# Association with Devotees ## The Purpose of Association “The tendency for solitude is a kind of reaction on our past material activities, but solitude is not very good for a neophyte. *Maya* is always trying to attack us, and as soon as she finds some opportunity she tries to inflict her poisonous effects. ==The best thing is therefore not to seek solitude in the beginning but to remain in the midst of pure devotees so that even there is attack of maya, their association will protect us== . If you are, however, always busy in the matter of preaching work that is very nice. But to remain alone in a solitary place for a new man is not advisable.” ([[letters/1968/680326_yadunandana|Yadunandana, 26 March, 1968]]) *** 68-04 ==“Yes, every one of us should be ideal to the other so everyone can get impetus to make progress more and more.”== ([[letters/1968/680409_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 9 April, 1968]]) *** 68-07 ==“The business of Krsna conscious persons is to enjoy by mutual association, on the basis of understanding Krsna from Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.== So when you become three together, you should utilize your time by discussions on Krsna, and chanting Hare Krsna. Even you do not get some job, Krsna will not put you into difficulty. But try to get some job, and work for the improvement of the temple. And whenever there is opportunity, try to chant in public parks, and collect some money from the gathering, and surely Krsna will help you in spreading this sublime gospel of Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Subala dasa, July 13th, 1968) 68-09 “Our relationship is eternal. But if somebody lags behind, so in spite of our eternal relationship one may not meet others at the destination. Just like a flock of birds--although very intimately related, every one of them has to fly in the sky by individual strength. If one is less strong, the others cannot keep him in the sky. That is the law of nature. So long every one of us is strong in Krsna consciousness, ==there is no doubt you can fly in the spiritual sky and meet together without failure. Therefore, individual strength is most important and that individual strength is achieved in the association of devotees also.== So you can make your own judgement.” ([[letters/1968/680920_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 20 September, 1968]]) *** 68-11 “Regarding your question, about living alone, living alone is a general tendency for a person who wants to get disassociated with the materialistic persons. That is also recommended by the Goswamis in their instructions. It is better to remain alone than to mix with materialistic persons. But this is not applicable when we have the opportunity to get the association of pure devotees. Our program is negative and positive simultaneously. We want to negate the materialistic side and make positive the spiritual side. It is not one sided. If you have no positive standing, negating only will not make you successful. Therefore it is better to remain positively within the society of pure devotees. That is also recommended by the Goswamis. That one should be occupied in activities in the modes of goodness and associate with spiritualistic persons; that will make one's advancement very quick. Persons who want to take advantage of cheap reputation they imitate great personalities like Haridasa Thakura, who was alone chanting 300,000 of holy names daily. By such chanting, lonely chanting he got so much spiritual power that he could convert even a harlot to become a great devotee whereas an ordinary person falls easily a victim to such allurement. ==So one should not imitate such great personalities but one should try to see how much taste he has developed for chanting, so that one can remain alone simply being engaged in chanting. If one can remain alone simply being engaged in chanting,== that is very good, but it is difficult also. For a conditioned soul in conditioned life, it is very difficult to concentrate the mind on chanting absolutely. Better to be engaged in preaching work, that will make one gradually successful. Besides that, when we are actually engaged with the preaching work, we gradually acquire our spiritual strength without failure.” ([[letters/1968/681111_sivananda|Sivananda, 11 November, 1968]]) 69-03 ==“I am so glad to learn that you felt too much inconvenience in the company of the karmis== on your last tour to Los Angeles. There is a verse in *Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu* in which it is stated, the more you advance in Krsna consciousness, the more you become disgusted with the material modes of life. When the American boys are disgusted with cigarette smokers, or listening to rock music and meaningless chattering, it means there is Krsna's grace. May Krsna bless you more and more as you advance in Krsna consciousness.” ([[letters/1969/690306_rayarama|Rayarama, 6 March, 1969]]) *** 69-12 “You have a very nice opportunity to quickly advance in spiritual perfection because you have the good association of the devotees in Hawaii. This association with devotees of Krsna is recommended by Lord Caitanya Himself as the most important factor for developing Krsna consciousness. This is because our dormant love for Krsna is covered up by the material contamination, but it is quickly aroused when the association of a pure devotee is there. The example is given that when an iron rod is put into a blazing fire, the rod soon takes on the qualities of the fire, namely light and heat. But if the same rod is put amidst some ice then it will remain simply dark and cold. In the same way, ==a devotee should associate with fellow devotees, and in relationship to others the devotee should try to elevate them also onto the spiritual platform.== So please follow this principle and surely you will make great strides in the matter of your spiritual advancement.” ([[letters/1969/691225_krsna_dasa|Govardhana dasa, 25 December, 1969]]) *** 70-02 “I am glad to learn that you have now become steady in comparison with your flickering past life. The association of devotees is the most important element in learning Krsna consciousness way of life. By association with undesirable companions we have learned so many bad habits and similarly ==by association with pure persons or devotees we can become purified of our acquired bad habits.== So constant association and working cooperatively with devotees is the prime and easy method to re-learn our original good habit of Krsna consciousness.” ([[letters/1970/700214_sacisuta|Sacisuta, 14 February, 1970]]) *** 71-01 ==“Your winter schedule is very nice. I am so glad to hear that temple worship is going on nicely and that you have made a program for discussing all our books. Such group discussion of transcendental topics is so much potent and all should participate.”== (SPL to Bhavananda, January 21st, 1971) *** 71-07 ==“So far as mixing with society, we can do it. That is all right. But simply for jobs sake, we cannot. To mix with them intimately is not good. So that should be avoided. Lord Caitanya never said stop mixing with nondevotees. He was preaching Himself. How a preacher can stop? The whole world is nondevotees.”== ([[letters/1971/710723_vrndavana_candra|Vrndavana Candra, 23 July, 1971]]) *** 71-11 “So far the posters for temple altars, if you have got extra money you can print the posters. But I am against the policy of our ISKCON Press charging exorbitant prices for books and other things which they sell to the temples. Our policy should be cost price, or if a little more (10% above cost) is required for other expenses, that may be added. ==But it is not that we are in business to make profit from each other. With the public, that is a different thing.== But our real business is to spread Krsna consciousness, and for that ==our centers require so many things like books, tapes, photos, like that--and these should be freely exchanged between the temples to be utilized nicely in preaching work, without profit-making.”== (SPL to Rupanuga, November 30th, 1971) *** 72-06 ==“Therefore, I recommend you to read books more and more and try to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision and be always discussing it with your God brothers== even while you are working at the press, and when you are working and you cannot read, then listen to the tapes of my lectures and hear in that way. And never neglect to chant your sixteen rounds of beads daily, rise early without fail, attend *mangala-arati* take bath, and follow the other regulative principles, and everything will come out very successfully, you can rest assured of that.” (SPL to Bhargava, June 13th, 1972) *** 72-11 “If you are serious to be an important assistant in our Society you should fully engage yourself in translation work, and do not mix yourself with my so-called God brothers. ==As there are in Vrndavana some residents like monkeys and hogs, similarly there are many rascals in the name of Vaisnavas, be careful of them.”== ([[letters/1972/721121_niranjana|Niranjana, 21 November, 1972]]) *** 73-11 “As far as your *grhastha* community committee, I have no objection as it has the approval of Karandhara Prabhu and he is there for you all to take advice from. ==One thing is though that we should not take such meetings and committees too seriously, as in the ultimate capacity our chanting is the only thing that will save us.== However, if sometimes devotees should like to come together and chant Hare Krsna and discuss, just as we instituted our *Istagosthi* program, then this of course I have no objection to.” ([[letters/1973/731126_umapati|Umapati, 26 November, 1973]]) *** 74-06 “I am very concerned to hear you have left the association of Trivikrama Swami and the devotees in the temple in Taiwan. For one thing you cannot remain in firm Krsna consciousness without the association of devotees and for another thing you were being counted on to make a strong contribution to the mission in Taiwan. We must stand united. If the few men we have in a far away place like Taiwan become scattered, then we will not be able to stand. ==I know you are always experiencing difficulties in living with devotees, but we must be tolerant and endure the personal differences, being humbler than a blade of grass, and stick to our duties to the spiritual master.”== ([[letters/1974/740604_bhakta_dasa|Sri Vallabha, 4 June, 1974]]) *** 74-09 ==“So try to learn this philosophy nicely in association with other devotees and certainly you will be able to do great benefit to your fellow countrymen.”== ([[letters/1974/740906_swami_satpremananda_sarasvati|Mr. Svoboda, 6 September, 1974]]) *** 74-11 “Although there may be some difficulties within our Society, these things are not very important. What is important is that we should simply fix our mind on Krsna's lotus feet. This is His instruction in the *Bhagavad-Gita.* ==So we associate with one another so that we can assist each other in hearing and chanting about Krsna. That is the purpose of our Society.== This you will not find in the materialistic society where all hearing and chanting is simply concerned with sense gratification. So our desire is Krsna and we want to go back home--back to Godhead where Krsna lives eternally. So you simply follow my instructions as I have given to you and surely your life will be a success.” ([[letters/1974/741122_nrhari|Nrhari dasa, 22 November, 1974]]) *** 75-04 “I hope that you are finding the time to visit our Montreal temple frequently, and that you are finding our books interesting to read. ==By associating and rendering service to the Vaisnavas and hearing the philosophy of Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam as well as chanting Hare Krsna, your life will become perfect.”== ([[letters/1975/750419_mr._ramanbhai_m._patel|Mr. Patel, 19 April, 1975]]) *** 75-11 “Now you should try to become strong in Krsna consciousness. ==The first thing is to chant sixteen rounds minimum on the beads and it is best to do this in the association of others who also desire to progress in spiritual life.== * * So you should try to remain at one of our temples; that will help you. You should also read my books very carefully and you should render * service—tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya.* Service must be there. So you have to find out some service that you can render. Then your progress will be very quick.” ([[letters/1975/751115_janajanmadhih|Paul Diglio, 15 November, 1975]]) ## Co-operation, Appreciation & Competition 67-04 “I am in due receipt of your letter of the 10th instant and have noted the contents with great delight. Your mutual understanding with Sriman Janardana making Krsna as the center of attraction is very much enlightening to me. ==Transcendental jealousy is not wrong but it is absolute. In the transcendental world there are jealous parties also like the party of Radharani and the party of Satyabhama.== **Radharani and Satyabhama are always jealous of one another but the center is Krsna. There are many material examples also. There are many political parties in a state but in spite of all political jealousies they are one in serving the state. Similarly Krsna being the center, all competition and jealousies for serving Krsna the best is always absolute provided such jealousies do not come down to the material plane.” ([[letters/1967/670413_kirtanananda|Kīrtanānanda, 13 April, 1967]]) *** 67-09 “I'm so pleased for your writing such nice sentiment. I've especially noted that you could express yourself so beautifully. I know both you and your sister have inherited a good heart from your good mother. Your eagerness to get me back in the States will surely be a success because I am also eager to return. Tears for Krsna is as good as associating with Him personally. In the spiritual world separation is more valuable than meeting. So your feelings and tears of Krsna consciousness will make you more enriched in spiritual advancement. Your husband Mukunda is a very, very good boy and you are fortunate enough to have such a nice devotee husband. A similar combination is there in your sister and Gurudasa. You will be angry if I say that your sister is better than you but I think I'm right because Mukunda supports me. ==Rivalry between good hearts is a very nice job, but I'm equally pleased with both your sister and yourself.== ** Please convey my blessings to your sister and brother-in-law. I've received their good handwriting and they have actually done it in full Krsna consciousness. Swami Kīrtanānanda is returning to the States very soon. You are very much anxious to get him back home and your desire will be fulfilled very soon. Perhaps you know that Acyutananda is now with us and since he has come, Swami Kīrtanānanda has retired from all sorts of activities and Acyutananda is helping me. Anyway he is leaving behind a good representative so I'll not be in trouble. Most probably Acyutananda will stay in India to take charge of an American house. I shall be glad to know if Upendra is coming. Upendra and Acyutananda will be a good combination; both are silent workers without any protest. Please convey my blessings to all the boys and girls.” (SPL to Janaki, September, 1967) *** 67-11 “I have already written to Hayagriva that the instructions which I impart are not dogmas. Our instructions are all based on sufficient logic and philosophy. The thing is that while conducting missionary activities it is quite natural that sometimes the situation may become very provocative, but we have to deal in these matters very carefully. The boy who spat upon the person Kīrtanānanda must send a letter of regret and apology. That will be nice. You should always try to pacify the living entities in their rebellious propensities. These individual propensities are factual evidence for their becoming individual entities. If everything would have been impersonal there would have been no scope for their individual manifestations. It is understood that Hayagriva will purchase the property at Wilkes-Barr with the help of Dr. Henderson's financial assistance. ==I do not mind that they will do something separately, but I wish that there may not be any misbehaviour between the God brothers.== **I think you can write Hayagriva a personal letter regretting the incident which had unfortunately occurred, namely spitting over the person of Kīrtanānanda. Hope you are well.” (SPL to Brahmananda, November, 1967) *** 67-11 “I've received one letter from Hayagriva expressing his sorrow about Kīrtanānanda's plight in relation with his God brothers. He has complained that some of the boys had spat upon Kīrtanānanda’s body and it is a fact, it is a most regrettable incident. The fact is that once combined in Krsna consciousness one cannot be separated at any time, but the incident of separation from the Society of Kīrtanānanda and Hayagriva is accidental. I had advised that Kīrtanānanda should be asked not to speak, but I never asked that he should not enter the temple. We invite outsiders to come and near our *kirtanas* but I think Kīrtanānanda might have been disturbing the peace of the temple and therefore you all asked him not to enter the temple. I do not know what had actually transpired but the incident is not very happy. If possible the boy who had spat upon Kīrtanānanda in the presence of Hayagriva must be requested to send a letter of regret and apology for the mistake he had done. I have already given you a list of good behavior for the devotees. The person who is a devotee must develop those good qualities. Kīrtanānanda’s attempt to defy me might have provoked all these undesirable incidents, but in the future ==we shall be very much careful to deal in such provocative situations.== **I can understand the provocation in this situation was set in motion by Kīrtanānanda’s uncalled for behavior. Hope you are well.” ([[letters/1967/671105_rayarama|Rayarama, 5 November, 1967]]) ==67-11 “In Krsna consciousness there is variety but there is no discord. We may fight with one another on the point of serving but that is not a discord== . **We must stick to the service of the Lord very seriously and that will help us make progress. In this connection I have written one letter to Brahmananda, a portion in which you may be interested which is subjoined herein. I do not want a crowd of Kirtananandas, but I want a single soul like Brahmananda, Mukunda, Rayarama and Satsvarupa.” ([[letters/1967/671112_subala|Subala, 12 November, 1967]]) *** 67-11 “Replying your letter of November 9th, I beg to inform you that Kīrtanānanda and Hayagriva's recent standing is being directly dealt with by me. At least Hayagriva is not as fanatic as Kīrtanānanda. His latest letter reveals that he is not out of Krsna consciousness as we understand. The whole episode was generated by a personal grudge. This personal grudge is not inhuman and as I have told many times, that individualism is the cause of personal misunderstanding. When such individualism is employed in the service of Krsna there is no harm even if there is personal misunderstanding. ==Personal misunderstanding exists even in the higher levels. There is competition of loving Krsna even in the party of Srimati Radharani. It is a kind of rasa to compete in loving affection centering around Krsna.== We shall therefore try to bring back Hayagriva and Kīrtanānanda to their senses. After all, we must understand that we are dealing with persons affected by *maya.* Every one of us is under the influence of the external energy, *maya.* The best way to get out of the clutches of *maya* is to concentrate our attention in the loving service of Krsna. I understand that Hayagriva and Kīrtanānanda are continuing to chant Hare Krsna in their center. I hope therefore they will not go astray and the misunderstanding may be cleared up in due course of time. Even amongst our God brothers we have misunderstandings but none of us is astray from the service of Krsna. My Guru Maharaja ordered us to execute his mission combinedly. Unfortunately we are now separated. But none of us has stopped preaching Krsna consciousness. Even if there is misunderstanding among the God brothers of my Guru Maharaja none of them deviated from the transcendental loving service of Krsna. The idea is that provocation and misunderstanding may remain between one man and another but our staunch faith in Krsna consciousness may not allow any material disruption. Please therefore, try to be sympathetic with any person even if they differ. The only qualification we have to scrutinize is if one is acting in Krsna consciousness as far as one is able to do it.” ([[letters/1967/671118_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 18 November, 1967]]) *** 67-11 “I am very sorry that Subala dasa has assumed such air of importance. We should always remember that we are on the path of perfection but we are not perfect. If Subala dasa or anyone thinks that he has attained perfection he will be wrongly directed. I have asked you all to address your God brothers as *prabhu.* This *prabhu* means boss. If every one of us thinks of his fellow workers as boss there is no question of misunderstanding. ==The mistake is that being addressed as boss or prabhu, one thinks himself as exactly prabhu or the boss. One should not forget himself as humble servant== even though one is addressed as *prabhu.* The spiritual master is offered respect as they are offered to the Supreme Lord. Unfortunately if the spiritual master thinks that he has become the Supreme Lord then he is doomed. A bona fide spiritual master always thinks of himself as a servant of the Lord. One should never forget to be humble in dealings. If every one of us would conduct our business in that spirit of *prabhu* and servant then there is very little chance of being misunderstood. Sometimes misunderstanding may take place but it should be adjusted in the spirit of service attitude to the *prabhu.* I know that my presence is very urgently required.” ([[letters/1967/671128_nandarani|Nandarani, 28 November, 1967]]) *** 68-01 “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. I think he should be permanently on the editorial board and you can give him any serious engagement as you please. He may be replaced in the place of Hayagriva if he is not going to join us. Recently I received one letter from Hayagriva and I replied it promptly. The thing is, everyone of us should think himself as servant of Krsna. ==In the service of Krsna there may be sometimes transcendental competition but there cannot be any disruption.== **Please call Satyavrata and give him serious engagement as he likes to take. He is a good soul and he must be satisfied.” ([[letters/1968/680111_rayarama|Rayarama, 11 January, 1968]]) *** 68-01 “I am glad to learn that your cooperation for this Society is appreciated by the authorities. We should learn to forget and forgive minor incidents because whenever there are 2 men in a place, there is always some misunderstanding. ==Such misunderstanding happens even between husband and wife== *—* ==what to speak of others. But we have to adjust things on the basis of Krsna consciousness.== **We should always remember that Krsna consciousness is a challenge to the modern disguised human society, and we have to meet many unfavorable incidents. But if we are sincere to Krsna and the spiritual master, combinedly then everything will be favorably settled. We should always remember that Krsna consciousness can only remain on two parallel lines of Krsna and spiritual master. Chant Hare Krsna sincerely and all good intelligence consultation shall come from within. Krsna says that those who are engaged in My service, I give intelligence for his progressive march.” ([[letters/1968/680111_gargamuni|Gargamuni, 11 January, 1968]]) *** 68-01 “I am in due receipt of your letter 'undated' and I can understand that in some points you disagree with Gargamuni, but you have not clearly mentioned what is this point of disagreement. So far I know, Gargamuni's activities are approved by the president, Jayananda, and so far I know Gargamuni, he has a business tactfulness, but his aim is to help the Society financially. Whatever he does is not for his personal interest but for the interest of the Society. If you have any specific grievance, please let me know, but don't be disturbed by any sort of disagreement with your God brothers and sisters. ==Each and every living entity is an individual soul, and as such, disagreement is quite possible in our dealings with one another, but we have to consider the central point of interest.== **You are both very intelligent, sober girls and I have good estimation of you; do not take at any time an attitude of non-cooperation because you may have not agreed with another's point of view. I have heard about the incidents created by a new devotee, Jivanuga. He appears to be a crazy fellow. He should not have been initiated, but I have given him a chance to improve. Next time I am not going to initiate anybody who has not attended our classes at least for 3 months, and is not recommended by the leading members of the Society. Less intelligent persons cannot take to Krsna consciousness. Please let me know what is your specific grievance but I request you not to become disturbed. The plan of your husband, and yourself Yamuna, of going to India is approved by me; I am simply waiting for the place where you shall stay. I have already informed this matter to Gurudasa and he is preparing for this. We shall require at least one dozen students to go to India and stay there at least for 6 months, and be completely trained up on our line of activities. The place which I am arranging by negotiation with authorities will be sufficient for accommodating at least 50 students and if Krsna gives us that place it will be a great success.” ([[letters/1968/680115_gurudasa|Yamuna and Harsarani, 15 January, 1968]]) ==68-02 “== I can see how you are advancing in Krsna consciousness by the feelings expressed therein, and I am so glad you are feeling such transcendental pleasure in serving the Lord. This transcendental pleasure is unlimited and increases as we increase our desire to give more and more voluntary service. To surrender to Krsna all at once is not generally possible, but as we serve Krsna more and more, we gradually become more and more surrendered at His lotus feet. So you please continue to serve Krsna in these ways you have mentioned, and do not feel that your service is any less valuable than that of others. In the transcendental loving service of the Lord, it doesn't matter whether we are working, cooking, painting, writing, chanting or whatever, they are all the same. ==There are no such distinctions of higher and lower on the transcendental platform. The important thing is that we are engaging our time and energy in the service of the Lord.== **After all, we are so tiny, what can we do? Krsna sees simply that this time is being spent in His service. Please continue to help Gargamuni in his efforts to spread Krsna consciousness, and chant and continue your duties, and in this way you will be happy and successful in Krsna consciousness. I am happy to hear you are so much anxious in helping to start a new temple. Your enthusiasm is very encouraging to me; there is great need for the spreading of Krsna consciousness and we need so many enthusiastic boys and girls for carrying on this great mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja wanted that this Krsna consciousness be spread all over the Western countries especially, and now in my old age, I am leaving this great responsibility in the hands of all of you my students.” ([[letters/1968/680225_karunamayi|Karunamayi, 25 February, 1968]]) *** 68-03 “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 writing, some by good business ability, some by nice cooking, and so on, but these various services are all accepted equally by Krsna. ==On the transcendental plane, one service is as good as another. There is no question of higher or lower. We are very tiny, and so we cannot really do very much.== Simply we can engage our time and energy, and that is all Krsna sees. He sees that this boy or girl is spending his time in My service, and he is pleased.” ([[letters/1968/680303_hansadutta_himavati|SPL Hamsaduta and Himavati, 3 March, 1968]]) *** 68-05 “Regarding your personal sentiments not being in agreement with Umapati. I am very sorry that this thing has happened. ==We are preaching Krsna consciousness, the greatest platform of harmony, and if we dissent amongst ourselves and disunite, it doesn't look very well.== **You are the sincere-most servant of Krsna. I know that you have worked very good for Krsna. I think you should not be disturbed by minor disagreement. If you think that you cannot agree with Umapati, you can stop discussing with him and if there is any point of judgement, you can refer to me. I am always at your service. So long we are individual souls, there must be disagreement also, because that is the symptom of individuality. But when such individual is surrendered unto Krsna, there should not be any disagreement. Of course, Subala is working alone, and he is doing very nicely to his best capacity, but if you want to go there, I have no objection because it will be a great help to Subala. But I know also that much depends on you about the L.A. temple and I am afraid if you go, the temple in Los Angeles may suffer. Therefore, I would advise that you should consult with Mukunda about this because he is very calm and cool headed boy, and then decide whether to go to Santa Fe or not. I am writing separately to Mukunda also, as well as to Umapati in this connection, and I wish to know why there is disagreement. There cannot be any disagreement in discharge of duties in Krsna consciousness. I am leaving for Montreal on June 3rd, 1968 at 11 a.m. and you know the Montreal address, so you can reply this letter there. Again I say don't be agitated on some flimsy ground but cooperate on the platform of Krsna consciousness.” ([[letters/1968/680530_aniruddha|Aniruddha, 30 May, 1968]]) ==68-05 “In the meantime, I have received another letter from Aniruddha that he is in disagreement with Umapati. I do not know what is the basis of this disagreement, but when you are there, I request you to see to the matter and try to mitigate their illusory disagreement. Even if there is disagreement, the platform should be Krsna consciousness, and in that platform if there is disagreement there is no inebriety.”== ([[letters/1968/680530_mukunda|Mukunda, 30 May, 1968]]) *** 68-05 “A few days ago I received a nice letter from you in which you wrote nice things, and I was so glad that now you are making progress positively towards Krsna consciousness. It is understood that Aniruddha and yourself are sometimes not in agreement in subjects concerning Krsna consciousness. Of course, ==disagreements may be there, but there should not be dissension.== **I shall be glad to hear from you what is the point of dissension, and if it isn't very serious, I think you should ask Aniruddha not to be affected by such flimsy disagreement.” ([[letters/1968/680530_umapati|Umapati, 30 May, 1968]]) *** 68-07 ==“I am in due receipt of your letter and check duly. I have already sent necessary instructions through Hamsaduta. You are all my limbs of my body. Unless you cooperate, my life will be useless. The senses and life are correlative. Without life the senses cannot act and without sense, life is inactive. I have advised Hamsaduta to cooperate fully with you. The 50% arrangement is agreed.”== ([[letters/1968/680717_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 17 July, 1968]]) ==68-07 “The plan already made by you is agreed by me. So you can go ahead with the plan. Our only plan should be henceforward to spread the sankirtana activities and sell our publications. Publication of Back to Godhead is entrusted to Rayarama, for publication of books Brahmananda is entrusted and for business Gargamuni is entrusted. So let us combinedly execute the Krsna consciousness movement in full swing.”== ([[letters/1968/680717_mukunda|Mukunda, 17 July, 1968]]) ==68-07 “Affection for God brothers is nice, it is a good sign. Affection for God brothers as well as for all other living entities, even they are not God brothers, these signs are seen in the advanced devotees.== There are 3 kinds of devotees: The lower grade devotees, they have high regard for the Deity in the temple, but not very much regard for devotees or people in general. The second grade devotee takes compassion with innocent non-devotees. In that stage he has got 4 kinds of vision: one is that he always keeps Krsna as the most loveable object, second is that he makes intimate friendship with his devotee God brothers or any other devotees, third is that he takes compassion with innocent non-devotees, and tries to convince them about the importance of Krsna consciousness, and fourth is that he does not take any serious interest for the atheistic class of men. The first grade devotee, of course, sees everyone in relationship with Krsna and as such, he makes no distinction between a devotee or a nondevotee. His vision is high grade, because he sees that everyone is engaged in Krsna's service directly or indirectly. This position of high grade devotee should never be imitated. It was possible only in Lord Caitanya or Lord Nityananda, or Haridasa Thakura. Thakura Haridasa was so powerful that he could convert even a harlot. But we should not try to imitate Haridasa Thakura or Lord Caitanya. Our position is in the second grade platform. We should not be satisfied remaining in the third grade platform. But we should try to elevate ourselves in the second grade platform. So far the first grade platform is concerned, it is not attained by our endeavor, but it is possible when we have full grace of Krsna. It completely depends on the causeless mercy of Krsna.” ([[letters/1968/680729_madhusudana|Madhusudana, 29 July, 1968]]) ==68-08 “Your appreciation for the service of your God brothers is very much laudable.== This is actually a devotee's business that everyone should appreciate the value of other devotees. Nobody should criticize anyone. Because everyone is engaged in the service of the Lord, according to one's capacity, and the thing is, Krsna wants to see how much one is sincere in rendering Him service. Materially we may think that his service is greater than his, that is our material vision. Actually on the spiritual platform, the service rendered by a calf to Krsna and service rendered by Radharani and Her Associates, to Krsna, there is no difference. Krsna is so kind and liberal that everyone's service, when it is sincerely offered to Krsna, He accepts. This is the statement in the *Bhagavad-Gita.* That He accepts a little bit of flower, fruit, and water, offered to Him in devotion and love. He wants our love and devotion, otherwise, He is the Proprietor of everything, what can we give Him? This position of our subordination should always be maintained and we should always give respect to our pure devotees who are engaged in devotional service, that will make us able to make a progressive march in the devotional line.” (SPL to Tamala Krsna, August 19th, 1968) ==68-09 “If you work conjointly, without quarrelling amongst yourselves, a tremendous service can be done towards the expansion of our mission. Please therefore, try to execute this program peacefully for the sake of Lord Krsna, to Whom you have all dedicated your lives”== (SPL to Hari Vilasa, September 29th, 1968) 69-01 ** ==“Please do your duty combinedly without any disruption of peaceful attitudes among yourselves. We are pushing our movement on the background of a peaceful atmosphere in the world,== and if we show a little disturbance in our own camp that will not be a very good example. Therefore, everyone should be forbearing, tolerant and cooperative. That is my special request to you all.”== ([[letters/1969/690118_janaki|Janaki, 18 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 “I have received report from Mr. Parikh and others that they are enamored by your behavior, your character and your devotion. In the newspaper cuttings also they gave such hints. In other words, everyone is appreciating your presentation. Please keep up this standard of behavior. Do not make any artificial discrepancies amongst yourselves because you are acting on a very responsible business. Perhaps you know that there are many political parties in a country, but when the country's total responsibility has to be executed, they become combined. To have some little disagreements amongst yourselves is not very unnatural because we are all individual beings. But ==as we are all working on behalf of Krsna we should always forget our personal interests and see to the prime cause.”== ([[letters/1969/690121_kulasekhara|Gurudasa and Yamuna, 21 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 “I can understand from your letter that there have been some disagreements or misunderstandings in the temple, but I think that you should know that all such disturbances must be solved peacefully and with consideration of the entire situation. ==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.== Any way, if you are feeling too much inconvenience staying in San Francisco, then you are welcome to come to Los Angeles and stay here with me. But if you can help to smooth over the difficulties there that will be the best thing. You are a sincere and intelligent boy, so if you along with all of the members combine to cooperate with one another in our mission of spreading Krsna consciousness that will be very nice.” ([[letters/1969/690123_aniruddha|Aniruddha, 23 January, 1969]]) *** 69-02 “It is not surprising that it is taking a little time to begin your actual printing work. In ====the beginning of everything there is always some difficulty, but when you are accustomed to the process, there will be no difficulty. If no better grammarian is available, the translation of Uttama Sloka may be published. But I think that as many friends are coming to the temple, especially some Bengali Indians, they can help you in doing the translation work. ==When a person is willing to help with our mission, he is also a devotee, so there is no question of him being non-devotee.== But they must translate as it is, they must not deviate. Anyway, our motto should be to somehow or other express the objectives of Krsna consciousness to the German speaking people. There is a verse in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* that a book or poetry in which the holy name of Krsna is depicted; such language is revolutionary in the matter of purifying the material atmosphere. Even though such literature is presented in broken language or grammatical inconsistency or rhetorical irregularity, still, those who are saintly persons adore such literature. They hear such literature, and chant it and adore it, simply because the Supreme Lord is being glorified in this literature. In other words, we are not meant for presenting any literary masterpieces, but we have to inform people that there is a fire of *maya* which is burning the very vitality of all living entities, and they should guard against the indefatigable onslaught of material existence. That should be our motto. So even if *you* do not get any assistance from friends, get it translated by Uttama Sloka, and publish. You can at least publish a 5-10 page edition of German *Back to Godhead.* That is my request.” ([[letters/1969/690213_sivananda|Krsna dasa, 13 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 “So far as your fraternal quarrel is concerned, I may recite in this connection one story: an old father required massaging so all the children wanted to serve the father. The father divided the right and left portion of his body to be served by the children. Later along with the service, there was some quarrel between the children, and they were competing by hitting the parts of the father which was assigned to the opposing party. So the father said that you are hitting my different parts due to your opposition to one another, but I am therefore dying. Similarly, ==either this department or that department, if you quarrel amongst yourselves it will be detrimental to my missionary ambition.== **Please therefore stop this unnecessary strain. If there is any misunderstanding, it will be solved when I am present there in April. In the meantime, please live peacefully and things may go on as it is going on.” ([[letters/1969/690220_rayarama|Rayarama, 20 February, 1969]]) *** 69-03 “So far as your staff arrangement is concerned I think you have got nice staff to assist you, and Hayagriva has also written to you to consult how you can work jointly. ==I think for Krsna’s sake we shall try to work together even at the risk of a little personal inconvenience.== * * Our foremost concern is Krsna. If Krsna's service is well done, then we should try to forget our personal inconveniences. I know you are already advanced in this type of Krsna consciousness, and Krsna will give you intelligence more and more, but you stick to this principle as you have taken your life's vow to improve * Back to Godhead.* That is my request. That will make you victorious in achieving Krsna’s blessings.” ([[letters/1969/690320_rayarama|Rayarama, 20 March, 1969]]) ==69-03 “Your writing in the second paragraph is so much encouraging for me and your appreciation of devotees like Upendra and Ananda is super excellent. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this lesson—one who appreciates a sincere devotee is eligible to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”== ([[letters/1969/690321_tamala_krsna|Mr. Windisch, 21 March, 1969]]) *** 69-03 “In this connection, if you think that by printing the *yogi* literature you will get some monetary help then I give you permission that you can print it. But my standing request is this: amongst yourselves there should not be any disagreement. Whatever you do, you do it by joint consultation. Because our center of activities is Krsna, for Krsna's sake we can sacrifice our life, wealth, words, intelligence, everything. ==Of course, as individuals we have sometimes disagreements but that should be adjusted keeping our central attention to Krsna.== * * So what is done is done; henceforward you do everything jointly and we shall put out at least one issue of * Back to Godhead* French edition every month--even it may consist of one printed page only, still it must be published once monthly. That is my desire.” ([[letters/1969/690323_satsvarupa|Dayala Nitai, 23 March, 1969]]) *** 69-04 * * “Go * * altogether in *sankirtana* party and try to sell the *Back to Godhead* magazines. In other centers they are doing very nicely with this. Sometimes they are selling more than 100 copies of *Back to Godhead* and collecting $130 or $150. The Los Angeles temple has become unique in this connection. They have decorated the temple room so nicely that in the love feast and any other ceremony, hundreds of people are coming. Why don't you follow this example and try to exert your energies to make your temple more important than Los Angeles? In the spiritual world there is also competition, but the center is always Krsna. In the material world there is competition but the center is sense gratification. That is the difference. ==So competition, disagreement, or even dissension, if they are there, and the center is Krsna, such disagreement is not material.== Even in Krsnaloka, there are rival parties of Srimati Radharani, whose name is Candravali, and there is competition between the two parties how to serve Krsna the best. So you are all good souls, please do not be agitated in trivial things. Do your duty nicely, develop the center as nicely as possible. If you think that your personality has been minimized, you can tolerate it. That is very nice. Lord Caitanya has taught us to be more tolerant than the tree in the matter of chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. You can show this letter to Sriman Sivananda and Sriman Uttama Sloka, and my request to you all is not to be childish, but to be serious for propagating Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Krsna dasa, 3rd April,* 1969) 69-07 “Last evening when I was in the temple to perform initiation ceremony for about one dozen devotees, I was to talking to Tamala Krsna and Gargamuni that Brahmananda is now competing with you. ==So it was very pleasing talk that there is transcendental competition between the centers and it is Krsna's grace that you stand first in this week's business. Krsna is very kind== and He is giving the full remunerations to His sincere servants. We should always remember that Krsna is always grateful to His devotees. If some ordinary man gives sufficient remuneration to a worker, why Krsna will not give sufficient remuneration to His servants? But we should always remember that whatever Krsna gives us, that never becomes ours. It is Krsna's. The more we receive from Krsna the more we engage the remunerations in the service of Krsna. That is the duty of a bona fide *brahmana.* A Vaisnava is automatically a bona fide *brahmana.* There is a proverb that a *brahmana* remains a beggar even if he receives $100,000. That means that a *brahmana* is supposed to spend all of his money for Krsna as he receives it from Krsna.” ([[letters/1969/690724_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 24 July, 1969]]) ==69-07 “So far as your question about controversy amongst the disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja, this is a fact. But this controversy is not material.== **Just like in a national program different political parties are sometimes in conflict and make propaganda against each other, but their central point is always service to the country. Similarly, amongst the disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati there may be some controversy but the central point is how to preach the mission of His Divine Grace. If the central point is fixed up then there is no harm in such controversy. Every individual being must have his opinion; that is the significance of individuality, but all such differences of opinions must coincide in Krsna. In the battlefield of Kuruksetra were Arjuna and Bhisma who were fighting with one another, and because Krsna was on the side of Arjuna sometimes Bhisma pierced the body of Krsna also with arrows. But still they remained the greatest devotees of the Lord, and Krsna accepted the friendship of Arjuna just as He accepted the inimical arrows of Bhisma in the same loving spirit. So you do not be disturbed by such controversial points. Better you engage your mind very seriously in the matter of the service entrusted upon you. That will make you progressive in Krsna consciousness.” ([[letters/1969/690728_mandali_bhadra|Mandala Bhadra, 28 July, 1969]]) *** 69-08 “I do not know what you mean by cooperation with Kīrtanānanda Maharaja. In our Society everyone, either a *brahmacari* or a *sannyasi* or g *rhastha,* who has dedicated his life and soul for this movement, they are all on the same level of *sannyasi.* For the present moment, nobody can claim an extra honor from his Godbrothers. ==Everyone should treat his Godbrothers as prabhu.== But nobody should try to claim any extra honor on account of an official position.== I do not know why Kīrtanānanda Maharaja says that his authority overrides yours. At the present moment everyone is working under my authority. Similarly, Kīrtanānanda also should work under my authority. So the condition imposed by Kīrtanānanda as stated by you does not look well. A *sannyasi* has got four stages of elevation: *kuticak, bahudaka, parivrajaka* and *paramahamsa.* The *sannyasa* in the *paramahamsa* stage is the spiritual master of everyone. I have asked Kīrtanānanda Maharaja to work with on the *bahudaka* stage for present. I discussed this point with him when I was in New Vrndavana. This stage means he should move amongst people to draw their attention to the New Vrndavana scheme and try to attract their attention for its development. So he should immediately begin his *bahudaka* program and collect money from outsiders, not from insiders. And as he is in charge of New Vrndavana, he may invest all such collections for the development of New Vrndavana, and before this Hayagriva must transfer the property to the Society's name.” ([[letters/1969/690830_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 30 August, 1969]]) *** 69-09 ** ==“But one thing is you must stop this fighting between brothers. Otherwise the whole program will be spoiled. Yourself, Tamala Krsna, Brahmananda, Satsvarupa—you should do everything combinedly. That is my request. Gradually, by Krsna's grace, we are expanding. So if amongst ourselves there is friction, it will be very dangerous. So after my return to the States I shall make it more firm so there may not be any dissension.”== (SPL to Gargamuni, September 8th, 1969) 69-09 “I thank you very much for your appreciation of my book, Krsna, and you all enjoyed it on Janamastmi Day. You write to say that each book I write is greater than anything written previously, but I must also inform you that each book you print is nicer than the previous printing. Two books, *Bhagavad-Gita As It Is* and *Teachings of Lord Caitanya,* both are practically done by you, and the *Teachings of Lord Caitanya* has come out in printing art better than *Bhagavad-Gita As It Is.* Similarly, I hope when you will print *Nectar of Devotion* and *Krsna* in our own press, it will come out better than *Teachings of Lord Caitanya.* ==So== I will give you better writing and you will produce better books. In this way there will be competition in the service of Krsna. That is very nice.== * * One the whole, I am very much pleased with the getup of * Teachings of Lord Caitanya,* and I hope in the future all our books may be printed at least to that standard.” ([[letters/1969/690909_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 9 September, 1969]]) *** 69-09 “Regarding your question about faith in devotees, faith must be there. But ==we should always take instruction from devotees who are considered to be elevated.== **A preacher's position is like this: He should have firm faith and love for Krsna. He should make friendship with devotees. He should be very much charitable and kind to the neophytes and he should avoid the company of non-devotees. This program suggests, of course, that a devotee who is not in the neophyte stage can discriminate what is Krsna, what is devotee, what is neophyte and what is non-devotee. Unless one is able to discriminate, he has to be considered to be in the neophyte stage. In the neophyte stage the position is that the neophyte devotee worships the Deity in the temple with great awe and reverence, but he cannot discriminate who is devotee, who is non-devotee and who is neophyte. I think you must be in the second stage and should try to discriminate as above. Any devotee wanting to see you should be welcome, but your treatment should be according to his position.” ([[letters/1969/690928_brahmananda|Hamsaduta, 28 September, 1969]]) *** 69-10 ** ==“Relationship between Godbrothers must be very genuine and pleasing. Otherwise, the future of our institution will not be very hopeful. After all very soon you have to manage.”== (SPL to Tamala Krsna, October, 1969) *** 69-11 “It is very nice to learn that both you and Satsvarupa have highly praised Tamala Krsna. Similarly, Tamala Krsna has also highly praised you and Satsvarupa. This attitude should be maintained amongst your Godbrothers. That will elevate us more and more to the top of devotional service. This is called Vaikuntha attitude. In the Vaikuntha factually there is no fault in anyone, but there is another type of competition. ==The competition is that one devotee thinks of the other devotees and how nicely they are serving the Lord. In the material world the attitude is that everyone likes to think that I am doing better than others.== This is material conception. In the spiritual sky it is just the opposite; everyone thinks that my contemporary devotees are doing better than me. We are trained to address Godbrothers as *prabhu,* which means master. This means we shall try to find out always the serving side of our Godbrothers. Sometimes there are misgivings, but that we should try to overlook. One of my big Godbrothers ...... PAGE MISSING” ([[letters/1969/691115_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 15 November, 1969]]) *** 70-04 ==“So it is very good that now all the devotees can take prasadam together. All the devotees must keep together, that will be an extra strength.”== ([[letters/1970/700426_umapati|Umapati, 26 April, 1970]]) *** 70-04 ** ==“Regarding your questions how to offer respects to sannyasis, every sannyasi even if you see a Mayavadi sannyasi, offer him your respects—there will be no harm. As you have observed we shall follow Lord Caitanya's instruction that we give all due respects to others regarding their position, but there is no need of always associating with each of them. Even if one is Vaisnava, but not of good character, we can give him the Vaisnava respect, but we cannot associate with him.”== ([[letters/1970/700430_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 30 April, 1970]]) *** 70-05 “So it is very encouraging that people are coming to the extent of 40 heads, and they are trying to understand the importance of this great movement, and any sane man will be able to understand that. But ==I do not know why our students who are supposed to be the leaders of this movement will fight amongst themselves for supremacy. Our whole process is of surrendering. We are taught to address others as prabhu.== *Prabhu* means master and the leader of the masters is called Prabhupāda. So if the *prabhus* have surrendered to the Prabhupāda why shall there be such mentality of occupying the superior position? This is contradictory. Kindly stop this unnecessary misunderstanding. Both Upendra and yourself are competent and experienced, so please adjust your disagreement amongst yourselves. It is my request. As a matter of fact, as you are the pioneer in taking all risks to go to Australia, naturally you shall be considered as the leader, but a leader's position is also very grave and responsible. A leader has to lead others very tactfully and intelligently. Kindly therefore do not quarrel, but go on with your duties progressively. I can understand very well that Upendra is feeling very much disturbed on account of Citralekha's absence, it is quite natural, but what can I do? I have arranged for $500 also, but the Australian Immigration detained her for a technical reason. This is already informed in detail to Upendra by Madhudvisa as I understand. So this is the position. In the meantime things should run on as it is, and if there is any need of change, we shall consider about it when Citralekha goes there. Please try to organize the new center as nicely as possible even at personal inconvenience--that is real service. Krsna is sitting in everyone's heart; He knows everything what to do, so depend on Him and do your duties patiently. *Maya* is very strong and we are liable to fall down at any moment. We have to gather our strength by chanting the beads sixteen rounds regularly, and praying to the lotus feet of Krsna for guidance. I hope both of you will kindly follow my instruction and forget if there is any accidental disagreement.” ([[letters/1970/700510_bali-mardana_upendra|Bali Mardan and Upendra, 10 May, 1970]]) *** 70-06 “So after going there, ==work cooperatively with toleration and forbearance. Our philosophy is submissiveness,== so I hope in India both you and Acyutananda will work very diligently. There is very good chance for our success in India. We should follow the same principle as I have prescribed here: namely chanting on the beads regularly, following the regulative principles, leading the *sankirtana* party on the street, try to sell our literature and books, and work very seriously and sincerely. If you work on this principle the people of India will be charmed by your behavior and they will gratefully acknowledge your transcendental activities.” ([[letters/1970/700614_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 14 June, 1970]]) *** 70-07 ** ==“At the present moment in our ISKCON campus politics and diplomacy has entered. Some of my beloved students on whom I counted on very, very much have been involved in this matter, influenced by maya. As such there has been some activity which I consider as disrespectful. So I have decided to retire and divert attention to book writing and nothing more.”== ([[letters/1970/700727_satsvarupa_uddhava|Satsvarupa and Uddhava, 27 July, 1970]]) *** 70-08 ** ==“Now all my disciples must work combinedly and with cooperation to spread this sankirtana movement. If you cannot work together then my work is stopped up. Our Society is like one big family and our relationships should be based on love and trust. We must give up the fighting spirit and use our intelligence to push ahead. You should accept help from your Godbrothers.”== (SPL to Upendra, August 6th, 1970) 70-09 “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. It does not matter what one's engagement in Krsna's service may be; ==Krsna accepts equally the service given to Him by a little calf and that given by Srimati Radharani. So we should all be very much appreciative of our Godbrothers' and Godsisters' service.”== (SPL to Hari Vilasa, September 21st, 1970) ==71-01 “Please continue to work with determination and great faith in Krsna and Guru Maharaja and full cooperation of your Godbrothers and fellow members of the Governing Body. If you all keep to the standard practices of pure spiritual life as I have humbly instructed you, there is no doubt that this sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya will overtake all the earth and all opposing parties will be cracked down to nothing.”== (SPL to Karandhara, January 1st, 1971) 71-08 ==“So far your service is concerned, you should understand that Krsna’s service is absolute. Anything you do for Krsna in the standard of Krsna's service is Krsna also. So cleansing Krsna's temple and working on the altar of Krsna, etc. there is no difference. So don't consider in Krsna’s service that something is higher and something is lower. Neither Krsna's servants are materially superior or inferior. So you should stick to your present service. That will be very nice.”== ([[letters/1971/710813_suresh_candra|Atreya Rsi, 13 August, 1971]]) ==71-08 “Vallabacarya's teachings are bona fide. This difference of opinion is there always. Just like you differ with your husband, but that doesn't mean that you and your husband are not devotees.”== (SPL to Ekayani, August 31st, 1971) 71-12 “I understand from Karandhara that you will be setting up another ISKCON Press in Los Angeles to engage our New York Press in transcendental competition for printing my books. ==Competition and profiteering spirit are always there in the living entity. It is not that they can be artificially removed in some manner.== Factually we saw in Russia that by removing competition and profit calculation from society the people were not at all happy, and still these things are going on. So we shall not expect that we are any different. Only difference is, that our profit is for Krsna's pleasure, and our competition is how to please Krsna more than someone else. Even amongst the *gopis* there is competition to please Krsna, and there is envy also. But this envy is not material, it is transcendental. They are thinking, 'Oh! She has done something more wonderful than me, that is very nice, but now let me do something even more wonderful: like that.” (SPL to Jayatirtha, December 9th, 1971) 71-12 “I am encouraged to hear from you that Melbourne temple is even better than Sydney temple, so I must surely come there to see it. Go on like this, transcendental rivalry, just like San Francisco and Los Angeles, this pleases me very much. But it is not that we are envious! No, material envy is not like that. ==Even the gopis, they were envious of one another, in a transcendental sense. They were thinking, 'Oh! She has attracted Krsna more than me, that is very nice, she has given Him more pleasure than me, now let me try more to please Him.'== **That is the process, how to improve in Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Upendra, December 22nd, 1971) 72-01 “The difference between competition and *maya.* Here, competition is for sense gratification. How much I can enjoy my senses, and the other person sees how much he can enjoy his senses. In the spiritual world the competition is how to satisfy Krsna. There the center is one. If you draw innumerable circles they will not overlap. But here the circles will overlap. Even a small circle can overlap a large circle. This is because in the material world there are many centers, whereas in the spiritual world there is only one center. ==In the spiritual world whether the circles are big or small they will== never overlap. In the spiritual world similarly, whatever or whoever is rendering the service, there is never competition of maliciousness.”== (SPL to Kirtiraja dasa, January 2nd, 1972) ==72-01 “So far making tapes of Ajamila series, I have told Los Angeles tape-making operation that they should distribute to our devotees at cost price--to non-devotees that is another thing. We should not make exorbitant profit by exploiting each other in the matter of vital Krsna consciousness paraphernalia such as books, tapes, etc. which are vital for our preaching work and for the devotees personal advancement in Krsna consciousness.”== (SPL to Hamsaduta, January 20th, 1972) 72-02 *“* It is not so much that because there may be some faults in our Godbrothers and Godsisters, or because there may be some mismanagement or lack of cooperation, that this is due to being impersonalists, no. It is the nature of the living condition to always have some fault. Even in the Spiritual World there is some fault and envy--sometimes the *gopis* will quarrel over Krsna's favor, and once Krsna was so much attracted to Radharani that by mistake He tried to milk the bull instead of the cow, and sometimes when the *gopis* used to put on their dress and make-up for seeing Krsna, they would be too much hasty and smear *kum kum* and *mascara* in the wrong places and their ornaments and dresses would appear as if small children had been trying to dress themselves and they were not very expert, like that. There are so many examples. But it is not the same as material fault or material envy; it is transcendental because it is all based on Krsna. Sometimes when one *gopi* would serve Krsna very nicely, the others would say, “Oh! She has done so nicely, now let me do better for pleasing Krsna.” That is envy, but it is transcendental, without malice. So we shall not expect that anywhere there is any utopia. Rather, that is impersonalism. ==People should not expect that even in the== Krsna consciousness Society there == will be utopia. Because devotees are persons, therefore there will always be some lacking== —but **the difference is that their lacking, because they have given up everything to serve Krsna—money, jobs, reputation, wealth, big educations, everything—their lackings have become transcendental because, despite everything they may do, their topmost intention is to serve Krsna. 'One who is engaged in devotional service, despite the most abominable action, is to be considered saintly because he is rightly situated.' The devotees of Krsna are the most exalted persons on this planet, better than kings, all of them, so we should always remember that and, like the bumble-bee, always look for the nectar or the best qualities of a person. Not like the utopians, who are like the flies who always go to the open sores or find the faults in a person, and because they cannot find any utopia, or because they cannot find anyone without faults, they want to become void, merge, nothing—they think that is utopia, to become void of personality. So if there is sometimes slight disagreements between devotees, it is not due to impersonalism, but it is because they are persons, and such disagreements should not be taken very seriously. The devotee is always pessimistic about the material world, but he is very optimistic about the spiritual life; so in this way, you should consider that anyone engaged in Krsna's service is always the best person. I am very pleased that you are assisting your Godbrothers so nicely. Yes, this is our real position, to be servants of the servants of the servants. And by your quiet and humble attitude, you shall set the example of Vaisnava so that all may learn from you, and very soon their puffed-up attitude will disappear and they will come to you and seek your advice in matters.” (SPL to Atreya Rsi,* February 4th, 1972) 72-02 ** ==“As for your question about santa-rasa and the opinions of Rupa Goswami and Sridhara Swami, I don't remember. You can send me the appropriate passages. There is no reason why acaryas cannot differ on certain points.”== (SPL to Upendra, February 19th, 1972) 72-03 “We had got some indication from Karandhara Prabhu that there was some misunderstanding and things were not going too well between you both big leaders, that is why I was little concerned because such things should never be allowed to fructify within our Society, that will spoil everything. But I am glad to hear from you because there was some misinformation that we have got the wrong impression, and actually that ==everything is progressing in a spirit of mutual co-operation in all respects. This is Krsna consciousness. Working together to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.== Practically now it is in the hands of you big guns to manage everything so that there may never be internal difficulties amongst us, and so that we may always go on increasing more and more the influence of Lord Caitanya's philosophy of *sankirtana* process upon all the world. That will be your great achievement, and if you go on helping me in this way, you may know it for certain that very soon you will see Krsna face-to-face. In short words, I am very much fond of these booklets, now go on increasing.” (SPL to Bali Mardan, March 5th, 1972) 72-04 ==“I am very pleased to know that you are feeling happy in your execution of devotional service. Service of Krsna's devotees is the highest stage of spiritual perfection, so your desire to render service to the other devotees is very nice. You keep this humble attitude always, and your example will be a source of spiritual inspiration for everyone.”== (SPL to Anutama, April 12th, 1972) 72-04 “It is not so much important the quantity of books that we distribute, but that we serve Krsna as best we can, and depend on Him for the results. ==Transcendental competition is nice, but it should not come to the point of making us lose our Krsna consciousness.== When you have these feelings, do not mistake it for enviousness, but take it to be an indirect appreciation of the service done by your other Godbrothers. This is spiritual. In the material world, when someone surpasses us in some way we become angry and plan how to stop him, but in the spiritual world when someone does some better service we think 'Oh!, he has done so nicely. Let me help him to execute his service: So we should always endeavor to keep this attitude, and serve Lord Krsna to the best of our ability. That will make one advance in spiritual life.” (SPL to Dharma, April 22nd, 1972) 72-05 “I am very much pleased to hear from you that all the programs in Melbourne are increasing enthusiastically under your supervision. I like Melbourne very much. One thing is, ==too much competition between centers is not good, the emphasis should be on co-operation, not competition.== I do not think it is necessary to have two presses. We should not misuse time and money, better to convince Mohanananda to increase his press work and supply you with all materials, and in return you supply him with something, that is mutual co-operation. And if you divert your attention to a lot of business, then spiritual advancement will be hampered. So I do not think it is wise to get that big store and start a big business with many departments. That will distract. Our main business is to become Krsna conscious and to convince others through preaching work. Therefore we do not want to strive for making big business and lots of money. Of course, money is required, but better to sell many, many books and collect in that way.” (SPL to Amogha, May 9th, 1972) 72-05 “Actually outside of our bona fide Krsna consciousness centers, there is no possibility of finding out what Krsna does or does not want. We say 'We feel that Krsna wills this for us. But I feel Krsna does not.’ So whose feeling will be right? You say that you are following the regulative principles, so ==if you are following the regulative principles, why you== will not co-operate?== If by following the regulative principles you do not become devotees, and you can not appreciate other devotees, then what is the use of these regulative principles? If you are actually chanting regularly sixteen rounds, holding *sankirtana* daily, reading our books as much as possible, like that, then I think you will feel that such program of living separately, away from our Krsna consciousness program is a great mistake. So my only request is that you immediately return either to the Cleveland temple or to some other temple. You may correspond with Bhagavan dasa at the Detroit center, 8311 E. Jefferson St. Detroit 48214, in this connection. He is the GBC zonal secretary for that zone of the mid-west, so you may address your questions and inquires to him. I am very much encouraged that you are all chanting Hare Krsna and trying to become Krsna conscious. But I do not advise that you approach the matter of perfecting your life in this independent way. Unless there is connection with a bona fide spiritual master, coming in the line of disciplic succession, there is no possibility of making progress in spiritual life. So I have established ISKCON centers for purpose of catching up the lotus feet of Krsna **by intimate connection with the spiritual master. These are my authorized centers for that purpose. You say that whatever I instruct you, you will carry out, so again my instruction is that you abandon this independent scheme and join your good Godbrothers and sisters at one of our ISKCON centers.” (SPL to Friends, May 23rd, 1972) 72-05 “One thing, we can never expect to find any kind of utopia, even in the spiritual world. Wherever there are persons there are bound to be differences, so we should not expect any kind of perfect arrangement, especially here in the material world. Even sometimes amongst the *gopis* there is envy, but that enviousness is transcendental and should not be accepted in the mundane sense. Anyway one quality of a devotee is that he is always very much tolerant of other people, so I request you simply to ==tolerate the faults of others and always think that== I am myself the most faulty.== **In this way your humble attitude will qualify you to advance very quickly in Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Jairge and Lindon Lomese, May 25th, 1972) 72-06 ** ==“So far your question about jealousy, spiritual jealousy means to think always that the service rendered by such and such devotee is so nice and pleasing to== Krsna, so let me try harder to please == Krsna will notice me also.”== (SPL to Sankarsana, June 13th, 1972) 72-06 “My dear boys, kindly accept my blessings, and I hope by Krsna's grace you are doing all well. This morning I received one telephone message that there is some misunderstanding between yourselves, and Giriraja, who is in charge of Bombay center. I may inform you in this connection that what I am doing to push on this great movement in the world is all with your cooperation. It is not possible for me alone to execute this great responsibility. ==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.== I shall be returning by September next. Kindly therefore do not make any fracture during this period at least, and when I return if you all don't like the man in charge surely I shall replace him out of you. But for the time being, please do not make any rupture, and please obey by the direction of Giriraja Brahmacari .... So in conclusion, it is my request even you do not agree on some points, Giriraja is in charge so please follow his direction and that will please me. I am very much anxious to see the progress at Bombay center, and I want it shall become the first-class preaching center in the world. Please help me in this ambition. If we can manage successfully, we will be attractive for the whole of India. Our task is very heavy, do not neglect by paltry disagreement. I hope Krsna will bless you to understand my heart and oblige.” (SPL to Gargamuni, Mahamsa, Naranarayana, and Giriraja, 19th June, 1972) 72-07 “If you make it a first-class temple, there will be no lack of visitors for preaching, you will never even have to leave that place for preaching. And if you serve nice *prasadam,* the whole of India will come. So stick to our principles very rigidly, and everyone will come to see these American Vaisnavas. I want that we shall excell the Caitanya Matha. They have been struggling for the last 50 years, and we shall surpass them in two years. We are working two shifts of labor: that is American style of doing things. I am very pleased if you can continue in this manner of American style. But if you do not, then I shall remain on the same level, then it is a great discredit to the Americans. But ==if== I defeat my godbrothers, then == I am worthy to be called the guru of the Americans. Even there is competition in spiritual life.”== ([[letters/1972/720730_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 30 July, 1972]]) *** 72-08 ==“Do not be depressed. All along my godbrothers gave me only depression, repression, compression—but== I == continued strong in my duty. So never mind there is some discouragement, continue with your work in== full enthusiastic Krsna consciousness attitude of service.”== ([[letters/1972/720829_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 29 August, 1972]]) *** 72-08 ** ==“Now== I want all of you to work cooperatively and very frankly, that is our process, not that we shall always plot and scheme and write letters. == Madhudvisa is GBC man for South Pacific zone, so his direction must be followed by everyone and all of the devotees there should address their problems to him for his consideration.”== ([[letters/1972/720824_giriraja|Madhudvisa and Amogha, 24 August, 1972]]) *** 72-09 “Regarding your questions you say that amongst the elder disciples there are still symptoms of greed, anger, strife, bickering, etc., but you are one of them. You are one of the old students, so you fall in that group. So the fighting is among that group, but not amongst the real workers. ==There was fighting amongst the gopis also== , ==so we cannot expect there will be some utopia without fighting, there is even in the spiritual sky transcendental greed, lust, envy, like that. But that is transcendental.== Hamsaduta is maintaining his position of service, so why, even if a little fighting, you should go away? We should never give up our duty. My Godbrothers always discouraged me but I did not give up, I am doing my duty and always keeping my spiritual master in front. Even there is some difficulty or hardship or even my Godbrothers may not cooperate or there may be fighting, still, I must perform my duty to my spiritual master and not become discouraged and go away, that is weakness.” ([[letters/1972/720909_bhakta_dasa|Krsna dasa, 9 September, 1972]]) *** 72-09 “Now you are my elder disciples and both of you are *sannyasi* and also advanced in Krsna consciousness, so these questions should not arise amongst you again and again. That means everyone is not conscientious. These things are not new to you, why do you continually ask these questions? The GBC * * authority must be accepted under all circumstances, not that there will be fighting amongst you. This fighting spirit will destroy everything, but what can I do, you American and European boys are trained up in this fighting attitude. Now put it aside and ==simply work cooperatively for spreading this movement all over the world.== * * The standards I have already given you, now try to maintain them at all times under standard procedure. Do not try to innovate or create anything or manufacture anything, that will ruin everything. Simply do as I am doing and be always serious and sincere to serve Krsna, and He will give you intelligence how to do everything.” ([[letters/1972/720918_govinda|Bali Mardan and Pusta Krsna, 18 September, 1972]]) *** 72-11 “Regarding general state of affairs at Amsterdam temple, I can understand there is some disturbance among you, but that is not to be taken very seriously. Real business is preaching work, and if there is full attention on this matter only, all other businesses will be automatically successful. Fighting amongst ourselves is not at all good, but if our preaching work is neglected, or if we fall down in following the regulative principles such as rising before four, chanting sixteen rounds, like that, if these things are not strictly observed then *maya* will enter and spoil everything. So my best advice to you is to strictly observe these things yourself and be the example so that all others may follow. We should not criticize each other, as Vaisnavas, because there is fault in everyone and we may be ourselves subject to criticism. Best thing is to be above suspicion ourselves, then if we see discrepancies and make suggestion the others will automatically respect and take action to rectify the matters. That is cooperation. And ==we must exist on such cooperation, otherwise the whole thing is doomed== if we simply go on fighting over some small thing. So try to organize things and preach together in this spirit, and that will please me very, very much.” ([[letters/1972/721118_madhumangala|Madhumangala, 18 November, 1972]]) *** 72-12 “I am greatly pleased to hear from you that you have increased the selling of books by five times more in Chicago center. That is very good news to me. Yes, there must always be competition, that gives life, that cannot be separated from life. *Sanatana-dharma* means the strong will utilize the energy of the weak, the weak must serve the strong, that we see everywhere, is it not? Who can deny? So that competitive spirit makes us strong, otherwise it is a society of weak men only, and what is the good of such society? But if you ask anyone are you weak or strong, he must answer that he is weak--he cannot control even his toothache, what to speak of his death. Therefore, in fact, it is a society of weak men—everyone is weak before Durga devi or the material energy. If you see sometimes her picture, the foolish materialist is being held by the claws of her tiger-carrier, while she pierces him to death with her trident weapon. She has got ten arms, each with weapon, she is so strong, but we are so weak that simply by piercing with her trident, the three-fold miseries: *ādhibhautika, ādhidaivika,* and *adhyatmika,* the foolish materialists are all defeated! And before Krsna, Durga devi is very weak--Krsna is the controller of Durga. So Krsna is the strongest: *sattvam sattvavatam aham;* 'I am the strength of the strong.' Therefore, being weak, it is the eternal occupational duty of the living entity to surrender to Krsna, that's all. In the surrendering to Krsna, if everyone does it, still, the *brahmanas* will be served by the lower castes, the kings will be served by *vaisyas* and *sudras,* the *vaisyas* will be served by the *sudras,* and the *sudras* will serve all higher castes-there is still utilizing the weak by the strong-but feeling themselves always very much weak in comparison to Krsna. ==The whole society services the strongest,== therefore there will be no envy of the stronger by the weaker class of men. So perfect society, or ==Vedic society does not eliminate competition—competition of stronger and weaker must be there—but it eliminates envy, because everyone is weak before Krsna. Is that clear?”== ([[letters/1972/721225_sri_govinda|Sri Govinda, 25 December, 1972]]) *** 73-03 “Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 20th February and have examined the contents with care. I am glad to hear of your successful engagements and the photographs are very nice. It is good that you have invited the other devotees for such a program. Let them come, and combine together in cooperation, not to be aloof. ==There are always some factions, everywhere in this world we find so many factions.== But we must, == in Krsna consciousness, do the needful and cooperate.== So, I am very glad to see your activities and you please continue to keep up the good work.” (SPL to Ksirodakasayi, March 4th, 1973) 73-03 ** ==“Because we are all individuals sometimes there is disagreement between devotees. The non-devotees quarrel and they cannot stop and end up killing each other. But the devotees' disagreement does not last long because they patch it up for Krsna’s== sake, because they are all working for the same end—Krsna's service.”== ([[letters/1973/730310_bhumata|Bhumata dasi, 10 March, 1973]]) *** 73-10 ** ==“Now this displeasing of Godbrothers has already begun and gives me too much agitation in my mind. Our Gaudiya Matha people fought with one another after the demise of Guru Maharaja but my disciples have already begun fighting even in my presence. So I am greatly concerned about it.== Following in the footprints of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu: trnad api sunicena, taror api sahisnuna,amanina manadena, kirtaniyah sada harih 'One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.' We must always remember this verse and be as tolerant as the tree, as we execute the Krsna consciousness movement. Without this mentality we cannot be successful.” ([[letters/1973/731018_jagadisa|Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, 18 October, 1973]]) *** 73-12 “That Gaurasundara and Siddhasvarupa have sold the temple in Hawaii and abandoned the beautiful Tulasi plants there is a great fall down on their parts. They did not ask my permission. If they wanted to go away they could have, but they had no right to sell the temple. It is actually a criminal act on their part. Anyone who follows them will also fall down without a doubt. Now, we have by Krsna’s grace built up something significant in the shape of this ISKCON and we are all one family. Sometimes there may be disagreement and quarrel but we should not go away. These inebrieties can be adjusted by the cooperative spirit, tolerance and maturity so I request you to kindly remain in the association of our devotees and work together. ==The test of our actual dedication and sincerity to serve the spiritual master== will be in this mutual cooperative spirit to push on this movement and not to make factions and deviate.== **Try to convince Gaurasundara and Siddhasvarupa to return to ISKCON and let us forget whatever has happened in the past.” (SPL to Babru, December 9th, 1973) 73-12 “Karandhara has received a letter from Tamala Krsna Goswami and he is expressing some hesitation about your returning to India. I can understand that previously there must have been some quarrel amongst you and that sometimes happens amongst Godbrothers. Whatever is done is done; the main thing is we must not carry grudges or continue to quarrel amongst one another. So I am asking you personally, along with Tamala Krsna Goswami to whom I am sending a copy of this letter, ==to bury the hatchet and join together to push on this movement cooperatively.== Tamala Krsna Goswami has been appointed by me to manage and direct our Indian projects and actually he is the most expert and qualified in this connection. You both are also *sannyasis* and I know that the service which you do the best is Hare Krsna *kirtana* and *Bhagavata-dharma* preaching. So I have no objection if you return to India. Rather, I know you both can be a great asset for our programs there. I am requesting you, therefore, to concentrate on preaching and *kirtana* and work cooperatively with Tamala Krsna Goswami who is in charge there. ==Whatever imperfections and discrepancies may exist, if you all agree to my directions and cooperate in the right spirit then everything will turn out,== but it will require everyone involved to be responsible and cooperate in executing and following the instructions of the spiritual master.” ([[letters/1973/731225_gurukrpa_yasodanandana|Gurukrpa Maharaja and Yasodanandana Maharaja, 25 December, 1973]]) *** 74-01 “In regard to security, yes there should be security. There should be 1 or 2 men who are in charge of the Deity room. I have written a letter to Mukunda in this connection and I hope you will together see that this is done. I am asking you to take a new heart and try to cooperate with each other there. ==There is always some difference because we are== not impersonalists, we are personalists and everyone is different.== However, we have our standard, so everything must be conducted on the basis of Krsna consciousness as I have taught it. You and your wife are there and you are both experienced members so why not take advantage and try to improve the situation there rather than think of moving? If we have to constantly move until we find the situation where there is no personal difficulty in relationships then we may never get down to our real work. Just put our differences aside and work for the greater cause to organize a nice temple there. I will be glad to hear from you on these points.” ([[letters/1974/740101_madhavananda|Madhavananda, 1 January, 1974]]) *** 74-01 “Madhavananda and Kausalya are an able couple. I have already written to Madhavananda and Mukunda about their difference of opinion. We have so much work to do, we cannot lose our solidarity. ==Do not cause a crack there with any fighting spirit or competition.== Whenever I hear complaints or disturbances in our centers my mind becomes too much disturbed and I cannot properly translate my books. So please spare me from such disturbance by cooperating all together Godbrothers and Godsisters.” ([[letters/1974/740107_malati|Malati, 7 January, 1974]]) *** 74-01 “Yes, Mohanananda is a very intelligent worker, now work cooperatively with him. The only fear I have is that you may fight. Please do not. That will ruin everything we have done. ==If there are any misunderstandings which arise, as they will, settle them up. You are all qualified American boys, now push on this glorious mission without letting it be hampered by personal difference”== ([[letters/1974/740111_nadia|Tamala Krsna Maharaja, 11 January, 1974]]) ==74-04 “So please go on, all working together in a cooperative spirit and do the needful; then I may be spared taxing my brain over so many matters and I can go on with my real work of translating. I will be glad to hear your further progressive reports.”== (SPL to Jayapataka and Bhavananda, 3rd April,* 1974) ==74-05 “You have dedicated your life for Krsna and therefore you should be ideal. We are introducing Krsna== consciousness movement for the harmony and good will of humanity. But if you yourselves are suffering from the very ills we are trying to remove, how can the people be influenced favorably? Stop this fighting, tolerate, chant and read our books. Use the intelligence and do some service for Krsna. My request to you is to not fight anymore.”== ([[letters/1974/740501_jayatirtha|Trivikrama Maharaja, 1 May, 1974]]) *** 74-05 “I have received a letter from Yasodanandana Maharaja in Japan dated March 31, in which he writes that he has become very disturbed by reports he says you are making, that he and Gurukrpa Maharaja are not authorized by me, and so many criticisms he alleges you are making against them. This kind of criticism and counter-criticism is not good. ==Those who are advanced devotees try to see only the good that other devotees are doing, just as bees are attracted to honey, while flies are attracted to sores== . * * Gurukrpa Maharaja and Yasodanandana Maharaja have gone to Tokyo with my full knowledge for * sankirtana* and collecting funds for our projects in India. In the past they have collected very nicely and sent $40,000 to India. So let them work peacefully, and you engage yourself fully in Los Angeles and BBT matters. You have great responsibilities in that connection. Let us try to work cooperatively; otherwise the fighting spirit will ruin our great movement. ==”== (SPL to Ramesvara, May 5th, 1974) ==74-06 “We have to keep Krsna always in the center, and then although there are disturbances and sometimes fall downs we will be able to work together and keep our Society intact== . **Some people recommend that in the face of so many nasty thoughts which occur in material thinking, we should try to become 'thoughtless,' but this is never possible. Our Krsna consciousness principle is not to become thoughtless but to purify the thinking to always thinking of Krsna. So try to spread and encourage this philosophy of thinking of Krsna, after thoroughly assimilating it yourself. ==”== ([[letters/1974/740608_syamasundara|Hamsaduta, 8 June, 1974]]) ==74-06 “== Yes there are examples of Krsna conscious persons whose worship was solitary life, and the greatest example is Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura used to live only in a cave sometimes and would spend his whole time chanting the Hare Krsna *mantra.* Similarly, Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, the spiritual master of my Guru Maharaja, would chant alone in a solitary place so as not to be bothered by anyone in his meditation on Krsna. But these great personalities are not to be imitated. If we artificially imitate, out of some negative feeling or out of desire for adoration as a saintly person, it will not be very beneficial. On the authority of Lord Caitanya and my spiritual master, ==I am requesting my disciples to always stay in the association of devotees and to propagate the sankirtana movement all over the world== , * * so that others may get a chance also to become liberated from the material condition. Prahlada Maharaja prayed, “I am not satisfied to go back to the kingdom of God alone, but I must bring back with me all these poor fools who have no alternative ultimately than to surrender to You.” This form of worship called * gosthyanandi * is more superior than the * bhajananandi* or the holy man who lives alone in mediation of the Lord within the heart. This is the estimation of the scripture. ==”== ([[letters/1974/740625_yadunandana|Yadunandana, 25 June, 1974]]) ==74-09 “In Bengal there is a proverb that even if there are some dead metal utensils but when they are together they make so much noise, so what to speak of living utensils. So this is natural, but since we are all pledged to work for Krsna we should follow the principle of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu: trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. This is Vaisnavism. So my request is do not be agitated. Let us do our duty honestly. Krsna will give us the intelligence to do everything nicely.” ([[letters/1974/740915_resolution|*SPL to Ramesvara dasa, 15 September, 1974]]) ==74-09 “Europeans== and Americans are very agitative, but since we have all taken a pledge to the service of Krsna, we have to change this habit for the peaceful service of Krsna. Everything will be all right by the grace of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In the meantime do not be agitated and remain Krsna conscious.”== ([[letters/1974/740915_resolution|Ramesvara dasa, 15 September, 1974]]) ==74-10 “== I am prepared to give you a fair chance, but you cannot criticize Hamsaduta. Let there be re-election in the presence of two GBC men. ==We== should utilize our talents without being envious of others. == You should do your best, but you should not be envious of others. == In material life there is simply envy of other's progress, but in spiritual life == one encourages another.== 'Oh! You are doing very nice: That is Radharani. She says, 'Oh! Here is a very nice devotee. Please Krsna, you accept him.'“ ([[letters/1974/741006_madhavananda|Madhavananda dasa, 6 October, 1974]]) ==74-12 “I am glad to understand that you are living and working peacefully with the others there. This is required.== If we also fight and preach Krsna consciousness, what will people say? Therefore Lord Caitanya has stated: *Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna.* Another symptom of a *sadhu* or spiritually advanced man is described in *Srimad-Bhagavatam* by Lord Kapila: *titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva dehinam (3.25.21). The symptom of a * sadhu* is that he is tolerant, merciful, and friendly to all living entities.” ([[letters/1974/741203_agent_central_bank_of_india|Madhavananda dasa, 3 December, 1974]]) ==74-12 “I am very glad to learn that you are all working peacefully together. This is the most favorable atmosphere for cultivating our Krsna consciousness. And if people see us working together nicely, they cannot criticize anything against our Krsna consciousness movement.”== ([[letters/1974/741203_agent_central_bank_of_india|Prabhavisnu dasa, 3 December, 1974]]) ==74-12 “So on the above statements you must make some compromise. Both Tripurari and yourself are intelligent. Sometimes we may differ, but Krsna is the center. Just like in Vrndavana there is Radharani's party and there is Candravali's party. So Krsna is the center of both parties. So even there is competition between the parties, but they coincide in Krsna.”== ([[letters/1974/741206_sri_govinda|Sri Govinda dasa, 6 December, 1974]]) ==74-12 “== In regards to your question about how the relationship between a *sannyasi* and the temple president should be, my hope is that you will all be able to cooperate together. ==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 Krsna conscious way. Not that he will try to over-ride the temple president's authority. I want that you all work together cooperatively. Please continue your programs there with great enthusiasm and try to strictly follow all of my regulations without any deviation. Keep yourself always fixed in Krsna's service. Don't let even a split moment go by being engaged in the service of * maya.” ([[letters/1974/741228_sukadeva|Sukadeva, 28 December, 1974]]) *** 75-01 “Now I do not know the situation in your particular case, I am simply giving you the general policy or background understanding. We should never think of our so-called advancement as being conditioned by or dependent upon some set of material circumstances such as marriage, *vanaprastha,* or this or that. Mature understanding of Krsna consciousness means that whatever condition of life I am in at present, that is Krsna's special mercy upon me, therefore let me take advantage in the best way possible to spread this Krsna consciousness movement and conduct my spiritual master's mission. If I consider my own personal progress or happiness or any other thing personal, that is material consideration. If there was unhappy adjustment for becoming married, why you get married at all? Whatever is done, is done, that is a fact, but I am only pointing out that once before you did something without proper study of your real responsibility, now you are contemplating again some drastic action in a similar manner. Therefore consider it carefully in this light. There is one verse from *Bhagavad-Gita:* yasman nodvijate loko, lokan nodvijate ca yahharsamara-bhayodvegair, mukto yah ca me priyah ’He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anxiety, who is steady in happiness and distress, is very dear to Me.' (12.15) One mistake of judgment often made by the neophyte devotees is that any time there is some disturbance or some difficulty they are considering that the conditions or the external circumstances under which the difficulty took place are the cause of the difficulty itself. That is not the fact. In this material world there is always some difficulty, no matter in this situation or that situation. Therefore simply by changing my status of occupation or my status of life, that will not help anything. ==Because the real fact is that if there is any difficulty with others that is my lack of Krsna consciousness, not theirs. Is this clear? Krsna says that His dearest devotee is one who does not put others into difficulty, in fact, who puts no one other into difficulty== . So try to judge the matter on these points, whether or not you are putting either your wife or yourself into some difficulty. Of course, our occupational duty is as preachers of Krsna consciousness. So we must stick to that business under all circumstances that is the main thing. Therefore married, unmarried, divorced, whatever condition of like, my preaching mission does not depend on these things. The *Varnasrama dharma* system is scientifically arranged by Krsna to provide facility for delivering the fallen souls back to home, back to Godhead. And if we make a mockery of this system by whimsically disrupting the order, that we must consider. That will not be a very good example if so many young boys and girls so casually become married and then go away from each other, and the wife is little unhappy, the husband is neglecting her in so many ways, like that. If we set this example, then how the thing will go on properly? Householder life means wife, children, home, these things are understood by everyone, why our devotees have taken it as something different? They simply have some sex-desire, get themselves married, and when the matter does not fulfill their expectations, immediately there is separation--these things are just like material activities, prostitution. The wife is left without husband, and sometimes there is child to be raised, in so many ways the proposition that you, and some others also, are making becomes distasteful. We cannot expect that our temples will become places of shelter for so many widows and rejected wives, that will be a great burden and we shall become the laughing stock in the society. There will be unwanted progeny also. And there will be illicit sex-life that we are seeing already. And being the weaker sex, women require to have a husband who is strong in Krsna consciousness, so that they may take advantage and make progress by sticking tightly to his feet. If their husband goes away from them, what will they do? So many instances are already there in our Society, so many frustrated girls and boys. So I have introduced this marriage system in your Western countries because there is custom of freely intermingling male and female. Therefore marriage is required just to engage the boys and girls in devotional service, never mind distinction of living status. But our marriage system is little different than in your country, we do not sanction the policy of divorce. We are supposed to take husband or wife as eternal companion or assistant in Krsna consciousness service, and there is promise never to separate. Of course if there is any instance of very advanced disciples, married couple, and they have agreed that the husband shall now take *sannyasa* or renounced order of life, being mutually very happy by that arrangement, then there is ground for such separation. But even in those cases there is no question of separation, the husband, even he is *sannyasa,* he must be certain his wife will be taken care of nicely and protected in his absence. Now so many cases are there of unhappiness by the wife **who has been abandoned by her husband against her wishes. So how can I sanction such thing? I want to avoid setting any bad example for future generations, therefore I am so much cautiously considering your request. But if it becomes so easy for me to get married and then leave my wife under excuse of married life being an impediment to my own spiritual progress, that will not be very good at all. That is misunderstanding of what is advancement in spiritual life. Occupational duty must be there, either this one or that one, but once I am engaged in something occupational duty, then I should not change that or give it up, that is the worst mistake. Devotional service is not bound up by such designations. Therefore once I have chosen, it is better to stick in that way and develop my devotional attitude into full-blown love of Godhead. That is Arjuna's understanding. ==”== (SPL to Madhukara, January 4th, 1975) ==75-01 “My request to you is that you try to follow the authorities there, the temple president, the GBC, etc.—cooperate nicely with them. Our movement is based on love and trust, so if we do not cooperate, then how is that love and trust? Follow all of the rules and regulations very strictly without deviation, chant sixteen rounds, attend class and mangala-arati and then everything will be all right.”== (SPL to Krsnavesa dasi, 16th* January 1975) ==75-01 “== So, you are all advanced students. You should understand the importance of each and every item of devotional service. Do not make any misunderstanding by de-valuating any of the spiritual activities. You are one of the advanced students. One who distinguishes a particular type of service as inferior or superior, he does not know the value of devotional service. It is all transcendental. Whatever item is suitable, that is accepted as very elevated. Just like Maharaja Pariksit. He simply listened to Sukadeva Goswami. That is *sravanam.* And Sukadeva Goswami simply narrated *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* This is *kirtanam,* Prahlada Maharaja simply contemplated— *smaranam.* Prthu Maharaja simply did Deity worship— *arcanam.* Arjuna only remained as friend of Krsna— *sakhyam.* Hanuman remained only engaged in carrying out the order of Lord Ramacandra— *dasyam.* And Bali Maharaja surrendered everything to Krsna *--atma-nivedanam.* So, any devotee executing anyone of the nine is transcendentally glorious. One devotee may be proud that his process of service is the best. That is not inglorious. ==This is called transcendental competition. Everyone should feel proud of his particular type of devotional service, but that does not mean that other types of service are inferior.== **Everyone should feel proud of becoming sincere servant of Krsna, but the pure devotee never minimizes the importance of other devotees. Krsna is the enjoyer of varieties of service. He is not stuck up with any particular type of service. Krsna takes pleasure with devotees even by fighting service. When Grandfather Bhisma was trying to injure the body of Krsna by sharpened arrows, in full devotion in the mellow of chivalry, Krsna was feeling the piercing of the arrows as good as worshiping him with soft rose flowers. The conclusion is that everyone should be very, very sincere. There is no more the question of inferior or superior.” ([[letters/1975/750119_radhavallabha|Satsvarupa Maharaja, 19 January, 1975]]) *** 75-03 “I have received one letter from Narayana dasa, saying that he has been informed by some of your men that you are GBC there and that he must subjugate to your authority. I never said that you were the GBC there. You cannot say that. If you are unable to work under the direction of Hrdayananda Goswami, then you must work under my direction, but you are not independent. You cannot interfere with the programs that are now going on there. ==If you can work co-operatively, that is wanted, but if you cannot work with Narayana, that doesn't mean that you can disturb his program== . **He is working hard under the direction of Hrdayananda Goswami. He is not under your authority. If you want to preach there, that is all right, but you cannot interfere with the work that Narayana is doing. If there is any difficulty, we can discuss it in India.” ([[letters/1975/750318_hanuman|Hanuman, 18 March, 1975]]) ==75-09 “== I have appointed Rupanuga dasa as my GBC to take care of these matters. Do not bother my brain. I cannot understand what has gone on, but I simply * * request you to return to the temple and take part in the activities. In addition, ==you should chant Hare Krsna and read my books and cooperate with the authorities== . If you engage yourself full time in preaching then there won't be any other time for these other activities. You should approach the other Vaisnavas in a very humble state of mind; * vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca, patitanam pavenebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah.* Do not be puffed up but always be more tolerant than the tree. This is the prescription given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. ==”== ([[letters/1975/750904_gatravan|Gatravana dasa, 4 September, 1975]]) *** 75-09 ==“Regarding the other matters, a difference between Godbrothers is natural. That difference of opinion will continue, what can be done? Siddha Svarupananda Maharaja and his group, whenever they see me, they give me money. So they are not against me. So it is a natural thing for the brothers to fight, as long as they all stay obedient to the father.”== ([[letters/1975/750911_giriraja|Bhurijana dasa, 11 September, 1975]]) *** 75-11 ** ==“My point is that even if somebody does not go in one line with the rest of the Godbrothers, he can remain separately, but it does not mean that he may disobey the principles that I have laid down. So long as one follows the principles, he continues to be my disciple.”== ([[letters/1975/751107_madhudvisa|Madhudvisa Swami, 7 November, 1975]]) *** 75-11 “The *varnasrama* college means to train people in *varnasrama* life. In human society a section of people must act as strict *brahmanas.* Similarly, another section must act as strict *ksatriyas,* still another as strict *vaisyas,* and the rest will be considered as *sudras* and less * * than * sudras * or the * candalas.* This is a materialistic division, but spiritually anyone can be elevated to the transcendental position simply by devotional service. This is the sum and substance of the Vedic education. If you and Siddhasvarupa Maharaja can organize such an institution, following yourself the rules and regulations, then it will be very glorious thing and I shall be very happy. But in any case, both of you, do not forget to come to Mayapur during Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birth ceremony. ==Let us act cooperatively, maybe sometimes separately, but the central point and aim should be one—Krsna.”== ([[letters/1975/751109_jagadisa|Tusta Krsna Swami, 9 November, 1975]]) ==75-11 “== But one thing is disturbing me, are these reports coming from Sweden? These books are translated by Vegavan and Ajita, so they are rendering good service to you. Do not deal with them by force. They are competent hands, so why fight with them? ==Do everything amicably. This fighting is going on everywhere. It is not a good sign.== I ====know the fighting spirit is there in you, within the Westerners, that even if you do not care to fight, someone will induce you to fight. Rather, you should make vigorous propaganda for making people understand the utility of the Krsna consciousness philosophy. It is not something speculative. Make your plans, organize, and then execute in order to increase all of our Krsna consciousness programs. This will be better.” ([[letters/1975/751113_gargamuni|Alanatha dasa, 13 November, 1975]]) ==75-11 “I== am very glad to see that you have out-collected the Sri Sri Radha-Damodara party. This is good competition. So now is Tamala Krsna defeated by you? So one month you defeat him and another he can defeat you and in this way Radha-Damodara service will be increased by transcendental competition. This is very nice.”== ([[letters/1975/751120_ghanasyama|Jayatirtha dasa, 20 November, 1975]]) *** 75-12 ''You always have my blessings, the father always wishes that the son may be more successful than himself. This is the spiritual conception. If one is doing well, then the materialistic persons become envious and try to check his progress. This was actually so with Prahlada Maharaja, he was only five years old, he was preaching Krsna consciousness to his school friends, and the father Hiranyakasipu became so envious that he attempted to kill his five year old son in so many ways. ==Krsna consciousness is just the opposite, if someone is doing well then the attitude of the devotee is to give him all facility to go on and improve more and more.”== ([[letters/1975/751207_sivarama|Yogescandra dasa, 7 December, 1975]]) ==76-01 “The transcendental competition is nice. If Jayatirtha Prabhu defeats Tamala Krsna== Maharaja, then Tamala will have heart failure. Go on selling books. My Guru Maharaja was very much anxious about selling books and preaching, so you are pleasing him by this bombastic flood of books all over the world. Thank you.”== (SPL to Ramesvara dasa, 3rd Januaty, 1976) ==76-01 “Everything should be done cooperatively. ’Our' and ’Yours' are material conceptions and have no place in our Krsna consciousness movement. If the members of our movement are unable to cooperate it will be very difficult to spread the mission of Lord Caitanya.”== ([[letters/1976/760105_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa Maharaja, 5 January, 1976]]) ==76-01 “== There is no reason why you cannot associate with any of my disciples, providing that they adhere to our principles. As long as Siddhasvarupa Maharaja and Tusta Krsna Maharaja act as *sannyasis,* i.e. dress in *dhoti,* keep shave headed with *sikha,* follow strictly the rules and regulations and preach from my books, I have no objection. ==Sometimes there will be a little misunderstanding between Godbrothers that is even going on amongst liberated souls.== What is important is that everyone must engage in Krsna’s service under the direction of the spiritual master.” ([[letters/1976/760106_k.c._kapur|Bhakta Ralph, 6 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 * * ==“As to your question concerning whether relationships between devotees are eternal, the answer is 'Yes.'== This is confirmed by Sri Narottama dasa Thakura: * cakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei * —he * * is my Lord birth after birth. In this way you have to understand, by studying carefully the philosophy. We have got so many books now and I want all of my disciples to read them carefully. Soon we shall be instituting *Bhakti-sastri* examinations and all *brahmanas* will have to pass. So utilize whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered. ==”== (SPL to Upendra, 7th January,* 1976) ==76-01 “In the material world competition, one thinks, 'My competitor can do so much, how can I bring him down?' But in the spiritual world there is appreciation, 'He has done so nicely, I could not do so well.”== ([[letters/1976/760118_ramesvara|Ramesvara, 18 January, 1976]]) ==76-05 “== Regarding your questions, we should not take any stock of rumors which may come, that is not our process to act upon rumors. We hear from the authorized sources, and then our hearing is perfect. So you are the leader of a big temple, you should know these things and avoid them, and instruct the other students there to stick to whatever is mentioned in our books and try to understand that subject matter from every angle of vision, without trying to adulterate by adding any rumor. Our preaching must be based upon the subject matter from books and nothing outside of them. The actual fact is that worshiping the Deity and chanting the glories of the Lord are both within the nine processes of devotional service recommended by Rupa Goswami. Besides chanting and hearing and remembering there are six other recommended activities in devotional service. So if we are able to practice even only one of these activities perfectly, the result will be the same. Or we may execute more than one, we may execute several or even all nine activities in devotional service, but even if we execute one perfectly we shall be completely successful in devotional service. ==So there is no question that one activity is more important than another or that Deity worship is more important than sankirtana,== but one individual may be able to perform one activity more satisfactorily than another, so to him that activity will be more important. But in general we cannot say that any of the nine processes is more important than the others, except that if hearing, chanting and remembering are there, that is the most vital consideration for the general class of men in this age. Service to the Deities, as you are asking me, begins whenever you remember Them and offer all your services by remembering at the same time. All activities, words, everything should be offered as service to the Deities, and this offering with remembering will gradually increase as you practice it. ==”== ([[letters/1976/760516_gopala_krsna|Prajapati dasa, 16 May, 1976]]) ==76-08 “== Everything will become clear if you kindly read this chapter with attention. For example, we see that two lawyers in the court-room may fight vigorously about a law point, but upon returning to the law library, they talk and embrace like friends. So you should always remember that we have no ill feelings toward Vallabha Bhattacharya. We have full respect for him, so there is no harm if these facts are discussed in the society of devotees. ==Devotees always humbly offer respect to everyone, but when there is a discussion on a point of sastra, they do not observe the usual etiquette: satyam== bruyat priyam bruyat.== They speak only the *satyam,* although it may not necessarily be *priyam.” ([[letters/1976/760809_sumati_morarjee|Madame Sumati Morarji, 9 August, 1976]]) ==76-11 “== You can reply to Govindalalji Maharaja as follows: What we have discussed is printed in *Caitanya-caritamrta.* How can we rectify? We can't rectify what is written in *Caitanya-caritamrta.* We have no bad feeling or disrespect for Vallabhacarya. We consider ourselves the most obedient servants of Vallabhacarya. The exchange between Lord Caitanya and Vallabhacarya was on friendly terms. This was raised in connection with supporting the position of the *acaryas.* The real point is that Sridhara Swami is still being criticized by you in the following words, ’…and has shown specifically the nature of the error committed by the previous Commentators including Sridhara Swami ... Sridhara Swami...was never regarded as a Master ...’ So, this criticism of Sridhara Swami was as much intolerable for Caitanya Mahaprabhu as His criticism upon Vallabhacarya is intolerable for you. ==Such kind of friendly criticisms you will always find among learned scholars, but that does not mean there is any ill feeling with one another.== **So, as you can criticize Sridhara Swami in the above words, what is the wrong if in the same spirit the supporters of Sridhara Swami criticize you? There is an English proverb spoken by Lord Jesus Christ, ’Judge not others lest ye be judged.’ So, the conclusion is, as we learn from *Caitanya-caritamrta,* that in the beginning Sri Vallabhacarya criticized Sridhara Swami and then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu criticized Vallabhacarya. So what can we do now after 500 years? Recently some criticism has appeared in the Illustrated Weekly also. So, such things will go on in this world, but that does not mean we have got any disrespect for any Vaisnava acarya *.* ==”== ([[letters/1976/761125_giriraja|Giriraja, 25 November, 1976]]) *** 77-01 “The Christmas distribution in England is unimaginable. Europe is a great field for preaching. New York, Radha Damodara and Los Angeles have already accepted defeat. ==This transcendental competition is very encouraging. But combined together, we must defeat maya and her influence== . When the Kurus and the Pandavas used to fight, there were 100 brothers on one side, and 5 brothers on the other side. But when there was another party, then the 105 brothers were together. In this way, we must cooperate to spread Krsna consciousness. ==”== (SPL to Jayatirtha, January 13th, 1977) ==77-04 “== Why not hold the Ratha-yatra on Janmastami? It comes at about the same time as you are planning and it will be very much appreciated. For Gaura-Nitai alone, Ratha-yatra is not at all recommended because They are playing the part of devotees. But * * as you are having three large carts you may arrange the following: Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai in the first * ratha, * Sri Sri Radha-Krsna in the second * ratha * and Sri Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra in the third * ratha.* I have received a letter from Caru dasa from Berkeley. He is worried that due to your Ratha-yatra no devotees will attend the San Francisco Jagannatha festival. This must not happen. ==Due to competition one program should not be diminished for another== . San Francisco Jagannatha festival is established for many years, it must be maintained and increased in the same grand style. As far possible all of the devotees should attend it, as has been done in the previous years. You may also hold Ratha-yatra as described above in Los Angeles. In this way both festivals can be performed very grandly.” (SPL to Ramesvara, April 17th, 1977) ## Criticism Among Devotees 67-11 “The separation of Kīrtanānanda and Hayagriva is not a very happy incident. I was practically in tears for their attitude of separation on such flimsy grounds. In other words, it is my incapability that I could not save these two souls. But this is a great evidence that every soul is individual. The nonsense theory of oneness becomes null and void by the evidence presented in this incident. But ==we should not be angry with these poor souls. Try to convince them by argument and reason but do not become angry with them== . Lord Nityananda when he was dealing with Jagai and Madhai maintained the maximum amount of tolerance and patience in spite of the greatest provocation. The 2 brothers, Jagai and Madhai, committed violence on Lord Nityananda. Even Lord Caitanya, the author of *Siksastakam,* became agitated, but Lord Nityananda Prabhu in the matter remained calm and quiet and delivered the two rascals to the highest elevation. We should always try to represent Lord Nityananda Prabhu in the matter of preaching work. Kīrtanānanda is a crazy man. That is proved. He says that he has become equal to the spiritual master but he is such a fool that he does not understand the principle of disciple even in ordinary worldly affairs. Even if one becomes equal to the spiritual master in education and knowledge still one has to maintain the disciplinary principle of obeying one chief man in any establishment. If such a discipline is not maintained no establishment can make any progress.” ([[letters/1967/671109_rayarama|Rayarama, 9 November, 1967]]) *** 68-10 “I am in due receipt of your letter, very nice letter. You have expressed very nice sentiments and this shows that you are positively advancing in Krsna consciousness. Your talk with the Indian ladies and gentlemen is very interesting. They inquire from you and they are astonished that you are very serious. That means they are not at all serious. They take Krsna consciousness as something fictitious. So they are not very hopeful combination, but try to make them interested as far as possible, it is our duty. We do not mind whether he is Englishman or Indian or any man; our duty is to impress Krsna consciousness as far as possible. Answering your puzzle, it may be said that a pure devotee is he who loves Krsna, without any material desire. People are generally engaged in *karma.* Karma means work and get the result and enjoy life. And *jnana, jnana* means speculating process to understand the Absolute Truth. So one who does not indulge in speculating habit, neither tries to gain something by his work, but simply engages himself in the service of the Lord, he is called a pure devotee. Such pure devotees are very rare. ==But by the grace of Krsna, practically all the devotees and disciples who have kindly joined me, they are, their symptoms are pure devotees. Even if they have got some ulterior desire, that will be removed very soon,== because they have taken to the pure process of Krsna consciousness. Hope this will meet both of you in good health and awaiting your good news by next mail. Thanking you once more for writing to me.” (SPL to Janaki, October, 1968) *** 69-07 “You have mentioned about some criticism made by Jaya Govinda which upset you. ==I do not know exactly what is the point, but if there is some honest criticism there should be no cause of becoming upset.== Krsna has so kindly led you to this path of Krsna consciousness and now you have only to follow the prescribed rules and regulations very seriously and sincerely and surely you will understand how you are making practical advancement in Krsna consciousness. Actually, Krsna is kind to everyone, but when He sees **that a living entity is becoming a little serious to make perfection in life, then Krsna takes special care to give such living entity all necessary facilities. Now you have the greatest opportunity to do very nice service to the Lord, because you are now in a foreign country and are helping to pave the way for a very successful Krsna consciousness temple in Germany. So continue to take advantage of this opportunity as the Lord has kindly given you, and surely He will bestow all of His blessings upon you.” ([[letters/1969/690728_mandali_bhadra|Vmdavanesvari, 28 July, 1969]]) ==70-11 “Yes.== You have the right attitude towards disturbing comments of fellow devotees.== Lord Caitanya has advised us to always remain more humble than the grasses and more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer respects to all persons. It is not our policy to reject someone on any personal grounds. Rather it is our duty to encourage him on the common platform of devotional service to Krsna. I have received very nice reports from all our centers how they are very much appreciating my books and they are understanding association with the spiritual master is the same as association with His *vani* or teachings. This is a transcendental fact.” ([[letters/1970/701125_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 25 November, 1970]]) *** 71-07 “You have complained about those devotees who have mistreated their wives and children, but that is not the example. Those who have deserted this movement are not the example. So why are you citing them as example? There are so many devotees like Dayananda, Syamasundara, Hayagriva and others who are living with their wife and children very **peacefully. There are so many. So why take the bad example? There are so many good examples to be taken. I have gotten married so many of my disciples. Gurudasa, Tamala, there are so many living peacefully. If someone has deserted, then he is wrong and is not the example.... Anyone who is somehow or other engaged in the Society's work, their position is higher. GBC members are simply to see * * that things are going on. Other centers have got president, secretary, etc. and they are managing separately. That is the formula. So how is it that the GBC are the final authority? They are simply to examine that things are going on nicely, that is all. There are so many * grhasthas; * they have dedicated their lives to the service of the Lord. And most GBC members are householders. You also may be elected. The position is open to * all grhasthas. * But if you live separately with your wife and earn only for yourself and your wife, then how you expect to have a good position with the Society? Everybody's earning for the wife and family, so if you are doing so also, then what is the difference between such endeavor and that of the * karmi? * 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 is the use of criticizing others? The whole movement is meant for rendering service.”== (SPL to Umapati, July 9th, 1971) 71-10 “Our ISKCON Society married couples means both parties are fully engaged in Krsna's service. I have noted your several complaints against the devotees but ==it would be better to set the example rather than to criticize the defects of the devotees.== We should always remember that we recruit members from people in general. It is not expected that every one of our members should be immediately to the standard qualification. The best thing for you is to set the example by your personal behavior and try to forget such incidences and be always in friendship with each other. So I hope you will immediately return to your husband and forget all these disagreements and fully cooperate for developing our Berlin center.” (SPL to Vrndadevi, October 14th, 1971) 72-08 “So try to reform Mohanananda there. What he will do by coming here? Amogha has indicated he has already shaved his Sikha and has left everything. Do you think USA is a magic place, simply by coming here he will become reformed? If possible you can send to the USA, but ==it is better to correct him to the standard point by friendly gestures. We can reject anyone, that is very easy, but to reform him that requires great skill and tact and if you can reform him there by kind words and dealings, that is best.== When I was there in Sydney, I observed that Mohanananda is very, very good boy and he has great intelligence and talent, simply it has become little bit misguided due to circumstances. Now you both big leaders in Australia, along with the others, you make a very concerted attempt to help Mohanananda over his difficulties and persuade him that everything is all right, that I am not angry or displeased in any way, these things will sometimes happen even with the best devotees, and in this way try and persuade him to become engaged with his previous enthusiasm for becoming once again a great devotee. He is young boy, so we should not take his actions too seriously, better to forget the past and try to reform him. His service can be once again very much valuable there in Australia, I know he is very good boy. Do not drive him away, that will be the discredit to all of you leaders. But if there is great difficulty, he may come and live with me here in Los Angeles for the time being, I have no objection. But he has done very nicely in Sydney up to the present time, so if you can utilize his experience and talents there, that is the best plan.” ([[letters/1972/720824_giriraja|Madhudvisa and Amogha, 24 August, 1972]]) *** 72-08 “Where have you got this idea to retire and simply translate books? That is not in our line. My spiritual master has given me the instruction to spread this movement all over the world and you, my good disciples, are helping me do this. Without your good help I could not have done anything, so practically you can take all the credit for spreading this Krsna consciousness movement and fulfilling the prophecy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If there is some incident and I claim that no one is cooperating with me or no one will work with me, that is my defect, not theirs. The Vaisnava devotee must think like this. ==We should not find fault with others and criticize and go away, that is not the Vaisnava way.== Better we should always be willing to offer all respects to others and consider them as our superiors always.” ([[letters/1972/720826_gaurasundara|Gaurasundara, 26 August, 1972]]) *** 72-09 “Regarding Siddhasvarupananda, these things which you have heard are simply rumor and there is no substance. Siddhasvarupa does not want to take disciples, neither he should have disciples while I am alive. That is the process. I have never said that Siddhasvarapa is a pure devotee. (But ==everyone can become a pure devotee, if he has no other desire than to serve Krsna and the spiritual master.) That is simply concoction. Now I am going to India in a few weeks and I shall stop at Hawaii and take Siddhasvarupananda to India, for training him up properly.” ([[letters/1972/720915_gurudasa|Sudevi dasi, 15 September, 1972]]) *** 72-11 “Regarding general state of affairs at Amsterdam temple, I can understand there is some disturbance among you, but that is not to be taken very seriously. Real business is preaching work, and if there is full attention on this matter only, all other businesses will be automatically successful. Fighting amongst ourselves is not at all good, but if our preaching work is neglected, or if we fall down in following the regulative principles such as rising before four, chanting sixteen rounds, like that, if these things are not strictly observed then *maya* will enter and spoil everything. So my best advice to you is to strictly observe these things yourself and be the example so that all others may follow. ==We should not criticize each other, as Vaisnavas, because there is fault in everyone and we may be ourselves subject to criticism.== **Best thing is to be above suspicion ourselves, then if we see discrepancies and make suggestion the others will automatically respect and take action to rectify the matters. That is cooperation. And we must exist on such cooperation, otherwise the whole thing is doomed if we simply go on fighting over some small thing. So try to organize things and preach together in this spirit, and that will please me very, very much.” ([[letters/1972/721118_madhumangala|Madhumangala, 18 November, 1972]]) *** 72-11 ** ==“Simply criticizing and no work, that is the business of inferior men. So do not be disturbed by them, go on with your work, increasing more and more. Never mind the jackals howl.”== ([[letters/1972/721125_nityananda|Nityananda, 25 November, 1972]]) *** 72-12 “Your next question, after leaving this material realm, does the devotee remain forever with his spiritual master? The answer is yes. But I think you have got the mistaken idea in this connection. You speak of pure devotee, that he is *saktyavesa avatara,* that we should obey him only—these things are the wrong idea. If anyone thinks like that, that a pure devotee should be obeyed and no one else, that means he is a nonsense. We advise everyone to address one another as *prabhu. Prabhu* means master, so how the master should be disobeyed? Others, they are also pure devotees. ==All of my disciples are pure devotees. Anyone sincerely serving the spiritual master is a pure devotee;== it may be Siddhasvarupa or others. This must be very clearly stated. It is not only your Siddhasvarupa is a pure devotee and not others. Do not try to make a faction. Siddhasvarupa is a good soul. But others should not be mislead. Anyone who is surrendered to the spiritual master is a pure devotee, it doesn't matter if Siddhasvarupa or non-Siddhasvarupa. Amongst ourselves one should respect others as *prabhu,* master. ==As soon as we distinguish here is a pure devotee, here is a non-pure devotee, that means I am a nonsense.== Why you only want to be in the spiritual sky with Siddhasvarupa? Why not all? If Siddhasvarupa can go why not everyone? Siddhasvarupa will go, you will go, Syamasundara will go, all others will go. We will have another ISKCON there. Of course, Mr. Nair must stay. And if somebody does not go, then I shall have to come back to take him there. One should remember this and everyone of my disciples should act in such a way that they may go with me and I may not have to come back to take another birth.” ([[letters/1972/721214_visvambhara|Tusta Krsna, 14 December, 1972]]) *** 72-12 “I have noted the contents with great concern. Bali Mardan is my trusted senior disciple, do you think I am a fool to choose him for running on my big New York temple? Rather, if anyone criticizes him, they must be the fool. ==He has done so much wonderful service and I appreciate him so much. No amount of your foolish words will touch my estimation.== I ====am stopping in New York by next summer. Meanwhile, I shall request you not to make any disturbance and I shall request Bali Mardan to leave you alone. You must abide by the order of Bali Mardan. You write as Dr... Please let me know what kind of doctor you are? Have you got any bona fide certificate? Send me the copy of the certificate at once. Please let me know this immediately.” ([[letters/1972/721229_deva_mira|Deva Mira, 29 December, 1972]]) *** 73-11 “Your complaint is that you have met two of my young disciples in California and they appeared to you as having 'a very negative outlook towards the people they meet.' Of course, I do not know the case, what are the circumstances, but kindly forgive my beloved disciples and any unkindness or indiscretions on their part. After all, to give up one's life completely for serving the Lord is not so easy thing. And *maya,* or the illusory material energy, she tries especially hard to try to get back and entrap those who have left her service to become devotees. ==So sometimes in the neophyte stage of devotional service, in order to withstand the attack of maya and remain strong under all conditions of temptation, young or inexperienced devotees will adopt an attitude against those things or persons possibly harmful and threatening to their tender devotional creeper.== They may even over-indulge in such feelings just to protect themselves, and thus they will appear to some non-devotees, who are perhaps themselves still very enamoured by the material energy of *maya,* as being negative or pessimistic. But actual fact is that this material world is a miserable, negative place, full of danger at every * * step, * duhkhalayam asasvatam,* temporary abode of death, birth, disease and old-age, home of suffering and pain only. To come to that platform of understanding of things as they are, that is not a very common thing, and therefore such persons who attain to it, they are described as 'great souls': mam upetya punar janma, duhkhalayam asasvatamnapnuvanti mahatmanah, samsiddhim paramam gatah This verse is spoken by Krsna, or God, Himself, in *Bhagavad-Gita (8.15)so who can be more final authority? That means that anyone who has understood that the material worlds are temporary places of misery, * duhkhalayam asasvatam, * they never return here again, and because they are * mahatmanah, * the great souls, Krsna keeps them with Him, having qualified themselves to escape this nasty place by becoming His pure devotees. So the point is that to make advancement in spiritual life, everything material, unless it is utilized to serve and please Krsna, must be viewed with a pessimistic eye. We are not very * *much hopeful for any lasting pleasure or satisfaction for our deepest cravings within this realm of gross matter. You refer to the word 'love' several times in your letter, but actual fact is there is no love in this material world. That is false propaganda. What they call 'love' here is lust only, desire for personal sense gratification: kama esa krodha esa, rajo-guna-samudbhavahmahasano maha-papma, viddhy enam iha vairinam Krsna tells Arjuna, His disciple, that 'It is lust only…which is the all-devouring, sinful enemy of this world: In the Vedic language, their word for materialistic 'love' as we call it at present day, is *'kama'* lust for material desire, not love. The word for love, actually love we find in the *Vedas* is *'prema,’* meaning one's love of God, only. Outside God, there is no possibility of loving. Rather it is lusty desire in the whole range of human activities, whatever and whenever, so long as it is within this atmosphere of matter, every **activity of the human being--or any living entity--is based upon or given impetus and thus polluted by the attraction between male and female sex desire. For that sex life, the whole universe is spinning round and suffering! That is the harsh truth. So-called love, here, means 'you gratify my senses, I'll gratify your senses,' and as soon as that gratification stops; immediately there is divorce, separation, quarrel, hatred. So many things there are, going on under this false conception of love. Actual love means love of God, Krsna. Everyone wants to repose his loving tendency in some object which is in his opinion worthy. So it is a question of ignorance only, or poor fund of knowledge, where to find that Supreme loveable object Who is actually worthy to accept and reciprocate their love. People simply do not know, there is no proper information. Anything material, as soon as there is some attachment, it will kick you upon the face, deteriorate, disappoint youit's bound to dissatisfy and frustrate you, that's a fact. So these young boys in your country, and all over the world, they are accepting 'Yes, that is fact,' and they are getting the right information from Krsna (BG. 7.19): *bahunam janmanam ante, jnanavan mam prapadyatevasudevah sarvam iti, sa mahatma su-durlabhah* 'After many births and deaths, he who is actually wise surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.' Again Krsna uses the word *mahatma,* great soul. So these are not ordinary boys and girls, our devotees, that you have met, no. They are to be considered as actually wise, great souls, because they have experienced in so many births the miserable disease of material life and they have become disgusted. Therefore they are seeking higher knowledge, something better, and when they find Krsna and surrender unto Him, they become *mahatma,* actually in knowledge. This material world is just like a prison house, a punishing place just to bring us to that point of becoming disgusted and surrendering at last to Krsna, going back to my original nature of eternal life of bliss and complete knowledge. So these devotees, that is their credit, they have done what is 'very rare' amongst all men in the human society, *su-durlabhah,* very rare. So after surrendering to Krsna, that will be the final receptacle for investing his love in God. If somehow or other anyone develops their dormant love of God—love of God is present there in everyone, just like fire is there in the unlit match, covered over—if Krsna becomes the supreme adorable object, the supreme friend, the supreme master, the supreme lover—then, Oh!, he shall never again become disappointed or unhappy: mac-citta mad-gata-prana, bodhayantah parasparamkathayantas ca mam nityam, tusyanti ca ramanti ca Rather, because his loving * * propensity is rightfully placed, the devotee, one whose life is surrendered to Krsna, is always enjoying ’great satisfaction and bliss' and he is constantly 'enlightened,’ always positive, not negative as you say. The advanced devotee is the friend of everyone * : yogayukto visuddhatma, * purified soul engaged in loving devotional service to Krsna, * sarva-buatatma-bhutatma, * he is dear to everyone and everyone is dear to him; and in another place Krsna claims that: * yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah, * that His devotee who is very dear to Him, * advesta sarvabhutanam, maitrah, karuna eva ca, * is not envious but is the kind friend to all living entities. The devotee is supposed to be, furthermore, equal to everyone * , panditah, sama-darsinah,* never discriminating; this one good, this one bad, no. So these are the descriptions of the more advanced stages of Krsna consciousness devotees, when he has got mature knowledge by development, and at present many of our students are young boys, they are learning gradually and the process is so effective, certain and authorized that if they stick to it they will come to the right point, as you say, of loving. But that love * * is not material, that is our point, so it may not be judged on the mundane false sentimental platform of dealings. So to say they are not loving, that may be true from the materialists point of view—they have given up affection for family, friends, wife, country, race, like that, all based upon the bodily concept of life or flickering sense gratification they have become a little detached from * maya's * love * ,* or lust, and they want Krsna's love, or endless, full rewarding love, and they have not yet developed to that point, that's all. And we cannot expect that all of a sudden, being addicted to so many bad habits, your countrymen, will give up eating flesh, taking intoxication, sex-life, and so many other nasty things. And become overnight great self-realized souls. That is not possible. That is utopian. Just by becoming initiated as Krsna's devotee puts him in the topmost category of human society: Sa buddhimān manuṅyeṅu sa yuktaù kṛtsna-karma-kṛt * ;* 'He is intelligent among human society, he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.' And such a devotee, no matter he has not advanced yet to the highest level of spiritual understanding, still he is to be considered the most exalted personality never mind he has got any temporary frailties: api cet su-duracaro, bhajate mam ananya-bhaksadhur eva sa mantavyah;, samyag vyavasito hi sah; 'Even if a devotee commits the most abominable actions, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.' (BG. 9.30). As you will say, 'To err is human,' so in the neophyte stage we may always expect some discrepancies are there. Kindly see the things in this light and forgive their small mistakes. The big thing is they have given their life, everything to Krsna—that is never a mistake.” ([[letters/1973/731127_jayadharma|Lynne Ludwig, 27 November, 1973]]) ## Leaving Association of Devotees ==67-08 “I am so glad to learn that you have returned to Krsna. Krsna is so kind that He does not let us go, anyone who sincerely takes to Him.== And therefore, you do not wish to leave Him any more. This decision will lead you to your eternal life of bliss and knowledge. Certainly in your past life you must have been a devotee of the Lord, otherwise you wouldn't have felt like becoming a nun at such a young age. Anyone who has a natural tendency for rejecting sense gratification is considered to be advanced or liberated in spiritual life. Your appreciation of *maya* as false and Krsna as the only reality is a great asset. Nobody has ever gained anything by becoming a tool in the hands of *maya,* but everyone has become eternally happy by serving Krsna.” ([[letters/1967/670827_mrinaline|Mrinaline, 27 August, 1967]]) *** 67-11 “Replying your letter of November 9th, I beg to inform you that Kīrtanānanda and Hayagriva's recent standing is being directly dealt with by me. At least Hayagriva is not as fanatic as Kīrtanānanda. His latest letter reveals that he is not out of Krsna consciousness as we understand. The whole episode was generated by a personal grudge. This personal grudge is not inhuman and as I have told many times that individualism is the cause of personal misunderstanding, when such individualism is employed in the service of Krsna, there is no harm, even if there is personal misunderstanding. Personal misunderstanding exists even in the higher levels. There is competition of loving Krsna even in the party of Srimati Radharani. It is a kind of *rasa* to compete in loving affection centering around Krsna *.* We shall try therefore to bring back Hayagriva and Kīrtanānanda to their senses. After all, we must understand that we are dealing with persons affected by *maya.* Every one of us is under the influence of the external energy *maya.* The best way to get out of the clutches of *maya* is to concentrate our attention in the loving service of Krsna. I understand that Hayagriva and Kīrtanānanda are continuing to chant Hare Krsna in their center. I hope therefore they will not go astray and the misunderstanding may be cleared up in due course of time. ==Even amongst our Godbrothers we have misunderstandings but none of us is astray from the service of Krsna. My Guru Maharaja ordered us to execute his mission combinedly.== **Unfortunately we are now separated but none of us has stopped preaching Krsna consciousness. Even if there was misunderstanding among the Godbrothers of my Guru Maharaja none of them deviated from the transcendental loving service of Krsna. The idea is that provocation and misunderstanding may remain between one man and another but our staunch faith in Krsna consciousness may not allow any material disruption. Please therefore try to be sympathetic with any person even if they differ. The only qualification we have to scrutinize is if one is acting in Krsna consciousness as far as one is able to do it.” ([[letters/1967/671118_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 18 November, 1967]]) *** 67-11 ** ==“The incident of Kīrtanānanda and Hayagriva chapter may be now closed. We shall always pray to Krsna for their recovery and we should not seriously take the counter propaganda. I am sure they will flop after some time without any effect on our Krsna consciousness service. Let us go ahead with our work and everything will be all right. The most important thing at present is to deal with Macmillan Company.”== (SPL to Rayarama, November, 1967) *** 67-11 “I am so glad to learn that you are now getting the fruit of chanting Hare Krsna. Hare Krsna is so nice that it clears the dirty things from the minds of the devotees and the more one is used to chant the holy name offenselessly the more one develops love of God, forgetting the whole material nonsense. It is my duty to deliver you the right thing in right earnestness and it is the duty of the receiver to act in the standard spiritual regulation. ==When you left us I simply prayed to Krsna for your return to Krsna consciousness because that was my duty.== Any good soul who approaches me once for spiritual enlightenment is supposed to be depending on my responsibility to get him back to Krsna, back to home. The disciple may misunderstand a bona fide spiritual master, being obliged to do so under pressure of *maya’s* influence. But a bona fide spiritual master never lets go a devotee once accepted. When a disciple misunderstands a bona fide spiritual master the master regrets for his inability to protect the disciple and sometimes he cries with tears in the eyes. We had an experience while my Guru Maharaja was alive. One of his disciples who accepted *sannyasa,* was one day forcibly dragged by his wife. My Guru Maharaja lamented with tears in his eyes saying that he could not save the soul. We should always therefore, be careful in the matter of being attacked by *maya’s* influence and the only means of guarantee is to chant Hare Krsna offenselessly. The greatest offense is to defy the spiritual master and act sinfully thinking of the strength of chanting. If a man thinks that the chanting will save him from all kinds of sinful reactions deliberately committed by him, then he becomes the greatest offender. By chanting Hare Krsna certainly we become free from all sinful reactions but that does not mean that we shall deliberately commit sin and counteract it by chanting. Your reference to Kīrtanānanda and Hayagriva is very nicely appreciated. We shall silently pray for them to Krsna and shed tears for them for our inability to save them. Let us honestly pray and go ahead with Krsna consciousness. More when we meet.” ([[letters/1967/671123_woomapati|Umapati, 23 November, 1967]]) *** 67-12 “Regarding Hayagriva and Kīrtanānanda, if they come again, we should accommodate them and should not continue the misunderstanding that has been engineered. I think Hayagriva is anxious in having his name printed in the publication of *Gita Upanisad.* I do not have any objections that his name may be mentioned as one of the editors helping in the editing of *Gita Upanisad,* just to encourage him and keep him in our camp, in case that he may come back and accept our philosophy and resume his editing talent. ==He has committed a blunder, but just so that he may be encouraged to come back, you may mention his name== , also along with Rayarama's. He is not so convinced of his impersonalist philosophy. It is only due to Kīrtanānanda’s influence that he has left us.” ([[letters/1967/671229_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 29 December, 1967]]) ==68-02 ''Yes, it is as you say, therefore we should keep always ourselves engaged so there is no possibility of falling down. So far mistakes done imperceptibly by such devotees engaged in Krsna consciousness activities: sva-pada-mulam bhajatah priyasya; they are excused by the Lord as it is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam.”== ([[letters/1968/680221_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 21 February, 1968]]) *** 68-09 ==“I am glad that Kulasekhara has come back. I think he cannot go from our Society because he has already rendered some service to Krsna. So Krsna is not going to leave him at any cost. So treat him nicely so that he can be fixed up there. And his attention should be in the matter of painting. That's a nice idea. Please offer my blessings to him, and treat him very well.”== ([[letters/1968/680919_hansadutta|Hamsaduta, 19 September, 1968]]) *** 68-10 “I am so glad to note your very nice sentiments. I am so pleased to note that you are getting attraction for Sri Gopalaji, and that will save you from all kinds of opposing elements. I am glad that Sacisuta is living with you and if both of you are feeling some inconvenience, then you are welcome to live with me for some days. I am going to Montreal on the 23rd October, and I shall again start from Montreal to Santa Fe. If you so desire, you can see me in Montreal on the 24th instant, and I shall be glad to know what is your particular difficulty. If Sacisuta is finding difficulty to cope with his Godbrothers in the temple, he can travel with the *sankirtana* party that will be very nice. Anyway, both of you may not leave us. ==Each and every one of you is a very important assistant for me, so do not try to leave us, but try to adjust things as far as possible== , and my last request to you both is that if you find such difficulty to live with your Godbrothers, you can live with me. Hope this will meet you in good health. And thanking you once more for writing to me.” ([[letters/1968/681018_umapati|Umapati, 18 October, 1968]]) *** 68-12 “When George Henderson shall be coming there try to keep him there to associate with you. Try discussing and convincing him of the principles of Krsna consciousness. He is a good soul, I know, and if he can help you in New Vrndavana, it will be very nice. If he comes to see me in Los Angeles, I shall talk with him. In the beginning, he was taking Krsna consciousness seriously but ==because he left our association he became slackened, so if again he may associate with us it will be so nice.”== ([[letters/1968/681202_upendra|Kīrtanānanda, 2 December, 1968]]) *** 68-12 “You have written that you will soon be leaving Hamburg and this news has caused me some distress. I have always been glad that you were in Germany to take care of the temple and you have written that Krsna dasa is also disturbed at this sudden turn. From your letter it is unclear as to where you are going, to Montreal, to New Vrndavana, to work for your mother; it is all unclear as to your plan. I think that you must stay in our Hamburg center until you write to me why you are leaving Germany and where you are expecting to stay. It could be that you are experiencing some difficulty in Germany; in which case please inform me of the same so we may solve the problem. ==You mentioned that leaving is the best thing for your devotional service, but you should know that without the instructions of the spiritual master that there is no question of devotional service== . So I think that you must remain in the Hamburg center until I advise you further. I am anxiously awaiting to hear your reply. I hope you are well.” ([[letters/1968/681217_sivananda|Sivananda, 17 December, 1968]]) *** 69-02 “Regarding Kartikeya, I am sorry to inform you that all of a sudden he has been captivated by *maya,* and since yesterday he has left my company. The day before yesterday afternoon, he was absent for more than 3 hours and when he came back he explained that he was out walking in the street. Later on, it was found he went to see a Christian priest who had impressed upon his mind that one can drink wine after offering it to Lord Christ in the first Friday of every month. I had been informed by Kartikeya that before his coming to our Krsna consciousness camp he was drinking too much. So now he wanted to give me evidence that drinking was good when it is offered to Lord Christ. I tried to convince him that drinking is not at all good. The very fact that one should drink on the first Friday of each month means it is rigidly restricted; one can drink only once every month, but in the case of bread, it is said one should pray daily for bread from the Lord. In this way there was some remonstration but he was silently hearing from me while being not at all satisfied. I understood from Purusottama that the whole night he was not satisfied. The next morning, that was yesterday, Tamala was talking with me and I asked him to keep Kartikeya for some time in his *kirtana* party. But Kartikeya got immediately upset, and just within 15 minutes, he took away his bags and baggages and phoned his sister and went to her place. This morning, Sudama phoned him that if you do not like to live in the temple, you can come back and live with Swamiji. But he has not come back *.* ==Therefore, for the time being, it is to be understood that he is victimized by the stroke of maya== . I do not know what is awaiting his future lot, but I am sure that his service to Krsna and to his spiritual master will not go in vain. But individual independence and *maya* are so strong that they can stop progress at any moment. So long as he was here, he was taking care of me very nicely, and I am very much obliged to him. I simply said that he may live for some time with the *sankirtana* party and he became upset. So I do not know what to do.” ([[letters/1969/690210_govinda|Govinda dasi, 10 February, 1969]]) *** 69-03 “Regarding your question about Lord Siva and Thakura Haridasa, and their different response to sexual agitation: This does not mean that Lord Siva has become degraded from the devotional platform. ==A devotee even if he is sometimes found that he is attracted by sex life, that does not mean he is degraded. That is by chance== . Because Lord Siva is *grhastha,* so by his past habits if he appeared to have been attracted by sex life that does not mean he has been degraded from his position. You should never think of any devotee like that. There are many such stories also, but such apparent falling is without any influence to very, very advanced devotees. A neophyte should always be careful. One should not discuss about such great devotees' apparent fall-down. Just like one should not discuss about the sun who evaporates urine from the earth; is possible for the sun to do it, and still remain the sun, but for ordinary man if he lives in a filthy place he will be infected. So Lord Siva or Brahma are highly elevated devotees and we should not try to criticize about their behavior even though it appears against the rules. These things a very * * nicely explained in the * Srimad-Bhagavatam* in course of discussion between Maharaja Pariksit and Sukadeva Goswami in the tenth canto ([[letters/1969/690323_himavati|Himavati, 23 March, 1969]]) *** 69-05 “I understand that Kartikeya has left for San Fransisco, and there is no grudge. I hope in the association of the devotees there, he will feel jolly, and his moroseness will be cleared off. So far as you are concerned, I do not think living alone in Honolulu will be very good. If there is possibility of your living in the temple along with the other devotees, then live there. Otherwise you may also return, either in Los Angeles or San Francisco. You can work anywhere because you have got abilities, and from anywhere you can start for Tokyo. So for going to Tokyo it is not very much necessary that you have to remain in Honolulu alone ==. I do not advise any of my disciples to live alone; that is not good== . If Vamanadeva would have lived with you, that would also have been better. So live in the temple, or with Vamanadeva, or else go to Los Angeles or San Francisco.” ([[letters/1969/690520_sudama|Sudama, 20 May, 1969]]) *** 69-06 “I am very * * glad to receive your letter (undated), and I have noted the contents that ==you had left the temple but now you have returned again. This is most encouraging, because it means that Krsna is very kind upon you. Although you left Him He did not allow you to go away. It is His special favor upon you== . As individuals there may be disagreement sometimes, but that is quite natural. Even in ordinary family affairs there is sometimes disagreement, but that does not mean immediately the disagreeing members shall leave the family. Similarly our Krsna consciousness movement means we are all gathering together in families of Krsna. Actually we are eternal family members of the Lord, but due to our misuse of independence we have now forgotten our eternal relationship with Krsna, exactly like a man who is mad forgets his family relationship and loiters in the street. But when he is again in his normal mental condition, he remembers his family members and goes back to them. Similarly, this Krsna consciousness movement is a treatment for reviving the memory * * that we all belong to Krsna's family. So we are trying to establish a replica of Krsna's family in this material world, wherein there is no material activities. To avoid the material activities means to follow the four regulative principles and to engage ourselves constantly in Krsna consciousness activities and to have the association of pure devotees. We should not give indulgence to our senses more than what is required just to keep body and soul together. We should not engage ourselves in very difficult tasks, and we should not talk anything more than what is necessary for spreading Krsna consciousness. We should follow the regulative principles, regard being had to situation, circumstances and objectives. We should not be greedy and we should not mix with persons not interested in Krsna. In this way, we can make steady progress and maintain our membership in Krsna's family. Thus, at the end of this life we will enter actually into the spiritual world. So your main business should be to spread *sankirtana,* becoming tolerant as the tree and becoming humbler than the grass. If you have any time any difficulty, please try to settle up in the above way, but do not leave the company of devotees. That will not help you, even though there may seem to be some difficulties.” ([[letters/1969/690607_uttamasloka|Uttama Sloka, 7 June, 1969]]) *** 69-11 “Recently I have received one letter from Rayarama in which he has signed his name as Raymond. That means ==he has drifted from our Society completely and his letter is very discouraging. He has accused everyone save himself.== * * So I do not know what can be done with him. In the * Bhagavad-Gita* we understand from the 16th chapter that when a living entity becomes envious of Krsna, he is put into the darkest region of material existence, exactly in the same way as when a citizen is disobedient, law-breaker, he is put into the prison cells. So this is nature's way beginning from Krsna, and one has to undergo such stringent regulative principles of material nature in such disobedient position. So I have not replied that letter, I have got it in the file. When I return to Boston, if you like, you can see it.” ([[letters/1969/691125_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 25 November, 1969]]) *** 70-09 “You have both been very nice devotees and I would like you both to continue to make nice advancement. ==So please patch up any crack that may have come between yourself and ISKCON.== As husband and wife you must always remain together and raise your daughter in Krsna consciousness. I would like you to go back to New Vrndavana and fix up a nice living place for yourselves and help to develop the New Vrndavana scheme. Our ISKCON should be taken as being a family based upon love and trust, so as the father becomes unhappy when one of his children wishes to break family connections I also become unhappy when there is difficulties within our ISKCON family. ==So please do not consider leaving as you are spiritual children of mine.”== ([[letters/1970/700921_isana_vibhavati|Isana and Bibhavati, 21 September, 1970]]) *** 70-11 ** ==“I am so glad to hear from you after a very long time. It is my pleasure that you have come to stay with us in our New York temple. I do not think you are able to leave Krsna any more because He does not let anyone go away who has once come forward in His service.”== ([[letters/1970/701117_bhaktajana|Bhakta Jan, 17 November, 1970]]) *** 70-11 ** ==“I am glad to hear new devotees are coming and do not be worried about some of our members leaving; they will come back. Krsna never forgets the service rendered to Him by the devotee and once tasting the nectar of devotional service to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is not possible to forget Him.”== (SPL to Karandhara, November 30th, 1970) 71-02 “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your repentant letter dated 28th January, 1971, ==and I am so much glad that you have again come to our camp after some time being misled by maya. You should take severe warning from this incident and not treat the matter as very light.== *Maya* is always peeping for a chance to allure the neophyte devotees from the path of Krsna consciousness and this potential danger is always there everywhere in the material world. The only solution to the danger of material entanglement and consequent unhappiness is to surrender unconditionally at the lotus feet of Krsna because only He can give assurance of protection from all sinful reactions. So you are very much fortunate that Krsna has again taken you back into the company of devotees.” ([[letters/1971/710215_karandhara|Yugalakisora dasa, 15 February, 1971]]) ==71-07 “I am very sorry that you are separated from the temple for the time being. But don't worry. Krsna will save you, you can be sure. There is no doubt about it. So go on chanting Hare Krsna at all costs and never mind these tribulations of maya. Go on chanting Hare Krsna. Krsna is in your heart. Pray to Him for your protection and soon all things will be adjusted and you will again be in the association of devotees. Of that you can be sure.”== (SPL to Cidananda, 1stJuly, 1971) ==== 71-10 “There is no question of leaving our Society. One may think like that but I cannot allow you to leave. That is my inspiration. ==Those who have left the Society I am always thinking of them== . **Especially for you there is no question of leaving. Stay in Melbourne and preach with steady determination. I am glad to learn that you are in steady correspondence with Karandhara and am sure he will give you all good direction. So don't be agitated by anyone's so-called demand but you stick to your preaching work, husband and wife, chanting and following the regulative principles. Don't be agitated by trifle things. Remain steady and go on with preaching work. Krsna will help you in every way. I am so pleased with you that you have done so nicely in the service of the Lord to your best capacity. That is required. It is not that everyone should be equally expert. But the thing that is needed, is that we should be serious and sincere in our engagement. Nobody can adequately serve Krsna because Krsna is unlimited. But Krsna is so kind that even a small leaf or flower offered to Krsna by the poorest man in the world, Krsna accepts such thing. Krsna is so opulent that He is not even slightly benefited by any presentation but He is so kind and merciful that He accepts a little bit of leaf or flower or water from His devotees, and because a devotee comes to Him with such love and affection He becomes very much satisfied. As a father is always sorry for the son who is out of home, similarly Krsna is not very happy on account of so many bewildered fallen souls in the material world. He therefore comes personally to ask them to surrender again to Him. But the conditioned soul is so much illusioned that it is very hard to make him surrender to Krsna. Therefore each and every one of us, if we can give service to Krsna by making another man surrender to Krsna, then He will very much appreciate that service and that is our gain. Try **to follow this principle and preach vigorously to your best capacity and everything will be all right. Don't worry.” ([[letters/1971/711009_upendra|Upendra, 9 October, 1971]]) ==71-10 “I== welcome you for your coming back to our Society and you are feeling very nicely the association of devotees.== Srila Rupa Goswami has described that devotional service can be advanced by six processes. Perhaps you know them. They are as follows: enthusiasm, patience, conviction, following the regulative principles, being honest in one's profession, and in the association of devotees. So this Krsna consciousness Society is especially meant for giving people the opportunity to associate with devotees. Devotees means those who are following the regulative principles. One cannot be independent and at the same time become a devotee because all devotional activities are based on surrender. So in the association of devotees we learn this important item—how to surrender, but if we keep our independence and try to become devotees, that is not possible. You write to say that you cannot feel any taste for temple life or Deity worship. This means you are keeping the same temperament you entertained before leaving our Society. Our process is to accept both the lines of *Bhagavata marga* and *pancaratriki-marga.* Perhaps you might have seen the picture of the Gaudiya mission. On one side there is the *Bhagavata* book and on the other side a picture of Lakshmi Narayana for Deity worship. You cannot make any progress in devotional service unless simultaneously you follow both the lines. Just as the tracks of a railroad line; both must be there. Similarly temple worship is essential for purifying us from the material contamination and without being purified we cannot glorify the Lord. As it is stated in *Bhagavad-Gita* that the Lord is completely pure and we cannot approach Krsna without being purified. So as you say that you do not feel very much encouraged in Deity worship and temple life, I see that your disease is still continuing. Under the circumstances simple academic career will not help you. If you want to live with us you must accept temple life, namely cleanly shaven head, observing the regulative principles, decorating the body with *tilaka,* etc. You know all these things.” (SPL to Rayarama, 22nd, October, 1971) *** 71-11 “An example of summary punishment is this: If you are sentenced to be hanged but instead you are given a simple pin-prick, that is very nice. Krsna minimizes the devotee's suffering to the lowest. ==So long as one is engaged in devotional service, he is immune to the reactions of his past sinful activities, but if he chooses to give up this devotional service, then he has to undergo all these reactions.”== ([[letters/1971/711112_nityananda|Nityananda, 12 November, 1971]]) *** 71-11 ==“I am very pleased that you are determined to rectify whatever may have been done in the past, in order to push on in Krsna consciousness, to a very bright future. Never mind the past== . Now you appear very enthusiastic to work in Europe, and that spirit of working in this way is very encouraging. So now you organize everything with Hamsaduta and your Godbrothers there so that this movement may be spread very effectively in Europe. For a long time our centers in Europe have been suffering for want of literature and so many things. But now I see that in England things are going very nicely, and Hamsaduta writes to me that everything is improving in Germany, and I hear that new centers are being opened. This is all very good news to me, because I consider that these Western countries are the most important field for our work. So now do this work in a gradually progressive manner, and do not be concerned too much even there may be some temporary set-backs. Because we are in this material world we are not perfect, and so these setbacks are natural occurrences and we should not be too much disturbed by them.” (SPL to Krsna dasa, 30th, November, 1971) *** 72-02 “You have described how you once fell down because you saw discrepancies in our philosophy. Actually our philosophy is perfect, but because there were discrepancies in your mind at that time ==you may have thought something wrongly about our philosophy—that is one of maya's favorite tricks for convincing us to stop our spiritual life and enjoy her.== So if ever you have questions or serious doubts about philosophy you may ask the GBC or myself. And so far your telling me that some other devotee discouraged you in the past, I also had trouble with some of my Godbrothers, but I never let it affect my service, because when one becomes fixed-up in devotional service he never allows anyone else or any condition at all to hamper his service to Krsna or discourage him in any way. So you must become convinced like this too, by preaching constantly and having *sankirtana,* and you will very quickly attain the supreme perfection of life. As for your question about celibacy, if you want to remain celibate for life, I have no objection.” (SPL to Rudra dasa and Radhika devi dasi, February 20th, 1972) 72-05 “Actually outside of our bona fide Krsna consciousness centers, there is no possibility of finding out what Krsna does or does not want. We say, 'We feel that Krsna wills this for us. But I feel Krsna does not.' So whose feeling will be right? You say that you are following the regulative principles, so if you are following the regulative principles, why you will not co-operate? If by following the regulative principles you do not become devotees, and you can not appreciate other devotees, then what is the use of these regulative principles? If you are actually chanting regularly sixteen rounds, holding *sankirtana* daily, reading our books as much as possible, like that, then I think you will feel that such program ==of living separately, away from our Krsna consciousness program is a great mistake.== So my only request is that you immediately return either to the Cleveland temple or to some other temple. You may correspond with Bhagavan dasa at the Detroit center, 8311 E. Jefferson St. Detroit 48214, in this connection. He is the GBC zonal secretary for that zone of the mid-west, so you may address your questions and inquiries to him. I am very much encouraged that you are all chanting Hare Krsna and trying to become Krsna conscious. But I do not advise that you approach the matter of perfecting your life in this independent way. Unless there is a connection with a bona fide spiritual master, coming in the line of disciplic succession, there is no possibility of making progress in spiritual life. So I have established ISKCON centers for the purpose of catching up the lotus feet of Krsna by intimate connection with the spiritual master. These are my authorised centers for that purpose. You say that whatever I instruct you, you will carry out, so again my instruction is that you abandon this independent scheme and join your good Godsisters and brothers at one of our ISKCON centers.” (SPL to Friends, May 23rd, 1972) 72-08 “I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 20, 1972, and I am quite surprised to read it. This does not sound like you. All along I have been discouraged in every way by my Godbrothers, but still I have stuck to my duty, keeping my spiritual master always in front. ==Because there is some fighting or bickering amongst us, that does not mean that I should go away== . If I have understood the order of my spiritual master rightly, then I must perform my duty under any circumstances and never once think of going away under disgust. I have appointed you to be my GBC representative in South America because I think that you are very much responsible and capable to do it, and I am very fond of you and your good wife Govinda dasi for helping me all along. So do not be disturbed or worried by some small thing, rumor, or misunderstanding. There is no plot amongst our so-called big men against you or Siddhasvarupananda. That is childish.” ([[letters/1972/720826_gaurasundara|Gaurasundara, 26 August, 1972]]) *** 72-08 “I have requested Siddhasvarupananda to meet me in Los Angeles, but if he is not able to then I am coming to Hawaii soon on my way to India and I can meet him there and take him with me to India. Meanwhile, do not be disturbed. Everything is all right. If I cannot rely on you to assist me in the GBC position, who can I rely on? So I beg you to reassure me that you will continue to help me in this way, and do not become withdrawn from your active role. Kindly relieve me of this great anxiety. I want to retire now and simply concentrate on translating work, but how can I do it if I cannot give over the management of my Society to you all my advanced senior disciples? ==If one moment you are willing and the next moment there is some small disagreement and immediately you all go away, how can I be calm in my mind?== I am going to India by first week of October and I shall stop over one night in Honolulu en route and we can discuss the matter further at that time.” ([[letters/1972/720826_gaurasundara|Gaurasundara, 26 August, 1972]]) *** 72-09 “Regarding your questions you say that amongst the elder disciples there are still symptoms of greed, anger, strife, bickering, etc., but you are one of them. You are one of the old students, so you fall in that group. So the fighting is among that group, but not amongst the real workers. There was fighting amongst the *gopis* also, so we cannot expect there will be some utopia without fighting, there is even in the spiritual sky transcendental greed, lust, envy, like that. But that is transcendental. Hamsaduta is maintaining his position of service, so why, even if a little fighting, you should go away? We should never give up our duty. My Godbrothers always discouraged me but I did not give up, I am doing my duty and always keeping my spiritual master in front. Even there is some difficulty or hardship or ==even my Godbrothers may not cooperate or there may be fighting, still, I must perform my duty to my spiritual master and not become discouraged and go away,== that is my weakness.” ([[letters/1972/720909_bhakta_dasa|Krsna dasa, 9 September, 1972]]) *** 72-11 “One thing is, I am very much sad to learn that you have left the company of the devotees over this incident at *gurukula* school. Now you are living by yourself because you have been hurt by seeing that the children are sometimes mistreated, and because no one has taken your good advice in this connection. But you may be assured that I am always anxious about the welfare of my disciples, so that I am taking steps to rectify this unfortunate situation. ==Now my advice to you is to give up these feelings and return to your life of Krsna consciousness devotional service,== **and if you go back to Dallas school and demonstrate to the other teachers there just the proper way to instruct and discipline the students nicely, that will be a great service. I am forwarding the copy of this letter, with your letter, to Satsvarupa for his immediate attention .... So I have given you the guiding principles, it is not that I must be consulted with every small detail, that is the business of the in-charge, but if no one is there who can manage in the right way, what can I do? Now if you have got the right idea how to do it, you may go there again and take some responsible post for correcting the situation, that will be your real duty, not that there is some disagreement and I go away disgusted, no. That is not Vaisnava standard. Standard should be that, never mind there is some difficulty, my spiritual master has ordered me to do like this, now let me do it, that's all.” ([[letters/1972/721118_rupa_vilasa|Bhanutanya dasi, 18 November, 1972]]) *** 73-03 ** ==“You have committed a very grave error. I am depending on you leaders for the future of our Society, yet there is all this interest in illicit sex life.== This is causing me heartache worrying how things will go on. What can I do? I have given you all instructions, why you cannot follow them? Now you are supposed to be a responsible devotee, and this situation must be rectified, it is bad example for others. You have begged for my blessings and I give them to you because you are my spiritual son and I have taken responsibility for engaging you in the service of Krsna. But I think you can from now on follow the regulated restrictions strictly and refrain from any sex life at all, that can be your austerity. Your proposal to go to Chicago temple under the supervision of Satsvarupa Maharaja and Kīrtanānanda Maharaja is very good. They are your well-wishers. Now you may take up your activities with determination and seriousness.” ([[letters/1973/730331_karandhara|Kaliya Krsna, 31 March, 1973]]) *** 73-10 “There is the story of the bed bug. In the winter season the bed bug appears to be only skin, but in summer season as soon as it gets the opportunity of biting and sucking blood, it becomes fatty. ==Sometimes we may artificially renounce the world, but as soon as the opportunity of sucking blood is there, we turn again into a bed bug.== Therefore, it is said in the *Bhagavad-Gita (BG. 7.14):* daivi hy esa guna-mayi, mama maya duratyayamam eva ye prapadyante, mayam etam taranti te 'This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But, those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.'“ ([[letters/1973/731019_karandhara|Karandhara dasa, 19 October, 1973]]) *** 73-11 “So kindly take my word and do not leave our Society. If you cannot agree with the GBC, I can take up your matter personally and do the needful. I love you all very much, and if you go away and stay independently that will be a great shock for me. I want to meet you all together. Let me know where I shall go to meet you. Just now I have received the news that in Hawaii the Tulasi plants are drying for want of watering. How has Govinda dasi left the Tulasi plants which she nourished so lovingly? Please therefore, all of you go to your respective positions and revive your devotional activities without any further delay, and ==if you cannot cope with the GBC men,== **which I suppose there must have been some disagreement, ==I== shall deal with you directly. But, do not leave the Krsna consciousness movement at any cost.== If possible kindly let me know where is Gaurasundara. On my behalf please request him to come back to the temple and save the Tulasi plants. Ask Govinda dasi also on my behalf to do this without delay. Kindly treat this letter as very urgent and do the needful. Awaiting your early reply.” ([[letters/1973/731107_tamala_krsna|Tusta Krsna Maharaja, 7 November, 1973]]) *** 73-11 “My Guru Maharaja condemned living alone in a lonely place. He wrote as follows: *dusta mana tumi kisera vaisnava, pratisthara tare, nirjanera ghare, tava hari-nama kevala kaitava;* 'O rascal mind, what kind of Vaisnava are you. In a lonely place your chanting of Hare Krsna is simply cheating.' And, Narottama dasa Thakura says: *tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vas, janame janame hoy, ei abhilas:* 'To serve the feet of the *acaryas* in association of the devotees is my desire birth after birth. ==“Why I have opened this Society. I was living with four children, and now I have 4,000. There is no good in living alone.”== ([[letters/1973/731111_govinda|Govinda devi dasi, 11 November, 1973]]) *** 74-02 ==“I am glad you are cooperating with Madhavananda. That I want. As long as we are sincere there is no question of split amongst us; the split only means someone is not sincere, otherwise there is no question of it.”== ([[letters/1974/740201_mukunda|Mukunda, 1 February, 1974]]) *** 74-02 ==“I was very much shocked when I learned from Tamala Krsna Maharaja that you have left our company and were living outside.== Anyway, I was always thinking of you and your letter of Jan. 26, 1974 gives me much relief. Why you should be sorry if someone says you are Indian, he is American, Indians are no good, Americans are good. Why be affected by bodily relationships? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised us—and as an older, grownup student you should know it—that we have to become humbler than the blade of grass and more tolerant than the tree, and then we can execute our service and chant Hare Krsna. If Indians are bad then I am also bad, as I am an Indian. But they have accepted an Indian as their guru. So Indians are both bad and good according to the behavior. If they have accused you as bad because you are Indian, yet they have accepted a bad Indian as guru. Don't be afflicted by all these external features of our bodily relationships. Be steady in Krsna consciousness and do your duty so you may be blessed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna and make your life successful. I am going to Bombay on the 13th instant—please come back and if you feel inconvenience, it doesn't matter whether from Indians or Americans, you can live with me because I am an Indian. I hope you will feel no difficulty. You must come back when I go to Bombay. We are neither Indian or American; our real identity is that we are all servants of Krsna. Always remember this philosophy and all these external affairs will not trouble you. Hope this finds you in good health, and more when we meet.” ([[letters/1974/740207_mukunda|Caityaguru, 7 February, 1974]]) *** 74-04 “As for drugs, not just one party, but everyone was involved. Our process is to reform. Everyone is under the clutches of *maya.* If we follow the regulative principles we can get out and come to spontaneous love. A diseased man is always under the clutches of disease. But if he follows the prescribed orders given by the physician he can be cured. Now, how to reform? If we ask him to go away the whole Society will be finished. ==In the hospital many patients are there and the attempt is made to cure them, not to tell them to go away or to kill them. They try their best to cure them.== If they tell them to get out of the hospital or if they kill them, that is easy.” ([[letters/1974/740428_balavanta|Rupanuga Maharaja, 28 April, 1974]]) *** 74-05 “You are of course welcome to come to India, but if you are not living in a temple now in the association of devotees, how can you expect to live that way in a foreign country like India? My point is, just coming to India may not automatically be the solution to your problems. ==You say the U.S. is too demonic, but unless one takes shelter at the lotus feet of== Krsna within the society of devotees, he will be inconvenienced wherever he goes. So you have to consider seriously within yourself whether you are ready to live with the devotees and follow the regulative principles and schedule of temple life.== To practice austerity requires that you understand my books or else it is like army rules and regulations. So whether you have understood the philosophy thoroughly enough to live with the devotees? If you are prepared to live as a devotee then why not first consult with the temple leaders in Brooklyn and get their good advice for your situation, whether it is better for you to come to India.” (SPL to Markandeya Rsi,* 1st May, 1974) 74-06 ==“Do not worry about past mistakes and== falldowns. Krsna has given you a new chance in taking care of one of His ISKCON temples, == so the future is very bright. There is nothing to worry about, simply yourself be ideal to== all the devotees there by chanting as much as possible and following carefully all the regulative principles.”== ([[letters/1974/740605_nrsimha_caitanya|Nrsimha Caitanya, 5 June, 1974]]) *** 74-09 “Regarding the matter of Sudama Maharaja there will be no more discussion. Immediately this should be stopped, this matter. Sudama Maharaja should be encouraged. He is doing nicely. Practically the old branch was abolished. Since he has gone there, things have improved very much. So he should be encouraged very much in his activities. Amongst ourselves there must be very liberal and friendly dealings. This is not an ordinary thing that if somebody has got some fault he should be cut. ==He should be reformed by amicable dealings. We are training our men since a long time. It is very difficult to get trained up assistants”== ([[letters/1974/740905_vijoyadhvaja|Bali Mardan dasa, 5 September, 1974]]) *** 74-09 “So anyway he has given service to the Society, but when there are all GBC present they may consider the complaints and do the needful. But, so far I have studied, if all the GBC so desire, he can retire. Personally I wish all the existing GBC may be trained up so perfectly that in the future in my absence they can manage the whole Society very nicely and strongly. That is my desire. At least in this stage of my life it is not at all desirable that there be any factions amongst yourselves. Try to settle up amicably and correct yourself. ==One man is trained up with great difficulty especially in spiritual life. Everyone has got some weakness and deficiency. It is better to correct or mend it than to break it.== It will be best to discuss this in an open meeting of the GBC and then do the needful.” ([[letters/1974/740929_jagadisa|Hamsaduta dasa, 29 September, 1974]]) *** 74-11 “Bali Mardan says that taking milk is also the same as eating meat, therefore you can eat meat. Therefore, does it mean that because what I eat all turns to stool, then I should eat stool? If everything I eat turns to stool, does it mean I should eat stool? Is this sound logic? ==He was a sincere boy, but he== has fallen down by bad association. Still == I== can rectify both of them, provided they agree.== If possible send me his address. I want to write to him. I asked him to correct himself, not to leave. Anyway if he agrees he can be corrected. Jagai agreed to the terms of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and was corrected by the Lord.” ([[letters/1974/741128_ajita|Gopala Krsna dasa, 28 November, 1974]]) *** 74-12 ==“Yes you are correct, when one associates with one who is in illusion or misled naturally he will also become influenced by that illusion. So you must pray to Krsna to protect you from such bad association.== * * Do not forget our most important business which is to develop pure Krsna consciousness by following our strict regulations and Vaisnava standards, and always be engaged in service: * yasya prasadad bhagavata-prasado, yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi;* anyway by Krsna 's grace everything is going on there very nicely. So you are one of the officers there, please continue working very enthusiastically and setting a good example for others.” ([[letters/1974/741220_jayadvaita|Jayadvaita, 20 December, 1974]]) *** 74-12 “Under all circumstances you must remain in the association of devotees. Do not let yourself fall out of this association. Even if it is very difficult and there may be many problems or disagreements still simply by remaining in the association of devotees and following our regulative principles, chanting sixteen rounds, rising early etc., you will become purified. ==If you leave the association== of devotees to follow these regulative principles will be very difficult. Therefore stay in the association of devotees== and continue making nice milk preparations for the Deities.” ([[letters/1974/741227_parvati|Parvati, 27 December, 1974]]) *** 75-03 “You should understand that Krsna consciousness is a purificatory process. One may not be purified immediately, but since he is on the right path for purification, one should not criticize him for some faults that he may still have. Just because somebody has made some mistakes does that mean that you should give up your whole career in Krsna consciousness? What will that accomplish? Simply more rebirth and death. ==The fact that you have left our movement just on account of some minor disagreements shows that you are not== actually serious about going back to home, back to Godhead.== I suggest that you become serious about spiritual life and try to overlook the minor offenses of others. You should keep yourself in the association of devotees, chant at least sixteen rounds, read my books and follow all of the rules and regulations very strictly.” (SPL to Bhanutanya dasi,* 14th March, 1975) 75-05 “I think it is very obvious, even you have admitted that the problem is that you are not following the basic principles of our Society. The fact that you have not chanted your rounds for a long time is enough to make you without any spiritual strength. The best thing for you is to seriously try to follow all of the rules and regulations very strictly under the guidance of the temple authorities. Then your mind will become very clear, not so agitated. ==You have taken initiation from me,== **so actually you are obliged to do this. ==You have promised, therefore there is no choice—you must follow strictly. Otherwise, you are carving your pathway to hell.”== ([[letters/1975/750526_hasyakari|Gauragopala dasa, 26 May, 1975]]) *** 75-10 “It is best that you travel with Visnujana Maharaja and Tamala Krsna Goswami. Our mission is a continued effort and we need not give up the association of devotees simply because there is a difference of opinion how to preach our philosophy. If your conviction is strong and evidential, then try to convince them of your ideas for spreading Krsna consciousness. Our principle is to simply repeat what we have in our books. But, ==it is very dangerous== to live outside the association of devotees. If you must live a more solitary life for some time, then you can go to our temple in *Mayapur* or *Vrndavana,* and they can give one small room there and you can chant and read. I **can advise the temple authorities there to permit you to do so without disturbance. In either case you can take boiled vegetables, boiled rice, a little milk, once a day, and this is very easily digestible. I am also taking like this. Living outside the association of devotees is dangerous and unnecessary. You must, however, give up the association of Janmadagni and Kanupriya. Their company will not be beneficial to your Krsna consciousness.” ([[letters/1975/751006_revatinandana|Revatinandana Maharaja, 6 October, 1975]]) *** 76-01 ** ==“Your normal life is== Krsna consciousness. If you so desire you can stay in == Mayapur without taking any responsibility. Simply read books, take== prasadam, and chant Hare == Krsna== . ==Now, for the time being, you stay with your father. Later on you can decide.”== ([[letters/1976/760124_cyavana|Cyavana, 24 January, 1976]]) *** 76-02 ==“Do not let your mind be disturbed by so many things. Our movement is for chanting Hare== Krsna ==. == One can be happy under any condition ==, == sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram. Krsna consciousness does not depend on any external arrangement. You should not go outside of the shelter of the ISKCON. Just try to be happy by chanting Hare Krsna and following the regulative principles.”== ([[letters/1976/760215_bhaktijana|Krsnanga devi dasi, 15 February, 1976]]) *** 76-02 ** ==“My advice is always chant sixteen rounds minimum and follow the four regulative principles. All of my disciples must agree on this point otherwise they are not my disciples. Let one live anywhere, but stick to the principles. Disagreements== will continue in this material world. So one may live in a suitable place, but one must follow these five principles. My disciples must follow these principles living either in heaven or hell.”== ([[letters/1976/760217_madhava|Raja Laksmi dasi, 17 February, 1976]])