter I sent with Jayatirtha? It is a brand new one that Paramhansa Swami purchased in U.K.Seen: ACBS (initialed by hand) ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** November 14th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated two on October 3, 1974 and one November 7, 1974 with enclosed press proofs of color pages of Bhagavad-gita. Now it was proposed that we would purchase the rights to print Bhagavad-gita As It Is ourselves. What happened to the proposal to buy the rights from Macmillan? This color pages you have submitted are not better. I do not find any improvement. There is no improvement. Regarding the problems of the C.C. Ādi Lila Vol. 1 being 600 pages, what can I say? That is for you to arrange. But I do not think it will look good if you change the quality of paper from one volume to one volume as you have proposed. Not that one volume should be lighter paper and one volume heavier paper. It is very good that you are also going on Sankirtana and distributing books. Others will also be enthused to distribute by your personal example. This is our life. "anandambudhi-vardhanam."Regarding not being able to make any more loans from BBT, I think if necessary we can borrow from the bank using the fixed deposits as security. So long as the loans are not paid back to the bank we shall assure that we shall not withdraw the fixed deposits. These properties should be purchased in the name of BBT, and when the local center repays the loan, then the name can be transferred. Now you have loaned Madhudvisa Dollars 133,505.50. How will he repay? What are the terms for repayment? In France they are wanting to borrow Dollars 120,000.00. Can you arrange for this loan in January, 1975? I understand that Spiritual Sky is not able to repay its loan now. This rule must be strictly followed that 50% paid for printing and 50% paid for property and building loans. Gurukrpa Swami has informed that on October 31 he paid DNP Dollars 60,000.00. So he has paid approximately Dollars 100.000.00, but here in India only approximately Dollars 86,500.00 has been received. Please explain. Regarding printing in USA for sending a man to the press to check the work, yes do it. Yes, print quickly in USA our books. The quality of S.B. 3:4 is not bad. Regarding the book distribution, somehow the distribution must be doubled and tripled as far as possible. Do it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** November 25th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 6, 1974 and have noted the contents. No, we cannot loan BBT money for any other purpose than what is mentioned in the BBT Agreement. These other loans for cows, equipment, and restaurants must all be re-paid, and no other loans other than for publishing and temple construction can be granted. Yes, you can advise Kingsport Press to supply a superior paper. Regarding the technical problems you are having in producing the books and magazines, how can I advise all these things. I have no experience. Better you consult amongst yourselves and do the needful. Dai Nippon should be charged for the inferior paper used in the new Bhagavatam volumes. Regarding Jayadvaita it is good for him to avoid controversy. It is a paltry matter, so why he should be disturbed? It was already discovered it was meat, so he said it was by mistake or something. So it is a good thing that you have distributed books to the son and daughter of the President. This is another example how the book distribution is better than the Street Sankirtana alone. Now the books are in the President's house, but by your chanting you could never approach the President's house. That the body guards allowed our devotee to sell them the books, means that they accept us as good people who do not cause harm. Most probably when entering the house and seeing the father, the daughter would say see what I have purchased today. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** December 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 23, 1974 with enclosed copy of BTG 67 and also your letter dated November 20, 1974 from New York. The BTG issue is very nice, and I am pleased with it. Regarding the New York temple's books, they should be charged the regular temple price for all literature. When purchasing their house, if they require money, then the BBT will give. It is understood from a telegram from Jayatirtha that Gurukrpa's Dollars 13,000.00 was not sent to India as you say but deposited in the Savings Account. So let it remain there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** December 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara das: Please accept my blessings. I have received a letter from Gurukrpa Swami that he has given to DNP on November 26, 1974 Dollars 60,338.98. This money is not yet received here. If you have not sent it to ISKCON MAYAPUR VRINDABAN FUND A/c No. 17168 at First National City Bank, Bombay; then you can send it through Bank of America in favor of ISKCON MAYAPUR VRINDABAN FUND A/c No. 16026, Bank of America Bombay Branch. Please acknowledge. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** December 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Ramesvara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram dated Dec. 17, 1974 reading as follows; "Great success, book sales for weekend of Dec. 13 thru 15. Tripurari BBT Party 1346 big books, L.A. 1002 big books, N.Y. over 950 big books, Atlanta Airport over 650 big books, in one day. Distribution definitely doubling in USA, Hare Krsna, Ramesvara" This kind of wonderful news is very pleasing to my heart and I thank you all again and again. I think this is the first time in history that ever before so many religious books have sold so popularly. Four thousand books in one day is a very unique figure. Keep distributing as many as possible in huge quantities. This is my pleasure. We must make a large propoganda program for Krsna Consciousness by distributing these books everywhere, all over the world. Just like the communists they are very expert in distributing their literature, their propoganda. At the present moment they are distributing their literature here in India in nine different languages and it is quite effective. Therefore we must print hundreds and thousands of books and distribute them at the same speed and thus we will have a great effect on the mass population of Europe and America. If we can get the masses in the Western countries like Europe and America to become Krsna Conscious, then all the rest of the world will follow. That is a fact. So please, I beg you, continue distributing my books in this way and Krsna will pour His blessings upon you all. Please keep me informed from time to time of the book sales statistics. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** April 10th 1974 — **Location:** India Dear Ramesvara, Please accept my blessings. I have received a letter from Yasodanandana Maharaja in Japan dated March 31 in which he writes that he has become very disturbed by reports he says you are making that he and Gurukrpa Maharaja are not authorized by me, and so many criticisms he alleges you are making against them. This kind of criticism and counter-criticism is not good. Those who are advanced devotees try to see only the good that other devotees are doing, just as bees are attracted to honey, while flies are attracted to sores. Gurukrpa Maharaja and Yasodanandana Maharaja have gone to Tokyo with my full knowledge for sankirtana and collecting funds for our projects in India. In the past they have collected very nicely and sent $40,000 to India. So let them work peacefully, and you engage yourself fully in Los Angeles and BBT matters. You have great responsibilities in that connection. Let us try to work cooperatively, otherwise the fighting spirit will ruin our great movement. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** May 5th 1974 — **Location:** India Dear Ramesvara, Please accept my blessings. I received a letter from Atreya Rsi das dated April 18, 1974. In that letter he mentions your name as follows:"I have just received one letter from Jagadisa Prabhu who has been told by Tamala Krishna das Goswami Maharaja and Ramesvara Prabhu that recently more than one million dollars in funds from BBT, MVT and other contributors have been transferred into your personal accounts and that only yourself is in knowledge of the exact details of deposits and withdrawals."This report is inaccurate and very dangerous and it has concerned me very much. Since your name is mentioned here as making this report kindly write to me and let me know what is the actual fact as to what you said. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** May 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Ramesvara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two letters dated April 28 and 29 and I have noted the contents. Your letters are a great pleasure for me to read. You are always broadcasting the glories of the Sankirtana movement in the shape of ISKCONs book distribution and surely you will be recognized by Lord Caitanya for your unbounded enthusiasm and expertise in seeing that my books are distributed all over the world. In your letter of April 29 you give the astounding report that in the year 1973, 4,169,004 total books were bought by the temples from BBT. What is the calculation of money collected for that amount? This regular reporting is very encouraging for everyone of our devotees and I have faith in your words that next year the figures will be far beyond what they were last year. It is the nature of the spiritual energy, it is always increasing if we just apply our energy. The report of the BBT traveling library party is something new for us and this is also only the beginning. Please give my heartful thanks to the boys, Sriman Maha Buddhi dasa Brahmacari and Sriman Ghanasyama dasa Brahmacari. These books are specifically meant for the intellectual class of people in your country and I have great hope in the results of this preaching at the Universities. I received one rumor that the Sankirtana parties in the US would soon be stopped by political repression and lack of money by the people. Some so-called devotee was thinking like that but you can assure all your men that I have great hope for Krishna Consciousness in America, more than any other place. And there is no question of repression provided we go on sincerely. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** June 5th 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > Los Angeles My dear Ramesvara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of May 29th and I have examined the contents. You have written to recommend Tripurari for sannyasi. Tripurari is however already a brahmacari so in essence there is no difference between brahmacari. I have asked Tripurari to dedicate his life to distributing my books and he has turned out the most expert of all our sellers. It is certainly miraculous how he is distributing so many big books even to people who are not interested in Vedic literature. If he takes sannyasa he may not be able to constantly assume so many disguise in public and employ so many tricks for selling books to persons, as it is not in accord with some of the etiquette for sannyasa. Also, I have decided for the time being not to award sannyasa order. Your write the this recommendation is your own idea and that he himself is perfectly happy heading up a traveling party of book distributers. So let him go on as he is doing; Krsna is giving him all facility and without question he is doing more than any sannyasi by his personally distributing hundreds of books day after day and inspiring others to follow. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ramesvara **Date:** July 20th 1974 — **Location:** New Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Ramesvara das: Please accept my blessings. I have just received one letter from Dr. O.B.L. Kapoor of Vrindaban and would like to know if you have sent that letter to him regarding the book publishing. You can add to that letter that Dr. Svarupa Damodara M.S. PhD. U.S.A. has written recently one book Scientific Basis of Krsna Consciousness and there was no contract or agreement. He has given us the book, and we have printed 30,000 copies. We shall not publish on the basis of royalty. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ranchor **Date:** March 15th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Manchester, England Dear Ranchor, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated March 1st, 1974, and I have examined the contents. It is all right if you live independently as a grhastha provided you follow the rules and regulations. Chant together husband and wife and speak the philosophy exactly right as it comes in disciplic succession. You must speak Krsna Consciousness knowledge with no interpretation of your own. As for supporting your preaching financially, if you are a preacher you can take a donation from the audience. When I was in the U.S.A. I was taking collection and the people were paying. Don't demand but you can ask and there is no harm. Yes, I did not approve of your starting you own magazine. You can write articles for Back to Godhead magazine. Why attempt separately? The drawing of the proposed temple for Bhaktivedanta Manor which you have enclosed is very interesting and it is done on a grand scale. I am studying it and will consider its use. Thank you very much. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ravendra Gupta **Date:** February 12th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Cambridge, Massachusetts Dear Ravendra Gupta, Please accept my blessings. I have only recently received your letter of February 6, 1974, due to travelling. I am very glad to hear you are following my instructions by chanting 16 rounds daily. In order to chant offenselessly, so that the chanting will have the greatest effect, one must avoid the four sinful activities. You have asked "How serious would it be for me if I should miss the golden opportunity to become your initiated disciple?" You should know that the value of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality. Of course everyone is encouraged to chant Hare Krishna, but until one gives up sinful activities and becomes determined to serve Krishna through His representative then the firm fixing up of devotional service will not take hold, and there is every chance that one will fall prey to all sorts of material desires and have to come back again in the next life—and one cannot guarantee that he will be born in the form of life he may desire. I know you have been attending our temple in Boston sometimes, and that you wish to be a sincere devotee of Krishna. So go on faithfully with you chanting and pray to Krishna to give you strength for advancing in His service. It is a fact, however that we must become free of all material desire before going back to Godhead, and this can only be achieved by following the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami/sdg ### Letter to Ravindra Svarupa **Date:** June 9th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Philadelphia My dear Ravindra Svarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of May 14, received in Paris. I have accepted on your recommendation the three devotees as my duly initiated disciples, and their spiritual names are as follows: Patti—Pattarajni deviDonna—Dantadhara deviLois—Atura deviI have also accepted your recommendation for Vanamali prabhu to take second initiation. Enclosed is one sacred thread and gayatri mantra. Have him hear the tape of my chanting the mantra, in his right ear. The beads of the initiated devotees may be chanted on by Kirtanananda Maharaja. I am glad to hear you are holding a larger Ratha yatra this year. Your multifarious activities in Krsna Consciousness in Philadelphia sound very good. We have so many engagements, therefore I have asked that the political program be stopped as it was creating too much separate effort separate brain, separate money from our regular ISKCON program. I shall be coming to the U.S. in July and perhaps you can see me in Chicago or later in New Vrindaban. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ravindra Svarupa **Date:** June 10th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Philadelphia My dear Ravindra Svarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 5, and I have carefully noted the contents. I am glad to hear you have immediately stopped political campaigning on receipt of my letter. I have written a number of letters to the persons involved explaining how we can not spend money and manpower on this project in competition with the big politicians. Therefore I have asked that it be stopped. I want to thank you a hundred times for the excellent way you are worshiping the Deity there as I can see from the color photographs you have sent. From my very childhood I was also worshiping Lord Jagannatha. When I was six years old my father gave me a ratha and I was performing the Ratha yatra in my neighborhood. And now in the western world you are worshiping Lord Jagannatha so gorgeously and it pleases me very, very much. Thank you again for the way you are conducting the deity worship in the Philadelphia temple. As for the Ratha ceremony, you go on with it, I shall attend there next year. But you go on holding a splendid ceremony for the people of the city. I am sure it will be a success. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Ravji Ganatra **Date:** March 6th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Adipur, India Dear Ravji Ganatra, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of February 23, 1974, and I have noted the contents. Since you have gone we have not gone an inch forward. They have gone and made application for the police commissioner to give sanction, but it is still lying there and they do not say yes or no. There is no sanction as yet. Our position is not clear. I require your help very much. Things are standing in the same position as when you left. I was in Bombay myself for 10 to 12 days. Now I am here in Mayapur on account of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birthday anniversary. I arrived here March 1st. By the end of March I will be again in Bombay, and by that time you will come back and help us in this matter. More when we meet. Thanking you for your kind attention, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Resolution **Date:** April 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay RESOLUTIONAt the meeting of the members of the Bureau of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, held at the Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu, Bombay 400 054, on First April, 1974, the following was resolved:1. That the Society will construct one additional floor on each of the six existing buildings on the Hare Krishna Land, (purchased in October, 1973.)2. That the President, Secretary, and Treasurer are hereby authorized to appoint any architect, labor contractor, other contractors, engineers, to purchase, etc. for the purpose of construction.3. That the construction may begin immediately upon approval given by the Bombay Municipal Corporation. Signed for INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- Gurudasa AdhikariDated this First Day of April, 1974-/bs ### Letter to Resolution **Date:** September 15th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST RESOLUTIONThe written resignation of Kelly Gifford Smith (Karandhara das Adhikari) is hereby accepted by the trustees of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Hans Kary (Hansadutta das Adhikari) is hereby appointed as a Bhaktivedanta Book Trust trustee to replace Kelly Smith. Resolved this 15th day ofSeptember, 1974; A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- William Berke (Bali Mardan das Adhikari) ### Letter to Revatinandana **Date:** January 9th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > London My dear Revatinandana Swami, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter Jan. 4, 1974 with the enclosed cookbook. I know you are a very good cook and I can understand that you have found the books useful for distribution. I have no objection to your printing it with the name "Revatinandana Swami's Cookbook", but the royalty should go to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Just as I am publishing Bhagavad-gita As It Is with Macmillan Co. but the royalty is going to the BBT. I think this method is appropriate. If you yourself take the royalty it will be personal interest in money and trade, and this will deviate your principle of sannyasa. Sannyasi means he is in renounced order and lives by begging alms for the bare necessities of life. It is not good to make trade to get money for personal expenditure. If the royalty is given to the BBT, we will keep a separate account from this royalty and necessary expenditures for your preaching may be supplied from the BBT.Mukunda das has sent me a pamphlet in which the pictures are objectionable. The name of the place at Letchmore Heath we have already named Bhaktivedanta Manor, European Center of ISKCON. He has printed "Gokula Vrindaban". In the last picture there is a cowhead like a slaughterhouse cow with t-lock on. I have sent him a telegram to stop it and a detailed letter will follow to Mukunda. The telegram reads as follows: "Pamphlet picture most objectionable. Stop immediately. Letter follows." Please see that this is stopped by Mukunda. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- N.B. Regarding taking snuff, I myself take it sometimes at night because I am working at night on my books, and sometimes I become dizzy. But it is not for you to take. You should not imitate this, neither you work like me at night ### Letter to Revatinandana **Date:** June 8th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > London My dear Revatinandana Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of 25th May, 1974. It is very good news that you are out preaching free from too much entanglement in temple life. That is your proper engagement and I am glad to hear you are touring to 120 colleges. Now cooperate with Hansadutta. This is Krsna's business. We shouldn't form different parties. Hansadutta is a sincere worker and has given evidence of success in Germany. Now Syamasundara has relinquished his position and I am enclosing a copy of my letter to him in this connection. Try to pacify all the opposing elements and you will also make me happy. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Revatinandana **Date:** October 16th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur Los AngelesMy Dear Revatinandana SwamiPlease accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 20, 1974 and have noted the contents. Jayatirtha was just here but did not mention that you were there. Anyway, go on with preaching to the college students there on the West Coast. Explain to them that after death they have to take another body. The body even in this life is constantly changing, and at death they change and take another body according to one's work in this life. They must know this fact. By taking to Krishna consciousness they can become purified and no longer have to take birth again in this material world where they are the four-fold miseries of the body. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- Why not also consult with Satsvarupa Maharaja and take standing orders for my books like he is doing. We are getting very good reception for my books from the learned circles. This is very encouraging. Work like this within the schools and colleges ### Letter to Revatinandana **Date:** December 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Revatinandana Swami, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 24, Oct. 1974 and I have noted the contents. I am very glad to hear of your program of travelling on the West Coast preaching in the colleges and having radio interviews. This is very encouraging to hear. Actually this preaching work is the duty of a sannyasi. The more he preaches the more he becomes expert and the more the people will accept what he says. So please continue your preaching work and work cooperatively with Jayatirtha Prabhu, and Krsna will give you all facilities. You mention in your letter that you had heard that I said that you and Syamasundara were engaged in a conspiracy against me and that you felt very bad upon hearing this. Do not feel like that. But in London at the Vyasa Puja ceremony during the offering of flowers you, Syamasundara and Mukunda left the room. So questioned by a devotee I might have said something like that. But forget it now. Yes, I also maintain a hope for Syamasundara. Everyone is hoping that Syamasundara will be able to reestablish himself in Krsna Consciousness again. I do not understand why he is engaged in this business of his if there is not any tangible profit. He says that there is big, big money but still he has not yet paid ISKCON the debt that he has. Therefore what is this business. I request you to continue following all of the regulative principles staunchly and encourage all other of my disciples in your preaching area to do the same. This is the most important thing. As soon as one discontinues his staunch following of the regulative principles such as no meat eating, no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling, rising early before 4:00, coming to mangala arati, chanting at least 16 rounds, etc., then his spiritual life is hampered and there is a chance that at any time he may become a victim of maya. Continue with great enthusiasm this preaching work and inform me from time to time of your current activities. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Richard **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Mathura My dear Richard, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Aug. 2. Regarding thinking of Krishna at the time of death. It is stated in Bhagavad gita 8th chapter as follows; abhyasa yoga yuktena/ cetasa nanya gamina/ paramam purusam divyam/ yati parthanucintyan [Bg. 8.8]. He who meditates on the Supreme Personality of Godhead his mind constantly engaged in remembering me, undeviated from the path, He oh Partha is sure to reach Me. The proccess for remembering Krishna is very easily done by chanting Hare Krishna Maha mantra. How one should think of Krishna, that is given in the next verse: "One should meditate upon the Supreme Person as the one who knows everything, Who is the oldest, Who is the controller, Who is smaller than the smallest, Maintainer of everything, and Who is beyond all material conception, Who is inconceivable, Who is always a person and luminous like the sun, and Being transcendental, beyond this material nature." So Krishna is not something impersonal or void. So you should read my books and try to understand the nature of Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then it will be easy for you to think of Him. I thank you for your desire to distribute the Goswami literature. Right now we are publishing Caitanya Caritamrta in 12 volumes. It is a big expense so if you would like to contribute something give money to my book trust. You can make some contribution and help in this great mission. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Richard Mende **Date:** September 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Mathura Dear Richard Mende: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 7, 1974 and I have also seen the copy of the book you gave to Bali Mardan das. This edition can be easily had in Calcutta, so it is not necessary for us to keep it. I have therefore given the book over to Gurudasa, and he will see that it is returned to you. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Riktananda **Date:** April 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles Dear Riktananda, Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter of April 15, 1974 and noted the contents. Your proposal to come to Vrindaban and serve the deities in our new Krsna Balarama temple is approved by me. We require many first class devotees to make the temple alive with transcendental bliss, so as your departure is also sanctioned by Jayatirtha, you make your plans and come to Vrindaban at your convenience. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Rocana **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Winnipeg My Dear Rocana Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter date October 28th, 1974. I have replied your previous letter of September 17th 1974 and a copy of that letter is enclosed herewith. I am very glad to note of how you are increasing the "Back To Godhead" distribution there in such a remote place. Our "Back To Godhead" is the backbone of our movement so we should always be thinking how to increase it increase it increase it. I note that your are installing Gaura-Nitai deities on Govardhana Puja, please send me the report of how the festival went on. Regarding the initiations the devotees which you have recommended I am herewith initiating and their names are as follows. Don—Dharmaprana Dasa. Jean Citrakera Dasa. Claudia—Cklamahara Devi Dasi. Kathy—Kamalaksi Devi Dasi. I hope this meet you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd --- N.B. You can hold a fire sacrifice for the initiated disciples. The beads may be sent to Kirtanananda Swami or Tamala Krishna Goswami for being chanting upon. ACBS ### Letter to Rsabhadeva **Date:** June 9th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Laguna Beach My dear Rsabhadeva, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of May 4, 1974, just received here in Paris. I have accepted as my disciples the devotees recommended by you and their spiritual names are as follows: Gary—Gopta dasaJoe—Jyotirganesvara dasaPeter—Padmagarbha dasaSteve—Stavapriya dasaPaya—PapaharinideviRebecca—Rangavalli deviJayatirtha prabhu may chant on their beads and you may hold a fire yajna. Initiation means to begin so now these devotees, under your supervision must take the vow with utmost seriousness to chant everyday at least 16 rounds on beads and to refrain from the four sinful activities. I have also accepted Bhojadeva dasa and Hrsikesa dasa for second initiation trusting that you have carefully examined their devotional behavior for the past year and that they have not deviated from the regulative principles. It is not that automatically we have to award a devotee second initiation after he has been with us for a certain time, but the qualifications have to be there. Enclosed find their threads duly chanted on by me and gayatri mantra. Have them hear the mantra in the right ear with the tape I have made. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Rsabhadeva **Date:** September 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Laguna Beach My Dear Rsabhadeva das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 16/8/74 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples and their names are as follows:1. David Bowmar—Dhanviganesa das2. Kenneth Venezia—Kalanka das3. James Sullivan—Jagattraya das4. Walter Parry—Vrndapati das5. Michael Matlock—Mangaladata das6. Christina Wroth—Kriyasakti deviPlease see that they strictly follow all the principles, chanting 16 rounds daily. This is also for the older disciples as well. Yes, as you have suggested Dr. Wolf-Rotkay can write to me requesting initiation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Rsabhadeva **Date:** December 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Laguna Beach My dear Rsabhadeva, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of you letter dated Dec. 7, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. If we sincerely desire to spread Krsna Consciousness then Krsna provides all facility. So now Krsna has provided the $20,000.00 needed for the down payment for your building. That man who has given us the money, he is a very good man and he should be encouraged in every way to become more and more connected with our movement. Give him good association with Vaisnavas and nice Krsna prasadam and he will develop love for Krsna. I am very happy to hear of the large number of new devotees you are recruiting there in Laguna Beach. That is the real fruit of our preaching work, when people come and join and help us to spread this Krsna Consciousness movement. So I am very pleased with your efforts there. Upon your recommendation I have accepted the following for second initiation; Asurakulanasana dasa brahmachari, Satangati dasa brahmachari, Ratnanabha dasa Adhikari, Khandabhasi dasi, Dhatreyi dasi. Their threads are enclosed herein. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** April 28th 1974 — **Location:** Tirupati > Washington D.C My dear Rupanuga Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 17, from Washington D.C. and I have very carefully noted the contents. Regarding Mayapur, as you have begun this program should be regularly followed once a year: meet in Mayapur and chalk out activities for the year. Then, next year meet and see how far things are being done and if necessary make changes for responsible GBC and presidents etc. The meeting is very valuable and must be carried out regularly every year. But one thing is that at Mayapur last time most of the time was spent discussing but no program was made firm for the year. For example, our Tamala Krsna Goswami never proposed to go to the USA at the meeting but now he has decided to go back to the U.S.A. Of course you can go back, but if the matter is discussed at the meeting, then a GBC vote could be taken and they could have selected a replacement. Now this replacement I have to bother. It is not difficult for me, but why wasn't their discussion of the meeting. Now Karandhara has written asking to come back and I have called him to come to Bombay and if possible he can be engaged as GBC for India. You are right about Sridhara Maharaja's genuineness. But in my opinion he is the best of the lot. He is my old friend, at least he executes the regulative principles of devotional service. I do not wish to discuss about activities of my Godbrothers but it is a fact they have no life for preaching work. All are satisfied with a place for residence in the name of a temple, they engage disciples to get foodstuff by transcendental devices and eat and sleep. They have no idea or brain how to broadcast the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja used to lament many times for this reason and he thought if one man at least had understood the principle of preaching then his mission would achieve success. In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier, otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He never recommended anyone to be acarya of the Gaudiya Math. But Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead unnecessarily thought that there must be one acarya. If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acarya he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acarya. His idea was acarya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acarya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acarya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acarya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps the acarya is being changed three times a year. Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp. Actually amongst my Godbrothers no one is qualified to become acarya. So it is better not to mix with my Godbrothers very intimately because instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes pollute them. This attempt was made previously by them, especially Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but somehow or other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be very careful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to you all. They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very competent to harm our natural progress. So we must be very careful about them. Our students who are making this political program must be fixed in one point that human society unless divided into the four classes and divisions is animal society. Among the animals there is no intelligence for self realization or how to make life successful. In human life intelligence is better than animals therefore they should know what is the aim of life and to educate human society there is the whole Vedic literature, of which the Bhagavad gita is the quintessence. The Supreme Personality of Godhead orders that there must be four division in human society, a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th class, like that, and the 1st must be ideal. If the whole society is full of rogues, thieves, drunkards, cheaters and demons, where is there question of decent government. There must be division so the lower class men may aspire to be second class men. So far we are concerned we are trying to train first class men. How much great responsibility we have to follow regulative principles, chant the beads, live with personal character etc. Regulative principles means to especially execute devotional service in terms of the revealed scriptures under the direction of the spiritual master. By fulfilling the regulative principles you come to the platform of spontaneous love for Krsna. Spontaneous love for Krsna is there already but is covered by the influence of Maya. The regulative principles are a device how to overcome the influence of maya and come to the platform of spontaneous love of Krsna. If we want to exist as first class men in society all our students must be induced to following the regulative principles. One shouldn't think artificially he has come to the spontaneous platform. That is sahajiyaism. The GBC must be vigilant by following the regulative principles and teach by ideal character the presidents of the centers, and the presidents by their ideal character must teach the others then automatically all members of the whole institution will be ideal to the human society. Then we can dictate to administrators or sometimes take hold of the administration. In the absence of competent leaders we may take the post. But we must be very careful in the flow of the political movement we may not forget our ideal life. For example, Parasaram was a Brahmin but when he found the ksatriyas were mismanaging he killed them twenty one times and some of them fled to European countries. This is the history. So far we are concerned we shall keep ourselves in ideal brahminical position and if need be if no ksatriya or Vaisya is here we can take up their work as emergency. Our business is to create ideal ksatriyas and vaisyas but beyond that our real business is to keep ourselves as ideal Brahmins. If we are not ideal we cannot create others as ideal. Training is required for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes of social constitution. Persons who are not fit for being advanced by training are sudras or less than that. At the present moment in the world state, there are sudras and less than that. There are no ideal brahmanas or ksatriyas. But these four divisions are imperative. So our business is to keep fit as brahmanas and to train others to be ideal ksatriyas and vaisyas for advancing the whole society. As Krsna says in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: Tamala Krsna Goswami is going to Los Angeles and I shall give him instruction to join Madhudvisa Swami, Bali Mardan and Jayatirtha and reform the deficiencies. As soon as there is a little deficiency we must repair it or it will create a big hole and the ship will drown. So I have said keep fit. I saw this Vrindaban Candra and Prajapati as a little sentimental without thoroughly understanding. Without following the regulative principles advancement is doubtful, and one may fall at any moment. As for drugs, not just one party, but everyone was involved. Our process is to reform. Everyone is under the clutches of maya. If we follow the regulative principles we can get out and come to spontaneous love. A diseased man is always under the clutches of disease. But if he follows the prescribed orders given by the physician he can be cured. Now, how to reform? If we ask him to go away the whole society will be finished. In the hospital many patients are there and the attempt is made to cure them, not to tell them to go away or to kill them. They try their best to cure them. If they tell them to get out of the hospital or if they kill them, that is easy. Initiation should be given as a future hope, but we should be careful about the second initiation. As recommended by the president or GBC they should only do so when they are quite confident of a man. Otherwise, he should not be recommended. If you follow this principle it will be successful. Every day I am getting request for second initiation, but I do not know. The responsibility goes to the presidents who pick them. Unless they are thoroughly convinced second initiation should not be given. In the beginning we may be a little lenient. But if someone falls down after being initiated he should not be credited with second initiation. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** June 8th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Warrenton, Virginia My dear Rupanuga, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of June 3, 1974 and I have carefully examined the contents. Yes, I could observe that your mind was disturbed on account of meeting your wife privately. There is no need of hide and seek. Better live as husband and wife as householders and in great enthusiasm execute the Krishna Consciousness movement. There are many GBC who are grhastha. you can remain for management of the temples and also work in the schools and colleges for introducing our books in the libraries. The recent reports of this work have been very favorable. Take up this line more seriously helped by your good wife and that will be nice. I have stopped the political movement because it will not help us. It is a very filthy atmosphere. Better you do not indulge in those things with expenditure of money and spiritual energy. So you should not consider taking sannyasa again, but in your country it is not a great thing. Although officially it is a falldown from sannyasa, in your country no one understands sannyasa. The more important principle is that we should purify our thoughts and engage them in Krsna's service. Please try to understand this important principle: being disgusted with their nasty thoughts people sometimes attempt to become thoughtless, but this is never possible. We should encourage everyone to not become thoughtless but to purify their thinking by always thinking of Krsna in the recommended ways. So I request you to go back preaching vigorously along with your wife who is also a good preacher. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** September 4th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Washington D.C My Dear Rupanuga das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated August 17 1974 and August 26, 1974 and have noted the contents. As you are appreciating my books, so if all educated people in your country also appreciate, that will expand our missionary activities. One thing I received one letter from Gurukula regarding the Krsna Bowl contests, and I want you to know that nothing new should be added. Whatever I have introduced should remain. Nothing new should be added. New things means their brain is not clear. Carefully manage things what I have established. I am glad to learn that in Philadelphia they are increasing Sankirtana. It is our life and soul. Sankirtana should be increased as much as possible. Side by side is book selling. Then our mission will be successful. It is also good that in Atlanta they are doing college courses. Similar attempts should be made in other places. Regarding the Buffalo project, New Vrindaban is the example. You should develop in a similar way. Have milk, vegetables, simple living, and chanting Hare Krsna. The whole world is engaged in unnecessary hard labor with their factories. It is a brain killing civilization. Let them come to free life. Spend time chanting Hare Krsna, reading books and making their lives successful. This is very essential propaganda. People must be informed. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** October 1st 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Miami My Dear Rupanuga Das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 12, 1974 (sic) and have noted the contents. We do not allow divorce, but in your country it is a common thing. Although we do not like it, according to the country, what can be done? There is a Sanskrit saying, Do according to the country's laws. If both the present husband and wife agree to divorce, then they can do it and re-marry, what can be done? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** October 19th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Atlanta My Dear Rupanuga das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 22, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding Sankirtana and book distribution, book distribution is also chanting. Anyone who reads the books that is also chanting and hearing. Why distinguish between chanting and book distribution? These books I have recorded and chanted, and they are transcribed. It is spoken kirtanas. So book distribution is also chanting. These are not ordinary books. It is recorded chanting. Anyone who reads, he is hearing. Book distribution must not be neglected. If things deteriorate that is another thing, but it is not the fault of book distribution. In Gainesville the students can live with us, why not? Anyone who agrees to follow our rules and regulations can be admitted. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** November 7th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Washington, DC My Dear Rupanuga das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 1, 1974 with enclosed clipping. But, I have not yet received the report of the inquiry commission investigating the charges against Bali Mardan. (Later on heard something by telephone message to Brahmananda)Regarding your GBC report, at the Buffalo farm the deer were eating daily the crop or all at once? Regarding Boston, it is a better house they have now purchased? What is the price and what are the facilities? Regarding the book distribution increasing in Philadelphia. yes we are getting such reports of increasing book distribution from all over. In L.A. they have sold over 600 copies of the new Srimad-Bhagavatam in one weekend. Atlanta facility of 10 acre and 3 building sounds very nice. Purchasing or renting doesn't matter. Only here in India is a purchased house more important than a rented house. The prasadam program must be continued and increased. It is very good program for attracting the students. They have never tasted this kind of foodstuffs. Regarding Miami that you want to replace Abhirama, yes a capable man must be there, what can be done. But I have already written that he can marry that girl and divorce his wife. Regarding Washington, D.C., that Damodara is also resigning, we are increasing in so many ways, but our men are deteriorating. What to do? Regarding Gainesville installation of Gaura-Nitai, where did you get the murtis from? I hope this meets you in good health. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- Regarding replacing Abhirama and Damodara I refer to the "Direction of Management" as follows: "Removal of a Temple President by GBC requires support by the local Temple members." Therefore you should take a vote of the Temple members and do the needful. A.C. B.S ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** November 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Washington, DC My Dear Rupanuga das: Please accept my blessings. I have seen your letter dated October 31, 1974 addressed to Brahmananda Swami and have noted the contents with care. I have not yet received the report from the Enquiry Commission, but there are four points to be enquired. The first is the meat eating and chicken eating in the temple and even in the Deity kitchen where the prasadam for the Deities is prepared. This is the most serious complaint. And, in spite of the meat eating Taittiriya was allowed to worship the Deity. The second is the complaint of abusing the devotees and exploiting their service for accumulating money and for aggrandizing himself and herself both. The third is her real identity. And, the fourth is whether actually the building negotiation is going on. So from your letter the first and second points are corroborated by the Enquiry Commission. Regarding the fourth point about the negotiations for the building purchase, I have written one letter just now to Taittiriya whether according to her letter dated September 11, 1974 she has taken possession of the 5th Avenue house. If it is not taken and no proper reply is received, then surely it is all bogus; and if the transaction is bogus, then the third point, her identity, is also bogus. So the conclusion is I like Bali Mardan and love him, but if he is still after this bogus wife then I shall have to take action. There is no alternative. Regarding Abhirama, in your letter you mention that in Miami it is so important center, 65 devotees, growing each day, ideal location. So Abhirama, has done this. He has done much service. He cannot be removed whimsically. Sex disturbance is the permanent disease of the Western people. Anyway I have already written you that the local members must agree for him to be removed by you, according to the "Direction of Management." Regarding his divorce enclosed is one letter dated 1/10/74 regarding this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Rupanuga **Date:** December 18th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear Rupanuga, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your two letters dated Dec. 4, 1974 and Dec. 16, 1974 and I have noted the contents very carefully. I was very much relieved to hear all of the good reports coming from you about New York and I thank you very much for seeing that everything is going on nicely there. As you mention in your letter that the United States is probably the most fertile preaching ground in the world and that the East coast is the best out of that, therefore our New York city temple is an extremely important center and the standard of purity in Krsna Consciousness must be maintained there by all means. If somehow or other we can convince the majority of the United States population to take to Krsna Consciousness then the whole world will become Krsna Conscious. This is a fact. The United States is the leader of all other nations. You simply educate the people in this Krsna Conscious philosophy and then there will be no difficulty in capturing the government. In your country there is very good system of democracy. As we have seen just recently the people, as the common people have so much power, that they were able to get down this Nixon, who is obviously a rascal. So if we can simply convince a good majority of persons then they will automatically want a Krsna Conscious leader. And if there are Krsna Conscious leaders in the government then they will act as Krsna's representative and will be able to save the world from the disastrous condition of life. At the present moment there is nothing but great calamity but by injecting Krsna Consciousness into the masses we can change this situation greatly. Because New York is such an important center we must have a very good building. Therefore I want that you somehow or other get this New York Theological Seminary building at once. From the photographs it appears very big and capable of satisfying all our needs. And according to your letter it is an excellent location. And we can arrange for the money. So there is no difficulty. Try to get it as soon as possible. This will be very pleasing to me. Your sankirtana reports are very encouraging, especially that one girl, Gauri dasi, who has set an all ISKCON women's record of 108 big books. This is very wonderful. Formerly this would have been considered impossible, but now by Krsna's grace everything is becoming possible. Encourage them all to increase more and more. Now Tripurari Prabhu is there and he can train the others. This book distribution is the essence of our mission. Our farm projects are an extremely important part of our movement. We must become self-sufficient by growing our own grains and producing our own milk, then there will be no question of poverty. So develop these farm communities as far as possible. They should be developed as an ideal society depending on natural products not industry. Industry has simply created godlessness, because they think they can manufacture everything that they need. Our Bhagavad-gita philosophy explains that men and animals must have food in order to maintain their bodies. And the production of food is dependent on the rain and the rain of course is dependent on chanting Hare Krsna. Therefore let everyone chant Hare Krsna, eat nicely and keep their bodies fit and healthy. This is ideal life style. We do not condemn modern civilization but we don't like to get it at the cost of God Consciousness, that is suicide. Your farm in Pennsylvania sounds very nice. As far as Bali Mardan being involved with the management he will have nothing to do with that. The two men you have appointed, Paramananda and Devakinandana Prabhus, are both capable and experienced men from New Vrndavana and I am sure they will manage everything very nicely there. What do you think of exporting nice United States cows such as the ones you have there and in New Vrndavana to India so we can raise them in our Vrndavana and Mayapur projects and provide nice milk? Is it possible? This isolation that has been imposed on the New York temple that you speak of is not good and it should be dissolved. Your program of travelling to the nearest temples is a good program. You should continue that. Our GBC members should always visit the different temples to see that everything goes on well, and to see that the management is being done very nicely. In connection with the devotees coming to India for the Mayapur festival in 1975, if they come on the 20th of March that is alright. Our installation for the Krsna-Balarama Mandir in Vrndavana will be on April 20th so the devotees should get visas that will allow them to stay until this installation ceremony takes place in April. I think if you make a special request to get these visas explaining about our two very important festivals that there will be no difficulty and they will give them. But I want that the devotees will stay until the temple in Vrndavana opens. Your idea about Gopala Krsna going to L.A. to see how things are going, for a week, is a good idea. He can do that. But I do not want him to give up his job. If he could manage Spiritual Sky without giving up his job, that would be one thing, but I don't want him to lose that job. And your second suggestion about him coming to India for GBC business that is also a very welcome idea. He is fully capable and qualified for being GBC of India. But I want him to maintain his job for now anyway. Immediately although, you can make him one of the GBC men. His name can be added to the list. We can decide about the idea of him coming to India at our next GBC meeting in Mayapur. You asked in your letter whether Gurudasa Prabhu is authorized to collect money from US temples for Vrndavana project. No, he is not authorized to do this. In regards to the $180,000 that was received in discounts. That money should be reinvested in printing books. New York is now saved from the hands of this woman. Unfortunately it has victimized our Bali Mardan. He is a very nice boy but somehow or another he has become victimized by this woman. I do not know how he could be victimized by such a woman who is of mothers age. Somehow or another we must save Bali Mardan as he is very much attached to this woman. You mention that in our Buffalo project that Saptaratha Prabhu is there making nice doll display for the temple. You should tell him that others should also learn from him how to make these dolls. We have to make these doll displays for all of our temples all over the world, on all different subject matters, from the scriptures. It is a very nice way of attracting all people especially in the West. Please continue as GBC there in New York and make sure that everything is going on in a fully Krsna Conscious manner. Everyone should be engaged and everyone should be staunchly following all of our principles. We must pray to Krsna to save us from the attack of so many bad elements. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to S. K. Roy **Date:** December 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Govt of IndiaOverseas Communication ServicePoddar Court Ravindra SaraniCalcuttaMy S. K. Roy, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 7, 1974. Thank you for your kind sentiments and I am very glad that you have appreciated our International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Our actual credit is that we are simply repeating Bhagavad-gita As It Is without changing it, altering it or adding any mundane opinion. We simply repeat what previous acarya have said and that is our merit. Therefore it is being accepted all over the world. Thank you for appreciating our books. Please continue to read them. In regards to you becoming one of our life members I wish to refer you to Gargamuni Swami who is at our Calcutta Mandir at 3 Albert Rd. You can go and see him there and he will make some arrangement for you to become a member of our society. We have many different membership programs and he can discuss them all with you, and show you all the books we have been publishing, etc. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Sacimata **Date:** December 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta My Dear Saci Mata devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your Bengali letter undated and have noted the contents. It is good that you are keeping under your parent's protection for the time being, but wherever you remain do not forget to follow the four regulative principles and chanting at least 16 rounds dailyThen all other things will be manifested in you by the grace of Lord Krishna. It is the advice of Narottama das Thakura to chant the holy name of Gauranga either if one remains at home or in the forest. Similarly, do not forget the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra either you live in the temple or at home. I am again going on tour of the Western countries this Sunday next. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sadajeewatlalji **Date:** November 20th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Sheth Sri Punjabi Chandu Halwi Karachiwala185, Wallkeshwar Road, Teenbatti Bombay-6 My Dear Sadajeewatlalji: Last night we had some talks on your new attempt to elevate the girivanavasi people. It is very enlightening for anyone that you are trying to elevate the position of the people in the forest and in the hills. This sort of desire is certainly very much laudable, because in our Vaisnava philosophy it is said that a perfect Vaisnava is always very kind, and he is aggrieved by others miserable condition. para-duhkha-duhkhi krpam buddhih. Or, a Vaisnava is always unhappy by seeing others unhappiness, and he is the ocean of kindness. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said samah sarvesu bhutesu/ mad bhaktim labhate param [Bg. 18.54]. When a person is self realized, he is equal to everyone, and that is the preliminary stage for entering into transcendental devotional service. But, one should not falsely claim to be equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because in the Vedas it is said: na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate/na tat-samas cabhyadhikas ca drsyate. Nobody is equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unfortunately it has become a fashion to equalize everyone with Narayana. This sort of mentality is called pasandi mentality, because if anyone considers even the biggest personalities like Lord Siva or Lord Brahma on the equal status of Narayana the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is certainly a pasandi. Your attempt is very good, but be guided by the Vedic principles. The Vedic principles are mentioned clearly in the Bhagavad-gita by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna. If we follow the principles, then our attempt in any field of activities will be successful. But if we follow the pasandis who are mayayapahrta jnana, then any attempt to ameliorate the condition of the general people will be a failure. There are many politicians, social workers, and philanthropists all over the world, but their attempt has not been successful on account of theor knowledge being plundered by maya. It will be my great pleasure to give you guidance from the Bhagavad-gita As It Is in your this great enterprise. You are free to consult me at any time. If you follow actually the principles of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, there it is said if one does not follow the principles of sastra then he does not get happiness neither any good result of his fruitive activities. So we should not be confused in the matter of violating the orders given by Lord Krishna. bhagavad-bhakti-hinasya/ jatih sastram janas tapah/ apranasyaiva dehasya/ mandanam loka-ranjanam. A big nation, a big worker, a big ascetic, and all similar big attempts, if they are devoid of bhagavad-bhakti, or devotional service, then such high qualities are exactly like the decoration of the dead body. Your ever sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:bs --- wanted by you, enclosed is my photo ### Letter to Sahadeva **Date:** January 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu > Houston, Texas Dear Sahadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 11, 1974.Regarding second initiations, I have become very concerned lately, that some of our older students who have been given the second initiation, have not been strictly following the rules and regulations. So from now on I want our presidents to be very sure about the devotees they are recommending to me for second initiation. I think sometimes in the past devotees have been recommended chiefly because some more helpers were required in maintaining the deity work. Of course, necessity is there. It is just like in government, the government has need for a number of men to fill important posts, but first the persons must be qualified before they can award the post. Even though there may be a pressing demand, first the man must be qualified. Our system is that after one year from the first initiation, if the devotee is strictly following our principles without deviation, and if he will sign a statement in seriousness, that he will not deviate from the chanting and regulative principles, then, on your mature consideration you can recommend him to me. It is not that we are stopping second initiation, but I want to be sure it does not become a farce and names be sent to me without proper qualification. We are criticizing the caste brahmanas for saying that the Americans and Europeans cannot be awarded brahmana initiation, because according to Vedic sastra, anyone who is properly trained up under a bona fide spiritual master, can become twice born. But if our brahmanas do not take their second initiation seriously, then we will be deserving of criticism. So on this basis, if your think the men you have recommended are still eligible, you can resubmit their names to me and I will accept them. You have also submitted two names for first initiation. With this first initiation, we can more readily give them a chance. Provided they are enthusiastic and you observe they are following the devotional practices then you can submit their names. I have accepted the names submitted by your and their names are as follows: Brent Chevaliar—Clarice Sandoz—You may hold a fire yajna for them and instruct them in avoiding the ten offenses to chanting Hare Krsna Mantra. So I am counting on your own example in these matters as the most effective method of instruction for all the devotees in you care in the Houston temple. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Sahadeva **Date:** June 9th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Houston My dear Sahadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 13, 1974.On your recommendation I have accepted the devotee submitted by you as my duly initiated disciple. His new spiritual name is as follows: Bruce Dickmeyer—Bhusaya dasa. I understand this is the second time you are submitting the names of Siddhavidya and Kirticandra for second initiation and that you have seriously considered their eligibility for brahminical status. Therefore I will accept them as brahmanas, and the sanctified threads are enclosed as well as gayatri mantra. Have them listen to the tape of me chanting the mantra. The beads of the new initiates may be chanted on by Jagadisa Prabhu. I understand you are situated in a new building. You may send me pictures. Now find enclosed a letter from a life member from Hyderabad, India. He writes that he is going to Houston, Texas for health treatment and he is asking that he and his wife and medical attendant be put up at the temple for room and board for one and a half months. I have written him that he may stay at our temple but I do not know if it is suitable for him. You can consider whether it is actually possible in your present circumstances to house a man and his wife as well as another companion. If the conditions are too crowded you may write to him and in any case let him know the actual situation in Houston. Let me know the further result of this. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Sahadeva **Date:** July 20th 1974 — **Location:** New Vrindaban > Houston My Dear Sahadeva das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 10, 1974 and have noted the contents. I have also seen the photos. Regarding the Life Members, you cannot impose rules on the guests. They can remain two or three days as guests, so there should be no difficulty. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sama **Date:** December 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Glyndon, Maryland My Dear Sama das Adhikari: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 9, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to know that you are preaching there in Baltimore, and there is no question of bigness or smallness of the center so far pleasing me is concerned. It is the sincerity of the attempt that is the important thing. Of course as Krsna sees the sincerity of our hearts, He supplies the facilities. Just like I came to your country with only Rs. 40/-, and now we have got this huge institution. So you can be sure that Krishna will supply you according to your capacity. So I think that if you continue working sincerely, you will get all facilities that you require for your purposes. Upon your recommendation I have accepted the following as my disciples and their names are as follows: Tim—Tarakara dasa; Dorinda—Dainyahrt devi dasi. Their beads may be chanted upon by Kirtanananda Swami or Tamala Krishna Goswami. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sanka **Date:** October 16th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Bombay My Dear Sanka das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated. I understand from Bhavananda Maharaja that you are invited here to plant a garden. So when you come your questions can be discussed. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sarada **Date:** November 25th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Seattle My Dear Sarada devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 17, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to hear that you are engaged in the service of tulsi devi. Tulsi leaves are very important for satisfying Lord Krishna. But tulsi devi is not pleased by the nice tune of singing but by the nice devotion. So you continue to your best, and you will automatically advance more and more in Krishna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sarvabhauma, Putanara, Gandharvi **Date:** September 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Calcutta My dear Sarvabhauma, Putanara, and Gandharvi dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your three letters dated August 6th, and am very glad to receive them. I have noted the questions. Anyway I am expecting to arrive in Calcutta some time this month and at that time I will be glad to see you and answer all of your questions. In the meantime you may please consult with Gargamuni Swami, the in-charge of the Calcutta Temple. He will also be able to help you with your questions. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb ### Letter to Sarvamangala **Date:** November 6th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Sarvamangala devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. I thank you very much for your sentiments, and I know that you are all working hard to make Bhaktivedanta Manor a very nice place. You should know it that our temples they are not in this material world. The temple is Vaikuntha, where Krishna and remembered and served 24 hours daily without stopping. So we already are in Vaikuntha by participating in the temple activities. So it must be done very nicely. You have mentioned controlling lust, and this is very important. In Bhagavad-gita Krishna says: tasmat tvam indriyany adau "In the very beginning you must curb lust by regulating the senses." Therefore we have the four regulated principles at the very beginning of practicing devotional life. In this way we turn the lust into love. This is our material life. Lust is there in everyone, because everyone is actually a lover of Krishna. It just has to be purified by proper training. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satadari **Date:** July 7th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Los Angeles My dear Satadari devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 13, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Yes, a shiksa guru is anyone who can give spiritual advancement. You take instruction from my books, and if you are unable to understand any portion of the books, then you can get it explained by any senior devotee, whether Madhukanta or anyone else. Any senior devotee can be an instructor in spiritual subject matters. If you like to take instruction from Madhukanta, there is no harm. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satadhanya **Date:** December 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mayapur My Dear Satadhanya das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 6, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am simply surprised how many people visited the temple on Ras Purnima and that so many Gitar Gans were distributed. I do not think so many people visited the other maths there in Mayapur. Regarding the construction you have not mentioned anything about the gate. I want that the gate should be there. The gate should be constructed before the wall is constructed. It is very nice that the work is progressing by having a hired man instead of a contractor. This is proper method for us. Gargamuni Swami has telegrammed that work on the kitchen has stopped and that money from Jayatirtha has not come. But Jayatirtha has told Brahmananda Swami that it was already sent. So what can I do? Anyway the work should not be stopped. This is not good. I am starting for Hawaii on this Saturday next and will return to India in late February or early March, 1975.I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** August 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Satsvarupa das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 26, 1974 and your Vyasa Puja Offering. It is very encouraging that many professors have purchased books for themselves and are considering to order them for their students. I very much like this program of the standing orders. Try to increase it up to 50,000 such orders from the libraries. I have written to Bali Mardan Goswami in this connection. Regarding the remark that distributing a book to a professor is 100 times better than to a ordinary man, I never said that. I said it was very important. Regarding your suggestion for a book especially for use in college courses, if possible you can pick it up from my other books, articles and speeches. You have the idea, so you can do it, just suitable for them. It is all right with me if you manage the Central Zone and also the library party. There is no need for you to come to Vrindaban for the festival. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** September 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Los AngelesMy dear Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 2, 1974 together with enclosures. Your letter is very much pleasing to me with the report of the book distribution. Whenever I get report of my book selling I feel strength. Even now in this weakened condition I have got strength from your report. You should know that in this work you have Krishna's blessings. You are a sincere worker. Right from the very beginning when you joined me you have always been a sincere worker, therefore, I keep you as GBC. You may not be a good manager, but whatever I say you accept. These are all good qualifications. Others should follow your example and take instruction from you to push on this library program. I have instructed Tamala Krishna Goswami that he can also so this library program. The American people are very intelligent, therefore I concentrate on the Americans for spreading this movement. They are not crippled by poverty like here in India. In India of course the people are naturally Krishna conscious. Whenever we have some Krishna conscious program they come by the thousands, but they are crippled by poverty. Therefore it is difficult for them to take to this movement seriously. So you go on with your work there in America and distribute my books to these libraries. This is very encouraging to me, to write more books. I hope etc. ACBS ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** September 17th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Satsvarupa das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge of your letter dated from Denver September 7, 1974 with enclosed outline of the book "A Vedic Reader: Sources of Indian Civilization" The synopsis is very nice, and if properly written the book will be very nice. From this book they will understand the importance of our society. So do it nicely. It is all right that you present only the verses with a short description and that you can also write parts of the essays in the first part of the book, as you have suggested. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** November 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay His Holiness Satsvarupa das GoswamiLos AngelesPlease accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 15, 1974 with enclosed copies of letters and the Bengali course advertisement. So they are putting me, as well as the others, for getting the students to learn Bengali. That's nice. I am very glad to learn that you are getting the orders and are increasing the men and parties for distributing the books. Regarding the number of libraries, I read in that book the Almanac that there are 75,000 libraries. Regarding those professors who say that Siva is the Supreme, in the Rg Veda it is stated: "om tad visnoh paramam padam." The lotus feet of Visnu are the supreme devotional platform. There Visnu is accepted as the Supreme. So there are 18 Puranas. Six of them are for persons in the modes of ignorance, some for those in passion, and the topmost are for those in goodness, the sattvic puranas. If one intelligently reads the Puranas and Vedas, then he can understand that Visnu is the Supreme Person. But, for those on the stage of ignorance and passion, sometimes such statements are there. So it depends on the quality of the nature of the person that one accepts Lord Siva or Lord Visnu as the Supreme, but one who studies scrutinizingly all the Vedic literature and who accepts the statements of the acaryas who guide the destiny of Vedic culture of India who all accept Visnu as the Supreme Person, then he will also have the same conclusion. So far we are concerned in the Krishna consciousness movement, we are preaching the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita. Krishna is the Supreme Person even before all demigods including Lord Visnu even, and of course Lord Siva. Our fundamental principle is the teaching of the Bhagavad-gita. Those persons who cannot understand this on account of particular modes of nature, such persons require further education, and until such time is fulfilled, we are helpless. To an animal in the modes of ignorance, how can we preach? Then we are helpless. I have read your letter to the professor and it is a good challenge. You have written nicely. You have correctly cited the Vedas wherein it is stated: eko narayana asin na brahma na isano. . . In the beginning there was no Brahma, no Siva, only Krishna. The cosmic manifestation is from Mahat Tattva, and before the Maha Tattva there is Narayana. Sankaracarya is a Lord Siva worshipper and an incarnation of Lord Siva, and he admits that Narayana is the master, and Narayana is the Supreme. narayanah paro 'vyaktat. This is the best authority. What more evidence you want? This is in his Sanka Bhasya on Bhagavad-gita. This is not even the statement of the Puranas but of Sankaracarya's own writings. How can you deny if the incarnation of Lord Siva says that Krishna is Supreme? In the Puranas it is stated that another demigod is supreme just to convince the devotee. Just like a student in primary school, he thinks the primary education is everything and has no idea of higher education. This is to convince the devotees but from the Gita we understand that it is from Krishna that He gives the faith by which one can worship the demigods. Krishna says "aham adi hi devanam." Is Krishna speaking a lie? "mattah parataram nanyat [Bg. 7.7]." Nobody is greater than Me, He says. Why should we reject Krishna's statement? Our mission is to put Krishna as first, and they may take it or not. We do not interfere with their choice, but we do it as our duty. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satsvarupa **Date:** November 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My Dear Satsvarupa das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 20, 1974 from New York. I am very glad to hear of the continued success of the Library distribution program. You know it that I also was selling my books in this way to the schools and colleges and libraries. I would write, then publish, and then distribute without any help. So how much pleased I am with you that you are helping me in this mission. So you go on with your work. Krishna will help you. You are sincere in your purpose. This is very important engagement of visiting the professors, and the colleges and libraries, and getting the standing orders. This is the most important engagement. Do not doubt this. It is also good that you are trying for the teaching course. What do the others know. Yes, simply they have written nonsense books. There in America is very good field. Regarding Franklin and Marshall College that was a misunderstanding. I am prepared to take the class. So you write the professor. You had told me it was very cold there, otherwise I was ready. It is very good that the New York temple life is now much improved. What is very pleasing to me is that they have confronted the nonsense. They are sound devotees, otherwise they would have been carried away by this wrong propaganda. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satyabhama, Paramananda **Date:** July 20th 1974 — **Location:** New Vrindaban > New Vrindaban My Dear Satyabhama and Paramananda: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated and have noted the contents carefully. If Kirtanananda Maharaja speaks what I speak, then he can be taken a siksa guru. Guru sastra sadhu. The spiritual master is one, that is a fact. Kirtanananda Swami may be taken a sadhu not spiritual master, or as instructor guru. I don't think he is saying anything against our principles, so what is the wrong? You have written that the devotees here say that you cannot know me, but only Kirtanananda Maharaja can know me. But, if Kirtanananda is a disciple and he can know me, and you are also a disciple, why you cannot know me? I have no objection to your taking Kirtanananda's instruction. There is no harm in going through Kirtanananda. You are both old disciples, so why you should be feeling any difficulty? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Satyahit **Date:** March 16th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear Satyahit, Please accept my blessings. I am pleased to hear you have been preaching among the Gujarat community in Panama City and that they are sympathetic to our movement. We see now at our function in Vrindaban that hundreds of members are attending from all parts of the world. In this way our movement is unique, that not just the people of India are hearing about Krsna, but from all countries they are joining and becoming Vaisnavas by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, and refraining from the pillars of sinful activities. This was Lord Caitanya's desire that the Holy name be heard in every town and village. Now I am especially concerned to distribute grains, rice, wheat in the form of dahl and rice prasadam to hungry people all over India. The people here are very disturbed because, partly due to the punishment of Nature, and partly due to the mismanagement of the demon class of men, food is not available. If the people do not even have sufficient food they will not even be able to receive spiritual instructions. So I am hopeful that if we can widely distribute free foodstuffs to the people of India, by giving it out at our centers as well as by travelling parties to villages, we will win over the whole country and the whole world by this activity on Krsna's behalf. You write that members of the Gujarat community would like to contribute $10,000.00 toward a temple there, but at this time I think the money could be better spent by contributing to shipping grains to India for distribution. If they wish to donate for this noble project they can send money directly to the following account: "ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust," account no 668, the Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban, Mathura, U.P., India. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Saurabha **Date:** April 6th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban Dear Saurabha, Please accept my blessings. I have seen the letter of 4/4/74 you have written to Tamala Krsna Goswami. I am very very happy to learn the by Krsna's and Baladeva.'s mercy a sweet water well has been found about ten feet away from the front part of the land, on our side. This is Krsna's mercy on us. Now build a big well there. Make an idara, make the well 100 feet deep and big and fix a pump so that you can always take water from. This news about the well has pleased me very much. Also, because the tamal tree is blooming so nicely you may let it stand; do not cut it down, but let it grow. As for the shortage of coolies, our men can do this job. Any man can work as a cooly, so our men should join. We shall also send men from here and elsewhere so you may have 10 or 20 men. Cooly means non expert, and so many of our men are non expert so they may join and work as coolies. If you are collecting money from Mr. Bajoria or any life members take it and send it to the construction fund at New Delhi, in the Punjab National Bank. As far as Mr. Somani, let him come here and I will be very glad to receive him. If he can supply us paper we can start a Back to Godhead magazine in Hindi and Gujarati. Regarding your report on the marble, let us apply the best one, as indicated by you, even if it costs Rs 8 per square foot including labor. So make contract, take delivery of the stone and engage this man who is the same one doing the Birla Mandir. I have sent a check for Rs 23,000 to Tejyas in Delhi so there is no scarcity of money. This temple must be finished by the deadline. Work very swiftly keeping in view everything expertly and solidly. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Saurabha **Date:** May 26th 1974 — **Location:** BombayMy Dear Saurabha das: Please accept my blessings. I may inform you that the Governor of U.P. has accepted the invitation to become Chief Guest at our temple opening. Now many big men will come. So we have to arrange very nicely for their accommodation. The Governor will require a special apartment for his staying. It is all Krishna's grace. Bon Maharaja had to go several times to get the Governor, but with one letter he has accepted our invitation. Our movement is being accepted. They are saying that Swamiji is doing nice things. So it is up to you Europeans and Americans to push it all over the world, and one day you will be the leaders of the world. It is not difficult. You just have to work sincerely and intelligently. Krishna will do everything. Enclosed is a copy of the Governor's letter. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Saurabha **Date:** April 30th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban My dear Saurabha, Please accept my blessings. I am very much anxious to know how far the residential quarter is constructed. Our deadline of completing the whole temple and residential building is the end of July. Whether it is possible? I want to know it definitely, before I go to Europe. You kindly send me immediately a detailed report. Otherwise, I will have to go there immediately and see how things can be completed by the deadline date. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgcopy --- to Tejyas in Delhi for immediate report also. N.B. The murti of Srila Prabhupada should be following as close as possible the enclosed photograph taken from the second cover of BTG 61, as stated in my telegram to Gurudas ### Letter to Saurabha **Date:** October 25th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Vrindaban My Dear Saurabha das: Please accept my blessings. I have received from the Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban a copy of their letter dated 14/10/74 to the Secretary of ISKCON Vrindaban regarding the opening of a new current account No. 683. I do not know anything about this account. Who is the Secretary? Who are the signatories? What is the purpose of the account? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Saurabha **Date:** November 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban My Dear Saurabha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 15/11/74 and the account. I had wanted an account of the last Rs. 5,10,000/- that was sent to you. Please give me that account, how it was spent for the construction. Now we have sent you Rs. 1,25,000/- and I am sending another Rs. 1,75,000/-.Now Bhugarbha reports that you say the asrama will not be completed for the opening festival. The program was already postponed because the asrama was not finished. Therefore everything must be cent per cent completed by the end of March. Is the contractor cheating? That means it will never be finished. Simply we have to put money. From the photos I have seen, there is not very much progress. What to do? I want no explanations. I want to see everything finished. If there is still doubt, please tell me frankly. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Saurabha **Date:** November 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban My Dear Saurabha das: Please accept my blessings. I may inform you that the Governor of U.P. has accepted the invitation to become Chief Guest at our temple opening. Now many big men will come. So we have to arrange very nicely for their accommodation. The Governor will require a special apartment for his staying. It is all Krishna's grace. Bon Maharaja had to go several times to get the Governor, but with one letter he has accepted our invitation. Our movement is being accepted. They are saying that Swamiji is doing nice things. So it is up to you Europeans and Americans to push it all over the world, and one day you will be the leaders of the world. It is not difficult. You just have to work sincerely and intelligently. Krishna will do everything. Enclosed is a copy of the Governor's letter. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Tejiyas, Jayatirtha, Gargamuni ### Letter to Saurabha **Date:** December 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Vrindaban My Dear Saurabha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 1, 1974 and have noted the contents. Thank you for supplying the account for the money which has been sent to you. I am encouraged that you expect to have the everything completed on time. This I want. I am glad to note that you have two more contractors, not to be dependent upon one is better. It is also good that local men like Visvambar are taking part. I am starting for Hawaii on Saturday next and shall return to India at end of next February or early March. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Shaktimati **Date:** October 7th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Nairobi My Dear Shakti Mati devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 17/9/74 in Hindi language and I have noted the contents. I thank you for your concern for my well being. Actually I was very ill. I was falling down. But, by your prayers Krishna has kindly made me recover. Because you have prayed to Krishna therefore I have recovered. Just like Srimat Kunti devi when there was difficulty, she prayed to Krishna. That is Krishna consciousness. Not that when there is difficulty I shall forget Krishna. Whatever the material condition may be we should just cling to Krishna's lotus feet. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Siddha Svarupananda **Date:** July 16th 1974 — **Location:** Dallas > San Francisco My Dear Siddha Svarupananada Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I am here in Dallas, and after two days I am going to New Vrindaban, and then to London on my way to India. I will reach India by July 26th to arrange for our grand festival in Vrindaban. I cordially invite you to attend our opening ceremony in Vrindaban because all of our sannyasis will be present there. You also come there as a regular sannyasi and take part. That is my desire. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sons **Date:** December 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Evanston My dear Sons, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 6, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, chapter 18; sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo, moksayisyami ma sucah [Bg. 18.66]. So why you want to worship someone else. Krsna, Himself, recommends mam ekam, he alone. Therefore we must do like that. If one wants to water the tree he waters the root. There is no necessity of watering the branches. The demigods are all different parts of the universal form of the Supreme Lord. But Krsna is even more than that whole complete universal form. He is the origin of that universal form. Therefore I do not encourage you to worship this demigod, Ganesa. It is not required, it is not necessary. Simply worship Krsna. Perform nice devotional service to Krsna. Then your lives will certainly become perfect. Of course if one has got some sentiment for achieving the blessings of Ganesa for accumulating large sums of money to serve Krsna, then he may perform this Ganesa worship, privately, not making a public show. But first of all he must give me $100,000 per month. Not a single farthing less. If he can supply this amount, $100,000 per month, then he will be allowed to do this Ganesa Puja. Otherwise he should not do it. It will not be good. That is my order. So all of you keep yourselves strong in Krsna Consciousness by following all of my basic principles. That is of the utmost importance. Do not fail to chant 16 rounds daily, rise early, come to mangala arati, come to classes and follow the 4 regulative principles. In this way your life will become free from all anxieties. Please try to distribute my books in huge quantities more and more. This is very much satisfying to me. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Sri Agrawal **Date:** December 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Sri Agrawal, Please accept my greetings. I thank you very much for your calendar presentation which I received Wednesday morning on the 18 of December. The pictures on your calendar are very beautiful and much appreciated by me. I am very sorry that I was not able to see you when you came. But I am hoping that you will be able to come again maybe between 5 and 7 p.m. and I will see you then. I will be in Bombay for about one more month and then I may go to Australia. I thank you very much once again for your calendar and I hope to be seeing you in the near future. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Sri Badruka **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Hyderabad My Dear Sri Badruka: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 7, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am very pleased to hear about the progress of Hyderabad centre preaching and construction. With your active interest I am very confident that everything is going on very smoothly. I have sent to Mahamsa Swami Rs. 60,000/- so that the immediate construction may not be hampered. In the meantime please see that the life members there start collecting. If the temple is completed by next Janmastami, I will be pleased to come to inaugurate the opening. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sri Bagai **Date:** December 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Chandigarh Dear Sri Bagai: Please accept my greetings and the blessings of Lord Caitanya. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15-12-74 and am sending herewith your Life Membership Card signed by me. I am also sending herewith a letter addressed to all of my temple Presidents to help you in every respect and to provide you boarding and lodging free of charge. I have instructed my in-charge of my Bombay Headquarters to send you the literature and other items you have requested as far as possible, and you should be hearing from me shortly. Meanwhile, I hope that you enjoy your visit in the Temples and that we may meet sometime to discuss. I hope this letter will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/GdB ### Letter to Sri Ballavh **Date:** June 4th 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > Taipei, Taiwan My dear Sri Ballavh, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 26, 1974 and I have examined the contents. I am very concerned to hear you have left the association of Trivikrama Swami and the devotees in the temple in Taiwan. For one thing you cannot remain in firm Krsna Consciousness without the association of devotees and for another thing you were being counted on to make a strong contribution to the mission in Taiwan. We must stand united. If the few men we have in a far away place like Taiwan become scattered, then we will not be able to stand. I know you are always experiencing difficulties in living with devotees, but we must be tolerant and endure the personal differences, being humbler than a blade of grass, and stick to our duties to the spiritual master. From your enclosed brochures I see you were developing a very promising business for selling incense, but if you are apart from the society, then how can you continue. I cannot send you five thousand dollars for your business as you request. You must again join with the devotees in our ISKCON community. In any case do not abandon the regulative principles and be certain to always chant sixteen rounds daily. That will save you from maya. I know you are a sincere disciple, because you are always returning to our camp even though you go away. Krsna will not let you withdraw. But I am hoping that you will soon become sober enough to join with us and stick with determination. working together on behalf of Krsna and completely forgetting the material condition of life. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Sri Ganatra **Date:** August 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My dear Sri Ganatra, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for greeting telegram from Bombay dated Aug 12th on the occasion of Vyasa Puja. You may know that we have had to postpone the opening of the temples due to the temple and asrama not being completed. This is due to difficulty in getting cement. They are expecting to complete the temple for the opening ceremony by three months time. Then we can have our opening ceremony. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Sri Govinda **Date:** September 29th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Evanston, Illinois My Dear Sri Govinda: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated September 5 & 9, 1974 with enclosed clippings of my visit to Chicago Ratha Yatra. The clippings are especially nice, and I am requesting that they be displayed here at Mayapur for our Gaura purnima festival. I very much liked your Chicago festival, and I encourage you to increase it next year. This ratha yatra festival is very dear to me from my very childhood days, so I very much appreciate your holding this festival in Chicago. If you have longer route and two or three cars it will be very good. Regarding your house, yes, you should purchase. Your hall is far better than Los Angeles, I think. You have installed the Deity there so nicely with all nice decorations, and I have seen how clean you are keeping it. And, the room was fully packed even the balcony. On the whole that building is just suitable for our purpose. Your scheme for collecting from the Indian community is all right and I approve the inscription for the plaques. Krsna is giving you all good facilities for spreading Krsna consciousness, and I can assure you that He will supply even more. You are a boy of great energy and the more you use your energy in Krsna's service, the more He will supply you, rest assured. So it is up to you how much you want to endeavor for Krsna's sake. Regarding the initiations, I accept for second initiation upon your recommendation Mrgendra dasa, Bhaktavasya dasi, Subhadra dasi, and Krsna mayi dasi. Enclosed are the thread and sheet. The following I accept as my disciples and their names are as follows:1. Tom Obnibene—Trinakarta dasa; 2. Chuck Ryskamp—Cakri dasa; 3. Bill Byars—Visvatomukha dasa; 4. Lee Sutton—Lamala dasa; 5. Barb Sutton-Brmhani devi dasi. Now hold a fire sacrifice and impress upon the devotees that they are taking vows before Radha Krsna, the spiritual master, and the Vaisnavas. The beads may be chanted upon by a sannyasi or GBC man. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sri Govinda **Date:** October 11th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Evanston, Illinois My Dear Sri Govinda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 24, 1974 and have noted the contents. Any discrepancy, that can be corrected. A change of management that is not good. All faults shall be corrected. You are already trained up man. Do not worry. Jaya-tirtha Prabhu is here, and I have advised him in this connection that the three of you: him, Jagadisa, and yourself, chalk out a program. So do not worry. You three men change the discrepancies. Why Jagadisa's wife should interfere? We must run the Society on cooperation. Whatever is done, is done. You are all experienced men, and I have confidence that everything can be corrected. Debt is not good. It is said that a happy man is he who lives at home and has no debts. That is a happy man. Please try to correct this situation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- N.B. Your telegram to Brahmananda Swami to cancel the initiations of Barb and Lee Sutton has been received ### Letter to Sri Govinda **Date:** November 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Evanston, Illinois My Dear Sri Govinda dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 17, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am glad to know that you are cooperating with Jagadisa Prabhu for rectifying the difficulties there. I have received report that you have repaid debts of Dollars 35,000.00, so this is very nice. So continue in this way. I want that all our centers be nicely managed so I can be freed for translation work without any anxiety. Therefore I have created the GBC to take this responsibility. Simply by maintaining the Krsna conscious standards, everything else will follow. So I have faith in you. I know you are a good worker. Krsna has given you very nice place there in Chicago. So utilize it nicely, 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 Sri Govinda **Date:** December 6th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Evanston, Illinois My Dear Sri Govinda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated together with clippings and photos, and thank you very much. I think the article about the book distribution at the airport is indirectly an advertisement. People will come to know about our books and our movement. Here in Bombay they also have the complaint that we are nuisance. What can be done? The writer of the article calls us Hare Krishnas. He calls us this over and over again. He does not know that by doing this he is chanting the holy name and will be benefited. Just like during Lord Caitanya's time, the Muhammadans used to joke how the devotees were chanting Hare Krishna. One of the officers said to his subordinate that it was all right that they were chanting, but why was he chanting. And the man had to admit that yes he was also chanting and that he did not know why he was doing it. So by writing this article, this man is chanting. They say that you are all my disciples. So the guru is not on the scene. He has fled away and nobody knows where he is, but the Krishna consciousness program is going on. That was also going on during the time of Lord Caitanya. In South India He used to travel, and in a village He would meet some man and induce him to chant, and the man would become a devotee, and Lord Caitanya would go away, but still the man would continue to chant. So, I am not personally present, but still things are going on, and it is increasing. So the books are selling and we are expanding. This book distribution is the brihat mrdangam. It is the greater preaching. Anyway, you have replied properly to the article that this may be some isolated incident. Yes, as you have said in your reply they must see what kind of life our men are living. Our books are better than the nonsense books. You have written them to the point. And, even if there is some complaint, they are getting the real thing from our books. they are forgetting the aim of life. Somehow or other, we have to give them the real thing. Why this one man should be envious? In the history of the world, especially the Western countries, there is no record of selling religious books so many daily. It is unique in the history. Our men are doing good, that they do not see. They are so blind. But, the end justifies the means. We have to give them even if they do not want it. That is our duty. Actually what is our aim? Our aim is to create men of ideal character. And, if our men are distributing books on this account, they are doing the best service to the society. Because someone has said something in the airport, that is not veryimportant. What we are doing that they must see. See their sacrifice, what is behind their life, how they are living; how they have sacrificed everything for the welfare of society. In our society there is no distinction between black or white, Hindu or Muslim. Every living being is welcome to take to this cult, and make his life a successful affair. Regarding your question, actually it is a fact that ultimately everyone should preach and distribute books if they want to please me in the best way. Book distribution must be given stress always. He has spoken the right thing. If you do this sincerely, it is a fact that Krishna will supply everything else required. So you say that your men are like the four Kumaras disobeying Lord Brahma. Does it mean you are Brahma? But, it is a fact. Here in India we are not arranging for publishing Hindi books and other languages for profuse distribution in India. That is my immediate program. I blindly follow my guru maharaj. I do not know what is the result. So I am stressing on this point of book distribution. He told me this personally. Book distribution is bhagavata marga and temple worship is pancaratriki viddhi. Both are important for cultivating Vaisnavism but comparatively speaking bhagavata marga is more important than pancaratriki viddhi. As far as possible both should go on in parallel lines but still bhagavata marga is more important than the other. So you are all intelligent boys, so you should judge the desire of my guru maharaj and help me in that way. Regarding the temple management, one man can be left behind, while the others go out, to take care of the Deity. And, you can come home at night and take prasadam sumptuously. Once eating sumptuously is enough to maintain body and soul together. In the daytime you may not take, and at night you can take. As a matter of fact, a devotee may take only once in a day either in the day or night, and whenever you eat, you must first offer. But I do not mean you should neglect temple life. Do not misunderstand this. But, one man can remain, and so far the other devotees are concerned, they can eat once in the day or night, after having kirtana, then six hours of sound sleep, and this will maintain their health properly. So on the above statements you must make some compromise. Both Tripurari and yourself are intelligent. Sometimes we may differ, but Krishna is the center. Just like in Vrindaban there is Radharani's party and there is Candravali's party. So Krishna is the center of both parties. So even there there is competition between the parties, but they coincide in Krishna. Regarding the seminar, that is very good. April or May will be good, but May will be very good. I can come at that time. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sri Kanungo **Date:** October 17th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Calcutta Dear Sri Kanungo: Please accept my blessings, and offer the same to your good wife Srimati Chhavi Kanungo. I am staying now at Mayapur at the above address, and I was very much eager to see you in connection with your land that you have donated to our Society. Now we have to make a program how to develop the place to make it a nice preaching center in Orissa, and for this purpose your cooperation is much required. I therefore want to see you personally, and it will be a great pleasure for me if you both husband and wife come here. It is a very nice place, and you will like to remain here for one or two days. I hope you can come here, accompanied by one of our men from Calcutta. Thanking you in anticipation. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- Please come as soon as possible ### Letter to Sri Mody **Date:** December 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Harrow, England Dear Sri Mody: Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of a copy of your letter addressed to Sriman Madhavananda das dated November 1, 1974. I did not know anything about this incident. I am very sorry for it however, and I am inquiring into the matter further. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- Are you visiting India sometime in April 1975? If so kindly let me now where you will stay. ACBS ### Letter to Sri Mohan Mazumdar **Date:** December 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta Dear Sri Mohan Mazumdar, Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter in Bengali dated 10.12.74 and have noted the contents with care. Regarding your proposal for preparing a film on the life and precepts of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, I am ready to help with my men but it is not possible for me to make the financial help. If you can arrange with some film studio men for direction and photographic handling etc., my men are ready to help you in this connection, at any time. Also I shall be glad to give direction. This is all possible in Los Angeles but you have to arrange all these things. I have previously instructed you to contact some film producer company in Los Angeles, but I do not know if you have done so. So I still stick to my word as I earlier said to you. You can arrange but I think it will cost huge amounts of financial assistance, of course our service is free, but for other things you have to arrange for financial balance. Anyway I am always ready to help in the above mentioned ways. But one thing I shall advise you, if there is a difficulty for financial arrangement you can drop the idea. Now you are old, 60 years old, better retire from all enterprising activities and devote yourself fully for developing Krishna Consciousness. That will not cost you any financial assistance at all. You can live with us anywhere in the world and along with our devotees gradually you will learn all devotion activities. And if you desire you can translate our English books into Bengali language. You are already reading our Nectar of Devotion and if you like this idea you can translate this Nectar of Devotion immediately into Bengali and send me some copies of the translation so I can see how you have done. For the time being I have postponed my journey to Honolulu. Maybe I will be going to Australia by mid-January 1975. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Sri Pannalalji **Date:** May 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hyderabad Dear Sri Pannalalji, Kindly accept my greetings. I beg to thank you for your letter of 11th May, 1974 and I have noted the contents. Your suggestion that "a few learned persons well versed in sanskrit and English be enrolled as members of the Society and then sent to foreign countries to preach"—is a very good suggestion. We are of course increasing the number of centers all over the world, but the difficulty is that as soon as foreigners accept the cult our men in India especially the rigid Brahmin society does not accept them as regular Vaisnavas. In some temples they are not even allowed to see the deity. The learned sanskrit scholars with English education must be well versed in the Vaisnava sastras, especially Bhagavad-gita and Srimad bhagavatam. In the Bhagavad-gita it is clearly said that anyone even from the lowest papayoni can be elevated to Krsna Consciousness and thus go back to home, back to Godhead. Similarly in the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is saidBy Krsna's mercy and the unlimited potency of Lord Visnu, Anyone can be purified as and Vaisnava and elevated to the Supreme position. Unless one learns this philosophy thoroughly he cannot become a preacher however learned and educated he may be. Regarding the article published in Back to Godhead 53 there was nothing wrong in that article rather it was the same statement as you said, "in a holy place sins are magnified four fold etc." But some interested persons who come within this category are making malicious propaganda taking advantage of the article. Anyway, we have published a Corrigendum for being published in Back to Godhead, the copy of which is enclosed herewith please find. Regarding religious sentiment, according to Srimad-Bhagavatam there is no question of religious sentiment but religion. Religion is described as codes given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.* Dharmah saksad bhagavata. Anything not given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not accepted by the Bhagavat school as religion. In the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, Dharmah projita kaitavo. This kaitavo religion means cheating religion. Sriman Sridhara Swami the original commentator of Srimad-Bhagavatam says religious systems up to the idea of liberation are cheating. So to preach Bhagavat religion sometimes we have to quote from the sastras what is not palatable to unscrupulous so called religious persons. But in preaching we cannot do without quoting the proper verses. Sometime they take it adversely and we become subject to unwanted criticism. Actually there is no religion in the world accept Bhagavat religion, namely surrendering to the lotus feet of the Lord. This means the bhakti marga is the only religion. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo . . . [SB 1.2.6]. Sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Our Krsna Consciousness movement is to accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna as the Supreme Being and act everything for His satisfaction only. We do not accept the principle of as many gods as one can imagine. God is one and He cannot be imagined; He is fact. Of course, sometimes we feel a little difficulty preaching this cult in India but we do not feel such difficulty outside of India. Although Indian people are by culture God conscious yet on account of vigorous preaching of the Mayavadi philosophy that god is impersonal and can be imagined in anyway by the fertile brain of a person as he likes, the whole Mayavadi philosophy is based on this imagination. We don't imagine God. Krsna is not imagination. He presented Himself 5,000 years ago as He is, and we are presenting Krsna as He is. We are presenting Krsna's philosophy and teaching as it is and what can we do more? But this process of presentation has become fortunate and we have become successful. I do not wish to change the process. I hope you will appreciate this process of preaching to please the facts as they are confirmed by all Vaisnava acaryas. We are publishing our books thoroughly on the basis of this philosophy and recently the report is that in highly educated circles of scholarly people in the universities they are taking interest very rapidly in our Krsna Consciousness movement. Here is an excerpt from a recent letter from our propaganda office: "Yale University and Temple U. have now ordered 60 volumes of your Divine Grace's Bhagavatam set, and Yale also ordered 12 volumes of your Divine Grace's Caitanya Caritamrta set . . . Professor McKinnon of St. Joseph College in Philadelphia is planning to have the college order the entire set of Bhagavatam. . ."I am going the day after tomorrow to Vrndaban, and from there I shall go to foreign countries, Rome, Geneva, etc. I am coming back before Vrindaban will celebrate Janmastami and I invite you cordially to our opening ceremony. When I go to the USA I shall try to send you Articles of our Society, but we have different memorandum in different countries, they are not one and the same. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- *Dharmam tu saksat bhagavata pranitamNa vai vidur rsaya napi devahNa siddhya mukhyah asura manusyahkutanu vidyadhana caranadayah ### Letter to Sri Raghava Charyulu **Date:** December 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Government of India Nuclear Physics Division Bombay Dear Sri Raghava Charyulu, Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 7th Nov, 1974 addressed to my Los Angeles headquarters. I was so much pleased with your interesting letter and I wish you will understand more and more through your learning of mathematics and physics about the intricacies of God's creation. It is the duty of a learned scholar to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead by his talent of knowledge, austerity, penance, etc. Why one should become great mathematician? What is the perfectional stage? That stage is when he describes the glories of the Lord by utilization of his talent of education. So I request you to observe more and more the cosmic manifestation; how it is created by the energy of the Supreme Lord. Actually by the evolutionary process when a living entity comes to the status of human life it is his duty to solve all the problems of life. The chief problems of life are collectively birth, death, old age and disease. Bhagavad-gita gives information how to solve these four problems. It is the essence of all Vedic knowledge presented by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. I am so glad to learn that you have taken so much interest in my book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is. I shall be staying in Bombay up till mid-Jan. and I wish to cordially invite you to see me at your convenience. Generally I can be seen between 5 and 7 p.m. Thank you once more for your interesting letter. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Sri S.P. Mandelia **Date:** November 24th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Industry House Bombay My Dear Sri S.P. Mandelia: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 16, 1974 and I thank you very much for your invitation to the wedding of your son. I shall be very pleased to attend if I will be in Bombay during that time. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sri Srinivasan **Date:** December 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Tiruchy Junction 1, India Dear Sri Srinivasan, Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19-12-74 and have noted the contents. Your life will become perfect if you can engage yourself fully in the devotional service of Sri Krsna. As stated in your letter now you are retired from your job and your daughters are getting married. This means that your grhastha life is almost finished. Therefore, according to Varnasrama Dharma you should spend the rest of your life simply engaged in there devotional service of the Lord. It has been the ancient custom that the man in the later years of his life, usually after the age of 50, prepares to leave home and takes the order of vanaprastha, taking pilgrimages to different holy lands. Then eventually he may take sannyasa, the renounced order of life, with no connection with family whatsoever. This is actually necessary as it is recommended by Sri Krsna Himself. So you have asked my advise and I think the best thing is for you to either go to our Vrndavana center or our Mayapur center or our Bombay center and live there for the rest of your life, chanting Hare Krsna, feeling the bliss of being fully engaged in the service of Sri Krsna. By association of devotees and eating Krsna prasadam, constantly engaged in the service of the Lord you will become purified from all unwanted things and it will be very easy for you to absorb yourself in thoughts of the Supreme Lord only. Then when it comes time to leave your body at the end of life you will go to Krsna. You will not have to take another birth in this material world. But you will go to the spiritual world, the Vaikuntha world. I was also grhastha but now I am sannyasi. As grhastha I was thinking it would be very difficult to leave my householder life and take up preaching full time. But actually it has become very easy by the grace of Sri Krsna. Now there are no difficulties. So I recommend that you also take up this life. Now that your household duties are more or less finished I think this is your best alternative. All great previous personalities such as Arjuna and the Pandava brothers, Maharaja Rsabhadeva, King Bharata, so many great kings and great saintly persons all finished the last part of their lives living as mendicants, sannyasis. Therefore following in the footsteps of the authorities we should understand the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna. If there are any difficulties concerning my request to you to leave your home then if you like you can write me for further advise and it will be my duty to serve you in this way. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Sridhara **Date:** August 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Bombay My dear Sridhara das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Aug. 14th, 1974 and have noted the contents. Yes you are correct that even though you do not consciously try to create misunderstanding still it seems to always come to you. Samsara davanalalidha loka tranaya karuna gana ganatvam praptasya kalyana gunarnavasyam vande guroh sri caranaravindam. This is the nature of the material world. I am glad to hear that now in Bombay finally you have good facilities for eating and sleeping, other-wise how will you live? It is also good that Mr. Candrai has donated a water filter. Regarding your question about eternal spiritual and temporary spiritual, the temporary spiritual is the impersonal brahma-jyotir. The impersonalists by severe austerities and penances arise to the Brahman effulgence. But it is only temporary. Eternally we cannot remain aloof. As living entities, we want pleasure in association; therefore we see in the material world where for sense gratification the karmis take so much responsibility. First of all they accept one wife. The more he enjoys the wife, the more he becomes implicated. So, this means that we must have pleasure even at the risk of gross implication. Therefore our Krishna Consciousness movement is that we want pleasure but without any implication. This is happening actually. All of our Krishna Consciousness students they are enjoying life without any implication. The impersonalist who prefers to merge with the Brahman effulgence has no shelter at the lotus feet of Krishna. Therefore such impersonalist even though raised to the Brahman platform come down again to the material world for pleasure's sake. In India you will find many sannyasis who merge into the Brahma effulgence, but without any pleasure there, they come down to the platform of material activities of opening schools and hospitals—Daridra Narayana, etc. Such men with poor fund of knowledge do not know that in the material world however you try to arrange things very right, it will always fail. But in the spiritual world the spiritual varieties displayed by Krishna along with his associates gives eternal pleasure. That is wanted. The Brahma effulgence, there the pleasure is temporary. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Sridhara Maharaja **Date:** July 7th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Navadvipa My Dear Revered Sridhara Maharaja: Kindly accept my humble dandabats at your lotus feet. I am very much thankful to you for your kind letter 17/6/74 and your kindly accepting my invitation during the opening ceremony of our Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindaban. Of course it is provisional if your health is in good order. I am so much thankful for your appreciating my preaching work in the Western countries. Fortunately these American boys and girls are so kind upon me that we are happily preaching this movement all over the world. This time my world touring covers many European cities like Rome, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt,; then I went to Australia to Melbourne, then to Chicago via Fiji and Hawaii. From Chicago I came to San Francisco and at present I am staying at Los Angeles. From here I shall go to Dallas, Texas. From there I shall go to West Virginia to our center New Vrindaban. From there I shall go to London. In London our Ratha yatra festival has been held up, and I think behind this obstruction there is some communal feeling. The local religious sect is not always happy on account of our movement being so fast growing. Especially thousands of young boys and girls are interested in this Krishna consciousness movement. So I think there is some plot to check up this fast growing movement. We are trying our best to counteract this opposing element but everything will rest upon Krishna. Regarding your coming to Vrindaban during our festival, I may assure you that I shall arrange for your comfortable journey in the following way. One way is to come to the Dum Dum airport from Navadvipa by car, and then fly to Delhi, and then to Vrindaban by car, this will take a few hours only to reach Vrindaban. Another second alternative is to come to Howrah Station by rail, then take the Delhi Expression First Class, and come directly to Mathura, and from Mathura directly to Vrindaban. So as soon as you decide, everything will be arranged for your good self as well as one accompanying servant. If you so desire some of our god brothers whom you select may come with you, and you may let know there names, and I shall issue invitational cards to them. Regarding preaching tour, it has become a little difficult for me because I have got the same heart trouble as you have, and still I am moving just to encourage these young boys who are working on my behalf. You will be glad to know that our books are selling very nicely. Last year we sold about four million books, and this year within six months we have completed last years quota, and therefore we can reasonably expect to double the sale of last year. The only difficulty is that we are expanded worldwide organization, and it requires very acute management to keep up the status quo. So by Krishna's grace everything is going on nicely, and I am reaching India by the 26th of July. I am yours ever sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sriji **Date:** November 7th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Mexico My Dear Sriji devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your Vyasa Puja offering dated August 22, 1974, received just now and I am very glad to receive it; better late than never. I thank you very much for your sentiments. Satisfaction of the spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his sincere disciple. We cannot manufacture our own process, therefore mental speculation does not at all help us in spiritual life. One simply has to surrender himself to his guru and everything will be revealed to him. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sriman A. D. Bhende **Date:** March 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay BombayDear Sriman A.D. Bhende; Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind note of 25-3-74.Actually my program is to stay here a month, and I arrived on March 20, so I think you will be able to recover from your eye operation and come and see me. I am lecturing every night at the temple between 7 to 9 P.M. and I am staying at my apartment on Hare Krishna Land and you can visit me there any day after 5:00 P.M.Thank you for thinking of me, and I hope you will soon be well enough to attend our discourses. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Srimate Lilavati Munshi **Date:** March 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bombay Dear Srimate Lilavati Munshi: Please accept my greetings. In continuation from my last letter to you, I wish to inform you that I have now arrived in Bombay a week ago. I would like to meet with you; therefore, please let me know where and when I may see you. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Srinathji Temple **Date:** October 11th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Srinathji Temple Nathadwara, Rajasthan My Dear Sir: Please accept my best wishes. I have received a report from my disciple Murti das Adhikari of the nice program that was held in Nathadwara. I am very thankful for your cooperation for spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world. Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Vallabhacarya were good friends, and Vallabhacarya many times visited Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We get this information from authorized books. So far I know Gopalaji is coming from Madhavendra Puri, the original acarya of Gaudiya Vaisnavas. His disciple was Isvara Puri, and his disciple was Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There is a great need for spreading Krishna Consciousness all over the world based on the Bhagavad gita As It Is. We have been successful in this attempt. I am very well known to Dixitji Goswami of Bombay. He likes very much my movement and my books. I am very much grateful for your contribution of so many books on Vallabh Sampradaya and also the framed pictures. They are being kept in Delhi, and when I return to Vrindaban via Delhi, I shall see them. We are contemplating to open our newly constructed temple in Vrindaban during the Appearance Day of Lord Ramacandra festival, and I wish very fervently that your Holiness may be present on that occasion. If you have got time to attend the ceremony, kindly let me know, and we shall make necessary arrangements for your reception. I hope this meets you in good health. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- Murtidas, ISKCON Delhi ### Letter to Sripada Radhika Bhava **Date:** January 17th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu Sripada Radhika Bhavac/o Imli Tala, VrindabanWith humble obeisances at the lotus feet of the devotee, Sripada Radhika Bhava, please accept my humble obeisances. At the moment I am in Hawaii Island. I am requesting you that after our Navadvipa parikrama about two hundred to three hundred European devotees will go to Vrndavana for parikrama. That's why Sriman Guru das is going to see you with this letter. Kindly introduce Guru das to the son of our panda (the guide for the pilgrim) whom you have recently given Rs. 100 on my behalf. If that panda goes with them and shows them Govardhana and other places then I will be very much grateful. Please accept my humble obeisances and convey my humble obeisances to Sripada Shar Maharaja. I will go to India soon. Yours, Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Sripati **Date:** October 28th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Montreal My Dear Sripati dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 6, 1974 with enclosed Deed of Sale. I am very glad that you have gotten this house. Now make it very nice for Krishna. It should be so attractive that people will want to go there and take advantage of this Krishna consciousness movement. Do not make it simply for comfortable living. Yes, if you distribute my books side by side than that is a very good arrangement, and your temple will be glorious in the city of Montreal. I will want to go there and visit you when I next come to the USA, so I will look forward to that. Since it is our own house, you can install large Deities. You can install big Deities like Chicago temple. Invite Kirtanananda Maharaja and Jagadisa Prabhu and have a nice ceremony. Upon your recommendation I am accepting for brahminical initiation Ghosa Thakura dasa, Priya Bandhu dasa, Priya Bhakta dasa, Bhadra Priya dasi, Sadhvi dasi, and Mohini dasi. Enclosed are the sanctififed threads. I also accept for first initiation the following devotees and their names are: Paul Campbell—Puskaraksa dasa; Christian Thomas—Krtakrta dasa; Leona Bolivar—Lalita devi dasi; Marie Cadeau—Medhya devi dasi. Now hold a fire sacrifice and the gayatri mantra should be listened from my tape recording through the right ear. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Srutadeva **Date:** October 24th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Washington, D.C My Dear Srutadeva das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your Sankirtana newsletters No. 23 & 24. These statistics are very nice. I like very much to receive the report of my book sales. I think it also gives encouragement to the devotees who distribute the books. Here at Mayapur my guru maharaj was printing one paper. It was selling for only a few paise. Sometimes whenever one brahmacari would go to Navadvipa and sell even a few copies, I would see my guru maharaj become very much pleased. Even if the brahmacari was not a very important member, my guru maharaj would become very, very pleased with him. He personally instructed me that books are more important than big temples. At Radha Kunda he told me that since constructing the big marble temple at Bhag Bazar, there have been so many difficulties. Our men our envious over who will live in which room. I think it would be better to take off all the marbles and sell them and print books. He told me this personally. So I am always emphasizing book distribution. It is the better kirtana. It is better than chanting. Of course chanting should not stop, but book distribution is the best kirtana. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Srutadeva **Date:** November 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Washington DC My Dear Srutadeva dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of the Sankirtana Newsletters Nos. 27-30, and I thank you very much for assisting me in this mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. These reports are very encouraging to me, and I think our men will also be encouraged to increase the book distribution. This I want. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Stephen Graham **Date:** October 14th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Dunblane Stirlingshire, Scotland Dear Stephen Graham: Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of your letter dated February 14, 1974 forwarded to me from my London center. I am very glad to note your interest in Krishna consciousness. So you should come and life with us at one of our centers and practice Krishna consciousness, following the devotional practices, and chanting Hare Krishna. We have our centers in London, or if you like you can come here to Mayapur where we have got a very nice temple and open land. Anyway, if you are sincere, Krishna will help you in all respects. It is said that according to one's sincere desire to have Krishna, Krishna leads one to a bona fide pure devotee of Krishna, and that pure devotee, he is qualified to lead one to Krishna. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Subala **Date:** October 15th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Lautoka, Fiji My Dear Subaladas Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 20, 1974 and I was very glad to read the contents. I thank you for following the order of your spiritual master. This is the motto of our spiritual life: yasya prasadad bhagavata prasadao. My other godbrothers they are concerned with litigations, politics, and diplomacy, so what is the pracara? As far as I am concerned I have the blessings of my guru maharaj. I do not need anything else. That is how I went to your country, just to try to carry out his order. By his blessings it has come out successful. So work diligently. It is a good place. Take more devotees from Australia, and organize it nicely. You have got a good field. You are an old, experienced worker, and I have full confidence in you. Krishna will bless you in this attempt. There I have seen the Indian people are very receptive. Next time I return to USA by that way this coming April I may go to Fiji, so please arrange. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Subala **Date:** October 24th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Lautoka, Fiji My Dear Subaladas Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 7, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am glad that you have arrived there on my order and have already begun the preaching. Krishna will supply everything to you, according to your capacity for preaching purely the message of Lord Caitanya. There I have found the Indians very cooperative for our movement, and you have had good experience in India preaching, so you are the right man to go there. You are sannyasi and the people will automatically respect you. So be ideal in behavior following strictly the rules and regulations. Now you are getting more men, so organize everything carefully, and inform me what is the progress. Brahmananda Swami says that because of his experience in Africa, you should be careful in registering the Society. Yes, it must be in the name of ISKCON, with my name as Founder-Acarya. Check to see that only Fiji citizens can register the Society there, and if necessary you can have others as the officers. I have already written you that I would like to come there when I return to USA in April, so please arrange for it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Subala **Date:** November 13th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Lautoka, Fiji My Dear Subaladas Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 23, 1974 and have noted the contents with much joy. You have done something tangible, and I am pleased that you are simply carrying out my order without any consideration of your self-interest. This is wanted for progress in spiritual life. So as you have pleased me, you should take it that you have pleased Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is for this I have given you sannyasa, to be prepared to go anywhere on my order and preach sincerely and purely without any other consideration. So I thank you very much in this regard. Cooperate with Mr. Punja, and chant Hare Krishna and distribute prasadam for the time being. This should be your program. When we get sincere devotees, trained up brahmanas, we shall install Deity there, not before then. It is good that you are getting men from Australia to assist you. Most probably I will be going to Hawaii in mid December, so if you like we can go to Fiji also. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Subala **Date:** November 25th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Lautoka, Fiji My Dear Subaladas Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 13, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding your registration, it should be clearly stated that no property can be sold or mortgaged without my express sanction. I am glad to note that you have got three brahmacaris there. Train them up nicely. Yes I am pleased by your attempt there, and Krishna will bless you undoubtedly. I am always for that purpose. Kindly ask me your problem and I shall try to give you advice. Krishna consciousness can only be increased by chanting, reading our books regularly, and strictly following the rules and regulations. Krishna is in His name, so He is always present with you. Never think that you are without the association of Krishna. Yes, guru and Krishna are always with you. So far your health is concerned, so far the body is there the question of health and unhealth will always be there. Sometimes there will be complaints, and sometimes not. In the Gita Krishna says these things come and go like the seasonal changes. So we have to tolerate. Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises trnad api sunicena/taror api sahisnuna. We must be tolerant like the tree and humble like the blade of grass. Such persons can chant the Hare Krishna mantra and preach. In Bombay we are undergoing so many tribulations. What can be done? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Suchitra **Date:** July 20th 1974 — **Location:** New Vrindaban > New Vrindaban My Dear Suchitra devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very nice letter and I thank you very much for your kind sentiments. I understand that you are the mother of the little boy Purnima das. He is very nice boy. He is Vaisnava. So you are very fortunate to have such a son. You can take it that Krsna has given you this son. So you must take care of him nicely and raise him in Krishna consciousness. All these boys must be taken care of very nicely. They are the future hope. When he is ready, he must be taught English and Sanskrit. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** January 1st 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Honolulu My dear Sudama Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of December 26, 1973. I am much encouraged by your description of your enthusiastic programs there. Others have spoken big words and yet deviated from our basic regulative principles and caused so much havoc. You have now gone there to institute the right thing. I am very much disturbed on hearing so many reports of things going against our principles there in Hawaii but now you have given me the transcendental bliss by your reports of devotees joyfully engaged in Sankirtana and prasadam distribution and reading our books regularly. Continue the routine work and encourage the others. You follow as you are doing and as you have begun things there so others will join you. Those who are not following the regulative principles may say and act whatever crazy thing they may do but we must not compromise with our principles. Those who are actually sincere about spiritual life will gradually see the purity of our movement as you are conducting it and they will become attracted to the real thing. Those who want to be cheated do not take the solution even when it is at hand but prefer to be cheated. This new service is a great new chance for you in Krsna Consciousness. You are my dear and beloved son and because you are carrying out my instructions there exactly as I have taught you and all my disciples, Krsna will be very pleased with you and all the devotees who are there. It is very good news that there are now 28 devotees and I am sure more will join you in the future. Yes, I am certainly coming to visit you in Hawaii. I plan to be there by the 14th or 15th of January. Bali Mardan has fixed up arrangements for my staying at a hotel for 4 days. If suitable, I can extend my stay there or make other arrangements once I am there. Always be assured that you are being protected by Krsna and that if you simply carry out my instructions against all odds you will certainly come out successful in the end. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** April 10th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Honolulu Dear Sudama Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of April 5, 1974 and I have carefully noted the contents. It is very reassuring to me to hear you are conscientiously engaged in carrying out the orders of your spiritual master in the specific assignment given to you in Hawaii. I fully approve of the decisions made by you as follows.1) Your decision to peacefully and legally take over possession of the forty acres of land. So proceed as quickly as possible with the lawyer so that the land is legally ISKCON's with yourself as trustee, and then we can take it and use it for Krsna.2) Yes, you must get the payments being made on the sale of the land donated to ISKCON by Siddhasvarupa transferred to our account and not to Gaurasundara. Gaurasundara has tried to make complete havoc of our affairs there but because I have faithful sons like yourself I think we shall be able to recover what he has tried to ruin. I am also glad you are consulting with BaliMardan in these affairs. The main thing is to go on with our regular program, distributing books, chanting Hare Krsna, holding festivals, hearing the philosophy, and then as you are reporting, more devotees will come. So I think it is going very successfully under your Krsna Conscious management. Please keep me informed as things progress. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg --- P.S. I wish to go to Honolulu again ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** May 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Honolulu My dear Sudama Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 25, 1974 and have noted the contents. It is good news that you have so sufficiently taken possession of the 40 acres of land there in our society name, under control of Gaurasundara. Now you require $5000.00 to cover expansion for cows, farming and unpaid debts of Gaurasundara. As for the devotee, Bhavatarini Devi, who is there, she has asked me what to do with her large inheritance of $41,000.00. I have asked her to deposit it in our Mayapur-Vrndavana Trust Fund which we have at the Liberty Bank in Honolulu. Now you can withdrawal $5000.00 required by you from this balance by the Mayapur-Vrndavana Trust at the Liberty Bank. The account number is 35785.* I am enclosing one withdrawal slip authorizing you to make the above withdrawal. Please keep consulting with Bali Mardan on financial matters. It is possible that I may stop at Honolulu sometime in July on my way to Rathayatra Festival, Australia. I will keep you informed. Acknowledge receipt. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgEnclosure: --- one withdrawal form $5000.00.*Please return this amt by $1000.00 per month at least ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** May 26th 1974 — **Location:** Rome > Honolulu My dear Sudama Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of letters from devotees of Hawaii ISKCON dated 4/23/74.Based on their declarations of sincerely following all the prescribed Vaisnava regulations for one year, and on your recommendation, I have accepted Jagat Prabhu das, Praghosa das, Kanva das and Nitai Gauracandra das for second initiation and I have enclosed sacred thread and gayatri. You were present in Hawaii when I was there and was particularly stressing that the presidents must be very careful on recommending gayatri initiation. After all, we are criticizing false cast brahmanas, if we ourselves are bogus brahmanas then our position is very bad. Now that we are more and more trying to implement the varnasrama divisions of society, we should not think that everyone has to become a brahmana. For example you are developing a farm there; so those who work the farm do not necessarily have to be a brahmana if they are not inclined to the brahminical standards. In this way, be careful about awarding the second initiation. In my upcoming touring programs I am going to attend Rathayatra in Australia from June 26 until about July 2, then I am going to the U.S. for Rathayatra. So it may be that I will break my journey in Hawaii and see you then. I shall inform you further. Please keep me informed of all developments with the land and devotees there. I will be in Paris from June 6, to June 15.Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** July 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Honolulu My Dear Sudama Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 18, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding the initiations, I have duly initiated them as follows: Matt Johnson—MahaksaGreg Price—DaksaRick Parish—RtuMike—ManoharaI also accept Sukhi devi for twice born brahmana initiation. So you can chant on the beads as it is required and hold a fire sacrifice and let the new brahmana hear the mantra through the right ear from the tape of my recording. More when we meet in Vrindaban. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** November 13th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hawaii My Dear Sudama das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 21, 1974 and have noted the contents. So we have already discussed about the new house, and I shall be looking forward to coming there sometime in mid December. So please arrange. In the meantime you go on managing things there very nicely, and you can refer matters to me. In this way Hawaii will be managed. Regarding your request for being GBC of Hawaii, yes formally you were GBC of Japan, so it can be considered at the next GBC meeting during Gaura Purnima time. Krsna has given you a very good field there, and I know there is wide scope for spreading our movement, and I like the place there. So do everything very carefully, always following our principles, and Krsna will give the necessary intelligence for pushing on this sublime movement very successfully. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hawaii My Dear Sudamadas Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 6, 1974 and I am glad to note that you are now moved into your new quarters. So I shall be coming in December. The tickets may be sent as follows: Five open dated tickets on Pan American BOMBAY/CALCUTTA/HONG KONG/TOKYO/ HONOLULU.The Ganesa puja may not be performed. No, it is not to be done. No need of it. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sudama **Date:** December 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Honolulu My Dear Sudama das Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 21, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. I had asked you not to open the restaurant. Do not open the restaurant. Stop this. It cannot be managed. Regarding the complaints against yourself you have mentioned, I do not find any complaints. But even if there should be such complaints, you must remain pure, and automatically the complaints will vanish. And, if there is any truth in the complaints, you should rectify and be purified. Regarding the other matters, these things you please consult amongst yourselves and do the needful. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sudama, Subala **Date:** September 5th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Honolulu My Dear Sudama and SubaladasGoswamis: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated July 29, 30, August 6, 28 and 29th and telegram dated August 6, 1974 and have noted the contents. This restaurant program will not work. Do not attempt. You have to organize that new house. The restaurant is not at all advisable at the present moment. Restaurant is a very difficult thing. Best idea is for Subala to go to Fiji and preach. That is the business of sannyasi, not opening restaurant. Restaurant is for grhastha. Preaching is first. Subala should go there and tactfully manage and get men from Australia. Mr. Punja has written that he is arranging the ticket and will give assistance. So do it nicely. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sudama Vipra **Date:** July 16th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Hong Kong My Dear Sudama Vipra Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. So I am here in Los Angeles, from tomorrow I am going to Dallas, from there to New Vrindaban, and then to London on my way to India. I am reaching India by July 26th to arrange for our grand festival in Vrindaban. I cordially invite you to attend our opening ceremony in Vrindaban because all our sannyasis will be present there. You also come there as a regular sannyasi and take part. That is my desire. Yes, it will be very nice if the Chinese boys come there to the Hong Kong center. That is our mission that the local boys take up interest in our movement. While I was in Melbourne Tusta Krsna along with other friends met me there and took part in the Ratha yatra festival. He was so kind to pay me $700 for Mayapur-Vrindaban scheme. Similarly Siddha Svarupa Maharaja met me in San Francisco. He took part in the Ratha yatra festival and paid me $501 for Mayapur-Vrindaban scheme. So let us cojointly work for the satisfaction of Krishna. So long I am living I wish you all be strictly under my guidance without any fratricidal disagreement. There is very good scope for preaching our cult all over the world, so let us do it cojointly. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sudama Vipra **Date:** August 10th 1974 — **Location:** Mathura > Hong Kong My Dear Sudama Vipra Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 25, 1974 and have noted the contents. My advice to you is that whatever instruction you have received from me, just try to follow to your best. You must keep your sannyasa stage, because you have taken it from me. Wherever you go, try to follow the regulations, and Krsna will bless you. If Krsna blesses you, your life will be successful. I do not want any personal service from you, but I want to keep you engaged in Krsna's service. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sukadeva 1 **Date:** January 9th 1974 — **Location:** Los AngelesDear Sukadeva ,Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 4, 1974 and I have examined the contents. It is good news for me that our Seattle, Washington temple is growing under your able guidance, and I am much obliged to you. It would not be possible for me to preach all over the world except for your cooperation, you and your Godbrothers and sisters who are maintaining centers all over the world. Your plan, therefore, to leave and take Vanaprastha is not advisable now. Better you remain there and go on with the preaching work, maintaining the devotees and approaching innocent persons. I think you have already a good preaching field there. After you are fifty years of age you can consider this move. Please consult with Karandhar who is GBC for your zone, in this matter. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg400 --- 18th Ave. E.Seattle, Washington 98112 ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** January 16th 1974 — **Location:** Hawaii > From: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Center: Hotel Ilikai P. O. Box 2668Honolulu Hawaii January 16, 1974 Dear Sukadeva, [illegible] I [illegible] to acknowledge [illegible] letter of January 3, 1974.I have accepted as my disciples those devotees you [illegible] recommended for initiation, and there spiritual names are as follows: [illegible] Please hold a fire yajna for these devotees and speak at [illegible] importance of keeping the promise made before Krsna and the spiritual master. If one cannot keep the promises made at initiation, then why come forward and ask for initiation? Krsna consciousness is the greatest science of God, and it brings one the success of human life, to go back to home, back to Godhead, so we require sincere, serious disciples to themselves become perfect and then distribute this message all over the world. You can send their beads for chanting to Kirtanananda Maharaj. I have also accepted upon your recommendation, Prabhanu das, Jagadisuani devi, dasi, Sura das, Vidhatri devi dasi, Ragamathani devi dasi and Nistula das for second initiation. I have enclosed [illegible] sacred threads and gayatri mantras. Have them hear the mantra by me through the right ear. You have inquired about taking varnaprasta. It is better to give your attention to your duties of managing that center and the devotees in your charge rather than think of giving up present duties. After you are 50 years old you can consider this move. I have head (heard) good reports of the Seattle center, so please remain enthusiastic and continue distributing my books, and chanting Hare Krsna. When you were in Los Angeles, I was pleased to hear your spirited leading of the kirtans. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg400 --- 18th Avenue East 98112Seattle, Washington ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** April 5th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Seattle Dear Sukadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter, undated, and I have noted the contents. Your write that our society should provide some medical facility, insurance or personnel to handle devotees who become chronically ill and thus ostracized from our society. Of course this kind of management of affairs is better handled by the GBC which I have created for this purpose, I cannot be expected to handle problems of this sort while at the same time writing my books. First of all, there is not question of a devotee becoming ostracized because he has become ill, nor do I think this is being widely practiced. Who has been ostracized? One of the symptoms of a devotee is that he is kind, so if our Godbrother becomes ill it is our duty to help him get the proper medicine and treatment so that he can recover. Recently our Giriraja became chronically ill in India and had to return to the U.S. for proper medical treatment. There, in our Los Angeles center, he was given his own room, and was able to recuperate comfortably, and now he has returned to his full duties in Bombay. Now Tamala Krsna Goswami has just had a successful hernia operation which was arranged free of charge at one of the most modern hospitals, and there is also a girl devotee undergoing operation there also. Tamala Krsna is now living in a room at our temple; the devotees see that he gets all facility, a hospital bed, proper prasadam, and personal care and visiting. So there is no question of ill treating of our own Godbrothers simply because they are sick, nor should you allow such neglect to go on. So long we have this material body there will be sickness, but we have to remain on the transcendental platform nevertheless. As far as a centralized medical plan for the whole society, no such plan or facility or insurance has seemed practical as yet. The best thing is to work it out locally, try to find the services of a free medical facility in Seattle, or some way that sick devotees can be cared for; that is your responsibility. I think further questions of this sort can be handled by the GBC. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** May 31st 1974 — **Location:** Geneva > Seattle My dear Sukadeva, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge your letter of April 16, 1974.I am glad to accept the devotees recommended by you for first initiation, and their new spiritual names are as follows:1. Jerry S. Macdougal—Jalakara dasa2. Michael Askvig—Manusuta dasa3. Allen Conticchio—Anagha dasa4. Deborah Conticchio—Dhanasri dasiNow take good care of these devotees so that they they remain always enthusiastically engaged in chanting, hearing, reading our books and following the regulative principles. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** August 9th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Seattle My Dear Sukadeva das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 2, 1974 and have noted the contents. You have mentioned that you want to write a book, but instead of writing books, you should read and explain my books to others. Reading and writing are the same, sravanam kirtanam vishnoh. You say that Krsna is sending you only one new devotee every six months, but He says in the Bhagavad gita that out of millions of men one only becomes a devotee. You have sent a list of six men for initiation, so why you are disappointed? Do not think of changing the place. Stick to that place and chant Hare Krishna. Krsna will send more men, rest assured. Devotees may come or not come, but you do your duty. The men you have recommended I accept as my disciples, and their name are as follows: John Philion—Jyotiraditya dasaShannon Philion—SaradaSherman Alston—Shasta dasaKaren Alston—Krsnapriya dasiEric Thomas—Aja dasaJohn Rowe—Jagadadija dasaI hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** September 25th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta > Seattle My Dear Sukadeva dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 12, 1974 and have noted the contents. Upon your recommendation I am accepting David Kiish as my disciple. His spiritual name is Damaghosa dasa. I am also accepting Abhinanda dasa Brahmacari for second initiation. Enclosed is his sanctified sacred thread and mantra sheet. Hold a fire sacrifice amongst the devotees and he can hear the mantra from my tape record through the right ear. For chanting on the beads, a sannyasi or GBC man can do it. Regarding your question that if I have ever said that the Society authorities must suffer for the devotees under their protection, no, I never said that. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** November 24th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Seattle My Dear Sukadeva das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated and have noted the contents. I am glad to learn that you are having nice college programs. Regarding there going to be depression and atomic war, who said that? This is all false propaganda. I never said this. Regarding free will and pre-destination, yes, materially everything is decided. Spiritually you can make advancement despite all material destiny. Materially you cannot change things as they are but spiritually it is possible. No, devotees are not allowed more than one wife. Devotees should have no wife if possible, but those who cannot maintain celibacy, they can marry one wife. At the present moment people are so unfortunate they cannot maintain even one wife. First of all at the present moment they are not married and remain mostly unmarried. So for such persons even one wife is a great burden. Under the circumstances how one can think of more than one wife? This is stupidity. Regarding your fifth question, that I shall think over. Regarding the sannyasi, therefore I have stopped sannyasa. No Vaisnava says that he is advanced. Please send me the name of the sannyasi, and I shall do the needful. Regarding the cooking, a non-brahmana may assist but he cannot cook. I Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Sukadeva **Date:** December 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Seattle My dear Sukadeva, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 4, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. A real Vaisnava, of course, will never say that he is superior to anyone. He will say that he is the lowest of the living entities. If he says that he is superior then actually he is not superior. You mentioned in your previous letter about this person being sexually agitated. If there is agitation in the mind then there is no fault. Actually this is only natural in this material world, unless the mind is fully purified in Krsna Consciousness. But by engaging in devotional service gradually the mind will become purified and the agitation will vanish. So if there is simply agitation in the mind there is no fault. But if there is indulgence in sex fault, then there is big fault. If one engages in illicit sex life he has broken the promise to the spiritual master and that is a great offense. In regards to your question about how the relationship between a sannyasi and the temple president should be, my hope is that you will all be able to cooperate together. The temple president is in charge and the sannyasi should not contradict the instructions. Although if he does see something wrong or if he sees a fault or defect he should bring it out directly to the temple president. And then work it out in a Krsna Conscious way. Not that he will try to over-ride the temple president's authority. I want that you all work together cooperatively. Please continue your programs there with great enthusiasm and try to strictly follow all of my regulations without any deviation. Keep yourself always fixed in Krsna's service. Don't let even a spit moment go by being engaged in the service of maya. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Surati Morarji **Date:** November 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bombay My Dear Madam Surati Morarji: Thank you very much for your kind reception. The present immediate problem is that we require the Police Commissioner's consent to construct a temple. The papers are already there in his possession, and it is understood that if some important Minister recommends immediately the matter will be solved. So you kindly give immediately a note to the Finance Minister Mr. Choudhury so that Giriraja will go tomorrow morning early to see the Minister. So kindly give your note immediately to Giriraja because the time is very short. We have to get it done before this Tuesday next. So give a strongly recommended note and oblige. Thanking you. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Svarupa Damodara **Date:** September 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Manipur My Dear Svarupa Damodara dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 3, 1974 and have noted the contents. So it is very good your preaching there in Manipur. This is your duty. By the grace of Krsna you have got a position in the education field, doctor of chemistry. When you will present our philosophy the educated circle will have to listen. They cannot neglect. So when ever you speak, speak scientifically about Krsna's existence. _ is the background of the cosmic manifestation. This is a fact. Unfortunately because people have become demoniac, Krsna is not realized, naham prakasha sarvasya. He is not exposed to the nondevotee. Our mission is to turn the people to become devotees so that they can see Krsna. As it is stated in the Isopanisad, niranmayena patrena satvasyapihitam mukham. So we have got a great mission. You are one of the strong pillars of the mission. So I have all confidence in you. Follow strictly all our rules and regulations. Be fully strong to push on this cult amongst the educated scientific circle. That you are getting many speaking invitations is a good indication. Take advantage of this. Krsna is asking you to do this job. The people there are naturally Krsna conscious, and when you present more scientifically, then will be convinced. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Swami Jara Kumar **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Munchi Dear Swami Jara Kumar, Please accept my best wishes, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 10th 1974. In this age the spiritual revolution was recommended by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He demonstrated that the Yuga Dharma for this age is the Sankirtana chanting of the holy names. If we want the degraded mass of people to be elevated, we must stop their sinful activity. To stop sinful activity one must purify the mind and the best process for purifying the mass mind is the chanting of the maha mantra Hare Krishna. This can be done in public where everyone has a chance to hear and be purified. We experience that people are becoming more friendly and helping our movement in America simply because we are performing this sankirtana yajna. I hope you can understand this. This movement is authorized and confirmed by great acaryas as well as the sastras and also by Lord Caitanya Himself Who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, non different from Krishna. I am presently here in India and will be staying here for some time. If you like you can visit our temple located in Munich at 8042 Oberschliessheim Dr. Hoffmeister Strasse 7, Munchen, West Germany. I hope this meets you well. Yours faithfully, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Swami Satpremananda Sarasvati **Date:** September 6th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Sweden Dear Swami Satpremananda Sarasvati: Please accept my best wishes. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July, 1974 and have noted the contents and thank you for it. So far as initiation is concerned, it is best if you live in one of our temples for some time and follow the rules and regulations and chant Hare Krsna on the beads 16 rounds. Then upon recommendation of the temple president, you can be initiated. Nowadays there are so many so-called spiritual masters, it becomes bewildering to us as to who can actually give spiritual knowledge. Therefore I have written volumes of books, authorized Vedic literature, of which you can take advantage in association with the devotees who are practicing this knowledge. Thus you will be able to learn the science of God. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Syamananda **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Dr. L.L. Das,Rhada Bazar,Navadvipa,West Bengal,District Nadia My Dear Syamananda Das, Please accept my well wishes. I am in due reciept of your letter dated October 7th 1974 and have noted the contents. It is best that you remain in your place and chant Hare Krishna. That is the best thing for you to do. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's position is to induce everyone to chant Hare Krishna and read Srimad-Bhagavatam. So you should do that. That will be the best service for you. In your old age you cannot work actively in propaganda work, therefore you should take advantage of the chanting and krsnakatha of Srimad-Bhagavatam. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/BS/vdd ### Letter to Syamasundara **Date:** April 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear Syamasundara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your telegram dated 13 April, 1974 reading as follows: "My most humble obeisances departed India today for America. All signs favorable for good success kindly inform c/o Brooklyn Temple how and where you wish funds repaid. Also how many and where to send your tickets for London plus expected arrival date. Suggest early May for English fragrant Springtime etc . . ."I have already sent you a telegraphic reply reading as follows: "Thank you for your telegram. All blessings of Krsna to you. Letter to follow." I am very much engladdened to receive you telegram and I am prepared to go to London by the 1st of May. My preaching program is to go to Hyderabad on 18 April and after a week to visit Tripati Balaji Temple. I think I can come back to Bombay by the 1st of May and then London as invited by you. You can arrange tickets for myself and my three secretaries, Paul Sherbow, Neil Delmonico and Stephen Guarino (Pradyumna, Nitai and Satsvarupa).Your program to meet her majesty and many responsible elites in London is very attractive to me. You have also proposed that George is preparing some wonderful surprises like my classes with Prince Charles etc. It will be a great opportunity to get cooperation of such big men for rejuvenation of the whole human society. Our men in the U.S.A. are already taking part in politics for the time being superficially we have registered our political party under the name, "In God We Trust" party. Similarly we can work in England and if the leading personalities cooperate we can have the whole Parliament as Krsna conscious men including her majesty the Queen. My next program is to reinstate the Vedic divisions in society as recommended in the Bhagavad-gita:catur varnyam maya srstam/ guna karma vibhagasahtasya kartaram api mam/ viddhy akartaram avyayam[Bg. 4.13]Without this division there cannot be any systematic peaceful running of human activities. There must be a very intelligent class to guide the whole population with brahminical qualifications. There must be a class of people to give protection to the people at the time of danger and ordinarily to maintain peace and order, the ksatriyas. There must be a section to produce food and grains sumptuously for feeding both animals and humans without discrimination. Especially cows must be protected by this class. The meat eater class may not be encouraged but if they are stubbornly attached they can eat hogs and dogs or goats or lambs under certain conditions only, but not by maintaining slaughterhouses. Then human society will be very peaceful and everyone engaged in employment without producing any idle brains which only are devils workshops. If England and America as well as France and Germany can understand this philosophy there will be great theistic revolution which will counteract the atheistic philosophy of Marxism. The present communistic philosophy must be countered by revival of the principles of catur varnyam. I understand that some philosophers in Russia are thinking of autocracy with good sense. I am also advocating this philosophy. I have explained many times, the Vedic system of autocracy or monarchy in good training of God consciousness can save the world though less political thieves have failed with Marxism but if in England people can come to Krsna Consciousness monarchy is superficially maintained, and if the next Krsna Consciousness autocrat it will be a great revolution in the political field. Such noble king is not an autocrat but is guided by Brahmins how to rule and see everyone employed in their respective duties as Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra and no one unemployed. There is no question of unwanted upheaval in society. All such educational instructions are there in the Gita. We simply have to follow them rigidly and the whole human society will be benefited in this life and the next. I know you have ideas and full faith in Krsna and in me and also you have an opportunity to associate with some important persons. So I think you should think over day and night all these proposals. Let us do something which will bring a peaceful revolution to the whole human society. I am sure I have good assistants like you and if you all cooperate with me I am sure of success. So far you are personally concerned, I repeat, if the business in which you have spent so much time is actually profitable, then stick to it and do the needful. Otherwise, I request you to reture and devote your own work in Krsna Conscious activities. I am glad you are now ready to return the money. You can deposit in Lloyds Bank, Southampton Row Branch number 30-97-81 in London in my account 8006334. (Saving Bank)For the time being I can stay in London utmost two weeks then I have to go to France and spend some time, say a month in Geneva, Rome, Sweden, Germany etc. Then if need be I shall come back to London or back to India. So you can think over this matter and do the needful. But if there is important program in London I may not come back to India immediately. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgc.c. --- to London ### Letter to Syamasundara **Date:** April 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Puri, India Dear Syamasundara Brahmacari, Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 3/4/74.I have not visited Jagannatha Puri because my men are not allowed to see the deity. When you arrange that we can visit the temple with my disciples then I can come immediately. Now I am in India up until May 15 then I am going to Europe to visit in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany etc., and then I will come back and remain until the end of August, and then go again to England, and the U.S. This is my program. I am still here until the 15th of May. I am going to Hyderabad on the 18th of April and then going to Tirupati. So from there I can go to Jagannatha Puri if arrangements can be made. It is very regrettable that these European and American boys who are purely Vaisnava and who follow all principles are not allowed by the rascals to enter the temple. As stated in the Padma Purāṇa: arcye visnau siladhir gurusu naramatir Vaisnave jati buddhir. I do not know what makes the management take this attitude. If you can remove this restriction you will do a great service to the Gaudiya Vaisnava community. According to sastra anyone who wears tilaka and sikha and kunti over and above the Vaisnava dress or Vaisnava sannyasi must be accepted especially while chanting Hare Krishna mantra with bead bags. Kindly convince them and induce them to allow these Vaisnavas to enter Jagannatha Temple. One friend in Orissa has offered to give us land in Bhuvaneśvara and I have a desire to construct a big Jagannatha temple there for our men if we are not allowed to enter Jagannatha temple in Puri. In Jagannatha temple people come from all the Indian states. Now when Jagannatha has expanded His jurisdiction over the whole world why the so called servants of Jagannatha should not allow them to see the Lord of the Universe? I don't know their philosophy. We shall see that your copies of Back to Godhead are dispatched to you. In conclusion, I shall come to Jagannatha Puri as you have kindly insisted, but only when they allow entry to all my disciples. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Syamasundara **Date:** June 8th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > New York My dear Syamasundara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 25, 1974 and I have carefully noted the extensive contents. You have taken the right decision. For the time being you suspend your GBC responsibilities and let Hansadutta manage as he is doing nicely. Hansadutta saw me recently, however, and was complaining that he is meeting with an opposing party there, although he is working as authorized GBC. I think if you ask all of them to cooperate with him while you stry to improve your business separately that will pacify things. I am hopeful and praying to Krsna that you become successful. The difficulty is you didn't know about the business and you believed everyone. I have a report even from Bal Krsna that you have been cheated. If you have sufficient experience and are careful then you can do the business. I think it requires great experience, otherwise you will be cheated. For the time being do your business and wherever you stay follow the regulative principles. Always chant and follow the regulative principles. Then you can see me in India during the installation ceremony in Vrindaban. I shall advise you further. There are so many things which happened in your absence which I do not wish to discuss now. But everything can be rectified if you follow my instructions. If you have actually sold jewels that is encouraging and we can discuss further about it when we meet next. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Syamasundara **Date:** July 15th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles My Dear Syamasundara Prabhu, Please accept my blessings. I do not know where your address is, still I am writing this letter to you for urgent business matter. The philosophy discourses we had years ago is now lying without any utility, so all your Godbrothers are very much anxious to publish it. I therefore request you to edit it immediately if you have time because you wanted to edit the whole thing yourself. Otherwise why not give it to some of your Godbrothers to do the task? They think this philosophy discourse will very much help our movement, so why it should be delayed unnecessarily? I hope you will do the needful without further delay and let me know the results. I hope this meets you in good health. Now I am in Los Angeles, and am going to Dallas. Surely I will see your daughter there. From there to New Vrndavana, then to London to see how things are going on. then I shall go to India for the opening ceremonies of our Krsna-Balarama Temple. As I requested you formerly, I hope you will be present in Vrndavana. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:rdb ### Letter to Syamasundara **Date:** September 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Hyderabad My Dear Syamasundara das: Please accept my blessings. Enclosed find a copy of a letter received from Swiss Credit Bank which will speak for itself, but it is not at all desirable. Similar many letters are being received in London. So I shall be glad to hear from you how you are going to adjust things. I do not know where you are now, but I am supposing you are in Hyderabad. I am forwarding this letter there. I hope you will reply this letter with a proper explanation. It is understood from London that you are a debtor there for many, many pounds, and you are also a debtor to the Society for so many pounds. But, we can wait for repayment, but do not lose your credit of the bank, and immediately write them a letter to keep your credit, as well as our prestige. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Syamasundara **Date:** November 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Sri Purusottama Math Chatak Parvat Puri My Dear Syamasundara das Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 10/10/74 and have noted the contents. Just now I have come to Bombay from our temple at Sri Dhama Mayapur. There is not negotiation going on that I may go to Bhuvaneśvara by the beginning of the month of December. At that time if you find it convenient you can come and see me. I will send you my address upon my arrival there. Regarding the magazine, if you become a subscriber, then I can get it for you. Free distribution of the "Back to Godhead" has stopped now because it it too expensive. The yearly subscription fee is Rs. 33/- only. I hope this meets you in good health. Faithfully yours, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Syndicate Bank **Date:** September 21st 1974 — **Location:** VrindabanLT _740921_A1Syndicate Bank, Brindaban BranchWe the undersigned, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- , Brahmananda Swami and Gurudas Adhikary, put the following documents in the Safty Deposit Locker No. 196 of Syindicate Bank, Vrindaban. The following is the list of documents:1. Letter from Saraf Trust dated February 6, 19742. Registered Deed Vrindaban plot of six pages along with plot one page.3. Letter from Gitabhai Saraf dated March 12, 1972.4. Fixed deposit receipt in favor of ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust for Rs. 1,60,000/- (rupees one lack sixty thousand.) Date of maturity 10-9-1979.5. Fixed deposit receipt in favor of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami for Rs. 11,000/- (rupees eleven thousand only). Date of maturity March 14, 1976.A.C. Bhaktivedanta SwamiBrahmananda SwamiGurudas Adhikary ### Letter to Taittiriya **Date:** March 3rd 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Brooklyn My dear Taittiriya, Please accept my blessings. I was expecting you also in Mayapur along with your husband, but I think you have done rightly by not coming here in your pregnancy. I thank you for your kindly sending me some sugar and one hundred dollar bill. Regarding grains, if rice and mung dahl is available from Formosa please try to secure as much as possible as donation or by purchase. India is now practically without food grains on account of, partially, nature's punishment, and partially, the hoarding plan of the rogues. We wish to distribute cooked food such as rice, dahl and capatis to as many hungry men as possible. I think both you and Bali Mardan along with the help of other friends can help our society in this connection. I am so pleased to learn our New York temple is going so nicely under your direction. I have studied your activities while in Honolulu and it gives me great pleasure to find out such s devotee qualified as you are in our society. I wish you will execute responsibilities in the future in the matter of our societies multi activities. In this connection I especially request you to try to open a center in China. So far I have information of the Chinese people and so far I have seen Chinese boys in Hong Kong, I am very hopeful for success in China. Similarly, my experience in Japan, when I was in Tokyo last time and the time before that, I found the Japanese boys and girls very nice and humble and submissive and respectful. Our Japanese devotee Basu is very useful in our missionary activity. Also I see this in you. I met several friends, the director of the Dai Nippon Printing Co., even the president of the Company and they were very kind to me. So I have a very good notion about the Japanese people. Now I have a very cultured aristocratic Japanese girl like you as my disciple and daughter-in-law. I hope in the future you will take a leading part in converting the Japanese and Chinese people towards Krsna Consciousness so that all of them may become happy like you. That is my only desire. Thanking you once more for your kind attention upon me. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Taittiriya **Date:** September 15th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Brooklyn My dear Taittiriya dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 11, 1974 and I have also received your contribution of $200. So from your letter it appears that the negotiations for the Park Avenue place are almost nearing completion. As soon as we get opportunity of opening Gaurange Hall, the whole society will worship you as the goddess of fortune. I can read your mind that you are developing devotional attributes very nicely. So do not fail to chant regularly 16 rounds and follow the devotional practices together with your husband. And, I have advise your husband to initiate you by tape record hearing for your second initiation. The mantra sheet is enclosed. So work together husband and wife diligently and pray to Krsna to help you. He is sitting in your heart and will surely give you good intelligence, as soon as He finds that you are engaged in His service with faith and love. Our Krsna is not a dead God as with other things. He is the supreme living being and very affectionate to His devotees. He is the responsive cooperator with our activities. So stick to His lotus feet as advised by Lord Caitanya. So our foundation is very nice on the platform of Krsna consciousness. I am sometimes thinking of your grandmother who is so kind to me like my mother and I am looking forward to our meeting together in Japan. It will be a great event when we meet together for a greater program in Japan. I have got very good respect for Japanese people. So far I have met the Japanese boys and girls in our temple there, they are so well behaved that I was astonished that they were more respectful than my direct disciples. I think there is great prospect to spread Krsna consciousness in Japan as well as China, because both China and Japan belong to oriental culture. A little endeavor tactfully in pushing Krsna consciousness in these two countries will be sure advancement. This is my conviction. Always think how to do it, and Krsna will give you intelligence. Let us perform this noble activity for the successful termination of this human form of life. Our project is to help the whole human society without any bodily conception of life. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Taittiriya **Date:** November 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Taittiriya devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. With further reference to your letter dated September 11, 1974, I beg to inquire whether you have taken possession of the house at 5th Avenue, and if not please let me know why it is delayed. Please send Bali Mardan with detailed information and necessary documents. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** January 11th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > Bombay Dear Tamala Krsna Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your GBC report dated January 3, 1974, and I thank you for reporting so completely on the situtation in India. I am very engladdened to hear you have secured one flat on our Hare Krsna Land. I am planning to arrive in India on or before February 1st. I am first going to New Delhi and then to Vrindaban in order to see how the construction of the temple is going on. Then I can go to Bombay, say about the second week in February, and together we can go to Mayapur in March. Now by your arrangement it will be very pleasing for me to stay in our own land at Juhu. In the past I was a guest while staying in Bombay but now we have our own place, and this is very engladdening to me. So I will come. We are four men and we will arrive in India by February 1st; we already have our tickets for around the world. Regarding your invitation to go to Dvaraka, yes I have already written you I have accepted, and I can go there. Hearing that you have collected Rs 81,000 in the month of December is very pleasing; you are a very good boy. Now Krsna is sending you new devotees to help in India. Yasomatinandana is a good boy, now utilize him properly. We are planning that he can open a center in Surat and he will attract many Gujaratis. He is sincere, learned, enthusiastic and qualified. Keep him nicely engaged. He has left $7,000 with me for starting a center in Surat. This money I have deposited in the Mayapur-Vrindaban Fund and when I shall start a center in Surat I will draw from that fund. For our arriving devotees they should all be coming on student visas for learning Sanskrit and Hindi languages and thus they can stay for 3 years. I have arranged this with the Consulate General in New York for the student visas for our men. I think Giriraja has written to you by now and he knows of this arrangement. Yes, Mohanananda is a very intelligent worker, now work cooperatively with him. The only fear I have is that you may fight. Please do not. That will ruin everything we have done. If there is any misunderstandings which arise, as they will, settle them up. You are all qualified American boys, now push on this glorious mission without letting it be hampered by personal differences. I am glad to hear you have a nice secretary there in Aditya; now take care of sending the BTG out regularly. There are some complaints in this department. So make Bombay the center for distributing BTG to life members. Yes I know very well that Gargamuni Maharaja is an expert collector and preacher. He is so expert in collecting therefore I call him Gargamoney. Regarding the BBT debt of Calcutta, you can wait for that. Not that the payment can be washed off, but we can wait. It is very good news that Gargamuni Maharaja is supporting both Calcutta and Mayapur. Now you cooperate and you yourself develop Bombay. In the meantime, Jayapataka and Bhavananda Maharajas want money for land. Karandhara has sent $4,000 so I have allowed them to purchase more land. I will pay and have arranged for that. You can advise Jayapataka and Bhavananda to purchase land whenever there is an opportunity and we shall arrange to pay. But it should not exceed Rs 5,000 per month. Within that limit they can purchase every month some piece of land. Yes, I agree the construction of a temple in Calcutta should wait until we finish our present projects which we have undertaken. We should not accept projects which will strain us. Bombay was a great strain, but Krsna has now given it to us. Henceforth we should not accept too much strain. It was a very bitter experience for me in Bombay. As Nair's party was determined not to let us have the land I was more determined to take it at any cost. Krsna has helped us, but we should not strain Krsna by such action. It is very important that the accounts be kept very clear so that we retain our income tax exemption. So continue to engage Manasvi and competent men so that everything is recorded very clearly. I understand that the mrdanga instruction to our devotees is a failure. So retain the teachers and have them engage our students, but if the students are so dull what can be done? Make as many mrdangas as possible. Supervise the workers so that they are working during their work hours. Yes, I fully agree that "What is the use of a temple if there is no prasadam distribution?" Prasadam distribution on a large scale must be resumed. Such a temple where there is no such distribution has no value, I agree. You say more land is needed for growing crops. So for the time being go ahead and purchase land and I will pay at the rate of Rs 5,000 per month. But do not acquire more land than we can use. Purchasing land and keeping it without use is not my policy. What is Gargamuni Maharaja doing with the money he is collecting for Mayapur? Regarding money being used for construction of gosala, pavilion etc., at Mayapur, I shall consider that after going there. I have arranged to transfer $100,000 which will be done by next Monday. But this is for the temple in Vrindaban. You cannot expect all the money to come from here. I will, however, be trying to carry as much money as possible. I have deposited $100,000 in the M-V Fund which is earning interest at Rs 5,500 per month. I want to utilize this for month after month for Vrindaban, and I do not want to break the original principle I have set up in this regard. I have arranged to send $100,000 for Vrindaban and another $100,000 has been deposited for the M-V Trust. When I come to India, we shall sit together, you, myself, Bhavananda Maharaja, Gargamuni Maharaja, Gurudasa, and do the needful. Yes, Bhavananda and Jayapataka Maharajas are the approved directors of Mayapur. They are selfless workers. Regarding food for the Mayapur Festival, in other temples they are going and collecting their food, and yet we have to purchase in Mayapur? If you depend always on collecting money from here only it will not be successful. If for buildings, festivals, etc. you have to collect from here, what is the use? The completion of Vrindaban temple by Janmastami is my whole hearted desire. Please do it by all means. The 3 lacs from Ashok Birla plus the $100,000 from here will I think be sufficient to finish the temple. It will please me very much to see it completed timely. Regarding the starting of a school in Vrindaban, yes engage Hari Goswami in a trial period there in Vrindaban. He should be engaged teaching Hindi and Sanskrit and if he does it nicely then he can transfer to Gurukula in Dallas. So for now he should also train up an assistant. Yes, we can start such classes in Bombay and Vrindaban for now. My wanting these subjects taught is a plea for getting the students visa. It is not for actually becoming great scholars. This was the impression I gave the Consulate General in N.Y. and he is helping. Dr. Kapoor has already refused to teach language. He is interested in teaching philosophy but we don't require it. We have everything required in the Bhagavatam. I want that the students can nicely recite the sanskrit verses and then they can read the full purport in English. So make arrangement for teaching Sanskrit and Hindi along those lines. B. R. Matta was pleased with this suggestion and said that with such a education program the Rama Krishna mission is taking huge amounts of money from the government. But before you try approaching government leaders first start an actual school program, then you can approach. Nor should these studies interfere with our program of simply presenting the Bhagavatam. Regarding the agitation to remove Tejas: No, Tejas must not be removed. Stop this. This is a clique. I don't want this. Why has Subala Maharaja gone there. He is an outsider, why are they interfering. Subala left India now why has he returned without permission? This removal of the president is very unconstitutional. The devotees who do not like to work with Tejas should immediately go away from the temple. But he may not. Those who feel against him can go away. Devotees come from the outside and interfere. No, they cannot change the president. Who sent Janmanjoya there? Why is he taking to politics? So you opinion is also mine, that Tejas is the most sincere worker of the lot. Please stop this. So I shall be pleased to see you all when I return to India in New Delhi by February 1st. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** January 28th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu New Delhi[To Tamala Krishna]VRINDABAN A TOUR NECESSARY LETTER FOLLOWS. ALLAHABAD MEETING OKAY. YOU SPEAK IF MASS, I SPEAK IF CLASS YOUR LETTER ___ ARRIVING NEW DELHI FEBRUARY 1ST—AC BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** August 13th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Ann Arbor, Michigan My dear Tamala Krishna Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated July 27th along with BBT loan proposal. Yes, regarding the buses, Bali Mardan must give you the loan. Regarding the society's leaders emphasizing business, you should understand what is the meaning of business. Business means to help the preaching. Preaching needs financial help, otherwise, we have no need for business. So far as I understand, our book business is sufficient to support or movement. I do not want the preaching to be at the expense of managing. Manager must also be a preacher otherwise who will want to follow him? Regarding your visiting centers and giving advice on management and preaching in many zones, yes, do it cooperatively. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- N.B. We have to plan our activities in such a way that we become stronger, not weaker. Physically I am becoming weak, so you boys become stronger. Also, at Mayapur they are wanting money and grains, so what are you doing about this? ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** October 23rd 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Brooklyn My Dear Tamala Krishna Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1974 and have noted the contents. Your letter was forwarded from Bombay, but the letter from Ramesvara was not enclosed. Regarding Sankirtana and book distribution, both should go on, but book distribution is more important. It is brihat kirtana. In Tokyo airport one boy had come up to me asking if he could speak with me. I said yes, and then he asked me "Swamiji, where do you get all that knowledge in your books?" Of course it is Krishna's knowledge, not mine. But the effect is there. So for wider kirtana book distribution is better. Book distribution is also kirtana. Regarding making hundreds of travelling parties, yes do that please as far as possible. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My Dear Tamala Krishna Goswami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 8, 1974 with enclosures. Regarding your letter dated October 8, 1974 it was received on October 22, 1974 and replied on October 23, 1974. If you have not yet received it, the copy can be mailed to you. Regarding the book distribution, apart from our books, the Communist Party has become popular simply by distributing their literatures. I know in Calcutta the Communist agents were inviting friends and reading their literature. The Russians never came to India, but by distributing literature in every language they get a pretty good number of followers. So if it is possible for ordinary third class mundane literature, why not should our transcendental literature create devotees all over the world. I see practically how our books and magazines are becoming popular in your country. So there is good potency for pushing on these literatures very vigorously. So organize this propaganda work very carefully and our movement will be very much successful by introducing literature from village to village. Lord Caitanya wants this, so carry out His order. Everyone says the Investigation Committee report is dispatched, but it is not in my hand.*It is very good that you have purchased a third bus and also that you are rotating the men. This is a good idea. Yes, train up the brahmanas very carefully. Many Indians and foreigners criticize us how we can create brahmanas. They are under the impression that brahmanas are born like horses and asses are born. According to Bhagavad-gita brahmanas are according to guna and karma. So the training of brahmanas should be so nice that people will be forced to accept them as brahmanas by guna, quality, and karma, action. So go on with your preaching solidly. Krishna will be pleased and Caitanya Mahaprabhu will be kind. He is already kind. You simply have to go village to village, and your life will be perfect. I hope this meets you n good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- * N.B. The report is received in hand today ### Letter to Tamala Krsna **Date:** December 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Brooklyn My dear Tamala Krishna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 12-11-74 and have noted the contents carefully. I was extremely pleased to hear your report from your travelling buses. It sounds as if your program is very very wonderful and I am very encouraged to hear that such a program is coming along so nicely. I am glad that you have understood the importance of my books, therefore I am stressing it so much. Let everyone take these books. If he simply reads one page then he is getting something substantial, a real eternal benefit. Or if he hands it over to his friend and he reads one page the same result is there. So continue these festivals constantly and make them all Krsna Conscious. Overflood the whole country by this preaching work. Let the whole United States become Vaisnavas, then everyone else in the whole world will follow. That is my real ambition. Therefore your program is very glorious. This is really preaching. Your intelligence is being properly utilized. In the beginning you took up the distribution of BTG's and you sold the most. Now you have taken up this van program and you will also be successful in the same way. This preaching spirit will make you recognized by Krsna. There is so much wonderful potential in USA for this type of program. So organize hundreds of such parties. This is fulfilling the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I am very glad to hear that not only you are maintaining such program but that you want to expand it. Yes, this is our philosophy; anandambuddhi vardhanam. It means to expand or to increase. Therefore I strongly encourage you to double your program by getting three more buses if you can do it. There is no difficulty. BBT will help. I have written Hansadutta one letter to give you the loan of $30,000. BBT means fifty percent is for printing books and fifty percent for construction of temples. So your buses are all moving temples. Don't worry. There will be no scarcity of money. Go on with your program and increase and increase more and more. In the end of your letter you mention that people are not very much eager to go to Temples but with your program you are bringing the temples to the people. Yes, this is a very important point. You have picked up this idea very nicely, of bringing the temples to the people. In this way you will give everyone the opportunity to step in the direction of back to Godhead, back to home. So you and Visnujana Maharaja and all of your nice brahmacaris continue strongly with great enthusiasm and determination to spread this Krsna Consciousness movement all over your country and Lord Caitanya will certainly be pleased with you. N.B. Regarding the Appearance Day Festival, yes do it. Your idea of booths for each center to display our books from all over the world is very important. Arrange for it. I am herewith sending one booklet from the Frankfurt Book Fair where our stall was exhibited. So in this way make different stalls so that people may see the work going on in all the different countries of the world. I received a letter from Hansadutta, and he is doing very nicely in Germany, and he has gone to Moscow. He has sent some nice photos, and they can be exhibited. I am sending the photos to Bhadraj, so he can take care to do it nicely. You also instruct him. I also want one new book of Caitanya Caritamrita be published for the Lord's Appearance Day. At least one volume must be ready for distribution of 400 pages, hardbound edition. You can also have photo exhibits of all the Ratha Yatras we hold in London, San Francisco, Melbourne, Toronto, and Philadelphia. I am herewith returning the map of the fencing where I have indicated that the gate near the residence house is not necessary and should be removed. ACBS ### Letter to Tamopaha **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Tamopaha Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated November 4th, 1974, and have noted the contents. I thank you very much for your sincere efforts to be Krishna Conscious and surely you will be blessed by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Rupa Goswami said a person somehow or other should become attached to Krishna, therefore if you are happily engaged in serving in Honolulu then you should continue your service there. If the foundation is strong in chanting and hearing then your Krishna Consciousness is assured. All these activities are pleasing to me that you are chanting, Worshiping the deity and writing, So please continue and increase your enthusiasm and then surely you will become successful in your Krishna Consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/vdd ### Letter to Tarun Kanti Ghosh Babu **Date:** March 11th 1974 — **Location:** New Delhi My Dear Tarun Kanti Babu, Please accept my blessings. Since I attended the meeting last night I am feeling a new enthusiasm, over how potential the Krishna Consciousness movement is, based on the teaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Your good family has very great interest in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and especially your grandfather Mahatma Sisir Kumar Ghose was a great friend of Bhaktivinode Thakura. So we are coming down in disciplic succession from Bhaktivinode Thakura and you are coming in family succession from Mahatma Sisir Kumar Ghose, so if we combine together in preaching the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it will be a great benediction to human society for mitigation of all kinds of problems of material existence. This morning you were quoting from Sri Siksastaka, "Ceto darpana marjanam bhava maha davagni nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]." This is the first installment of the benediction of Sri Krishna Sankirtana. "Param vijayate Sri Krsna Sankirtana." First of all, people are suffering on account of misunderstanding of self realization. The whole world is moving under the conception of the body in different names are caste, creed, nation, culture, like that. By chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra offenselessly, one immediately realizes himself as spirit soul which is described in the Vedas as aham brahmasmi. The Mayavadi philosophers cease to think further than this, but Bhagavad gita teaches us how to realize further advancement in spiritual life in devotional service. This is described in Bhagavad gita as follows:brahma bhutah prasannatmana socati na kanksatisamah sarvesu bhutesumad bhaktim labhate param[Bg. 18.54]So bhakti is such a nice think. Bhakti is transcendental. When one is situated in bhakti life his mission of life is successful. That is called "ceto darpana marjanam bhava maha davagni nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]." Everyone of us is suffering from the three fold miseries of material existence. Coming to the platform of bhakti, pure devotional service, one immediately ceases the blazing fire of material existence. That is the effect of Sri Krishna Sankirtana. The whole world is in chaotic condition without understanding this philosophy. In the material life there must be division of activities. That is accepted in the Bhagavad gita ascatur varnyam maya srstamguna karma vibhagasahtasya kartaram api mamviddhy akartaram avyayam[Bg. 4.13]So in the beginning if we start a varnasrama college to teach internationally students from all over the world to learn to be educated as brahmanas, as Ksatriyas, as vaisyas, as sudras, by quality and work, that will be the basic principle of Krishna Consciousness. It is the duty of the government to see that everyone is employed. This is only possible when varnasrama is established. At the present moment everyone is sudra. This is not very good for the human society. Everyone has a right to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead but there must be a process for keeping the society in order. The intelligent class of men or the brahmanas, the martial class of men, the ksatriyas, the productive class of men, the vaisyas, and the working class of men, the sudras, all have the right to chant the Hare Krishna Mantra and by such devotional service everyone will be elevated to the transcendental platform. But there must be a division according to quality and work. At the present moment, so many so-called educated persons are unemployed because the division of work is neglected. If this division of society is maintained no one will be unemployed and there will be no unrest in society. It is a very scientific way of keeping peace in the world. The brahmana class should be highly cultured in spiritual understanding; by their Vedic knowledge they will be able to educate the ksatriya and the vaisya in the value of life. It is the government's duty that according the division of human society everyone should be engaged in responsible duties. On the whole, at the present moment, there is not guidance from the authorized intellectual class. Therefore everyone is in darkness. The Krishna Consciousness movement is supposed to create actual intellectuals to guide society. The process if very simple. If you kindly consider on this point and the varnasrama college is started, I am sure the chaotic condition of human society will be completely settled up. You think over this matter and we shall talk more when we meet again. Or if you like to discuss seriously by correspondence with me I shall be very glad to reply to you point by point on the basis of sastra. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** January 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles > New Delhi My dear Tejiyas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 17, 1973. It is a source of great pleasure for me to hear that you are seriously undertaking publication of the abridged version of Bhagavad-gita As It Is in India. As you know my Guru Maharaja emphasized book publication above all other preaching activities because it is the big mrdanga which can be heard all over the world. Sometimes people are reluctant to contribute for our temples and for our religious activities but for education everyone will be ready to help. All over the world they are taking our books seriously and that is accepted by educational departments as extra study books at schools and colleges. In that way we will have a good recommendation for introducing our books to all kind of libraries. When I was alone in India I got this sanction and introduced my books in so many libraries and schools. There is one American Library of Congress which used to take 18 copies of my books as soon as they were published. If you try you will get also an order for 18 copies of all our books. This open order was published in my picture advertisement for the Bhagavatam. So please try in this way to get our books circulating among the educated classes. I wish you to go ahead full speed to print Bhagavad-gita there. Regarding purchase of a car, I am planning to send two cars to India—one Mercedes* and one Chevelle Impala, one car for Delhi and one for Bombay. So we plan to send these as a gift from the United States ISKCON to India. However we are awaiting the official form from the Maharastra government. You have indicated that this form is being procured by Tamala Krsna Goswami so please see that it is actually dispatched to us so that we can send you the cars. Regarding Vrndavana, I am glad you have already made a contribution. You can now make a full estimate of the ingredients needed for finishing the Vrndavana Temple by next Janmastami festival. The ingredients should be immediately acquired and whatever money is collected there in India that is all to the good and the balance I shall pay from here. I will come to India by the end of January so the money will be ready. You go ahead now and purchase the ingredients immediately. Do the needful in consultation with Guru das. In Bombay Mr. Birla has promised to help us. That money should be used for Vrndavana. The balance will come from the U.S.A. This way we must finish Vrndavana and open the Temple by Janmastami 1974 so please make arrangements like that. Hoping this meets you in the best of health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG --- *240 model ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** January 6th 1974 — **Location:** Los Angeles Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. As informed to you in my letter last, I beg to inform you further that I plan to send to India $100,000 for completing our Vrndavana scheme as soon as possible, before Janmastami ceremony. Out of this $100,000 our two sannyasis, Gurukrpa Maharaja and Yasodanandana Maharaja have collected $40,000 and the balance Karandhara will arrange to supply even by taking a loan from the bank. The idea is we must finish Vrndavana temple construction work on or before Janmastami ceremony. There is another three lacs promised by Asoka Birla of Bombay. So I am reaching India by the 1st week of February. But if you can open the account in the meantime then send me the reply of the bank to my letter enclosed herewith and the number of the account, then immediately money will be dispatched. My program is that I am going to Hawaii January 14th and from there I may visit some other place or may stay at Hawaii and finish all programs by the end of January. So I shall be ready by the first week of February in India. You may send your reply to me at Hawaii and a copy may be sent to Karandhara in Los Angeles. In case I do not receive your reply before my departure, I shall leave instructions with Karandhara for dispatching the money. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** January 19th 1974 — **Location:** Honolulu > New Delhi Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram reading as follows: "Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund current account open no. 230. Karandhara informed."I suppose the current account is open in the Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh branch as I informed you previously, although you have not mentioned the name of the bank. I am advising the Vrindaban branch of the Punjab National Bank to transfer immediately Rupees one lac, (Rupees 100,000), to the Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh branch, New Delhi, in favor of the Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund, account number 230. Please take care of this information and I am reaching New Delhi on February 3rd, by Pan American airlines, flight number 1, arriving at 4:30 A.M. Please do the needful and more when we meet. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgc.c. --- GurudasaN.B. Henceforward all collections for Vrindaban Temple Construction should be deposited in this newly opened fund account, number 230, Punjab National Bank, Moti Bagh, New Delhi ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** March 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. In response to your telephonic message, I beg to enclose herewith one check, #PHF 431993 for Rs 24,000.00 (Rupees twenty four thousand only) account paid in favor of Rajastani Moorti Kala Kendra, Jaipur, duly signed by me. Please acknowledge receipt and as far as I see the balance is now Rs 5,293.00 (Rupees five thousand, two hundred and ninety three only). Therefore let me know what is the further addition and also take another check book for which the requisition slip is also duly signed by me. Find it herewith and send me the checkbook duly stamped, by registered post. I am also sending this letter by registered post with enclosed check, and a copy by regular post. Do the needful. Also, I left my gold shirt buttons in Vrindaban, in the locked closet, to which Gurudasa has the key. Tamala Krsna Maharaja says Dhrstadyumna has been given charge to see that someone coming from Vrindaban to Bombay brings the gold buttons. Please see that this is being done. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** April 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of March 27th with check book and statement. In your footnote you have given discouraging information about the land in Kalkaji. The best thing is if you three, Saurabha, Gurudasa and yourself jointly inspect the land and see if you can utilize it for our purpose. We can use any land, but if you think it will be very, very difficult then what is the use of accepting it. You say I will have to go in person to the registrar office, but that is not a problem. In Hyderabad they gave me land and a Power of Attorney was given to Mahamsa Swami and he took delivery. So the three of you inspect and give a joint report. If it is useless then don't bother. For the time being we are paying Rs 2,500 monthly and no sufficient water and the neighborhood is opposing. In consideration of this, I wanted the Kalkaji land, which is developing equal to Connaught Circus. Kindly send me an exact site plan. The road and access plan may be hand-drawn, it doesn't matter, showing the length and breadth, the surrounding neighborhood etc. The point is, we are not going to make any big scheme anywhere else unless we have sufficient manpower. At present we have to import men from foreign countries and manage in that way. It is not possible to accept any big scheme in New Delhi. Therefore if we could get even small land just to keep our office, for the purpose I thought the land was nice. Visit, and if you all think even for that purpose it is no good then give up the idea; what can be done? But at Kalkaji there is a big Anandamayi asrama and surrounding colonies are inhabited by Bengalis. Anyway, you see and examine further and send me a report with site plan and we shall finally decide. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** April 5th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay My Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. With reference to your telephonic conversation with Bhagavata das, enclosed please find one check for Rs 23,000.00 (Rupees twenty three thousand only) in favor of the Punjab National Bank. I think you require this check for purchasing iron. But you have not mentioned for what purpose. Please acknowledge receipt and let me know for what purpose it has been used. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** April 7th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. This morning Sriman Gurudasa has come here. He says that he did not receive the check for Rs 24,000 which was issued in favor of Rajastani Moorti Kala Kendra. Under the circumstances he has already ordered you to go to the bank and stop payment on check number PHF 431993. Now it has been settled that the murti walla will supply deities at RS 19,005 final payment. But he wants a bank draft. Under the circumstances I am just issuing another check number PHF 431995 for Rs 19,005 (nineteen thousand and five rupees only) in favor of Punjab National Bank itself. So Gurudasa is returning to Delhi and both of you see in the bank if the former check PHF 431993 is positively stopped for payment. Then sign the present check and take a bank draft for payment in Jaipur and that will settle up the thing. I hope in the meantime you have received the check for Rs 23,000 (twenty three thousand rupees only) for steel, which acknowledge receipt. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgEnclosure: --- 1 check for Rs 19005/- ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** April 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your express letter of 4 April, 1974 along with the list of needed checks and I have examined the contents. As far as the checks needed for Vrindaban construction I am handing them along with this letter by hand delivery by Gurudasa who is here now. One check listed by you for Rs 23,000 to Punjab National Bank has already been send separately by express post. the other checks are all given to Gurudasa. Regarding the offers of land in different places, you should take them. First accept them, then we shall see how to manage them. We will have to import brahmanas to man them. If our men are trained, one man can run a place. One experienced man can sit down in a hut and simply talk about Krsna and organize the local people. This is how I started in the beginning at 26 Second Avenue in New York City. If there is genuine preaching they will be attracted, so long the preacher has no self motivation, but simply chants and preaches. Anyway, take the offered land. Now work in consultation with Gurudasa and Saurabha go ahead for the completion of our Krsna Balarama temple in Vrindaban. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** April 11th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. In reponse to your telephonic message I beg to enclose herewith check number PJH 365504 for Rs 17,600 in favor of the Punjab National Bank. Yes, _ also I sent eight checks totalling Rs 43,614.63 (Rupees forty three thousand, six hundred and fourteen and sixty three paise only) through Gurudasa Adhikari. Before that a check for Rs 24,000 and another for Rs 23,000 was also sent to you. The check for Rs 24,000 for Rajastani Moorti Kala Kendra is understood as not sent to Jaipur. Anyway, this check should be considered cancelled. Another check for Rs 19,005 has been issued and now today's check of Rs 17,600. So make a list of statements and see what is the balance is in the bank now. In my calculation the balance is now Rs 18,745.81. (Rupees eighteen thousand, seven hundred forty five and eighty one paise). Please confirm this. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** April 24th 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad > New Delhi Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters of April 11th, and April 22, 1974 and I have examined the contents. I am enclosing the list of checks requested by you by Registered post except I am not sending one check for Rs 3,000 for deity clothes to be paid to the tailor Lalita Prasad of Vrindaban. Deity paraphernalia is supposed to be collected separately by Gurudasa and Yamuna, not come out of the construction fund as you have requested. Besides, I have advised Gurudasa not to pay any tailor but to make clothes by our own devotees for the deities. According to my check book, after writing the last check no. 365504 for Rs 17,600.00 there is a balance of only Rs 18,745.81. But you are indicating a balance of Rs 100,313.64. Where is the difference? Send me a complete statement of account. You must have received a further Rs 50,000.00 by now from Bombay. Anyway, send me a statement of account so I can tally with my check book. Somehow I find a balance of only Rs 18,745.81.As for the needs for construction over the next three months, one lac has been transferred to Delhi to the Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund and one lac is deposited in the Trust Fund; that makes two lacs. Plus, Birla will contribute Rs 50,000 per month. I am advising the Vrindaban Punjab National Bank to transfer to Delhi Vrindaban Temple Construction Fund a total of three lacs, see the enclosed letter to the bank. So I think this will solve your immediate construction needs for some time. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgEnclosures: --- 7 checks & 2 = 9requisition slip(Enclosures handwritten) ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** April 25th 1974 — **Location:** Tirupati Dear Tejyas, Please accept my blessings. Just as I was leaving for Tirupati from Hyderabad I received your telegram reading as follows: "Require checks Rupees Twenty-one thousand seven hundred in favor Punjab National Bank for Steel and rupees Fifteen thousand to PNB Delhi for transfer to Vrindaban." This kind of requesting for checks by telegram without proper explanation is whimsical. Especially to ask for a check to PNB Delhi to transfer to Vrindaban. The construction fund should only be used for construction items like cement and iron and the party's name should be mentioned. Because you may need these checks urgently I am sending them enclosed here, but please send a letter giving a proper account. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** May 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi My dear Tejiyas, Please accept my blessings. I have received your letters of May 6 and May 7. You have requested 9 checks listed as follows: Rs. 193/60—Munna—SandRs. 2975/60—Munna—SandRs. 895/00—Allahbux—PaintingRs. 110/70—Munna—LaborRs. 8804/00—Allahbux—LaborRs. 25079/65—Yourselves—draft to Orissa Cement for hundi repaymentRs. 3500/00—Rockwin India engineering for consultationRs. 384/83—Munna—Daily wagesRs. 19858/70—Sri Girraj Cement Co.—white cement marble chipsThe checks are duly enclosed. Please continue to keep accurate accounting and send me the ledger sheets periodically. This will enable me to keep up-to-date records. As for how checks will be handled when I am out of the country, I will arrange for this so do not worry. Regarding moving our New Delhi center from its present location to a smaller place, I would advise you to first investigate the building which is now being rented by an old disciple of mine, who you have met, Acarya Prabhaker. He is located at C-121 Kirti Nagar in New Delhi. He is paying only Rs. 1200/ a month for this place. So go and see if it is suitable then we can investigate further. So my present plans are to leave for Europe from New Delhi. Therefore we will be able to personally discuss things in a couple of weeks. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:sdg ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** October 11th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > New Delhi My Dear Tejiyas das: Please accept my blessings. One letter from Harikesa has been received regarding getting maintenance money. Gurudasa has all of a sudden left. How will the Vrindaban expenditure be met? Where is the money Gurudasa collected for the Deities? Where is it kept and what is the account? Yamuna is very clever, and I know they have collected huge sum. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bsN.B. --- cc: Harikesa, Vrindaban Your letter to Brahmananda Swami dated Oct. 6, 1974 has just been received and I am glad to learn that things are improving. You just maintain Vrindaban, and your duty is finished. ACBSACBS/bs ### Letter to Tejiyas **Date:** November 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > New Delhi My Dear Tejiyas dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 8, 1974 with enclosure of emigration application. I shall keep it aside and inform you. Regarding your question about collecting, whatever money sent it is all the hand of Krishna. When Krishna gives, you get. Don't be disappointed if you do not get any collection after working. Always depend on Krishna, and everything will be all right. Fight and depend on the results on Krishna. yudhyasva vigata-jvarah, fight without being lethargic, Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita. Pushing on this movement, I had to face so many difficulties throughout since I left my home. I lived in Delhi at Sakur Basti because the rent was cheaper there, and I could not even take an apartment in Delhi. Then I was provided with a room at Chippi Walla, Radha Krishna temple, wherein I was able to keep my publication office. But, by Krishna's grace we are situated on a standard footing. Let us maintain this position cooperatively, and always pray to Krishna that we may not spoil what Krishna has already given us. Try to make improvement more and more. Regarding you question about keeping open the Deity doors in the early morning, yes you can do it. That is done in Vrindaban also. Regarding the collections, the books are increasing, so 50% should go to BBT and 50% to construction, but if needed, then that money can be spent in other ways. Now both CBI and State Bank approached us to open a branch bank, so this should now be done, so we can get the foreign exchange transfers. We will be receiving minimum Dollars 10,000.00 per month. Bali Mardan has promised this. Besides this we are getting interest from investments in USA, and also from other sources. So please arrange for either one to open their office on our premises. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Temple President **Date:** September 4th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Vancouver Dear Mr. President: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your invitation for August 17, 1974 to attend the installation of Radha Krishna in your temple. I was not able to attend due to being here in India for the opening of our temple here in Vrindaban. Anyway that program has been postponed until the construction work is completed. So I will be glad to know from you how you have installed Their Lordships in your temple. If possible send me photographs. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Temple Presidents **Date:** August 20th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > To: Presidents,New York, Dallas My Dear Mr. President: Please accept my blessings. This is to introduce you to Mr. & Mrs. Malkani of Bombay. They are coming to U.S.A. on August 27, 1974. Please receive them nicely and provide whatever accommodation they may require. Mr. Malkani is a cook and can teach how to prepare nice foodstuffs. He also knows of our idea for the Hare Krishna Restaurants. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bscc: --- ISKCON New York & Dallas ### Letter to The Management of Tirupati-Tirumala-Devasthanam **Date:** May 4th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay The ManagementTirupati-Tirumala-DevasthanamTirumala, Andra PradeshDear Sirs; I wish to express my heart-felt gratitude for the kind treatment given me and my disciples, members of the Hare Krishna Movement on our recent two day visit in Tirumala. The special excess we were given for darsana before Balaji is something we will always remember favorably, and for my American and European followers it was a rarely given privilege for which they are fully appreciative. We all left Tirupati feeling very much inspired by the darsana and by your excellent management, and we hope to return when we are able again. If there is any land available, either for purchase or donation, we would be interested in constructing a cottage for the exclusive use of members of our society when they make pilgrimage to Tirupati. Please advise us on the availability of such land. Again thanking you for your excellent hospitality, Yours faithfully, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Trai **Date:** May 27th 1974 — **Location:** Rome > Boston My dear Trai das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 25, 1974.Upon your recommendation I have accepted Neal Buyers as my initiated disciple and his new spiritual name is Niranjana dasa. Keep him carefully now. Krsna Consciousness means to create ideal men, so you must set the example in following the rules and chanting Hare Krsna mantra and see that others are doing it also. I am enclosing brahmana threads and gayatri mantra for Ādi Kesava das and Vivasvan das. You must be very careful before you award the brahminical thread by recommending a man to me. Now that we are dividing our society into the four orders as much as possible, it is not that every man has to be made a brahmana after a year. Especially if one cannot even get up early and go to mangala arati he cannot become a brahmana. So consider it carefully before you recommend further men to me. Sometime in the past Rupanuga Maharaja reported that you were not sending him regular reports so he could compile his GBC report to me; please cooperate with him in this so our huge organization can run smoothly in all its parts. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Trai **Date:** February 1st 1974 — **Location:** Hong Kong Dear Trai das, Please accept my blessings. In his last GBC report, Rupanuga Maharaja wrote that you are delinquent in sending him regular reports. The system of temple presidents sending twice monthly reports to the GBC was devised by me to facilitate my receiving news of all the centers through the GBC. You are free to write me directly when the occasion arises, but do not neglect to send regular reports to Rupanuga Maharaja. I hope everything is going well in the Boston temple, and I will be glad to see you at our Mayapur meeting. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Tribhuvanatha **Date:** December 15th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Tribhuvanatha, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Nov. 15, 74 and have noted the contents carefully. I was very happy to hear of your Hare Krishna Festival program and that the response has been so wonderful. Simply by giving people a chance to hear this wonderful Hare Krsna mantra and Krsna's philosophy as stated in Bhagavad-gita, so many people will become interested and actually they will join us. The poster you have enclosed is very nice and attractive. So continue this program of Hare Krsna Festivals all over the United Kingdom and in this way attract people to Krsna Consciousness. Work nicely under you GBC's direction and always keep yourself strictly following all of our principles without deviation. As far as taking Deities to the programs that sounds like a very nice plan. But if you want to take the Deities permanently on your party there may be difficulties because you have to maintain Them nicely. So you can discuss this with Hansadutta and see what he thinks. I am planning to come to England in April-May. So I will see you then. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tripurari **Date:** April 16th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Tripurari, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of April 7, 1974 with the astounding figures of book distribution in one day at the Chicago Airport. You are one of the successful pillars of our Krsna Consciousness movement. The more we distribute books and literature the more we become understood by the people about our mission, and the more they understand our mission they become advanced on the path of liberation from all problems of life. My thanks to all of you. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Tripurari **Date:** August 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Los Angeles My Dear Tripurari das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 25, 1974 and have noted the contents. I am glad to learn that in Washington D.C. temple you are engaged also in the Deity worship. It is good, and it is also a good idea of bringing the Deity of Gaura Nitai with you, as you have suggested in a chest. That is how Indian sadhus carry their Deity. They have one chest, and they use the chest on which to put the Deity by opening the doors of the chest. Your program of adding six more men to your party is approved by me. Yes, the advanced men can distribute the big books, and the new men the smaller ones. Your entire program is approved by me. By the grace of Krsna, you can teach others at the temples to distribute the books and perform Deity worship, and distributing prasadam. You do this work with my full sanction. Yes, I have seen the bus of Visnujana and Tamala Krsna Maharajas, and it is very nice. It is all right that Jayatirtha can arrange the Deity paraphernalia here in India. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tripurari **Date:** November 12th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Evanston, Illinois My Dear Tripurari dasa: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter post dated October 11, 1974 and have noted the contents. This book selling is the real preaching of our cult. Especially when you sell Caitanya Caritamrta and Srimad-Bhagavatam. They will understand what we mean by reading these books. So you organize freely. You are the incarnation of book distribution. So take the leadership and do the needful. Your bus program is a very nice idea, and I pray that by Krsna's grace you will have all success. Yes, you are correct that by distributing books, that income will be sufficient for all programs. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Trivikrama **Date:** March 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Taipei, Taiwan Dear Trivikrama Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. Herewith find one letter by Sri Ballavh das. The idea appears to be very nice, but I do not know whether you have discussed with him all the projects involved. He want to open an incense business in Japan. But if he opens it in Japan, what is the use of staying at Taiwan? The whole project is for improvement of the Taiwan center and how it can be done from Japan? It appears contradictory. But if by starting an incense business economically you become solvent to run on your center then it is good, and for this purpose I will advise Bali Mardan to give you the necessary capital on your approval. But I don't think it is practical to run a factory in Tokyo. If something is to be done seriously then let me know if you have a branch of the Chinese bank known as the Liberty Bank. This bank has a branch in Honolulu and we have kept some money there. So please let me know if a branch of the Liberty Bank is there. If you can establish a strong center in Taiwan as it is described in Sri Ballavh das' letter it will be a great idea. We have one branch in Moscow, if we get a branch in China, on the mainland, it will be a great achievement. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Trivikrama **Date:** May 1st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Taipei, Taiwan My dear Trivikrama Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 24, 1974, and I have noted the contents. It is very good news that you have found Taiwan such a favorable place, with the people and the government inclined towards religious men. Of course only Krsna Consciousness can provide the real understanding of religion beyond sectarian dogmas, and it is the only movement which can really bring benediction in the form of Love of God to everyone, without difficulty. So take it as Krsna's mercy that the atmosphere is somehow favorable and try to recruit Chinese boys to worship of Lord Krsna. If you require $5,000.00 capital for registration then we shall get it. You should write to Bali Mardan in this connection, but if it is necessary we must have the society registered there, then we must do it. I am very concerned, however, that in the midst of such good reports, the devotees there are quarreling, namely Sri Ballavh and Dvija Hari. Sri Ballavh was particularly given to your charge for his reformation, and he promised me in Calcutta that he would abide by your instructions, so this report is not very good. The following portion of this letter is therefore addressed to them. My Dear Sri Ballavh and Dvija Hari, You have dedicated your life for Krsna and therefore you should be ideal. We are introducing Krsna Consciousness movement for the harmony and good will of humanity. But if you yourselves are suffering from the very ills we are trying to remove, how can the people be influenced favorably? Stop this fighting, tolerate, chant and read our books. Use the intelligence and do some service for Krsna. My request to you is to not fight anymore. If we establish a nice center there I shall be glad to come and live with you for some time for preaching. Taiwan is near India. If you make proper arrangements I can go. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Trivikrama **Date:** June 9th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Taipei, Taiwan My dear Trivikrama Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of May 25th, received in Paris. You send both good and bad news. It is very good that Taiwan is proving a good place for Krsna Consciousness, in that you report many Chinese boys are coming and that you have been given a nice place to operate a center. Unfortunately three men have left you and now there is only you and Dvija hari. I can understand the boys who left you were not very steady. I have written to Yasodananda Swami who was thinking of travelling from Tokyo to come and join you there and also Gurukrpa Swami can come and go from Tokyo and try to help. I will soon be going to Australia (by June 25th) and when I see Madhudvisa Swami I shall ask him to consider if he can investigate your situation and send you brahmacaris as needed. We will also discuss Hong Kong, which as you mention, is also short of men. In the meantime, although you are only two you should carry on all your programs as far as possible. In the beginning I was only one and I started everything, so you have twice as many men. Trust in Krsna and simply dedicate your life to introducing the chanting of Hare Krsna and Krsna Consciousness philosophy to whomever you meet. Surely Lord Caitanya will be pleased by your effort there, and thus you will be eligible for his benediction which is to award love of Krsna. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Trivikrama **Date:** December 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hong Kong My Dear Trivikrama Swami: Please accept my blessings. I have seen your letter addressed to Brahmananda Swami dated November 29, 1974 and have noted the contents with care. I have sent you one cable on November 21 reading as follows: PLEASE STAY AT LEAST ONE MONTH DO NOT LEAVE IT SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED I AM GOING TO SEE THE SITUATION STOP BHURIJANA MAY ALSO BE PRESENT COPY MADHUDVISA—AC BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMISo you have not acknowledged that you have received this cable. So you stay there in Hong Kong and struggle for Krishna. I received today also the Chinese literature On the Way to Krsna. One Chinese literature is 1000 times better preaching than worshiping in the temple. But we to have a place and the worship must go on. Without having a sitting place, how will people come to see us and talk with us? So try to distribute and publish as much as possible. I am coming there very soon, so please arrange for it. If it can be continued why close it? The book you have published is real preaching. At least the Chinese will have some idea of Krishna. So I will come and see how things are going on. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Trivikrama **Date:** December 27th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hong Kong My dear Trivikrama Swami, Please accept my blessings. I have just received one telegram from Brahmananda Swami. He said that there is one Chinese initiated devotee there who is giving money and has already translated three chapters of Bhagavad-gita. This is very wonderful. You can immediately print those first three chapters of Bhagavad-gita into a book. And let him translate three more chapters and then print that into a book. Then three more etc., etc. In this way we can introduce our Bhagavad-gita As It Is in Hong Kong also. He also stated that the temple can be maintained by the Indians. That is good. Let them give some donation for Krsna's service and gradually they will also become Krsna Conscious. Brahmananda Swami seemed to think that you need more men there. His telegram reads, "Trivikrama alone, more men required urgently." I do not understand what he means by alone. What is this alone? Vaisnava is never alone. When I first came to the United States I was seemingly alone for one year. But I never felt alone. I always felt the presence of my Guru Maharaja. Myself, I was cooking, I was printing books, I was selling books, everything seemingly alone. But I did not lose my determination. Actually you should know this, you are never alone. So local men are coming daily. By good association, good preaching, nice prasadam etc., they can all become devotees. This is Lord Caitanya's mission to go to every town and village and create Vaisnava spirit in the local men. I have also sent one letter to Pancadravida Swami in Bangkok that his party can come there sometimes for big programs if you can arrange. Keep in touch with them. Their address is; Pancadravida Swami, c/o D.H. Carturchand, 238 Samteng St. Bangkok, Thailand. Please keep yourself strong and fixed up in Krsna's service by following all of our regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds daily, rising early, attending mangala arati and attending classes. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Tulsi **Date:** October 7th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Los Angeles My Dear Tulsi das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 29, 1974. I am glad to learn that all the programs are going on nicely. Especially the college programs. If they are helping with funds, then there is much scope. I am glad that you are taking the recommendation of new initiates very seriously, that they are writing essays. Yes, it is a serious matter. Not that let me take a spiritual master as a pet and I can do whatever I want. No, one must be prepared to follow the order of the spiritual master with life and soul. I accept the following for second initiation, and the sanctified threads are enclosed: 1. Hamsavatara. das Adhikari, 2. Sangita devi dasi, 3. Loka Saranga das Brahmacari, 4. Omkara dasi, 5. Manindra devi dasi, 6. Divya devi dasi. On your recommendation I accept the following for first initiation and their names are as follows:1. Roger Villalaban—Ranapriya,2. Chuck—Ksetrajna dasa,3. Roger Barbour—Raksana dasa,4. Bob—Bhava dasa,5. Glenn—Guruttama dasa,6. Louis—Lohitaksa dasa,7. Diane—Diksavati devi dasi,8. Michelle—Mahavegavati devi dasi,9. Dawn—Devamata devi dasi,10. Andrea—Rasajna devi dasi,11. Francie—Phalini devi dasi. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tulsi **Date:** October 12th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Honolulu My Dear Tulsi devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated and have noted the contents. I see that after living in Brazil for some time, you are now living in Hawaii with your son Karnapura. You are right in saying that although Krishna consciousness is a simple process, the application may sometimes be difficult. Now you are one of my older disciples, so please try to follow the devotional practices I have given you. This is the simple formula for victory in our struggle against maya. Recently I have visited our Gurukula school in Dallas, and I was quite satisfied how the boys and girls are being trained up to be ideal Vaisnavas. This training from an early age is important, and I also was fortunate to have received such training when I was a child. So why not send Karnapura to Dallas, and come yourself to stay here at Mayapur. Karnapura is an intelligent boy, so give him opportunity, and he will become a pure devotee in this lifetime; and in Mayapur you can devote yourself to chanting Hare Krishna and studying our Krishna consciousness philosophy. Here it is very peaceful living, an open place, very nice. In this way your mind will gradually become controlled. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tusta Krsna **Date:** July 16th 1974 — **Location:** Dallas > Melbourne My Dear Tusta Krishna Maharaja: Please accept my blessings. I am here in Dallas, and after two days I am going to New Vrindaban, and then to London on my way to India. I will reach India by July 26th to arrange for our grand festival in Vrindaban. I cordially invite you to attend our opening ceremony in Vrindaban because all of our sannyasis will be present there. You also come there as a regular sannyasi and take part. That is my desire. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Tusta Krsna **Date:** October 14th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Auckland, New Zealand Dear Tusta Krishna Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15, 1974 from Indonesia and have noted the contents. So for your preaching you should just request everyone you meet to chant Hare Krishna and to follow the four regulative principles. This will be your preaching principle wherever you go. On this basis travel and work, and Krishna will bless you. I have come here to Mayapur and my health has improved much but still I am suffering from high blood pressure. After all, it is old age. As far as possible Krishna will keep me to work, and when He desires I will go. So I wish all my disciples to push on this movement for the rehabilitation of suffering humanity. I see on the Indonesian stamps all Indian names: Hari Dharma, Laksmana, Sudarso. I do not know how they have become Mohammedan. They will take to Krishna consciousness, chanting of Hare Krishna because they already know Hari Dharma. When I was in Jakarta, several government officers came to see me, and they appreciated very much and were interested in Bhagavad-gita. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Uddhvareta **Date:** December 28th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Los Angeles My dear Uddhvareta, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents carefully. Regarding your proposal, I shall have to consult the GBC men first before making that decision. I have sent your proposal to Jayatirtha Prabhu and have asked him to make copies and send it to the GBC men and have them give opinions. Then send these opinions to myself. Then I will give my judgement, after hearing those opinions. I am always praying to Krsna that my disciples will not fall away from the path of Krsna Consciousness. In the Bhagavad-gita it says; bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. After many many births one finally comes unto Me. Sa mahatma sudurlabhah, such a great soul is very rare. My simple request is that you very strictly follow all of our regulative principles without any deviation whatsoever. And thus by example show others how to do the same. Engage in devotional service according to your propensity and the direction of my appointed authorities. Always pray to Krsna so that He may keep you engaged in His transcendental service. Avoid the service of Maya like poison. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Unknown **Date:** April 21st 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad HonoluluThis is to certify that Mr. Brent Selden, whose initiated name is Sudama das Goswami, is the president of our Honolulu Center, and therefore authorized to deal with all lands and property possessed by ISKCON.Sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdgc.c. --- Founder and Acarya, of International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Bali Mardan das Adhikari, c/o N.Y. ISKCON for necessary help ### Letter to Unknown **Date:** September 15th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Buenos AiresRECEIVED REPORTS OF DISTURBANCE BY HANUMAN HRDAYANANDA SWAMI MUST BE OBEYED HE IS MY REPRESENTATIVE DO NOT MAKE UNNECESSARY AGITATION CHANT HARE KRISHNA A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Unknown **Date:** November 17th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay DRAFT OF ADDITIONS TO MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION FOR CALCUTTA REGISTRATION5B There shall be a Governing Body Commission whose purpose is to act as the instrument for the execution of the will of the Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- Prabhupada. The GBC members will be initially selected by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. It will oversee all operations and management of ISKCON, as it receives direction from Srila Prabhupada, and Srila Prabhupada has the final approval in all matters.(m) To perform extensive research work in Sanskrit and Bengali literature of historic texts of Vaisnavism such as Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrta, Bhakti Rasamrtia Sinduh, etc. and to distribute this research work throughout educational institutions all over the world, regardless of race, color or creed, and religion.(n) To promote Vedic research work in the area of agriculture and animal husbandry, and alternative energy sources according to the historic Vedic texts for the sound and healthy development of body, mind, and soul; and to promote and distribute this research work.(c) To perform research work into the ancient Vedic educational schemes such as Gurukula as well the development of the individual through yoga and to promote and distribute this research work throughout India and the world. Seen: ACBS ### Letter to Upendra **Date:** August 30th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Laguna Beach My Dear Upendra das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 16, 1974 and have noted the contents. So you have returned, but now you must be very careful not to become rubbish. If you are keeping long hairs, they must be removed. All of my disciples must be clean shaved. Even anyone who stays with us must be clean shaved. They can visit, but anyone who wants to remain with us must be clean shaved. So for a time you may come here to India. Yes, I know your wife, she is of nice character and chaste girl. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Uttamasloka **Date:** March 18th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Dear Uttama Sloka, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted for first initiation the devotees recommended by you, and their spiritual names are as follows: Rick Richert—Revati-prana-natha dasaKevin Douglas—Kesisatru dasaBe sure to instruct them on the ten offenses and their obligation to chant at least 16 rounds daily, without fail. You may send their beads to Rupanuga Maharaja for chanting, and you may hold a fire yajna in the temple. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Uttamasloka **Date:** August 13th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Toronto My Dear Uttama Sloka, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 18th. Thank you for your report of the Toronto activities. Regarding the initiations, I think that everyone has been initiated in New Vrndavana recently. Regarding women worshiping the deity, in the Bhagavad-gita it is stated striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te'pi yanti param gatim. The idea is that everyone who is properly initiated and following the rules and regulations can worship the deity. I hope this letter meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Uttamasloka **Date:** October 24th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > Toronto My Dear Uttama Sloka das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 27, 1974 with enclosed plans for the new temple and it is all very nice. You are taking on a big responsibility, and I am very pleased. Toronto I think is a very important city in Canada, and it is fitting that you are contemplating to make a first class temple there. Do everything very carefully, in consultation with Jagadisa Prabhu, and do not spend anything unnecessarily. Whatever money we are getting it is from Krishna, so nothing should be misspent. You can make the interior of the temple in the same design as the Chicago temple with a balcony and the same type of Deity room. I liked the Chicago temple very much when I was there, so make it like that. We are making our temples very nice and gorgeous so that people will come and take Krishna consciousness. Just like here at Mayapur, because we have this very nice house, people are coming to visit and stay. They attend the aratis and listen to my lectures, and take prasadam. If we did not have this house, then they would not come. So this is the meaning of a temple. There must always be activity. Not that we have a nice house for comfortable living. We simply want to bring people back home, Back to Godhead. That is the purpose of our temples, of our books, and our festivals, and preachings. I will like to come and visit your temple the next time I return to USA. I think I can come to Toronto directly from London. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to V. S. R. Chakravarti **Date:** November 22nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > V.S.R. Chakravarti24, Kasturi Ranga Iyengar Road Madras-18 Dear Sri Chakravarti: The book compiled by your father V.R. Srisaila Chakravarti, namely "The Philosophy of Sri Ramanuja," given to me by you on 2/11/74 was very interesting to read. Of course we Gaudiya Vaisnava follow Srila Ramanuja's philosophy almost in the same manner. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives the identification of jiva soul as the eternal servant of Krishna and is situated as marginal potency of the Lord based on the philosophy of acintya-bheda bheda-tattva. This is almost similar to Visistadvaita vada. Vaisnava philosophy is now being pushed on all over the world under the Hare Krishna movement, and we feel Sripada Ramanuja a great support for the Vaisnava philosophical understanding. It is like a combination of nyaya sruti and smrti prasthans. The Bhagavad-gita supports the Vedanta Sutra brahma-sutra-padais caiva/ hetumadbhir viniscitaih [Bg. 13.5].To the jiva brahma identification is one part of acintya-bheda bheda-tattva. As spirit soul or identical brahma, or jiva brahma is identical with the Supreme Brahma or the param brahma. In this sense jiva soul is avheda or non-different from the param brahma. But on account of the param brahma being the supreme, the biggest, the identical brahma or jiva brahma being very minute, it is different from the param brahma. The summary is that the simultaneous one and different jiva brahma is simultaneously one with and different from the param brahma. Because it is appreciated simultaneously which is very difficult to comprehend by the common man, this philosophy is called acintya-bheda bheda tattva, inconceivable. This is supported by the Katho Upanisad 2/5/13 nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam/ eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. This is almost similar to the visista-dvaita vada. So far I am personally concerned, following the footsteps of my guru maharaj Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, we accept the principles of all the acaryas, although officially we belong to the Madhva sampradaya. Our sampradaya is known as the Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya. We find great shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Ramanujacarya because his lotus feet are the strongest fort to combat the mayavadi philosophy. I hope the book "The Philosophy of Sri Ramanjua" published by you will be a great help the the Vaisnavites all over the world. Thanking you once again. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs --- , ### Letter to Vajresvari **Date:** October 7th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > New Vrindaban My Dear Vajresvari devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 11, 1974 (sic.) I have noted in your letter that you want to serve me. I only want that all you my disciples always think of Krishna and never forget Him for a moment. In this way you can conquer Krishna. He becomes so attracted by pure devotion that He gives Himself to His devotee. And if you get Krishna, then what you want more? How to think of Krishna that I have given, following the devotional practices and chanting 16 rounds minimum. We have also established worship of the Deity in our temple so that all day long one will automatically think of Krishna, He is so kind. So now Kirtanananda Maharaja has recommended you for twice born initiation. Dvija: (dvi means twice and ja means birth. Now you finish your old birth with the fire of Krishna consciousness. Worship Krishna with love. That is the qualification for Deity worship. If you love Krishna, you will worship Him very nicely. So follow Kirtanananda Maharaja in this connection. He can guide you. Our New Vrindaban scheme is meant for peaceful living, simple life of chanting Hare Krishna and becoming purified. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Vamanadeva **Date:** December 8th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Breckenridge Hills, Missouri My Dear Vamanadeva das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 24, 1974 with enclosed photograph of tulsi devi. They are growing very nicely. Regarding monthly donations, you can send the money to either of the following accounts whichever is more convenient: 1. Bank of America, Bombay Branch, in favor of International Society for Krishna Consciousness Mayapur Vrindaban Fund A/c. 16026; 2. First National City Bank, Bombay Branch, in favor also International Society for Krishna Consciousness Mayapur Vrindaban Fund, A/c 17168.I hope this meets you and your family in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Vibhavati **Date:** September 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Lachine, CanadaMy dear Vibhavati devi; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 29th, 1974 and have noted the contents. So whether you are alone or with your husband you must continue to follow the regulative principles. Why there should be any misunderstanding between a Krishna conscious husband and wife. This is not good. Anyway wherever you get place, you should go and always remember Krishna and never forget Him for a moment. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb ### Letter to Vidarbha Kanya **Date:** August 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban Wilingford, PennsylvaniaMy dear Vidarbha Kanya dasiPlease accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 2nd 1974. In spiritual life it is very important to set a good example. The teachings of the param para are simply based on this principle of acarya. Sometimes the wife must bring the husband to Krishna Consciousness, so you yourself must chant 16 rounds and follow the devotional practices and reading my books. If it is difficult for you and you are falling down then it would be better for you to live in any one of our temples. All of you are coming from backgrounds of bad habits, so to make progress in Krishna Consciousness we must overlook the faults of others. You must be patient with your husband. Chanting offenselessly is the remedy for all of these diseases. Therefore I have established that the duty of the president of each temple and also the GBC is to see that each devotee is following the rules and regulations, chanting 16 rounds so that they may be spiritually fit. So if you are having difficulty then it would be better for you not to live apart but to associate with other devotees. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/ps ### Letter to Vijayadhvaja **Date:** July 17th 1974 — **Location:** Dallas > Lautoka, Fiji My Dear Vijayadhvaja dasa: Please accept my blessings. I may inform you that I am sending Subaladas Swami along with three other men Australia to assist you. So you should arrange for his ticket. I think you can have Mr. Punja arrange this ticket. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Vijayadvaja **Date:** December 29th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Lautoka My dear Vijayadvaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents carefully. My feeling is that Mr. Punja should be encouraged as much as possible. He can help our movement there a great deal in Fiji. I have written him one letter asking him to take charge of management, handling of money and the registration of the society. I request you to also remain there, work nicely with Mr. Punja and take charge of the preaching, kirtanas, prasadam and book distribution programs. This is actually the work for a brahmacari. If you absorb yourself in this work you will feel very blissful. Keep that center that Subala Maharaja has opened and try to invite as many guests as possible. Make sure to keep yourself and the boys with you in full Krsna Consciousness by following our regulative principles very strictly without fail; chanting 16 rounds, rising early, attending mangala arati, attending classes, eating only Krsna prasadam, etc. In this way the whole atmosphere will become Vaikuntha, no anxiety. Please try to do like this with all sincerity and Krsna will give you all facilities. Please keep me informed of the progress there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Vijoyadhvaja **Date:** September 5th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Lautoka, Fiji My Dear Vijoyadhvaja das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 30, 1974 and have noted the contents. What is the difficulty if Subala das Goswami comes there. Sudama Vipra Maharaja is already engaged in the Philippines. I have no objection to Sudama Vipra going there, but he is already engaged. Better you continue there and let Subala come and organize in Fiji and get men from Australia. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Vijoyadhvaja **Date:** September 19th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Lautoka, Fiji My Dear Vijoyadhvaja das: Please accept my blessings. One letter you have written has been brought to my attention that on the letterhead it is printed that Hare Krishna Movement is affiliated with Sri Sanatana Dharma Sabha. You have also given their ___ number. So I would like to know what steps you are taking to register our ISKCON Society there in Fiji. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Vipini **Date:** December 19th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Washington, D.C My dear Vipini das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 7, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. I have received your check for $200.00 and appreciate it very much. As far as your engagement is concerned I think it is most appropriate for you to consult with the GBC men. But one thing that everyone should understand is that I am not so interested in selling incense as I am in selling books. Distribution of my books is the most important thing. These other things such as selling incense, records etc., are not so much important as this. If Spiritual Sky is a separate concern then what is the need of our own men who are capable preachers to be engaged in that way. I want that my books be distributed in huge quantities, and thus we will be able to thoroughly convince the majority of the population especially there in America. But finances are also needed. Therefore for further direction you please contact the GBC men and they will give you consultation. The more one preaches the more he becomes expert and the more he is able to convince others. Concerning your marriage ceremony that is to be sanctioned by the temple president or GBC. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Visakha **Date:** September 14th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Brooklyn My dear Visakha devi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 3, 1974. The advertisement proposals for BTG are approved by me. Yes, you use your American ingenuity in this way to spread Krsna Consciousness. I also thank you very much for the photograph of the sannyasis taken in Mayapur. I have had it framed and it is hanging here in my room in Vrindaban, amongst the large paintings of the Disciplic succession. It is by their kindness, of the previous acaryas that they let us sit between them just like a father calls for a child to sit down next to him. Actually we are unqualified but by their kindness they let us sit next to them. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/sda ### Letter to Visala **Date:** September 8th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > Vrindaban My dear Visala das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Sept. 1st, as well as enclosed daksina of 111/- rupees. I thank you very much for this. My blessings are there for all of my sincere students. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb ### Letter to Visala **Date:** October 7th 1974 — **Location:** Mayapur > New Delhi My Dear Visala das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15, 1974 with enclosed donation of Rs. 211/- and I thank you very much for it. I think you can let me know how you are doing there in Delhi for collecting for our Vrindaban temple. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Visala **Date:** November 21st 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > India My Dear Visala Das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 28th October, 1974 and I am glad to learn that you and especially your wife are doing nicely in Krishna Consciousness. I understand that you are sitting in Vrindaban. Anyway wherever you may be please continue your preaching. I also may ask you to cooperate with the temple authorities there and always chant Hare Krishna on your beads and follow the rules and regulations as I have given. In India especially, we must be careful to remain above any criticism especially in Vrindaban. Our behavior there and everywhere must be first class example. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Visala, Visalini **Date:** May 9th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > India My Dear Visala and Visalaini, Please accept my blessings. Thank you very much for your gift of Rs 500/. So you are both exemplary Vaisnavas and I want that you, husband and wife, preach together. So you are part of our Vrindaban center. When you can return there spend your time always studying my books, chanting and preaching to the people of Vrindaban, with real understanding of this science of Krishna consciousness. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ### Letter to Vrindaban **Date:** April 13th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Calcutta Dear Vrindaban, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter in Bengal dated April 9, 1974 and beg to inform you we are still prepared to purchase the house at 72 Mahatma Gandhi Road, according to the terms already given. If the sellers are prepared to sell the house on the same terms we are ready. That is, Rs three lakhs, or Rs 60,000 for each of the five parties. There are five parties, your mother, your third maternal uncles and the other three parties who are resting in the house namely the family of your elder second and last maternal uncle. They can be paid immediately Rs 60,000 each and they must immediately vacate the house on receipt of the money. This has been already informed to you a year ago but you have done nothing in this connection. Still we are prepared to purchase the house on the above mentioned terms. But the sellers must agree and we are prepared to purchase. The purchase money cannot be given to anyone else; we shall directly deal with the sellers and pay them directly. So direct contact with the sellers is absolutely necessary. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Vrindaban **Date:** September 26th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta > Calcutta My Dear Vrindaban: Please accept my blessings. I am just now in Calcutta and have received your letter dated 16/9/74 addressed to Vrindaban. I am going to Mayapur tomorrow morning, so you can come there and see me to explain about your business situation. So far I know, you have not sold any books of ours. More when we meet. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Whom it may concern **Date:** April 21st 1974 — **Location:** Hyderabad To Whom It May Concern; This is to clarify and confirm the position of the Hawaii branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness of which I am the founder and spiritual master. The president of my Hawaii branch is Mr. Brent Selden. He is my authorized representative for any matters of land ownership or sale in the name of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Hawaii. I have been informed of unauthorized attempts to sell land there which is legally owned by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Unless transactions are authorized by my duly appointed representative, Mr. Brent Selden, they are illegal. Yours truly, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- Founder-Acarya, ISKCON ### Letter to Whom it may concern **Date:** July 18th 1974 — **Location:** Dallas To Whom It May Concern: This is to certify that I as the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, appoint the following persons as the authorized officers of our Nairobi branch, and only they can represent the Society and conduct the affairs in their respective capacities.1. Brahmananda Swami—GBC Zonal Secretary2. Bhagavata Das Brahmacari—President3. Paramesvari Das Brahmacari—Vice President4. Prabhanu das Brahmacari—TreasurerFor INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami --- , Founder-AcaryaBrahmananda Swami, GBC Zonal Secretary, Africa ### Letter to Whom it may concern **Date:** October 30th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta To Whom It May Concern: As the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, I authorize that the Society may incorporate under the Religious Societies Act of 1860 separately in West Bengal as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Calcutta) with myself as Founder-Acarya. I also appoint the following as the Trustees: Gargamuni Swami, Bhavananda Goswami, and Jayapataka Swami. Dated this 30th Day of October, 1974Signed: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Yadubara **Date:** December 25th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Coconut Grove, Florida My dear Yadubara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 16, 1974 and I have noted the contents carefully. I just saw your film last night and it was very nice. We can collect a lot of money with this film, for ISKCON Food-relief program. But not a single farthing of that money should be used for any other thing. It should all go to our ISKCON food-relief fund, nothing else. Otherwise we will definitely run into trouble, such as Hansadutta has in Germany. As far as your future films are concerned I do not think it is possible for the BBT to continue financing these films. BBT is strictly for construction of temples and printing books. My idea is that you can use the original capital that BBT gave you. You don't have to pay that back. You can somehow or another, by business tactics increase that capital and employ it again to make a new film. Then again use the capital from that film or use the profit from that film to create another film, etc. In this way you can make many films. But I do not think that BBT should finance it. These films are very nice and they can be effectively used for our preacing work. Generally people enjoy seeing any film. But when a film has something substantial such as our Krsna Conscious philosophy to offer then it becomes a real pleasure. Therefore our films should be the most popular films ever produced. Try to distribute this and your original first film as widely as possible and in this way the finances will be easily obtained for producing further films. Please continue chanting 16 rounds daily, rising early, attending mangal arati and classes, and following the 4 regulative principles. By following this simple formula as I have given from the very beginning your life will be completely free from anxiety. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps ### Letter to Yadunandana **Date:** June 25th 1974 — **Location:** Melbourne > Boulder My dear Yadunandana, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of May 26th and have noted the contents. Yes there are example of Krsna Conscious persons whose worship was solitary life, and the greatest example is Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura used to live only in a cave sometimes and would spend his whole time chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra. Similarly Gaura Keshore das Babaji the spiritual master of my guru maharaj would chant alone in a solitary place so as not to be bothered by anyone in his meditation on Krsna. But these great personalities are not to be imitated. If we artificially imitate, out of some negative feeling or out of desire for adoration as a saintly person, it will not be very beneficial. On the authority of Lord Caitanya and my spiritual master, I am requesting my disciples to always stay in the association of devotees and to propagate the sankirtana movement all over the world, so that others may get a chance also to become liberated from the material condition. Prahlada Maharaja prayed I am not satisfied to go back to the kingdom of God alone, but I must bring back with me all these poor fools who have no alternative ultimately than to surrender to You. This form of worship called gostananandi is more superior than the gostananandi or the holy man who lives alone in meditation of the Lord within the heart. This is the estimation of the scripture. It is very encouraging that you are feeling convinced of the genuineness of the Hare Krsna movement and the disciples as at New Vrindaban. Although you feel you must leave their company sometimes you should pray to Krsna to give you the intelligence to seek out the association of genuine Vaisnavas more and more. That will insure your own genuineness, if you always engage in chanting Hare Krishna, avoid the four sinful prohibitions, then it does not matter where you are, you can attain to perfect love of Krsna. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Yamal, Arjuna **Date:** July 16th 1974 — **Location:** Dallas > Los Angeles My Dear Yamal and Arjuna Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your note with the enclosed donation of $15 for my book fund. Thank you very much for this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Yasodanandana **Date:** June 9th 1974 — **Location:** Paris > Tokyo My dear Yasodananda Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I have heard very wonderful reports of the sankirtana being conducted by Gurukrpa Maharaja and yourself in Tokyo, and I am directing Jayatirtha to credit the Mayapur-Vrindaban fund for whatever amounts you deposit in Japan with Dai Nippon. In the meantime I have received a letter from Trivikrama Maharaja in Taiwan who reports that many Chinese boys are coming to the center and he is very encouraged. However, he had three unsteady men in his party such as Sri Ballavha, Lalita Krsna etc., and they have left him, so that there are only two of them in Taiwan. I have heard from Sudama Maharaja that Yasodananda Maharaja was planning to go to Hawaii, but I think it would be more useful for the time being if you joined with Trivikrama and helped him in Taiwan. I am often thinking if we can get a center in China, and Taiwan is a jumping off place for our entering China. Also, although the program in Tokyo is most important, Gurukrpa Maharaja may also come and go sometimes to Taiwan and help and encourage them there. I do not think it is so far away from Japan. Again, thank you very much for conducting sankirtana so vigorously that you are outdistancing all other parties. Your special affection for my Indian project is very pleasing to me and shows you understand my intentions very well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg ### Letter to Yasomatinandana **Date:** December 2nd 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Hyderabad My Dear Yasomatinandana das: Please accept my blessings. I have received one letter from Sucarudev das, a devotee there who has some complaint, that he is left in charge when Mahamsa Swami goes out on tour, and no one cooperates with him, just sleeping and eating. So please enquire and let me know actually what is the situation there, and how things are going on. Also let me know what is the program for Hindi publishing there. Here in Bombay they are going on daily Sankirtana in Fort and selling 100 BTG's (English) daily, and they get requests for Hindi literature. I have also received a letter from a diseased man, but what can I do? Please read the letter enclosed. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Yudhisthira **Date:** August 6th 1974 — **Location:** Vrindaban > New Vrindaban My Dear Yudhisthira das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 24, 1974 and have noted the contents. I thank you very much for your sentiments, and I was pleased to visit your house. I liked New Vrindaban very much how everything is going on. Now just develop it to bigger scale. Help Kirtanananda Maharaja to do this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ādi-kesava **Date:** July 26th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Boston My Dear Ādi Kesava das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19/7/74. Regarding the boys for initiation, I have initiated them a follows: Andrew Lerra—Agrani (the foremost)James Newcomb—Naksatranemi (surrounded by stars—Lord Visnu)Richard Corbeil—SatangatiSo you can have their beads chanted upon by Kirtanananda Swami. My only request is that you see that our men strictly are carrying out my instructions regarding following the rules and regulations. I thank you for your invitation for your new temple opening. I am now in India and I shall write to you about my future itinerary. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ādi-kesava **Date:** September 24th 1974 — **Location:** Calcutta > Boston My Dear Ādi Kesava Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 2, 1974 with enclosed letters from the initiates. Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples.1. Ted Prior—Tatpara dasa2. Louis Soules—Ladhvamsi dasaAlso, I am accepting the second initiation of Bhudhara dasa, Prthusrava dasa, and Narindra dasa. Enclosed are the sanctified threads and the mantra sheet. The beads may be chanted upon by a sannyasi or GBC man. You should hold a fire sacrifice amongst the devotees, and they can hear the mantra through the right ear. The mantra should be recited three times daily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs ### Letter to Ādi-purusa **Date:** April 11th 1974 — **Location:** Bombay > Gorakhpur Dear Adipurusa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of you letter dated April 6, 1974.Regarding the books in question, yes, as you suggest, you may send them to me. They may be dispatched to me here at Hare Krsna Land, Bombay. I will direct our management of Life membership here to send you publications due you as life member. I hope you are reading what books of mine you have and chanting Hare Krishna Mantra; these things are our real business in the human form of life, so that we can quit all material suffering and go back to our original home, back to Godhead. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/sdg