a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1973 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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6 October 2007 Saturday, 6 October, 1973 Bombay My dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 26th, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. Yes, you can go on with your book distribution as you were doing before, there is not any harm. I thought that our men were becoming like hippies, but now I understand from you that that is not the case. So I have no objection. Our main business is to distribute books, and from the reports I am receiving from all over the world, the progress is very encouraging. So far as the woman distributers who have left New York and Boston Temples and have gone to New Vrindaban, they should return immediately and resume their original service. In Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Movement, everyone is preacher, whether man or woman it doesn't matter. I do not know why Kirtanananda Maharaja is encouraging our woman devotees not to go out on Sankirtana for book distribution. Everyone should go out. You have not replied my recent letter about transferring some Krsna books. Now you may keep ready eight Krsna books and I shall advise you where to send them. Hanuman Goswami has written me one letter and requested me to send a copy of my reply to you for forwarding it to him. Please find the copy enclosed and forward it on. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg Labels: book distribution, Los Angeles, women letters | 20:06 |6 October, 1973 Bombay My dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 30th September, 1973, and I have noted the contents. Regarding printing BTG locally in England rather than taking from Los Angeles, you are right, you should not print it in London for the time being. Syamasundara is always utopian. This idea of his is not possible. I am very encouraged by the report of how nicely our books are being distributed. This is our main business all over the world. If you give full attention to this, there will never be any shortage of funds. So I am very glad to note that in London now this programme is becoming well established. Hoping this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg Labels: book distribution, London letters | 20:05 |4 October 2007 Thursday, 4 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Hanuman Goswami, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter dated 6th September, 1973, which I have read with great interest. The Argentina BTG and the photos showing Argentine men and ladies chanting and dancing in ecstasy give me great hope that our Movement will have an important place in Argentina in the near future. Our process is simple, all-embracing, we have something to offer for everyone. There is chanting, dancing, feasting and very perfect philosophy, so everyone may be satisfied with our Krishna Consciousness Movement. Now you have traveled all over the world preaching on Lord Caitanya's behalf, and I think you will agree that wherever you have gone whether in South America or in Far East, everywhere, our movement is appreciated. So I simply request you, you are doing the greatest service to the world by giving up everything for preaching this Krishna philosophy, you please continue just as you are doing. Introduce this process of chanting Hare Krishna, distribute as much Prasadam as possible, and if possible see that all our books are translated and distributed as widely as possible. This is the greatest welfare activity, and for engaging yourself and others in this way, certainly you will go back to home, back to Godhead. Upon your recommendation I accept the three students you have recommended for first initiation. Their spiritual names are as follows: Marcos Medina: Nityatrpta dasa George Nikenson: Nrihari dasa Beatrice Nikenson: Bhakta dasi Now just as all my other disciples are doing, you take care that they follow very faithfully chanting of 16 rounds daily, and following all of the rules and principles of Krishna conscious very strictly. You should immediately send their beads for chanting on to Karandhara das Adhikari in Los Angeles who is one of the senior disciples I have authorized to chant on beads. Then, after receiving the beads back from Karandhara you can hold a fire ceremony and perform the sacrifice as you have seen me doing so many times. At that time you may give my new disciples their beads and instruct them on the principles of Krishna consciousness. You can advertise this initiation ceremony very widely in Buenos Aires so that as many people as possible may attend the ceremony, including the newspaper, Television, etc. Then at the end of the ceremony, at the end of the fire ceremony have big Kirtana and distribute as much Prasadam as possible. We want the people of Argentina to see how it is possible to live a perfect happy life in this world and in the end go back to home, back to Godhead. Again I thank you for your sincere preaching effort, and I pray that Krishna may bless you with all intelligence and strength for pushing on this movement. Hoping this finds you and all others well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. Regarding Nrihari das (George Nikenson) he must wait at least six months before he may be initiated again as Brahmin. PPS I am sending this letter to you care of Mexico City Temple as your Argentina address has been misplaced. Labels: Argentina, initiation letters | 20:04 |4 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 15th, 1973 requesting initiation for seven devotees and second initiation for three devotees. Upon your recommendation I accept them as my disciples. Their spiritual names are as follows: Lewis: Upendranath dasa Richard: Premarupa dasa Sandy B.: Sanhari dasi Sandy F.: Soubardya dasi Merrissa: Mulaprakrti dasi Sria: Kadamba dasi Diane: Anandavidya dasi So now you should duly perform the yajna, chanting on their beads, and instruct them carefully to follow all the rules and regulations. At the same yajna you may also perform the second initiation of the three Brahmins. This yajna is best held in the morning amongst devotees. Herewith also find enclosed one letter from Mr. Alfred Reis written on behalf of Mr. Eustace Paul. He wants to give us a house but wants me to come there personally. I have written to Rupanuga and Hanuman but whether they have done anything about it I do not know. The thing is that if my presence is required, then he should send round trip tickets for four. I think this will be costly, so if possible try to settle it there. You can contact Rupanuga or Hanuman of Citsukhananda. Hoping this finds you in the best health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg Labels: initiation letters | 20:03 |4 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your report for Central USA dated September 25th and I have noted the contents with great satisfaction. Your reports are coming more regularly than any other GBC and from them I can understand that things are developing very steadily under your supervision. Karandhara's plan to eventually purchase the entire block of land for Gurukula at the low price it is available is good. Yes, Dayananda is correct. When the boys and girls become ten or twelve years and above, then should be separated. At that time special care should be taken, because once they become a victim of sex their whole life becomes spoiled. I am very glad to learn that Govardhana dasa has become a leader in the deity worship, due to his inspired service. That is the real thing--one who has inspiration of life, he can do anything. Rupa Goswami explains this as utsaha, enthusiasm. I am very pleased that you and Hrdayananda Swami are traveling and preaching and that everyone was singing and dancing at the kirtana at the U. of Iowa. It is a sign of great success. Your plan to spend up to one month in each big university city sometimes taking an apartment for conducting regular evening meetings is approved by me. But do not open any permanent centers, just take the apartment for a month and then move onto another city. For the time being new centers may not be opened. Whatever centers we have got already, let us organize them very soundly. If more men are available, let them come to India. I have already written to Karandhara that fifty more men are required in India, so if possible, you may arrange for some men to come from your zone. So I am very pleased with your preaching, please continue with all enthusiasm and determination and win the hearts of all your fellow countrymen by offering this authorized process of Krishna Consciousness. I hope this meets you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg Labels: college preaching, sex life letters | 20:01 |2 October 2007 4 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Karandhara, Please accept my blessings. Just now I am finalizing the sale of the land with Mrs. Nair and there is every chance that this time we shall get it. The gift of the land in Hyderabad is now almost complete. In Vrindaban and in Mayapur the construction is progressing very nicely. So we have undertaken very great projects here and by the grace of Lord Krishna they may all come out nicely. But one difficulty is that hardly any intelligent young men are coming forward to help me here. Whatever I have been able to do all over the world it has been due to the help all of you, my disciples, have given me. Here there are hardly fifty devotees to do all the projects, so this is a great strain. Therefore, I want that from all over our Society fifty more men may immediately come bringing to a total of one hundred men. I have requested our Delhi Temple President Sriman Tejyas das Adhikari to find out the best way how these men can come to India and not be bothered by visa difficulties after coming. He has written me as follows: "1. Entry visas for one year should be applied for and triplicate carbon copies sent to me and I will follow up here in pushing it through. 2. The occupation should be listed as student-trainee or some such thing but not minister or preacher. 3. I should get a complete list of the devotees by Karmi name, spiritual name, and all details such as Passport number and issue date, previous visits to India, etc. 4. The entry visa should be multiple entry." So please do the needful in correspondence with Tejyas das and Tamala Krishna Goswami, so that these fifty men may come here as soon as possible. One thing is that British Commonwealth citizens do not require visas for entering India, so if some of the men coming are from these zones that will make it easier. Hoping this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg Labels: India, management letters | 20:03 |4 October , 1973 Honolulu, Hawaii My dear Bali Mardan, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1973 and have noted the contents. After a great struggle for existence it appears that I have won over Mrs. Nair. The negotiation started on my arrival and the mediators suggested 20 lakhs. Then it went down to 17 lakhs, but by Krsna’s grace I have settled with her for 14 lakhs 50 thousand and about one lakh for compensation to the other claimants. In this way we to spend about 16 lakhs for the property, out of which 2 lakhs had been paid before. So now we have to pay 14 lakhs 50 thousand. The day before yesterday whatever money I had in the Bombay account, about 4 lakhs, I ‘ve given Mrs. Nair another 3 lakhs, and I have compensated Ch..ganlal with 2 lakhs 30 thousand, out of which 1 lakh 40 thousand has been paid by Mrs. Nair, and the balance I have paid. The charges of the several litigations have all been withdrawn and the preparations for the conveyance is in progress. I was very much anxious to receive the money from New York. The foolish boy, Gopijanabalava, wanted to save money and dispatched the money by mail order. Out of anxiety we had to telephone several times and sent telegrams, so much so that the savings which the over-intelligent boy wanted to make has been nullified by increasing the expenditure three times. After a telephone call yesterday, the bank informed by telex that the money is on the way by mail. So actually I have not yet receive the money, but I am sure it is coming. We shall have to utilize the amount to pay Mrs. Nair. The deadline is the 19th instant and today is the 14th. I hope everything will be all right by that time. I am pleased that your wife is expecting some children. You offer her my blessings to her for safe delivery. We enquired the price of the Mercedes Benz here in Bombay, and they asked for 3 lakhs 50 thousand. Here in Bombay there is no possibility of getting a good car like a Chevrolet without paying Rs. 80,000-90,000. So a good car in India is very costly. If you get the car, you can get it in my name. Tejiyas das will be in charge of taking care if it. It is a good suggestion by your father-in-law that your wife not know sadness during pregnancy. She should not be shocked in any circumstance and eat child foodstuff so as not to cause any irritation. Now as I have been delayed in Bombay I wish to get leisure from this business by the 24th instant. Then I shall go to Vrndavan and Delhi, and stay until the 18th November, then go from there to Nairobi. Brahmananda is here and we shall go with him for the installation ceremony and remain there until the end of Nov. Then I go to South Africa until Dec 10, then Sydney, and remain say up to 15th Dec., then Hong Kong, and if your Japanese program is fixed I can go there or I can go to Hawaii on my way to L.A. by Dec. 20th. My deposit certificate will mature by Nov. 23rd but I want to continue it for another month, and I shall take the payment when I return to the U.S.A. So I shall have to write to them or you shall arrange for it? If I have to write, then I shall send you a copy of the letter to your Hawaii address. Then from Los Angeles I may come to New York to your new building. I hope this meets you and your wife in the best of health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Bombay, itinerary, land letters | 20:02 |30 September 2007 Saturday, 30 September, 1973 Bombay My Dear Radha Damodara, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for the very nice button you have sent me. Preaching work is our main business as this picture on the button shows. I pray that Krsna blesses you with all strength and intelligence to guide the Sankirtana movement ahead in Denver. I hope this finds you in the best of health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:tkg letters | 10:21 | 30 September, 1973 Bombay My Dear Madhudvisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 20th, 1973, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very glad to note your Sankirtana enthusiasm. These Volkswagen buses are very nice. This is real Sankirtana preaching. Regarding Hong Kong, I think the Sankirtana can be organized there also. Please try to organize it. Your reply to the Hindus regarding another Swami speaking in our Krishna Consciousness Temple is nice. We cannot compromise to satisfy others. The neophyte preaching programme is very good, and this should be introduced in all our centers. Regarding the devotees getting sick, they are not accustomed to eating fatty foods. Therefore, I suggest boiled vegetable taking only little ghee and capati without any ghee. Tusta Krishna Maharaja, Siddha Svarupananda Maharaja and Sudama Vipra Maharaja are good boys and if there are any difficulties, I shall rectify these on my return to Los Angeles via Hawaii. Regarding the Lord Caitanya murti, it is not at all good and I do not approve. Lord Caitanya is stout and strong. There are so many pictures which you can follow. So have the artist start a new murti. Regarding my coming there in December for opening the new Australian Headquarters, yes that will be possible if the opening ceremony can correspond with the celebration of the Disappearance Day of my Guru Maharaja on December 13rd, that will be auspicious. I hope this meets you and all my beloved disciples in Australia well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Australasia, deities, disagreements, health, sankirtan letters | 10:21 | |
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