# BACK TO GODHEAD MAGAZINE ## The Importance 56-11 "Letter to the President His Excellency Dr. Rajendra PrasadaPresident Indian UnionRashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi(Through his private secretary Sri Visvanatha Varma) May it please your most exalted Honor. Kindly accept my humble obeisances. It is the custom of India from a time immemorial that a citizen of the state would approach the king, to express his grievances for redemption and the king would very kindly consider his case as duty bound and give him necessary relief by the royal judgement. At the present moment, your excellency is seated in the position of the king by the will and grace of the Lord and as a true Vaisnava I must accept your excellency as the representative of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna, as He has expressed Himself in the pages of *Bhagavad-gita.* As such I beg to lay before your most exalted Honor the following few lines for favorable consideration and do the needful in pure consciousness. Your Excellency is the representative of Sri Krsna by authority and I hope Sri Krsna will direct you from within in the matter of my transcendental service to Him. I beg to submit herewith that by the grace of Sri Krsna through His mercy personified—my spiritual master, I have realized it most thoroughly that going back to Godhead is the highest privilege of mankind and that is the supreme perfection of human life. Unfortunately, the present day human civilization is very much attracted with the beauty of *apara prakrti,* the illusory material nature and as such they are overpowered by a demoniac form of propensity in the atheistic set up of civilization manifested in the matter of sense gratification. This tendency is dangerously harmful to the real progress of life. The aim of life should be to make a sincere effort to go back to Godhead but contrary to this the tendency is to go back to hell or in the cycle of evolutionary animal life as is described in the 16th chapter of *Bhagavad-gita.* Please therefore save them from the great fall-down. Believe me or not, ==I have got the clue of going back to Godhead just after leaving my present material body and in order to take along with me all my contemporary men and women of the world I have started my paper Back to Godhead as one of the means to the way.== Please do not think of me as a wonderful or a mad man when I say that I shall go back to Godhead after leaving my present material body! It is quite possible for everyone and all of us. In the *Bhagavad-gita* it is said very clearly that whosoever may adopt the specific principle of accepting Sri Krsna the Personality of Godhead, he will be able to achieve the highest transcendental goal of life—never mind what he is either a born untouchable or a fallen woman, a laborer or man dealing in rupees, *annas* or *paisa.* His being so, what is there difficulty for a pious *brahmana* and devoted king for going back to Godhead? Everyone should therefore adopt this principle of going back to Godhead in order to get released from the world of miseries with temporary existence. This fact is corroborated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the practical demonstrator of *Bhagavad-gita* and as the most magnanimous incarnation of Sri Krsna. The Personality of Sri Krsna Caitanya has made the path of going back to Godhead so easy for everyone that even a boy of the world can swim across the ocean of religiosity, although it is injected with so many dangerous animals ready to devour up a fallen person in that great massive water. I have simply adopted the easy method of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu just suitable to the modern people in general. As such I am feeling sure of going back to Godhead as I feel without any doubt after taking my dinner that I have eaten to my satisfaction. This feeling is a necessary concomitant factor of the great science of devotional service in the approved line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I am therefore very eager to broadcast the secret of my success to all men and women of the world as a natural consequence and I am seeking your excellency's help and cooperation in this great attempt of transcendental service. I am enclosing herewith 12 copies of *Back to Godhead* for your excellency's reference. If possible kindly go through them all and I am sure that your Honor will understand me right about my assertion. If it is not so possible then your excellency can kindly give a glance over the head lines only and I am sure that will also give Your Excellency an idea of my definite assertion. To make a world wide propaganda for this most essential service to humanity, it is necessary that your excellency will stretch the helping hand necessary in this matter, as your exalted Honor is personally fit also to do this job. Although the method is very simple for universal adoption, it is not possible for me to express in this letter all the words that I wish to tell your Honor. As such, I am seeking an interview with your Honor herewith. When your excellency will see personally the papers and program of my work about my bona fides, I am sure your excellency will be interested in cooperating with me. There is immense work to be done so far as India's spiritual asset is concerned and I think the government may take up the matter scientifically for the good of all men. India's specific culture demands that there should be a ministry of spiritual affairs to save the great culture of Bharata-varsa. I am crying alone in the wilderness at the present moment. So please help me in this noble cause and oblige. Thanking you in anticipation for an early reply, I am,Yours in the service of the Lord, A. C. Bhaktivedanta" (SPL to the President, Indian Union, 21st November, 1956) 67-01 "I am in due receipt of your letter of the 26th instant. The service proposal is very nice and I approve of your acceptance of this job. Not only your income will be a great help to the Society, but also it will be a great opportunity for learning how to organize our magazine *Back to Godhead.* ==This Back to Godhead will always remain the backbone of the Society because the more the magazine is popular the more our Society becomes popular.== So your ambition should always be how to improve the quality of the paper so that it may be read by all respectable persons. In future, we may have one French edition of this paper. If our *Back to Godhead* goes on nicely, then we can have all our publications without waiting for any other publishers." ([[letters/1967/670130_rayarama|Rayarama, 30 January, 1967]]) ==67-03 "We must publish our books as much as possible because that will create our position. Back to Godhead should be the life and soul for the Society. Please let me know your program."== (SPL to Rayarama, March, 1967) ==67-08 "Please give your primary attention for improving Back to Godhead, the backbone of our movement."== (SPL to Rayarama, August, 1967) ==67-11 "Please carefully handle the dealings with Macmillan Company which was begun by your good self. If publications are there, we can work from one center only like New York or San Francisco for propagating our cult all over the world. Let us stick to the publication of Back to Godhead more and more nicely and publish some big literatures like Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta, etc."== ([[letters/1967/671111_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 11 November, 1967]]) ==67-11 "Regarding Back to Godhead it is understood that Rayarama is in some difficulty financially. The recent edition of Back to Godhead is very much encouraging to me. The standard should be maintained and improved so that one day it may come on the level of such magazines as Life, Time etc. If he is in difficulty financially, I think you can give him loan of $500 to be paid in monthly installments of $100."== ([[letters/1967/671118_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 18 November, 1967]]) *** 68-03 "You should take *Back to Godhead* as your life and soul. Your work for *Back to Godhead* is first and foremost above all. If you do not find any time for other things, there is no objection, but I want to see that you make *Back to Godhead* a successful magazine like *Life Magazine* or *Illustrated Weekly of India.* I am very much ambitious of the progress of the paper, and you can use your discretion how to do it. You are at liberty to do it with full power of attorney. So far discussions of political affairs in *Back to Godhead,* it is not a very good suggestion. But if you can present political affairs in spiritual light, as I wrote some articles in the original *Back to Godhead,* in the matter of political divisions of India, and catastrophes thereof. That requires a very thorough understanding of the whole situation, and if you can do this, it will be a great service. I wanted therefore, a combined editorial board. Unfortunately, you have to do everything yourself. For this work I think you will have to invite cooperation from others who may help you. Anyway, ==Back to Godhead must be improved to the fullest extent, because it is the backbone of our Society.== Think it over and do it nicely as far as possible and if necessary you can stop any other activities. But people like your lectures also, and I hope you are delivering your nice lectures in the classes. For the time being, you stop thinking of *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* and we will make plans when I meet you in New York. It is very nice that you are preparing a book on the life of Lord Caitanya. Also, if you can get the *Isopanisad* printed that is very nice. Part of it is in the original *Back to Godhead,* and part is manuscript there. As for the *Brahma-saḥhitā,* I am not working on it at the present moment, but I have thought of it. But I will see to it later on." ([[letters/1968/680323_rayarama|Rayarama, 23 March, 1968]]) *** 68-06 "My blessings are always with you. You are a very sincere boy trying your best to serve Krsna and by His grace you are quite fit for this business, and considering all these points, I have entrusted *Back to Godhead* in your hand. Because this paper is the beginning of my spiritual life. During the time of my Guru Maharaja's passing away, his last instruction to me was that, 'You try to preach whatever you have learned from me in English, and that will do good to you and the people who will hear you.' This instruction was given to me in 1936, and I started the paper in 1944. So during my householder life I was printing this paper and almost distributing free, and some of them were paying me subscription and some of them not. But I was trying my best at my cost. You have seen the old articles about my tendency in this regard and please try to follow this principle and improve the condition of this paper as you think best. You have got full liberty to make it acceptable to the general public, keeping pace with our principles of Krsna consciousness. And as I have told you several times that ==I am awaiting for the day when this paper will take the shape of Life Magazine or similar other magazines, in the matter of its popularity.== From India this paper has been brought to America, with this hope that American young boys like you will take interest in spreading this sublime gospel of Krsna consciousness." ([[letters/1968/680612_rayarama|Rayarama, 12 June, 1968]]) *** 68-09 "You may convey my many, many thanks to Rayarama for his nice article, *Evolution—the God That's Failing.* We should write similar articles in *Back to Godhead.* It is very instructive, and it has appealed not only to me, but to many others. In the airplane some of the passengers were reading that article with great interest. So I think Krsna is giving good intelligence to Rayarama. ==Let him be seriously engaged in improving the shape and quality of Back to Godhead, and I am sure in future we will have as good a position as the other mundane magazines, like Life, Time, etc.== It is very good." ([[letters/1968/680909_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 9 September, 1968]]) *** 68-11 'Your sentiment is very much appreciated by me and your service attitude is very nice. It is very good that you are helping to put out our magazine *Back to Godhead* and whenever I see the new magazine mailed each month, I am so pleased to go through its contents and see all the nice work you have done, and you are always in my thoughts as I read through it, as well as Rayarama, and all your other co-workers. ==To make this magazine a great success is very, very important to the mission. And you along with your co-workers are doing it very nicely. And Krsna will bless you; please continue to do it."== ([[letters/1968/681120_madhusudana|Madhusudana, 20 November, 1968]]) *** 69-05 "I am sending along with Candanacarya some old editions of our *Back to Godhead* magazine for you to bind. ==I wish to have bound each year's editions of Back to Godhead.== Thus, there should be one book with all the 1966 issues, one book with the 1967 issues, and one book with the 1968 issues. If possible, please have these books sent along with Brahmananda when he comes here to see me in New Vrndavana. I understand that you have bound two of my *Srimad-Bhagavatams,* but there is no necessity of sending them here immediately. When I need them I will call for them." ([[letters/1969/690531_patita_uddharana|Patita Uddharana, 31 May, 1969]]) ==70-02 "Yes. We must have close cooperation between America and Germany for the successful publication of our Back to Godhead regularly in French, German and English languages.== So now you are collecting a staff of translators in Hamburg and they are all very qualified to do the work. Please organize everything nicely so that the French and German editions may be prepared for printing at the same time as the English edition. But you must see that all work is thoroughly correct by mutual checking so that errors of spelling and grammar will not appear in the printing. I do not know the technical details, but I think your idea on standardized columns is very nice." ([[letters/1970/700203_jayagovinda|Jaya Govinda, 3 February, 1970]]) *** 70-03 "I beg to thank you for the six volumes of our *Back to Godhead* magazines which you have bound up and sent to me. You have done it very nicely, and I am keeping them installed in my book-shelf for convenient reference. I do not think it is necessary to make any slip cases as you have kindly offered. But ==in future, the magazines may be bound up by the full year and you may enclose in the binding also an index for the year's articles.== Soon our *Back to Godhead* will also be printed in other languages, and it will be nice if you can also bind these in similar sets as the English *Back to Godheads." ([[letters/1970/700319_patita_uddharana|Patita Uddharana, 19 March, 1970]]) *** 70-04 "It is very encouraging to learn that you are so enthusiastic to sell *Back to Godhead.* I consider sale of *Back to Godhead* so valuable because in the beginning I worked for *Back to Godhead* day and night alone in India. ==I still remember the hardship for pushing on this Back to Godhead.== In the beginning when I was householder, I did not care if somebody paid or not paid, I used to distribute liberally. But when I left my household life and I was living alone sometimes in Vrndavana and sometimes in Delhi or sometimes travelling for pushing on *Back to Godhead,* they were very hard days. ==Therefore, when Back to Godhead will be published not in hundreds and thousands, but in millions, that will give me great solace."== ([[letters/1970/700414_madhudvisa|Madhudvisa, 14 April, 1970]]) ==70-04 "Back to Godhead is my life and soul.== Please therefore try to distribute *Back to Godhead* as many as it is possible. I started this magazine in 1947 in my householder life. I was spending Rs. 300-400 at the time ($300-400 in your exchange) and I was distributing this magazine without any consideration how much I was getting in return. Practically the whole money was spent without any return. But ten years after, from 1954 to 1959, the struggle was very hard because at that time I had no money and alone I was editing, publishing and securing money for publication. So it was a great struggle. My ambition was that I would publish *Back to Godhead* in huge quantity so that people may understand the transcendental blessings of Lord Caitanya. Now since I have come to your country, I have entrusted the matter to my beloved American boys and girls, and ==I wish to see that this magazine is published and distributed in the American way like Reader's Digest, Life, etc. published in millions and distributed all over the world.== Actually, the position of *Back to Godhead* should be more important than any mundane magazine because it contains the quintessence of human necessities." ([[letters/1970/700416_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 16 April, 1970]]) ==71-03 "I am also glad to note that you have begun working on Back to Godhead Spanish edition. Actually we want that Back to Godhead be printed in every major language and distributed all over the world so that there is no language barrier in taking to our movement."== (SPL to Citsukhananda, March 25th, 1971) 73-02 "Therefore, in the meantime, there must be another co-editor of *Back to Godhead* magazine to replace him. I have discussed this with Madhudvisa Maharaja here in Australia and he has suggested that Hrdayananda dasa Goswami could be a good man for the job. I have not made any decision, but I would like you to discuss this amongst yourselves and send me your conclusion. ==I cannot stress this point enough that we must handle this publication of Back to Godhead very nicely for it is one of the most important aspects of our society.== So you will please do the needful in this regard and please contact me soon." ([[letters/1973/730217_govinda|Hamsaduta, 17 February, 1973]]) *** 73-11 "Jayadvaita dasa is a very devoted boy. He tries to understand the philosophy very perfectly. Yes, editing *Back to Godhead* is one of your responsibilities. In the meantime you can train Hrdayananda dasa Goswami to edit. I think he is a fit man to assist you. ==Regarding Back to Godhead being the most important magazine in the world, therefore I am seeking to see Dr. Kapoor's article for getting attention."== ([[letters/1973/731102_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa dasa Maharaja, 2 November, 1973]]) ==75-08 "I have received the new issue of Back to Godhead, number nine and it is done so nicely. It is all very pleasing to me, and I thank you all for this service.== The printing I think is actually better than the Japan printing. Long, long ago when I was alone I was thinking of printing like this, but there was no way to do it. Now you American boys and girls are helping me, so I thank you in this regard. I pray to Krsna for your continued enthusiasm in spreading Krsna consciousness. The article on Marxism is very much appreciated. We can say all these big so-called philosophers are all simply *mudhas.* Perhaps I am the first to do it. Our philosophy is perfect, and we cannot be defeated by anyone. So it is up to you to learn it and be able to present it nicely. Now you have everything—respect, philosophy, money, temples, books—all these things I have given, but I am an old man and my notice is already there. Now it is up to you all how to manage it. If you cannot increase it, you should at least maintain what I have given you. You cannot accuse me that I have not given you anything. So it is a great responsibility you now have." ([[letters/1975/750826_ramesvara|Jagannatha Suta dasa, 26 August, 1975]]) *** 75-09 "I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15, 1975 with the enclosed copies of the latest issue of *Back to Godhead* number ten. I can say that each issue you produce is an improvement on the previous one. This is very good. You are doing it enthusiastically. For the article of my touring they have selected the photos very nicely. We can talk with anyone, Marx, Darwin, all professors and politicians, we can challenge and defeat them. Our philosophy is so perfect. So go on exposing them, ==that is the purpose of the Back to Godhead paper, to expose their materialistic ideas as all nonsense and present the real philosophy that Lord Krsna gives. This is the real knowledge."== ([[letters/1975/750926_jagadisa|Jagannatha Suta dasa, 26 September, 1975]]) ## Writing, Editing, Layout and Contents ==75-11 "I do not know where one could find copies of the old Back to Godhead started by me back in 1944, it is a long time ago. If you write to our Los Angeles center they may be able to send you some of the back issues of the more recent publications."== ([[letters/1975/751130_w.j._carpenter|Tikamdas J. Batra, 30 November, 1975]]) *** 67-02 "I am in due receipt of the copy of *Back to Godhead* dated 15th February 1967 and I am glad that it is nicely done. The only defect is that picture which is wrongly put there without asking me. There was no need of interpretations and ==why you have interpreted the picture as, 'One has to be naked before the Lord to become perfect'? We have no interpretation in any one of the verses in the Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.== They were not fictitious and therefore there is no need of interpretation. Krsna actually took away the dresses of the *gopis* and actually He saw the girls naked. There is no interpretation there. The girls of Vrndavana are the same age like Krsna and wanted Krsna as their husband. In India the girls are married earlier by ten years at least and thus the girls who were of the same age were married, although they wished Krsna as their husband. Krsna fulfilled their wishes by these pastimes. Nobody can ask any woman or girl to become naked except the husband. That is the moral etiquette of Vedic culture. Krsna is actually husband of every woman. There was no necessity of formal marriage. But still Krsna played like husband by asking them to become naked. In the spiritual world there is no co-habitation; simply by such emotion in transcendental ecstasy the desire is fulfilled. These pictures of Krsna and the *gopis* are not understandable by a layman who has no idea of Krsna. Therefore, this picture was wrongly put without asking me. Please therefore, consult me before putting any such picture or interpretations. One must understand first, Krsna, from the *Bhagavatam* by reading the first nine cantos. Otherwise Krsna would be taken as an ordinary man and His pastimes will be wrongly understood. Besides that, a *brahmacari* should not see any kind of naked picture. That is violation of *brahmacari* law. I am asking you therefore, not to put the picture in the issue *of Back to Godhead.* I have asked here not to put this picture and so I am also asking you. I think all the pictures are not yet stapled and therefore it must not be put in there." ([[letters/1967/670228_rayarama|Rayarama, 28 February, 1967]]) *** 68-02 "I thank you very much for sending me the latest copy of *Back to Godhead,* which is so nicely decorated and painted. ==My special thanks are due to Jaya Govinda who has so nicely sketched the story of the Grand Procession. I think in each and every issue a similar story sketch may be printed,== and it will be very interesting for the American reading public. It is interesting and thought provoking. Therefore, the more we print such sketch stories it will be greater in appreciation." (SPL to Rayarama, February, 1968) ==68-10 "Jaya Govinda, your article, 'Hrsikesa' is published in Back to Godhead. It has come out very nice. If you send such articles of different pilgrimages, that will be also a great service. You have got artistic idea, so please take courage and act enthusiastically."== ([[letters/1968/681013_janaki|Acyutananda and Jaya Govinda, 13 October, 1968]]) *** 68-10 "Your idea of issuing a special issue concerning the *varnasrama-dharma* and Gandhis movement, is a very good idea. And actually India's position is now degraded; it is not advancing. They have lost their original culture and now they are begging from outside. So actually they have not gained by sacrificing their original culture. Of course, this superficial loss of original culture is visible only to the so-called educated person at the present moment and they have become befooled as it is stated in the *Bhagavad-gita: mayayapahrta-jnana* [Bg 7.15] *,* their knowledge has been taken away. ==So if you try to criticize, that will be of some value because you are outside the purview of the Indian government, but do it very carefully, so that you may not offend anyone.== But you must speak the right thing. I shall send you some matters also, that how many rascals and fools are employed in the government service who deride Krsna because they think He was black, therefore low-born. In this way, how much they have become degraded. Jaya Govinda's article on 'Hrsikesa' is very nice. If he sends such articles from India, it will help you very much. Regarding your constitution making, don't be very much hasty, immediately, try to do it slowly. Because your first business is to organize *Back to Godhead* and besides that, whatever you do, first of all send me a copy and then distribute." ([[letters/1968/681015_rayarama|Rayarama, 15 October, 1968]]) ==68-10 "The issue of Back to Godhead which you have sent me is very, very nice, and Krsna is helping you for your sincere efforts. I hope you will continue this attitude and improve both the quality and writing of Back to Godhead nicely.== It is also gratifying that Subala has joined you and also Bhaktijana has come back to assist you. Now I think you have got sufficient staff, and you may not require the help of the boy, Cintamani, in Montreal. I think that he is required there to assist Hamsaduta. I have received one letter from him." ([[letters/1968/681015_rayarama|Rayarama, 15 October, 1968]]) *** 68-10 "So for Jaya Govinda, he can also write nice articles, his article 'Hrsikesa' is nice. ==People will be glad to read such articles in this country. At the same time, people in India will be glad to learn that Krsna consciousness is being preached in Western countries.== In this way, we have to form International Society. So practically now we are in the making of, so you go on drafting the constitution, but don't distribute now. Whatever you do, you first of all show me, and the final copy will be distributed, then we shall call for a meeting and then we shall adopt. Don't distribute immediately. Anyway, try to do it conveniently, there is no haste. But don't distribute anything without showing me. So far the constitution goes, my instruction for the present is this." ([[letters/1968/681017_rayarama|Rayarama, 17 October, 1968]]) ==68-11 "Regarding propaganda against animal slaughter in Back to Godhead, please do not print any picture showing how a cow is being murdered in our Back to Godhead, this will pollute the whole atmosphere.== We are not meant for moving anyone's sentiment against animal slaughter, we are neither Buddhists or Jains, whose main propaganda is against animal slaughter. Even the so-called vegetarians who do not take Krsna *prasadam* are as much sinful as the non-vegetarians. Our propaganda is different, to make people Krsna conscious, which automatically makes them sympathetic against any kind of animal slaughter. According to *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* one living entity subsists on the life of other living entities, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. But we are neither of them. We are not vegetarian nor non-vegetarian. We are transcendental. We are concerned with Krsna *prasadam.* Try to popularize Krsna *prasadam* as you have already done. People will naturally become vegetarian without any ghastly propaganda. The pictures of *Mahajanas* or similar pictures for propagating the *Bhagavata* conclusion should be our objective. Other pictures, there are so many subject matters, just like we follow 4 principles, say for example, illicit sex life, we can publish so many pictures of illicit sex, but that will not advance our cause. Similarly we may make propaganda against animal slaughter, but that will not advance our real cause. Krsna consciousness is based on pure understanding, not by any sentimental provocation. People must be intelligent enough to catch up this Krsna consciousness movement without being carried away by any sentimental wave. We should always remember that we do not belong to any group like the *karmis, jnanis,* or yogis. We belong to pure devotional service group, following the footprints of great *Mahajanas.* Our purpose should be that we are on one side and all others, they are on the other side. We deprecate everyone, even one who is against animal slaughter. In the *Caitanya-caritamrta,* it is clearly said that there are two classes of activities. Pious and impious. We do not favor any one of them. Neither we favor any philosophical speculation, we simply stick to Krsna, and wish to render loving transcendental service unto Him. That should be our main objective, and the policy of *Back to Godhead* must be pursued on this line of action. I hope you will understand me rightly. Everyone who is not a Krsna conscious person is a butcher. Even the so-called pious man, who is not in Krsna consciousness, he is also a butcher. Because he is killing his own self. So in our view, everyone is butcher and everyone is a thief also because he is enjoying Krsna's property. So how we can discriminate who is honest and dishonest, and butcher and not butcher? Our only test is how one is taking to Krsna consciousness. Even a so-called butcher comes, we welcome him to chant Hare Krsna." (SPL to Rayarama, November 19th, 1968) ==68-11 "Find out whether Umapati can translate Back to Godhead into French language. He knows the French language. Or any other boy or girl who can help in translating Back to Godhead into French."== ([[letters/1968/681120_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 20 November, 1968]]) ==68-11 "Begarding your article in Back to Godhead about Ayurvedic medicine, I do not think this is very worthwhile endeavor. You have shown nice ability for writing so it will be more appreciated if you continue to study Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita and express the same by your assimilation. We have enough Krsna consciousness matters to discuss, so there is no need of wasting time with such topics as Ayur-vedic medicine."== (SPL to Nayanabhirama, November 23rd, 1968) 68-12 "You have expressed some new ideas to improve *Back to Godhead,* of the English *Back to Godhead,* but I think that there is no need to interrupt their way of thinking. ==Now you have a chance for your own edition so do it nicely and according to your own ideas. You are an artist, so you have facilities to make a very nice edition to sell to the French public.== Since in Montreal 75% of the populace are speaking French I think you have very good chance to popularize and improve this magazine. ([[letters/1968/681212_ananda|Hamsaduta, 12 December, 1968]]) ==68-12 "I have just received a copy of Back to Godhead Number 21, and please convey my appreciation to Satsvarupa for his excellent article of Lord Ramacandra. Such articles give enjoyment and spiritual benefit to all readers, so he should do more of such writing as he is able.'"== ([[letters/1968/681213_jadurani|Jadurani, 13 December, 1968]]) *** 68-12 "Regarding the article suggested by Rayarama, ==you are correct in your doubts that Radha-Krsna lila should not be discussed in Back to Godhead.== In the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* there are so many philosophical discussions and we should concentrate on these philosophical aspects. Otherwise, the less intelligent will surely understand Radha-Krsna *lila* as simply nonsense boy and girl sex life. Hanuman Prasad Poddar and company are all mundane types and they have no entrance into actual spiritual activities. Superficially, they pose themselves as great devotees, but we can feel their pulse; ultimately they are impersonalists. We should not depend upon writings from such unauthorized sources. ==Strictly we should avoid publishing these confidential topics in Back to Godhead.== This is dangerous for the conditioned soul. Although such Krsna *lila* can do some good to the mundane people in the long run, to understand the philosophical aspects of *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam* in the beginning is essential and will make for good stride in spiritual life. I do not know why Rayarama has asked you to send such article. It is not to my sanction. We shall be very careful about mundane sex life. That is the pivot center of conditioned life. You are intelligent enough and I hope that Krsna will help you in these matters." ([[letters/1968/681231_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 31 December, 1968]]) ==68-12 "I have seen your poetry and it is very nice. Try to write more and to have it published. If you like, I can send you more topics to write poetries about and to versify into the German language. Try to translate articles for a German edition of Back to Godhead, which you can arrange to be printed in Hamburg, as they are printing a French edition from our Montreal center."== (SPL, no name available, to Hamburg center, 31st December, 1968) 69-02 "So far as I understand, the number of regular subscribers is not very satisfactory. *Back to Godhead* is being distributed by individual canvassing only. So if that is the position, then there is no need to publish something which is not pure Krsna consciousness. Purely Krsna consciousness means as you have published the article *Isopanisad,* and similarly we can publish all the *Upanisads,* the *Vedanta-sutra* and many other similar articles. ==The articles like Dr. Spock and the Beach Boys or nonsense book reviews, should be completely avoided.== I know in India, the *Kalyana Kalpataru* paper and similarly other papers do not take any advertisement, neither do they review any book unless it is published by them. So I think we should follow this policy. I shall be glad to hear from you in this connection at your earliest convenience. But for the time being, things may go on as it is, regarding advertisements, so long as you avoid the hippy advertisements as far as possible." ([[letters/1969/690209_rayarama|Rayarama, 9 February, 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 "I have received your very long letter dated February 9, 1969. I have read it very carefully and will reply in due course, but I wish to inform you that the advertisements are not very congenial to our prestige, especially the hippy kind of advertisements. So we have to think over how we can avoid the advertisements and publish at the same time. The hippy advertisements referred to by Purusottama was written to you on my consent. When I look through the back issues, the comic pictures of Vamanadeva, of the hunter, of *The Bride Groom Party,* and such things are very instructive. I think instead of engaging our pages in the matter of book reviews with which we do not agree, we should utilize these pages for such comic pictures. ==On the whole I wish to present Back to Godhead purely in the line of Krsna consciousness throughout and criticism of too much materialism, as you have written many articles already. That is very nice."== ([[letters/1969/690215_rayarama|Rayarama, 15 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "Now our policy should be as follows: 1) the layout should be done by us, 2) there should be no advertisements, 3) under different headings we shall publish articles from *Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Brahma-saḥhitā, The Nectar of Devotion, Vedanta* philosophy, *Upanisads,* etc. as well as comic pictures when possible. Besides that, if some of our students write as they have assimilated the philosophy, that also should be welcome. You say that Rohini Kumara is an artist so he can do comic work. There are other girls there such as Indira who can also do this. So we shall fill up the pages simply with Vedic ideas. ==Now the policy should be straight that this Back to Godhead is completely different from all other magazines. As there are different magazines for different subject matters, this magazine will be simply devoted for Vaisnava philosophy, or the Krsna consciousness movement. That should be our policy.== So immediately you can arrange for two months layout. How are you going to select the articles? I would like to know. We should lay out the subject matter as nicely as possible to our intelligence and capacity, and without any ambition that it must attract customers. They may attract or not attract, it doesn't matter. We are selling *Back to Godhead* through the personal approach, through the *sankirtana* party. So I expect each center to sell 50 copies daily on the average as we have practical experience there. In this way if four centers sell on an average 200 copies daily, then we will come to the point of selling 6,000 copies directly which will cover the expense of printing and other charges. The balance 14,000 copies can be sold by our temples simply on profit. If they are not sold, then we distribute free to different societies, libraries, public institutions, respectable gentlemen, schools, etc. In this way we shall make propaganda. The idea is like that of a Bible Society in India which distributes millions of dollars in the shape of Biblical literature without any consideration of return. Similarly, we have to each sacrifice $750 on this principle. If there is return that is all right, but still we have to do it on a missionary spirit. That is my idea. So try to think on this program and do the needful. I have received the booklet known as *Paramahamsa Sarasvati Goswami* issued by the Gaudiya Mission of London. I can understand that this brochure was written by my Godbrother, Professor Sannyala, but the essay is not very practical. It contains some ideal discussions only, and I know that this Professor Sannyala is personally deviated from all of these ideas. So I don't think it is very much valuable for publishing in *Back to Godhead." ([[letters/1969/690222_rayarama|Rayarama, 22 February, 1969]]) ==69-03 "I thank you very much for your very nice poetry. I am reading it again and again and I shall most probably arrange to publish it in Back to Godhead. The devotees here also have very much appreciated it, and I may encourage you to do more writing of poetry and even articles for our Back to Godhead magazine. I hope you are all well and happy there, and please convey my blessings to all your Godbrothers and sisters there."== ([[letters/1969/690318_nandakisora|Nanda Kisora, 18 March, 1969]]) ==69-04 "These are very excellent, both in appearance and in reading matter. This should be the standard of our Back to Godhead. As in the next issue there will be no advertisements, we shall be able to give substantial reading matter like that of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Teachings of the Golden Avatara.== We have got many such informations from the Vedic literature. The Mayavadis reject the *Puranas,* but actually the *Puranas* are supplementary to the four *Vedas,* the *Upanisads,* and *Vedanta.* This is confirmed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. *Srimad-Bhagavatam* is also considered amongst the *Puranas,* but because the subject matter within is purely transcendental, it is called *Maha-Purana.* So from the *Puranas* we can give many, many instructive articles with nice pictures. Similarly, we can give many valuable articles, even from political or social points of view (although they are not our business), so much so, that the people of the world will have completely novel spiritual ideas. As people in your country are very much receptive to new ideas, I think we can place *Back to Godhead* very nicely with sensible layout. The present issue is excellently done. It is rich in all respects. Your article 'Nine Points' is very instructive. I do not know whether people will take our advice, but we must go on presenting these ideas to the human society. If you are not going to print any more issues in the interval period between this issue and the Japan issue, then I think you can reprint another minimum ten thousand copies for continuing the sales propaganda. I am glad to learn that you are trying to work out things with Hayagriva. I have advised him that he may come also as co-editor. In your previous letter you wanted that the final words in the management of *Back to Godhead* will rest on one person, either on you or Hayagriva. I think that for management it is better to have two heads than one. But even there will be two heads, I still wish that you shall continue as the managing editor as you are doing now. Naturally, the final decisions will rest upon you. And if there is actually any controversy, I think there will not be, then I am always at your service. In a recent letter from Hayagriva, I understand that he is feeling a little disappointment because there was no invitation from your side. I think now you shall invite him and work jointly as you were doing before. I am still sanguine that my decision in the beginning, about you and Hayagriva working as editors for *Back to Godhead,* was very appropriate. I wish to see that both of you, being so intelligent and sincere devotees, shall work together, and then Krsna will help us to propagate this *sankirtana* movement magazine so nicely." ([[letters/1969/690402_rayarama|Rayarama, 2 April, 1969]]) ==69-06 "Now you may please send as many nice photographs of your sankirtana activities as possible to Brahmananda for publication in Back to Godhead. In each issue of Back to Godhead there shall be sufficient pictures of our sankirtana movement with descriptions. I have advised to follow this policy rigidly."== ([[letters/1969/690616_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 16 June, 1969]]) ==69-06 "Send pictures of your activities in this parade and your other activities to Hayagriva for being printed in Back to Godhead."== ([[letters/1969/690617_balabhadra|Balabhadra, 17 June, 1969]]) ==69-07 "So far as sankirtana party is concerned, as many pictures as possible should be published each month. The pictures are very attractive to the customers also. Acyutananda should also be asked to send pictures, as many as possible, from the many Visnu temples in India for publication in Back to Godhead. Back to Godhead should be full with our own articles, and there is no need for articles by outsiders."== ([[letters/1969/690701_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 1 July, 1969]]) ==69-07 "In the Back to Godhead henceforward, the pictures of our sankirtana movement should be inserted as many as possible. The whole idea now in Back to Godhead is a complete ventilation of our ideas that should be exchanged from devotees to devotees by writing bona fide articles along with the other articles. This paper should now be completely a foreword of our movement. So combinedly make it successful."== (Rayarama, 9 July, 1969) ==69-07 "Your article is very nice and gradually you shall improve. Go on writing. It is my policy to publish as many as possible of articles by my disciples. Back to Godhead should contain news of our temples, articles, pictures of our activities, etc. The bunch of pictures you have sent have been fowarded to Brahmananda for publication."== ([[letters/1969/690713_hansadutta|Gaurasundara, 13 July, 1969]]) *** 69-07 "Regarding your proposal of writing a book about child-raising, I == == do not think this is required with all the other writings that we have to do. And besides that, you are not the master of this subject, so who will read such a book? I == == have seen in your article on Mr. Lennon that you have a very nice gift for writing, so better you should utilize this God given talent for writing articles for our *Back to Godhead.* There is immediate necessity for this and for this writing you are qualified because you are a sincere devotee of this Krsna consciousness movement. So why not write nice articles of this philosophy as you have assimilated it? This will be a very great service because ==we are now converting Back to Godhead to exclusively contain articles by my disciples and myself, along with many pictures of our sankirtana activities.== So if you can write some words about Krsna consciousness and send them to Brahmananda in New York, that will be a very nice engagement for you." ([[letters/1969/690715_jadurani|Bibhavati, 15 July, 1969]]) ==69-07 "I am enclosing a picture of Gaurakisora dasa Babaji for printing in Back to Godhead. You may also print pictures of great acaryas in our line, such as Ramanujacarya and Madhvacarya. I have not yet heard any word from Germany about my going there, so this program is not fixed up at present."== ([[letters/1969/690722_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 22 July, 1969]]) ==69-07 "Your idea of changing the cover border to blue is nice. Black color should not be so prominent on the cover. Blue, red and yellow should be given.== You have suggested that on every back cover there will be a picture of me in *Back to Godhead,* but I think a better proposal is that on page one or page three you may have a picture of me one month, then Guru Maharaja, then Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, then Bhaktivinoda Thakura, then Jagannatha dasa Babaji, then Lord Caitanya. This will be very nice, showing the *guru-parampara." ([[letters/1969/690722_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 22 July, 1969]]) *** 69-08 "I am sending herewith a letter addressed to Hayagriva. The second part of the Ginsburg conversation article should not be published, and ==our policy should be to only publish our Krsna consciousness articles in various forms. We are not concerned with any other movement save and except Krsna consciousness in its pure form.== In India it is said that a little bit of a pure thing is much better than huge volumes of impure adulterated things. So please try to follow this policy and publish in *Back to Godhead,* only pure Krsna conscious articles." ([[letters/1969/690827_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 27 August, 1969]]) *** 69-08 "So everything was nice, and I have lectured in the temple on Monday night. Professor Dr. Franz Bernard, a learned scholar in Indology was present. We had a long discussion yesterday evening when he came to see me, and he admitted that all of his philosophical talks were simply wasting time. He remarked another thing, that he had thought of us as hippies because he saw that Ginsberg was the notice board, seemingly like one of our members. From his conversation I understood that people are very badly impressed about Ginsburg, especially respectable persons, on account of his hippy tendencies. I of course supported our case that Ginsburg is a great friend of our Society and we advise everyone to chant Hare Krsna, and I believe he also does so. Anyway, ==we should be very much careful to publish anything in our paper which will give an impression to the public that we are inclined to the hippy movement.== In our papers nothing should be published which has even a small tinge of hippy ideas. I must tell you in this connection that if you have any sympathies with the hippy movement you should kindly give it up." ([[letters/1969/690827_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 27 August, 1969]]) *** 69-08 "So far as "Heroine Govinda Dasi" is concerned, if she has stated directly Ramakrishna as nonsense and rascal, that should not be indulged in. We cannot attack anyone directly in writing. There is a proverb in Sanskrit that you can speak something one thousand times but don't give it in writing. Similarly, ==we may use some strong words against all this nonsense, but if we write it in black and white, that will not be good. So instead of naming these rascals directly, you change the word to 'mental speculators.'"== ([[letters/1969/690830_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 30 August, 1969]]) ==69-09 "So conjointly make the appearance of Back to Godhead very nicely. The front cover page should be a nicely painted picture. You write that Jadurani is now painting wonderful pictures, so pictures by either Jadurani, Muralidhara or Devahuti should be given on the front page. The present front page picture is not very attractive as they were in the last issues. A first-class picture should always be given on the front page."== ([[letters/1969/690909_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 9 September, 1969]]) ==69-09 "I am very much encouraged to learn that Jadurani is painting very nice pictures, and all of them can be utilized one after another to come out on the front page of Back to Godhead.== Later on, when we print *Krsna,* they will come together. In issue No. 27, the marriage pictures have come out super-excellent. They will give nice teachings to the people of your country how we are harnessing the confused younger generations under the protection of Lord Visnu. Uddhava has also written a very good article, and I appreciate this very much." ([[letters/1969/690909_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 9 September, 1969]]) ==69-09 "Regarding Back to Godhead No. 27 it is nicely done, but there is no mention of the words 'Back to Godhead' on each page. Why this mistake has been done? Besides that, some of the headings, like 'Parts and Parcels' are not very prominent, while at the same time there are many places where empty space is found. If some space is available the heading should be broader. Henceforward, we shall try to avoid the Beatles or hippy's articles, because they have no spiritual importance."== ([[letters/1969/690909_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 9 September, 1969]]) ==69-09 "I have seen the pictures of your kirtana sent by Sacisuta, and they are all marvellous. Please print them in Back to Godhead. All sankirtana photographs should be collected, and one after another they should be printed in Back to Godhead. So far as printing part of the Krsna book in Back to Godhead, that is also very nice."== (SPL to Brahmananda, September 19th, 1969) ==69-10 "Regarding our books, the scholarly way should be followed. That means as Dr. Radhakrishnan and Bon Maharaja do it, and as Dr. Singh recommends. In all our books and magazines henceforward the whole process should be changed. Whatever is done in the past forget. Now everything should be revised and presented in the scholarly way. That means throughout Krishna should be spelled Krsna, Visnu should be spelled Visnu and Chaitanya should be spelled Caitanya, etc. I think this will clear the whole thing and there will be no more maya impediment."== (SPL to Pradyumna, October 13th, 1969) ==69-10 "In Back to Godhead the Rasa-lila episode cannot be published.== We are writing on the activities of Krsna and the *Rasa-lila* is one of the most important pastimes of His transcendental activities. Therefore it must be published in the book, but ==it cannot be published in any public paper. That is the instruction of my Guru Maharaja.== Actually, *Rasa-lila* means to curb down the lusty propensities of the conditioned soul. Unfortunately, it acts differently on the conditioned soul if he is not prepared to understand what is Krsna. So do not try to print this." ([[letters/1969/691015_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 15 October, 1969]]) ==69-10 "I want that in all of our books, magazines and other writings the scholarly presentation be given in all instances, so for every Sanskrit word there must be the appropriate spelling and diacritic marks. Regarding your question about Back to Godhead containing more than one essay by me in certain issues, you may use your own judgement in this connection."== (SPL to Satsvarupa, October 26th, 1969) 69-11 "The *Back to Godhead* will be complete when the headings of the essays are bolder and on each page the name of *Back To Godhead* is printed. The titlehead on the front cover is quite suitable, and the picture in the front page is exceedingly beautiful. I showed it to Gurudasa and he remarked that it is super-excellent and he expects it to sell very well because of this picture. I think similar pictures from Western centers should be printed. The New York *sankirtana* party is also super-excellent. ==I am very much pleased to see all these pictures and our magazines give information to the people that we do not stick only to the cities, but we train people in the remote villages also. So everything should be done very attentively and amicably."== ([[letters/1969/691107_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 7 November, 1969]]) ==69-12 "I am very pleased that Jayadvaita Brahmacari will be going to Boston soon for typing Back to Godhead and our books. He is the first-class typist in our Society so far I have heard, so he can create so many assistants. In the meantime, I have also asked Pradyumna and his wife to go there. I understand that you have spoken to him on the telephone."== ([[letters/1969/691202_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 2 December, 1969]]) *** 69-12 "Regarding *Back to Godhead,* I am so glad that you are printing 50,000 copies henceforward. I have received also your press management report, so the only thing to be amended there is that all books especially must be twice edited, once by Satsvarupa and once by Hayagriva. ==In every publication house all printing matters are edited at least three times. So we should be very much careful about grammatical and printing mistakes.== That will mar the prestige of the press and the institution." ([[letters/1969/691210_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 10 December, 1969]]) *** 70-01 "Regarding *Back to Godhead,* I have already sent you my remarks in my last letter to you and it appears that it is not to the standard of Japanese printing. The cutting of the magazine is not uniform and the paper is lighter. Anyway, this is the first attempt, so there is nothing to be disturbed. ==Let us improve more and more, but we must always remember the standard of printing and also we should keep this motto in view that to have our own press means to do nicer work than the outside printers."== ([[letters/1970/700124_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 24 January, 1970]]) ==70-02 "Back to Godhead articles are generally seen by the editors and it is better that we stress on our own philosophy than to indulge in some hodgepodge philosophy which is basically unauthorized. In our present Back to Godhead publications we are trying to follow this policy."== ([[letters/1970/700203_mandali_bhadra|Mandali Bhadra, 3 February, 1970]]) *** 70-05 "In the last portion of your letter you write to say, "I need to have this back immediately for publication in the upcoming issue of *Back to Godhead.* " So I can advise you that you can publish it as it is, and if there is any discrepancy we will rectify it in the future. ==The policy on the Back to Godhead should be—always writing articles which can be understood by people in general.== Vedic literatures like *Brahma-saḥhitā* may be published in separate books, but assimilated ideas may be published in *Back to Godhead." ([[letters/1970/700513_pradyumna|Pradyumna, 13 May, 1970]]) ==70-07 "I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 13th July 1970 along with one poem which I have read and sent on to the editors of Back to Godhead. Some time back you sent another poetry which I have also sent to the editors; these poetics are nice, but now if you would write some articles for our Back to Godhead that will be even better. Now you have got some good understanding of our Krsna consciousness so you write it for publication."== ([[letters/1970/700719_yogesvara|Yogesvara, 19 July, 1970]]) *** 70-09 "I am in due receipt of your letter dated 23rd August as well as the German *Zuruck zur Gottheit.* This masthead was submitted to me by Jaya Govinda and I approved of it, but I advised him to put the words *Back to Godhead,* as it is. ==The idea is that the original name, Back to Godhead, even it goes to foreign country it should continue to be the same.== As you can see from other important magazines like *Life* and *Time,* they are distributed in foreign countries is the same name without being translated into the local language. If you think that such change will be more convenient, I have no objection—such change means, instead of *Back to Godhead, Zuruck zur Gottheit." ([[letters/1970/700902_hansadutta|Hamsaduta, 2 September, 1970]]) ==70-11 "So far as minimizing the use of Sanskrit words in Back to Godhead, that is very nice. There is no need for so much Sanskrit. Therefore I object to the Brahma-saḥhitā edition. I use Sanskrit, but the purport I give immediately."== (SPL to Satsvarupa, November 28th, 1970) 71-01 "Some improvements in the format of the magazine can be made though. ==For our English edition I have instructed Satsvarupa that there should only be one article by myself, no more than four pages in length, and that the remainder of the magazine should be made up of articles by our students.== Also, so far as the order of presentation, first my Guru Maharaja or senior *acaryas,* then myself, then our *sannyasis,* and then other students. In this way you can present our French *Back to Godhead* and that will be very nice." (SPL to Gopala Krsna, January 21st, 1971) ==71-05 "So far as Back to Godhead is concerned, the answers to your questions are as follows: recipes are all right if you think that there is such a public demand but just recipes no pictures. Yes, parts of my letters may be reprinted as a second article by me. No drawings should appear in the magazine. Yes, a question and answer article is very nice, and letters from interested persons may also be published. On other matters you can use your own discretion."== (SPL to Satsvarupa, May 26th, 1971) 71-06 "So far as publishing songs in *Back to Godhead,* I have translated two or three songs of Narottama dasa Thakura only, but if you like, I can send you more songs and ideas. I have sent some poems by our disciples here along the line of Narottama dasa Thakuras songs. Do you like them enough to publish? ... ==I am enclosing one letter from a new boy in Japan. He was going to commit suicide but came to Krsna instead. This may make an interesting topic for Back to Godhead== in the new type of article you described in your last letter." (SPL to Satsvarupa, June 12th, 1971) 71-07 =="The subject matter of Back to Godhead should be very grave. It should not be made a joking, comical literature. The subject matter is that everyone should know who is Krsna.== So present it in philosophical way but with simple language. The next subject matter is our relationship with Krsna. Then how we fulfill our life's ambition in Krsna consciousness. So all these subject matters should be made understandable by the people in general, but we should be very grave in our presentation." (SPL to Satsvarupa, July 27th, 1971) 71-12 =="Your idea for five different articles in Back to Godhead monthly is very nice. I like your topical articles' also. Keep them simple and Krsna conscious, avoiding too much bending to the public taste,== but if they are appropriate to current problems, then it is a nice proposal. Rayarama tried this too but his style was not very appealing to me. Actually, people are seeking after transcendental reading matter more and more, so if we stick to our standard, as I have given you, then there is no doubt they will come to read our magazines in great numbers. Now make it very attractive, with our Krsna conscious subject matter as you have outlined, and our *Back to Godhead* will be very much in demand, without further changes. I have seen one Christian newspaper which is trying to attract the readers by resort to fashionable phrases and materialistic themes of mass public interest—simply because they have not got any real substance, and for attracting they offer what they think the public might like, such as sex, crimes, amusements, like that. That is not our method. We have got such stock of real substance that alone it is sufficient to capture the readers, without such ordinary tricks and commercial formulas." (SPL to Satsvarupa, December 17th, 1971) 72-02 "I am very glad to hear that Louise Bourassa has joined us. Thank her for understanding our philosophy. She is Ph.D. so she may translate all of my books into French language in cooperation with Yogesvara at ISKCON Press in New York, who is in charge of foreign languages printing of my books. ==She may also write an article for Back to Godhead, why she came to Krsna consciousness and comparing our philosophy to others."== (SPL to Rudra dasa and Radhika devi dasi, February 20th, 1972) 72-04 "Regarding *Back to Godhead,* my plan is this, that you shall simply translate from our English issues and reproduce the writing and insert it wherever there is writing in the English version. They have already got the plates in Japan, so you will not require to have any photos, simply translate into Hindi the English text and lay it out in exactly the same columns on the page. Every publication you translate should be done just like this. Now send immediately one composed *Back to Godhead* to Tokyo immediately and I shall get it begun. I am very glad to hear that you are all happy in Vrndavana and that our *sankirtana* party from Radha Damodara temple to our new place is being appreciated. Please continue this. ==You have retired from material life and Krsna has given you the nicest place in this material world to live in, so stick there and every month send one Back to Godhead [in] Hindi composition to Tokyo.== Radha Raman Goswami is there with you so you work together and do this job nicely." ([[letters/1972/720418_ksirodakasayi|Ksirodakasayi, 18 April, 1972]]) *** 72-05 "Please accept my blessings. In your last letter you informed me that Dr. Rao (Ramananda dasa) had come to see you in Varanasi, but he could not find you at that time. Will you immediately open correspondence with him? His address is as follows: Dr. Ravindra Pratap Rao, Reader in Chemistry, Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, U. P., India. Just now I have received a report from Ksirodakasayi dasa of Vrndavana that Ramananda is not nowadays translating our literature into Hindi. You may know it from me that the idea of starting the Hindi paper generated when Ramananda took charge of taking the editorship of the paper. Now he is indirectly declining. I do not know what is the reason. Both Ksirodakasayi and Ramananda took charge of publishing the Hindi *Back to Godhead 'Bhagavata Darsana,'* but Ramananda has stopped translating, and Ksirodakasayi says that he is not a perfect translator. Another boy, Radharaman Goswami, he has left, so far I understand, so this is the position of the Hindi *Back to Godhead.* ==I shall be glad to know if you can translate our literature into Hindi with the help of some friends in Varanasi. Varanasi is the learning site for the Hindi language. Can you take charge of this translation work somehow or other?== Then it will be a great service to the Lord. I shall be glad to hear from you immediately. Treat this letter as very urgent, and reply me by return post to our Los Angeles address." ([[letters/1972/720510_niranjana|Niranjana, 10 May, 1972]]) *** 74-05 "Please accept my blessings. I have just received a copy *of Back to Godhead* number 62 and I wish to express to you how pleased I am with the layout and design of the magazine. I have been especially admiring the pictures in the story of our Los Angeles center, and the way the pictures are placed and the use of the color throughout the magazine is very pleasing to me. I think this American company Donnelly, is better than Dai Nippon and the magazine is improving more and more. ==Try to keep up this present standard and think of new ways to make it always fresh and attractive. Krsna is all attractive and evergreen, and you must use your talent to layout the magazine so that Krsna appears in print as He is.== Thank you very much and offer my good wishes to Jayadvaita and everyone who has worked on this issue." ([[letters/1974/740525_indra-pramada|Indra Pramada dasa, 25 May, 1974]]) ==74-05 "My only idea was to point out to the public that unless you have purified leaders there is no possibility of advancement even in the material condition. I had no idea to spend money and energy of our Society in a way which is not our real spiritual life. As for the Harmonist articles, they are not bad, but the same thing could be presented in our Back to Godhead."== ([[letters/1974/740528_rupanuga|Rupanuga Maharaja, 28 May, 1974]]) ==75-05 "I welcome your suggestion. I have advised my assistants to publish one chapter in each issue from the Bhagavata Maha-Purana. This will contain the devanagari script as well as the Roman script. I thank you very much for your suggestion"== ([[letters/1975/750511_brijratanji|Brijratanji, 11 May, 1975]]) ==75-05 "Please accept my blessings. From now on, include one chapter from Srimad-Bhagavatam in every issue of Back to Godhead magazine. You can start with the first chapter of the first canto and continue. You should reproduce the chapter as it is in the book, in other words, with the devanagari script, word meanings, transliteration, etc. If a chapter is very, very big it can be given in two issues."== ([[letters/1975/750511_hansadutta|Jayadvaita dasa, 11 May, 1975]]) ==76-08 "By the way, there has been some disturbance created by the publishing of a few comments on Vallabhacarya in Back to Godhead - Volume number ten, number eight, page five, column three, paragraph two. Kindly avoid comments such as these in future publications."== ([[letters/1976/760828_mr._gupta|Jagannatha Suta dasa, 28 August, 1976]]) *** 76-09 "Regarding the editorial policy of the *Back to Godhead* , if the editorial board is not expert enough they should be changed. Dr. O.B.L. Kapoor also had put a similar complaint. Yes, scientific articles must be published when sent by our men. I cannot see every article, but some of you should examine why nice articles are rejected. See if the board can be changed. ==If experienced editors are not there it will be an unpopular magazine. These things are to be seen to immediately by the GBC.== The board should be judged immediately and be changed if required." ([[letters/1976/760923_rupanuga|Rupanuga dasa, 23 September, 1976]]) ## Advertisements in BTG 68-10 "Regarding your present edition of *Back to Godhead:* ==I have already informed you in my previous letter that it has become very nice and try to continue the effort improving the quality, and I think you are getting good advertisement also.== And if the advertisement income is increased, you can increase the pages and reading matter along with it. You should simply accept advertisement collection for publication costs—namely, the paper and printing costs. So at present if you try to get more advertisements I think there will be no difficulty. Similarly, induce Jaya Govinda and Acyutananda in India to get advertisement. If they try, people will be very glad to give advertisement in our paper, even they will be glad to mention their name only, that this space is donated by such and such. They will pay. They are prepared to pay like that. Many people are publishing nonsense magazines and they are collecting money in that way. So this is a Vaisnava magazine, and in Bombay especially, there are many Vaisnavas rich men, merchants, they will be very glad that Krsna consciousness is being preached in America and they will donate space. They have got money. So let these two boys work in that way and distribute *Back to Godhead* free, and simply collect money for donation of space, and increase the volume of writing. I think both you and Brahmananda will request them to do that, instead of sitting idly and talking sometimes to become this and that." ([[letters/1968/681017_rayarama|Rayarama, 17 October, 1968]]) ==69-01 "Regarding the securing of advertisements, this responsibility should be divided among three centers, namely New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.== Purusottama has already gotten some advertisements for you, and he is teaching Sudama to help him also in Los Angeles. In San Francisco, both Chidananda and Dinadayala will be trying for this also. In New York, Gargamuni and Nayanabhirama should work in this way also. Nayanabhirama did nicely in securing advertisements for this last issue, so I think he is skillful enough to be very helpful for the next issue also. If advertisements are sold in many different cities, it will add prestige to the magazine, because people will see that we are getting advertisements from all over." ([[letters/1969/690128_rayarama|Rayarama, 28 January, 1969]]) ==69-02 "Regarding advertisements in Back to Godhead, I am not at all in favor of it.== I was obliged to suggest you take advertisements because the magazine was not coming out regularly due to lack of funds, but practically I see the magazine is not improving by accepting these advertisements. So in the future, say after the next issue, we shall stop taking advertisement because it is not satisfactory. If we print however, twenty thousand copies, we can accept one page of advertisements, fixing up our rate at not less than $100 per page. And this advertisement also must be to our scrutinization. We cannot accept advertisements from anyone and everyone, rather it will be our motto to avoid advertisements. So far as I know, in India, the *Kalyana Kalpataru* paper edited by Hanuman Prasad Poddar, does not accept any advertisements. Nor do they review any nonsense book published by others, and they have got a respectable position. Similarly we have to create a respectable position for our *Back to Godhead.* Actually it is the only single paper of its nature, describing the science of God in full detail, published in the Western world." ([[letters/1969/690205_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 5 February, 1969]]) ==69-02 "...I wish to inform you that the advertisements are not very congenial to our prestige, especially the hippy kind of advertisements. So we have to think over how we can avoid the advertisements and publish at the same time. The hippy advertisements referred to by Purusottama was written to you on my consent."== ([[letters/1969/690215_rayarama|Rayarama, 15 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "Regarding *Back to Godhead* , the advertisements which you are now getting, especially the hippy advertisements, are not very good. Therefore, I am thinking of avoiding these advertisements. But so far as I understand, if we stop the advertisements immediately, the publication would be stopped altogether. So I do not wish to take such drastic way. I will be glad to know if you will submit to me an account of what is the actual expenditures and income for our *Back to Godhead* publication. Then we shall try to find out the money by some other means and then stop the advertisements. Eventually we wish to publish only purely Krsna conscious articles up to forty-eight pages per month. So please inform me of the actual expenditures, income and also exactly how many hands are engaged in putting together an issue. Please list the names of your helpers and what is their specific duty." ([[letters/1969/690209_rayarama|Rayarama, 9 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "Regarding your efforts for securing advertisements for *Back to Godhead,* ==the best thing would be if we could stop these advertisements, but the difficulty is that without advertisements it would be very difficult to continue this magazine.== So, under the circumstances, if you and other devotees can secure at least $100 per month for *Back to Godhead,* then it will not be necessary for you in San Francisco to obtain money by getting advertisements. Please consider on this point and let me know your ideas." ([[letters/1969/690211_cidananda|Cidananda, 11 February, 1969]]) *** 69-03 "So far *Back to Godhead* advertisements are concerned, we can accept advertisements in this way—that only two lines shall be mentioned of the name and address of the advertiser, as follows: This space donated by such and such. That means we can add their name and address only and the nature of their business. The charges for this sort of advertisement should be inside $100 and when on the cover page, $200. In other words, if they are prepared to pay $200 per month then we can publish one Krsna picture with these lines only (two lines), that this space is donated by such and such. ==Henceforward, we shall very much be cautious to accept bona fide advertisements, if we do accept it at all."== ([[letters/1969/690323_brahmanandaa|Brahmananda, 23 March, 1969]]) *** 69-04 "These are very excellent both in appearance and in reading matter. This should be the standard of our *Back to Godhead.* ==As in the next issue there will be no advertisements, we shall be able to give substantial reading matter like that of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Teachings of the Golden Avatara.== We have got many such informations from the Vedic literature. The Mayavadis reject the *Puranas,* but actually the *Puranas* are supplementary to the four *Vedas,* the *Upanisads,* and *Vedanta.* This is confirmed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. *Srimad-Bhagavatam* is also considered amongst the *Puranas,* but because the subject matter within is purely transcendental, it is called *Maha-Purana.* So from the *Puranas* we can give many, many instructive articles with nice pictures. Similarly, we can give many valuable articles, even from political or social points of view (although they are not our business), so much so, that the people of the world will have completely novel spiritual ideas. As people in your country are very much receptive to new ideas, I think we can place *Back to Godhead* very nicely with sensible layout." ([[letters/1969/690402_rayarama|Rayarama, 2 April, 1969]]) ==69-07 "So far as ads are concerned, only our own books should be advertised, nothing else."== ([[letters/1969/690701_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 1 July, 1969]]) ==69-07 "Regarding your plan for advertising membership in Back to Godhead, that is nice. I do not see how we can insist that all members must follow the four regulative principles, but this is certainly our recommendation to anyone who is serious about pursuing Krsna consciousness."== ([[letters/1969/690716_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 16 July, 1969]]) ==71-04 "Your idea for selling advertisements for Ratha-yatra issue of Back to Godhead is very good. This idea we have implemented both in Bombay and Calcutta and it has proven very good for collecting money. In Calcutta they are collecting at a rate of Rs. 5000/- per day."== ([[letters/1971/710426_karandhara|Karandhara, 26 April, 1971]]) *** 71-12 "I beg to acknowledge your letter of 17 December, 1971, along with copies of your advertising work, slides, and Dutch *Back to Godhead.* I am very pleased to see that the foreign literature is being produced nicely under your enthusiastic supervision. Just try to increase more and more our output of such books and magazines in many languages—otherwise how will preaching go on in these places?... ==I don't think there is need to divert your attention by producing advertising.== I have seen your advertisements as shown to me by Syama-sundara, and I think you have made the thing less important. This kind of ad is not good, it is not grave. Our process is to show Krsna consciousness as it is, not as others want to see it. By showing Krsna consciousness in this way, you are making the thing less important. It is not that we should change to accommodate the public, but that we should change the public to accommodate us. Better you devote your full time to one thing only, not many things. That way your enthusiasm and talents will have big effect by being concentrated. Therefore, kindly concentrate for producing books and magazines in European languages, as many as possible, and make this your life work. ==These books are the best advertising, they are better than advertising.== If we simply present Krsna consciousness in a serious and attractive way, without need to resort to fashionable slogans or tricks, that is sufficient. Our unique asset is our purity. No one any where can match it. That will be noticed eventually and appreciated, as long as we do not diminish or neglect the highest standard of purity in performing our routine work, not that we require to display or announce ourselves in very clever ways to get attention. No, our pure standard is enough. Let us stand on that basis." ([[letters/1971/711228_yogesvara|Yogesvara, 28 December, 1971]]) ==74-09 "I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 3rd, 1974. I have the proposed advertisements for Back to Godhead and I approve them. I have also seen the article by Brahmananda Swami and it has been returned to you with Dayananda together with corrections."== ([[letters/1974/740914_jayatirtha|Jayadvaita dasa, 14 September, 1974]]) ==74-09 "The advertisement proposals for Back to Godhead are approved by me. Yes, you use your American ingenuity in this way to spread Krsna consciousness."== ([[letters/1974/740914_jayatirtha|Visakha devi, 14 September, 1974]]) ==75-02 "Back to Godhead is not meant for advertising ISKCON Food Relief."== ([[letters/1975/750202_sahadeva|Rupanuga dasa, 2 February, 1975]]) ## Distribution of BTG ==67-08 "I also very much appreciate the work you are doing in trying to promote my books and recording, and I am very glad to know that the new Back to Godhead is selling well. These publications are the backbone of our movement, and if we can distribute them successfully, then everything will be all right."== ([[letters/1967/670825_pradyumna|Pradyumna, 25 August, 1967]]) ==68-02 "Yes, if you can find out some distributing agent for our Back to Godhead that is very good. Please do it."== ([[letters/1968/680228_mukunda_janaki|Mukunda and Janaki, 28 February, 1968]]) ==68-05 "You can write to your Godbrothers in different centers, that if they do not send regularly the money for sales of the magazine, it will not be possible to continue the paper."== ([[letters/1968/680510_dayananda|Rayarama, 10 May, 1968]]) *** 68-05 "So far from my side, I can say that if you have got a party who can travel with you, then you can travel with them for some time with the *sankirtana* party. If you go in the bus with your *sankirtana* party, then we must sell our literatures, magazines, books, records, etc. The whole institution is not in very sound financial position, so we should always remember this position and try to sell our articles so that we may again publish our books and literatures. *Back to Godhead* is already in difficulty for financial matters. ==It is giving me some anxiety. Back to Godhead publication may not be stopped—it will be a great set-back for our missionary purpose."== ([[letters/1968/680514_subala|Hamsaduta, 14 May, 1968]]) *** 68-06 "I have not heard anything from you in long time so what is the situation with publication of our *Back to Godhead?* == == So I am anxious to know when it will be again published and if it can be regularly printed, even on our mimeograph machine. It == is too important and it must be distributed regularly, as it is the backbone of our mission. So, even it is not printed very expensively and highly, still it must be distributed even in mimeograph copy.== And then in future we can print it very nicely, when there is money there to do it. So please see to it, and please let me know the position by return of post as soon as possible." ([[letters/1968/680608_rayarama|Rayarama, 8 June, 1968]]) ==68-09 "Now you have to print a large number of Back to Godheads every month. I think only in California area, you shall be able to sell 3,000 copies per month, since the sankirtana party is moving and people are purchasing very gladly. So you can expect golden days very soon. And you must prepare yourself for this purpose."== ([[letters/1968/680927_rayarama|Rayarama, 27 September, 1968]]) *** 68-10 "Anyway, I am so much pleased that your program of *kirtana* and Krsna consciousness is going on well there, although you have not yet got your own temple. Why don't you get *Back to Godhead* from New York? Here the *sankirtana* party, headed by Jayananda and Tamala Krsna, is doing very nicely. They are collecting an average $45 daily, as contributions, and selling an average of one hundred copies of *Back to Godhead.* ==So try to get immediately copies of Back to Godhead from New York and try to sell them in large quantities. That is our back-hone."== ([[letters/1968/681001_mukunda|Mukunda, 1 October, 1968]]) *** 69-01 "Similarly, ==the sales of Back to Godhead should be divided more evenly amongst our centers. Not that one or two temples do all of the selling and all of the others should simply sleep.== Los Angeles can sell 1,500 copies, and similarly, New York and San Francisco should sell at least an equal amount of copies apiece. The other centers should sell the remainder of the copies, and if necessary, you can print more. Also, you should have the centers pay for their copies immediately upon receipt. If they do not have the money, then they must secure it by working, but somehow or other this system must be introduced so that you will not always be in financial difficulties for printing future issues. Also, I would be very much interested to see records of how much you are spending and earning in production and sales and advertisements for *Back To Godhead." ([[letters/1969/690128_rayarama|Rayarama, 28 January, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "So far as *Back to Godhead* is concerned, Purusottama has appointed one selling agent in Los Angeles who has agreed to take four hundred copies per month. There are at least three hundred big cities in your country, and if we can appoint one selling agent only in each city, consuming an average of one hundred copies only, the total quantity comes to thirty thousand copies. This is not an Utopian idea. It is completely practical. Simply we have to arrange and organize. ==To distribute one hundred copies in a big city like Los Angeles, New York or San Francisco is not at all difficult.== Simply it requires the talent of organization. So expecting on this calculation that in the near future we shall be able to distribute at least thirty thousand copies of *Back to Godhead,* you can immediately take quotations from Dai Nippon for regular twenty thousand copies minimum per month. If their quotation is suitable, we will immediately take the risk and print twenty thousand copies per month....So we have to create a unique position for this paper, at least in the Western world. Anyway, that will depend upon our future capacity, but for the present time we can immediately take a quotation from Dai Nippon, what they will charge us for twenty thousand copies every month. Now I have given my definite opinion about printing my books at Dai Nippon and printing *Back to Godhead,* so you can do the needful." ([[letters/1969/690205_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 5 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "Anyway, the whole thing is depending upon you because I cannot possibly divert my attention. But if I receive some contribution from each center for publishing *Back to Godhead* regularly that will be a nice program so that we may not have to depend on advertisements or sales. ==Each center should take responsibility of contributing some money towards the publication of Back to Godhead, instead of depending upon each center for selling Back to Godhead.== For example, if a center contributes $100, we send them copies at cost price to the amount and it doesn't matter whether they sell it or not. It doesn't matter if they sell it or not. But we must have the monthly contribution. The copies which are not sold may be distributed free to schools, libraries, influential gentlemen etc. This will greatly further our propaganda, and I am thinking in these terms. I have received one letter from Subala regarding his circular letter to different centers and the reply is enclosed herewith. I can induce Los Angeles to pay $750, and we can deliver them 5,000 copies, similarly, if San Francisco contributes $750 we can deliver them 5,000 copies. So far as Los Angeles and San Francisco are concerned, I can ask the boys to work and pay $750 positively every month. Similarly, if New York is agreed to work and pay $750 then the whole question is solved and we can print 20,000 copies immediately from Dai Nippon. I do not know if it is practical but to my mind, if New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles agree to pay $750 each month there is no problem." (SPL to Rayarama 15th February, 1969) 69-02 "Regarding *Back to Godhead,* if Dai Nippon will come down to $1,500 for 20,000 copies or even if they charge a little more, we should immediately accept, setting the magazine at first at thirty-two pages, one only color cover picture as in issue Number twenty-two, and three black and white pictures within and no advertisements. It should all be reading matter of Krsna consciousness articles. ==I am negotiating with the principal centers for consuming 5,000 copies at least and paying $750 contribution, no matter if the copies are sold or not.== The price should be fifty cents and the papers quality may be as it is now. In that way set up negotiations so that from Number twenty-five we may be able to print from Dai Nippon, and they have to deliver 10,000 copies to Los Angeles or San Francisco, 5,000 copies to New York and 5,000 to London. These four centers may distribute the issues to the smaller centers as they are able." ([[letters/1969/690217_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 17 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "I am very glad to learn that your *sankirtana* party is taking shape, and you hope to inaugurate on-the-streets program in a few weeks. Now you should also start a program for selling our *Back to Godheads* along with the *sankirtana* as Tamala Krsna is doing here. Along with the *sankirtana* party, they are selling daily not less than 100 copies. Sometimes the sale is 120-130 copies. Besides that, Purusottama is distributing *Back to Godhead* to some distributor in Los Angeles. ==My next program is to distribute at least 20,000 copies of Back to Godhead from four centers, namely, New York, London, Los Angeles and San Francisco.== So each of these centers will contribute $750 and they will get 5,000 copies free delivery to the destination. That means they will get the copies at 15 cents each and the price fixed up will be 50 cents. So even by wholesale distribution the centers will get at least 30 cents per copy and that means a 15 cents profit. If all the 5,000 copies are not sold, then we shall distribute the remaining copies to schools, colleges, libraries and institutions etc. free of charge. This propaganda has to begin immediately. Please let me know your opinion. Los Angeles has already agreed, and I am very much encouraged and I hope you will also agree and encourage me. So on receipt of your confirmation I shall immediately arrange for printing 20,000 copies beginning from the latest April, 1969." ([[letters/1969/690217_mukunda|Mukunda, 17 February, 1969]]) ==69-02 "Regarding printing 20,000 copies of Back to Godhead, I have appealed to four centers, namely New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and London to contribute $750 monthly.== I have got confirmation from Los Angeles, so I shall be glad to hear from New York also whether this center is going to hand over to me $750 per month. I have no objection if this $750 is collected in the way of advertisements from New York, but charges will be increased because we are going to print 20,000 henceforward. So we shall charge $100 per page and we shall not accept any advertisements from the hippies. So who is going to pay me this $750? If I get $750 from the four centers then I shall take charge of distribution; because Brahmananda has already taken responsibility for distributing the books, I simply want this contribution continually at least for six months against delivery of 5,000 copies of *Back to Godhead.* If I am able to print 20,000 copies continually for six months, perhaps I will no longer require the contribution from the different centers. Therefore, please ask Subala or anyone else in New York center who is going to collect this $750 and pay me." ([[letters/1969/690220_rayarama|Rayarama, 20 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "We are selling *Back to Godhead* through the personal approach, through the *sankirtana* party. So I expect each center to sell 50 copies daily on the average as we have practical experience here. In this way if four centers sell on an average 200 copies daily, then we come to the point of selling 6,000 copies directly which will cover the expense of printing and other charges. The balance 14,000 copies can be sold by the temples simply on profit. If they are not sold, then we distribute free to different societies, libraries, public institutions, respectable gentlemen, schools, etc. In this way we shall make propaganda. ==The idea is like that of a Bible Society in India which distributes millions of dollars in the shape of biblical literature without any consideration of return. Similarly, we have to each sacrifice $750 on this principle. If there is return that is all right, but still we have to do it on a missionary spirit.== That is my idea. So try to think on this program and do the needful." ([[letters/1969/690222_rayarama|Rayarama, 22 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "Please accept my blessings. I have duly received all of your elaborate letters and there are so many points to reply, it will take time to reply you properly. In the meantime, my request to you is that you take very seriously our program of *Back to Godhead,* and as you have promised to contribute your quota of $750 per month against delivery of 5,000 copies of *Back to Godhead,* I am so much obliged to you all. Now who will work and who will not work, that is a consideration between yourselves. It is local affairs and how can I advise you that one is to do something and another is to do something? Neither you should depend upon me for such local administrative business. All of you are sincere devotees pledged to the missionary activities, so you should sit together and decide what to do and what not to do. But ==I am begging from you $750 per month against 5,000 copies of Back to Godhead. Out of this 5,000 copies if you simply sell 1,500 copies you immediately realize your $750.== The balance of 3,500 copies will be in your hands. If you can sell them at any price, not less than thirty cents per copy to stores, then whatever amount you realize will be clear profit for the temple. If still there is some balance copies then these copies we can distribute free by post to heads of the society, schools, colleges, libraries and so many other institutions. So we have to make a list of them and take concession rates from the Post Office. In this way we can make vigorous propaganda with *Back to Godhead.* Besides that, if you can introduce *sankirtana* and classes and *Back to Godhead* in Berkeley, that will be another great advantage. So I am reading your letters carefully and I shall answer them duly. In the meantime, you consider my appeal and do the needful jointly. For Aniruddha my instruction is that immediately there is no program in New Vrndavana because unless there are suitable houses for residence, we cannot begin any work there. So I have instructed Hayagriva to make houses first. Then we can consider programs for going there. Now there are other important matters such as *Back to Godhead* which we should try for." (SPL to Cidananda, Dinadayala, Aniruddha, Makhanlal, 23rd February, 1969) 69-02 "Regarding the *Back to Godhead* scheme, the idea is that you pay $750 and receive 5,000 copies. Now you distribute this as you like. If you sell for fifty cents per copy, then it comes to $2,500, but I do not think it will be possible to sell them all at fifty cents retail price. So you appoint stores to sell copies, and you will get thirty cents per copy for these without fail. You are purchasing for fifteen cents so even selling wholesale you make profit of fifteen cents. If you sell 3,500 copies at wholesale price the intake is $1,050. If you are not able to sell all of the copies, then still you should have an income profit of at least $500, selling at the wholesale price. If you make more profit you should do so, and I have no objections. But whatever you sell after the 1,500 copies sold retail, is profit for your temple. Whatever balance has not been sold will be distributed free and you should apply for concession rates at the Post Office. In Los Angeles we have already applied and the postage charge will be about three cents or four cents an issue. So as far as I am concerned I shall collect about $3,000 monthly. Out of this 2,000 is to be paid to Dai Nippon, and I will keep $1,000. Out of this amount, the postal charges will take about $300-400 and the balance $600 I shall spend for developing of the press department. So ==from Back to Godhead I don't want anything for my book fund. I simply want my books to be nicely distributed."== (Brahmananda, 29 February, 1969) ==69-05 "Regarding your selling of Back to Godhead, we have taken a great risk of printing 20,000 copies per month, and before taking this risk, we consulted four different centers, and you all agreed. Now you try your best and the result will depend on Krsna's desire. So try to fill up your quota as far as possible."== ([[letters/1969/690527_mukunda|Mukunda, 27 May, 1969]]) ==69-07 "We want to distribute as many issues of Back to Godhead as possible, so the more you can print and distribute, the more my Guru Maharaja will be pleased to see 'His Great Dream' being fulfilled."== ([[letters/1969/690716_mr._mottissey|SPLto Brahmananda, 16 July, 1969]]) *** 69-07 "Regarding your proposal for distributing *Back to Godhead* through the agency you have contacted, I do not think this is a very good idea at this time. Tamala Krsna has arranged so that there will be six devotees there in Seattle very soon, so there will be no need for such distribution arrangement. This agency is offering you only twenty-five cents per issue sold, and by *kirtana* party you will receive fifty cents per copy. Another thing is, we have found that our sales are much better through our personal endeavors on *kirtana* party. So this agency will simply be holding so many copies for one month and what they do not sell will again be given back to you to sell on *the sankirtana* party. They have asked you to advance $50 for their 'paperwork,' but in Los Angeles there was one distributor who was taking 400 copies monthly and he did not request such fee. ==So, as you will be having several new men there to help you after the Ratha-yatra festival, the sankirtana party will be the better way of distributing Back to Godhead."== ([[letters/1969/690720_gajendra|Gajendra, 20 July, 1969]]) *** 69-07 "I am glad to learn that the Philadelphians are quickly taking some interest in our Krsna consciousness movement and you are simply standing on the corner wearing robes and the people come to purchase copies of *Back to Godhead.* So if you can continue in this way, letting them hear your chanting and selling *Back to Godhead* then all success is automatically there. I remember that my Guru Maharaja would often send young boys out to sell literature of Krsna consciousness and if they could come back having sold only a few issues, Guru Maharaja was very, very pleased. Now you report that you have sold 300 issues of *Back to Godhead* in just a few days, so I know that Guru Maharaja is very, very pleased with your work. Actually, in all of our centers our *sankirtana* party and Krsna consciousness literature is becoming more and more popular. Perhaps you have heard that Brahmananda has already made arrangements to increase the number of copies printed from 20,000 to 25,000. ==This is all very encouraging, so continue to increase your sales of Back to Godhead as far as possible. You are a serious worker and Krsna will reward your efforts with success."== ([[letters/1969/690731_subala|Subala, 31 July, 1969]]) *** 69-07 =="Regarding distribution of Back to Godhead or my publications, I welcome your floating a company yourself for this purpose. In that case your company will be another department of the Society, although the Society has no intention to interfere with your business. But your business will be considered as my business. So think of it very carefully, and it will be very nice."== ([[letters/1969/690731_subala|Gopala Krsna, 31 July, 1969]]) *** 69-08 "I am glad to learn that you are selling *Back to Godhead* increasingly and it is giving me pleasure increasingly. Now in Boston they have decided to make profit of $1,000 per month by selling *Back to Godheads* and similarly you try to do that. Satsvarupa has now purchased a large house on the strength of this profit. So in selling *Back to Godhead* not only are we doing first-class propaganda work, but also we are making profit to support the temples and facilitate other activities. You have mentioned that Chris has contributed $500 and you are considering sending this to me. This idea is nice and you may do it. I am thinking that the press department may immediately begin now in Boston in the new house, so there is necessity for funds for purchasing printing equipment and the necessary paraphernalia for printing our many books. Any extra money you have, you can send to me, and when you require some money, I shall supply it. But ==try to become rich by selling Back to Godhead. There is possibility of making profit of at least $1,000 per month."== ([[letters/1969/690806_subala|Subala, 6 August, 1969]]) ==69-10 "I do not think it is a good suggestion that we decrease the number of Back to Godhead's printed.== If we print the same number of copies throughout the winter months and if they are not all sold, then the remaining issues may be distributed freely to many respectable men and organizations. This will be good propaganda work. We are not interested in making profit; our interest is simply to promote Krsna consciousness. ==So all the centers should not reduce their orders for Back to Godhead, but should help distribute them as far as possible."== (SPL to Upendra, October 27th, 1969) ==69-11 "Regarding Back to Godhead printing, I have already written to Brahmananda, that this must be printed in our own press."== ([[letters/1969/691105_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 5 November, 1969]]) *** 70-01 "Now Brahmananda will be going to Boston for the further development of the center and ==one of the items I suggested before should be to distribute free copies of Back to Godhead to a group of respectable persons every month with special reference to presidents of the foundations who are inclined to give contributions to religious institutions.== You may convey this message to Satsvarupa and Brahmananda. Hope this will find you all right." ([[letters/1970/700114_jadurani|Jadurani, 14 January, 1970]]) ==71-05 "The magazine should be published regularly, but if distribution is less, then the number of printing should decrease. Still if even distribution is smaller, we should follow the policy of 25 cents per copy. Artificially increasing distribution and having a big debt is not a very good policy."== ([[letters/1971/710517_karandhara|Karandhara, 17 May, 1971]]) ==71-11 "You state that you will be the largest distributor of Back to Godhead in the world. This statement is very pleasing to me, because more than anything I want that my students should distribute my books and literatures profusely all over the world, and this should be our foremost concern, how to do it properly. But one thing, now you must try very hard to live up to your promise of becoming largest distributor!"== (SPL to Sridhama dasa, November 17th, 1971) 72-11 "I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 31, 1972, along with the latest copy *of Back To Godhead* Number 49, which I have read carefully and have appreciated to my complete satisfaction. I am so glad to know that you and the others at ISKCON Press are doing so wonderfully service in this way. These books and magazines are doing so wonderfully service in this way. ==These books and magazines are our most important propaganda weapons to defeat the ignorance of maya's army, and the more we produce such literature and sell them profusely all over the world, the more we shall deliver the world from the suicide course.== So your work is the most important preaching work, may Krsna bless you more and more. Thank you for helping me in this way." ([[letters/1972/721118_jayadvaita|Jayadvaita, 18 November, 1972]]) ==72-12 "I am especially glad to see how nicely your St. Louis temple is distributing Back to Godhead magazine.== Only three years ago I asked Dai Nippon to print 20,000 copies and barely we could distribute them. But now ==in your temple alone you are distributing so many, so this very, very encouraging to me. It is the perfect form of preaching.== Follow the line laid down by Prahlada Maharaja and try to take everyone back to home, back to Godhead. And this is done by distributing our literature. I am so much pleased upon each and every one of you for helping me this way to push on this great movement." ([[letters/1972/721203_vamanadeva|Vamanadeva, 3 December, 1972]]) ==74-11 "I am very glad to note of how you are increasing the 'Back To Godhead' distribution there in such a remote place. Our 'Back To Godhead' is the backbone of our movement so we should always be thinking how to increase it, increase it, increase it."== ([[letters/1974/741121_nrsimha_caitanya|Rocana dasa, 21 November, 1974]]) ## Other Magazines ==68-11 "Regarding the inside ISKCON Journal, if it is not very troublesome the idea is all right."== ([[letters/1968/681128_hansadutta|Hamsaduta, 28 November, 1968]]) ==72-02 "...it is with great pleasure that I remember you and your good husband by reading them and seeing the nice work you are doing in the New Navadvipa News and other pamphlets....I am especially appreciating the writings of Siddhasvarupa in the New Navadvipa News and 'Open Letter' pamphlets, like Die Hippy, Die! and these articles should be published in our Back to Godhead magazine and distributed widely."== (SPL to Govinda dasi, February 12th, 1972) ==72-03 "The newsletter is also very nice, and you may encourage all centers to correspond in this way regularly amongst yourselves. When I shall come there to Los Angeles, then we shall see when I can also come to stay at your new temple."== (SPL to Nityananda, March 22nd, 1972) ==72-09 "I have very much appreciated your Hare Krsna Monthly magazine, it is a great step forward, now maintain it actually monthly and collect many advertisements and spread our propaganda in this way."== ([[letters/1972/720926_giriraja|Giriraja, 26 September, 1972]]) ==72-12 "Yes, why not once again start the St. Louis Newsletter, and send me a copy."== ([[letters/1972/721203_vamanadeva|Vamanadeva, 3 December, 1972]]) ==73-07 "Regarding the starting of a Society Newsletter, I think there is no need for it. Do not unnecessarily increase your responsibilities.== What responsibilities you have, make perfect. ==Besides, we already have our Society journal, Back to Godhead.== As for receiving news of other centers, why should you be so anxious? The news is always the same, *sankirtana* is going on, Deity worship, with little change. We should rather turn our interest to learn from the books more and more. We should inquire about Krsna. Temple life is going on with little change, but we should become habituated to read the books more profoundly. Then if you have some questions about Krsna consciousness as in the books, you can ask an elder Godbrother or write to me directly. That will help you make progress." ([[letters/1973/730723_sukadeva|Sukadeva, 23 July, 1973]]) ==73-07 "Why should we endeavor separately to produce another magazine?== Whatever articles are written by our students may be published in *Back to Godhead* by submitting them to the chief editor Satsvarupa Goswami Maharaja. *Back to Godhead* is especially meant to give some facility to our students, to train them to write articles on the philosophy of Krsna consciousness. Our energy should be concentrated on one thing at a time, ==not that everyone will start their own magazine wasting time, money and manpower.== Our *Back to Godhead* is there and it is being distributed without financial risk, so submit articles and increase the pages of *Back to Godhead* and increase the distribution also. The temples have now enough literature, and besides that if you simply ask for a little contribution, no one will send." ([[letters/1973/730731_parasara|Parasara dasa, 31 July, 1973]]) ==74-05 "As to importing the Harmonist or doing one locally, do as suitable. It is a nice proposal to distribute such a newspaper."== ([[letters/1974/740509_manager_of_liberty_bank|Cam, 9 May, 1974]]) ==76-02 "I am in due receipt of The Hare Krsna Explosion, Volume number twenty-one. You must stop circulation of this paper immediately. It is not being properly managed. Who is this rascal who is writing such articles? See to this immediately."== ([[letters/1976/760227_mahamsa|Mahamsa Swami, 27 February, 1976]])