Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

2008-12-31T10:48:00.006+00:00

Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
contains 742 individual letter reproductions in chronological order from January - December 1975.

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Wednesday, 31 December, 1975

2008-12-31T01:58:00.005+00:00

Bombay

Sanand Palace,
Dist Ahmedabad, Gujarat

My Dear Yuvraj Thakura Sahib,

Please accept my blessings.

I am prepared to organize Gujarat by traveling village to village. You said that you could help me in this respect and also supply a car. So as soon as it is ready I shall accept, please let me know.

I thank you very much for your kind hospitality for me and my disciples while I was there. With my blessings for your family.

I hope this letter finds you and your good wife well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

31 December, 1975

2008-12-31T01:57:00.001+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Madhudvisa Maharaja,

Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your nice invitation card. Thousands of Caitanya Mahaprabhu temples may be established all over Australia so that I may receive one invitation card at least every month.

Physical health does not allow me to move very much, but my mind is absorbed in thinking of you with blessings of Krishna.

I hope this letter finds you well.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

31 December, 1975

2008-12-31T01:56:00.005+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Kirtiraja Prabhu,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 7, 1975. I am very please to note your activities in Warsaw Poland.

Yes if you can arrange for the translation of my books in Polish language that will please me very much. We do not have to manufacture anything new. We are getting perfect knowledge from krishna through the disciplic succession, so our position is very firm. Whatever we hear from the bona fide spiritual master should be practiced in life and the same message delivered to whomever we meet. In this way you become spiritual master.

We have got so many big big books now, so any sane man will appreciate them, you simply have to present them, that's all. Is it very difficult? It is being done all over the world and professors and scholars are appreciating them by writing reviews and introducing them as standard text books in their university courses.

So try to present my books there. It is assure of success because Lord Caitanya predicted, "In ever town and village of the world, my name will be known." The whole world is full of rascals presenting concocted ideas and everyone is suffering. Caitanya Mahaprabhu came just to deliver these rascals. How?

hare nama hare nama
hare nama eva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." [Brhan-naradiya Purana 38.126]

Chant Hare Krishna, induce others to chant, and distribute prasadam. This can be done everywhere, who will object. Temple or no temple, you simply chant and give prasadam and it will act.

I am very please that you have taken so much courage and I pray that Krishna will bless you with more and more success. Please keep me informed of your activities and send copy to Hamsaduta and Cakravarti in Germany so that they may help you as far as possible.

I hope this letter finds you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

31 December, 1975

2008-12-31T01:56:00.003+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Mahavisnu Prabhu,

Please accept my blessings I am in receipt of your letter dated December 12, 1975.

It is very unfortunate that Savitri devi dasi met with such a bad accident. The material world is full of danger at every step. Even a great devotee like Bhisma met his end by being pierced with hundreds of arrows, but he was so powerful that he waited in that condition to see Lord Krishna before he passed away. These are the examples of Bhagavatam, and we have to try to follow the instructions of such great personalities. Please offer my blessings to this nice girl and prayers for her well being.

Regarding your getting married, I have no objection. However as a brahmacari you are not obligated to marry, what is the advantage to your getting married? that should be considered. if one can remain brahmacari that is best. Finish this life and go back to Godhead, that is the basic idea of Krishna consciousness movement. So you decide.

The Edinburgh temple may be moved. However Hamsaduta Prabhu has suggested that if it is to be moved why not move it to Birmingham or Manchester where there will be more facility to preach and make life members and devotees.

I hope this letter meets you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

P.S. As you have recommended, I accept Jagaddhatri devi dasi for 2nd initiation. Now you must hold a fire ceremony. She should hear the mantra from the tape recording through the right ear. Brahmana initiation means to be very clean, inside and outside. Inside by chanting the glories of the Lord, and outside by bathing regularly, washing hands and mouth after eating. Instruct her on all of these things and do it yourself, as [PAGE MISSING]

ACBS/hda

Saturday, 27 December, 1975

2008-12-27T01:55:00.003+00:00

Ahmedabad

Punjab National Bank,
Vrindaban Branch,
Vrindaban Dist. Mathura,
Attention: Manager

Dear Sir,

With reference to our conversation regarding opening a branch in our temple. The amount of 5 laks of Rs. to be deposited is already secured. As soon as you open the branch your Bombay head office will immediately transfer the money. The other bank was very much eager to open a branch in our temple, but because our negotiations with you were already completed we did not accept.

I hope by this time you have your sanction from the head office and do the needful as soon as possible.

Respectfully yours,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

cc. Sri Vishwambar Dayala, General Supervisor.

27 December, 1975

2008-12-27T01:54:00.005+00:00

Ahmedabad

My Dear Visvambhara das,

Please accept my blessings. I wrote you one letter regarding the translation work of Nrsimhavallabha Goswami and sons. I have not received any reply from you although I am very much anxious to know the result.

In the meantime I have written one letter to the Punjab National Bank, the copy of which will speak for itself is sent herewith. Please induce them to open the branch as soon as possible. The money is ready for being deposited.

I hope this letter meets you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

27 December, 1975

2008-12-27T01:54:00.004+00:00

Ahmedabad

My dear Ramesvara,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram as follows:

"Christmas week book distribution in Los Angeles despite closed airport better than ever by your grace 112,000 BTGS 8,000 Gitas sold stop on invitation of Governor Brown of California 50 devotees visited State mental institutions to help improve conditions and morale by giving religious message publicity very good Hare Krishna."

Thank you very much. This is very good.

Fight and depend on Krsna, that will bring you victory. Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/jda

24 December, 1975

2008-12-24T01:53:00.001+00:00

Bombay

Los Angeles

[To Radhavallabha das]

THANK YOU BE BLESSED MY GURU MAHARAJ WILL BE VERY MUCH PLEASED UPON YOU AND ALL OTHER WORKERS ON THE HOLY OCCASION OF HIS DISAPPEARANCE DAY

A C BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI

Monday, 22 December, 1975

2008-12-22T01:52:00.006+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Guru das Maharaja,

Please accept my blessings. I have received the letters of appreciation of your preaching work. Thank you very much, you are very competent, and if you continue like this you will get strength from Krishna more and more.

I always say, man is good, and woman is also good, but when they combine, then they become bad. Before there was so much difficulty, but now you are doing well and Yamuna dasi is also doing well, and I am very pleased with your work.

Please continue like this and keep me informed. I hope this letter finds you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

22 December, 1975

2008-12-22T01:52:00.003+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Hrdayananda Maharaja,

Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your letter dated November 29th 1975. The poem is very nice, however one should not think himself a devotee, poem 3. should read:

Your servant's calling so sadly,
Your servant's falling so badly,
A servant's trapped in the city.

one cannot call himself a devotee, but servant he can call himself always.*
Your bus program sounds nice, it is approved my me.

I hope this letter meets you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

*Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented Himself as "Patitam kimkarana mam visamey charambudhva." Kimkaram means servant.

ACBS/hda

Friday, 19 December, 1975

2008-12-19T01:51:00.003+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Bhagavan Prabhu,

Please accept my blessings. I have received the list of first and second initiations and I have accepted them as my duly initiated disciples. Enclosed please find the sacred threads duly chanted upon by me. Now hold a fire ceremony, and instruct the new devotees to chant 16 rounds daily and follow the regulative principles of devotional service.

The newly initiated brahmanas should hear the mantra from the tape recording through the right ear. Brahmin initiation means to be very clean, inside and outside. Inside by chanting the glories of the Lord, and outside by bathing regularly. Washing hands and mouth after eating. Instruct them all these things, and do it yourself, example is better than precept.

First initiates

Paris

Olivea--Valyavapu Das
Mathilde Bonci--Nandirupaka Dasi
Benny Beandin--Sadasivapriya Das
Bruno Leny--Aristanasana Das
Christian Zkine--Kesinasana Das
Nicole Bouborin--Dharmarupa Dasi
Anne Faramice--Gopanandini Dasi

Rome

Alessio--Papaha Das
Emanuel--Artiha Das
Carlo Dipalo--Suptavigraha Das
Carlo Zacca--Dhenupalaka Das
Paolo--Bhutiha Das
Fregro--Valihara Das
Second initiates
Adisekhara Das
Canarari Das
Salagrama Das
Bhima Das
Jivadaya Das

(1. Richard Diller, 2. Ann Diller--1. Sivatmaka Das, 2. Pralambahari Dasi

I hope this letter meets you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

Thursday, 18 December, 1975

2008-12-18T01:50:00.006+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Brsni dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated December 8, 1975.

The Deities may be carved without hair or dhoties, and then later they can be dressed. I will be anxious to see the photographs of your work.

I hope this letter meets you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

18 December, 1975

2008-12-18T01:50:00.003+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Acyutananda and Yasodanandana Maharaja,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 11, 1975. The books are already on the way.

Sankirtana will always be appreciated, because it is the special blessings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu on the people of this fallen age of Kali. Sukadeva Goswami says, this age is an ocean of faults, but there is one boon, in this age one gets the same result as was achieved in former ages through elaborate temple worship, costly sacrifices, or introspective meditation, simply by chanting the Holy Name of The Lord.

It is for this reason only that this Hare Krishna movement has spread so quickly all over the world.

The people of this age are so fallen they are like cats and dogs. What cats and dogs will understand about philosophy? If a dog is barking and you speak with him very nicely, "my dear dog, please try to control your barking, it is very disturbing." Will he be able to understand? Therefore we simply throw him a bone, and he is satisfied.

So distribute prasadam, and chant Hare Krishna. For the mass of people this is the only medicine. Lord Caitanya never spoke philosophy in public, he held kirtana and distributed prasadam. When he meet Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya he talked high philosophy, otherwise, Chanting and prasadam distribution.

I hope you are well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

18 December, 1975

2008-12-18T01:49:00.002+00:00

Bombay

Taunus, West Germany

My Dear Tulsi Das,

Please accept my blessings. Thank you very much for your nice letter.

I can understand from your letter that you are very intelligent. Generally India people are not taking up this movement, although it is their original culture, they are now in favor of economic development and technological advancement which can never do any good to the people in general, neither material nor spiritual.

After all a living being lives by the grace of God. He cannot eat nuts and bolts, however nicely they may be manufactured. We live by food grains, vegetables and milk products as it is stated in the Bhagavad gita, "All living bodies subsist on food grains which are due to rains come by proper proformance of sacrifice." Human life is meant for sacrifice to please Visnu.

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
[Bg. 5.29]

"The sages knowing me to be the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices, the Supreme Lord of all planets, and the well wishing friend of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries."

So if we want to be happy in this life and the next we have to worship Visnu. But Gandhi did to satisfy Visnu? He was trying to satisfy his country, and his country killed him. He manufactured so many things which were never found in Bhagavad-gita. Throughout the Bhagavad-gita Krishna is encouraging Arjuna to fight, and Gandhi manufactured non-violence from Bhagavad-gita.

Everyone in India knows the Mahabharata, the great battle of Kuruksetra, 640,000,000 soldiers gave up their life in that battle, and Krishna was personally instructing Arjuna to fight, and Gandhi took Bhagavad-gita and preached non-violence. So what was his understanding. At the end of his life he frankly said, "I don't believe there was ever such a historical person as Krishna." So what did Gandhi know about Bhagavad-gita?

My only credit is that I have presented Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any speculation, or interpretation, therefore for the first time in the history of the world people are accepting it and living practically according to the principles of Bhagavad-gita.

I understand that you are translating Bhagavad-gita as it is into Malayalam language. Hamsaduta has spoken to me about you. Please send me a sample, and we will see about it's publication and distribution in India.

Maybe in the future you will like to come to India and help preach this message to your countrymen.

I hope this letter meets you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

18 December, 1975

2008-12-18T01:47:00.002+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Bhakta Steven Knapp,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your long letter how you are appreciating this philosophy.

It is said in the Bhagavad-gita that out of thousands of men, only one takes an interest in the perfection of human life. The perfection of human life is to develop one's dormant love for God, and thus be released from the terrible cycle of birth and death.

People are so foolish that they simply waste time in temporary pursuits of material happiness, eating, sleeping, defending and enjoying sex life. Especially sex life. The sum and substance of material life is attraction for the opposite sex. The sum and substance of spiritual life is attraction to Krishna.

So to develop attraction for Krishna is not difficult, you simply have to hear about Krishna, his activities, his name, his form and his teaching in Bhagavad-gita. Naturally you will develop love for Krishna, because we are all part and parcel of Krishna.

The beginning process is to Chant Hare Krishna, follow the four regulative principles and associate with devotees, and take Prasadam of Krishna. I think you are now living in the temple of Krishna, so these things will be very easy for you to practice.

I hope this letter meets you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

18 December, 1975

2008-12-18T01:46:00.001+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Tamala Krishna Maharaja,

Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your letter dated December 4, 1975 I have noted the contents with great pleasure.

Your letter is very very encouraging to me. I do not know how you are selling so many books. There is no instance in history where religious books were sold with such enthusiasm and success. Is there any such history?

The Christians have spread their teachings all over the world, and they have only one book, so we have got already 40, Big books published in English, therefore if we distribute, as you are distributing we cannot even imagine the result. Your program is very nice, please continue more and more.

Yes we can print instead of 20,000, 50,000 copies of the first editions of each book, ask Ramesvara to do it.

Your idea for holding Jagannatha festival in the big cities is approved by me, do it. yes you come in January.

I hope this letter finds you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

Wednesday, 17 December, 1975

2008-12-17T01:45:00.003+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Rocana das,

Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your letter dated November 30, 1975.

First of all produce your own food grain, milk and vegetables, eat as much as absolutely necessary, don't eat more, and in this way keep your health. Follow the regulative principles and then if there is time left over you can divert your attention.

But I think you should not waste your time in any other thing except Devotional service and maintain the body in proper order. Unnecessarily you should not waste your valuable time.

I hope this letter finds you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

17 December, 1975

2008-12-17T01:44:00.005+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Svarupa Damodara dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 29, 1975. I have noted the contents carefully.

Your book is selling very nicely in south India, people are appreciating it very much. This scientific book should be done very carefully, so that people in general may not be mislead by the over intelligent scientists. There are so many contradictory things, but we have our authority and they have their authority.

Our knowledge is from Vedic scriptures which we accept as definite and without any mistake. A modern scientist believes that there was no civilization before 3,000 years, our Bhagavatam was spoken by Sukadeva Goswami 5,000 years ago and he is explaining "as I have heard it from authority," so we have got parampara system for millions of years.

If there was no civilization before 3,000 years, then how this subject matter of knowledge could be discussed? How could it be received through the param-para system? So there is contradiction certainly. But the statement that there was no civilization 3,000 years ago can be adjusted by the conviction that there was civilization, millions and millions of years ago.

For more information regarding Vedic astronomy you can consult any learned astronomer, there are many in Calcutta, my Guru Maharaja was also very learned in this field.

My point is life comes from life. They say life has come from chemicals, so how these things can be adjusted? Besides that the scientists change their theories after some years, this proves that they have no perfect knowledge, otherwise where is the necessity of changing? That is the basic point of our argument.

Perfect knowledge is never changeable. If we can prove that life comes from life, or the soul is from the supper soul, then all other things can be brought into serious consideration. So you try to prove that chemical combination can never bring about life, this is our main argument.

If we can prove this particular subject matter, that the soul cannot be manufactured by combination of chemicals, then gradually we can prove that Vedic knowledge is perfect, while other sources of knowledge by speculation and imagination are all wrong.

The other day I was talking on the morning walk about the sun globe. They say because it is fiery there cannot be any life there, but sometimes we see a big iron factory is full of flames from the chimney at a long distance, but does it mean there is no life in the factory?

Fire is one of the five material elements, and Bhagavad-gita says that the soul is never burnt by fire. So in the sun globe globe if the living entities have a fiery body, just as fish have body suitable for living in the water, so how is it that there is no living entity in the sun globe if they have a body suitable to live in the sun globe?

In the Vedic literatures it is said that there are germs (agni pok) within the fire. There are so many contradictions, but we have our own defense. Why should we blindly accept imperfect scientists, they are imperfect because they are changing their position in the name of progress. The word progress is used when there is imperfection at the beginning.

So this regular changing of standard knowledge in the name of progress proves that they are always imperfect. It is a fact that they are imperfect, because they gather knowledge with imperfect senses. At any rate we cannot deviate from Vedic knowledge.

Regarding coming to Mayapur festival, you must come, because after that we are going to Manipur. I will send your corrections to the editors. Thank you.

I hope this letter finds you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

17 December, 1975

2008-12-17T01:44:00.002+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Mahamsa Maharaja,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 9 December 1975.

I am pleased to note that everything is progressing nicely. Regarding the loan you do not have to repay it immediately, but as soon as possible.

Naturally the sankirtana men traveling with the bullock carts are blissful. It is Lord Caitanya's engagement. Lord Caitanya personally traveled all over India for 6 years. His program was simply kirtana and prasadam distribution.

Lord Caitanya never spoke philosophy in public. When he met big scholars like Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya he spoke philosophy, otherwise for the mass of people, kirtana and prasadam distribution. So continue this program, it is very pleasing to Lord Caitanya.

I hope this letter finds you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

17 December, 1975

2008-12-17T01:43:00.002+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Jayapataka Swami,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to inform you that this time while coming from Delhi to Bombay I saw one Mr. M.N. Chandhuri he is a very nice gentleman and important West Bengal Government officer, he is in charge of the department of development and planning, government of West Bengal. His office is at Raj Bhavan, Calcutta.

He wanted to help me in any way in the government affairs. So immediately see him with some prasadam and flowers. His office phone number is as follows; 23 29 19, 221681/476, 230177-79. His residential number is as follows; 44 53 22.

I am enclosing herewith an introductory letter which you can take with you when you go to see him. First of all try to invite him to come see our Mayapur establishment, give him nice reception, and then try to take his help in acquiring lands.

He has personally promised to help me in every way, because he is impressed with my missionary activities all over the world. You can take help from him also about some of our disciples citizenship for which you have already applied.

I asked you to open a bank account for purchasing land, so did you open it? so why did you not let me know the account number etc.? So do the needful.

I hope this letter meets you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

17 December, 1975

2008-12-17T01:42:00.000+00:00

Bombay

My Dear Yasomatinandana dasa,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 11, 1975, I have noted the contents carefully.

The program you have outlined is very nice, however I cannot go on long time procession because I am called by nature, I can go at most one hour. So I shall come there on 25th morning.

I hope this letter finds you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

Monday, 15 December, 1975

2008-12-15T01:42:00.004+00:00

New Delhi

Sri Vishvambhar Dayala
c/o Krishna Balarama Temple,
Raman Reti, Vrindaban

My Dear Vishvambhar Dayala,

Please accept my blessings. I understand that Sri Bhawatyaji has come to Vrindaban for transferring land for Gurukula. I hope by the time this letter reaches you, you will have finished the transaction.

The other day Goswami Nrsimhavallabha's son did not come to see me, so kindly finally once more approach the Goswami and let me know if he is at all interested to take up the translation work as he has informed me that he has already translated a part of the book which I gave him.

Then immediately send the translation work to me in Bombay or you can read it yourself, compare with the original book and if possible re-write or copy and send it to me at the Bombay address. On hearing from you finally about this matter I shall decide to appoint one translator either in Delhi or Bombay.

Please take it as very important and do the needful. I hope this letter meets you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

Friday, 12 December, 1975

2008-12-12T01:41:00.005+00:00

Vrindaban

Raman Reti,
Vrindaban, Mathura

My dear Vishvambar Dayala,

Please accept my blessings. I acknowledge receipt of donation* from your mother Srimati Narayani Devi, which donation shall be used for the purchase of Gurukula land.

The stone bearing your mother's name in both Hindi and English will be laid down at the proper place just after the registration of the land.

Thanking you,

Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

*received with thanks Rs. 53,000-00 in cash.

ACBS/AKS

12 December, 1975

2008-12-12T01:41:00.003+00:00

Vrindaban

My Dear Jayasacinandana Prabhu,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to aknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 2, 1975.

Now you have made some discovery. All along you have been hearing the recording of Yamuna devi and now you want to change. It is not ordinary singing, it is concert, many people are singing, so it is not bad.

Just like Sankirtana, many voices are there, men and women, so it is the same thing, sankirtana. I approve of it. Here in Krishna Balarama Temple we are hearing the same recording every morning, so if it is good here why not there?

I hope this letter finds you well.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda