a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1968 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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28 Feb 2004 Wednesday, February 28, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. Dear Mukunda and Janaki, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letters of Feb. 24 and 25, 1968, and I have noted the contents. Yes, if you can find out some distributing agent for our Back to Godhead, that is very good. Please do it. I have received both dictaphone machines, and the new one is working nicely. The foreign one I have yet to test at some shop, which I will do this week. I have written in Uddhava's letter that I shall be arriving on March 8th, and we can discuss the meeting at the Immigration Bureau at that time. I thank you very much for that nice sketch done by Janaki, and I shall have Jadurani begin a painting from that pose. So far the spirit soul is concerned, if conditions are for some reason not favorable in some place, he is forced to leave that womb and take shelter in another. And if there is chanting of Hare Krishna, even the soul is there for a short time, oh, he will hear and become advanced. This sound vibration is not material, it is spiritual, and powerful beyond our conception. So it cannot be hindered in any way by something material; it surpasses all these material barriers. So you can know it that when you are chanting, you are also giving benefit to even the child in the womb. I hope you are feeling much healthier by this time, and I shall be very glad to see you when I arrive in San Francisco. Hope you are both well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. Please hand over the enclosed letter to Uddhava & Cidananda. ACB letters | 09:22 | 26 Feb 2004 Monday, February 26, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Brahmananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 24, along with two copies of letters, one from Purusottama das Brahmacari at Vrindaban, another from Teen Activity Center of Kings. This letter from the Activity Center is very hopeful for our Kirtana propaganda. I am very much ambitious for leading a Kirtana party, especially all over your state, and Europe. Hamsaduta is trying to organize this party. If you can move with this Kirtana party, say a batch of 12 to 15 heads, all over the States, as well as Europe, I am sure we will be more popular than the so-called yogi Maharishi Mahesa. I have received another letter from Acyutananda in which it appears that he is not fixed up in staying in India. He is very seriously thinking of coming back, and this is very disappointing. If he comes back then our dream of opening a center in India is not very encouraging, because Kirtanananda came back, Ramanuja has joined with the Buddhist camp, and Acyutananda at the beginning showed very encouraging hopes, but that is gradually vanishing, and he is eager to come back. The other two boys living with Bon Maharaja, they are not very much hopeful, especially Hari Vilasa. I have heard about him lots of things from Ramanuja and Acyutananda, and you have written about him that he is little fanatical. Under the circumstances, how it is possible to combine them together and open a branch in India? If I would have been there, I could manage, but I am here. I do not think Rayarama may prepare to go to India at the present moment. When I return to New York, we shall consult together and do the needful. In the meantime, let us consolidate our energy for bringing the books. My health is ordinarily good, but that hissing sound sometimes is disturbing me. I consulted a physician here, and he has given me some medicine, but it is not improving. I have written today one letter to Acyutananda to come back if he thinks seriously to do so. I have received the copy of your letter sent to Dai Nippon and if they agree to the proposal, it is all right. Regarding Purusottama Brahmacari's letter from Vrindaban: if you think you are able to purchase 340 copies at 40% discount, then you can send one letter to Narayana Maharaja asking if he will take the responsibility of receiving the books from him, and pack them and send to Calcutta to our shipping agent. If he wants to take the responsibility and the trouble to do this, then you can send him bank draft being the price of the books, and he will do the needful. In the meantime, I am surprised you have not received the documents from United Shipping Corporation. I have sent you copy of their last letter in which it is said the goods have been shipped by S.S. Flying Enterprise on the 14th of January, 1968. As such, the ship should have reached by now New York, so please take information immediately whether the ship has arrived and also send immediately one letter to the United Shipping Corp. I think nowadays it takes a long time to arrive in New York from Calcutta on account of the Suez Canal being closed. Anyway, you should find out the list of arriving ships from the port information and do the needful. If the ship is arrived recently, send them a telegram why the documents not received. I am glad to understand that Lord Jagannatha is being repaired, and after this he will begin carving Sri Radha Krishna Murti. I am getting one Pair carved by Gaurasundara. Please find out if this boy Bob has got any knowledge or experience of casting, or any such equipment. I want to make 100 Murtis, probably in hard rubber, for our Temples. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A.B. Bhaktivedanta Swami N.B. You have asked about the printing of Srimad-Bhagavatam. The printing of the next 3 volumes has already begun in India. But if it is possible to print it here, then, as you know, we have got 50 or so more volumes, and they can be printed here if it can be arranged. But the next 3 volumes have already begun being printed in India, and I have sent you the specimen copy of printing. If printing of Bhagavatam is done here and a Kirtana party is organized then I shall never go back to India. I shall stay here in your good care till my death. Hamsaduta will help me in establishing a New Vrindaban in the West. Please inform Hamsaduta that I have received his encouraging letter: I am glad to learn that Sriman Umapati is coming to see me. He is heartily welcome. Kindly care of the shipping affairs from India. letters | 06:38 | Monday, February 26, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Uddhava and Cidananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters sent on Feb. 26, 1968. Yes, the idea of finding a large house for all the devotees is very nice. Please do it. And, if it is available, I shall stay there also, but it must be a quiet place, as much as possible. If it is not yet available, then I can stay in the building above the temple, provided the lift works. So far the speaking engagements are concerned, they must be well-organized and sponsored, so that there will be enough publicity and many people will come. We are not cheap, we want to speak something, but there must be good accommodations provided. There must be speaker system, and there must be good publicity beforehand so that many may know of us and come. This is very important. As it is presently planned, we shall leave this place on the 8th of March by PSA Airlines. The flight number is 977, and it leaves Burbank at 10:10 a.m. and arrives at San Francisco at 11:05 a.m. So you can make arrangements accordingly, and I will be very anxious to see all my good San Francisco students again. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 06:36 | Monday, February 26, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. Andrea Temple Freeport, Grand Bahama Island My Dear Andrea Temple, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 20, 1968, and it is very encouraging to me. I am so happy to hear that, by Krishna's Grace, people in that place are taking interest in Krishna Consciousness. This Krishna Consciousness is the most urgent need of the whole human society, and we need so many preachers, both boys and girls, to spread this message throughout the world. So it is very much encouraging to me to learn of your activities there in the Bahama Islands. So far my coming to Bahamas, I am willing to come there and continue the work of my Guru Maharaja of spreading this Sankirtana movement all over the Western countries. Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted that this Hare Krishna Mantra be sung and chanted in every village and town of the globe, and I am simply trying to carry out the order of my Guru Maharaja to give this Divine Message to the people of the Western world. I am mendicant, and Sannyasi, and the guest of my students here in the Western world. If you wish for me to fly to Bahamas, then you please send me airplane ticket and I shall come at your bidding. Also, two tickets will be required for my attendents, but I think they may go on the youth fare, which is less expensive. I have been told the weather is very warm there, and the sunshine may be very beneficial to my health. Simply I require some quiet place so to continue my translating work on Srimad-Bhagavatam, and that's all. We are mendicant, and missionary, and can make our dwelling place anywhere. Please continue your good work there, and I am awaiting your reply. I have got plans to leave Los Angeles on March 9 for San Francisco; the address there is ISKCON, 518 Frederick Street, San Francisco, 94117. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 06:32 | 25 Feb 2004 Sunday, February 25, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of a copy of your last Istagosthi dated Jan. 27, and I am very much satisfied with your replies on the questions made in the Istagosthi. You may know also that Ramakrishna's worship of Kali makes him a third class man. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that one who worships the demigods just like Brahma, Siva, Indra, Candra or demigoddesses like Kali, Durga, Sarasvati, etc., are described as persons who have lost their intelligence. One person who has lost his intelligence, how he can become an incarnation of God? A person who has lost his intelligence, is not even counted amongst the higher section of society. So, the Ramakrishna is a bogus man according to the statement of Bhagavad-gita. Vivekananda was also not even intelligent man because he accepted Ramakrsna as incarnation of God. This Ramakrsna, who is actually Gadadhara Chatterjee, declared himself as the same Rama and Krsna. If he is accepted as such by some person, is he very intelligent man? Suppose a man comes before somebody and says he is Pres. Johnson. and the foolish man accepts the pretender as Pres. Johnson, is that man to be accepted as very intelligent man? Vivekananda was not even an intelligent man because he accepted Gadhadhara Chatterjee as incarnation of God without any credentials. We accept Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead on the evidence of Vedic literature. There is no evidence in the Vedic literatures that a common unintelligent person by worshipping a demigoddess Kali can become an incarnation of Godhead. The goddess Kali is divine mother for the conditioned souls, not for the liberated souls. There is no direction in the Vedic literatures that one can become liberated even by worshipping the goddess Kali. She is superintendent of the prison house known as material world. One can derive some material facilities by worshipping Kali or Durga, but nobody can become liberated by worshipping such demigoddesses, so what to speak of becoming incarnation of Godhead. So the propaganda that Ramakrsna became incarnation of God by worshipping Kali is not accepted by any authorized acharya and therefore it is a bogus propaganda. One who follows therefore, such bogus propaganda is also misled as far as his spiritual advancement is concerned. You have to meet many opposing elements in the matter of preaching work therefore you should always be careful to follow the principles of Bhagavad-gita as it is. You will be glad to know that our arrangements with MacMillan for publishing Bhagavad-gita As It Is is already completed, and the manuscript is handed over to them. We should preach clearly that our Krsna Consciousness movement is surely on the basis of Bhagavad-gita as it is. Any other movement which does not tally with the principles of Bhagavad-gita as it is, is considered by us as unauthorized. All these so-called yogic or other spiritualist movements in this country imported from India are all against the principles of Bhagavad-gita. It is our movement only which strictly follows the principles of the Bhagavad-gita, under the guidance of the authorities or acaryas in disciplic succession from Lord Caitanya who practically demonstrated in life and practice the principles of Bhagavad-gita. The last word in the Bhagavad-gita is to surrender unto Krsna and Lord Caitanya taught us to surrender unto Krsna. His transcendental movement of chanting the Holy name of Krsna and Rama is the sublime movement, not only at the present age, but for all the time past, present and future. ACB letters | 05:26 | Sunday, February 25, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Pradyumna, Please accept my blessings. I am very much satisfied with your transliteration and request you to transliterate the 2nd Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the original text is sent herewith. Please find. On your completion of the transliteration, the original copy may be sent directly to the following address: Hitsaran Sharma, Radha Press, 993.3 Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Delhi 31, India with the covering letter as follows: "Dear Sharmaji, Please accept my respectful obeisances. Under instructions from Our Spiritual Master, His Divine Grace, Sri Srimad A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, I am sending herewith the transliteration of the 2nd Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam with diacritic marks. Kindly insert this transliteration in place of simple transliteration which is already with you. Swamiji has already requested you to collect some letters with diacritic marks and we wish you will kindly do the needful. Hope you are well. Thanking you in anticipation." One carbon copy of the transliteration may be sent to me with a carbon copy of the covering letter to Hitsaran Sharma. The composition of the Second Canto is already begun. Therefore, the more quickly you send the transliteration to the above press is better. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 05:23 | Sunday, February 25, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. Mario Windisch Lidingo, Sweden My Dear. Mr. Windisch, I thank you very much for your letter dated Feb. 16, 1968, along with the enclosure of an older letter dated August 27, 1967. I am very sorry to learn that my dear brother Sadananda is seriously ill and the doctors have advised complete rest for him. He is my intimate friend and God-brother, so although I wanted to open correspondence with him, I voluntarily restrain myself from doing so, taking into consideration his present health. I pray to Krishna that he may recover very soon, so that we may not only open correspondence, but maybe I can see him personally. In Bombay sometimes we lived together and he used to treat my little sons very kindly. His heart is so soft, as soft as a good mother's, and I always remember him and shall continue to do so. When you meet him next, kindly offer my respectful obeisances. And if there is any message for me, you can send me to my New York address. Just after sending you my letter sometimes in the month of May, 1967, I also fell seriously ill by heart stroke, and my disciples here admitted me into the hospital. I tried to recoup my health here but I could not do it properly, so I went back to India for some time, and I again have come back here last December. First I was in San Francisco, now I have come to Los Angeles, and from here I shall again go to San Francisco, from where I shall go to New York, then to Boston, maybe to Buffalo, and then I shall reach Montreal by the month of June. If you come there by that time, it will be a great pleasure to meet you. Our Montreal Temple is situated at the following address: 3720 Park Avenue, Montreal 18, Quebec, Canada. The boy in charge of the Temple is Janardana das Adhikari, and he can be reached at the number 849-4334 (his home telephone). He is a very learned scholar and is highly advanced in Krishna Consciousness. I have good hope and faith in him, and when you meet him you will be very much pleased to talk with him. He is M.A., and preparing for his Ph.D., and is a good scholar in the French language also. Krishna Consciousness movement is the need for the Western countries at this time. The Westerners have sufficiently enjoyed their material achievements and they are now, especially the younger generation, seeking for something spiritual. That is quite natural. In the Vedanta Sutra, it is stated as "Atha Atho Brahma Jijnasa." When a person finishes his material activities, naturally, he becomes interested to search after spiritual realization. That is natural consequence. A living entity is factually a spirit soul whose eternal position is knowledge and blissfulness. Material knowledge, however advanced it may be, cannot award blissfulness, which is the demand of the spirit soul. That blissfulness is being searched for by the materialist by advancement of material science, but they cannot find it in such a way. Therefore, the younger generation, especially in the Western countries, who have seen much of material amenities, are now feeling something greater than that. Unfortunately, they have not received it. There are some movements like the Beatles, or Hippies, among the younger generation, by realizing the negation of matter. Their attempt is to forget matter by some hallucination or mental concoction, with the help of some deluding matter. So their attempt is nice, but there is no guide. Therefore, the younger generation in Europe and in America require an authorized guide for their present urge for spiritual realization. The answer is there in the Vedanta in the aphorism, "Janma Adyasya Yatah." The answer is to search the Absolute Truth, Who is the Source of all emanation. This Absolute Source of emanation is explained preliminarily in the Bhagavad-gita, and explicitly in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Srimad-Bhagavatam explains the very beginning of its starting that the Absolute Truth is Sentient, and Person, and Independent. The Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead is distinct from all other living entities, in His being the Absolute Independent. Therefore, in the Vedas He is described as the Supreme Leader of all living entities. So if we are very serious to understand sequence of spiritual truth, then we must take advantage of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam completely. Lord Caitanya preached these two as essence of the Vedas. His very life and teachings are embodiment of the principles of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Our attempt to spread Krishna Consciousness is just in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; I surmise that you have already learned many things about the life and teachings of Lord Caitanya, because of your intimate association with my God-brother Swami Sadanandaji. I shall be very glad to talk more elaborately on the subject matter when we meet at Montreal in the month of June. Thanking you once more, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 05:16 | Sunday, February 25, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Karunamayi Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your nice letter dated Feb. 15, 1968, and I thank you very much for it. I can see how you are advancing in Krishna Consciousness by the feelings expressed therein, and I am so glad you are feeling such transcendental pleasure in serving the Lord. This transcendental pleasure is unlimited and increases as we increase our desire to give more and more voluntary service. To surrender to Krishna all at once is not generally possible, but as we serve Krishna more and more, we gradually become more and more surrendered at His Lotus Feet. So you please continue to serve Krishna in these ways you have mentioned, and do not feel that your service is any less valuable than that of others. In the transcendental loving service of the Lord, it doesn't matter whether we are working, cooking, painting, writing, chanting, or whatever, they are all the same. There are no such distinctions of higher and lower on the transcendental platform. The important thing is that we are engaging our time and energy in the service of the Lord. After all, we are so tiny, what can we do? Krishna sees simply that this time is being spent in His service. Please continue to help Gargamuni in his efforts to spread Krishna Consciousness, and chant, and continue your duties, and in this way you will be happy and successful in Krishna Consciousness. I am happy to hear you are so much anxious in helping to start a new temple. Your enthusiasm is very encouraging to me; there is great need for the spreading of Krishna Consciousness, and we need so many enthusiastic boys and girls for carrying on this great mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja wanted that this Krishna Consciousness be spread all over the Western countries especially, and now in my old age, I am leaving this great responsibility in the hands of all you my students. Regarding your questions: Once prasadam (water, or foodstuffs) is offered to the Lord, His Plate should remain on the altar for about 15-20 minutes (while the portion in the pots may be taken by the devotees). Water need only remain there for a few minutes. Once the prasadam is removed from the altar, and touched by us, it should not again be placed on the altar. Whatever we offer should be as fresh and pure as is possible. So long we are engaged in the service of the Lord, He has assured us all protection. But if we are attacked, of course we must defend ourselves as best we can. Nobody can compare with the Merciful Nityananda. He can defend Himself quite well; He could have killed the sinners in an instant, but He had decided that He wanted to save these sinners. He was setting an example that we have to preach Krishna Consciousness even at the risk of personal violence. Just like the children sometimes become violent, but the father knows he can defend himself at any time, and so he tries to teach them correctly by reprimanding them. Yes, it is respectful to circumambulate the temple, keeping your right side to the Deities if possible. You may dance around the temple in this way if you like. I have no complaints with my health and I am feeling well. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 05:11 | 24 Feb 2004 Saturday, February 24, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Guru das, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated Feb. 21, 1968, and I am glad to learn that you had some discussions with some non-devotees. You can take it for granted that non-devotee class who is not in Krishna Conciousness as we are teaching are all great fools never mind how ever they may advertise themselves as meditators, yogis, philosophers, religionists, and so on. We are presenting a scientific program of God conciousness on the basis of the highest authority, Bhagavad-gita. For a preacher there are four principles to be followed. One, he must be fully surrendered to Krishna. Two, intimately in friendly relationship with devotees trying to elevate conditioned living entities to Krishna Conciousness and rejecting the non-devotee class. So if you find a non-devotee eager to listen submissively you can show your mercy to elevate him to Krishna Conciousness, but a non-devotee who is already poisoned by the serpent of the demon class swami or yogi is very difficult to be dealt with, so the best thing is to reject them and not waste time for their elevation; but a person who is willing to hear us submissively must be given chance to understand the philosophy of Krishna Conciousness. I am very much obliged to you for expressing your good sentiments on account of my humble service to you all. Your appreciation of my humble service is thankfully accepted. Regarding your going to India the house is not yet settled, so unless I definitely hear from Acyutananda and others who are trying to have a nice house for our Indian branch you may not be very much anxious to go to India but I am sure we are going to have a nice house very soon which I shall let you know in due course. Otherwise, when I return, you, your wife, and some other brahmacaris shall go with me. I have received one letter from Brahmananda asking for a very nice glossy photo portrait of me so if you can arrange to send such a glossy photo it will be very nice. He asked to receive the photo as soon as possible. He has also advised me to take help of a professional photographer if your assistance is not available immediately because I am away from your place. Please let me know if you can send such glossy photo from many negatives which you have got in your possession. I understand also that Rayarama has taken some of the negatives from you in New York so if you like you can advise him to do the needful. Anyway the matter is urgent and I ask you to do the needful. I am expected to return to San Francisco by the 10th of March and I shall let you know the exact time and date later on. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:56 | Saturday, February 24, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Rayarama, Please accept my blessings. Your letter dated Feb. 21st, duly in hand, both yourself and Brahmananda are to be thanked on behalf of Lord Krishna for your tireless endeavor to get the manuscript of Bhagavad-gita ready and for this grand work Krishna will certainly bestow His blessings upon you both. I thank you very much that you are taking care of Lord Caitanya's Teachings and get it ready for publishing as soon as possible. Regarding India, I have received letter from Acyutananda yesterday which is not very encouraging. The man who was negotiating for a nice house appears to be a con man. So, I have advised him not to open a center at Kanpur at present. So, you may not be hasty immediately for starting to India. In the meantime, I am negotiating also with Hitsaranji. He is a little busy now a days on account of two marriage ceremonies. His boss is a big industrialist and he is going to get his son and grandson married very recently. He is writing a letter that he is going to write me details after he is free from the responsibility of the marriage. Regarding buying a small printing shop, I am not very much optimistic. If you can organize a regular press for printing all our magazines and books and engage all our boys and girls in the press work that will be nice proposal, but if you purchase a small printing work where I understand even Back to Godhead cannot be published, what is the use of that press. Better we are negotiating with Hitsaranji and if we are able to open a nice center in India we shall purchase some machine from America and start a press there. In India the labor is cheaper extensively than in America. My idea is that if we are able to have a nice branch in India we can do the printing works nicely under your supervision. But, if you can start a full fledged press in N.Y. that will be still more better. A full fledged press means we must have two typographic machines at least and engage some of the girls for composition and the boys may be engaged in printing and machine manipulating. That will be a great success. If Mr. Kallman purchases a big machine for printing our books, then it will be very much helpful. I cannot advise you to purchase a small printing press because that will not help us. The same energy can be transferred to India when we are in possession of a bigger house. There is every possibility of Sharma's help in our publishing power, but that is not yet settled. As soon as I hear from him favorably I shall ask you to make direct correspondence with him. I am just waiting his favorable next reply. I am enclosing herewith one copy of the letter recieved from United Shipping Corp. of Calcutta in respect of our goods shipped via s.s. "Flying Enterprise". The ship is expected to arrive by this time in N.Y. port so necessary action should immediately be taken. At last I beg to inform you that unless you receive definite letter from Acyutananda you may not be in hurry to go to India taking so much risk. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Enclosure: 1 letters | 07:14 | Saturday, February 24, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Brahmananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 19 Feb. 1968, and am so glad to learn that you have delivered the manuscript of Bhagavad-gita to MacMillan & Co. on the date of my Guru Maharaja's birthday ceremony. The questionnaires which you have sent me I am answering them on separate typed paper and both the questions and answers are enclosed herewith. Please find and do the needful. I have also received the letters from Mario Windisch. This gentleman appears to be a disciple of my German god-brother Sadananda Swami. He appears to be very much interested in our movement and very shortly he is visiting Montreal. Perhaps I may meet him in June when I shall go there and there is every possibility of opening two centers. One in Sweden and another in Austria. Regarding glossy photo, I am writing to Guru das but I think Rayarama has got many specimens of my photograph. If you so desire, you can select one of them. I am also writing to Gurudasa in this connection. I understand that you have ordered some books from Gaudiya Math and Mr. Kalman is cooperating. Regarding printing in India, I have already sent you a specimen copy of printing which is being done in India, and if so desired, such printing work can be done in India without difficulty. But, if Dai Nippon Co. agrees to your letter of which you have sent me the copy then you can hand over the manuscript to them as early as possible. Regarding the purchase of press, I do not know what is the condition of the press but I want a full complete press where all kinds of books can be printed. If our men can take charge of a nice press either in New York or in India, that will be an ideal proposition, but the press which you propose to purchase is not equipped for printing our books. If Mr. Kalman can equip the press for printing our books, Bhagavatam esp., and other books also, and if our boys and girls can efficiently take up the printing work, that will be very nice. If we have got a press in our control with full equipment it will be a great boon. If such manipulation is not possible, then I wish to start a nice press in our Indian branch and get all our books and printing work done there. For a nice arrangement of our Indian branch I am already in negotiation with Indian friends and I have proposed a big industrialist to become the president of the Indian branch. In India labor is very cheap in comparison with your country, and especially if we have our Indian branch in Vrindaban we can have labor there as our inmates of our institution. There are many Vaisnavas who will be ready to work without any renumeration simply in exchange of their food and lodging. If we take American machines there and some of our American students to see the management we can get there labor practically without any charges, but this idea can be done as said when we get a nice house to accommodate everything. The proposed branch in Kanpur is not yet settled. I have received one letter from Acyutananda which is not very much encouraging. Rayarama may not start for India until there is nice arrangement for our Indian branch. His going away from New York at present will be a great hamper for BTG work. As intimated by you I am awaiting Rayarama's letter in respect of the press and printing works in India. In the meantime, if you get confirmation from Dai Nippon agreeing to accept $5000 for TLC then you can get them printed without delay. Regarding the sketch cover of Bhagavad-gita, Govinda Dasi promises to send you by the next week. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:06 | Saturday, February 24, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Cidananda, Please accept my blessings. I am so glad to receive your letter dated Feb. 20, and I have noted the contents. You can arrange to supply prasadam only to our devotees. We are not in a position financially to distribute foodstuff for the poor class of men. Such men may take shelter of some charitable institution. At the present moment, we are not in a position to make charities but for the devotees we can sacrifice anything. So you can stop preparing prasadam for persons who are not willing to work neither to pay. Regarding your going to India, that is already in my program. Please save some money, not only for your passage but also for my passage. I am coming back to San Francisco by the 10th of March. When we meet we shall talk more of our Indian program. I think it is Krishna's desire that you should come to India with me and help in establishing a nice Indian center there. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:04 | Saturday, February 24, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Jayananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your latest letter, and I am so glad to learn that you are making nice arrangements for my lecturing in different places, and I expect to return in San Francisco by the tenth of March, and wish to execute all programs within 20-30 days from the date of my arrival before starting for New York. I shall be very glad to initiate girl friend if you recommend her actual mental condition. We should not initiate anyone who is not willing to follow our regulations. In the meantime let her attend our classes and join the Sankirtana program regularly. I am so pleased to learn that you are by the Grace of Krishna improving day by day in the matter of Krishna Conciousness. Thank you very much for your sincere service. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:02 | February 24, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif My Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of Feb. 22, 1968 with enclosures. I am writing letter to Sri Hrsikesa Brahmacari giving him instructions. You also write them to work for the Society in cooperation with Acyutananda without wasting time in sight seeing. Regarding Dictaphone, Aniruddha is doing something. I am now scheduled to go to S.F. by the 10th March 1968. Why not come here a few days earlier try to see some millionaires in connection with our Society's cause. How Janaki is doing. My blessings for her. Your ever well wisher A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 07:00 | 22 Feb 2004 Thursday, February 22, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. David Exley Chief NGO Section External Affairs Office United Nations Dear Mr. David J. Exley, With further reference to your letter dated Feb. 16, 1968, I may inform you that this Krishna Consciousness movement is not a recent movement, started a few months or a few years ago, but this movement has been existing for a very long time, dating back to the Vedic Age. Without tracing the history of this movement, we can safely say that at least 5000 years ago, this movement was started from the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. Later on, it was organizedly recorded in the great voluminous literature, known world over as the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the very famous Bhagavad-gita, by the original author of Vedic literature, Sri Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa. Since that time, this movement is current in India, supported by great Acaryas like Ramanuja, Madhva, and Visnu Swami, and Nimbarka. Later on, about 500 years ago, it received great impetus from Lord Caitanya, and since that time, there are millions of supporters for Krishna Consciousness in India. This Krishna Consciousness movement is still supported by conferences, seminars, and so forth, in several parts of India. Recently, we have started this movement in America, making New York as our center, with a view that we shall be able to attract the attention of the United Nations for spreading this important movement throughout the whole world for actual benefit of the human race. It is not a sectarian movement meant for a certain class of men, but it is a necessary movement for all humanity irrespective of caste, creed, or color. So far I am concerned, I am a humble disciple of His Divine Grace, Om Visnupad Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja, who was the original pioneer of spreading this movement in the Western world. During his lifetime, up to 1936, he started 64 main centers all over the world, including centers in Berlin, Germany, and London, England. His Divine Grace entrusted me to spread this movement in the Western countries, and since 1965, I am trying in my humble way to spread this movement in this part of the world. I am recognized Acarya of this movement, as will be evidenced by the enclosed copies of different branches of the Gaudiya Math institutions. The certificates enclosed herewith are signed by my God-brothers, who have now different branches of the same Gaudiya Math Institution which I am now spreading in this country. So, originating from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, there are thousands of centers all over India for spreading this Krishna Consciousness philosophy. There will be a very big conference at Mayapur, at which thousands of people will attend, celebrating the Advent Day of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in March. So, ___ by the United Nations, NGO Section, we shall ___ ate information about the United nations to millions of ___ in India and all over the Eastern world. We spread ___ ious to disseminate the ideas of Krishna Consciousness ___ ion with the United Nations, because it will be a great ___ wards bringing peace to the world. There are always two classes of men on the surface ___ pious and impious. In Vedic language they are known as Asuras and Devas. When there is an excessive number of Asuras the ___ disturbances of the peace of the world is very ___ when there is an excessive number of the devas, ___ prosperity, and tranquillity on the surface of the ___ any doubt. The Devas and the Asuras are created ___ mentality of Krishna Consciousness, and ignorance. I do not know what further pertinent material ___ need of concerning our organization's qualification ___ entered upon the list of Non-Governmental Organizations ___ simply assure you that the enclosed copies of certification support the fact that I am recognized Acarya of ___ al Movement. The people in this part of the world ___ understanding the importance of this most needed ___ present day. I may inform you in this connection ___ court case, in which one of my students was involved ___ us. Before joining our Society, he was condemned ___ imprisonment. Fortunately enough, the boy was released as the court judge learned that he is affiliated ___ ution. the judge remarked, "This boy belongs to ___ religious order that is doing much for the community ___ against drug addiction, and for healthy life." This is only one instance among many in which ___ in contact with our philosophy build nice character ___ the basic principles of sinful activities. If ___ for spreading this movement, and for understanding ___ of this philosophy by the United Nations, we shall ___ render the greatest service to the humanity in the ___ establishing peace and prosperity. The process ___ is very simple, and is acceptable by any member of ___ irrespective of caste, creed, or color, or nation ___ Gaudiya Math Institutions, each of them having ___ are our sister establishments, and we can disseminate ___ amounts of information through them to vast number ___ in India, and throughout the East. I hope you will do your best to enlist our ___ the Non-Governmental Organizations, and in this ___ rendering the greatest service to the United Nations. Thanking you once more for your interest in ___ Krishna Consciousness movement. Sincerely yours, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 02:36 | Thursday, February 22, 1968 Los Angeles, Calif. My Dear Purusottama, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 19, 1968. I am glad to understand that everything is very nice in New York Temple, and Krishna is attracting many new devotees lately. The more you sincerely serve Krishna, the more He will send you similar devotees to assist you. Regarding the NGO section of the United Nations, I am enclosing herewith a statement addressing Mr. David J. Exley, explaining the very importance of our movement. You can inform him that the Gaudiya Math Institutions in India and in England, are also part of this Institution. And as my God-brothers have established in different parts of India and the East hundreds of institutions for this purpose, I am also trying to open such similar centers in the Western countries. Our activities are related with Gaudiya Math on the basis of Krishna Consciousness. So through all these Maths and other various institutions, we can disseminate all information about the U.N. in various parts of the world. Both of you shall go and try to convince this gentleman about the importance of our movement, and the rest will depend on Krishna as He desires. We shall try our best and the ultimate result may be dependent on the dispensations of Krishna. These institutions are related with us and each of the Maths are the headquarters for hundreds of branches, and we can disseminate much information about the U.N. through them. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami N.B. Because they are so desperate for peace in the East, it may be a good idea to expand on the point that we have very widespread influence all over the Eastern world, and we can spread much good peace-propaganda for the U.N. there. P.S. I am enclosing herewith some of the certificates of Godbrothers in Gaudiya math institutions. I think in my apartment there are photostat copies of them. If they are there please submit those photostat copies them, the typed ones. Also please let me know if Brahmananda has received shipping documents from the United Shipping Corporation of Calcutta. Also from S. S. Brijbasi Co. letters | 02:33 | |
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