a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1975 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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18 December 2008 18 December, 1975 Bombay My Dear Bhakta Steven Knapp, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your long letter how you are appreciating this philosophy. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita that out of thousands of men, only one takes an interest in the perfection of human life. The perfection of human life is to develop one's dormant love for God, and thus be released from the terrible cycle of birth and death. People are so foolish that they simply waste time in temporary pursuits of material happiness, eating, sleeping, defending and enjoying sex life. Especially sex life. The sum and substance of material life is attraction for the opposite sex. The sum and substance of spiritual life is attraction to Krishna. So to develop attraction for Krishna is not difficult, you simply have to hear about Krishna, his activities, his name, his form and his teaching in Bhagavad-gita. Naturally you will develop love for Krishna, because we are all part and parcel of Krishna. The beginning process is to Chant Hare Krishna, follow the four regulative principles and associate with devotees, and take Prasadam of Krishna. I think you are now living in the temple of Krishna, so these things will be very easy for you to practice. I hope this letter meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Denver letters | 01:47 |26 September 2008 26 September, 1975 Ahmedabad My Dear Kurusrestha das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 13, 1975 and have noted the contents with pleasure. The District Court has given us the permission "for as long as the country lasts." Were these exact words used in the judgement? This is very funny. The judge is a very funny man. He should be sent a congratulation letter. This should be quoted. Actually any gentleman should be a little humorous. So Krishna has given you the chance to spread Krishna consciousness so long your country lasts. So try to sell a similar quantity of books every day as you are now doing and that will encourage me. And you can offer your heartiest thanks to the justice because he has given us such a great facility. By the grace of Krishna may your country last forever, and may the justice also live a long time and may you go on selling books. That is my desire. Your country is very much liked by me, and I am sure that if your country takes this Krishna consciousness movement than nobody will be able to vanquish America at any time. With this aim in view try to convert your great country to become krishna conscious. There is a good chance for it, so if you try, you can do it. That is my opinion. I like America very much. So many good boys have come to me from America. Unless your country is good, how could good boys and girls come? You are not poverty sticken. That is a great qualification. You have all good qualities. You are open-minded people. So please go on breaking every month the records of how money you send to BBT. The more you go on in this way, the more your country will go on everlastingly. I see in your country that the girls are being exploited. They are taught to be independent so they become the playthings for sex. So where is the freedom? I want that they live, man and wife together, chant Hare Krishna and be happy. When I was in Denver I saw the temple very nice. You have great potential for spreading Krishna consciousness there. So if you organize things, it will be very nice. That the people are receiving you nicely, these are all signs of improvement. You have to be determined in your preaching, and at the same time remain humble. The two brother Jagai and Madhai injured Lord Nityananda, but still he continued to preach, and they became great Vaisnavas. In the beginning we have to face awkward situations, but if we stick to our principles and continue to preach, things will come round to our favor. The University wants you because they have seen it is as a good movement. Stick to our principles and be humble even if there is provocation; and things will come out successful. This is the instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, trnad api sunicena. Regarding your festivals with prasadam, yes do it occasionally. There is no need of accumulating wealth more. You can get wealth more, and also spend wealth more. This is brahmanism. Get and spend, but not to spoil and squander. This example should be shown to others. That the City was paying you means that they are appreciating. Gradually they will all appreciate very much. Upon your recommendation I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples and there spiritual names are as follows: Mike Puglise--Govardhanadhari das Cheryl Puglise--Gopanandakari devi dasi Christina Mills--Pradhanagopika dasi Scott Byrnes--Yajnopabhokta das Please see that they follow the four regulative principles strictly and chant 16 rounds daily, and they will remain strong in Krishna consciousness. I also give brahminical initiation to Puja dasi. The mantra sheet is enclosed. She can hear at the fire sacrifice 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 Labels: America, court, Denver, initiation letters | 06:16 |4 July 2008 4 July, 1975 Evanston, Illinois My Dear Manindra devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 3, 1975 and I thank you very much for your nice sentiments. It is simply by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that we have now got a feeling for service to Krishna. Krishna is so perfect that He comes and teaches us personally how to become Krishna conscious. What Lord Caitanya is giving no one else has done. So you continue on in this way following our rules and regulations, and I shall pray to Krishna for your ever advancement in Krishna consciousness. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Denver letters | 00:47 |2 July 2008 Wednesday, 2 July, 1975 Denver Nataka-Candrika Jusania Rama Tulasi Tripti My dear daughters, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of the nice silver gift box which I already put to my personal use. I thank you very much for your taking seriously to this Krsna Consciousness movement by spreading this movement of Lord Caitanya's here in Denver. I am sure that Lord Caitanya will benedict you, and that this will be a great success for Krsna Consciousness in Denver. I hope that this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Denver letters | 05:17 |2 July, 1975 Denver My Dear Padmanabha and Mahojjvala dasi: Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your guru daksine gift and your nice letter expressing your appreciation for your spiritual master. This is the proper way to receive the blessings of Krsna, by begging the mercy of the spiritual master. yasya prasadad bhagavata prasadao. If one pleases the spiritual master, then it is to be understood that Krsna is pleased. So continue on in this way following our path of bhakti yoga with enthusiasm and you will have perfection in this life and the next. Hoping this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Denver letters | 05:16 |2 July, 1975 Denver Dear Kurusrestha, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 2, 1975. Upon your recommendation, I am accepting the following twice born brahmanas; Koshalendra Das Adhikari, Jyoti Das Adhikari. Enclosed please find their threads sanctified by me. I also accept as my initiated disciples the following devotees and their spiritual names follow: Al Rhiener--Adhata, Cleef Athey-- Kamari Das. Please see that they are chanting 16 rounds & following the four regulative principles. Now hold a fire sacrifice and let the brahmanas hear the Gayatri mantra tape that I have spoken in their right ear. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Denver letters | 05:15 |9 June 2008 Monday, 9 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Kurusrestha dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 5, 1975 and have noted the contents. I am very very pleased with your report about how things are going there. This is very encouraging news. Yes, I will come there. I am leaving Honolulu for L.A. on the 20th of June, and on the 27th of June, I shall come to Denver for 6 or 7 days stay on my way to Chicago temple. Make sure all of the devotees there are working very sincerely, following all of the rules and regulations, chanting 16 rounds, and reading every day, and everything will be successful. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: Denver, follow strictly letters | 05:47 |9 June, 1975 Honolulu My dear Satsvarupa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated May 9, June 5, June 6, 1975 and have noted the contents. So, work very nicely to encourage Abhirama and the others to very enthusiastically carry on our program there in Miami, even though there may be so many difficulties. I will be coming to Denver temple on the 27th, of June approximately, from L.A. on my way to Chicago. I can stay in Denver 6 or 7 days. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: Denver, Los Angeles, Miami letters | 05:46 |15 February 2008 15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Pancananda das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 31, 1975 and have noted the contents. The problem that you are experiencing may have something to do with the drugs you were taking previous to joining our movement. Any way, you should try very sincerely to become a pure devotee of Krishna by following all of the four regulative principles and chanting at least 16 rounds daily, as well as rising early, attending mangala arati, attending classes, etc. By this simple method, you will be very strongly fixed in spiritual life and whatever problems you may have will seem insignificant. However, if you need medical attention, your temple president should make the necessary arrangement for your seeing a doctor. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps letters | 18:44 | |
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