a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1968 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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1 Feb 2004 Thursday, February 1, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. Dear HareKrishnaji, Please accept my greetings. I hope your are all well with your associates. You will be glad to learn that I came here to the United States in 1965, and since then I am preaching the Hare Krishna movement throughout the country. The Society's name is as above, and I have got six branches at the present moment, as follows: ISKCON Radha Krishna Temple 26 Second Avenue New York, N.Y. 10003 ISKCON Radha Krishna Temple 518 Frederick Street San Francisco, Calif. 94117 ISKCON Radha Krishna Temple 95 Glenville Avenue Allston, Massachusetts 02134 ISKCON Radha Krishna Temple 5364 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, Calif. 90019 ISKCON Radha Krishna Temple 3720 Park Avenue Montreal 18, Quebec, Canada ISKCON Radha Krishna Temple 411 B.W. Water Street Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 Now I want to send a batch of trained disciples into India, and you will see how they are absorbed in this Sankirtana movement. When I was in India, I had some talks with you and you were interested in the matter of spreading the Sankirtana movement, HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE. HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE, all over the world. I shall be glad to hear from you if you still maintain the idea, and if so, there is ample opportunity now to spread this Bhagavata movement, backed by literatures like Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Lord Caitanya's Teachings, etc. which are already published. You will be glad to know also that my Gita under the title of Gitopanisad, or Bhagavad-gita as it is, is going to be published by Messrs. MacMillan and Co. of New York. Gradually they will take up my English version of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Brahma Samhita, etc. The younger section of this country, both boys and girls, are taking great interest in this movement. At present I have more than 100 students already initiated, strictly following the Vaisnava regulations. They are freed from following bad habits, namely; illicit sex life, intoxication, gambling, and non-vegetarian diet. So there is ample opportunity for spreading this original Indian cultural movement all over the world, and because you have interest in it, I shall be very glad to hear from you by return of post how you can cooperate in this world wide movement. I shall request you in this connection to secure a copy of "Illustrated Weekly of the Times of India", published on January 21, 1968, and see on page 38 how our movement is going on. Many papers in this country also, especially LIFE Magazine, Times of India, San Francisco Chronicle, and many other minor papers have printed articles about our movement. Many mayors of great cities, police officials, have also appreciated our movement. The late Ambassador of India, now Governor of Assam, Sri B.K. Nehru, has also great appreciation for these activities. You will be glad to know that we draw no distinction of caste, creed, or nationality. So if there is any possibility of uniting the whole human race under one religion, under one scripture, under one mantra, under one activity, then this movement will be active. Our mission is one God, Sri Krishna; one scripture, Bhagavad-gita; one mantra, HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE. HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA, RAMA, RAMA, HARE HARE; and one activity, namely to serve Lord Krishna with life, wealth, intelligence, and words. I shall be glad to hear from you how much you are interested in this movement. On hearing from you favorably, I shall arrange to send a batch of trained disciples of this country to exhibit in all important cities of India how they are working. Thanking you in anticipation for an early reply. Yours sincerely, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Acarya letters | 04:45 | Thursday, February 1, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Madhusudana, Please accept my blessings. You are always engaged in Krishna's service is the greatest pleasure for me, and I am feeling transcendental happiness. Actually bodily I am not getting much strength, but spiritually I am getting much strength because my spiritual children are growing in spiritual stength. That is my strength. That prayer "Jagannatha Swami, nayana pathagami, bhava tu me." For the time being, the Jagannathas can be transferred there, chanting this prayer. But if you can wait until my arrival that is better. It is nice to hold a special ceremony for that purpose. I would like to do it when I go to N.Y. Yes, when Jagannatha goes to sleep and when He rises up, to ring the bell is the custom. Ringing of bell is required even for offering prasadam. That is the system in all the Temples in Vrindaban. Your question; Does the Lord go to sleep so early and before everyone, and wake up so late, after everybody? The Lord is independent and complete. He has nothing to do with everyone. He is Lord. After He wakes up He is washed, not before. Sri means opulence, auspicity. And therefore before remembering any friend or superior, the Sri word is prefixed in so many forms. The real word is Sri; the others are all different forms of Sri. Yes, Lord Jagannatha is in the Spiritual Sky; every form of Krishna is in the Spiritual Sky. Ekadasi is observed for increasing the strength of devotion. Yes, the analogy concerning the spiritual body of the Sat-Guru is acceptable, but not in the material sense. In the material world, the gold box and the gold plated box may be different in price, but in spiritual world there is no such distinction. There the gold box and the gold plated box are the same. In material world there is difference between a sweeper and a cooker; in the spiritual world a person who sweeps the Temple and a person who worships in the Temple are all the same. That is absolute knowledge. Yes, the verse concerning Arca Vigraha is like this: "arcasiladhir gurusu naramati vaisnave jati budhi." The meaning is that one should not think of the Deity as made of stone, wood, etc. Another verse is, "Archaiam Evam Paria Ja Pujan Sadraya Hatay." The meaning is that one who worships the Deity with great devotion but doesn't show any devotion to the devotees of the Lord, or doesn't preach Krishna Consciousness for the benefit of the general public, he is in the lower stage of devotional service. Yes, Sanskrit is spoken not only on Krishna Loka but also in higher planets, of the demigods. It is called the language of God and the demigods. It was spoken also on this planet, when people were all godly, they used to speak in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the origin of all languages of the civilized peoples. It is most perfect, not only descriptive; the word "Sanskrit" means "the most perfect". Because not a single word you can pronounce without having a bona fide principle. It is not like the English language, "but, put" with irrational difference in pronunciation, no principles. Sanskrit isn't like that. Therefore it is perfect. It isn't whimsical. English poetry has one line one inch long, next line 600 inches long. Sanskrit is not like that. There are strict principles, and it is so beautiful. Therefore in Sanskrit language not an ordinary man can become a poet. No other language of the world can be compared with it. No other language of the world is so perfect as Sanskrit. Any language near to Sanskrit language (like Bengali) is nearer to perfection. Sanskrit is pronounced same way here or there, it is standard. Yes you can sing prayers in Sanskrit, but prayers in English can be also pronounced because the Lord accepts the motive not the pronunciation of the language. He wants to see spiritual motive. Even if some effectiveness is lost in translation, if the motive is there, it will make no difference. Regarding your question about Gopala; yes, Krishna can do anything, that is the principle. Foodstuffs can be offered at any place but with devotion and formalities. I thank you very much for your inquisitiveness, and Krishna will help you to understand the Truth from within and without. I am very pleased for your endeavor. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. You wanted to to to India. Now there is opportunity. Acyutananda is opening a centre at Kanpur the third important city in India. Rayarama and Brahmananda will shortly start for India. You can also go with them. Ask your parents to pay for the expenses. letters | 04:42 | Thursday, February 1, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Brahmananda, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of 1.29.68. Yes, I very much approve of Mr. Kallman's idea for the book on "Transcendental Meditation." Rayarama has begun work on it already, and probably he will bring it back to N.Y. with him. Mukunda talked to Ravi Sankara and he said he is too busy with recordings and movies, etc. The specimens of paper are all nice, any one of them will be suitable. But I prefer the 70 or 60 lb. Your letter to Village Voice is very nice, and is written right to the point. I have made an Istagosthi file, and I shall go on putting the reports there as you send them. Lord Jagannatha is one feature of Krishna as so many features, as Lord Narayana. Jagat means universe, and natha means Lord, the Lord of the Universe. Today I have received one urgent letter from Acyutananda Brahmacari. He is doing very nicely with preaching work at Kanpur. He has held many seminars, at different places, and the educated circle (lawyers, teachers, etc.) are taking part in his preaching work. Kanpur is the next important city after Calcutta and Bombay. Therefore his decision to start immediately one center at Kanpur is acceptable. As proposed previously, $10 from each center should be contributed for the Indian American House. Now, you can immediately send him at the following address $100 from the book account. And for the next month we shall arrange to send him $60, collected from each center $10. He is requesting me to send you, Rayarama, and Rupanuga for sometime there for preaching work. Rayarama has already sent him a note that he may be going there, latest by April 1968. You had the program to go to India for some time, now you can arrange for your starting there. Kanpur is very important center, and there are many big business magnets, and 4 or 5 Brahmacaris staying there for sometime and preaching this mission will carry good effect. The bank should be advised to transfer $100 by air mail to the following address; Acyutananda das Brahmacari, c.o N. Banerjea, 114 Elliot Road, Kanpur 4, India. Hope you are all well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 04:38 | 30 Jan 2004 Tuesday, January 30, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am just in receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, along with a copy of Srimad-Bhagavatam 316.1, beginning from page 1708. I have sent 1 tape this morning, probably you are getting tomorrow. So far I have received your edited copy of Srimad-Bhagavatam it is very nicely done. For the last few days I am feeling a little trouble in my brain. There is a buzzing sound always which sometimes disturbs me, and therefore my tape recordings in dictaphone has become a little slow, but I will go on sending tapes as far as possible. I understand that some of our students are in Boston, and they are not attending the Temple or cooperating with you. This means they are under the clutches of Maya more or less. After all, Krishna Consciousness is difficult job for less intelligent persons. But one who understands Krishna Consciousness and acts accordingly, he should be accepted as spiritually the strongest man. In the Caitanya Caritamrta it is said that persons who take to Krishna Consciousness are supposed to be the most intelligent man. I have received one letter from Krishna devi and I have asked her to come here and settle up the misunderstanding. Her husband Subala is here with me and he is very peaceful sincere boy. If Krishna devi doesn't come back and live with him peacefully, then his decision is to live alone without any wife. I think this boy can do so. Anyway, if Krishna devi comes we shall see things nicely mitigated. Regarding M: I do not know much about his activities, but so far I have heard that he has got his particular type of mantra which he sells for $35. And there are hundreds of students for being cheated by him. Anyone who does not know the science of Krishna is a great fool, and if he poses himself as Spiritual Master, he must be cheating the public without any doubt. Your process of discouraging friends in the matter of their being cheated by such misnomer is very good. You know that out of many millions of people, somebody tries to be spiritually advanced. And out of many millions of spiritually advanced men, hardly there is one who understands Krishna Consciousness. So, in your country there are many who may be spiritually inclined, but because they want to be cheated, Krishna sends them many kinds of cheaters to bewilder them. It is understood that M says that one can drink, and at the same time make advancement in meditation, is clearly a cheating process. But what can be done, your countrymen also wants to be cheated like that. They want to continue their illicit sex relationships, intoxication habit, meat eating, and all other nonsensical things, and at the same time they want to make spiritual advancement. This is clear indication of being cheated; nobody can make any advancement in spiritual life keeping himself conditioned by the above sinful activities. So you can judge yourself what is the position of the so-called M, and try to help your friends in such a way. There is no need of talking with people who are interested in the M, but if you have any sympathetic friends, you can let him know how the cheating process is going on. I do not think that his disciples claiming advancement in spiritual life is bona fide. Hope you are all well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 04:10 | 26 Jan 2004 Friday, January 26, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Daughter Krsna devi, Please accept my blessings. Thank you very much for your letter postdated Jan 25, 1968, and I thank you very much for your proposal to come here and see me. I shall be so glad to see you and Danny personally as soon as possible. I requested you take charge of the Santa Fe Center because you were doing the job very nicely, and I still hope that your presence there will solve all the problems recently created. Mistakes there may be in our life, but if we stick to Krsna Consciousness, Krsna will surely put us on the right path. Your husband Sriman Subala das is living with me very peacefully, and he is carving Radha and Krsna, from hard wood. So this life of material existence is just like hard wood and if we can carve Krsna out of it, that is the sucess of our life. So, at any circumstances you must not forget Krsna. I love you at my heart and therefore I gave you the name Krsna devi dasi. Don't forget Krsna even for a single moment; chant Hare Krsna loudly or slowly as it my be convenient. But don't forget to chant the Holy Name. I hope everything will be all right as soon as you come here with Danny, and I am awaiting your arrival with great interest. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 04:28 | |
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