# The Bhaktivedanta Institute Instructions from Śrīla Prabhupāda's letters about establishing the Bhaktivedanta Institute and preaching to scientists. --- ## The Bhaktivedanta Institute ![[letters/1975/750831_svarupa_damodara|Your letter was pleasing to me. I am glad that you have keen interest in the Institute program. Be ready, as I am negotiating. As soon as it is complete, I shall send a telegram for you to come. In the meantime request all GBC's to send lists of all our disciples who have B.A., M.A. or Ph.D. degrees.]] —Svarupa Damodara, 31 August, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750930_svarupa_damodara|The Institute will be primarily for those who have not entered our temples. The subject matter will not be different from what is taught in our temples. There will be no difference between our temples and the Institute, but the Institute will be official for the general mass.]] —Svarupa Damodara, 30 September, 1975 ![[letters/1975/751109_jagadisa|Regarding the Dallas Army base property, you can forward this offer to Svarupa Damodara and in this connection you may correspond with him. We may require it for the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies. Do not reject this military base. We can use it for this purpose. You can use the Illinois property for the Gurukula and the army base for the Bhaktivedanta Institute. Send details to Svarupa Damodara of the military base.]] —Jagadisa dasa, 9 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751112_svarupa_damodara|it is a very good idea to have a meeting at the Mayapur meeting time to thoroughly discuss the Bhaktivedanta Institute. So please do the needful. It will be a great service if you can organize such an Institute in the USA.]] —Svarupa Damodara dasa, 12 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1976/760110_svarupa_damodara|I have read the aims and objects of the Institute and it is done very nicely. I am satisfied that you are properly understanding the philosophy.]] —Svarupa Damodara, 10 January, 1976 ![[letters/1976/760111_rupanuga|Svarupa Damodara has written me about the Bhaktivedanta Summer Institute. It is a very good idea. If possible try to accommodate it on one of the farms we already have. To buy another farm simply for this purpose is not very practical. The Institute should not only stress book study but there must be equal time given to kirtana, arati, prasadam, etc. There must be spiritual life, then book study will have meaning.]] —Rupanuga, 11 January, 1976 ![[letters/1976/760214_brahmananda|Regarding Philadelphia's move, yes, that is all right. And yes, we require many Ph.D.'s for our Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Study.]] —Rupanuga dasa, 14 February, 1976 ![[letters/1976/760221_gabhira|Regarding relocating New Kuruksetra and beginning the Bhaktivedanta Institute there, first of all decide among the scientists, Svarupa Damodara and party, and if they agree then I have no objection.]] —Rupanuga dasa, 21 February, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760427_mrs._perera._perera._perera|Note our Ph.D.'s must collaborate and study the fifth canto to make a model for building the Vedic Planetarium. My final decision is that the universe is just like a tree, with root upwards.]] —Svarupa Damodara, 27 April, 1976 ![[letters/1976/760520_svarupa_damodara|Concerning the emblem for the Bhaktivedanta Institute, the words "Athāto brahma jijñāsā" is alright, however instead of inside the emblem, you can put athato on top (in Devanagari) and brahma jijnasa on the bottom (in Devanagari). That will be nice.]] —Svarupa Damodara, 20 May, 1976 ![[letters/1976/760724_giriraja|Regarding this research tax exemption, we have got so many Ph.D.'s also, and are starting the Bhaktivedanta Institute for making research work for the improvement of the economic condition of the world. We are introducing many farms and they are very successful. We want to introduce this in India also.]] —Giriraja dasa, 24 July, 1976 --- ![[letters/1977/770402_amarendra|Svarupa Damodara has approached me that he likes to have you join him for making arrangements and engagements for his lectures.]] —Amarendra dasa, 2 April, 1977 ![[letters/1977/770402_ramesvara|Now we are forming scientists party and we shall try with their help to establish Krishna consciousness as the genuine scientific movement of the world exposing the so-called scientists as nothing but speculators.]] —Ramesvara, 2 April, 1977 --- ![[letters/1977/770402_dravida|Also we have formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute for organizing scientific presentations of Krishna Consciousness. This party is our most important preaching arm with which we will be able to destroy the bogus speculation and cheating which goes under the banner of scientific advancement.]] —Dravida dasa, 2 April, 1977 --- ## Preaching to Scientists and Evolutionists ![[letters/1967/670827_jananivasa|There is a nice example in the waning of the moon. To us the moon appears to be changing, but in fact the moon is always the same.]] —Jananivasa dasa, 27 August, 1967 --- ![[letters/1968/680121_janardana|Subjects which are beyond their understanding by experimental knowledge...This has to be understood by the descending process of disciplic succession]] —Janardana, 21 January, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681220_rupanuga|the planets are arranged in each universe in layers like the petals of a lotus. But in each layer there is mixed both heavenly, hellish and middle planets.]] —Rupanuga, 20 December, 1968 --- ![[letters/1968/681229_upendra|You will be glad to know that just yesterday in the Los Angeles Times there was publication of my opinion about the moon planet excursion.]] —Upendra, 29 December, 1968 ![[letters/1969/690116_upendra|So far as your question about evolution you should know that the aspects of this theory which are actually correct offer no contradiction to the Vedic version. This whole topic has been very nicely explained in an article in Back to Godhead, 'Evolution, the God That's Failing.' So I refer you to this article which was in a few issues back. This should clear up your questions.]] —Upendra, 16 January, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690210_govinda|even the most advanced scientist depends on statements of authorities.]] —Govinda dasi, 10 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690222_mrs._cline._cline._cline|From the Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that Krsna is the original consciousness and the center of all psychological movement, namely thinking, feeling and willing.]] —Mrs. Cline, 22 February, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690302_janardana|Even a great scientist, Professor Albert Einstein, was Jewish by religion, but because the Christian religion gives evidential proof of archaeological discovery, still he did not become a Christian.]] —Janardana, 2 March, 1969 --- ![[letters/1969/690724_brahmananda|Actually, the modern astronauts are trying to reach the moon planet, and even if they reach there they cannot live there; and even if they live there, that is also not permanent.]] —Brahmananda, 24 July, 1969 --- ![[letters/1970/700123_hansadutta|you are right when you write to say that everything about us, tables, chairs, bricks etc. is originally emanating from sound vibration. This is also admitted in the Christian Bible wherein it is said that, 'God said, "Let there be creation."]] —Hamsaduta, 23 January, 1970 ![[letters/1970/700214_madhudvisa|it is stated in the Vedic literature that there are many planets where the inhabitants are more advanced than the inhabitants of this earth planet.]] —Madhudvisa, 14 February, 1970 ![[letters/1970/700307_rupanuga|Regarding your question, yes, Ramadevi is the sandhini attribute of cit-sakti because her function is for creation, and the jivas are members of the sambit attribute of the cit-sakti. The demigods are included within the species of human life.]] —Rupanuga, 7 March, 1970 ![[letters/1971/710709_jadurani|All the planets within the stem. That is to be understood. But they are seedling planets and are coming out of the stem, all below the lotus flower, just as seedling universes come out from the body of Maha Visnu.]] —Jadurani, 9 July, 1971 ![[letters/1971/710906_vaikunthanatha|So far going to the moon planet is concerned, don't be very much interested in moon travel. Better that you travel on this planet and serve Krsna. We don't care for such moon travel. Rather after this life we want to travel to Krsna. If even we go to Brahmaloka, the topmost planet, still we have to come down. So let the foolish waste their time in this way, while we will go directly to Krsna.]] —Vaikunthanatha, 6 September, 1971 ![[letters/1971/711117_brhaspati|Soon I shall be printing my latest book, commentaries on your Western philosophers, and with this instruction you will be able to defeat all of the mental speculators and so-called scientists who are simply misleading everyone.]] —Brhaspati dasa, 17 November, 1971 ![[letters/1971/711208_upendra|so we must conclude that there are hundreds of thousands of higher and lower types of human forms.]] —Upendra, 8 December, 1971 ![[letters/1971/711208_upendra|No poetry, no science, no philosophy, no religion, no culture, no knowledge we have today can he said to he superior to that we find 5,000 years or more ago in India...Better to become closely associated with the Supreme Perfect, then we shall know what is perfection of our life. This is the culmination of evolution.]] —Upendra, 8 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1971/711212_danavir|So which philosophy is better, 50 or 100 year old Darwin philosophy, or eternal Krsna philosophy?]] —Danavir, 12 December, 1971 --- ![[letters/1972/720503_rupanuga|If you know something like swimming, then the law of gravitation will not work, and who knows better than Krsna how to do everything, so Krsna can change anything, therefore we worship Him as the greatest Scientist.]] —Rupanuga, 3 May, 1972 ![[letters/1972/721107_krsna_dasa|there are many things which do not corroborate with the so-called modern science, because they are explained in that way. But where is the guarantee that modern science is also correct?]] —Krsnadasa, 7 November, 1972 --- ![[letters/1970/700309_hayagriva|This is confirmed in Padma Purana that the species of life evolved from aquatics to plants, vegetables, trees; thereafter insects, reptiles, flies, birds, then beasts, and then human kind. This is the gradual process of evolution of species of life. But we do not accept Darwin's theory.]] —Hayagriva, 9 March, 1970 --- ![[letters/1973/730521_niranjana|I have therefore asked our chemist friend, Dr. Svarupa Damodara dasa Brahmacari to refute the theory that life comes out of matter.]] —Niranjana, 21 May, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730605_revatinandana|It is very important that we now expose the nonsense theories of these rascal scientists who assert that life comes from matter. They say that life comes from some chemicals, but they cannot say wherefrom these chemicals have come.]] —Revatinandana, 5 June, 1973 ![[letters/1973/730719_karandhara|Your victory over the scientist who was saying that life comes from dust is very good. We should not take such nonsense from them. We should speak up against such false theorists and say, 'Don't talk such nonsense please. Don't mislead the public. You are taking big salaries and leading the public wrongly. It would be better for you to be a street sweeper and earn an honest livelihood instead of cheating.']] —Karandhara, 19 July, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730719_karandhara|Now we shall put this challenge against this wrong theory that life comes from matter...We have to give a fight to the wrong conception of the unauthorized scientist.]] —Karandhara, 19 July, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/730727_karandhara|For my part I have taken up the policy of my Guru Maharaja—no compromise. All these so called scholars, scientists, philosophers who do not accept Krsna are nothing more than rascals, fools lowest of mankind etc. So you go on with your work, it is very encouraging to me.]] —Karandhara, 27 July, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731029_svarupa_damodara|We have to fight with all these so-called leaders, scientists, and philosophers, just like Krsna came to kill all the demons because the whole world is full of demons.]] —Svarupa Damodara dasa, 29 October, 1973 --- ![[letters/1973/731201_bhakta_don|Yes, you should use your scientific credentials to present this Krsna conscious philosophy. Everything may be used in Krsna's service.]] —Bhakta Don, 1 December, 1973 ![[letters/1974/740421_hansadutta|Yes, by all means you may print my morning walk speaking about 'Life comes from Life' into a small book; this argument should be spread, as any intelligent man will be convinced that our discussion is thoroughly scientific and exposes the so called materialistic scientists as rascals.]] —Hamsadutta, 21 April, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740908_svarupa_damodara|So whenever you speak, speak scientifically about Krsna's existence.]] —Svarupa Damodara, 8 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/740925_bhakta_dennis|So you have a scientific mind and you want to use it in the service of Krsna. This is very good, and this I want, that scientists step forward and preach Krsna consciousness.]] —Bhakta Dennis, 25 September, 1974 --- ![[letters/1974/741025_ramesvara|This is because the moon must be covered with ice.]] —Ramesvara Prabhu, 25 October, 1974 ![[letters/1974/741112_hansadutta|I have never studied science, but I am challenging them. They may take me as crazy, but I am not crazy. I am right.]] —Hamsadutta dasa, 12 November, 1974 ![[letters/1975/750314_vaikunthanatha_bahulasva|Thank you very much for sending this article. It is very good news. It appears that this scientist has become very intelligent. Yes, try to meet with them somehow and make arrangement for them to meet with me when I come for the San Francisco Ratha-yatra. That will be very nice. Such persons should be given the chance to study our books very carefully. In this way they will actually understand what is science.]] —Vaikunthanatha and Bahulasva, 14 March, 1975 ![[letters/1975/750610_radha_krishna_dhawan|Your endeavor to prove scientifically the existence of reincarnation is not very practical. It is like bringing a canon to kill a mosquito.]] —Mr. Van den Tak, 10 June, 1975 ![[letters/1975/750618_dr._w.h._wolf-rottkay._w.h._wolf-rottkay._w.h._wolf-rottkay|Biological evolution is taking place on account of the soul's desire. It takes place because of infection. If a man has smallpox virus, then he is subjected to smallpox.]] —Dr. Wolf-Rottkay, 18 June, 1975 ![[letters/1975/750623_svarupa_damodara|It is very good that you are progressing with the book proving scientifically that Lord Sri Krsna is the origin of life. Yes, do it slowly but surely. It is important work for our preaching mission.]] —Svarupa Damodara dasa, 23 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750623_svarupa_damodara|Therefore out of so many scientists in this country only you and the few others are understanding the importance of this subject matter—manusyanam sahasresu. So please work very hard, following our rules and regulations]] —Svarupa Damodara, 23 June, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750705_svarupa_damodara|I think you should not think of relinquish your job without meeting me and discussing the matter deeply. Don't do anything out of sentiment. You must make the best use of a bad bargain. Unless you keep your job, you will not be considered an important man in the material sense. And, if you are not an important man, then who will listen to you?]] —Svarupa Damodara dasa, 5 July, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/750901_jayananda|Mundane archaeologists are mistaken because they say from monkey the human beings have come into existence, but at the present moment both the human being and the monkey are existing. The monkey is not extinct. So these theories are not correct.]] —Baku Rupa dasa, 1 September, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751024_svarupa_damodara|If the moon planet is actually far away from the sun planet, how they can go there and publish in the paper that the moon planet is the nearest planet?]] —Svarupa Damodara, 24 October, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751024_svarupa_damodara|If they cannot produce even a chicken or even an egg of chicken, how can we believe their very big, big talks.]] —Svarupa Damodara, 24 October, 1975 ![[letters/1975/751109_hayagriva|Regarding the scientists, they will always find something new because their knowledge is not yet standardized. They will go on making new discoveries, on account of their imperfect knowledge.]] —Hayagriva dasa, 9 November, 1975 ![[letters/1975/751110_madhudvisa|Regarding your second question, whether a person who is a Negro, Chinese, Indian, etc. are they different species of life making up the 400,000 species. Yes, so far their body is concerned. Your question whether woman in each one of these species is another separate species, no, the species means both man and woman of the same type.]] —Madhudvisa Swami, 10 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751112_svarupa_damodara|So this is their business, to discover the inferior particles and neither have they discovered the superior particle which is one ten-thousandth the tip of a hair.]] —Svarupa Damodara, 12 November, 1975 ![[letters/1975/751121_svarupa_damodara|So it appears that the sun planet comes first and then the moon planet. That is the statement in Srimad-Bhagavatam. How do modern scientists say that the moon is nearest from the earth? What is their authority?]] —Svarupa Damodara, 21 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751121_svarupa_damodara|The sun is not fixed. If this is proved, then their whole scientific theory collapses.]] —Svarupa Damodara, 21 November, 1975 --- ![[letters/1975/751217_mahamsa|Why should we blindly accept imperfect scientists, they are imperfect because they are changing their position in the name of progress.]] —Svarupa Damodara dasa, 17 December, 1975 ![[letters/1976/760103_trivikrama|Regarding the 'dust' supposedly brought from the moon, that dust can he gotten anywhere. It has already been openly admitted that the same dust is available on this earth planet. These astronauts and scientists are all bluffing. But Śrīla Vyasadeva is the correct authority. Just study Srimad-Bhagavatam carefully with full faith in Krsna and guru and all knowledge will be revealed.]] —Trivikrama Maharaja, 3 January, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760217_madhava|Matter is the symbol of undeveloped consciousness.]] —Madhava dasa, 17 February, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760308_robert|Their position is 'sour grapes.' They try by their speculation to understand things, and being unable they say there is no God.]] —Robert, 8 March, 1976 --- ![[letters/1976/760523_satsvarupa|They cannot make even one egg, and they are going to manufacture life? And we have to believe it? They are lunatics, this is demoniac. They want to compete with God.]] —Satsvarupa Maharaja, 23 May, 1976 ![[letters/1976/760604_purusottama|What is the proof that they have gone to the moon? Why they are not now utilizing it, and they simply remain quiet? They have simply squandered so much money but there is no proof that they went.]] —Purusottama dasa, 4 June, 1976 ![[letters/1976/761014_dr._w.h._wolf-rottkay._w.h._wolf-rottkay._w.h._wolf-rottkay|Regarding the scientists, we have entrusted our own three scientists namely Svarupa Damodara, Sadaputa, and Madhva and we leave the matter to them, we do not say anything ourselves, but are leaving it to them. But there are many common men who do not believe that they have gone to the moon planet.]] —Dr. W.H. Wolf-Rottkay, 14 October, 1976 --- ![[letters/1977/770129_ramesvara|why this inductive process is being credited as the highest form of knowledge, since the material scientists who follow this method are not able to do anything towards solving the basic problems of humanity.]] —Charles Gold, 29 January, 1977 --- **[← Back to Śikṣāmṛta](wiki/compile/siksamrita)**