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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1974 |
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12 September 2008 Thusday, 12 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Hamsaduta das: Please accept my blessings. I have just now received some letters from London from Madhavananda and others brought by Paramahamsa Swami who was there. Regarding Madhavananda being the president, if he received the vote, why you have opposed? You must be impartial. My recommendation is that he must be the president. He has been chosen by the vote, and I am giving the casting vote for him. He is doing things very nicely there, so he must be the president. Prabha Visnu should go on Sankirtana, and Madhavananda should be president. Everything must go on. The women are doing nicely, so why are they being changed from the pujari to the Sankirtana? These things should be done by the President. These are internal things, and you should not interfere. I do not approve of your changing the women. It should be the choice of Madhavananda who should be the pujari. Why did you close Edinburgh without asking me? Paramahamsa reports that you have closed the Edinburgh temple. Edinburgh was doing nicely. You can't close a temple without asking me? Is this too much to do this? Our propaganda is opening temples, and you are closing them. We are not for closing but for increasing. I do not approve of this. If possible the Edinburgh temple must be re-opened again. If you close the temple, what is the management? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu pushed the Sankirtana movement, but He never said to close the Jagannatha temple or the Govindaji temple. In Edinburgh we had a nice house, why you have closed it? Why you have whimsically done this? If possible the Edinburgh temple must be re-opened. Don't do anything whimsically without consulting me. I made the GBC to give me relief, but if you do like this, then where is the relief. It is anxiety for me. This is the difficulty, that as soon as one gets power, he becomes whimsical and spoils everything. What can I do? If anything has to be changed, that can be decided at the annual GBC meeting, but not whimsically. I am not in favor of closing even a small temple. It is not a plaything to close a temple or to start a temple. When we open a temple we are inviting Krsna. So you can't say to Krsna, go away. You have no feeling what are the ideals of a temple. You should always consider that we have invited Lord Caitanya, Lord Jagannatha, and Radha Krsna, and if we close it, it is an insult. How can we call Them, and then say get out. We should always feel when we open a temple that the Deity is living and not dead stone or wood. It is a great offense. Before opening a temple it must be considered a hundred times, and after opening it cannot be closed. It must be maintained. arcye visnau siladhir gurusu nara matir Vaisnave jati buddhih "One who considers the arca murti or worshipable Deity of Lord Visnu to be stone, the spiritual master to be an ordinary human being, and a Vaisnava to belong to a particular caste or creed, is possessed of hellish intelligence." [Padma Purana 16.3] If the Edinburgh house is still available, it must be re-opened. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs cc: Bhaktivedanta Manor Labels: closing temples, Deities, GBC, Los Angeles, offense, whimsical letters | 02:35 |8 September 2008 Sunday, 8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Vibhavati devi; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 29th, 1974 and have noted the contents. So whether you are alone or with your husband you must continue to follow the regulative principles. Why there should be any misunderstanding between a Krishna conscious husband and wife. This is not good. Anyway wherever you get place, you should go and always remember Krishna and never forget Him for a moment. I hope this meets you well. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb Labels: Canada, husband, misunderstanding, wife letters | 02:20 |8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Mrs. Singhal; I thank you very much for your letter dated August 31st. Please accept my blessings. By the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva my health is improving. I have informed Giriraja das that when he completes my quarters I will surely come to Bombay, and look forward to seeing you then. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb Labels: Bombay letters | 02:19 |8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Visala das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Sept. 1st, as well as enclosed daksina of 111/- rupees. I thank you very much for this. My blessings are there for all of my sincere students. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb Labels: Vrindavana letters | 02:19 |8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Dixit das; Please accept my blessings. I thank you for your letter dated August 26th, and have noted the contents. By the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva I am improving in my health. I expect to be coming to Bombay as soon as Giriraja completes my new quarters on Hare Krishna Land. At that time I may see you. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb Labels: Bombay letters | 02:18 |8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Ksirodakasayi dasa; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Sept 1, 1974, and thank you very much for it. By the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva I have recovered from the danger and am improving daily and I thank you for your prayers. I am very glad to learn that you are reading my books and preaching. That will make you happy, and the audience listening they will also become happy. I am very glad that you are taking up this active service of preaching. In Amsterdam you just try to deliver the fallen souls. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is known as patita pavana, the deliverer of the fallen souls. So as you have taken the vow of service you can deliver the most fallen souls by this Krishna consciousness movement. There in the temple they have got now Jagannatha Deities so let them worship and do it nicely. When you have got practice and twelve brahmana devotees then Radha and Krishna can be installed. Regarding the incense factory; yes, you can guide them but you should not be very much involved with business. Be on the sidelines and help them. Regarding the Hindi printing, no, you do not have to send the manuscript here, you can print there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs letters | 02:17 | 8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Sarvabhauma, Putanara, and Gandharvi dasi, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your three letters dated August 6th, and am very glad to receive them. I have noted the questions. Anyway I am expecting to arrive in Calcutta some time this month and at that time I will be glad to see you and answer all of your questions. In the meantime you may please consult with Gargamuni Swami, the in-charge of the Calcutta Temple. He will also be able to help you with your questions. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb letters | 02:16 | 8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Srutadeva das; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 15th, along with the sankirtana news letter #19, and I thank you very much for it. You can continue sending me these news letters as you publish them weekly. It is this sankirtana which is the life and soul of our movement. Sankirtana and book distribution should go on together side by side. I am always glad when these activities are increasing and my pleasure is always increasing. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb Labels: sankirtan, Washington letters | 02:16 |8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Svarupa Damodara dasa: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 3, 1974 and have noted the contents. So it is very good your preaching there in Manipur. This is your duty. By the grace of Krsna you have got a position in the education field, doctor of chemistry. When you will present our philosophy the educated circle will have to listen. They cannot neglect. So when ever you speak, speak scientifically about Krsna's existence. _ is the background of the cosmic manifestation. This is a fact. Unfortunately because people have become demoniac, Krsna is not realized, naham prakasha sarvasya. He is not exposed to the non devotee. Our mission is to turn the people to become devotees so that they can see Krsna. As it is stated in the Isopanisad, niranmayena patrena satvasyapihitam mukham. So we have got a great mission. You are one of the strong pillars of the mission. So I have all confidence in you. Follow strictly all our rules and regulations. Be fully strong to push on this cult amongst the educated scientific circle. That you are getting many speaking invitations is a good indication. Take advantage of this. Krsna is asking you to do this job. The people there are naturally Krsna conscious, and when you present more scientifically, then will be convinced. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: Manipur letters | 02:15 |8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Jadurani devi dasi: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated August 14 & 20, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regading Picture #1, it was not enclosed, but yes Mother Yasoda feeding Krsna is parental love, or sometimes you can show Krsna with great difficulty placing the slipper of Nanda Maharaja on his head. Yes, sketch #2 is all right; it is supported in the Caitanya Caritamrta. #3 is also all right. #4 is also all right. Regarding #5 Visnu, Laksmi must always be with Mahavisnu. Yes there should be devotees around the garden or town. Yes, they would look like Visnu. Lord Visnu is never alone. Inside the building is proper. #6 of Krsna and Balarama fighting as bulls is completely rejected by me. It is not good. You have made it demoniac. Make Them as they are themselves, as boys fighting. Never show like this. Everything is there in the Krsna Book. Don't imagine. Regarding question #7 why red background? You can show the full Visnu form. Regarding #8 the color is referred to in the text, so you have to see that portion of the book. Regarding your letter of August 20, Narada can have yellow dhoti. Brahmacaris can be shown in both yellow or saffron, both are correct. Yes, you can make the flower ships as you have described. Why have you discontinued writing the mantras on the bottom of the portrait paintings? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: art, demoniac, New York, questions letters | 02:14 |8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Adikesava das; I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 20th. Please accept my blessings. I have also received the enclosed photographs which are very nice. Regarding taking the Deities out on travelling sankirtana, I think you can take guidance from Visnujana Maharaja and Tamala Krishna Goswami who are giving you the example in this connection. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs/hdb letters | 02:14 | 8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami; Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 2, 1974 together with enclosures. Your letter is very much pleasing to me with the report of the book distribution. Whenever I get report of my book selling I feel strength. Even now in this weakened condition I have got strength from your report. You should know that in this work you have Krishna's blessings. You are a sincere worker. Right from the very beginning when you joined me you have always been a sincere worker, therefore, I keep you as GBC. You may not be a good manager, but whatever I say you accept. These are all good qualifications. Others should follow your example and take instruction from you to push on this library program. I have instructed Tamala Krishna Goswami that he can also so this library program. The American people are very intelligent, therefore I concentrate on the Americans for spreading this movement. They are not crippled by poverty like here in India. In India of course the people are naturally Krishna conscious. Whenever we have some Krishna conscious program they come by the thousands, but they are crippled by poverty. Therefore it is difficult for them to take to this movement seriously. So you go on with your work there in America and distribute my books to these libraries. This is very encouraging to me, to write more books. I hope etc. ACBS Labels: library party, Los Angeles, qualifications letters | 02:13 |8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My Dear Jayapataka Swami: Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1/9/74 and have noted the contents. By the grace of Lord Nrsimhadeva I am improving in my health. Regarding the citizenship, you should apply as many as possible. You can read, write, and speak Bengali. So take citizenship. The local officers are in favor, so they will grant. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/bs Labels: citizenship, Mayapur letters | 02:12 |8 September, 1974 Vrindaban My dear Tamala Krishna Goswami; Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 4, 1974. Regarding my health, I was lying almost unconscious. Now by the grace of Krishna, I am walking in the morning but I am still very weak. Neither do I feel any proper appetite. So the weakness is there, but I feel that I am progressing a little each day. So your preaching work is very encouraging to me. You have got the proper field now. So continue with the cooperation of Visnujana Maharaja, so that your example can be followed by others. Your program for distributing books and having the street festivals and then preaching and making devotees is very good. Also by teaching by your personal example and attending to the Deity worship is the most convincing. Example is better than precept. I am glad to note that the 24 hour kirtana was going on. It is by your chanting that I am now saved from the dangerous condition. It was very serious. Anyway regarding the constant 24 hour kirtana, you should not do anything impractical. I thank you for sending the thousand dollars to the ISKCON food relief. We are using the moneys that have already been sent from USA in Mayapur for purchasing grains. In Bombay they also have a very nice prasada distribution program. I have been receiving letters from Satsvarupa das Goswami about his successful library program so I think you also can take up this program in conjunction with your sankirtana festivals. Get standing orders for Srimad-Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta as many as possible. This is very good preaching work. So you may consult with Satsvarupa das Goswami and he can guide you in this program. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Labels: health, library party, New York, preaching letters | 02:11 | |
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