# ISKCON TEMPLE MANAGEMENT ## Considerations for Opening a Temple ![[letters/1967/670211_rupanuga]] —Kīrtanānanda, 11 February, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670214_brahmananda|“The advice of friends here has been accepted by me that opening of too many branches at the present stage will be too heavy for us. Let us consolidate there in 2 places which we have already opened. Besides that, the Montreal branch wants men and...]] —Brahamananda, 14 February, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670827_brahmananda|“I have received news from Santa Fe that they have opened a nice branch there in an old castle and it is very much pleasing to me. Now Kirtanananda Swami is going very soon to the USA and I expect that all of you will combine together to open at l...]] —Brahmananda, 27 August, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/671003_nandarani_krsna_devi_subala_uddhava|“Whenever there is a new branch of our society for Krsna consciousness I become very, very happy, and my blessings in heart and soul are with you]] —Nandarani, 3 3, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/671022_brahmananda|we should be enthusiastic to open different branches in different parts of the world other than India. In India they are opening many such branches, but our responsibility is to open branches outside India.]] —Brahmananda, 22 October, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/671115_brahmananda|Once a center is open it must be maintained. A responsible man for each center must be found out before opening. In your previous letter you wrote something about difficulties in our different centers]] —Brahamananda, 15 November, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680113_andrea_temple|If you can find an appropriate store-front and decorate it nicely for a temple, with altar, pictures, candles, incense etc., and begin holding kirtana there]] —Andrea Temple, 13 January, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680306_janardana|I would like to maintain Krsna consciousness boarding house there some day if it is at all possible]] —Janardana, 6 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680409_mukunda|We are not interested in having our own house, but we should always remember, why Krsna should remain in a rented house?]] —Mukunda, 9 April, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680712_cidananda]] —Cidananda, 12 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680714_hayagriva|I would advise you to purchase land as much as you can because it appears that the atmosphere and situation is very nice there.”]] —Hayagriva, 14 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680819_gargamuni|starting a center, must be first of all estimated that we must be able to continue it. Otherwise, rather we should not open a center in any place. Whatever centers we have already started that must be maintained.]] —Gargamuni, 19 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680904_anapurna_ananda|“It is not very difficult to open a center for our activities. You can remain in any apartment as husband and wife, and invite persons there to hear your chanting and topics; that is our center, and let it be gradually improved. I think this progr...]] —Annapurna and Ananda, 4 September, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680909_hayagriva|“So far your opening a center in the Columbus University, that is also a very nice idea.]] —Hayagriva, 9 September, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680918_sivananda|The same principle can be applied in this connection. Certainly you can preach well by traveling, as I also came in your country, but since I sat at 26 2nd Ave in July 1966, the Society has developed to its present shape]] —Sivananda, 18 September, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681001_mukunda|“So kirtana plus distribution of our books and literature is the basic principle of our success. Even if we do not have our own temple it does not matter, but if we can hold kirtana 24 hours, and distribute our publications, that is our great succ...]] —Mukunda, 1 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681008_murari|one man show is not very prospective. So if you go to Hawaii and try to open a center, please let me know what is your program.”]] —Murari, 8 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681021_syama|even you have not found any place at Hamburg, you are three together and you can chant Hare Krsna kirtana in the same way as they are doing in London and other cities. We are more or less concerned for preaching]] —Kṛṣṇa dasa, 21 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681125_krsna_dasa|I am so pleased to note the address of our new ISKCON Radha Krsna temple in Hamburg, Germany. Krsna is giving you all facilities for spreading Krsna consciousness there—]] —Kṛṣṇa dasa, 25 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681208_kirtanananda|“You will be glad to know that we have now signed a lease for a new temple for the Los Angeles center. It is a very large, fine chapel and now there is program being organized here to set up everything very nicely and invite many new people to par...]] —Kīrtanānanda, 8 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681211_krsna_dasa|now that Krsna wills it with simply a flick of the eye a temple has come to us, better even than we were hoping for. So this is what is meant that Krsna is controller and we are controlled]] —Brahamananda, 11 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690112_kirtanananda|If purchasing a house becomes cause of our extra anxiety, we should avoid it. But if by the grace of Krsna it can be easily done, there is no harm of having our own house.]] —Hamsaduta, 12 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690201_gopala_krsna|So my advice to you is that you make a small center immediately, and, if possible, get some musical instruments from New York.]] —Larry Snyder, 1 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690313_yamuna|If Krsna gives us a better temple that is all right, otherwise, your engagement in kirtana is very, very nice. So continue this program]] —Yamuna, 13 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690316_gopala_krsna|I am just trying to open some temples in the Western countries because there are none. So far India is concerned, still there are millions of temples, but gradually the number of temple worshippers is diminishing.]] —Gopala Kṛṣṇa, 16 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690326_dayananda|it is not the place alone which is responsible for beautifying the temple; it is the devotees who are actually beautifying the temple.]] —Dayananda, 26 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690426_vrndavanesvari|There are many churches everywhere like that, and if some of the proprietors are convinced, we can utilize such churches for this Krsna consciousness movement for the general welfare of the mass of people. Why not approach the proprietors of such ...]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 26 April, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690521_sivananda|Your proposition to establish a center and then hand it over to the people who come later on and then start another center is the desire of Lord Caitanya. So kindly do this.]] —Sivananda, 21 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690526_satsvarupa|Regarding your idea of purchasing a house, if it is possible, do it immediately. When you pay big rent anyway, purchasing a house is nice.”]] —Satsvarupa, 26 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690527_mukunda|temple worship is not primary factor in this age. Primary factor is sankirtana. But sometimes we want a center where people may gather and see, so a temple is required secondarily]] —Mukunda, 27 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690508_upendra|“Regarding the church, I think you should try for it by all means, and if need be I shall see that the funds which you need will be loaned to you]] —Upendra, 8 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690522_jayagovinda|As far as possible though you should all try to learn a little German. One should learn the local native language if one desires to live there]] —Jaya Govinda, 22 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690603_syamasundara|“I am very glad that the Queen has consented the Redundant Churches Bill, and there is good chance of getting one church for our temple. There are many redundant churches because the Christian people are gradually deviating from their religious be...]] —Syamasundara, 3 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690608_ananda|I am pleased to note that you have already paid for the place for one month’s rent. I thank you very much that you are struggling there alone and silently, and Krsna will surely bless you for this.]] —Ananda, 8 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690612_syamasundara|“You write to say you are too much strained in various ways, but by your such activities, Krsna will be very much pleased. I think because Krsna is pleased, therefore you have got at last a very nice place.”]] —Syamasundara, 12 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690617_jadurani|“Regarding opening branches in Laguna Beach, you know I am always very much enthusiastic to open branches, so if another branch can be opened for propagating Krsna consciousness, it is always welcome. If we have got opportunity to open such branch...]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 17 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690711_murari|“Regarding a house, you look for a place. Krsna will provide for the funds. Now, because Los Angeles has got a nice church, the situation has improved very hopefully. They are getting all help.”]] —Murari, 11 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690717_sri_goswami|if any big temple is in difficulty financially, we can take charge of this temple and improve it and maintain it nicely. So if you know of any prospective temples where this could be arranged, please inform us.”]] —Sri Goswami, 17 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690711_sivananda|“Regarding your idea of going to Copenhagen, it is very nice and I am always anxious to open strong temples where the chanting of Hare Krsna and Krsna consciousness philosophy will be propagated nicely]] —Sivananda, 11 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690919_tamala_krsna|and if we move a little further more into China and Russia, then we shall build up a strong belt all around the world of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 19 September, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691018_tamala_krsna|“I thank you so much for the new temples that are opening. Please conduct them nicely and enthuse the people to stick to the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra and follow the rules and regulations. Then they will be strong enough to manage things v...]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 18 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691018_tamala_krsna|“Regarding the purchasing of temples, if within our means and estimation it is possible, that is a good idea.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 18 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691102_hayagriva_vamanadeva_pradyumna|My aim is that I want to start at least 108 centers during my lifetime. So there are about twenty three centers already existing, and your list completes another 16. That is very encouraging]] —Hayagriva, 2 2, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691120_gaurasundara]] —Gaurasundara, 20 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691209_govinda|the best thing will be to install Them in that permanent place. It doesn't matter if it is on rent or purchased, but we must be confident that there will not be disturbance by some landlord on some flimsy grounds]] —Govinda dasi, 9 December, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700115_harer_nama|you must train your contemporaries in such spirit of alertness, then we shall be able to open hundreds of centers, and the people in general shall be saved from being misguided.”]] —Harer Nama, 15 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700205_hanuman_prasad_poddar]] —Hanuman Prasad Poddar, 5 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700312_citsukhananda|So place or no place, we must go on with our preaching work.]] —Citsukhananda, 12 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700312_citsukhananda|“Now everything is there and you are also experienced, therefore go on opening branches as many as possible and preach the sankirtana movement to your best capacity.]] —Hamsaduta, 12 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700315_subala|“Actually, my mission is to establish hundreds and thousands of temples like the one which I have established in London and other places. And I wish that every Indian who has a little love for Krsna may cooperate with me in this attempt.”]] —Sri Balmukundji, 15 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700317_suridas]] —Suridasa, 17 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700320_rukmini|“If you think that the time spent for studying two and a half years more can be better used immediately to push on our Krsna consciousness movement, then you can turn your efforts in this direction. That will be very nice.”]] —Kṛṣṇa dasa, 20 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700328_satsvarupa|To open a center for us is not a very difficult job. Simply the devotees who volunteer their service must be very serious and sincere.]] —Satsvarupa, 28 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700401_lilavati]] —Lilavati, 1 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700407_giriraja|“Recently we have purchased a big church property consisting of four different houses, namely, the lecture house, the temple house, the acarya residence, and the quarters for the devotees both male and female]] —R.C. Dhruva, 7 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700410_mukunda|As soon as a center is open and my disciples conduct it nicely, it gives me Vaikuntha bliss]] —Sridhama, 10 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700527_tamala_krsna|if you love me at all, then all of you try your best to open at least 108 centers during my lifetime—that is my special request.]] —Tamala, 27 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700602_brahmananda|“So far the possibility of opening centers, it is now definitely ascertained that there will be no difficulty to maintain a center anywhere on the basis of the present procedure. The only thing required is that we have to create some nice devotees...]] —Brahmananda, 2 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700604_yamuna_and_gurudas|It is now already experimented that wherever we may open a center, Hare Krsna mantra will be chanted with great delight]] —Yamuna, 4 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700605_vrndavanacandra]] —Vrndavana Candra, 5 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700605_bhagavan|“So far opening a branch in Chicago, this is a very encouraging proposal, but I think before opening a center we must be confident that things will go on nicely]] —Bhagavan dasa, 5 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700622_hansadutta|New temples may be opened by placing Panca-tattva and acarya pictures]] —Hamsaduta, 22 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700711_hansadutta|before opening a branch we must have able men also to conduct, otherwise how can we open branches?”]] —Hamsaduta, 11 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700719_tamala_krsna|“The first business is if the temples are not properly maintained then we should concentrate on sankirtana outside. Temple opening is secondary, but we should concentrate on sankirtana outside. As in Paris we have no official temple but still sank...]] —Tamala, 19 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700719_syamasundara|Please try to open as many branches as possible in European countries.”]] —Syamasundara, 19 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700731_jadurani|“Wherever a sankirtana temple will be established, I shall require at least three pictures, namely your spiritual master, my spiritual master and the Panca-tattva]] —Jadurani, 31 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700801_dinesh|“The prospect of your opening a new branch is very good. If you can, do it. This opening of centers is required. However, Krsna consciousness does not depend on the place, on the contrary, it depends on the person who is free from duality. So why ...]] —Dinesh, 1 August, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700919_karandhara|If there is scarcity of pujaris, then Deities should not be installed, only pictures of Guru and Gauranga should be worshipped]] —Karandhara, 19 September, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701104_rupanuga|“In the meantime Gargamuni and Visnujana can work together for establishing a nice temple in Coconut Grove, near Miami, Florida, and that will please me very much. Please go on opening thousands of centers all over the world.”]] —Rupanuga, 4 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701104_gargamuni_maharaja|“Why are you asking for more men to help you in Florida? As I created, so you must create others; that is parampara. You are already three; why do you need any more? And you are big three.]] —Gargamuni Maharaja, 4 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701104_satsvarupa|“You are one of my oldest and best-qualified students, so now you may, along with the other men of GBC, take over from me the management of ISKCON affairs and work combinedly to open as many centers as possible all over the world. If you simple ca...]] —Satsvarupa, 4 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701121_upendra|. If you will simply work on very strenuously in a humble state of mind as the sincere servant of the servant of the Lord, then Krsna will give you all facilities.]] —Upendra, 21 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701124_bali-mardana-mardana-mardana|even there is no place, we can sit down underneath a tree and chant as I did in New York.]] —Bali Mardan, 24 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701124_bhagavan|“It is very nice that you are opening another center in Cleveland, Ohio. Please do it very thoughtfully.”]] —Bhagavan dasa, 24 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701218_bhagavan|The more we open branches, the more I feel encouraged.]] —Bhagavan dasa, 18 December, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710108_vrindaban_candra|“It is good news that you have now got a house and are remodeling it for the temple. You may immediately arrange an altar for worship of Guru-Gauranga and that will be very suitable for the present. Later you can increase the Deity worship, but fo...]] —Visnujana Maharaja, 8 January, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710404_nayanabhirama|As soon as I remember that you are trying to fulfill my desire of trying to open ten centers, it gives me renewed vigor and life. Please do it nicely.]] —Visnujana Maharaja, 4 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710704_nayanabhirama|“So far your leaving Philadelphia center, that is not advisable at the present moment. Better to wait until Philadelphia temple is very firmly established and then if you wish you can go to Morocco to open a center. Whatever center you open, it mu...]] —Nayanabhirama, 4 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710824_vamanadeva|I am in favor of opening new centers but not at the cost of taking from our already established centers.”]] —Vamanadeva, 24 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710825_amogha_and_hanuman|We cannot take responsibility if others are controlling the temple, otherwise we are not going to take charge]] —Amogha and Hanuman, 25 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710902_sivananda|Not that there should be a repeat of the situation in Hamburg that the Deities were taken away. Unless there is solid temple arrangement I don't advise you to install the Deity.]] —Sivananda, 2 September, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711120_bhakta_dasa|We are prepared to sleep under a tree, so what is there need for a fancy house? Only people must have some place to go, so as soon as possible try to get some place where the public can come and sit down comfortably and chant Hare Krsna.”]] —Sri Galim dasa, 20 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711212_kirtanananda|Better if there are a few important centers and traveling parties for the smaller towns and villages, going and coming back]] —Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, 12 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720105_sudama|“You have always served me very faithfully, so I pray that Krsna may bless you with a long life with which to open many temples and that in this very lifetime you may return back to home, back to Godhead.”]] —Sudama, 5 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720325_patita_uddharana|I have made it a policy that there must be at least ten initiated brahmanas in a temple before Deities are installed.”]] —Patita Uddharana, 25 March, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720520_dayananda|“It is not good if small number of devotees open a center and then fall away. Association of devotees is the most important thing. So I think in the future at least ten to twelve men must open a center. But you have done the right thing to concent...]] —Dayananda, 20 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720616_bhagavan|In future throughout the society, it is better so far as possible that we should rent. Big house means big responsibility. So unless there are many men, and very big propaganda, buying house is risky and unnecessary.”]] —Bhagavan, 16 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720712_giriraja|So she, along with our other big life members, can form this committee, and our own men will give direction]] —Giriraja, 12 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720806_damodara|if we spend our whole time simply to earn money to pay for big, big buildings and decorations, what is the value? I am more interested in preachers than builders and decorators.]] —Damodara, 6 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720809_amogha]] —Amogha, 9 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720824_satsvarupa|I have just received one letter from the black devotees in Cleveland who wish start their own ISKCON center independently of the white devotees there. In principle, it is all right, birds of a feather will flock together.]] —Satsvarupa, 24 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720913_upendra|we have found it is always in the long run more stable and a better situation if local people can be persuaded to help from the very beginning.]] —Upendra, 13 September, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721118_rupa_vilasa]] —Bali Mardan, 18 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721111_cyavana|“Preaching is our real business, not getting big, big buildings and doing business for money just to maintain them, no.]] —Cyavana, 11 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721231_bali-mardana-mardana-mardana|Such building being our world headquarters of ISKCON would facilitate our preaching expansion work all over the world]] —Bali Mardan, 31 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730105_jagadisa|“When Krsna sees that you are very serious and sincere to serve Him only, you need not have to worry to get a new place, He will help you in that way.”]] —Jagadisa, 5 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730218_gurudasa|“If you are laying the foundation stone to this temple there is a ceremony which you can observe]] —Kīrtanānanda, 18 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730311_govinda|“Gaura-Nitai Deities may be approved and ordered by the local temple presidents with consultation of the GBC. There should be at least three or four brahmanas available. So there is no need to delay any shipments if these qualifications are met.”]] —Govinda dasi, 11 March, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730331_karandhara|“There is no need of adding further Deities. Once installed it cannot be changed. Do not make it childish, too much addition of Deities will encumber us.]] —Karandhara, 31 March, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730723_jagadisa|As soon as you have the qualified men then you can open a small branch.]] —Jagadisa, 23 July, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730927_rsabhadeva|“After finishing these Bombay affairs I am thinking not to increase any more branches for the time being. Whatever branches we have already opened let them be managed perfectly.”]] —Karandhara dasa, 27 September, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731004_satsvarupa|“For the time being new centers may not be opened. Whatever centers we have got already, let us organize them very soundly. If more men are available, let them come to India. I have already written to Karandhara that fifty more men are required in...]] —Satsvarupa, 4 October, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731209_babhru|“It is a fact that at this time I do not want to open any further centers. It is a question of timing. We have initiated so many projects and centers and practically we are short-handed all over the world, so it is better at this time if we work t...]] —Babhru, 9 December, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/741006_madhavananda|“One thing try to remember is that a temple should not be started whimsically. It must be given very careful consideration. And once started, a temple cannot be closed whimsically. You must be fully prepared to maintain nicely the temple. You must...]] —Bhurijana dasa, 6 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741228_jagadisa|Gradually you should buy all the churches and make them into temples. There are so many churches actually they should give us these churches free, if they were actually God conscious.]] —Jagadisa, 28 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750212_manager_central_bank_of_india|You have my authorization to open centers as you see fit after considering twice and thrice. Do not whimsically open or establish any center and then close it down later on.]] —Hanuman dasa, 12 February, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750408_gupta|“The process of opening a center somewhere is that we go there and hold classes for one week on the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita and if the people like, then we'll open a center.]] —Mr. Roy, 8 April, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750726_dinanatha_n._mishra._mishra._mishra_n._mishra|Now I wish to establish some temple of Ramacandra, Sita-Rama. Of course it depends on the mercy of Lord Ramacandra]] —Dinanatha, 26 July, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750804_gopala_krsna|“Regarding Adelaide, unless you are sure that the Deity worship will go on nicely, do not install the Deity. Simply have kirtana and keep the Panca-tattva picture, that's all. What are the ingredients of the Lord Caitanya murti? Metal or wood is b...]] —Madhudvisa Swami, 4 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750817_kirtanananda|You may construct a library and a meditation hall to please the donors, but as far as possible the library should carry our books and books of other Vaisnava acaryas.]] —Mahamsa Swami, 17 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751110_bahudak|now Krsna is so kind that I am establishing so many nice temples all over the world. Now I want that there should be established 108 temples before my death, so you think how to do it]] —Madhudvisa Swami, 10 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751114_sri_v._s._murthy._s._murthy._s._murthy|I have got so many temples and now in Calcutta I have got a marble temple, but I would have wished that if by selling the marbles I could publish and distribute books]] —Ramesvara dasa, 14 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751120_ramesvara|my Guru Maharaja, he preferred rented house rather than one's own house. At least in India, a rented house is preferred than possessing one and that is practical.”]] —Ramesvara dasa, 20 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760122_satsvarupa|Now he is concentrating on book distribution so there will be no difficulty. This should be our first business. Temple opening is secondary.]] —Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, 22 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760228_ramram_maharaja|If anyone gives the whole money for the building, then we can call the building in his name]] —Aksayananda Swami, 28 February, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760711_bishambhar|book distribution and preaching is our most important activity. Opening temples is subordinate. We have to see how books are being distributed and how people are joining whole-heartedly. That is actual development.”]] —Gopala Kṛṣṇa dasa, 11 July, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761026_brahmananda|“Whether we require our own house in Mombasa? Why spend energy in that way when there is no money? Preaching is first and foremost. If by preaching people will contribute, then we can get, otherwise, what is the need?”]] —Brahmananda, 26 October, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761228_kurusrestha|In your country hundreds of temples like this must be opened. Town to town, village to village. I am very pleased. Another temple opened, another book published that is the success of this movement]] —Kurusrestha dasa, 28 December, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761214_lokanatha|the center should be for this purpose, that you go to the villages for preaching and come back. But, if you become packed up in the center, that is not wanted]] —Lokanatha, 14 December, 1976 --- ![[letters/1977/770104_balavanta|“When the property is secured, then you can install the Deities. Otherwise, don't take the risk.”]] —Balavanta, 4 January, 1977 --- ![[letters/1977/770417_radha-sarana-sarana-sarana|“Just because there are no men is not a good reason to make someone a brahmana. This policy is not good. First have devotees. Then we should consider to open a center.]] —Radha-Sarana, 17 17, 1977 --- ## The Best Location to Open a Temple ![[letters/1967/671216_subalaab]] —Subala, 16 December, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680505_subala|“So far changing the place; we must give first consideration to the right place, not to the rent. Even the rent is high, we shall first pay for a place where many people come and go.]] —Subala, 5 May, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680613_satsvarupa|“I am so pleased to learn that the new temple location will be very near the business district.]] —Satsvarupa, 13 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680712_cidananda|consider all these pros and cons intelligently and then, depending on the grace of Krsna, you can go there, chanting all the ways, Hare Krsna.”]] —Cidananda, 12 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1970/700801_dinesh|“The prospect of your opening a new branch is very good. If you can, do it. This opening of centers is required. However, Krsna consciousness does not depend on the place, on the contrary, it depends on the person who is free from duality. So why ...]] —Dinesh, 1 August, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701110_jayapataka|My Guru Maharaja wanted us to open our centers in the most congested parts of major cities. We do not want a place in a quiet and solitary place]] —Jayapataka Maharaja, 10 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1972/720111_sucandra|“I am very pleased to note that you have got a nice place in the central part of Munich city and that a good response has been found by you there.]] —Sucandra, 11 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1974/740604_bhakta_dasa|be very careful you don’t again buy a place in a bad neighborhood or neighborhood that is about to become bad.]] —Bhakta dasa, 4 June, 1974 --- ## Grhasthas Opening Temples ![[letters/1969/691021_vamanadeva]] —Vamanadeva, 21 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691021_aniruddha|you also get yourself married, and if you like you open a new branch, and husband and wife together advance the cause of Krsna consciousness.]] —Aniruddha, 21 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700315_ekayani|“I am very glad to know that you are so eager to start a center when you get married. That is very nice. We want to open hundreds and thousands of centers in every town, village, neighborhood and everywhere.]] —Ekayani, 15 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700329_rupanuga|“I have all my blessings for Jagajjanani dasi and Prahladananda dasa for being married under your care. Train this couple for opening a new branch in one of the places you are now visiting with sankirtana party. Try to open as many branches as pos...]] —Rupanuga, 29 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700330_damodara|after some time she may go with her husband for starting a new center when they are ready. My idea is to train up many devotees and as soon as they are ready send them for starting new branches.”]] —Damodara, 30 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/711208_vamanadeva_indira_dasi_|I am encouraged especially that my householder disciples are carrying out this task of opening centers all over the world.]] —Vamanadeva and Indira dasi*, 8 December, 1971 --- ## Bhet-Nama ![[letters/1972/720516_gurudasa_and_yamuna|There is a system, bhet-nama, it means the person who contributes, for his lifetime the room is reserved for him and after his demise it goes to the temple. There are many buildings in Vrindavana which are constructed on this principle]] —Gurudasa and Yamuna, 16 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720608_giriraja|you can introduce the bhet-nama system]] —Giriraja, 8 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720612_gurudasa|“So far your question regarding bhet-nama]] —Gurudasa, 12 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720621_giriraja]] —Giriraja, 21 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720808_giriraja]] —Giriraja, 8 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720930_bali-mardana-mardana-mardana|“Regarding the Bharatpur house, try to convince the present king that everything will be in his name, that is, we shall name it ISKCON Bharatpur Temple or ISKCON Bharatpur House and we shall fix up a marble plaque in the front.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 30 September, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730720_tamala_krsnaaa|“Yes, your plan for people paying for a guest room at Vrndavana is very nice]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa Maharaja, 20 July, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730725_gurudasa|“From Bombay and Delhi we can rent rooms in the temple. This is called bhet-nama. Perhaps you may know. The room is used by the contributor for the lifetime then it becomes again the property of the temple.”]] —Gurudasa, 25 July, 1973 --- ![[letters/1975/750610_radha_krishna_dhawan|“The idea of the bhet-nama system is that the man pays the cost of the room and we make a plate with his name on it saying, ’the cost was paid by such and such person.’ Whenever he may come, he can use the room.]] —Caityaguru dasa, 10 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750704_ramesvara]] —Giriraja dasa, 4 July, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750911_giriraja]] —Giriraja dasa, 11 September, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760606_giriraja|“Concerning the bhet-nama, you can follow the plan of Tirupati, that guests cannot stay more than 2 months, 60 days, like that. But, there must be space left vacant for receiving foreign guests]] —Giriraja, 6 June, 1976 --- ## Moving a Temple ![[letters/1968/681118_upendra|we have got a better place at a cheaper rent already on the Melrose Avenue. And we are going to occupy the same within a day or two if all goes as planned.”]] —Upendra, 18 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690121_kulasekhara|Already you have a very nice temple on Park Avenue so before you make any plans to change this you must make sure that this move is very carefully thought out.”]] —Hamsaduta, 21 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/701201_nayanabhirama|“So far as moving the temple to a new location, that is very good news.]] —Nayanabhirama, 1 December, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/711228_rsabhadeva|if no one can come due to law, I do not think you should keep such a place. Better to find a more suitable place, then install Lord Jagannatha.]] —Rsabhadeva, 28 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720121_vamanadeva|I have no objection if GBC men have approved your closing of Oklahoma City center and moving to Dallas]] —Vamanadeva, 21 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720125_karandhara_dasa|“Your proposal to move Tokyo temple back to the center of Tokyo is very good. This was my Guru Maharaja's policy that we should remain in the big cities in order that the maximum amount of people could take advantage of our preaching.”]] —Karandhara dasa, 25 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730221_karandhara|“It is not very good policy to move the Deities once they have been installed.”]] —Karandhara, 21 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/741019_hansadutta|“If the Hamburg Deity is moved but worshipped, it is all right. You do not have to re-open if it is inconvenient. What you have said about considering a thousand times before opening a temple, that I want. Not that you should open a temple whimsic...]] —Hamsaduta dasa, 19 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750821_rupanuga|“Regarding the Washington temple why are you selling the present building? Why are you changing it? We are not businessmen that we sell for profit and then move the Deity. Develop the farm in New York nicely. Show by example what it means plain li...]] —Rupanuga dasa, 21 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760504_kashinath_mullick|“Concerning the construction of a new temple for Sri Sri Radha Vrndavana Candra, our men can see how the Indian mistris are doing the work there, and they can learn the art. During the construction, the Deities can be moved to some temporary place...]] —Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, 4 May, 1976 --- ## Never Closing a Temple ![[letters/1967/670412_janardana|Now when you have opened it is not good to close it; that will be a discredit for the Society. Try to continue the branch by cooperation.”]] —Janardana, 12 April, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/671115_brahmananda|Once a center is open it must be maintained. A responsible man for each center must be found out before opening.]] —Brahmananda, 15 November, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/671208_mukunda|“I am glad to learn that you are going to re-open your Santa Fe temple. Please make it a point that once a center is opened it should not be closed. I have already given charge of six temples to six boys. You and your husband must take charge of t...]] —Kṛṣṇa devi and Subala, 8 December, 1967 --- ![[letters/1969/690708_bhurijana|Our policy should be to open branches as many as possible, but not to close a single one. That would be a degradation. I think you have got enough potential opportunity in your center, so go on chanting and things will come out successful.”]] —Bhurijana, 8 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700202_jayapataka]] —Jayapataka, 2 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700708_manager_of_security_pacific_bankb|“Regarding your closing the temple in Providence during the very cold winter and going to Florida at that time, yes you may do it, but in that case you may not install any Deities in the temple.]] —Sridhama, 8 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701231_murari|“So far as your plan for opening centers is concerned, that program sounds very encouraging. But one thing you should know is that we cannot have another situation like Edinburgh. Once a temple has been opened it must never be closed. So if you ar...]] —Murari, 31 31, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710101_karandhara|once a center is opened it may not be closed down. That is very bad. So all considerations must be done very thoughtfully and carefully.”]] —Karandhara, 1 January, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710324_satsvarupa|“We have got so many centers. Now we should concentrate on developing the existing centers nicely rather than randomly opening new ones. If a temple has to close down it is a great discredit. So we should work in such a way that all our centers ma...]] —Satsvarupa, 24 24, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710831_hansadutta|decision is that, at any cost, Hamburg center must be maintained]] —Hamsaduta, 31 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720204_sri_galim|There have been cases of closing down, but only where the field was absolutely hopeless and there was waste of time.]] —Sri Galim, 4 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1974/740912_hansadutta|I am not in favor of closing even a small temple]] —Hamsaduta, 12 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740914_all_gbc_secretaries_and_signed_by_srila_prabhupada|To close a temple is a very serious business, as well as opening one. It means that we are calling Krsna to come and reside there. Once Krsna is there, we cannot tell Him to now leave]] —all GBC Secretaries and signed by Śrīla Prabhupāda, 14 14, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740916_manager_of_liberty_bank|“I am very shocked that he has closed the Edinburgh temple. This is very serious matter. Why has he done this? It is against the principles of devotional service to whimsically close a temple. I have written him that the temple must be re-opened i...]] —Madhavananda dasa, 16 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740929_jagadisa|temple can be closed for any reason. You have done a great mistake.]] —Hamsaduta dasa, 29 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741001_rupanuga|A center without a Deity can be closed, but a center with a Deity if closed it is a great offense]] —Hamsaduta dasa, 1 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741001_rupanuga|Before opening a temple it has to be carefully considered, and once opened it cannot be closed.]] —Hamsaduta dasa, 1 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741001_rupanuga|Closing a temple we cannot do. It becomes a farce and is against the bhakti cult.]] —Hamsaduta dasa, 1 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741008_pranava|Now that you have opened the temple do not think to close it even if there is some difficulty]] —Badrnarayana, 8 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750519_mahamsa|“When our Mexico City branch is open, how can we close it? That building is very nice and we have been there for five years now. I am not at all in favor of closing such a temple. Stay there in that building somehow or other, and if you like, you ...]] —Hrdayananda Goswami, 19 May, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750821_rupanuga|“Regarding your questions, no, the large Deity can never be moved, not at all.”]] —Rupanuga dasa, 21 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760122_satsvarupa|“Regarding closing the Phoenix center, since there is no Deity installed, it can be closed if you decide to do so.”]] —Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, 22 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761113_gargamuni|“The proposal of closing Calcutta center is very inauspicious. Any center we open cannot be closed at any cost, what to speak of the Calcutta center.]] —Gargamuni, 13 November, 1976 --- ## How to Maintain a Temple ![[letters/1967/670413_kirtanananda|in your country the activity is not allowed, therefore some devices like selling the publications, recruiting members, inviting them to our meetings]] —Kīrtanānanda, 13 April, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670909_rupanuga|the temple affairs should be adjusted in the manner where the important members or all the members may work and support the temple affairs]] —Rupanuga, 9 September, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/671216_subalaab|“If there is cheap labor you can organize there some incense manufacturing concern. I wish that in every center we shall now manufacture incense of very good quality.]] —Kṛṣṇa devi, 16 December, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680122_hansadutta|I quite approve of your plan for manufacturing Jagannathas and get some profit out of it for maintenance of the temple.”]] —Hamsaduta 22nd, January, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680323_brahmananda|I do not know how far we shall be successful, but we must find out a source of our income. At the present moment, some of the boys are working and practically it is going on under their working strength.”]] —Brahmananda, 23 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680326_satsvarupa|In India the brahmacaris collect alms and subscription. But here it is not possible to do like that; therefore all brahmacaris may work at least part time so that our financial difficulty may be minimized.”]] —Satsvarupa, 26 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680514_hansadutta|The whole institution is not in very sound financial position, so we should always remember this position and try to sell our articles so that we may again publish our books and literatures.]] —Hamsaduta, 14 May, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680612_subala|“Yes, you can have the band play there in the temple as you are in great need of money to carry on there. When we are in need of money to carry on Krsna’s work, then we can resort to whatever means there is available. So long it is always for Krsn...]] —Subala, 12 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680613_krsna_devi_dinesh|the first duty is to help maintain the Lord's temple as I have instructed.]] —Kṛṣṇa devi and Dinesh, 13 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680628_brahmananda]] —Brahmananda, 28 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680630_rupanuga|boys who are not engaged in the temple service during the daytime must try to get some money by working or some other way. Without money it is not possible to exist in the material world.]] —Rupanuga, 30 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680713_umapati|So if there are no jobs at all, then you can fully engage yourself in Krsna’s job by chanting in the parks and public places and certainly Krsna will send you salaries. Krsna provides all living entities and why not His sincere devotees?]] —Umapati, 13 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680714_hayagriva|by the grace of Krsna, you have got some educational talent, and wherever there is an opportunity to get some money, you must accept it, but spend the money for Krsna.]] —Hayagriva, 14 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680716_yamuna_devi]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 16 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680824_aniruddha|if you can organize this sankirtana party chanting in the parks and in the street, with permit from the authorities, there will be no scarcity of money, and people will be very glad to contribute.”]] —Aniruddha, 24 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680918_sivananda|“Regarding collecting funds: The brahmacaris, vanaprasthas, and sannyasis are not supposed to earn money like grhasthas. The grhasthas or the householders can engage himself in earning money]] —Sivananda, 18 September, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681021_makhanlal|If we can sell some copies of our publications, books and literature, and we can maintain our establishment, somehow, we shall think it is a great success. We don't want anything more.]] —Makhanlal, 21 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681108_hayagriva|I wish that you will distribute at least 1,000 copies amongst your students and thereby you will be able to save at least $1,000 for developing New Vrndavana scheme.]] —Hayagriva, 8 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681111_umapati|“When you were in Montreal I told you that you could continue to work at present and give me $400 per month for my literary propaganda work. I require so much money for purchasing a printing press as well as paying the bill of Dai Nippon. So do no...]] —Umapati, 11 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681113_patita_uddharana_was_patita_pavana|“Yes, your place is very nice, but don't try to change it, but try to improve it. Better to have sankirtana and get one mrdanga from New York by paying them, and in this way try to improve the attendance of the temple. Your ideas you mention are v...]] —Harer Nama, 13 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681116_brahmananda|by selling books and magazines, we shall have to maintain the family of our devotees, or the brahmacaris. That should be the ideal work.]] —Brahmananda, 16 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681119_rayarama|We will print simply our books and magazines, etc. And the boys and their families should be maintained by the sales proceeds of books and magazines.”]] —Rayarama, 19 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681120_brahmananda|We require unlimited money for constructing New Vrndavana and other schemes in Krsna consciousness. So if it is possible to get some money from your father's business and employ it in Krsna consciousness, it will be glorious both for your father a...]] —Bali Mardan, 20 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681130_hansadutta|Why not organize the prasada program? That will be both spiritual propaganda and monetary gain also. Besides that, I'll suggest instead of accepting job outside, why not try to sell our books?]] —Hamsaduta, 30 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681212_ananda|if you can secure funds simply by selling our literature, by prasada program and by some sewing labor, then it will not be necessary to take karmi jobs outside.]] —Hamsaduta, 12 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681212_himavati|“Your sewing proposal is very nice and such idea is given by the grace of Krsna. Try to utilize your profits to maintain the temple with your husband and the others]] —Himavati, 12 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681224_cidananda|In the temple also if you keep some Indian goods for sale, that is also very nice. But don’t attempt two at a time. First of all start the prasada distribution and make it successful, then try to do business in Indian goods.”]] —Cidananda, 24 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681231_sivananda|That's a good scheme, but unfortunately we do not get financial help by our schemes, but should always depend upon the causeless mercy of Lord Krsna.”]] —Sivananda, 31 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690123_cidananda|“But one thing is that the brahmacaris who are there must help in supporting the temple so you will have adequate time for this added responsibility upon you. So those who are able to earn money for supporting the temple must assist you in this co...]] —Cidananda, 23 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690201_uddhava]] —Uddhava, 1 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690217_brahmananda|The method of contributing should be those who are not married should contribute all their income to the temple. Those who are married should contribute 50%.]] —Brahmananda, 17 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690504_sivananda|Simply we have to work and people will give contribution for this good cause. It is better to get money by collections than to work.”]] —Sivananda, 4 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690508_upendra|if you can pull on with the center without having to work outside, it is the best. If it is not possible, then the question of working outside arises. But if you can profitably start a jewellery shop and earn something, that is also very nice and ...]] —Kṛṣṇa dasa, 8 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690529_upendra]] —Satsvarupa, 29 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690531_satsvarupa|But if you think by giving up your job the sankirtana party will be organized more nicely, then you can do that.”]] —Satsvarupa, 31 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690613_mukunda|If you continue learning the jeweller’s trade he will not be displeased. Besides that, some of our men must work, otherwise it is difficult to maintain all the expenses in the European countries.”]] —Kṛṣṇa dasa, 13 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690816_pradyumna|“Yes, as suggested by you the householders should take charge of the maintenance of the temple. Jaya Gopala is a very enthusiastic boy. He should be given all sorts of encouragement. Then he alone can manage the whole thing.”]] —Pradyumna, 16 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690909_brahmananda|“Regarding your anxieties how to pay the rent, etc. in the winter season, I think Krsna will provide with sufficient press work and some of the boys may work also. In this way we have to manage.]] —Brahmananda, 9 September, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690919_sudama|In all our centers this magazine has given a new impetus for solving the economic question. You will be surprised to know that in Boston they are collecting on the average of $120 each day]] —Sudama, 19 September, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691008_jayagovinda|On the whole everywhere we are arranging to sell our Back to Godhead and maintaining our centers on this sale. So what is the defect that you cannot sell? It is printed in the German language, and it is presenting new and sublime ideas.]] —Jaya Govinda, 8 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691208_jayagovinda|they have no fixed income, but as they serve the Lord, the Lord arranges everything. Therefore, our principle should be to serve nicely, and everything will be arranged by the Lord.”]] —Jaya Govinda, 8 December, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691215_cidananda|“I am very glad that your feasts are becoming very successful. Yesterday I received a letter from Hawaii that they are now receiving about 100 guests and they are charging $1.00 each. So now they have a good income.”]] —Cidananda, 15 December, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700127_gurudasa|“It is so satisfactory to understand that you are preaching from house to house recruiting members for our London center. This was the procedure of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda when they began preaching. I think the charity box system will be a ve...]] —Gurudasa, 27 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700127_gurudasa|“The Krsna Consciousness Society will never experience any poverty stricken life because the members are so rich being constantly in association with Krsna; that while others may feel the pinching scarcity enforced by maya, Krsna conscious persons...]] —Gurudasa, 27 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700203_jayagovinda|you are working just to help and push Krsna’s interest, therefore, it is not maya.]] —Jaya Govinda, 3 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700205_hanuman_prasad_poddar]] —Hanuman Prasad Poddar, 5 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700205_hanuman_prasad_poddar|“How can we expect the government to give us any financial help while our Indian government does not allow any money to be brought from India for this purpose? How can we expect financial help from another government? Our financial budget is manag...]] —Hanuman Prasad Poddar, 5 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700210_ekayani]] —Ekayani, 10 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700211_balmukundji_parikh]] —Balmukundji Parikh, 11 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700319_hayagriva|I recommend to every householder if you spend 50% of your income for Krsna's business in developing New Vrndavana, and a similar amount is collected by Kirtanananda Maharaja, I think there will be no need of financial help from other centers.]] —Hayagriva, 19 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700319_hayagriva|If the foundations understand that actually you are doing something nice, then the financial difficulties for developing our various centers will be over.”]] —Hayagriva, 19 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700528_satsvarupa|Properly speaking, we preachers are not supposed to work, therefore we have got the right to take contributions for executing our activities.”]] —Satsvarupa, 28 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700710_jayapataka|“So far as collection is concerned, if somebody offers money there is no reason to refuse it. Certainly there are many pseudo-Vaisnavas collecting money for sense gratification, but that does not mean that pure Vaisnavas will not collect.”]] —Jayapataka, 10 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700714_manager_of_security_pacific_bank|I am sure if we work very sincerely all facilities will come from Krsna. It is stated in Bhagavad-Gita that Krsna personally carries the necessities of life of His devotee and gives protection to his status quo.]] —Sridhama, 14 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700719_hayagriva|It is only required that we work very sincerely and Krsna will provide all facilities according to our endeavor.”]] —Vrndavana Candra, 19 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700719_umapati|“I am very glad that you have made nice arrangements for carrying on our preaching work and maintaining everyone including the householders without necessity of outside job. You are all very advanced and experienced, so do it nicely. That will giv...]] —Umapati, 19 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701118_gurudasa|This life membership is the support of our movement here, so you must stress this program especially. That will be our success.”]] —Gurudasa, 18 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701104_karandhara|the supply of money will come by your preaching efforts. You can approach rich men and preach to them about our movement and its aims.]] —Gargamuni Maharaja, 4 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701125_satsvarupa|“I have written Brahmananda how they are to manage their own establishment program. Every temple must work independently so far as maintenance is concerned.”]] —Satsvarupa, 25 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701220_jayapataka|You can immediately form this fund raising committee and do the needful.”]] —Jayapataka Maharaja, 20 December, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710305_vamanadeva|“So far as leaving your karmi job, I have no objection provided there is no scarcity of money for running the temple. Then you can devote yourself full time to pushing on this movement and developing St. Louis center. So you have my permission pro...]] —Vamanadeva, 5 March, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710424_rupanuga|But in the winter season the collections are not so good so you should make some compensation for those months. The point is that there must not be any financial difficulty. If there is not sufficient engagement in the temple, the devotees should ...]] —Rupanuga, 24 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710814_hansadutta|maintain themselves by the little profit made by book selling and literature distribution.]] —Hamsaduta, 14 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710901_tamala_krsna|“So far maintenance, we should make some monthly subscribers of cash or goods. Just like Goenka is giving foodstuffs, so many others can do the same. A little pocket expenditure can be collected by holding meetings. All the Gaudiya Math people col...]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 1 September, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710916_tamala_krsna|“Our policy should be for maintenance to take from many persons.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 16 September, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720204_sankarsana|If the preaching work is sincere, then there will be no lack either of temple or of devotees to fill it]] —Sankarsana, 4 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720410_satsvarupa]] —Satsvarupa, 10 April, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720412_giriraja|“If we have regular plan of selling books, then there will be no scarcity of money, and it will be easier to get books from Japan and sell them and utilize them than to receive money from America. So I do not think there is need for any transactio...]] —Giriraja, 12 12, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720816_nityananda|if we have to simply work for paying money for a house, that is not very much desirable.]] —Nityananda dasa, 16 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721111_yadubara|But most essential thing is, if you improve the preaching program, automatically everything else will improve, Krsna]] —Yadubara, 11 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730102_tejiyas|“Your description of struggling is to be understood as the mercy of Krsna, and when He is satisfied by your giving energy in this way just to please Him despite all conditions of difficulty, then you need not worry for money, there will be suffici...]] —Tejas, 2 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730105_jagadisa|“So far the concert of Indian musicians and dancers for raising funds for the new temple, yes you may do that, I have no objection.]] —Jagadisa, 5 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730617_hansadutta|strong committee should be formed of our life members.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 17 June, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731006_mukunda|“I am very encouraged by the report of how nicely our books are being distributed. This is our main business all over the world. If you give full attention to this, there will never be any shortage of funds. I am very glad to note that in London n...]] —Mukunda, 6 October, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731108_hansadutta|I started my movement with my books. And we shall be able to maintain everything with the sales of the books.]] —Hamsaduta, 8 November, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731211_makhanlal|“Yes, if you are able to acquire some farm land and produce grains that will be nice. Especially we want to export grains to India. Do not, however, change or disrupt the existing temple program. The economic situation is always precarious but we ...]] —Makhanlal, 11 December, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740329_dr._ghosh._ghosh._ghosh|“But if by starting an incense business economically you become solvent to run on your center then it is good, and for this purpose I will advise Bali Mardan to give you the necessary capital on your approval.]] —Trivikrama Maharaja, 29 March, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740407_tejiyas|“If our temples cannot even be maintained then it is a great defect in our management of the Society.”]] —Hamsaduta, 7 April, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741112_tripurari|“Simply by maintaining the Krsna conscious standards, everything else will follow. So I have faith in you. I know you are a good worker. Krsna has given you a very nice place there in Chicago. So utilize it nicely, and I will be very much pleased.”]] —Sri Govinda dasa, 12 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741218_rupanuga|“Your idea about Gopala Krsna going to LA to see how things are going, for a week, is a good idea. He can do that. But I do not want him to give up his job. If he could manage Spiritual Sky without giving up his job, that would be one thing, but I...]] —Rupanuga, 18 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741228_kurusrestha|your idea of forming a trust between ISKCON and the leading men in the Indian community is approved by me. That is very nice. Let the Indians take part in our movement and help us to push on this mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.]] —Kurusrestha, 28 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750106_mr_bagai|We are not interested in these things like hatha yoga and swimming. We do not encourage such useless activities. We would never take to such activities for earning money. We get money enough. We don't require to adopt any unauthorized means.]] —Mr. Bagai, 6 6, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750112_mr._lepesqueux._lepesqueux._lepesqueux|“Regarding food-stamps and welfare, if we have to fabricate some lie, that is not good. It can be done only if it is completely honest.”]] —Kirtiraja dasa, 12 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751120_ghanasyama|“Yes, you should develop better relations with the Indians in Chicago. 30,000; that is no joke. In the London temple the Indian devotees are doing everything for the maintenance of the temple. So as soon as the Indians in Chicago come to know, the...]] —Jagadisa dasa, 20 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760111_rupanuga|“In the six day book distribution, Eastern zone was first. This is our most important work. All the leaders should tax their brains for increasing the sales of our books. I have always said that if we simply rely on book distribution all our needs...]] —Rupanuga, 11 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760122_jayatirtha]] —Jayatirtha, 22 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761023_jayapataka|“Regarding this co-operative point, who will manage all the expenditure? We will spend so much money, why should it be managed by a co-operative? The co-operative society proposal is absurd]] —Jayapataka, 23 October, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761214_lokanatha|“Do not depend on outside help. Also, for financial support depend on Krsna. That is preaching success.]] —Lokanatha, 14 December, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761214_gurukrpa|“I’m pleased to know the restaurant is again doing nicely. If palatable dishes are available people will certainly come. Srutakirti is a good boy. You can trust him. Cooperation must be there. It is a nice idea to sell prasadam at the beaches from...]] —Gurukrpa, 14 December, 1976 --- ![[letters/1977/770201_harikesa|“The tendency you report of the householders living at the expense of others in our society, is not good. One way to earn money is by selling books, they can be given a salary or commission.]] —Harikesa Swami, 1 February, 1977 --- ## How to Utilize Money ![[letters/1967/670215_satsvarupa|we should only wait for Krsna’s mercy and should not jeopardize the hard-earned money for service of Krsna]] —Satsvarupa, 15 February, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/671009_sri_krishna_panditji|“If you want to transfer the trust to the International Society for Krsna consciousness the society will do everything for the improvement of the temple and also engage you as paid whole time manager on behalf of the Society. You ask Rs. 300/- per...]] —Sri Kṛṣṇa Panditji, 9 October, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680323_rayarama|“Now, when we live together somebody may fall ill. Now, find some future main source of income for our institution and main source is publications.]] —Brahmananda, 23 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680326_satsvarupa|We have to make arrangement for future emergency and I wish to organize a central board for such management]] —Satsvarupa, 26 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680710_brahmananda|“Regarding the kirtana collection, I have talked with Hamsaduta who has arrived here last evening, and as proposed by you that the contribution should be divided 50% for the temple, and 50% for the sankirtana fund, it is quite all right.”]] —Brahmananda, 10 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690717_satsvarupa|“Regarding your nice sankirtana collections, this should be kept in a separate account so that it may help in some great emergency. You should become a little spendthrift. I know that you do this, but still I am reminding you.”]] —Satsvarupa, 17 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691109_bhagavan|“It is very happy news that you are getting a bus, but purchase it new. Second-hand machine is not always reliable. It may give so much trouble. A similar attempt was made previously by Rupanuga. He spent $600 and was practically cheated. So be ca...]] —Bhagavan dasa, 9 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691215_gargamuni]] —Gargamuni, 15 December, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700124_umapati|“Regarding antiques: we do not require of them in our temple. For the time being don't spend money on antiques, better to try to expand our cult as far as possible with strenuous effort.”]] —Umapati, 24 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701113_karandharaa|“So far the distribution of funds, temple management, etc. which you have mentioned, if one is sincere, the dictation how to do it rightly will come from within.]] —Karandhara, 13 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710101_sudama|it is a bad policy to send good money after bad money as in the matter of paying some past debts. That is not a good business proposal.]] —* SPL to Karandhara, 1 January, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720515_giriraja|“So far our investing, where is our money to invest? We have no money to invest. Our process is to collect and spend, from left hand to right hand, or from right hand to left hand.”]] —Giriraja, 15 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1971/710707_bhagavan|Householders can sell books and get 15% commission on the net income.]] —Bhagavan dasa, 7 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710821_giriraja|“All big donations, like B. M. Birla's should be immediately deposited in the building fund. Not a farthing should be expended from such donations. That should be the policy.”]] —Giriraja, 21 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710906_ksirodakasayi_dasa]] —Ksirodakasayi dasa, 6 September, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710916_tamala_krsna|this extravagancy may be stopped. That is the real problem.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 16 September, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711115_lalita_kumara|I have recently informed the GBC to allow each temple to keep 25% of the money they collect from direct book and magazine sales for temple maintenance, 75% to be sent to the book fund.]] —Lalita Kumara, 15 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720325_patita_uddharana|as your temple grows and facilities are there for very opulent Deity worship, then this can be considered.]] —Patita Uddharana, 25 March, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720410_mahatma|So the point is to make use of what we already have. That is most important, and if Krsna sees that we are using it properly for pleasing Him in loving attitude of devotional service, then Krsna gives every facility in reciprocation of love.”]] —Mahatma, 10 April, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720509_rupanuga|all literature bills must be paid immediately]] —Rupanuga, 9 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720516_bhavananda|“Life Member money cannot be spent for eating and sleeping.”]] —Bhavananda, 16 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720802_danavir|“So far financial matters are concerned, these are also important, and we should not neglect them.”]] —Danavir, 2 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720913_upendra|The building fund will construct, the book fund will maintain, and this fund is for daily expenditure of seva-puja or worship of the Deities only.]] —Atreya Rsi, 13 September, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721013_yadubara|“Concerning your request for money for Hindi and Gujarati Back to Godhead’s where is the money collected from the first editions? For any magazine published money should be collected and then republished. Accounts should be kept—money invested, mo...]] —Yadubara, 13 October, 1972 --- ![[letters/1974/740424_gurudasa|Where is the money you collected for this purpose?”]] —Gurudasa, 24 April, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740509_manager_of_liberty_bank|you are very careful utilizing funds that are sent for that particular purpose. In all matters of management this careful attitude must be taken.]] —Jayapataka and Bhavananda, 9 May, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740920_syamasundara|My only request is we must spend money very cautiously and not to waste.]] —Jayatirtha dasa, 20 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750112_mr._lepesqueux._lepesqueux._lepesqueux|“Any householder devotee who is working full-time (with his wife) as a sankirtana book distributor, or temple managerial duties, artist, cook, etc., shall be provided food, shelter, and other bare minimum necessities by the temple itself.”]] —Kirtiraja dasa, 12 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750112_mr._lepesqueux._lepesqueux._lepesqueux|definitely, the BBT cannot pay any salary to anybody. Our philosophy is ’simple living and high thinking’—not sense gratification. The temple presidents and leaders (elder students) must show this by example.]] —Kirtiraja dasa, 12 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750717_brijratan_s._mohatta._mohatta._mohatta|not only collection, but expenditure must also be stabilized and scrutinized. Nothing should be spent extravagantly. That you have to see.]] —Gopala Kṛṣṇa dasa, 17 July, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750826_ramesvara|The best procedure is that the treasurer takes all money collected and immediately writes it in the book and then daily deposits everything in the bank. None of the collection should be used for spending]] —Gurukrpa Swami, 26 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750904_gatravan|you should immediately prosecute. The charge should be breach of trust and misappropriation of funds.]] —Paramahamsa Swami, 4 September, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751107_madhudvisa|“Why are you always calling on the telephone? Are you such important men that you have to call all over the world? We are poor men sons, what can I do? But, why are you always calling on the telephone?”]] —Ramesvara dasa, 7 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751120_ghanasyama|“That is very good that Seattle does not have any debts. This is proper management. This is very much wanted.”]] —Jayatirtha dasa, 20 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760711_bishambhar|Please see that the accounts are kept and that no money is wasted.]] —Visvambhara, 11 July, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761108_rupanuga|He may not live off temple funds. Temple president is generally meant for sannyasi, but a grhastha may be if he is restrained. It is not good if he remains as president.”]] —Rupanuga, 8 November, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761223_jayasacinandana|“Yes, the management must be very first-class. If required we can keep some paid men. Amateur management is not always efficient. I approve of your ideas for management. We shall get it passed by resolution meeting. I like the ideas.”]] —Surabhi, 23 December, 1976 --- ![[letters/1977/770201_harikesa|“The tendency you report of the householders living at the expense of others in our society, is not good. One way to earn money is by selling books, they can be given a salary or commission. But if you say that they do not want to do that, yes, th...]] —Harikesa Swami, 1 February, 1977 --- ![[letters/1977/770406_gurukrpa|“Yes, try to reduce the expenditures more and more. It is only with great difficulty upon all our book distributors that BBT gets its funds. So those who are responsible should be very frugal to see that not one penny is unnecessarily spent.”]] —Radhaballabha dasa, 6 April, 1977 --- ## How to Keep Accounts ![[letters/1967/670427_kirtanananda|“Krsna is dictating to you from within for nice management and I am very glad to have detailed statement of accounts.”]] —Kīrtanānanda, April, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670614_gargamuni|“I am in due receipt of your letter dated June, 12th, 1967 and I am glad that you are being assisted by an accountant friend. I quite appreciate your endeavor]] —Gargamuni, 14 June, 1967 --- ![[letters/1969/690217_mukunda|“It is very nice that you have already filled an application to be a company, and the office bearers mentioned there is all right. So I shall be glad to know when you open a bank account. You can register three signatures, and out of the three, tw...]] —Mukunda, 17 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690220_rayarama|he is supposed to keep quite accurate accounts of book keeping. So you can advise him to follow the system of vouchers. That is the perfect system of account.”]] —Rayarama, 20 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690508_upendra|“Regarding your question about keeping daily income and expenditure records I am enclosing a brief lesson in how to do this.]] —Kṛṣṇa dasa, 8 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700129_ksirodakasayi]] —Ksirodakasayi, 29 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700629_rupanuga|But Gargamuni informs me that the payments for Back to Godheads and book sales are not being sent. So the best thing will be to keep daily count of your stock and how many magazines and books sold.]] —Rupanuga, 29 29, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700715_upendra|“I am very glad to know that you are keeping your accounts up to date with Back to Godhead and the book fund. This is good and proper management. So you continue to keep these accounts weekly.”]] —Bali Mardan, 15 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700701_damodaraa|regularly, on Sunday of each week the sales proceeds may be totaled for issuing a check to the amount owed to my book fund and to the Back to Godhead accounts.]] —Damodara, 1 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700929_the_central_bank_of_india]] —The Central Bank of India, 29 29, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710121_sri_govinda|keeping our books so that they meet with government standards.]] —Sri Govinda, 21 January, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710219_rupanuga|“I’m so glad to learn that a scientific book keeping system is being introduced in our different centers. If possible, some instruction may be sent here in Bombay for this scientific book keeping system.]] —Rupanuga, 19 February, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710318_karandhara|“Book-keeping is the most important item. As you are growing in stature, our accounting system should become very perfect. We have to publish now a short statement of accounts. As we increase our life membership number, we must submit our audited ...]] —Karandhara, 18 March, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710526_central_bank_of_india]] —Central Bank of India, 26 May, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710728_jayapataka|account should be kept very nicely because we are dealing with the public's money.”]] —Jayapataka Maharaja, 28 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710824_jayapataka|Trial balance means to test how the accounts are kept scientifically.]] —Jayapataka Maharaja, 24 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710926_tamala_krsna|For all expenditures there must be regular vouchers.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 26 September, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711009_karandhara|“I am in due receipt of your statement of account and similarly every branch of our society should make a periodical trial balance and balance sheet. You can advise to all the branches that such accounts should be kept very nicely so that the publ...]] —Karandhara, 9 October, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711013_dayananda_nandarani|“So far the accounts are concerned, it is a very important item. I am so glad to learn that you are taking assistance from a chartered accountant. We are a registered limited establishment. Accounts must be submitted yearly to the companies regist...]] —Dayananda and Nandarani, 13 October, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711016_ksirodakasayi|we are dealing with the public. They are paying us money and we should handle them so carefully so that they may think of us as spotless.”]] —Ksirodakasayi, 16 October, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720119_ksirodakasayi|“For petty expenses, not exceeding Rs. 200/- may be kept with you always and everything should be accounted for with vouchers. No such items should be mentioned as ’miscellaneous’. Anyone who takes money personally for miscellaneous expenditures m...]] —Ksirodakasayi, 19 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720514_jagadisa|“I am very much encouraged by your increase in literature distribution for Canada zone, and I can understand that you are very methodical and careful to keep proper accounts. That is a very good qualification for manager.”]] —Jagadisa, 14 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720806_damodara|Along with our preaching and propaganda work, we must also give attention to financial matters, otherwise the whole thing will collapse and it will be a farce.]] —Damodara, 6 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721013_yadubara|“Concerning your request for money for Hindi and Gujarati Back to Godhead's where is the money collected from the first editions? For any magazine published money should be collected and then republished. Accounts should be kept—money invested, mo...]] —Yadubara, 13 October, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721203_karandhara|So we shall give them all cooperation. Now that requires proper accounts in all our temples.”]] —Karandhara, 3 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1974/740111_nadia|“It is very important that the accounts be kept very clear so that we retain our income tax exemption. So continue to engage Manasvi and competent men so that everything is recorded very clearly.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa Maharaja, 11 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740201_madhavananda|“Please see that accounts are kept carefully, not that money is taken for whimsical expenditure. Be vigilant. Syamasundara has made a scandal by taking money of the society's and investing it in business. This kind of thing should be carefully wat...]] —Madhavananda, 1 February, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750116_abhirama.v._sita_ramalai|“I think your idea about having professional men do our accounting in order to assure good accounting, is a good proposal. Regarding your other points, you must discuss these things with Hamsaduta.”]] —Puranjana dasa, 16 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750621_gurukrpa|“Yes, the accounts must be kept very carefully. The book inventory must be recorded, and what is collected and what is spent must be there.”]] —Gopala Kṛṣṇa, 21 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751022_tulsi|“Do the accounts under Mr. Vyas’ instruction. They must not remain loose. Accounting is simple, receipts and expenditures. Why complicated? From all centers receipts and expenditures should be taken and everything properly adjusted in the Bombay c...]] —Giriraja dasa, 22 October, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751114_sri_v._s._murthy._s._murthy._s._murthy|“I have received the weekly cash reports. It is very good that you have the same treasury system and reporting system in all your temples. This is wanted. Please keep the accounts very correctly so that we may remain always above suspicion.”]] —Bhagavan dasa, 14 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760529_haihaya_dasa|“The daily collections from the temple should be counted before three persons together. The accountant has nothing to do with these things. He simply notes down the figure in the books. This is how it should be done.]] —Haihaya dasa, 29 29, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761210_vicitravirya|“Yes, the accounts must be kept very clearly. Then everyone will be pleased with us. Not a single farthing should be wasted. That will be our credit.”]] —Vicitravirya dasa, 10 December, 1976 --- ## How to Manage a Temple ![[letters/1968/680303_rayarama|Sometimes I receive many letters from devotees with questions which could be solved in Istagosthi meetings.”]] —Rayarama, 3 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680322_balai|“I am always so pleased to see how nicely the Istagosthi meetings are being carried on, so I am always anticipating your letters along with Istagosthi reports. Thank you very much.”]] —Balai, 22 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680402_satsvarupa|“I am so glad to learn that he is taking part in Istagosthi. His answers are very much intelligent. I have fixed up date for going to New York on the 17th.”]] —Satsvarupa, 2 April, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680927_aniruddha|So let us organize all the centers which are already opened. And until we are fully organized, all these places are fully organized, we shall not make any more attempts.”]] —Aniruddha, 27 September, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681224_cidananda|“Both you and Aniruddha are sincere devotees with good talents, so anything you do by combined consultation has my 100% approval.”]] —Cidananda, 24 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690213_sivananda|“I think you should make the board of management for your center as follows: President-Sivananda dasa Brahmacari, Treasurer and Secretary-Krsna dasa Brahmacari, Editor of German Back to Godhead-Uttama Sloka, Superintendent of press-Jaya Govinda da...]] —Sivananda, 13 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690318_hayagriva|“So far the living arrangement is concerned, the grhasthas should be given chance to live together as husband and wife. If not, then all the girls can stay in a place and all the boys can stay in a place, if there is not sufficient space. So far t...]] —Hayagriva, 18 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690402_rayarama|I think that for management it is better to have two heads than one.]] —Rayarama, 2 April, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690515_brahmananda|If everyone’s problems are sent to me then who will solve my problems?]] —Brahmananda, 15 May, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690728_mukunda|“I understand from a letter from Gurudasa that you have elections for officers for your temple, and the men filling the posts are all very well suited for their positions. Now all of you please make quickly the march towards the goal of Krsna cons...]] —Mukunda, 28 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690819_satsvarupa|I think in ordinary administration the presidents of the different centers may consult amongst themselves and make certain general procedures by mutual agreement.]] —Satsvarupa, 19 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690819_satsvarupa|“Tell Brahmananda that press at New Vrndavana is most impractical at the present moment, because there is transport difficulty. For the time being first of all organize the Boston center very nicely and then we shall divert our attention elsewhere...]] —Satsvarupa, 19 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691027_brahmananda|You have asked about the management of our society, and the position is that management should be done in such a way that people may not break away. That is the first business of management.]] —Brahmananda, 27 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700205_hanuman_prasad_poddar]] —Hanuman Prasad Poddar, 5 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700329_rupanuga|“When Brahmananda came here, I discussed with him that we have now opened so many branches and they should be properly maintained.]] —Rupanuga, 29 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700414_madhudvisa|“My students who are so kindly cooperating with me, if they rigidly stick to the routine work chalked out by me, namely chanting the prescribed rounds, observing the regulative principles, attending temple lectures and going out with sankirtana pa...]] —Madhudvisa, 14 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700604_gurudasa|So keep this standard rigidly intact so the]] —Gurudasa, 4 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700711_hansadutta|“If you and Tamala both are present at the opening of a new center that will be nice. Or you may follow your other plan, but however you do it, do it jointly by combined consultation. If you do it jointly in this way you will get strength to decid...]] —Hamsaduta, 11 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700716_nevatiaji|“Up to date, actually I am the only superior controller, but as the boys are getting experienced I shall very soon transfer the administration to them, simply keeping myself as an overseer guide.”]] —Nevatiaji, 16 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700719_umapati|“I understand that the new boy, Hari Vilasa, is very experienced, so if he is going to be president that is nice. We want a good administration—that is one side of our propaganda work.”]] —Umapati, 19 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710313_satsvarupa|“So far as him taking over the management of Boston temple, that is all right. All department heads should train an assistant so that in their absence, work may not suffer but go on continuously.”]] —Satsvarupa, 13 March, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710717_tribhuvanatha|“I am also glad to note that a meeting of all the presidents was held just recently in order to unify the temples. That is the process. Unless we work cooperatively, how this movement will go on? So my request to you all is that you maintain that ...]] —Tribhuvanatha, 17 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710728_gurudasa|We are increasing in volume and we have got some prestige. Nothing should be done irresponsibly.”]] —Gurudasa, 28 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711121_satsvarupaa]] —Satsvarupa, 21 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711208_patita_uddharana|If your preaching work is strong, then your management of temple affairs will also become automatically very strong]] —Patita Uddharana, 8 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711203_damodara|And if we are determined to please Krsna with our routine work despite all kinds of economic handicaps, He will provide all relief. Just see. If preaching is strong, management will be strong. That is the rule.”]] —Damodara, 3 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720220_rudra_and_radhika_devi_dasa|The art of managing is to do all things at once in a nice manner]] —Rudra dasa and Radhika devi dasa, 20 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720502_jagadisa|“Simply become more concerned with increasing the spiritual content of our lives, and in this way all other problems like management will be easily solved,]] —Jagadisa, 2 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720505_nityananda|“So far your concern about management, the solution is to be always thinking of Krsna and the spiritual master, then maya cannot touch you. If you very strictly follow the regulative principles and chant sixteen rounds minimum, there is no questio...]] —Nityananda, 5 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720514_jayananda_trai_rsabhadeva|we must try to avoid becoming too much overly organized like material businessmen.]] —Jayananda, 14 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720514_jagadisa|“I am very much encouraged by your increase in literature distribution for Canada zone, and I can understand that you are very methodical and careful to keep proper accounts. That is very good qualification for manager.”]] —Jagadisa, 14 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720612_gurudasa|Now I understand that Ksirodakasayi is going to London soon so in his absence you shall be the president. And I think if Tejyas is there, that he can be treasurer, or I have heard that Vaikuntanatha is there, so if it is better arrangement, then h...]] —Gurudasa, 12 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721118_jagadisa]] —Jagadisa, 18 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730104_sama_sammita]] —Sama and Samita dasi, 4 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730128_palika|see that everything is developed very, very nicely and that all the land is utilized properly,]] —Kīrtanānanda, 28 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730210_karandhara]] —Karandhara, 10 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730719_karandhara|too much official control is not good in spiritual life.]] —Karandhara, 19 July, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731126_umapati]] —Umapati, 26 November, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740407_puranjana|“You must work hard to absolve the debts you have massed so we will not lose our standing there. If everyone is strictly chanting at least sixteen rounds daily and reading the books and observing the regulative principles then management will be a...]] —Puranjana, 7 April, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740504_the_management_of_tirupati-tirumala-devasthanam-tirumala-devasthanam]] —The Management, 4 4, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740816_batu_gopala_dasa|“Regarding the art of management, constant changing is not good. Even if there is some fault in management it should be corrected not changed. Besides that, Vaisnava philosophy is that everyone is addressed as Prabhu, or master. Everyone should co...]] —Batu Gopala dasa, 16 August, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740914_jayatirtha|“So by Krsna’s grace you are becoming a good manager. So stick to Krsna’s service and He will give you more and more intelligence and more and more managing power. Krsna will be happy and you will also be happy.”]] —Ramesvara dasa, 14 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741007_gargamuni_swami]] —Karandhara dasa, 7 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741011_tejiyas|“Any discrepancy, that can be corrected. A change of management that is not good. All faults shall be corrected.]] —Sri Govinda dasa, 11 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741018_giriraja|You are right that politics should be avoided. In my personal life I did not participate in the political diplomacy of my godbrothers.]] —Gangamayi devi dasi, 18 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741101_cyavana|“All my disciples they are good boys, intelligent, and hard working. I pray to Krsna that you all may use your intelligence for Krsna’s service and not for any personal ambition. We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if...]] —Cyavana Swami, 1 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741117_agent_central_bank_of_india|opening a charitable dispensary is not in our program at least for the time being.”]] —Dr. Ghosh, 17 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741206_sri_govinda|Regarding the temple management, one man can be left behind, while the others go out, to take care of the Deity. And, you can come home at night and take prasadam sumptuously.]] —Sri Govinda dasa, 6 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750502_kartikeya_mahadevia|“I have already decided to make a trust board for Hare Krsna Land in which there will be twelve trustees. Out of them seven will be Indians and five will be foreigners.]] —Kartikeya, 2 May, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750604_pranava|if the management continues to be so nasty, then that place will also be ruined. Management must be done very nicely otherwise it is useless.”]] —Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, 4 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750826_ramesvara|If you cannot increase it, you should at least maintain what I have given you. You cannot accuse me that I have not given you anything. So it is a great responsibility you now have.”]] —Jagannatha Suta dasa, 26 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750930_arvind_shah|If politics come, then the preaching will be stopped. That is the difficulty. As soon as politics come, everything is spoiled.]] —Gurukrpa Swami, 30 September, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751016_svarupa|“So far Kirtiraja is concerned, preaching is our first business and ordering is routine work. Anyone can learn and manage the ordering department, but preaching requires special qualification. So Kirtiraja if he is qualified for preaching he can b...]] —Ramesvara dasa, 16 October, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751110_bahudak|“Regarding the topics of the Krsna book, this is Istagosthi. Istagosthi means discussion between ourselves but that should not be taken as a competition. It is not the subject matter for competition. It can be discussed in a small group of devotee...]] —Kīrtanānanda Swami, 10 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751113_gargamuni|“If you produce milk, you should not drink milk very much. Rather you should save it and convert it into ghee and then sell it to the householders and centers and thus maintain your asrama. The excess quantity of ghee may be exchanged by trade. Ki...]] —Palika devi dasi, 13 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760504_whom_it_may_concern|he wrote one letter similar to the enclosed letter herein and that one month has passed without any reply. What kind of management is this? So these things should be rectified immediately.]] —Whom It May Concern, 4 4, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761023_jayapataka|The best management is to turn the local men into devotees. Make the management perfect in this way. Things should be developed in such a way, based on devotional service, that there may not be any racial feelings.]] —Jayapataka, 23 October, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761223_jayasacinandana|“Yes, the management must be very first-class. If required we can keep some paid men. Amateur management is not always efficient. I approve of your ideas for management. We shall get it passed by resolution meeting. I like the ideas.”]] —Surabhi, 23 December, 1976 --- ## Rules and Policies ![[letters/1967/671026_jadurani|In spiritual life there is no allowance of association of man and woman without being married.”]] —Jadurani, 26 October, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680409_aniruddha|“For dishes, best thing is everyone who is eating prasada should wash his plate. otherwise, one man has to do so many dishes. So even the guests should also wash their dishes, that is the system in the temple; not leave one man to do it.”]] —Aniruddha, 9 April, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680616_satsvarupa|“Brahmacaris and brahmacarinis can live in the temple provided there is separate arrangement. The restriction is there because if they live together there might be sex impulses agitated.]] —Satsvarupa, 16 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690318_hayagriva|“So far the living arrangement is concerned, the grhasthas should be given chance to live together as husband and wife. If not, then all the girls can stay in a place and all the boys can stay in a place, if there is not sufficient space. So far t...]] —Hayagriva, 18 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690812_jayapataka|“Our policy should be to keep members as much as possible. We should not flatly say]] —Jayapataka, 12 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690816_upendra|Unless one agrees to follow all of our principles, he may not be allowed to live in the temple. This must be our policy.”]] —Upendra, 16 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690908_gargamuni|The first thing is that nobody should enter my room for any other purpose except cleansing. Nobody can stay there or sleep there or anything.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 8 September, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700307_trivikrama]] —Trivikrama, 7 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700921_hari_vilasa|“I think Krsna is giving you good intelligence to manage everything in Paris. Everyone should be kept fully engaged one hundred per cent of the time in Krsna’s service without a vacant moment so that maya will never have a chance to act.]] —Hari Vilasa, 21 September, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710404_nayanabhirama|Teach them how to remain neat and clean. They should be engaged always in cleansing the temple. Cleansing is urgently required.]] —Nayanabhirama, 4 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710411_jagadisa]] —Jagadisa, 11 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710709_gaura_hari|I am so glad to hear how nicely Tulasi is growing. That is the sign of substantial devotional service. Every center should be encouraged to grow Tulasi. If there is any impediment in growing Tulasi, that means that devotional service is defective.”]] —Gaura Hari, 9 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710807_hansadutta|Mayapur construction will be of grand scale and Tamala wishes that the matter be given to a big contractor, but I think we should do the construction ourselves. Just like my Godbrothers have also constructed big, big temples but did not appoint bi...]] —Acyutananda Maharaja, 7 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710809_indira|each center should arrange to care for Tulasi devi nicely according to the instruction of you or Govinda dasi who have both become expert.”]] —Indira, 9 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711104_jadurani|“So far the prints you have sent photos of, they are bona fide but for the ordinary man they appear sensual. So better not to display such prints or paintings, not even in our temples.”]] —Jadurani, 4 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711104_visnujana_dasa_maharaja|“Regarding keeping our temples clean, this is essential. Unless we can maintain the temples we presently have, superexcellently clean, we should not open new centers.”]] —Visnujana dasa Maharaja, 4 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711115_patita_uddharana|“It will be a good idea in the future if our devotees take lesson from this unfortunate incident and take precaution not to drive late at night for any reason—no gain can come from such driving at night which will ever compensate for such great lo...]] —Patita Uddharana, 15 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711127_abhirama|“You may name your daughter Mitra dasi, I have no objection. You may call your children as you like, but you should always inform my secretary to make sure the name is entered on our list to avoid repetition. Later, the children may be given anoth...]] —Lalita Kumara and Jambavati dasa, 27 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711203_damodara|And if we are determined to please Krsna with our routine work despite all kinds of economic handicaps, He will provide all relief. Just see. If preaching is strong, management will be strong. That is the rule.”]] —Damodara, 3 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711208_patita_uddharana|“I am encouraged that you are improving your temple quarters by decorating them nicely. This will help to attract guests and interested people. I want that a high standard should be maintained, but unnecessarily changing and re-decorating is also ...]] —Patita Uddharana, 8 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711230_rupanuga|“It is a fact that householders should not live in the temple together. Whether with child or without child, householders should not live together in the temple. Otherwise, what will the brahmacaris and sannyasis think? So this should be discourag...]] —Rupanuga, 30 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720125_ravindra_svarupa|India no woman is allowed to stay in the temple at night. But for our preaching work I have permitted women to stay in the temple. But, in the temple, husband and wife should live separately.]] —Ravindra Svarupa, 25 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720216_kirtika_dasa|according to temple rules they should not live together in the temple. It does not give a good impression for brahmacaris and sannyasis. It is better if the grhasthas have a separate asrama,]] —Kirtika dasa, 16 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720228_kirtiraja|the temple husband and wife shall live separately, that must be or what is the meaning of spiritual society like ours?]] —Kirtiraja, 28 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720915_cyavana|the whole, they should not be given any power unless they are my initiated disciples, but try to keep them as consultants.]] —Cyavana, 15 September, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721203_ekayani|If the brahmacaris cannot remain in the presence of women in the temple, then they may go to the forest, not remaining in New York City, because in New York there are so many women, so how they can avoid seeing?]] —Ekayani, 3 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721229_cyavana|Without such voluntary understanding of the principles and agreement to obey them, no one is qualified to live in our temples.]] —Cyavana, 29 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730210_satsvarupa|polygamy cannot be permitted in our society]] —Satsvarupa, 10 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730916_satsvarupa|“Yes, it is proper etiquette that the sannyasis consult with the local president for anything they need such as men.”]] —Satsvarupa Maharaja, 16 September, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731020_indira|“You should keep everything very clean. That is the first business. Every room should be as clean as a mirror. The prasadam room should be immediately cleaned after taking prasadam, otherwise you are inviting rats. Be careful.”]] —Mukunda dasa, 20 October, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740104_madhavananda|“It will be nice if Saktimata can take care of the girls in the temple. She is a very able woman. One thing, though, women should live separately. I know you can do it there because you have ample space.”]] —Brahmananda Maharaja, 4 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740111_nadia|“Yes, I fully agree that what is the use of a temple if there is no prasadam distribution? Prasadam distribution on a large scale must be resumed. Such a temple where there is no such distribution has no value, I agree.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa Maharaja, 11 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740327_mukunda|“As far as separation of men and women in Bhaktivedanta Manor, that should be strictly observed in the main temple building; between single men and women there must be strict division and strict observance of no illicit sex.]] —Mukunda, 27 March, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740515_hansadutta|Please investigate this report of the turning away of a life member at the Manor and let me know. There should always be one or two rooms available for a life member.]] —Hamsaduta, 15 May, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741123_kirtanananda|“No, without removing shoes nobody can visit the temple. Where are the arrangements for a ramp? Neither you should make it.”]] —Mukunda dasa, 23 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741219_bahudak|“Concerning your marriage ceremony that is to be sanctioned by the temple president or GBC.”]] —Vipini dasa, 19 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741228_sukadeva|The temple president is in charge and the sannyasi should not contradict the instructions. Although if he does see something wrong or if he sees a fault or defect he should bring it out directly to the temple president. And then work it out in a K...]] —Sukadeva, 28 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750102_adi-kesava-kesava-kesava|Deity worship or lecturing in the colleges is just as important as book distribution. So, these things must be done very nicely and at the same time, book distribution should be done. Not that we should do one thing at the sacrifice of another.]] —Adi Kesava dasa, 2 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750110_mr._ram_patel._ram_patel._ram_patel|“Impure atmosphere can be counteracted by having kirtanas twice and thrice daily with dancing. So, keep the atmosphere very peaceful. Go on chanting and hold classes in Bhagavatam, etc. Don’t allow anyone to engage in eating and sleeping alone or ...]] —Patita Uddharana dasa, 10 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750617_bhakta_dasa_jayananda_bahulasva|“Regarding the sannyasis convincing men within the temple that they should leave and go with them on their parties, that is not at all good. I have never approved of this action. You can tell them]] —Bhakta, 17 17, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760520_manager_of_bank_of_america|“The devotees should attend mangala-arati at the temple otherwise it will become a household affair. So according to the situation see that if at all possible the devotees staying at the Taparia house can come to the temple for mangala-arati. If n...]] —Gopala Kṛṣṇa, 20 May, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761108_rupanuga|He can’t even maintain one wife. Just see how lusty he is. Now he’ll dare to take another. Anyway he cannot live in the temple. If he wants two wives it must be done outside. He should maintain his family by working and give 50% to the temple.]] —Rupanuga, 8 November, 1976 --- ## Every Center Should be Independent ![[letters/1967/670815_brahmananda|“I am a little disturbed to learn about your financial position as serious. I think you don’t have to pay anything to Boston, as every center should be independent.”]] —Brahamananda, 15 August, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680821_subala|I do not want that a branch be continually maintained by other branches. Every branch should be self-dependent.]] —Kṛṣṇa devi, 21 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680821_subala|The idea is that local devotees must manage the local temple. In case of emergency, the other temples may help, but that should not be continued for all the time.]] —Subala, 21 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681217_gaurasundara|would be better if you and my other dear disciples try to manage all centers as far as possible independently.]] —Gaurasundara, 17 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690830_brahmananda|every center should be independently developed by supplying the food, and the society, if required, will supply the salt.]] —Bramananda, 30 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691013_tamala_krsna|As far as possible the centers should act freely, but conjointly. They must look forward to the common development. That should be the principle.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 13 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1972/721222_karandhara]] —Karandhara, 22 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730109_damodara]] —Damodara, 9 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730719_karandhara|The centers should remain spiritually fit and independent.]] —Karandhara, 19 July, 1973 --- ## Adjustments for Time, Place and Circumstance ![[letters/1968/680614_himavati]] —Himavati, 14 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690123_sivananda|“It is important that we preach the message of Krsna consciousness exactly as we have heard it from our spiritual master…but there are changes due to time, circumstances, and the trainees. The spirit of the disciplic succession may not be changed,...]] —Sivananda, 23 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690808_rupanuga|I do not know what to do in your country. There are so many laws. We have to adjust things to the circumstances.”]] —Rupanuga, 8 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700401_mukunda|“My Guru Maharaja created some brahmacaris and sannyasis for preaching work, and I am creating all grhasthas. This means that we have to adjust things in favor of circumstances in the matter of pushing Krsna consciousness movement forward.”]] —Hamsaduta, 1 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700624_upendra|according to the Vedic system there is restriction that boys and girls should not freely mix, the brahmacaris are strictly prohibited to talk with young women, but in the Western countries this rule is not valid.]] —Upendra, 24 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701104_rupanuga|“Regarding marriage, generally the man should be older than the woman. We have not had good experiences with marriages when the woman is older. But everything must be done with reference to time, place and circumstance and in your country such a m...]] —Rupanuga, 4 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701113_karandharaa|The opportunities for expanding the sankirtana movement are unlimited. We should tax our brains as to what is the best way to present Krsna consciousness to particular people at a particular time and place.]] —Karandhara, 13 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1972/720512_bhagavan|“I am very much encouraged by the results of your re-organizing of temples, so go forward in this way, never mind we may sometimes have to concentrate in order to make further progress.”]] —Bhagavan dasa, 12 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1971/710612_yogesvara|“So we have to adjust things. Everything is important. Not that we have to do something at the expense of something else. I cannot say from here what is to be given preference. That depends on your management capacity.”]] —Yogesvara, 12 June, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710827_himavati|“So far the milk fast, if possible you can observe it. But these things are not so important. For preaching work we have to make so many adjustments.”]] —Himavati, 27 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720125_ravindra_svarupa|India no woman is allowed to stay in the temple at night. But for our preaching work I have permitted women to stay in the temple. But in the temple, husband and wife should live separately.]] —Ravindra Svarupa, 25 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730210_karandhara|“I have received your letter of 1/24/73 concerning polygamy and feel that this policy must be strictly prohibited within our society. If it is not it shall only cause chaos, as what was possible under the system of pure Vedic culture is impossible...]] —Karandhara, 10 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730221_karandhara|“So please try and do this but if this is not possible you may break down the rear wall and add that one room and my sitting room to the temple and my vyasana may be placed against the side wall with my left side facing the Deities and my back fac...]] —Karandhara, 21 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1975/751110_bahudak|“I am glad to note that you are taking out the travelling party. I hope that you have good success. Just do everything very soberly. Regarding the instruments, stringed instruments are Vedic, but the real Vedic instrument is mrdanga and karatala. ...]] —Bahudaka dasa, 10 November, 1975 --- ## Decorating the Skyscraper Framework ![[letters/1971/711210_bhagavan|“Yes, actually there is now a skyscraper framework. Now you have to decorate and cover it nicely. To construct the form is the difficult portion of the adventure, but when it is there, it is not difficult to finish it—simply it requires a little t...]] —Bhagavan dasa, 10 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711210_rupanuga|Now I have built the skyscraper framework, you fill it in nicely.”]] —Rupanuga, 10 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711222_sridhama|I have built the skyscraper skeleton, now you all intelligent American and European boys and girls fill in the spaces nicely in good taste. Do not deviate from our high standard.]] —Sridhama, 22 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1973/730102_tejiyas|Now best thing will be to develop more and more what we have begun. I have built the skeleton of the building, but there is so much more work remaining before us.”]] —Hamsaduta, 2 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1976/760519_jayapataka|Over the past ten years I have given the framework and now we have become more than the British Empire.]] —All Governing Board Commissioners, 19 May, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760814_ramesvara_radhavallabha|See that everything is going on nicely. With great endeavor we have made the framework, now we have to see that things are going on nicely.]] —Pusta Kṛṣṇa, 14 August, 1976 --- ## Temple Programs ![[letters/1967/671029_nandarani|“Regarding the teachings in the temple, every one of my disciples may become a teacher strictly following my instructions. I am a bona fide teacher as long as I follow the instructions of my spiritual master.]] —Nandarani, 29 October, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680122_satsvarupa|“The proper form of address to Bhaktivinoda Thakura is Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. After my Guru Maharaja, all acaryas should be addressed as Om Visnupada Srila.”]] —Bramananda, 22 January, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680208_jayagovinda|If a woman can lecture nicely and to the point, we should hear her carefully. That is our philosophy. But if a man can speak better than a woman, the man should be given first preference.]] —Jaya Govinda, 8 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680312_rupanuga|I think San Francisco center has been very much sanctified by the unalloyed devotional service of the members here. As soon as there are sincere devotees, immediately the situation changes very favorably.”]] —Rupanuga, 12 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680317_hayagriva|Whenever there is kirtana either in the morning or evening, immediately there is a different atmosphere by the grace of Lord Krsna. And all people, both devotees and outsiders, begin to dance in ecstasy.]] —Hayagriva, 17 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680322_balai|“So far the singing of prayers to the spiritual master is concerned, there is no limitation on how many times it is sung. But it should be done three times daily, and in the morning it is required. Yes, you may say this prayer at noon prasada if i...]] —Balai, 22 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680328_mahapurusa|“Jadurani has now become a nice preacher. I have a report from Satsvarupa that she gives lectures very nicely. If we open a pavilion I shall take Jadurani also at that time, so she will deliver nice lectures.”]] —Mahapurusa, 28 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680703_rupanuga|“Yes, please decorate the temple with as many pictures as possible. And Jadurani is very kind and liberal to supply us pictures. She is never tired of painting, and that makes her increased in Krsna consciousness.”]] —Rupanuga, June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680821_krsna_devi|So the best solution is that we should train all our first-day small babies in such a way that they are always satisfied and there will be no disturbance in the meeting, and there will be no complaint]] —Kṛṣṇa devi, 21 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681010_sivananda|In your temple, if your financial condition is going on nicely, then there is no need for allowing anyone to hold ceremonies against Vaisnava principle.]] —Hamsaduta, 10 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681017_rayarama|in order to understand the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, there should be centers where people can assemble daily, morning and evening]] —Rayarama, 17 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681021_syama|So far as girls or boys lecturing in the morning, that doesn’t make any difference. Either girl or boy devotees may deliver lecture if they choose to do. We have no such distinction of bodily designations, male or female.]] —Syama dasi, 21 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681224_cidananda|Therefore if you do at all start prasadam distribution, try to do it in the temple itself.]] —Cidananda, 24 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681229_satsvarupa|when people come to your temple you may explain to them the principles of yoga as they are described in the Bhagavad-Gita. Such instructions by you may be preceded and followed by Krsna kirtana]] —Satsvarupa, 29 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690112_kirtanananda|I approve of your scheme not to charge money for the love feast. Whatever voluntary contribution you receive that is all right.]] —Tamala, 12 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690128_malati|the Radha-Syama chanting which you have heard it is not very good. In our temple, strictly Hare Krsna chanting should be given more importance. This is no harm in this mantra you have heard, but it is not very important.]] —Malati, 28 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690212_hayagriva|your question about the closing the temple for a few hours during the day, the best thing is if this can be avoided, but since you are all working in the afternoon then what else can be done? Close 12 to 5 p.m.”]] —Charles McCollough, 12 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690601_dayananda|The temple center is started just to present example to the neighboring residents how they can make a small temple in each and every home. It is not necessary that hundreds and thousands of people will live in our temple,]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 1 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690715_pradyumna|Try to have very nice love feasts, because here in Los Angeles they are constantly attracting more and more members to join them, and the love feast program is one of the very strong attracting influences.]] —Pradyumna, 15 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690802_ann_clifford|“I hope that you are attending the kirtanas which are held at the temple on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. The chanting of Hare Krsna mantra will clear away all of the difficulties that you have mentioned.”]] —Ann Clifford, 2 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691113_linda_ryon]] —Linda Ryon, 13 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691215_cidananda|“I am very glad that your feasts are becoming very successful. Yesterday I received a letter from Hawaii that they are now receiving about 100 guests and they are charging $1 each. So now they have a good income.”]] —Chidananda, 15 December, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700116_yamuna|“If prasadam is to be honored in the temple room, the curtains may be drawn before the Deities, while the devotees are taking prasadam. The best arrangement is to honor prasadam in a separate room for the purpose if possible.”]] —Yamuna, 16 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700129_ksirodakasayi|If you speak in Hindi and sing in Hindi, the English speaking Europeans and Americans may not derive the benefit out of it because none of them understand Hindi. But if you speak in English, every one will derive benefit from it. Therefore, I thin...]] —Ksirodakasayi, 29 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700220_tamala_krsna|Someone of us in each and every center must be well versed in the sastras so that he can meet scholars and philosophers, and if need be he can convince them about our movement and philosophy with great strength.”]] —Tamala, 20 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700222_damodara|am very pleased to learn how things are going on very well in Washington center and that you are nicely celebrating the various advent days of our great Acaryas.]] —Damodara, 22 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700227_jagadisa|There is no harm if the devotees chant in the temple during the time when the Deities are resting. You may have heard that here at L.A. temple they are holding kirtana and chanting twenty-four hours in the temple,]] —Jagadisa, 27 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700308_syamasundara]] —Syamasundara, 8 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700416_satsvarupa|“These classes of Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam as you are now holding must be continued very rigidly. About holding Sanskrit classes, the special stress should be given to chanting the mantras in our books.]] —Yamuna and Gurudasa, 16 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700509_gurudasa|I am very much anxious to know what is the actual situation because I can sense that Mr. Parikh wants to introduce something in my absence which is completely against Krsna consciousness.]] —Gurudasa, 9 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700516_gurudasa|I understand from your letter that sometimes discussions on Aurobindo philosophy are done by Mr. Parikh from the vyasasana, so I am a little surprised how did you allow like this.]] —Gurudasa, 16 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700517_yamuna|“I am so glad to learn that you are regularly observing the listed holidays in our Caitanya almanac. The roaring kirtana, offering feast to the Deities with special preparations is our simple mode of celebration, and there is no special other prog...]] —Yamuna, 17 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700527_tamala_krsna|Our temple is meant for our men, and we may have our own discussions amongst ourselves, no outsider needed. It is definitely concluded that we have not got to learn anything from any outsider beyond the jurisdiction of Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy.]] —Tamala, 27 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700528_satsvarupa|“I am so pleased to learn that you are satisfied to see the Los Angeles temple situation. Actually, it is very, very nice for our purpose, and if we can maintain the standard of the temple atmosphere certainly anyone who will come here will be inf...]] —Satsvarupa, 28 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700626_dinesh|“Regarding your schedule of temple activities, it is approved by me. So please continue this program of classes, sankirtana, Deity worship, offering and distributing of prasada, and working in Krsna’s service. This simple full 24 hour schedule wil...]] —Dinesh, 26 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700709_jagadisa|So encourage people to come and spend time with us in the temple and become purified from all contaminations and anxieties. Everyone is suffering from thirst for spiritual life or Krsna]] —Jagadisa, 9 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701113_tirthapada_dasa|study and Krsna work all in order and make everything as nice as possible.”]] —Tirthapada dasa, 13 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710924_makhanlal_and_tilaka_devi|proposal for a grhastha travelling sankirtana party is a very good one but the temple work should not be neglected. Both things should go on simultaneously.]] —Makhanlal and Tilaka devi, 24 September, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720104_vamanadeva_indira_dasi|Have nice Deity program, always have lots of kirtana, serve ample prasadam very sumptuously and speak something from my books.]] —Vamanadeva and Indira dasi, 4 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720725_prahladananda|As long as the classes are going on well, the rules and regulations are being observed sincerely, the sankirtana party is going out with enthusiastic mood-if these things are going on, then everything is first-class.]] —Prahladananda, 25 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730104_sama_sammita|But for conducting sraddha ceremony, that should be done in our temple, and feasting should be arranged in the temple. Afterwards, the prasada should be distributed to friends and relatives. Perform kirtana, give lecture and readings, just like ou...]] —Kṛṣṇa Gopala, 4 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730808_satsvarupa|“Observe many festivals, that will keep both public and devotees alive. Temple means festivals and festivals means chanting and distribution of prasadam.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 8 August, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731014_bali_mardan-mardana|“Regarding the morning kirtana songs, what you have given is all right. If time permits there are other songs that can be sung, such as jiva jago, udilo aruna, ’There is now sunrise on the Eastern horizon and Lord Caitanya accompanied by His devot...]] —Dhrstaketu dasa, 14 October, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740111_nadia|“Yes, I fully agree that ’What is the use of a temple if there is no prasadam distribution?’ Prasadam distribution on a large scale must be resumed. Such a temple where there is no such distribution has no value, I agree.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa Maharaja, 11 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740112_mukunda|“Here in L.A. they have elaborate Sunday festivals and erect a tent on the front lawn. There are hours of kirtana, a philosophical lecture and lots of sumptuous prasadam distribution. Another thing is, here they have a twenty-four hour security gu...]] —Mukunda, 12 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740427_pusta_krsna|Other than the bona fide Vaisnava functions we cannot divert our devotees’ attention to such participation in so-called religious functions. This has spoiled the Hindu religion into a hodge podge pseudoreligion.]] —Gopala Kṛṣṇa, 27 April, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740808_dayananda|“Regarding your Janmastami program expectation of 10,000 people, it is very good. Thank you very much. I am very much pleased what you are doing. Give the people nice prasada. This is what is temple life. Chanting, dancing, prasadam, this is what ...]] —Giriraja dasa, 8 August, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741024_jayatirtha_sudama|We simply want to bring people back home, back to Godhead. That is the purpose of our temples, of our books, and our festivals, and preaching.”]] —Uttama Sloka dasa, 24 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741106_sarvamangala_devi_dasi_|“I thank you very much for your sentiments, and I know that you are all working hard to make Bhaktivedanta Manor a very nice place. You should know it that our temples they are not in this material world.]] —Sarvamangala devi dasi*, 6 6, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741114_patita_uddharana|“I have understood from Hamsaduta Prabhu that you are giving lectures in the temple.]] —Patita Uddharana dasa, 14 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741121_nrsimha_caitanya|The temple is the opportunity for all conditioned souls to render some service to Krsna]] —Nrsimha Caitanya dasa, 21 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750116_abhirama.v._sita_ramalai|“Because I am stressing one thing (book distribution) especially, does that mean that everything else is not important? No. Everything must go on.”]] —Jyotiganesvara dasa, 16 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751204_mark_phillips|Please visit the temple and take advantage of the pure Spiritual atmosphere, this will immediately extinguish the burning fire of material suffering in your heart.]] —Mark Phillips, 4 December, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760129_karandhara|So the installation ceremony for such a murti should be similar to that done for other Deities. All temples can have this Deity if they like.]] —Karandhara, 29 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1977/770906_vasudeva|And in the morning and evening hold regular Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-Gita discourses, but do not allow any rascal professional reciters to discourse in our temple. Only initiated disciples should be allowed to speak]] —Vasudeva dasa, 6 September, 1977 --- ## Marriage Ceremonies ![[letters/1968/681010_hansadutta|we should not allow anyone to hold any function in our temple, otherwise than Vaisnava principle.]] —Hamsaduta, 10 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690724_rupanuga|“If you are planning to perform the marriage ceremony for Jagadisa and Laksmimoni, then you must know the prayers to be said.]] —Rupanuga, 24 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700111_kulasekhara|Uninitiated couples cannot be married by us. We shall not take the responsibility of an ordinary marriage maker. Our practice is to help devotees for advancing in Krsna consciousness.]] —Jaya Gopala, 11 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700411_satsvarupa|Everyone, at least all the presidents, should be experienced in performing marriage ceremonies.”]] —Satsvarupa, 11 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700525_upendra|“Regarding using our temple for marriage ceremonies for the Hindu community, if they contribute something to the temple they can use the temple and perform the marriage with their own priest, but we cannot take responsibility for marrying others w...]] —Upendra, 25 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1975/750203_radhey_syam_kripalu|“You can allow the sacrifice in the Manor for Mrs. Mehta, but as with the weddings, they must pay for the room. (Don’t have it in the temple room.) She can bring her own brahmanas.”]] —Patita Uddharana dasa, 3 February, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760520_manager_of_bank_of_america|“Concerning marriages in the Bombay center as a means of income, if it does not disturb the daily routine, then it can be done. However, the marriages cannot take place before the Deity in the temple. Where in the tower would you plan to have the ...]] —Surabhi, 20 May, 1976 --- ## Doll Exhibits ![[letters/1973/730509_jayapataka_bhavananda|“We want to display doll exhibitions in every center of our society depicting some narration from Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Caitanya-caritamrta, Bhagavad-Gita like that. Just like the picture that Arjuna’s chariot is placed by Krsna between the two...]] —Jayapataka and Bhavananda, 9 May, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740914_jayatirtha|I want very extensive doll exhibits in every center.]] —Jayatirtha dasa, 14 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741218_rupanuga|We have to make these doll displays for all of our temples all over the world,]] —Rupanuga, 18 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750804_gopala_krsna|“I have seen a photo of the dolls you have made of Krsna lifting Govardhana Hill and also Balarama. Your son has sent the photo. So you have done it very nicely. Go on with this work.”]] —Saptaratha dasa, 4 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751118_mr._mohan_majundar._mohan_majundar._mohan_majundar]] —Baradraja dasa, 18 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751207_sivarama|This boy Saptaratha dasa has done the dolls very, very nicely now make a museum for the public. This doll making was one of the programs of my Guru Maharaja, and the exhibit used to tour India.]] —Rupanuga dasa, 7 December, 1975 --- ## Security ![[letters/1969/690909_brahmananda|we shall take all necessary steps for self-protection, depending for the result on Krsna. We should not sit down idly simply depending on Krsna. Arjuna had to fight in the battlefield, but at the same time he heard Bhagavad-Gita.]] —Brahmananda, 9 September, 1969 --- ![[letters/1972/720914_hansadutta|These are innocent young boys, they are simply misled, so you go to them and give them the right information and then you will have nothing more to fear from them. But if you think buying a shotgun is necessary, that is all right, we have to defen...]] —Hamsaduta, 14 September, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730622_batu_gopala]] —Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, 22 June, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730622_makhanlal|sankirtana movement because it is the will of God Himself, Lord Caitanya, that His holy name be heard in every town and village.]] —Makhanlal, 22 June, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730622_makhanlal|We should be prepared to protect the Deities and always expect Krsna’s mercy, because we are always dependent on Him and we cannot do anything on our own without Him.”]] —Makhanlal, 22 June, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740101_mukunda]] —Mukunda, 1 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740112_mukunda|“Here they have a twenty-four hour security guard, with pistol and holster who is in the temple at all times. So you should do this like this.”]] —Mukunda, 12 January, 1974 --- ## Stationary, Letterheads and Signs ![[letters/1968/680607_yamuna|“Please accept my blessings. I thank your for your letter dated June 3rd, 1968. The ISKCON RADHA KRSNA TEMPLE will perpetually continue as such. But in spite of that, San Francisco shall be gradually transformed into New Jagannatha Puri. That is m...]] —Yamuna, June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681219_brahmananda|“You have requested my suggestion for the neon sign-board outside of our new temple and I think that the bigger sign may say International Society for Krsna Consciousness and the other may say the Hare Krsna mantra if it is not too much expensive.”]] —Brahmananda, 19 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690118_brahmananda|“I have seen the lotus sign with the word ISKCON on it, and I think that it is not acceptable. This is because one does not know where to start reading the letters. If you like to make a lotus flower for this, I have enclosed one picture which I h...]] —Brahmananda, 18 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690310_brahmananda|“The letter heading is very nicely set up but the color black is not so attractive. It should have been two colors as you suggested, namely violet and black. I am pleased that you are going to have two color set up next printing.”]] —Brahmananda, 10 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700401_gurudasa|“One thing, all other centers print the acarya’s name on the letterhead of their stationery—you should also do that]] —Gurudasa, 1 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710505_abhirama|“One thing I don’t see is your letter heading. Formerly there was a letter heading. You should always use stationery letter heading. That is required.”]] —Abhirama, 5 May, 1971 --- ![[letters/1974/741113_deoji_punja|keep the name of the Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on all registration documents,]] —Deoji Punja, 13 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1976/761028_caitya-guru-guru-guru|“Yes, you must rectify this mistake. All society stationery must bear my name as Founder-Acarya. Please do it immediately.”]] —Makhanlal dasa, 28 October, 1976 --- ## Legal, Registration, Immigration (see GBC) ![[letters/1967/670505_mukunda|“I have learnt that in the temple there are sometimes men with no work. This should not be allowed. Everyone must be busy with some work in Krsna consciousness. Idleness is not Krsna consciousness. Please take care of this omission. I shall be gla...]] —Mukunda, 5 May, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670829_satsvarupa_hansadutta|that we have to all become preachers but that we all dedicate our lives or our consciousness (no matter in what capacity) to Lord Krsna.]] —Hamsaduta, 29 August, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680111_rayarama|“I am very sorry that Satyavrata has left us on some petty sentimental thing. Please ask him to come back and excuse me if I have struck his sentiment.]] —Rayarama, 11 January, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680224_cidananda|So you can stop preparing prasadam for persons who are not willing to work neither to pay.]] —Cidananda, 24 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680318_devananda|“If you are not satisfied with your cooking engagement, tell Bramananda to give you some other engagement. But it doesn’t look well if you change from one center to another for some convenience. Everywhere service to Krsna is the same, but if you ...]] —Devananda, 18 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680323_rayarama]] —Rayarama, 23 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680303_hansadutta_himavati|“Please continue your very good service and do not feel any feeling of uselessness. It is true that Krsna has given some the opportunity to serve Him by nice writing, some by good business ability, some by nice cooking, and so on, but these variou...]] —Hamsaduta and Himavati, 3 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680607_gargamuni|if I am translating Srimad-Bhagavatam, and if you are contributing for its publication and helping for its distribution, this means there is no difference between your service and my service. In the absolute platform there is no such distinction.]] —Gargamuni, 7 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680712_satsvarupa|The brahmacarinis cannot go, of course, for begging, but if some of them agree to go out and sell our books and literature, that will also be helpful. Some source of income by honest endeavor must be there,]] —Satsvarapa, 12 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680824_aniruddha|it does not matter what is the volume of such energy, because different persons have got different type of energies,]] —Aniruddha, 24 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680927_mukunda|But she is a little independent spirited and wants to wander with me. Anyway, she is a sincere good soul, and let her do the work in her own way. But it is a good asset for her that she has attraction to hear me.]] —Satsvarapa, 27 September, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681006_advaita|Krsna, you have got the talent and you have got the opportunity also to serve Him,]] —Advaita, 6 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/691018_gargamuni]] —Gargamuni, 18 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1968/681126_upendra|“We must always remember that the leader in charge of a temple must learn to successfully deal with the other persons there. No one is working as a paid servant, so if the dealings are not friendly everyone will decide to leave.]] —Upendra, 26 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681121_joy_fulcher|Out of 26 qualifications of a perfect devotee, one is poetic sense. So we can write so many poetries in praise of the Lord, or about His pastimes.]] —Joy Fulcher, 21 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681219_brahmananda|“Regarding my apartment, if it is possible to keep it with no strain on your financial condition it is all right. Otherwise, I am not very serious about retaining the apartment. Everything should be performed with no strain because too much financ...]] —Brahmananda, 19 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681219_aniruddha|“From this letter I can see that you are taking serious interest in the welfare of Girish and this is very nice. You are quite right in your estimation that engagement in Krsna’s service will help him to progress more and more. And keeping him eng...]] —Aniruddha, 19 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681224_gurudasa|“Our policy of Krsna consciousness is very nice.]] —Gurudasa, 24 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681229_satsvarupa|You have written at length apologizing for your difficulty in English language but we are not concerned with language but with the heart.]] —Dayala Nitai, 29 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690101_krsna_dasa|You do not interfere in any of his work. Let him do what he likes and at his own discretion, and you simply respect him as your older brother. I am sure that he will be peaceful there shortly.]] —Kṛṣṇa dasa, 1 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690615_sivananda|“Please take nice care of Oliver and help him in whatever way you can. In Krsna consciousness every man is so important because all of the activities of a devotee of Lord Krsna are beneficial to all living entities. So if there are any questions t...]] —Sivananda, 15 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690712_hayagriva|“Regarding the usefulness or uselessness of the inmates, it all depends on proper management.]] —Hayagriva, 12 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691013_pradyumna|as your countrymen are more or less independent spirited and lovers of democracy. So everything should be done very carefully so that their sentiments may not be hurt.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 13 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691015_satsvarupa|“I have heard from Bramananda that he plans to spend 3 days per week at Boston, but I have also heard that during his absence 3 devotees have left the temple. So things should be managed so nicely that our devotees may not leave us. We get a devot...]] —Satsvarupa, 15 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691018_tamala_krsna|“Regarding movement of the members from one temple to another, I think the local president’s permission is sufficient.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 18 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691018_tamala_krsna|You should always deal with things so tactfully that people may not fall away.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 18 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691027_brahmananda|You have asked about the management of our society, and the position is that management should be done in such a way that people may not break away. That is the first business of management.]] —Brahmananda, 27 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691215_gargamuni|A brahmacari can tolerate any inconvenience, but women and children cannot. They will have difficulty.”]] —Gargamuni, 15 December, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700124_ranadhira|But it is better if simple questions are solved amongst yourselves in the Istagosthi class.]] —Ranadhira, 24 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700210_ekayani|always advise married couples that the male should be engaged in some work; but if somebody is busily engaged in our activities and therefore cannot work outside, that is also nice.]] —Ekayani, 10 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700217_sudama|“Now I see that in our Society the girls are more intelligent than the boys.”]] —Kṛṣṇa devi, 17 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700307_trivikrama]] —Trivikrama, 7 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700401_mukunda|My Guru Maharaja created some brahmacaris and sannyasis for preaching work, and I am creating all grhasthas. This means that we have to adjust things in favor of circumstances in the matter of pushing Krsna consciousness movement forward.”]] —Hamsaduta, 1 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700509_patita_uddharana]] —Candanacarya and Baradraja, 9 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700517_yamuna|“As he is giving service, gradually he will come to Krsna consciousness. His giving service is his qualification. As we accept valuable metal like gold from a filthy place, similarly we should allow any karmi to work for Krsna.”]] —Yamuna, 17 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700526_jadurani|“Continue to see that these two nice boys and all the other devotees there are following rigidly the scheduled program of regulated activities in devotional service, chanting the rounds, attending classes and studying our philosophy as well as goi...]] —Bhagavan dasa, 26 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700603_madhavananda|Try to help us by your life, money, words, and intelligence. These four things are possessed by everyone, the degrees may be various, but Krsna is not concerned with the degrees. He wants to see the quality.]] —Srimati Connie, 3 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700818_upendra|“Kindly observe the regulative principles, chanting sixteen rounds regularly and see that all your other assistants are doing the same. If someone is lacking, try to induce him peacefully. The schedule of your activities appears to be very encoura...]] —Upendra, 18 August, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700916_yamuna|“Regarding your program of duties for the brahmacaris and brahmacarinis and grhastha men and women, this is a very nice arrangement. The girls should manage internally and the boys should manage externally. So all of you have my hearty blessings f...]] —Yamuna, 16 September, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700921_hari_vilasa|“I think Krsna is giving you good intelligence to manage everything in Paris. Everyone should be kept fully engaged one hundred per cent of the time in Krsna’s service without a vacant moment so that maya will never have a chance to act.]] —Hari Vilasa, 21 September, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710427_gurudasa|“I am also glad to note that Ksirodakasayi has made nice living accommodations. That is first consideration, otherwise it is difficult to do our work. So it appears that everything is very favorable in Delhi and if we can get the land, then we mus...]] —Gurudasa, 27 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710707_bhagavan|Householders can sell books and get 15% commission on the net income.]] —Bhagavan dasa, 7 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711120_hansadutta|It is not that we can force anyone to do anything. If we do they will go away and that is a great loss. Everyone must be encouraged to do what he likes to do for Krsna, so if someone likes to do business for Krsna, let them make $1,000,000 for Krs...]] —Hamsaduta, 20 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711120_bhakta_dasa|so as president you must see that they are always happy and satisfied in Krsna consciousness. Then they will not go away.”]] —Bhakta dasa, 20 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711212_danavir|“Do not be too much pushy with Mrs. Dossa. She is an elderly lady, and she will resent too much forceful approach. Keep in touch with her regularly, and be very sincere to help and be kind in every way, but if you are overly insistent she will go ...]] —Danavir, 12 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711217_nityananda|“So long as a devotee is not initiated he should have Bhakta before his name, if he is male, Bhaktin if she is a girl.”]] —Nityananda, 17 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711228_yogesvara|Better you devote your full time to one thing only, not many things.]] —Yogesvara, 28 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711208_vamanadeva_indira_dasi|Our service for Krsna is voluntary and can never be forced. And whatever position in life one holds he can serve Krsna in that way.]] —Vamanadeva and Indira dasi, 8 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720116_bhakta_dasa|The trick is to keep everyone always engaged happily in Krsna’s service, then they will advance rapidly.]] —Bhakta dasa, 16 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720215_himavati_dasi|“In this and other matters you have to manage. You have to instruct others so they will not resent—if they resent, how things can be managed]] —Himavati dasi, 15 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720502_giriraja|“Good manager means he is able to satisfy everyone and live in co-operative manner with all the devotees, so if you manage things nicely he can do tremendous work.”]] —Giriraja, 2 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720509_damodara|Krsna conscious boys and girls than to go on getting many followers who do not understand and practice the real principles. Better one moon than many stars.”]] —Damodara, 9 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720511_tamala_krsna|“As you requested me, I have sent many men from USA to help you, now you engage them properly, utilize them, that is leadership, how to engage everyone in their respective duties and properly utilize their energy.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 11 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720515_giriraja|So kindly utilize their energies and at the same time keep them satisfied. That is leadership,]] —Giriraja, 15 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720528_giriraja|“I am glad to hear your explanation how the men are being engaged there in Bombay. That will be the test of your management, how well the men are satisfied by their engagements.”]] —Giriraja, 28 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720714_bhavananda|“Anyone who cannot collect money, they should go to Mayapur and live there and simply eat and sleep, like women and widows.]] —Bhavananda, 14 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720722_acyutananda|“Yes, that is the right idea, to strengthen whatever devotees we have got in spiritual life, fix them beyond any doubts. Then our potency will increase and we may recruit dozens of new devotees easily. Main thing is to make sure everyone is chanti...]] —==* SPL to Jagadisa, 22 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720809_cyavana|I can understand if one of my students is making spiritual advancement if he is also making many life members and devotees.]] —Tejyas, 9 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721105_sudama|Our standard is to have kirtana and start temples. What is this ’Road Show’ and ’Yoga Village?’]] —Sudama, 5 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721111_cyavana|I have no objection as long as she obtains the permission of her parents and elders, and provided they live separately in the temple,]] —Cyavana, 11 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721123_kurusrestha|Now become always attentive to all the aspects of your temple’s activities, especially to the regulative spiritual life and preaching work. If this standard of devotional practices is maintained at the highest level, everything else you do will be...]] —Kurusrestha, 23 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721213_upendra_333|he may be induced or allured into serving Krsna in his own way as he likes to do it, not being forced to do something else he may not like to do,]] —Bhagavan dasa, 13 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721213_sukadeva]] —Sukadeva, 13 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721219_jayapataka]] —Tejyas, 19 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721222_karandhara|That is the art of management: to draw out spontaneous loving spirit of sacrificing some energy for Krsna. But where are so many expert managers? All of us should become expert managers and preachers.]] —Karandhara, 22 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721229_cyavana|Without such voluntary understanding of the principles and agreement to obey them, no one is qualified to live in our temples.]] —Cyavana, 29 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721231_dhananjaya]] —Dhananjaya, 31 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730109_hayagriva|Everything should be managed in a nice way, so that no one is dissatisfied and everyone keeps their health and energy fit for serving Krsna 24 hours.”]] —Mr. Robert Keene, 9 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730128_palika|“Everyone has got some propensity. The art of preaching is to engage that propensity in the service of Krsna. Whatever we have got, our mind, our intelligence, our possessions, our time, our energies, let them all be used in Krsna’s service. So tr...]] —Kīrtanānanda, 28 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730129_ksirodakasayi]] —Ksirodakasayi, 29 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730219_kirtika|Therefore as I have suggested previously, as they do in Christian religion, they have so many convents where the women stay and they receive protection.]] —Satsvarupa, 19 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730214_rupanuga|Women are looking for husbands because they feel unprotected so it is up to the senior members to give all protection to the women.”]] —Rupanuga, 14 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730803_ramesvara|“The temple is a place not for eating and sleeping, but as a base from which we send out our soldiers to fight with maya. Fight with maya means to drop thousands and millions of books into the lap of the conditioned souls. Just like during war tim...]] —Ramesvara, 3 August, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730823_tamala_krsna|It should be our definite policy that nobody is ill treated that he may go away.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 23 August, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731018_jagadisa|You should rectify, but not reject.]] —Jagadisa dasa, 18 October, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731106_mukunda|Encourage them and keep good relations with them so things may go on nicely. This is management.”]] —Mukunda dasa, 6 November, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731231_tamala_krsna|“We have to manage our men in such a way that they may bend to our will but not break. After all, our work is purely voluntary. If they become angry and leave then our work is defeated.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa Goswami, 31 December, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740405_sukadeva]] —Sukadeva, 5 April, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740816_batu_gopala|“Regarding the art of management, constant changing is not good. Even if there is some fault in management it should be corrected, not changed. Besides that, Vaisnava philosophy is that everyone is addressed as Prabhu, or master. Everyone should c...]] —Batu Gopala dasa, 16 August, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740816_batu_gopala|“Regarding engaging the men, it is required that nobody should sit idle.”]] —Giriraja dasa, 16 August, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740907_batu_gopala|“Regarding having your wife do the management, if there are no men available then what can be done?”]] —Batu Gopala, 7 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741001_rupanuga|Out of the two candidates whoever is elected by the majority vote, may be the president.”]] —Hamsaduta dasa, 1 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741001_rupanuga|“Regarding the election I have already suggested that you hold another election in the presence of Hamsaduta and Bhagavan dasa with all members present, and to take that decision as final. There are so many contradictory statements in this matter.”]] —Madhavananda dasa, 1 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741106_sarvamangala|I know that you are all working hard to make Bhaktivedanta Manor a very nice place. You should know it that our temples they are not in this material world. The temple is Vaikuntha,]] —Sarvamangala devi dasi, 6 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741201_hansadutta|“Regarding the interest of Miss Thakura, very good, that’s nice. Keep friendship with her and introduce our books. Give her prasadam, and after all, she is woman, flatter her. Then she will remain pleased, so keep her as friend.”]] —Hamsaduta dasa, 1 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741219_bahudak|“Concerning your marriage ceremony, that is to be sanctioned by the temple president or GBC.”]] —Vipini dasa, 19 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741228_kurusrestha]] —Kurusrestha, 28 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750109_rupanuga|management should be done very carefully to see that there is not easy-going, lazy attitude, which will only end in fall down.”]] —Rupanuga dasa, 9 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750215_svarupa_damodara|“The problem that you are experiencing may have something to do with the drugs you were taking previous to joining our movement.]] —Pancananda dasa, 15 February, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750605_bon_maharaja|“Be sure that all of the devotees there are very carefully following all of the regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds daily and let them study the books deeply.”]] —Nityananda dasa, 5 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750608_revatinandana|“Make sure that they continue to follow the principles, chant sixteen rounds and read studiously and their spiritual advancement will be guaranteed.”]] —Revatinandana Swami, 8 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750619_dr._w.d._currier._w.d._currier._w.d._currier|“Please train our boys and girls to follow the principles very strictly. They must chant sixteen rounds daily, follow the four principles, read our books very carefully, and always be engaged in the transcendental loving service of Lord Krsna. The...]] —Gopijanavallabha dasa, 19 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750729_hansadutta]] —Cyavana Swami, 29 July, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751022_tulsi|“The idea of a woman’s asrama is good. Those not married, if there is not provision for separate living quarters for them in the temples, they can go there. It is very risky having single women living in the temples, especially where there is no s...]] —Yamuna devi dasi, 22 October, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751120_ghanasyama|“The mrdanga-making is very important. The new bhaktas, they can be engaged in the mrdanga-making and also help Baradraja with the doll making.”]] —Jayatirtha dasa, 20 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760109_vishambhar|sometimes pressure is required, especially when one is not so advanced. Of course it has to be applied properly, otherwise there may be some bad taste. But spontaneous service can only be expected from advanced devotees.]] —Tusta Kṛṣṇa Maharaja, 9 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760520_manager_of_bank_of_america|“The devotees should attend mangala-arati at the temple otherwise it will become a household affair. So according to the situation see that if at all possible the devotees staying at the Taparia house can come to the temple for mangala-arati. If n...]] —Gopala Kṛṣṇa, 20 May, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760529_haihaya|What is the use of such sleeping devotees, simply increasing the expenditures? All of them must be engaged.]] —Haihaya dasa, 29 May, 1976 --- ## How to Manage and Engage Devotees ![[letters/1967/670513_mukunda|“The devotees of the temple must keep themselves engaged; otherwise they cannot make progress in Krsna consciousness. The maya is very strong, and as soon as there is opportunity the maya will come and attack. Therefore, everyone should be very ca...]] —Mukunda, 13 May, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670708_jadurani|you should work on your painting as long as you think yourself fit; don’t overwork. The balance time should be spent for chanting and reading Srimad-Bhagavatam]] —Jadurani, July, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670815_hansadutta|from time to time there will be disturbances—just like I am experiencing now. So don’t worry about it, just go on chanting Hare Krsna and engage your energy for Krsna in the best way open to you.”]] —Hamsaduta, 15 August, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670829_satsvarupa_hansadutta|not that we have to all become preachers but that we all dedicate our lives or our consciousness (no matter in what capacity) to Lord Krsna.]] —Hamsaduta, 29 August, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670829_hayagriva|The principle should be that we utilize our talents for the service of the Lord. That is real sannyasa]] —Hayagriva, 29 August, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/670920_dayananda_nandarani_uddhava|There is no need of artificial talents. One has to serve Krsna sincerely with whatsoever talent one may have.]] —Dayananda, 20 20, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/671230_madhusudana|Whatever allocation of duty there may be, if we try to execute such specific duty sincerely, that alone can make us much more advanced in Krsna consciousness.]] —Madhusudana, December, 1967 --- ![[letters/1967/671216_jadurani|“I understand that there are only three persons at Boston, but each of you can work for three hundred persons, so it is not the numerical strength that works, but it is the Krsna consciousness that works.]] —Jadurani, 16 December, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680130_satsvarupa|“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.]] —Satsvarupa, 30 January, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680220_brahmananda|Arjuna fought to his best, but the victory was brought to him by Krsna. Similarly, we should try our best to our best capacity, and victory will come from Krsna. We should never sit idly and ask Krsna to do everything.]] —Brahmananda, 20 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680225_karunamayi|we have to preach Krsna consciousness even at the risk of personal violence.]] —Karunamayi, 25 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680303_hansadutta_himavati|do not feel any feeling of uselessness. It is true that Krsna has given some the opportunity to serve Him by nice writing, some by good business ability, some by nice cooking, and so on, but these various services are all accepted equally by Krsna.]] —Hamsaduta and Himavati, 3 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680318_devananda|“If you are not satisfied with your cooking engagement, tell Brahmananda to give you some other engagement. But it doesn’t look well if you change from one center to another for some convenience. Everywhere service to Krsna is the same, but if you...]] —Devananda, 18 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680409_mukunda|How one is successful in his work is tested by whether or not Krsna is satisfied. The impersonalists cannot enjoy this bliss of how to satisfy Krsna.]] —Mukunda, 9 April, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680409_aniruddha|So the more you take responsibility, Krsna is pleased with you. I am very glad you are feeling such responsibility, and Krsna will bless you.]] —Aniruddha, 9 April, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680506_mukunda|“I am very glad that Janaki is busy decorating the temple; this is what I want, that every disciple should always remain busy in some work for Krsna. We shall not allow our mind to remain vacant,]] —Mukunda, 6 May, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680607_gargamuni|This dictation from within your heart from Krsna is quite in order. For serving the Lord we require to sacrifice our life, our wealth, our intelligence and our words.]] —Gargamuni, 7 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680714_hayagriva]] —Hayagriva, 14 July, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680819_sacisuta|our main business is service to Krsna, and awkward circumstances may happen anywhere and we should be able to hold up in all such circumstances. Steadfastly we will go on with our business of service to Lord.”]] —Sacisuta, 19 August, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681006_brahmananda|And if they want to remain in India, they must do something tangible work for our Society. If not, they may come back. There is vast work here.]] —Brahmananda, 6 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681016_brahmananda|I have already written them again, that do not be lethargic, be enthusiastic, and do something for the Society.]] —Brahmananda, 16 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681112_syamasundara|“Yes, it is your good fortune that you can serve Krsna in so many ways—to work, to write, to speak, to paint, to build. All of these talents must be employed in Krsna’s service. That will make you perfect.]] —Syamasundara, 12 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681113_kris|It is better if you want to travel, you can travel to preach and spread this Krsna consciousness to the suffering humanity at large. You can travel with our sankirtana party if you like.]] —Kris, 13 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681123_devananda]] —Devananda, 23 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690113_mrs._hochner._hochner._hochner|“You have tried to explain the reasons for your recent traveling excursions, but there is no need to explain; the reason is that you are restless.]] —Madhavi Lata, 13 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690123_aniruddha|Chidananda is the president there, and I think you understand rightly that everyone must cooperate with him in keeping the temple nicely and without any unnecessary tensions.]] —Aniruddha, 23 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690207_nara-narayana-narayana-narayana|discipline cannot be observed unless there is obedience. As you are obedient to me, you should also be similarly obedient to my representative.]] —Nara Narayana, 7 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690620_satsvarupa|Sometimes, out of their own accord, devotees decide to leave a center, but this is not a good practice.]] —Satsvarupa, 20 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690710_laksmimoni|This is actually the position of Krsna consciousness, that when we get some taste of rendering sublime loving service to the Lord, no more do we have any taste for any other engagements.”]] —Laksmimoni, 10 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690922_sethji|Serving Krsna does not mean that we sit idly and say that Krsna will take care of all our business. That is not depending on the Lord; rather it is laziness.]] —Bhagavan dasa, 22 September, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691018_tamala_krsna|“Regarding movement of the members from one temple to another, I think the local president’s permission is sufficient. Don’t take too much load of individual administration. That will be unmanageable in the near future. I have also instructed Brah...]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 18 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700111_kulasekhara|“For a servant of Krsna, there is no distinction of hell and heaven. Our only ambition should be to serve the Lord. It does not matter where the service is demanded.]] —Jaya Gopala, 11 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700114_jadurani|On the whole, you can work conscientiously so that you may not feel tired due to your weakness.]] —Jadurani, 14 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700129_ksirodakasayi|“I am so glad to learn that you are feeling in the temple that Radha-Krsna is dancing and you are being inspired by His Lordship to preach this Krsna consciousness movement to everyone.”]] —Ksirodakasayi, 29 January, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700525_upendra|As an old man I can take relief from this work immediately, but for Krsna’s sake I am pushing on even though there is sometimes personal inconveniences. So let us act in that way all together for Krsna sake”]] —Upendra, 25 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700517_yamuna|“So the program which you have listed for the students and your daily schedule are very nice, and your schedule is fully approved. Just see that everything—arati, bhoga, offering, etc.—is done strictly on time. “When every moment one is engaged, i...]] —Yamuna, 17 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700622_hansadutta|“Regarding your consideration of management, no, we should take all risks for Krsna. This mentality to chant in a solitary place without any responsibility of preaching work is not approved by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja. One of our Godbrot...]] —Hamsaduta, 22 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701116_jadurani|Without being jolly, one cannot make any tangible progress in Krsna consciousness,]] —Jadurani, 16 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701116_rsabhadeva|Everyone should think that he has been assigned this particular task to do by Krsna, and he should be satisfied with that and do his best to accomplish the work as nicely as possible for the pleasure of Krsna only.]] —Rsabhadeva, 16 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701117_jagadisa]] —Jagadisa, 17 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710521_kirtika|“So that is perfection in Krsna consciousness, to be so much engaged in Krsna’s loving service that you cannot bear separation from that service, not even for a moment.]] —Kirtika, 21 May, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711228_yogesvara|Better you devote your full time to one thing only, not many things]] —Yogesvara, 28 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720102_yajnesvara|If one is not intelligent enough for making decisions, then all decision shall be sanctioned by the spiritual master]] —Yajnesvara, 2 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720703_gunagrahi|This is very much wanted throughout the society of men, that some few of you will come to the understanding that by servicing the Lord with my full energy that this will be my happy position of life and that no other occupation will give me any, n...]] —Gunagrahi, 3 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720613_bhargava|if we think in this way we may go on trying out one engagement after another and always say the same excuse. This restlessness or agitation of the mind cannot be rectified by altering the material circumstances.]] —Bhargava, 13 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720619_gargamuni_mahamsa_naranaraya_giriraja|Kindly, therefore, abide by the direction of the man in charge of the center. If there is lack of obedience then there cannot be discipline, and without discipline we cannot manage a huge world organization.]] —Gargamuni, 19 19, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720628_cyavana|everything should be departmentally managed, but unless there is discipline, how will anything get done? If you are in disagreement at every point, how it will be possible to finish this important work?]] —Cyavana, 28 June, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720708_bhagavatananda]] —Bhagavatananda, 8 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720723_sankarsana]] —Sankarsana, 23 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720809_cyavana|I can understand if one of my students is making spiritual advancement if he is also making many life members and devotees.]] —Tejyas, 9 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720907_tamala_krsna|Sriman Kirtanananda Maharaja has arranged very nicely. Everything is very satisfactory. Similarly, every one of us in charge of some activity may execute his responsibility in good Krsna consciousness, and certainly things will come.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 7 September, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721219_jayapataka]] —Tejyas, 19 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721219_jayapataka|your liking of engagement there is not at all an inappropriate attachment; rather it is your qualification for pleasing your spiritual master.]] —Jayapataka, 19 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721219_jayapataka|Not that I must have a very nice place, I must serve like this or like that, otherwise I shall go away. No, Vaisnava devotee means give me simply a place to lay down, little prasadam, whatever little service you have got please give me, that’s all.]] —Gurudasa and Yamuna, 19 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721219_jayapataka|Such surrendered devotee sees that everything is part of Krsna’s plan, that whatever is meant to be, I am doing that, so let me do it with my full attention to every detail, let me become absorbed in such service, never mind what it is,]] —Jayapataka, 19 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721225_sri_govinda|But in any case, if there is fight amongst yourselves over these things, book distribution, competition, you should not develop ill-feeling. That depends on the persons. If ill-feeling is there, then stop it and all together chant Hare Krsna.]] —Sri Govinda, 25 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730102_tejiyas]] —Hamsaduta, 2 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730127_marie_priterel|before any new service, be certain that your absence shall not cause any harm]] —Dayananda and Nandarani, 27 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730315_jayatirtha|“Devotees there or visiting must follow our regulated principles under your direction or they need not stay. Devotees should not be in India on their own business or on a whim; they should have our GBC approval. Everyone must be favorably engaged.”]] —Tejyas, 15 March, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731111_govinda|“I do not know why you have parted from the Deities. Who has told you to do this? If you are at all interested, you can return. Your service was there. Why did you leave? And now you are whimsically asking for service. You never asked me before le...]] —Govinda devi dasi, 11 November, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740126_bhakta_dasa|when he was working under your supervision he should have taken your permission. This kind of independence is not very good.]] —Brahmananda Maharaja, 26 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740316_dhrstaketu|Unless we are constantly engaged, then there will be sickness and illicit sex automatically.]] —Dhrstaketu, 16 March, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740816_batu_gopala|“Regarding engaging the men, it is required that nobody should sit idle.”]] —Giriraja dasa, 16 August, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740901_gurukrpa|If you are fully engaged in Krsna’s service attraction of women will be a myth only. It is only Krsna’s grace. Of course we are old men now, but even old men they are attracted still by women.]] —Gurukrpa Maharaja, 1 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741121_nrsimha_caitanya|Rupa Goswami said a person somehow or other should become attached to Krsna, therefore if you are happily engaged in serving in Honolulu then you should continue your service there.]] —Tamopaha dasa, 21 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741228_sukadeva|The temple president is in charge and the sannyasi should not contradict the instructions. Although if he does see something wrong or if he sees a fault or defect he should bring it out directly to the temple president.]] —Sukadeva, 28 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741228_uddhvareta|Engage in devotional service according to your propensity and the direction of my appointed authorities. Always pray to Krsna so that He may keep you engaged in His transcendental service. Avoid the service of maya like poison.”]] —Uddhvareta, 28 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750116_abhirama.v._sita_ramalai|“My request to you is that you try to follow the authorities therethe temple president, the GBC, etc.—cooperate nicely with them.]] —Krsnavesa dasi, 16 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750206_brahmananda|“From your letter, it appears that you need a change of activities.]] —Caru dasa, 6 February, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760927_sharma|Wherever you may live, you have to abide by the order of the authority.]] —Sharma, 27 September, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761016_jagat_guru|“In the last year you have changed your engagement so many times, it is not good. Better to stick to something and complete it than constantly changing.]] —Jagat Guru, 16 October, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761120_jitadusana|We should begin our devotional service in whichever position we are. It isn’t that we have to learn something extra for advancing in devotional service:]] —Jitadusana dasa, 20 November, 1976 --- ![[letters/1967/670929_jayananda|Your election as president is recognition by Krsna, and therefore I have got full support for you.]] —Jayananda, 29 September, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680224_brahmananda]] —Brahmananda, 24 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680312_brahmananda|the door of Krsna consciousness is open for everyone. But when one has to take charge of a center, he has to become completely above suspicion.”]] —Brahmananda, 12 March, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681126_upendra|the leader in charge of a temple must learn to successfully deal with the other persons]] —Upendra, 26 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690326_dayananda|as president you are in charge of the whole branch, so kindly try to maintain the present atmosphere, and try to improve it more and more; that is my request.”]] —Dayananda, 26 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690701_mukunda|If you adulterate our sankirtana movement with some business motive, then it will be spoiled immediately. Be careful in that way.”]] —Mukunda, 1 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700227_jagadisa|whoever is competent to manage affairs will accept the post of president by mutual consent. Our main business is to be fixed up in Krsna consciousness by keeping steady in the prescribed duties of devotional service.]] —Jagadisa, 27 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700302_gurudasa|I think this system may be followed in our institutions also.]] —Gurudasa, 2 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700302_gurudasa|I think all these questions should be answered by the presidents locally. So you study all our books very nicely, and all the doubts and questions may be answered by you locally.]] —Guru dasa, 2 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700411_satsvarupa|Everyone, at least all the presidents, should be experienced in performing marriage ceremonies.”]] —Satsvarupa, 11 April, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700719_umapati|“I understand that the new boy, Hari Vilasa, is very experienced, so if he is going to be president that is nice. We want a good administration—that is one side of our propaganda work.”]] —Umapati, 19 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700801_krsnakanti|“I am proposing that our temples now be managed by the householder couples, so this is very nice for you now.]] —Krsnakanti, 1 August, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700916_yamuna|“I am so much pleased to receive your letter dated Hrsikesa 22, 484 Caitanya Era and I am so glad to learn that our London temple is very, very well managed under your supervision. Kindly continue this standard of temple management—that will make ...]] —Yamuna, 16 September, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/701109_vrndavanacandra|as president, you should see that everyone stays engaged twenty-four hours a day in]] —Vrndavana Candra, 9 November, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710413_mukunda|letters of appreciation and I am very much grateful. Take care of them and see to it that they all become pure devotees. That is your duty. They should follow the regulative principles strictly, regularly chant sixteen rounds daily without fail, r...]] —Mukunda, 13 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710709_umapati|“There are many grhasthas who are earning and spending for a particular center. Similarly you can also open a center, live separately as president and maintain the temple nicely. But if you don’t do anything and simply remain grhastha, then what i...]] —Umapati, 9 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710717_tribhuvanatha|“I am also glad to note that a meeting of all the presidents was held just recently in order to unify the temples. That is the process. Unless we work cooperatively, how this movement will go on? So my request to you all is that you maintain that ...]] —Tribhuvanatha, 17 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710824_jayapataka|The president, secretary and treasurer elected by the members of the center cannot be changed at least for one year; better to continue it for three years.]] —Jayapataka Maharaja, 24 August, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711118_paramananda|grhastha couples should manage things as they have a tendency to organize and manage,]] —Paramananda, 18 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711118_badrnarnarana_dasa]] —Badrnarnarana dasa, 18 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711120_bhakta_dasa|so as president you must see that they are always happy and satisfied in Krsna consciousness. Then they will not go away.”]] —Bhakta dasa, 20 November, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711208_vamanadeva_indira_dasi]] —Vamanadeva and Indira dasi, 8 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720111_sucandra|You must be the perfect example of]] —Sucandra, 11 January, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720204_hrdayananda|“So as president, now you will be forced to advance in]] —Hrdayananda, 4 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720204_madhukara|“I am very pleased that you have been appointed as president for Phoenix Arizona, center. Now you are being forced by]] —Madhukara, 4 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720215_amogha|“Actually, most of my best managers are grhasthas, because they have a natural propensity to manage.”]] —Amogha, 15 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720224_krsna_dasa|Follow this simple formula of chanting regularly with full attention, reading at least one hour, and balance time preaching, and speaking and managing]] —Kṛṣṇa dasa, 24 February, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720503_rupanuga|“All the presidents of our centers should see that all members are strictly observing the brahminical standards,]] —Rupanuga, 3 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720510_nityananda|Every temple president must be very expert in all these things,]] —Nityananda, 10 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720511_tamala_krsna|I have sent many men from USA to help you, now you engage them properly, utilize them. That is leadership, how to engage everyone in their respective duties and properly utilize their energy.”]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 11 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720515_giriraja|That is leadership. If one man is appointed as leader, all must follow him and be obedient.]] —Giriraja, 15 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720503_rupanuga|All the presidents of our centers should see that all the members are strictly observing the brahminical standards, such as rising early, cleansing at least twice daily, reading profusely, attending arati, like that.]] —Rupanuga, 3 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720505_sridhama|So as president, you must make sure that all the students are regularly chanting sixteen rounds, taking bath, attending mangala-arati, reading our books,]] —Sridhama, 5 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721008_giriraja|“Now that you are president of the Detroit temple, you have very great responsibility to take proper care of all the devotees]] —Kaliya Kṛṣṇa, 8 October, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721105_satsvarupa]] —Satsvarupa, 5 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721105_hrdayananda|Our managers should be very responsible for developing their center to the topmost standard. Why this restlessness?]] —Hrdayananda, 5 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721125_nityananda]] —Nityananda, 25 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721222_karandhara|Krsna consciousness movement is very bright, so long the managers remain vigilant that sixteen rounds are being chanted by everyone without fail, that they are all rising before four in the morning and attending mangala-arati]] —Karandhara, 22 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721231_dhananjaya|my request to you is that under any and all circumstances, you yourself shall without fail stick to these principles and make certain that all of the devotees in your charge are also following them strictly.”]] —Dhananjaya, 31 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730105_jagadisa|have always one strong leader at each temple who can maintain the preaching standard to the highest degree.]] —Jagadisa, 5 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730109_cyavana|This constantly changing the head man and whimsically dividing the attention is not good. Someone must be there who will stick tightly to the temple and develop it gradually to the highest standard.”]] —Cyavana, 9 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730131_rajiblocan|“As you are temple president, that is a great responsibility. So you must try to execute it with great care.]] —Rajiblocan dasa, 31 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730723_jagadisa|“You are setting a very good example in that you yourself are going with the travelling party. The Vedic concept of the commander is that he must be in front in the fight, not that he sits back behind the lines.”]] —Jagadisa, 23 July, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740101_mukunda|So you are the president of the temple and therefore you are responsible for all areas. Who is in charge of the Deity room? It must be secured at night. Every window and door must be locked and you must personally see to this.]] —Mukunda, 1 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740112_mukunda|“Try to read our books. You are the president there so you must be very conversant with our philosophy.”]] —Mukunda, 12 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740201_bhagavan|GBC. You are free to write me directly when the occasion arises, but do not neglect to send regular reports]] —Abhirama dasa, 1 February, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740323_damodara|Personally see that he is chanting at least sixteen rounds daily, without fail. By your own example you have to keep all the devotees enthusiastic and that is done by strict adherence to the regulative principles.]] —Damodara, 23 March, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740428_balavanta|“The GBC must be vigilant by following the regulative principles and teach by ideal character the presidents of the centers, and the presidents by their ideal character must teach the others]] —Rupanuga Maharaja, 28 April, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740819_sridhara|“Chanting offenselessly is the remedy for all of these diseases. Therefore I have established that the duty of the president of each temple and also the GBC is to see that each devotee is following the rules and regulations, chanting sixteen round...]] —Vidarbha Kanya dasi, 19 August, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740906_swami_satpremananda_sarasvati|leader means spiritually, not materially. This you should understand very clearly.]] —Jagajivana dasa, 6 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740907_batu_gopala|“Regarding having your wife do the management, if there are no men available then what can be done?”]] —Batu Gopala, 7 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740916_manager_of_liberty_bank|I understand that you received the vote. So you should be the president.]] —Madhavananda dasa, 16 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740919_ramesvar_prabhu|“Your resignation will be placed before the GBC meeting at Mayapur and a decision will be taken at that time.]] —Ramesvara dasa, 19 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740929_jagadisa]] —Mukunda dasa, 29 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741121_nrsimha_caitanya|Therefore you are by managing the temple as a president you are doing a very great service to humanity.]] —Nrsimha Caitanya dasa, 21 November, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741228_sukadeva|The temple president is in charge and the sannyasi should not contradict the instructions. Although if he does see something wrong or if he sees a fault or defect he should bring it out directly to the temple president.]] —Sukadeva, 28 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750112_mr._lepesqueux._lepesqueux._lepesqueux|definitely, the BBT cannot pay any salary to anybody. Our philosophy is ’Simple living and high thinking’—not sense gratification. The temple presidents and leaders (elder students) must show this by example.]] —Kirtiraja dasa, 12 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750116_abhirama.v._sita_ramalai|You must teach them by your own personal example, otherwise how will they learn? If you are loose in your habits, then everyone in your temple will also be loose in their habits.]] —Abhirama dasa, 16 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750202_sahadeva|A temple president should have more time for preaching. That is important.”]] —Ravindra Svarapa dasa, 2 February, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751110_bahudak|“It is your responsibility as the president of the temple to see that these devotees strictly follow the rules and regulations such as chanting sixteen rounds minimum on the beads. Sixteen is the minimum; one can chant more. There is no harm, but ...]] —Alanatha dasa, 10 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751113_gargamuni|“It is your responsibility to see that these devotees that you have recommended strictly follow the rules and regulations, chanting sixteen rounds, attending the classes and the mangala-arati and refraining from the four prohibitions. You should l...]] —Prabhavisnu dasa, 13 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751121_dr._w.h._wolf-rottkay._w.h._wolf-rottkay._w.h._wolf-rottkay|It is your responsibility since you are recommending them that they follow strictly rules and regulations and remain strong in Krsna consciousness]] —Nalinikanta dasa, 21 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751202_cakravarti|So you are the president there at Schloss Rettershof, it is your duty to see that the standards of Krsna consciousness are always maintained, especially chanting sixteen rounds daily,]] —Cakravarti, 2 December, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760122_jayatirtha]] —Jayatirtha, 22 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760205_sukadeva|“First initiated devotees must vow to always chant minimum sixteen rounds daily and strictly observe the regulative principles. The brahmanas must practice cleanliness internally by chanting the Lord’s glories and externally by bathing regularly. ...]] —Sukadeva dasa, 5 February, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760711_bishambhar|“So do everything conscientiously and my blessings are always with you. However, don’t create any awkward situation that may be criticized. Caesar’s wife must be above criticism. Up to now as I have got respectable situation,]] —Caitya Guru dasa, 11 July, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761108_rupanuga|He may not live off temple funds. Temple president is generally meant for sannyasi, but a grhastha may be if he is restrained. It is not good if he remains as president.”]] —Rupanuga, 8 November, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761217_jayatirtha|“That the devotees refuse to follow those who do not keep strictly to the regulative principles is very nice. These practices are our spiritual strength. I’m glad to hear that you are feeling spiritually strong. Krsna will give you all intelligenc...]] —Jayatirtha, 17 December, 1976 --- ## Temple President and the GBC (see GBC) ![[letters/1967/670413_kirtanananda|We should increase this project like YMCA organization without any profit. We shall supply nice prasada at cheap rate and we shall give shelter to persons who will abide by our rules.]] —Kīrtanānanda, 13 April, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680111_gargamuni|I have already advised Jayananda in this connection that we cannot make the Society an asylum for crazy people. It is not our business.]] —Gargamuni, 11 January, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680224_guru_dasa|“So if you find a nondevotee eager to listen submissively you can show your mercy to elevate him to Krsna consciousness,]] —Guru dasa, 24 February, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680613_satsvarupa|We may always expect that we get always untamed boys and girls and we have to train them up. So if you can tackle this boy he may also be a good assistant.]] —Satsvarupa, 13 June, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680909_aniruddha|“Regarding minor boys who want to be trained by us as brahmacaris, it is a very nice opportunity to train such young boys, but there are legal implications.]] —Aniruddha, 9 September, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/680922_kirtanananda|I understand that he is addicted to heroin intoxication, and he is taking some medicine to give it up, but]] —Kīrtanānanda, 22 September, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681006_purusottama|“I have very much appreciated your discussion in the Istagosthi and so also Rayarama’s. We have to collect men for Krsna consciousness and therefore we may not be harsh to them.”]] —Purusottama, 6 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681006_advaita|We should not disturb the newcomers immediately with opposite proposals, but tactfully we shall try to teach him in our ways, and gradually he will come to understand.]] —Advaita, 6 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681017_rayarama|There is no question of monetary transaction to enter into these centers]] —Rayarama, 17 October, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681119_dinesh_krsna_devi|how can I advise you to give up your present job, especially when you are a family man?]] —Dinesh and Kṛṣṇa devi, 19 November, 1968 --- ![[letters/1969/690213_aniruddha|Just produce one nice Krsna conscious youth. It will be a great service to Krsna and recognition of your nice service.”]] —Aniruddha, 13 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690311_upendra]] —Upendra, 11 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690603_syamasundara|Training is not imposition. It is voluntary accept by the trainee.]] —Syamasundara, 3 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690615_sivananda|if one true Vaisnava goes to any place in the world then the spiritual instincts of the more advanced souls he comes into contact with will be awakened and they will automatically be attracted.]] —Sivananda, 15 June, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690705_upendra|I wish that you should also attract new devotees from your quarter. Instead of importing devotees, it is better to attract devotees from your own area. And the basic principle for doing this is sankirtana party.”]] —Upendra, 5 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690712_carl_lange|“I have no objection to sending you some men from Los Angeles, but you also should try to recruit some men from amongst the residents of Columbus. That is the best plan.]] —Jaya Gopala, 12 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690715_pradyumna|Try to have very nice love feasts, because here in Los Angeles they are constantly attracting more and more members to join them, and the love feast program is one of the very strong attracting influences.]] —Pradyumna, 15 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690729_prahladananda|It is a fact that wherever we go, if we simply let the people hear our chanting and if we repeat what we have heard from the bona fide spiritual master, then surely many, many sincere souls will become attracted to our movement.]] —Prahladananda, 29 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690803_robert_hendry|I don’t mind if you do not chant Hare Krsna mantra, but if you kindly sit down while chanting is going on, and if you simply hear with attention, that will also act.]] —Robert Hendry, 3 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690816_upendra|Unless one agrees to follow all of our principles, he may not be allowed to live in the temple. This must be our policy.”]] —Upendra, 16 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690819_subala|In our lifetime, if we can fix up at least one soul in Krsna consciousness, Krsna immediately recognizes the service.]] —Subala, 19 August, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690922_bhagavan|In every town and city there are many, many devotees of Krsna; now it is our business to go around the world wherever people are congregating and pick up these sincere souls.]] —Bhagavan dasa, 22 September, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691015_satsvarupa|“I have also heard that during his absence three devotees have left the temple. So things should be managed so nicely that our devotees may not leave us. We get a devotee after great endeavor and we must train such a devotee in a nice way so that ...]] —Satsvarupa, 15 October, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691111_srimati|“Any new brahmacaris who come with good faith should be helped. We are living in the kingdom of maya, so maya’s influence is very great in the material world. It is just like an epidemic. So one has to become immune very carefully by Krsna conscio...]] —Srimati, 11 November, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/691202_brahmananda|That is not a good policy that for preaching work one has to get men from another country. One has to create manpower from the local environment. That is the success of preaching.”]] —Brahmananda, 2 December, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700203_jayagovinda|“Krsna has sent one nice German scholar,___. Please give her satisfactory care, especially in the beginning because she is new and not accustomed to our temple habits.”]] —Jaya Govinda, 3 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700217_sudama|This very statement affirms that in every village and town all over the world there are many candidates who are awaiting this message.”]] —Summit, 17 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700220_tamala_krsna|“Anyone who is a newcomer should be allowed some concession. And after some time when he is accustomed to our principle, then we can make the screw tight. I think this point will be sufficient hint to deal with him.”]] —Tamala, 20 February, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700309_rudra|So a rascal may be accepted provided he agrees to stop his nonsenses. Otherwise, how can one expect to be reformed if he does not agree or like to be reformed? To be reformed, he must agree to the reforming process.”]] —Rudra, 9 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700503_ekayani|So try to attract the students. They are our great future hope and they will take up this matter very quickly because the students are not very contaminated.”]] —Ekayani, 3 May, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700604_jadurani_bharadraja_muralidhara|“Yes, I am very glad that temple arrangement in Boston is nicely being carried out and new devotees are joining—this is the success of preaching work. Preaching work means increasing the number of our family members.”]] —Muralidhara, 4 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700622_gurudasa|But intelligence or no intelligence, if some way or other somebody comes and sticks to the principles automatically he becomes intelligent.”]] —Gurudasa, 22 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700629_ksirodakasayi|We require personalities like you to join this movement wholeheartedly, but because you have got wife and children I am hesitating to ask you to close your business.]] —Ksirodakasayi, 29 June, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700715_upendra|In future if it is so required you may have one or two more from London, but the best thing will be to recruit devotees locally—that is the success of preaching work.”]] —Upendra, 15 July, 1970 --- ![[letters/1970/700929_jagadisa|“Take care of the new devotees so that they may read our literatures carefully and come to the real standard of understanding. Our strength is not material strength, but spiritual strength. So if spiritual strength is not strong now, try to make S...]] —Jagadisa, 29 September, 1970 --- ![[letters/1971/710111_rupanuga|principles as well as chanting Hare Krsna mantra. That is the success of our preaching work when there is this result of more persons joining, so I am confident that things are going on.”]] —Rupanuga, 11 January, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710122_sudama|“So far as recruiting men is concerned, we have to create men. Preaching means to recruit more and more men. This process is called gosthananda which means pleasure by seeing increase of followers. So far as I know, not a single Japanese has been ...]] —Sudama, 22 January, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710313_satsvarupa|“So far as helping youth cases, they should live with us. We cannot devote separate time for them. That is not possible. If anyone desires to be treated, he must live with us. Before admitting him, we must see that he is not a mad man and will not...]] —Satsvarupa, 13 March, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710317_bhavananda|“I wish that the number of devotees in every temple be more and more increased.]] —Bhavananda, 17 March, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710404_nayanabhirama|“Yes, if the prisoners can give up their sinful activities, we can allow them to live with us.]] —Nayanabhirama, 4 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710404_nayanabhirama|“That the graduate student and family has also joined our movement is very good news. Take care of him also. Let him read and study all our books.”]] —Nayanabhirama, 4 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710409_rupanuga|Anyone may come but our process must remain the same.]] —Rupanuga, 9 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710421_bhagavan|“Now more devotees are coming also. That is the sign of our progress. In each and every center we must get new devotees more and more and train them up. As soon as they are nicely trained up, they should open a branch—in every village and town all...]] —Bhagavan dasa, 21 April, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/710709_gaura_hari|We recruit devotees with great difficulty, so they must be well-treated.]] —Gaura Hari, 9 July, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711217_nityananda|“So long as a devotee is not initiated he should have Bhakta before his name if he is male, and Bhaktin if she is a girl.”]] —Nityananda, 17 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720515_giriraja|“I have suggested in previous letters that we want persons to live in our house who will observe our devotional regulations. We want to pick up some devotees who will be satisfied with regulated life, daily having darsana of the Deity, chanting-we...]] —Giriraja, 15 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720502_karandhara|If only 1 % become devotees, that will change the world.]] —Karandhara, 2 May, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720722_jagadisa|“Yes, that is the right idea, to strengthen whatever devotees we have got in spiritual life, fix them beyond any doubts. Then our potency will increase and we may recruit dozens of new devotees easily. Main thing is to make sure everyone is chanti...]] —Jagadisa, 22 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720725_prahladananda|Our program is to enlist the men with quality for serving Krsna, not for attracting the masses for simply watching and going away.]] —Prahladananda, 25 July, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720809_cyavana|I can understand if one of my students is making spiritual advancement if he is also making many life members and devotees.]] —Tejyas, 9 August, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/720915_cyavana|Many of our big centers started with only a handful of men and because they were determined to expand by recruiting the local men, that has been their success.”]] —Cyavana, 15 September, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721111_cyavana|I have no objection as long as she obtains the permission of her parents and elders, and provided they live separately in the temple,]] —Cyavana, 11 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721213_sukadeva]] —Sukadeva, 13 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721219_jayapataka|If there is shortage of men, we must recruit some men, first-class men, to help us do the work.]] —Gurudasa and Yamuna, 19 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721222_karandhara|do not be so much anxious to count up so many numbers of new devotees, if such devotees go away later being too early forced.]] —Karandhara, 22 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721229_cyavana|Without such voluntary understanding of the principles and agreement to obey them,]] —Cyavana, 29 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721231_dhananjaya]] —Dhananjaya, 31 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1972/721231_dhananjaya|“If new students are coming and they want to live with us in the temple, they must agree before living with us to follow these principles without any exception.]] —Dhananjaya, 31 December, 1972 --- ![[letters/1973/730105_kirtanananda|In this way, try to recruit some men from the student class of men for joining us as future leaders of our Society. If we simply go on expanding and there are no qualified men to lead, then everything will be spoiled eventually.]] —Ravindra Svarupa, 5 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730109_hayagriva]] —Satsvarupa and Hrdayananda, 9 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730109_damodara|The main thing is to somehow or other create first quality preachers on Krsna’s behalf. So many boys and girls are simply wasting their time in so many frivolous ways,]] —Damodara, 9 January, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730210_satsvarupa|those who come to learn must admit that they do not know who they are, or do they know who is God, and they must be prepared to take to this process.]] —Satsvarupa, 10 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730221_karandhara|“To create a devotee takes much labor and to reject him in a minute is not to our credit so please try to do the needful in this regard. Consult the other]] —Karandhara, 21 February, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730321_rsabhadeva|“It will please me very much if you all can work together nicely and recruit many more young people to join our movement, it is their only future hope.”]] —Rsabhadeva, 21 March, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730323_niranjana|Actually there is no need to give up studies to be a devotee...]] —Niranjana, 23 March, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730823_tamala_krsna|We recruit a person to join us after spending gallons of blood.]] —Tamala Kṛṣṇa, 23 August, 1973 --- ![[letters/1974/740112_mukunda|Our buildings are not for our sleeping in and eating like hotels, but whoever wants to join us should understand the philosophy of regulated devotional service.”]] —Mukunda, 12 January, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740421_whom_it_may_concern|“I am also enclosing the names of 13 new disciples recommended by you. This is the result of our preaching propaganda, when our family members increase. Now be very careful to see to the growth and protection of the devotional creeper of these new...]] —Hamsaduta, 21 April, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740830_bali-mardana-mardana-mardana|“That ten men have just joined us is our real success.”]] —Madhudvisa Swami, 30 August, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741019_hansadutta|Yes, whoever may live with us must shave and take kunti beads, otherwise they may come and go.”]] —Giriraja dasa, 19 October, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741206_dennis|It is better for you to remain with your wife and son and chant Hare]] —Dennis, 6 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741217_mr._quinn._quinn._quinn|“It is very nice that you are also making so many new devotees. This is the fruit of our activities. So continue your program in the same way with added enthusiasm and your life will be perfect.”]] —Badrinarayana, 17 December, 1974 --- ![[letters/1975/750106_pancadravida|my policy, as you know, is not to import devotees, but to create devotees out of the local men.]] —Pancadravida, 6 January, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750318_supriya|If someone who has been asked to leave sincerely wants to be given another chance, following the rules strictly and cooperating with authority, then he may be admitted again. That is the]] —Gandharva dasa, 18 March, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750618_durgesh_patel|For the time being, stay with your parents until you are of proper age to be independent. Raghunatha dasa Goswami was also restricted by his parents,]] —Durgesh, 18 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750803_mahamsa|We admit everyone to our society, including the cheater, the drug addicted, all qualified. We should take the responsibility to train them. Why has he left? It is our responsibility to train and rectify them.”]] —Mahamsa Swami, 3 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751114_sri_v._s._murthy._s._murthy._s._murthy|“Amsterdam temple has also grown to 55 devotees. This is a credit, not that the temple should be a place simply for good residence. It should be a place where there is constant activity in Krsna’s service.”]] —Bhagavan dasa, 14 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760103_ramesvara_prabhu_prabhu|“I am very glad to know that you want to recruit devotees. Unless we get local devotees it is very difficult to maintain. So try to maintain the center with local devotees, that is my urgent desire.”]] —Trivikrama Maharaja, 3 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760204_danavir|It is especially encouraging that these new devotees are taking on responsible service within our communities. They should follow our regulative principles, chant Hare Krsna and engage all day in the service of Lord Krsna.]] —Danavir dasa, 4 February, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760624_aksayananda|“Concerning the new bhakta program, unless one is educated, we should not admit anyone and everyone without discrimination. One who has got culture and education, he can be accepted.”]] —Gopala Kṛṣṇa, 24 June, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760928_jayapataka|In this concept we can accept anyone from any part of the world, what to speak of West Bengal, and give them shelter, food, occupation and enlightenment.”]] —Jayapataka, 28 September, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761015_dr._r.m._dave._r.m._dave._r.m._dave|“Regarding your situation, the only alternative is to move into the temple and take complete shelter of the devotees and Krsna.]] —Mrs. Tania Perera, 15 October, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761103_vasudeva|We sincerely want that local men, either from Vasudeva’s family or any family which will take on the work. We have to work on that line. Just like some of my Godbrothers wanted to take men from India to London but the attempt was a failure; but wh...]] —Vasudeva, 3 November, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761107_ramesvara]] —Ramesvara, 7 November, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/761214_lokanatha]] —Lokanatha, 14 December, 1976 --- ![[letters/1977/770126_danavir|all be on the basis of our books. You should not go beyond the jurisdiction of our teaching.]] —Danavir dasa, 26 January, 1977 --- ![[letters/1977/770126_danavir|all temple presidents report the scores on new men recruited is approved by me.]] —Danavir dasa, 26 January, 1977 --- --- **[← Back to Śikṣāmṛta](wiki/compile/siksamrita)**