a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1975 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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21 June 2008 Saturday, 21 June, 1975 Los Angeles My Dear Purnima das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 19, 1975, and I thank you very much for it. I am glad that you are very serious about Krishna consciousness even at such a young age. This is the instruction of Prahlada Maharaja who was a young boy like yourself. He said that now is the time to become Krishna conscious no matter what is one's age. We may die at any moment. There is no guarantee. So you please stick to this line you have taken and chant Hare Krishna every day without fail. You will be very happy, and I shall pray to Krishna for your advancement. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: death, New Vrindavan letters | 09:55 |21 June, 1975 Los Angeles My Dear Gurukrpa Swami: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 9, 1975 and have noted the contents carefully. I can understand that you are feeling something regarding your collecting program. These things can be decided by the GBC. One thing is that I may take up one project of constructing a Varna Ashrama College and Temple in Kuruksetra in India. I am presently negotiating for this, and if we get the opportunity, I shall spend the money here first. So in Japan you go on collecting, and I shall tell you how to spend. Anyway you don't feel any botheration. Dai Nippon has agreed to take money in exchange of books. Whatever money you pay, you print books and send to India. You can also send to Australia or to USA if they want. You begin with Srimad-Bhagavatam and the small edition of Bhagavad-gita. Our work must go on. The world is suffering on account of not taking up Krishna consciousness, so we have to try to save them. You kindly help me to do this. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: collecting program, publishing, Tokyo letters | 09:54 |21 June, 1975 Los Angeles My Dear Gopala Krishna das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 14, 1975 with enclosure hand delivered by Palika dasi, and I have noted the contents carefully. Yes, I have received your letter dated May 26, 1975. So it is good that you are meeting with the Government officials and they are taking interest. Yes, you arrange for a big festival in Bombay and get them to come. That will be very nice, but not exactly on Gaura Purnima as we will be in Mayapur, but afterwards. Why are speaking of a loan for Bombay construction when you have already taken two lakhs from the Book Fund? What do you mean that you want another loan? Why are you again asking for a loan? Why is Giriraja not writing? Regarding the Vrindaban Gurukula land, yes, I shall arrange to pay. Don't worry. I have already told Pranava. The money will be paid. This I have already said. Complete the negotiations and the money shall come. All instructions have already been given. Regarding the maintenance for Vrindaban, that must come from Tejiyas in Delhi. Whatever he is sending, that you must use. If he can send only Rs.. 7,000/--, then you should maintain with that Rs. 7,000/- per month is no joke. Are other temples there spending like that, , Rs. 18,000/-- per month? I do not like that Madras should pay for Vrindaban maintenance. Neither should Aksayananda Swami go out of Vrindaban on a collecting party. His business is to remain there and organize the temple program. I have heard reports that Dhananjaya is not following the schedule. So Aksayananda Swami must be there if Dhananjaya is not so expert. Also, the guest house should be organized to make income. Why have we invested so much money in the guest house? Please organize this. Regarding your making Yasomatinandana das BBT administrator, I have no objection, but I think he can be better engaged in printing work. Actually he has no business experience. Of course he may be trained up, but in the meantime he should not be in charge. I have given him charge of the publishing work, but what is he doing? Better not to change. Yes, the accounts must be kept very carefully. The book inventory must be recorded, and what is collected and what is spent must be there. One thing I want is for the book sales to be organized there in India. There are many English books selling there on the market, and there are many English publishing houses. So why it cannot be organized? Even if our own men cannot do the selling, we can hire some agents to do it. Our books are very much appreciated in India, and the people will purchase. Even the clerks they can purchase the small books. We have so many small books. This kind of preaching work is very important. The people must be given some impression of our philosophy. Regarding the food distribution program, you spend whatever is collected. Why are you asking me? Regarding Vrindaban construction, you may have all of the creditors submit their final bills and together with the accountant you check them vigilantly and make a full settlement. Then conveniently we shall see how the further work will be done. Now I am very much doubtful. I think there has been some cheating. It is my habit to see that money is not being squandered. If money is spent unnecessarily, I feel very badly. You are collecting with great effort, and I do not like to see it spoiled. I am thinking that Guru-krpa's collections may be used for book publishing only. He can print books in Japan and send there to you for selling in India. From these sales, you can spend 50% on construction and 50% on Hindi publishing. And anyone who can manage such an organization, he can manage the BBT. But one must do it. It is simply a matter of organization. We can send you unlimited number of books. You simply have to apply your brain how to sell them. Then you will have plenty of money. This my mission you know started when I came alone to your country by selling my books, and still whatever money we are getting it is coming from the book selling. So it is already proven how important the book-selling is. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: BBT, Bombay, book distribution, publishing, Vrindavan letters | 09:53 |19 June 2008 Thursday, 19 June, 1975 Honolulu W.D. Currier, M.D., INC. Pasadena, California My dear Dr. Currier, Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your kind letter dated June 16, 1975 and have noted the contents. If you are willing to offer your medical services to my students, when it is required, that will be very nice. It is important to keep the body fit and healthy so that we will not meet the obstacle of ill health while serving Krishna. Ill health may hinder one's service, so, we want to avoid it as much as possible. Enclosed herein is the question sheet sent by you, duly filled out by me for your information and signed by me. Thank you. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: health, Los Angeles letters | 02:53 |19 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Gopijanavallabha dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 16, 1975 and have noted the contents. I accept the devotees that you have recommended for 1st initiation. Their names are as follows: Nick--Nandaki, David--Durjaya, Frank--Pharnesvara dasa, Jimmy--Jita-manyu, Joe--Jara-sangha, Kurt--Kesiha, Luis--Lokasvami, Wilfred--Vidisa, Linda--Laksmirniranjana, Judy--Jaganmata, Merylee--Murti-vandya. Their beads may be chanted on by Kirtanananda Swami. I have also accepted Bhaktivinode, Pankajanabha, Preraka, Vipramukhya, Agnideva, Urmila for 2nd initiation. Their threads and mantra sheet enclosed herein. Let them hear the tape of myself chanting the Gayatri mantra through their right ear. Please train our boys and girls to follow the principles very strictly. They must chant 16 rounds daily, follow the 4 principles, read our books very carefully, and always be engaged in the transcendental loving service of Lord Krishna. These things will give them real spiritual strength and their lives will be perfected. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: initiation, New York letters | 02:52 |19 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Taitreya, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter and check for $1,000 and I thank you very much for this contribution. So, fortunately you have got a very good husband, and you are also a very good wife. So, live co-operatively and help him in writing essays which he has done very nicely. In this way, both of you will be happy and successful in life. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps letters | 02:51 | 18 June 2008 Wednesday, 18 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Dr. Wolf-Rottkay, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 14, 1975 and have noted the contents. Biological evolution is taking place on account of the soul's desire. It takes place because of infection. If a man has smallpox virus, then he is subjected to smallpox. It is not that everyone is infected and everyone is attacked with smallpox disease. Only the person who is infected, he is attacked. In this connection Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, purusah prakrti-stho hi bhunkte prakrti-jan gunan karanam guna sango'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu [Bg. 13.22] Purusa means the living entity, or the soul. He is subjected to be infected by the modes of material nature. There are 3 modes of material nature, sattva-guna, raja-guna, tama-guna. And when they are mixed up, they become 3 x 3 = 9, and 9 x 9 = 81, and in each quality, there are millions of forms. Therefore the total number of forms is 8,400,000. So, the diseases are there and the forms of disease are also there. Material form means diseased form. Therefore, one has to change this form--death. And he carries with him the infection and he develops another disease. In this way, the soul although part and parcel of God in diseased condition, they are forced to change body. That is transmigration of the soul from one body to another. To be more clear, the disease is there. Just as the Small-pox disease is there. One has to become diseased, being infected. Similarly, the forms of the body are there. One has to infect the form and it develops, "karanam guna sango'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu." Because he is infecting different diseased forms, therefore he is developing different forms of body. There is no such case of Small-pox changing into Malaria. Small-pox is Small-pox, and Malaria is Malaria. By the desire of the living entity, he becomes infected with a certain disease or body. Krishna Consciousness is the vaccine for all the diseases (different forms of material bodies). Krishna says, mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena bhakti-yogena sevate sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26] Brahma-bhuyaya is the immune stage or Krishna Conscious stage when one is always fixed in Krishna. When one reaches this perfectional stage he no longer has to accept these different types of diseases, or bodies. Regarding the German translation work, if you feel difficulty because there is no good scholar there in Germany in our temple, then do whatever you can. Do not feel pressured. Whatever you can do is very much appreciated by me. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: evolution, Los Angeles, scientists letters | 05:51 |18 June, 1975 Honolulu Southall, Midd'x, U.K. My dear Durgesh, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 10/6/75 and have noted the contents. Please keep yourself saved by chanting 16 rounds daily and following the regulative principles, and reading books. For the time being, stay with your parents until you are of proper age to be independent. Raghunatha dasa Goswami was also restricted by his parents, but ultimately he joined Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement and became one of the six Goswamis of Vrndavana. So, do not be discouraged, rather feel fortunate that at such a young age you are able to practice Krishna Consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps letters | 05:50 | 18 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Dhananjaya and Aksayananda Swami, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 7th June, 1975 and have noted the contents. You can go on offering ten plates. In the Radha-Damodara temple, the offer Bhoga to the Six Goswamis. Offer ten full plates, 8 puris, 2 kacoris, 2 samosas, varieties of sweets (2 each), and varieties of vegetables. Make many palatable things such as Jhuri, Dhal-mot, Jalebis, Rauta and many other nice dishes. You can keep a nice stock of these things, so that when a big man comes you can give him a nice plate of free prasada. In this way, our temple will become very popular, because everyone will know that if they come to our temple, they will receive very nice prasada. For the other guests, continue to sell the prasada daily. This is very nice program. Make all the prasadam very first class. Regarding Tulasi devi in the courtyard: For the time being, put one stone pot in each corner and when I come there I shall see if any other thing is to be done in that connection. In Delhi, the Home Member, Mr. Brahmananda Reddi, has promised me that 50 of our members will be allowed to stay as permanent residents. He said it may take a little time to arrange, but Tejyas can see him. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami What Pranava is doing about the land? ACBS/ps letters | 05:47 | 18 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 6/9/75 and have noted the contents. Any position we remain in, we must have full dependence on our spiritual life. --chanting 16 rounds daily, following the four regulative principles, etc. This will maintain our spiritual strength. And if we maintain our spiritual strength, then anywhere we live, we live under the protection of Krishna. A Narayana-para or a person who is fully surrendered to Narayana is not afraid to live even in most dangerous place. He is always safe, under the protection of Narayana. To help the preaching work, that is also preaching. If you can get money to help expand our preaching activities, that is preaching. We require money. Laksmi is the immediate assistant of Narayana. Narayana is always preceded by the word Laksmi. The Mayavadi philosophers do not touch laksmi, but we accept for the service of Krishna. We are not of the mentality of Ravana who took Laksmi from Narayana and became ruined. Keep Laksmi and Narayana always together and you will become as powerful as Hanuman. He is always worshiped along with Lord Rama and Laksmi-Sita. There are many temples of Hanuman in India. Regarding investing money there in Iran, I have no objection if it is kept in Atreya Rsi's name. He is one of our men. Please send the complete details in this connection and I shall decide. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: Lakshmi, preaching, Tehran letters | 05:00 |17 June 2008 Tuesday, 17 June, 1975 Honolulu Kapaa, Kauai My dear Mrs. Matusow, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 2, and have noted the contents. Regarding your idea, I think it will be best, if the next time you come to Honolulu, you come to our center here and discuss this proposal to the temple president named Manasvi dasa. Then some decision can be made. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: Hawaii letters | 05:48 |17 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Gadi dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 13, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for the $20 donation. Thank you for helping me in this preaching work. Make sure that you preach nicely and at the same time follow the example of perfect behavior given by your spiritual master and the previous acaryas and confirmed in the scriptures. Always remain fixed in the service of Krishna and you will be untouched by Maya. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps letters | 05:47 | 17 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Batu Gopala, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 8th, 1975 and have noted the contents. I accept the persons you have recommended for initiation (first). Their names are as follows, Bill--Bhama dasa, Brenda--Brahma-vadini devi dasi, Michael--Mahana dasa. Their beads may be chanted by Kirtanananda Swami. Also, I have accepted Divyanga dasa for 2nd initiation. His thread and mantra sheet are enclosed herein. Let him hear the tape of myself chanting gayatri mantra through his right ear. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: Cleveland, initiation letters | 05:46 |17 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Madhudvisa Swami, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 11, 1975 and have noted the contents. Regarding Ratha-yatra, we shall chose the most favorable time to hold our celebration. If for our preaching, it is going to be more beneficial to hold it in September, then you may do so. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps N.B. I am awaiting your report. Labels: Melbourne, Ratha Yatra letters | 05:45 |17 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Bhakta, Jayananda, and Bahulasva, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated June 13rd and 15th, 1975 and have noted the contents. It sounds like things are going very nicely there. I will come for Rathayatra festival and then I shall see the new building also. The photos were very nice. Regarding the sannyasis convincing men within the temple that they should leave and go with them on their parties, that is not at all good. I have never approved of this action. You can tell them. Everyone is concocting something of their own. It must be checked. The sannyasis should work with what men they have got and they cannot secretly convince men in the temples to leave their duties. Those duties also must be done and they are just as important as any other service. Regarding the books being sold for less than $4, that we shall discuss in L.A. with Ramesvara. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami N.B. Why did you publish this college program book independently and unauthorized? Any literature that is to be published on behalf of the movement, must be authorized by the BBT Trustees. You have not even mentioned my name in this book. This is not at all good. Why have you done this? ACBS/ps Labels: BBT, concoct, San Francisco, sannyasa letters | 04:00 |16 June 2008 Monday, 16 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Yadunandan dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 12, 1975 and have noted the contents. Now, everything has been rectified. That is good. Please continue executing your Krishna Conscious activities, strictly following all of the rules and regulations carefully. Always remain engaged in the service of Krishna and you will be sublime. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps letters | 03:58 | 16 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Narayana dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 10, 1975 and have noted the contents. Regarding your report on Hanuman, I am forwarding your letter to Hrdayananda Goswami who can present this problem to the GBC for their solution. I have accepted Saunaka dasa for 2nd initiation. His thread and mantra sheet are enclosed. Let him hear the tape of myself chanting the gayatri mantra through his right ear. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: Costa Rica, GBC, initiation letters | 03:57 |15 June 2008 Sunday, 15 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Pusta Krishna Swami, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 11, 1975 and have noted the contents. I am prepared to come to South Africa by the middle of July. I can come there from Brazil. We shall need at least one visa for Wayne Gunderson (Upendra) and if possible, one for Robert Campagnola (Harikesa). Please arrange for that. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami N.B. One travel agent in New Delhi has told us that two of her clients (American) were going to Johannesburg with visa, sufficient funds onward ticket, passport, etc., and due to some change all of the sudden in the Government, they were thrown into jail, and the next day, they were sent, at their own expense out of the country. The travel agent said that it could be even more severe for an Indian citizen, so, if there is any risk, it is not a very good idea. So, you should find out if there any risk at all and then let me know at my Los Angeles address. ACBS ACBS/ps Labels: Johannesburg letters | 02:56 | |
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