a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1973 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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31 December 2007 Prabhupada Letters :: 1973 contains 429 individual letter reproductions in chronological order from January - December 1973. View them in their entirety in the monthly archive section - 1973 letters - below right. Use Google Custom Search (immediate right) to search for specific letters from 1973. View - Today's Letters - at >> Letters :: Anthology >> letters | 18:53 | Monday, 31 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Tamala Krsna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. I have recently received one letter from Sridhara das Brahmacari who has left Bombay and gone to Vrindaban. He reports he is disappointed having been removed from his job of managing construction in Bombay. Sridhara is a very good boy and a hard worker. While I was there it was fixed up that he should take the responsibility for construction work. Why was he removed? Now Yasomatinandana is coming to join you and he is a qualified engineer. Between he and Sridhara they can, I think, manage construction affairs without your having to put a karmi professional in charge. We have to manage our men in such a way that they may bend to our will but not break. After all, our work is purely voluntary. If they become angry and leave then our work is defeated. I have directed Sridhara to return to Bombay and work with Giriraja. Please give him some facility so he may work happily. Hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:SDG N.B. Mr. Asnami has phoned that I.T. certificate is obtained. Now what _ further about municipality? Labels: Bombay, construction, management, Vrindavan letters | 17:35 |29 December 2007 Saturday, 29 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Yasomatinandana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 27, 1973. I am very glad to hear you are now about to leave New York for working at the great task of spreading Krsna Consciousness in India. Lord Caitanya has said those born in India have the special responsibility to spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world. So almost all Indians have ignored this injunction by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But now by the grace of my Guru Maharaj I have brought this message to the West and now you and your god brothers and sisters are helping me in bringing it back to the people of India and all over the world. It is a fact that all humanity's suffering is due only to lack of Krsna Consciousness. I have received your check of $6,800.00 and I thank you very much. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (handwritten) N.B. Please tell Bali Mardan that (unreadable). ACBS:sgm Labels: Brooklyn, India, preachers letters | 18:33 |25 December 2007 Tuesday, 25 December, 1973 Los Angeles My Dear Gurukrpa Maharaja and Yasodanandana Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. Karandhara has received a letter from Tamala Krsna Goswami and he is expressing some hesitation about your returning to India. I can understand that previously there must have been some quarrel amongst you and that sometimes happens amongst god-brothers. Whatever is done is done; the main thing is we must not carry grudges or continue to quarrel amongst one another. So I am asking you personally, along with Tamala Krsna Goswami to whom I am sending a copy of this letter, to bury the hatchet and join together to push on this movement cooperatively. Tamala Krsna Goswami has been appointed by me to manage and direct our Indian projects and actually he is the most expert and qualified in this connection. You both are also sannyasins and I know that the service which you do the best is Hare Krsna kirtana and Bhagavata Dharma preaching. So I have no objection if you return to India. Rather, I know you both can be a great asset for our programs there. I am requesting you, therefore, to concentrate on preaching and kirtana and work cooperatively with Tamala Krsna Goswami who is in charge there. Whatever imperfections and discrepancies may exist, if you all agree to my directions and cooperate in the right spirit then everything will turn out, but it will require everyone involved to be responsible and cooperate in executing and following the instructions of the Spiritual Master. Now, one thing is I understand that in the past you were visiting Lalita Prasadji and that you may also be planning to continue to visit him when you return to India. This is not approved by me and I request you not to go to see him any more. He holds a grudge against my Guru Maharaja and even if it is transcendental it will gradually appear mundane in our eyes. Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura can be learned from our books. There is no need whatsoever for any outside instruction. So I hope that you have understood these matters and I pray to Krsna always for your protection and advancement in Krsna consciousness. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda c.c. Tamala Krsna Goswami Maharaja Labels: Bhaktisiddhanta, co-operation, disagreements, Gaudiya Math, India letters | 17:35 |24 December 2007 Monday, 24 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Tamala Krsna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 19, 1973 and I have carefully noted the contents. I have received all your previous letters and have replied to each of them. Regarding the rents collected from the apartments at our Juhu Beach property, this money must be kept and spent only for Deity worship and Temple maintenance. It must not be used for any other purpose. Regarding Vrindaban construction, we are trying to make an arrangement with one gentleman here in the U.S.A. for giving him dollars and taking rupees in India at the rate of 22 1/2 rupees per dollar. Presently the Book Trust and Gurukrpa and Yasodanandana Swamis' travelling sankirtana party are collecting the $100,000.00. To date approximately $30,000.00 has been collected. We are waiting to see if the arrangement with this man for three to one rate exchange will actually materialize and at the same time are still collecting the funds. So it may take one to two months so for the time being you will have to stand by for these funds. Meanwhile construction of the Vrindaban Temple should go on with whatever you have there. The Temple construction should go on first and later the residential quarters. You may assure the life members that they will surely get their residential quarters without fail, but first the Temple must be built. The $100,000.00 being transferred is for the Vrindaban project and other arrangements will have to be made for the new kitchen and pavilion in Mayapur. Whether or not the Rs. 30,000 has been repaid to my fixed deposit account from the money I advanced for purchasing our Juhu Beach property? It was supposed to be repaid before my coming back but I do not know if it has been done. Yes you keep the Rs. 2 lakhs reserved for purchasing the Mahatma Gandhi building. One thing is the Rs. 65,000 from the BBT savings account actually belongs to the Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust. This I have discussed fully with Giriraja and Karandhara and Giriraja will explain what is to be done in this connection henceforward. Whatever has been done in the past we shall not try to make up for but I want that now this Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust money to be very carefully managed and deposited into a separate bank account and not be spent under any circumstances without my direct order. Giriraja will explain the details to you in full. Regarding the Mahatma Gandhi building, the price is fixed up at 3 lakhs to be shared into 5 divisions. 3 parties may be paid Rs. 60,000 apiece on the condition that they will take the money and immediately vacate. Then we shall make a trust over the property. When I was last there I discussed this matter with Mr. Chowdry the lawyer so keep ready the 2 lakhs for this transaction and when I return this will be squared up. Yes I am ready to go to Dvaraka. I have never visited there so now I am taking the opportunity. Similarly, Mr. B.R. Mohatta who was recently here in Los Angeles, has promised me accommodations at Allahabad and Haridwar for the Kumba Mela observances in these places next year. Also Mr. Bhogilal Patel who has given Rs 25,000 donation has also promised accommodations at Haridwar. So I have never seen Haridwar also and I am getting older so before my last days I wish to visit the holy places in Northern and Southern India. Mr. Badruka has promised to make arrangements for my accommodations in Southern India so you may fix up the program. I have previously written you that our man Yasomatinandana dasa shall take charge of the construction in Bombay. He is very nice and enthusiastic devotee and a qualified engineer so he shall be the manager of the engineering and construction. Thank you very much for carrying on our work in India so faithfully and responsibly and I pray to Krsna always for your protection and advancement. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda N.B. I am only anxious for the municipality sanction and Mrs. Nair's income tax certificate. Please __ this immediately. Gargamuni has written a long letter so many __. When you go to Calcutta see what is the matter. Let me know what you have done. Labels: Bombay, construction, M-V Trust, Vrindavan letters | 17:34 |23 December 2007 Sunday, 23 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Dhananjaya, Please accept my blessings. Karandhara has informed me of the receipt of the letter from you reporting the establishment of an ISKCON Center in Rome, Italy. The transcendental bliss I have derived from hearing the news is not measurable within the three dimensions. I thank you very much for your humble service and I pray to Krsna to always protect and bless you. I will look forward to seeing the first Italian Back to Godhead which I understand you are printing at present. We shall try and locate some Italian speaking devotees to send there to assist you. Kindly offer my blessings to your good wife Bala Gopala dasi. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda Labels: Italy letters | 17:34 |23 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Hamsaduta, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 15, 1973. Previously I have seen copy of German Easy Journey to Other Planets. It is very nice. The printing is very good and I am quite pleased. Thank you very much for helping me spread this transcendental knowledge to the Germanic peoples. It is a great credit for you and all the German devotees and Lord Caitanya will bless you with devotion to His lotus feet. I am very anxious to see our Bhagavad-gita in German so as soon as it is completed, kindly send me a copy. Regarding the Volkswagen bus, if it is not possible to bring in March to India then it can be brought at a later date. Yes, you should go to London and give me a report on the progress there. Mukunda and Madhavananda are sincere workers and are trying to organize things there. So you may go and help them, not interrupt but help. I gladly accept the devotees you have recommended for initiations and enclosed find their names, threads and gayatri mantra sheets. You may chant on the beads of the first initiates and hold a fire sacrifice amongst our members. After that the second initiates may listen to the gayatri tape I have made through the right ear once only. Hare Krsna. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda Labels: Heidelberg, initiation, publishing letters | 17:33 |21 December 2007 Friday, 21 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Tamala Krsna Goswami, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed find a copy of a letter I have just received from Hari Charan Goswami. As he states therein, he is willing to teach our students Hindi and Sanskrit. We want to introduce this program of teaching our students Hindi and Sanskrit for two reasons. First of all, as I have already explained in a previous letter, if we can establish a bona fide language school then our American and European disciples can acquire student visas for coming to India. This will solve our visa problem. Secondly, if our students can actually preach in Hindi, periodically quoting Sanskrit, it will be a very good credit for us and very respectfully received by the Indian people. I have asked Dr. Kapoor in Vrindaban and also one pandita named Nrsimha Vallabha to also teach our students Hindi and Sanskrit. The curriculum can be two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening and the panditas can be paid Rs. 200 per month. Our students, however, must be prepared to apply themselves and actually learn the languages. Mr. B. R. Mohatta, our life member from Bombay, has just today visited me in Los Angeles and we have discussed this matter of the language school. He has advised that we take sanction for our school from different branches of the Indian Government such as the educational department, the social welfare department, and the cultural department. He says that we must approach them on the platform of wanting to present and develop this school for its educational and cultural value but not to place any stress on any religious import. Otherwise we shall not get any support from the government. He has described to me how the Rama-Krsna Mission is getting so much support from the government only on the pretext that they are keeping schools and medical clinics. Factually their schools and clinics are for namesake only and they are using the government's support to mainly propagate their philosophy. So in this way we also must take government support by tactfully presenting a solid and organized proposal. I want very much that this project should be initiated immediately and followed through with all necessary attention and endeavor. Now I have given some hint and I am turning the matter over to you for execution. I am standing by to hear from you whether or not we have obtained municipal sanction for our plans for our Juhu Beach scheme. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda Labels: Bombay, gurukula, Indian Government, study, visas letters | 17:32 |20 December 2007 Thursday, 20 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Atreya Rsi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 2, 1973. I have received the letter from Navayauvana along with the $150.00 daksina. I happily accept Navayauvana for second initiation. Enclosed find one sacred thread and one gayatri mantra sheet. You should hold a fire sacrifice amongst our members only, after which the initiate should listen to the gayatri mantra cassette tape which I have made once through the right ear. I hope that you are coming to our Mayapur festival March 1st to 8th. We are having a GBC meeting and your presence is required. After the Mayapur ceremony when I am coming to Europe, I will stop in Tehran for two or three days. Please offer my blessings to your wife, Navayauvana Prabhu, and all of the other devotees there. I hope this finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda Labels: initiation, Iran letters | 17:32 |20 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Hari Bol Ananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 13, 1973. Yes, we want to develop our land there and Bhaktivedanta Manor very nicely with cows and gardens. So after discussing the matter fully with Madhavananda and Mukunda you make a practical plan for doing this, simultaneously carrying on the Sankirtana program and book distribution. Kindly keep me informed of the progress there. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda letters | 17:31 | 20 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 12, 1973. Regarding the entry certificate from the Home Office of Great Britain, what is the value of such a certificate if it remains at the discretion of the local immigration officer whether or not the certificate can be expeditious in passing through immigration? If you are able to get such an entry certificate for me in London then go ahead, otherwise I do not think it is worth the botheration for me to apply personally. Regarding Bhadra Krsna das, so it turns out that he is a rascal. So forget about him and go on with your business. I have read your sample excerpt from the brochure and it is very nice. Kindly keep me informed of the progress there. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda letters | 17:31 | 18 December 2007 Tuesday, 18 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Govinda dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 1, 1973. I thank you very much for the check for $20,000.00 which has been duly received by me. I understand however that out of the sale of the Temple, $54,000.00 was taken as net proceeds so where is the balance money? Has Gaurasundara spent or distributed it? I also understand that Balabhadra has been paid $15,000.00 by Gaurasundara so $15,000.00 and $20,000.00 makes $35,000.00 so where is the balance of $19,000.00? Anyway, I beg to request you to arrange for sending the balance money because for our Vrindaban project we require a few lakhs of rupees immediately. In Bombay also we have purchased a large tract of land at Juhu Beach so why not ask Balabhadra to send his $15,000.00 and Gaurasundara also to send the balance money? My plan is to come to Hawaii by mid January 1974 when, of course, we shall meet together. I have no ill feelings against Gaurasundara, rest assured, neither anyone is accusing him or you. Everyone considers it has been done by some supernatural influence on Gaurasundara. We suffer on account of our karma - that is a fact. In this material world our karma is responsible for everything. Therefore, due to our work we create our own circumstances. So, if you like to cooperate with our missionary work you are welcome to return back. I have already written a previous letter to you, a copy of which is enclosed. At the present, I am so pleased that you have found some shelter and an opportunity to preach - it is all by Krsna's Grace. If you like you can come here or if you are satisfied, stay there. At any rate, go on with preaching work--that is our main business. When we meet in Hawaii we shall discuss everything in detail. In the meantime, kindly induce Balabhadra and Gaurasundara to send the balance money. I still have very high regard for Gaurasundara. I have praised him always for being a kind and gentle boy. All of a sudden he has gone crazy even to the extent of abandoning you. It will all be forgotten history if you again begin preaching work sincerely. I hope this letter finds you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda Labels: Bombay, fall down, Hawaii, preachers letters | 17:30 |16 December 2007 Saturday, 15 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Govardhan, Please accept my blessings. I hereby accept the devotees you have recommended for first and second initiation. Enclosed are three threads and six gayatri sheets for the second initiates. Hold a fire yajna, after which they may listen to the mantra once through the right ear from the cassette tape I have made. The spiritual names of the first initiates are as follows: Patrick - Khandaparasu dasa Donale - Daruna dasa Don Pearson - Dravinaprada dasa Chuck - Caturbhava dasa Judy - Rangavati dasi All the devotees should collect Guru-daksina and send it to Karandhar in Los Angeles. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS: Kda Enclosures - 9 Labels: Detroit, initiation letters | 18:31 |15 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Mukunda and Madhavananda, Please accept my blessings. Enclosed find one letter I just received from Jaya Laksmana das. We want to utilize our land there for raising flowers, vegetables and grains if possible. Jaya Laksmana's suggestions are welcome so please give him all encouragement and facility. Work together cooperatively and develop things nicely there. Hare Krsna. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda c.c. Jaya Laksmana das letters | 11:58 | 15 December 2007 15 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Kurusrestha, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 7, 1973 along with the wonderful photos of Denver Temple. Thank you very much. I am very pleased. Carry on as you are doing. When I return to the U.S. next summer I will certainly consider visiting there. I hereby accept the devotees as you have recommended for initiation and their names are as follows: Emil--Svavasa dasa Mike--Vyapi dasa Joe--Naikatma dasa Wally--Naikarmakrt das You may send their beads of Kirtanananda Maharaja for chanting upon. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda Labels: Denver, initiation letters | 12:01 |15 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Nityananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 11, 1973. Yes, I received the photo album and it was very nice. Thank you very much. I hereby accept the two devotees you recommended for second initiation and enclosed find two sacred threads and two gayatri mantras. Take instruction from Satsvarupa Goswami on how to properly perform the fire yajna after which the initiates may listen once to the mantra in the right ear from the cassette tape I have made. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda Labels: initiation, New Orleans letters | 12:00 |15 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Bhutatma, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter sated December 11, 1973. I hereby accept the following devotees for first and second initiation as recommended by you: John - Vatsara dasa Elena - Kalakantha dasi Peter - Vatsala dasa Deborah - Sasikala dasi Paul - Vatsi das Cheryl - Kandarpa-sundari dasi Naomi - Kamalalita dasi Enclosed find three sacred threads and three gayatri mantras for the second initiates. Hold a fire yajna, after which they may listen to the mantra once through the right ear from from the cassette tape I have have made. You may send the beads of the first initiates to Kirtanananda Maharaj and send it to me in Los Angeles. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/Kda ISKCON San Francisco Enclosures - 6 Labels: initiation, San Francisco letters | 11:59 |14 December 2007 15 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Madhudvisa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 11, 1973. Thank you for the comprehensive report of our Australian theater of ISKCON. I am glad that things are going nicely and that you have settled up the New Zealand affair. Depend on Krsna and He will give you good intelligence. I am pleased that you are managing things so nicely. I have seen pictures of the house you are trying for and it is very gorgeous. If you can purchase it, that will be a great credit for you. Krsna will recognize your service and it will be a great push forward for our movement. I pray to Krsna that you may become successful in this attempt. I have not heard from Tusta Krsna or Siddha-Svarupa Goswamis nor do I know anything of their plans to return to New Zealand. Try to convince them to return to our Society and work cooperatively. That they have gone away is not good thing and it is a deviation from our line of parampara. Rather, avoiding faultfinding and anarchy, they should keep our standards and work maturely and not cause factions and splitting. I am not at all pleased at what they have done, but if they return let us forget what has happened and go forward. As Sannyasins they may preach and you may manage affairs. That will be very nice. We have got so much vital spiritual knowledge to distribute to the public and they are in desperate need of it. The whole world is going to hell and everyone is suffering. In light of this, how can we argue amongst one another and neglect our responsibility for reclaiming these fallen souls for going Back to Home, Back to Godhead. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Australasia, co-operation letters | 11:59 |13 December 2007 Thursday, 13 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Amogha, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated November 30, 1973. Thank you for understanding this Krsna Consciousness philosophy more and more. Now that you have a little taste, kindly keep it as the most valuable asset of life. Take care of the devotees under your charge by maintaining our standards and always setting the proper example. Krsna will certainly give you all guidance. Please offer my grateful blessings to all the devotees there. Go on with our devotional practices and preach this Krsna Consciousness very boldly and enthusiastically to whomever you meet. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda Labels: Melbourne letters | 11:58 |13 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Beharilal, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated November 8, 1973 just now received by me as it was redirected from India. I have not received any reply from Tusta Krsna Swami to my letters. I do not know why he has left New Zealand. In Hawaii a great wrong doing has been done by Gaurasundara and Siddha-svarupa. They sold the temple and went away with all the money without taking any permission from me. It is a fall down on their parts. They have done the wrong thing. You should not go to Hawaii to join them. Stay in New Zealand and work cooperatively with Madhudvisa Swami. The "communal form of Krsna Consciousness" which you mention is not approved by me. It is all concoction. My Guru Maharaja condemned this practice. We must stay together and vigorously preach the Krsna Consciousness philosophy to the world. That is the real spirit of Lord Caitanya's Movement. Do not fall victim to this sentimental idea of peaceful life in seclusion. That is not our dharma. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: Australasia, fall down letters | 11:57 |13 December, 1973 Los Angeles My dear Balabhadra Prabhu, Please accept my blessings. I understand from Sudama Goswami that Gaurasundara has handed over to you some portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Temple there. I do not know why he has sold the Temple without my permission. He had no right to do such a thing. I request that you kindly send whatever money he has given you directly to me in Los Angeles by registered post. The old Temple BBT and Spiritual Sky debts may be cleared with it first and the rest should be sent directly to myself. We require huge sums of money for our Temple projects in Vrindaban and Mayapur so we have good use for it. Gaurasundara and Siddha-svarupa have almost fallen down. Do not join them. Stay in the association of our Temple and work according to established programs as I have already directed. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda c.c. Sudama Goswami Labels: disagreements, Hawaii, management letters | 11:55 |13 December, 1973 Los Angeles My Dear Govinda dasi, Please accept my blessings. Sudama Goswami has relayed to me the news of his conversation with you recently. We require just now huge sums of money for our projects in India so I request that you send the check for $20,000.00 to me in Los Angeles by registered post. Furthermore, please come here to Los Angeles or return to the Temple in Hawaii. Karandhara and Sudama goswami are prepared to help you in every way. Your husband has gone away so what can be done. But you should return to our Temple and again take up devotional service as I have designed and directed at our Centers. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS:Kda letters | 11:54 | |
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