a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1973 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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20 October 2007 Saturday, 20 October, 1973 Bombay Bhaktivedanta Manor My Dear Mukunda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 5/10/73 as well as the copy of the letter from the Indian Deputy High Commissioner. Regarding my seeing the Pope, now I am India, and then I shall go to Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, and U.S.A. So it is not possible to go there at this time. It can be postponed to a future date. I shall let you know. I am glad to hear that your Sunday program is successful. One thing is that you should keep everything very clean. That is the first business. Every room should be as clean as a mirror. The prasadam room should be immediately cleaned after taking prasadam, otherwise you are inviting rats. Be careful. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: cleanliness, itinerary, London letters | 14:25 |20 October, 1973 Bombay Dear Sankara Pyne: Please accept my blessing. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 15/8/73 and I thank you very much for it and your Vyasa Puja appreciation. It is stated in the Vedas that to anyone who has firm faith in the spiritual master and Krsna, to him all the imports of the Vedas are easily revealed. I am very glad to learn that you are helping in the preaching work by distributing our books to the libraries in Calcutta. This is very important work. The more our books are distributed, the more people will become convinced about this movement of Krsna consciousness, and they will be benefited from it. So you are a nice boy, and I wish that you continue on in this way. My program is to start within the next several days for Vrindaban and Delhi. We are having a big festival in Delhi. Then I will go abroad. I expect to be returning to Calcutta for our celebration in Mayapur of Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day in March 1974, and I look forward to seeing you at that time. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: book distribution, Calcautta, itinerary letters | 14:24 |20 October, 1973 Bombay Florissant, Missouri My Dear Indira Dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 24/9/73. Regarding your opening another school, if you can do it, I have no objection. But, it is a great responsibility. To open for a few days, and then close it is not good. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: gurukula letters | 14:23 |19 October 2007 Friday, 19 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Karandhara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your two letters both dated October 9, 1973 and have noted the contents very carefully. These things are happening in many corners of our organization. Today I received the same complaint from Kirtanananda, and the reply is enclosed. This is applicable everywhere. Unless we become very strong in Krsna consciousness, it is very risky to handle material things and business. We are naturally business minded, and so as we get some opportunity, that mentality becomes strong. We have already got our book-selling program. It is better not to divert to other lines of business. This boy Rsi Kumar appears to be lost coming in contact with business. I heard he was coming to India and staying in the hotel without coming to the temple. Similarly Hayagriva is also lost almost. So, the situation is not very favorable. There is the story of the bed bug. In the winter season the bed bug appears to be only skin, but in summer season as soon as it gets the opportunity of biting and sucking blood, it becomes fatty. Sometimes we may artificially renounce the world, but as soon as the opportunity of sucking blood is there, we turn again into a bed bug. Therefore it is said in the Bhagavad gita: daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14] "This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But, those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it." Unless everyone of us sticks to the regulative principles of chanting, there is no other alternative than fall-down. That is a fact. I repeatedly say this, so if people do not follow, what can I do? You cannot resign your position. You have to tolerate. Otherwise why does Caitanya Mahaprabhu say this verse: trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. adi 17.31] These things will happen, and we have to tolerate. We shall talk over this subject matter seriously when I shall return to Los Angeles. Do not be worried. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs N.B. I am enclosing herewith two checks, #482 for $200.00 and #148844 for $10.00. Please deposit them in my investment account Labels: Los Angeles, maya, regulative principles letters | 14:23 |18 October 2007 Thursday, 18 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Govardhan Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 12, 1973 and have noted the contents. So far the new disciples are concerned, I am accepting on your recommendation the following as my initiated disciples: Maharani Dasi - Shirley Daniels Dhenumati Dasi - Coleen Handlon Krsnakathananda Das Adhikari - Richard Marcolini and Sarvashaktimati dasi - Angeline Marcolini Also enclosed find one sacred thread chanted upon for Phatikcandra dasa brahmacari. Let Satsvarupa Maharaj chant on the beads and hold a fire sacrifice amongst the devotees. Take care of the new disciples and please see that they are always engaged in Krsna's service, chanting Hare Krsna. Regarding your successful book distribution, you should know that this is the greater preaching. I am very much pleased. the conch shells as you have described may be kept on the altar as decoration, but they must be kept clean. Everything on the altar must always be clean. Who is that rascal sannyasi who has recommended to chant Pancha Tattwa mantra on the japa beads? First, send me his name. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Enc: 1 thread Labels: deities, Detroit, initiation letters | 20:30 |18 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Jagadisa Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 9, 1973 of the GBC report for Canadian Zone and I thank you very much for it. I am glad that the book distribution is going on there consistently. Regarding the management of the Ottawa and Regina centers try to train them. We have to train sometimes. Whenever there is something extraordinarily wrong, you can remain there for sometime. You should rectify, but not reject. Members are coming to join us to be rectified, not to be rejected. So, try to rectify the incorrigible, and if not possible, then change. What can we do? It is nice that Subaladas Maharaja is travelling. As sannyasi, he should travel. The more a sannyasi travels and preaches, the more he becomes experienced and unattached. Regarding your recommendation, I am accepting the following devotee as my initiated disciple,Bhaktavasya Dasi - Geraldine Luczyk. Yes, I authorize that you may chant on the beads of the newly initiated disciples. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: initiation, Toronto, travelling letters | 14:22 |18 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Kirtanananda Maharaja: Please accept my blessings, and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 16, 1973 and I have noted the contents carefully. Next time you come to India, you must come to Mayapur in March, not only you but many others. Our Bombay affairs are almost settled by 90%. The conveyance deed is prepared and it will be signed within one or two days. Now this displeasing of godbrothers has already begun and gives me too much agitation in my mind. Our Gaudiya Math people fought with one another after the demise of Guru Maharaja but my disciples have already begun fighting even in my presence. So I am greatly concerned about it. Following in the footprints of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu: trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna/amanina manadena kirtaniya sada harih. "One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly." We must always remember this verse and be as tolerant as the tree, as we execute the Krsna consciousness movement. Without this mentality we cannot be successful. Material nature means dissension and disagreement, especially in this Kali yuga. But, for this Krsna consciousness movement its success will depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements. In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. The materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krsna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity. I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful. One section of men have already gone out, therefore we must be very careful to maintain unity in diversity, and remember the story in Aesop's Fables of the father of many children with the bundle of sticks. When the father asked his children to break the bundle of sticks wrapped in a bag, none of them could do it. But, when they removed the sticks from the bag, and tried one by one, the sticks were easily broken. So this is the strength in unity. If we are bunched up, we can never be broken, but when divided, then we can become broken very easily. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs cc: Karandhara Das, ISKCON, Los Angeles Mohanananda Das, Gurukula, Dallas Labels: disagreements, Gaudiya Math, GBC, New Delhi letters | 14:21 |17 October 2007 Wednesday, 17 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Tejiyas Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 13, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding your new place, yes, if many more devotees actually remain there, it is a good scheme, but as we have got four or five branches in India I do not wish to increase more centers. Indians are not joining. This is the deficiency of our movement. Only mediocre Indian men are joining and not the very intelligent class of Indians. But, Delhi is a nice place. Formally you proposed Sundar Nagar. What happened to that? If the book distribution facility is there, then it is a first class place. The more we distribute books, the more we get solid ground of preaching work. So far continuing the Deity worship after the festival, that is a very nice proposal. Try to give it a shape. So between 20th to 25th instant I am coming to Delhi for going to Vrindaban. So I may stay in Delhi for one or two days, and then come back from Vrindaban during the festival. In the meantime please inquire if from Delhi to Nairobi there is any flight 747. Bali Mardan is trying to get me a Mercedes car. So he has asked me who will be in charge of it in my absence. So I have suggested your name. So I think in the new building there is garage also. Another thing, I want a diplomatic passport. Please inquire in this because I am always traveling, and this kind of passport will facilitate my traveling. I am a preacher of Indian culture, why they should not give me this kind of passport. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: book distribution, India, itinerary, New Delhi letters | 14:20 |17 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Karandhara Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 5/10/73 and have noted the contents. I have also received the enclosed duplicate deposit slip for $125.89. Also find herewith checks Nos. _ for deposit. Regarding the Krsna books being transferred, yes for the time being you may hold it. As we are getting money from the U.S.A. it may not be required, but keep it ready and I shall let you know later on. Regarding Hawaii affairs, let it go on for the time being, and we shall see later on. They cannot go outside the clutches of Krsna consciousness. Regarding the selling of the temple, it was ISKCON's temple, so how can they sell? This is illegal. Gaurasundara was a representative of ISKCON, but he cannot sell and take the money. This is an illegal implication. I am simply thinking of the luxurious tulsi plants there. Govinda dasi took so much care. How they could have left this place I cannot imagine. Yes, do not attempt to open any more centers. Let them go by busses. That is a very nice program. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: disagreements, legal, Los Angeles letters | 14:20 |16 October 2007 Tuesday, 16 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Kurusrestha Das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 5, 1973 with enclosed pictures, and you have given me much pleasure. The altar is very nice and so are all the pictures. It appears to be very neat and clean. Please keep this standard. The tulsi also is very nice. It is a fact that the American people are the most fortunate in the world, and that this Krsna consciousness movement is the final touch of fortune. You are doing very nicely, and I thank you very much. Your high school classes are very nice. Take care of the young people for a future Krsna conscious generation. The worship of Lord Jagannatha must go on nicely and cleanly. Regarding your Sankirtana, yes, if anyone chants, tries to follow the rules and regulations, and reads our books, he'll be successful in his life. Regarding the initiations, I am pleased to accept the following as my disciples: Pancanand das--Mike Price Vamsidas--Tom Harovtunian Srinivasa das--Hans Olson Virachandra das--Dick Erdel Bhaktapriya dasi--Christene Mossain Also enclosed is the sacred thread for Makhana Taskara. Let Karandhara chant on the beads and hold a sacrifice. The gayatri mantra should be heard through the right ear from the tape. Please see that all the new disciples do nicely and always chant Hare Krsna. Yes, when I go to Los Angeles next, I will surely come to your Denver temple. The pictures you have sent attracts me. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Denver, initiation, sankirtan letters | 14:20 |16 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Dayananda Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding the older boys, they can do gardening engagement and other brahmacari engagements, study and manual work. And, as soon as they can read Sanskrit and English, they should read our books, such as Bhagavad-gita As It Is. By cleansing the temple and growing flowers their attention in this way be always in Krsna consciousness. That will save them from the clutches of maya. kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam [SB 7.6.1] "From the very beginning of childhood one should learn how to behave and practice Krsna consciousness, because this human form of life is very rare. . Although it is also perishable, it can give us the greatest boon; therefore we shall utilize this body from the very beginning of life." Regarding your separating from Nandarani, nothing should be done artificially. Nandarani is not different from you. She also seeks Krsna consciousness. Your household life is not repugnant; it is favorable. Do not separate artificially. When everyone is engaged in Krsna's service, there is no question of maya. I have got good estimation about Nandarani. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Dallas, gurukula, marriage letters | 14:19 |16 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Madhudvisa Swami, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 28, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding the initiations I accept the following devotee as my disciple: Varaha murti das - Adrian. Also enclosed please find the sacred threads for the gayatri initiations of Gopi Kanta das Brahmacari and Yasomatinanda das Brahmacari. So you can chant on the beads and hold the fire sacrifice amongst the devotees. The mantra should be heard from the tape through the right ear. I hope this finds you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: initiation letters | 14:18 |15 October 2007 Monday, 15 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Tusta Krsna Maharaja and Beharilal Das, Please accept my blessings. News has come to me that you want to sell our temple to somebody else which I cannot believe. Even that you have been in charge of the New Zealand center, now you have taken it as your personal property and you have demanded from Madhudvisa Swami the price of the temple. This is all amazing to me. I do not know what is your decision. Tusta Krsna has already left and is in Hawaii with Siddha Svarupananda Maharaja. I never believed that again you would go back to your old habits, giving up the Krsna Consciousness Movement in a whimsical way. Please do not do this mistake. It will be a great calamity for you. If you have any misunderstanding with the GBC member, you should have let me know. But I do not think there can be any misunderstanding. When I was last at the New Zealand temple, everything was so peaceful and hopeful. Now all of a sudden you have changed that program and taken to your original ways? I am so much aggrieved to receive all this news. For Krsna's sake, do not do these things. I request Tusta Krsna to go back to New Zealand and take charge of your duties, and when I shall go to Australia, I shall go to New Zealand and see things personally. Please do not leave Krsna. You will not be happy. That is my request. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Australasia, disagreements, GBC letters | 14:14 |14 October 2007 Sunday, 14 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Patita Uddharana Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 9, 1973 and have noted the contents. Yes, regarding your poems, I shall like to see what you have written. The encyclopedia is too great a task. Do not attempt it. Regarding writing, I may quote from the Caitanya-caritamrta Adi lila, ninth chapter, the blue print of which I have just received from New York. esaba prasadae likhi caitanya-lila-guna jani va na jani, kari apana-sodhana "It is by the mercy of all these Vaisnavas and gurus that I attempt to write about the pastimes and qualities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Whether I know or know not, it is for self purification that I write this book." [Cc. Adi-lila 9:5] The purport is that for transcendental writing one must be an authorized Vaisnava and should write to purify oneself, not for credit. It may or may not be published, but one who is actually sincere in writing, all his ambitions will be fulfilled. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs letters | 10:29 | 14 October, 1973 Bombay My Dear Gunagrahi Das: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 29, 1973 and have noted the contents. I thank you for your very nice report. I am glad that you held very nice Rathayatra in Buffalo and have donated one calf to New Vrindaban. Krsna has given you nice opportunity to preach the philosophy so you must be sure to understand it rightly. Everything is given in my books for you. So go on with your travelling and preaching program and you can count on it that Krsna will give you all facility. Regarding the initiations, I am pleased to accept on your recommendation the following devotees as my disciples: Bhavanasini dasi--Donna Bhaktanidhi dasi--Lindsay See to it that they are engaged in Krsna's service, following the rules and regulations, and always chanting Hare Krsna. You can have Rupanuga das Goswami chant on their beads. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Buffalo, initiation letters | 10:28 | |
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