# EDUCATION - ADULT/HIGHER ## Studying the Philosophy ==67-04 "Editing of my lectures may be a hard task for you but it will prove an examination test for you as how far you have heard me attentively. Never mind it is slow but it must be sure.== You can keep a note of my activities and can wait for writing book at suitable time. I am asking Mukunda to send one copy of the presentation as he has made a presentation to Sriman Brahmananda." ([[letters/1967/670407_kirtanananda|Kīrtanānanda, 7 April, 1967]]) *** 68-02 "So far school is concerned, we know that modern education in schools and colleges is not very much helpful in advancement of Krsna consciousness, but still we have to take advantage of such institutions in absence of any other good organization. But I shall advise you that by leaving your school, you have got immense books and literatures for studying, so ==you should form the habit of studying and understanding the philosophy very nicely== and when there is difficulty in understanding, Brahmananda, or Rayarama, or myself, will help you in all respects. School may be bad, but studying is not bad, it is very good. So we should not give up the habit of studying, especially *Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam,* and *Brahma-saḥhitā." ([[letters/1968/680220_robert|Robert, 20 February, 1968]]) ==68-06 "No, there is no need of sending the Kalyana books as you have mentioned, not yet. Just read Srimad-Bhagavatam, our three volumes regularly and repeatedly. It is no use reading many books, it is better to assimilate one book and that is sufficient."== ([[letters/1968/680610_harivilasa|Hari Vilasa, 10 June, 1968]]) *** 68-09 =="Now, because you are on the field work, you have to meet so many opposite elements. And you have to satisfy them or fight with them with conclusive statements from Bhagavad-gita, and Srimad-Bhagavatam; and as such it is needed that you should be thoroughly conversant with the truth."== (Gurudasa, 30 September, 1968) *** 68-11 "It is very encouraging that Devananda is combating with Mr. Jarvis representing Maharishi Mahesh. Yes, in each and every such meeting ==you should go and challenge these persons, but you must be equipped very strongly with conclusions of Bhagavad-gita.== In the *Bhagavad-gita* it is clearly said that the first-class yogi is he who has in his heart always the eternal form of Krsna. I could not follow what Devananda said to Jerry Jarvis when he said that he was also worshiping Krsna. It is good to argue with him even at the suspension of meetings, and it is very good enthusiasm." ([[letters/1968/681118_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 18 November, 1968]]) *** 68-11 "You should all read very carefully *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and *Bhagavad-gita,* and you should be able to answer all questions like this, and only in rare cases approach me. But ==it is important that our students must be able to answer all questions for becoming preachers."== ([[letters/1968/681118_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 18 November, 1968]]) *** 68-12 =="I have seen the recent dummy you have sent of Teachings of Lord Caitanya and it is very much approved by me. I think that all of the devotees should purchase one copy of all our books for study and future preaching activities."== ([[letters/1968/681211_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 11 December, 1968]]) *** 69-01 =="Begarding the answers which you gave to Vilasa Vigraha dasa, they were all correct. When you study very carefully all of the literature which is available, especially Bhagavad-gita As It Is, you will have in your grasp answers to all questions that may be put to you. Please encourage the others to read this Bhagavad-gita at least one chapter every day."== ([[letters/1969/690106_upendra|Upendra, 6 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 "I am very pleased that you are graduating from college in a few days and are anxious to engage your labors in spreading this Krsna consciousness movement. Also ==I request you to study carefully the Bhagavad-gita As It Is because there is so much important service that an intelligent boy such as yourself can do in preaching work and spreading our movement around the world.== You have very good example from your Godbrother, Rupanuga, and so continue to help him as you are doing, and it shall be very successful for you." ([[letters/1969/690118_bhurijana|Bhurijana, 18 January, 1969]]) ==69-01 "Be sure to chant your sixteen rounds daily and read Bhagavad-gita As It Is, one chapter daily. Follow the four regulative principles strictly and I am sure that Krsna will see that your life quickly becomes more and more happy in devotional service. The attitude which you expressed is very nice, and please continue to develop this attitude always."== ([[letters/1969/690126_arundhati|Arundhati, 26 January, 1969]]) ==69-01 "So far as reading scriptures out loud, this depends upon the circumstances. If you can understand by reading silently, there is no need to read out loud, because this may make others feel disturbed."== ([[letters/1969/690130_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 30 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 'The boys and girls in London are doing very nicely. My Guru Maharaja sent one *sannyasi,* Swami Bon Maharaja, to preach Krsna consciousness in London, sometime in 1933. Although he tried for three years and at the expense of my Guru Maharaja, he could not do any appreciable work. So Guru Maharaja, being disgusted, called him back. In comparison to that situation, our six young boys and girls are neither very much advanced in their study of *Vedanta* nor any other Vedic literature, neither are they *sannyasis.* But still they are doing more tangible work than what Bon Maharaja could do there thirty-five years ago. This very fact confirms the statement of Lord Caitanya that a preacher or a teacher may be a householder, a *sannyasi,* a *brahmana,* a *sudra* or anyone, provided he knows the science of Krsna. And to know the science of Krsna means to serve Krsna under the directions of a bona fide spiritual master. When we serve Krsna in this way, Krsna is pleased to reveal Himself. So we should follow strictly the Vedic principle that anyone who has unflinching faith in Krsna and the spiritual master, to him only the science of Krsna consciousness becomes revealed. Then ==when we are fully conversant in revelation of Krsna consciousness, we can meet any opposing elements and come out victorious."== ([[letters/1969/690131_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 31 January, 1969]]) ==69-02 "You should always read also, besides attending class, whenever you have time, the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Then I can surely recommend to the draftboard that you are a very serious student of Bhagavad-gita under my supervision."== ([[letters/1969/690201_gopala_krsna|Nara Narayana, 1 February, 1969]]) *** 69-05 'The college courses and university courses should be very carefully taken because there is very, very great hope from those quarters. In Buffalo I have seen Rupanuga has done wonderfully, and some of the students are already attracted to this Krsna consciousness movement. Similarly, Pradyumna is also doing in Columbus, and I shall see personally when I go there on the 9th of May. So ==we have to train preachers, and they will go to the students in public institutions to educate them in Krsna consciousness. So if our men simply study our books and magazines, and assimilate them nicely and clarify as soon as there is some doubt,== then surely we shall drive out all these so-called yogis and propagandists who are simply cheating the innocent people to solve their pecuniary problems." ([[letters/1969/690506_revatinandana|Tamala Krsna, 6 May, 1969]]) *** 69-07 "Regarding someone to go there to take charge of the children in Satyabhamas absence, I will write to Lilavati in Boston to see if she is able to fill this position for that time. If not, we will have to make other arrangements. But wherever you go, either in New Vrndavana or New York, you should make efforts to finish your sixteen rounds whenever possible. Of course, if you are always engaged in Krsna's service, and always chanting Hare Krsna, even if not on your beads, that is also a nice status. As you are an important worker there and you have so many important duties, especially to take care of the cows, it may not be possible for you to stop your work for chanting sixteen rounds. This is no great loss, and you should not feel badly about it. Krsna sees your sincerity in Krsna consciousness, and He will be very much land upon you for this. But as much as possible you should try to fulfill the goal of sixteen rounds daily. If you must fall short of this because you have so much service to render to Krsna, do not become disturbed by this. But you should not fall too much short of this goal. That will not be good. Similarly, you must read *Bhagavad-gita* at least a few verses every day and think about them throughout the day. ==The best thing is to read one chapter daily, but if you can meditate upon a few verses of Bhagavad-gita every day, that is better than reading for simply one hour and then forgetting the topics until the next reading."== ([[letters/1969/690729_paramananda|Paramananda, 29 July, 1969]]) *** 69-09 "Regarding the court case in Boston, a certified copy of the judgement should be taken. This will help us in many ways. If there is any copy of the statement of Nanda Kisore available, that should also be taken. There is a *mantra* that says: *mukam karoti vacalam pangum langhayate girim.* This means that by Krsna's Grace a dumb can speak like Demosthenes, and a lame can cross over the mountain. Krsnas Grace is so glorious. ==So if we remain faithful in Krsna's service, there will be no difficulty in speaking when ever it is necessary. There are many instances in the history of devotees of this, and even five year old boys like Dhruva and Prahlada were able to speak so nicely"== ([[letters/1969/690919_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 19 September, 1969]]) *** 69-12 "I thank you so much for having nicely appreciated the *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* This book should be read by all of my students at least one chapter per day, and in *kirtana* class it should be discussed *sloka* after *sloka.* Practically, we have tried to explain in this book all of the basic principles of Krsna consciousness. ==If you can simply cram Bhagavad-gita then you will surely become a very good preacher."== (Hamsaduta, 3 December, 1969) *** 69-12 =="So we should not simply publish these books for reading by outsiders but our students must be well versed in all our books so that we can be prepared to defeat all opposing parties in the matter of self-realization."== (Hamsaduta, 3 December, 1969) *** 70-02 "I am also glad to learn that already you have got a temple and enthusiastic and eager devotees there. This is very encouraging. Please push our *sankirtana* movement and improve the program of Deity worship as the center of your activities, and see that all the devotees remain steady in their execution of daily chanting of sixteen rounds of beads and strict adherence to the four principles of spiritual life and all other regulative principles, this will keep them strong in spiritual power. And you may note that when these regulative duties are performed, and the devotee becomes fully absorbed in Krsna activities, Krsna as Supersoul will dictate from within the answers to all questions and will give the needed intelligence to progress more and more in Krsna consciousness. ==Please see that the program for studying our literatures is also undertaken very seriously by all the devotees there. Every one of us must become thoroughly acquainted with our philosophy, so that our preaching work may be carried out."== ([[letters/1970/700227_jagadisa|Jagadisa, 27 February, 1970]]) *** 70-02 "So far we are concerned, every one of us must chant on the beads according to the vow and follow the regulative principles in all departments of our activities, and this will give us spiritual strength to convince the audience about our aims and object. ==Someone of us in each and every center must be well versed in the sastras so that he can meet scholars and philosophers, and if need he convince them about our movement and philosophy with great strength."== ([[letters/1970/700220_tamala_krsna|Tamala Krsna, 20 February, 1970]]) ==70-02 Transcribing a Srila Prabhupāda lecture tape.== "Now what I want is that one tape in two days must be finished for being composed. This does not mean that one tape has to be finished so quickly, but the arrangement should be made in such a way that after some time the process will produce at least 15 tapes completely in one month or 30 days. The process should be in the same way as I have suggested for painting of the pictures. The process is like this: Suppose on Monday you receive tape number 17, let it be transcribed in two days by someone 'A.' Then in the next 2 days (days 3 and 4) someone edits it. Then in the next two days (5 and 6) another 'C' edits it for the second time. Then Mr. 'D' gives it the diacritical marks and then it is ready for composing. With diacritic marks one copy should come to me for my record. The idea is that this number 17 tape takes 7 days to the point of composition. In the meantime tape number 18 is coming into the process just in the same order. So I receive the final copy of tape number 18 just 2 days after receiving the number 17 tape copy. If you follow this process, then ultimately we shall be finishing one tape in two days. Now if we finish 15 tapes in a month, it comes to nearly about 300 pages per month. Therefore, very safely we can calculate that every 2 months we will produce a book. Or in other words, in every year we produce 6 books. We wish to print at least 60 books, so it will take ten years. So if you go on under this process, then at least we can hope to finish 60 books by that time. And the time allowed is quite reasonable." ([[letters/1970/700228_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 28 February, 1970]]) *** 70-02 "The way of discussion with Dr. Staal requires a little bit of knowledge in the *sastras* which is called *siddhanta.* In the *Caitanya-caritamrta* it is said that nobody should be neglectful of the *siddhanta* because by *siddhantic* conclusion one becomes firm in Krsna consciousness. So ==these siddhantic conclusions are being mentioned in all my books, and the boys and girls in our Krsna Society should now give more attention for studying the books very attentively. And to get the strength, one should chant on the beads sixteen rounds without fail.== In this way, the devotee is constantly engaged in Krsna consciousness, and at that time, Krsna will give all intelligence from within how to make steady progress in Krsna consciousness. I hope in Washington center you will ask all the boys and girls to follow this method, because henceforward we will have to face many scholars and philosophers to stabilize our Krsna consciousness movement." ([[letters/1970/700217_sudama|Krsna devi, 17 February, 1970]]) ==70-03 "I am also glad to note that you are making practice of keeping in mind various important verses from our scriptures. This is the approved process:== *mahajana yena gatah sa panthah, 'To* follow in the footsteps of the great authorities in Krsna consciousness like Narada Muni and our other ac *aryas.'* Now we are requiring our students to be very well familiar with all our literatures so that we may present our philosophy before even the most educated persons. This is very important as our movement is now growing and attracting greater notice." ([[letters/1970/700309_gopala_krsna|Rudra dasa, 9 March, 1970]]) *** 70-03 "All this is good news that you are very studious and always busy. I am so much encouraged to hear how you are preaching in the school. That is very nice and that is your first-class engagement. Prahlada Maharaja, in his childhood, was doing this. As soon as he got some opportunity, he would preach amongst his class fellows. His class fellows would be astonished to hear him, and they would ask Prahlada, 'My dear Prahlada, where have you learned these things? We have got the same teachers, so where have you been taught this?' They were inquisitive, so Prahlada informed them that his spiritual master was Narada Muni and he was taught while he was in the womb of his mother. So just imagine how much powerful is spiritual instruction that it was effective even while the child was in the womb. ==Similarly, if you chant and read, you will also be powerful to preach, and whoever will hear will be converted. That is the way of spiritual life.''== ([[letters/1970/700315_ekayani|Ekayani, 15 March, 1970]]) *** 70-03 "But I see that you have many such questions about our philosophy. Under the circumstances ==it would be very good if you come to Los Angeles for some time to learn these questions and answers in the daily classes here. This is a good opportunity to clear up any doubts or misunderstandings, and the best program is if you come here for study.== I am personally lecturing here weekly especially for our devotees." ([[letters/1970/700315_subala|Harer Nama, 15 March, 1970]]) *** 70-04 "Regarding your tape recorder which was laying with me, you will get it back very soon. It is now being carried by Citralekha, the wife of Upendra, who is going to Australia via Hawaii and she will deliver the machine to you. I am very glad you have repaired your dictaphone and you are anxious to work on it. For the time being I can send you tapes of my lectures which you can transcribe them either directly or through the dictaphone as it is convenient. Both yourself and Gaurasundara or any other educated boy or girl can edit the transcriptions for being printed. For the present I hope you will be glad to do this work because you are always anxious to see me speaking something. I am sending the tape by separate mail, so immediately begin work. ==If you find this work of transcribing from recorded tapes interesting, you will have ample opportunity to work on this. There are many tapes like this== in New York, Boston and maybe in other places also." ([[letters/1970/700407_giriraja|Govinda dasi, 7 April, 1970]]) *** 70-06 "One thing I must inform you in this connection, that so far our activities in Krsna consciousness are concerned, every one of us should read this book very attentively, because all conclusive statements in the kingdom of bhakti **are contained in this transcendental valuable book. It is the essence of all Vedic scriptures enlightening about Krsna consciousness. ==If anyone will read this The Nectar of Devotion very carefully, he will have all guidance in bhakti cult. So in the temple class, some portions of this book must be regularly discussed."== ([[letters/1970/700618_advaita|Advaita, 18 June, 1970]]) ==70-06 "Please study our literatures and work to spread the movement of Lord Caitanya namely the sankirtana movement and be happy. That is my desire. 1 am enclosing herewith, along with your beads duly chanted, one sheet of qualifications and regulations for devotees."== ([[letters/1970/700619_sandini|Sandini, 19 June, 1970]]) *** 70-06 "Speaking or anything all depends on practice and study. I remember when I was first called for speaking by one of my senior Godbrothers. I felt very much hesitating because I was not practiced to speak. Later on by speaking and hearing or reading I got experience and now we can speak forty-five minutes, fifty minutes or one hour at a stretch. So ==you have to read our books very nicely and gather thoughts, then you can speak for hours without any difficulty. It requires practice. So read your books carefully,== especially *The Nectar of Devotion,* now published, and practice speaking. It will be all right." ([[letters/1970/700624_upendra|Upendra, 24 June, 1970]]) *** 70-07 "I am very glad to know that you are managing the schedule of your center very capably. Of course, *sankirtana* is our most important engagement, but all the temple activities must go on regularly without any pause. This following of the daily duties will carry us to the spiritual platform very rapidly. ==I== have looked over the sample of test paper from Srimati Joanne and it is very nice. ==This question and answer practice should be encouraged amongst the devotees. Then they will become trained to reply questions from outsiders.== Yes, you are right to say that as our devotees become more devotional, the non-devotees also come to hear. To become advanced in spiritual life of devotional service to Krsna means to acquire spiritual strength, and this spiritual strength is for impressing devotional service into the hearts of the fallen souls. Also you must all become expert preachers and show the exemplary life of a devotee, you must keep yourself spiritually fit by observing the regulative principles strictly." ([[letters/1970/700707_jananivasa|Jananivasa, 7 July, 1970]]) *** 70-07 "I == == am very glad to know that you are reading our literatures and you are very thoughtful about them. I am always happy to answer your questions, but you should practice to get the answers from your husband and try to find them out by reading further in our books. == All questions will be clarified if you simply read our books very thoroughly and follow the simple process of devotional service as we have given it to chant regularly and rigidly observe the rules and regulations.== This is our principle that the spiritual science becomes revealed to the devotee from within the heart according to the degree of his surrender to Krsna. You are a very hopeful student and intelligent devotee, so you continue to pursue your devotional activities patiently and Krsna will open your path of Krsna consciousness so you will progress more and more." ([[letters/1970/700725_ekayani|Ekayani, 25 July, 1970]]) *** 70-11 "I == == beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind letter dated 30th September, 1970 and I am glad to see how nicely you are reading my books. Please continue to do this. == We need so many preachers who are soundly versed in the scriptures to convince the world to take to Krsna consciousness. == I am glad that you and the others are writing one hour daily—essays. That is *parampara.* All of our previous *acaryas* on our line have written substantially on the science of God-consciousness, so I == == would also like all my students to do this and I am very encouraged by this nice program you have initiated." ([[letters/1970/701109_vrindaban_candra|Vrndavana Candra, 9 November, 1970]]) *** 71-01 "Your quotations from our Vaisnava *sastras* are very nice and ==I request you to thoroughly study all of our literatures very thoughtfully and try to understand the sublime import of this Krsna consciousness philosophy.== The basic principle of advancement in our Krsna consciousness is stressed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu that if one simply chants the Hare Krsna *maha-mantra* without offense and has firm faith in Krsna and spiritual master then he will advance and he only can understand the deep import of Krsna consciousness." ([[letters/1971/710104_stephen|Stephen, 4 January, 1971]]) ==71-03 "I think the atmosphere at Pittsburgh temple is very congenial to you, so you go on studying our literatures very carefully in the association of your Godbrothers and sisters and work cooperatively to help spread this sublime movement to as many persons as possible, there."== ([[letters/1971/710330_jayapataka|Satadhanya dasa, 30 March, 1971]]) *** 71-07 "Yes, I == == am very pleased that you are inclined to read and study our books with seriousness. Thank you very much. And your conclusion is very nice. So continue it wholeheartedly. We want good preachers also. Preaching shouldn't depend on me only. == My disciples should become all good preachers, and that depends on studying the books nicely so that you can arrive at the right conclusion."== ([[letters/1971/710705_hrdayananda|Hrdayananda, 5 July, 1971]]) ==71-08 "Vallabhacaryas teachings are bona fide. This difference of opinion is there always. Just like you differ with your husband, but that doesn't mean that you and your husband are not devotees."== ([[letters/1971/710831_ekayani|Ekayani, 31 August, 1971]]) *** 71-11 "Your approaching schools and colleges is very tactful because these students are the most eligible candidates for receiving this transcendental knowledge of Krsna philosophy. ==Simply by repeating what I have said—first you must yourself become fully convinced of this philosophy—your preaching will meet with all success.== Our philosophy has the full potency to deliver anyone from the darkest realms of ignorance to the enlightened realm of complete cognizance. The potential is there, simply you have to master the words and deliver them purely, and this will please me very much." ([[letters/1971/711115_nandakisora|Lalita Kumara, 15 November, 1971]]) *** 71-11 'Your proposals for teaching them our philosophy are very good. But if we try artificially to explain *sastra* in our own words, there is every danger of interpretation and speculation. ==First the student must be able to repeat exactly the words of the guru and then after some time he may be qualified to apply the principles he has learned word-for-word to personal situations. It is not that we are a dry philosophy of dogmas and slogans.== No. The language of Krsna consciousness is ever-fresh and we can explain everything by it, just like my Guru Maharaja once lectured for three months on one verse from *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* But every precaution must be taken to preserve our basic guiding principles as they are and not change them because we want to hear something new." ([[letters/1971/711120_bhakta_dasa|Bhakta dasa, 20 November, 1971]]) *** 71-11 "I am very pleased that you have accepted the responsibility of managing such an important center as Berkeley. I know that there are many students in that city, so just attract them to our Krsna consciousness movement by giving them *prasadam* and our Krsna conscious philosophy. We can challenge any nonsense philosophy: Socrates, Plato, Kant, Darwin—all of them—so many mental speculators and word jugglers who have misled so many people. Now it is your task to find them out and expose them, so that the people may appreciate the real philosophy. We must become now very serious to save the people of the world from this very dangerous situation. ==So become very convinced yourself of our philosophy and then your preaching will act.== And try to sell as many books as possible at all the schools and colleges. This is scholarly information, flawless science. Kindly assist me in this great work, and know it for certain, that by your sincerely working in this way you shall very soon go back to home back to Godhead." ([[letters/1971/711124_locana|Locana dasa, 24 November, 1971]]) *** 71-12 "It is a very good sign that people are coming and of their own accord giving everything, that is the proof of your powerful preaching work. ==If we simply remain pure and become very convinced of this Krsna philosophy, any sane man will agree with us when we speak.== And if we are determined to please Krsna with our routine work despite all kinds of economic handicaps, He will provide all relief. Just see. If preaching is strong, management will be strong. That is the rule." ([[letters/1971/711203_damodara|Damodara, 3 December, 1971]]) *** 71-12 "But yourselves being such qualified and experienced preachers, what is the benefit of engaging in the second-class activity when there is so much preaching work to be done? Practically speaking, our Krsna philosophy will save the whole world from the most dangerous condition, that is a fact. ==So now you just become convinced yourselves of this fact and help me spread this movement for saving the world with all conviction and attention,== and in this way you will be performing the highest type of activity and very soon you will go back home, back to Godhead, know it for certain. I have no objection if you keep home Deities." ([[letters/1971/711208_hansadutta|Vamanadeva and Indira dasi, 8 December, 1971]]) *** 71-12 "Our Delhi *pandal* was also very much well-received by everyone. From early morning, 6 am, to late at night, sometimes past midnight, thousands of persons came there to see and listen. One very popular feature was our 'Question and Answer' booth, wherein one of our elderly devotees would sit on a very high *vyasasana* and answer questions put by the visitors. This item became so controversial and popular that it was open at least until midnight daily to accommodate all the curious public. ==Everyone delights in lively debates and discussions of philosophy."== ([[letters/1971/711210_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 10 December, 1971]]) *** 71-12 "I have heard that you may be going to Heidelberg, Germany, where there is a very large and important university. ==That is our best field. Become yourself very convinced and learned in our Krsna philosophy and take it into such university and contaminate everything with it.== We are not afraid to challenge every mundane philosopher and defeat them, because they are simply operating on the mental platform which is constantly changing, so they cannot have any real authority. But because we are hearing from the Source of all knowledge, Krsna, through His representatives, the saints and *acaryas* in disciplic succession, we have got solid basis for understanding. If we are very much convinced to preach in this way, the intelligent class of men will respect and join us, and this will be your success in Germany. If a Marx can change so many mens minds to follow his imperfect philosophy, what can Krsna, the Supreme Perfect, accomplish! If we remain pure and teach others purely, then we will achieve all success and the whole world will listen to us and be delivered from their very dangerous condition. Thank you very much for assisting me in this great endeavor, I think you are convinced that it is the highest and most exalted activity of all." (SPL to Sivananda, December 12th, 1971) ==72-01 "You must all study very scrutinizingly all of the books so that when the need arises you can repeat in your own words their purport.== Also I will be very pleased if you contribute articles to *Back to Godhead.* By writing regularly, what you read will become realized. As much as possible read, chant and preach. This is our life and soul. If we whole family is advancing in Krsna consciousness. May Krsna give you all blessings. Lord Caitanya met the Moulana in Sara, U.P, not at Allahabhad. His process was to take a quotation from the Koran and convince the Moulana that Krsna consciousness or pure love of Godhead in mood of selfless devotional service is the ultimate goal of life. As for the difference between mental speculation and philosophical speculation, we take it that everything is known by the psychological action of the mind, so that philosophical speculation is the same as mental speculation if it is merely the random or haphazard activity of the brain to understand everything and making theories, 'if's' and 'maybes.' ==But if philosophical speculation is directed by sastra and guru, and if the goal of such philosophical attempts is to achieve Visnu, then that philosophical speculation is not mental speculation.== It is just like this: Krsna says in *Bhagavad-gita* that 'I am the taste of water.' Philosophical speculation in the accepted sense then means to try to understand, under the direction of *sastra* and *guru,* just how Krsna is the taste of water. The points of *Bhagavad-gita,* though they are simple and complete, can be understood from unlimited angles of vision. So our philosophy is not dry, like mental speculation. The proper function of the brain or psychological activity is to understand everything through Krsna's perspective or point of view, and so there is no limit to that understanding because Krsna is unlimited, and even though it can be said that the devotee who knows Krsna, he knows everything *{Bhagavad-gita 15th Chapter),* still, the philosophical process never stops and the devotee continues to increase his knowledge even though he knows everything. Try to understand this point—it is a very good question. Lord Caitanya may have long hair in his early *grhastha* life, but that does not mean that we should imitate Lord Caitanya. Caitanya also had shaven head and *sikha.* The important thing is that we follow the regulative guidelines as laid down by great saints and *acaryas* in our line, and so it is recommended that we wear clean-shaven heads, but there is no hard and fast rule in this respect. If it is practical to grow hairs out, that can be done. But it is not that we may imitate Lord Caitanya by growing big hairs. Hoping this will meet you in good health and happy mood. Your father is serving nicely in Delhi by printing our books and magazines in Hindi language, and I am very much pleased with him also. Now you protect your good mother and brothers and sisters, help them to advance more and more in Krsna consciousness by holding chanting in your house regularly daily and by having altar. If you become very serious to have the ultimate satisfaction of life, then I think that you will practice this Krsna consciousness process very enthusiastically and be successful in all respects." ([[letters/1972/720121_jayapataka|Caturbhuj, 21 January, 1972]]) ==72-02 "I am very pleased that you are keeping to a very strict schedule and are reading my literature daily. If you continue in this manner you will grow up to be a first-class preacher of Krsna consciousness. And this is the highest service that you can perform."== ([[letters/1972/720203_suresvara|Ekendra dasa, 3 February, 1972]]) ==72-02 "The verses of the Gita have a specific melody but you may choose a suitable tune. Most important is that the melody remains very simple."== ([[letters/1972/720203_suresvara|Suresvara dasa, 3 February, 1972]]) ==72-05 "Now I want that we shall concentrate on making our devotees Krsna conscious and ourselves becoming Krsna conscious, and not be so much concerned with expanding ourselves widely but without any spiritual content. Just like boiling the milk, it becomes thicker and sweeter. Now do like that, boil the milk."== ([[letters/1972/720509_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 9 May, 1972]]) ==72-06 "I am very much stressing nowadays that my students shall increase their reading of my books and try to understand them from different angles of vision. Each sloka can be seen from many, many angles of vision,== so become practiced in seeing things like this. If we are selling the books but we do not know what is inside the book, that will be a farce, especially if you are preaching and selling books to the students of Edinburgh." ([[letters/1972/720616_tribhuvanatha|Tribhuvanatha, 16 June, 1972]]) ==72-06 "I am very much stressing at this point that all of my students shall be very much conversant with the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, and that they should read our books very diligently at least one or two hours daily and try to understand the subject matter from varieties of angles.== We are holding our morning class in Los Angeles in the temple and I am speaking from 7 to 8 am, and the process is that we are going through some chapters of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* by taking one *sloka* each day, and reading the Sanskrit aloud. Each word is pronounced by me and repeated by the students and then all together we chant the *sloka* several times until we have learned it. And then we discuss the subject matter very minutely and inspect it from all angles of approach and savour the new understandings. So you introduce this system in all of the centers in your zone, and you will discover that everyone becomes very much enlivened by these daily classes. Read one *sloka* and discuss and then go on to the next *sloka* on the next day, and so on, and even you discuss one verse each day it will take you fifty years to finish the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* in this way. So we have got ample stock for acquiring knowledge. And if the students get knowledge more and more, they will automatically become convinced and very easily perform their duties for *tapasya* or renunciation of the material bondage, and that will be their successful advancement in Krsna consciousness. So I want that advancement amongst all of my students, so you are responsible that the standard will be maintained." ([[letters/1972/720616_madhudvisa|Madhudvisa, 16 June, 1972]]) *** 72-06 "You mention you like to speak now very often but the first business should be to preach to the devotees. It is better to maintain a devotee than try to convince others to become devotees. It is the duty of the GBC to maintain the devotees, keep them in the highest standard of Krsna consciousness, and give them all good instruction, and let them go out and preach for making more devotees. ==Your first job should be to make sure that every one of the devotees in your zone of management is reading regularly our literature and discussing the subject matter seriously from different angles of seeing, and if they are somehow or other absorbing the knowledge of Krsna consciousness philosophy.== If they are fully educated in our philosophy and if they can get all of the knowledge and study it from every viewpoint, then very easily they will perform *tapasya (renunciation), and that will be their advancement in Krsna consciousness." ([[letters/1972/720616_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa dasa, 16 June, 1972]]) *** 72-06 "So first thing is to instruct all of your temple presidents and the other devotees to read daily, just as we have done in our morning class in Los Angeles. You may remember that we were reading one *sloka* each morning in Sanskrit and reciting it altogether and then discussing it thoroughly by seeing different new things. So you introduce this system and train the devotees first. ==Don't be too much concerned for the time being with non-devotees, now we must fix up what devotees we have got in the knowledge of Krsna consciousness, then we will succeed. What good are many, many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable?"== ([[letters/1972/720616_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa dasa, 16 June, 1972]]) *** 72-06 =="As for the GBC members, if we study one sloka daily in our classes it will take you more than fifty years to finish Srimad-Bhagavatam alone, so at least fifty years matter is already there minimum.== So we can finish *Bhagavatam* once in our life-time and the next generation can begin again, like that. From a practical point of view, as I have not yet finished *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and we have got now one hundred branches, so by the time I am finished with *Bhagavatam* there must be at least one thousand branches. I have worked alone, now you are so many. Our scope is unlimited, resources unlimited, so we must be exceptionally enthusiastic and sober-minded and responsible for working in that spirit." ([[letters/1972/720616_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 16 June, 1972]]) *** 72-06 "I fully approve of your program for traveling, now you combine the *sannyasa* requirement for traveling extensively, and at the same time as GBC man you shall be my personal secretary for maintaining the highest level of Krsna consciousness amongst the devotees in your zone. ==I am very much concerned that the devotees should be given all good instruction and knowledge of Krsna consciousness, that is the duty of the GBC man. GBC should not he so much concerned for preaching to non-devotees, better to utilize time and train the devotees, especially the responsible officers, and they can go out for preaching to non-devotees and making new devotees. But if they do not have any knowledge, how can they go out and preach?== So you GBC men are my selected few for insuring that what I am doing will be carried on very nicely for the pleasure of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So now you must all my senior disciples and leaders become very, very much aware of your grave responsibility to the human society for delivering them from the clutches of catastrophe, and be always cool-headed and utilize every moment in the best manner possible. I am successful only because I am following strictly the orders of my Guru Maharaja and do not deviate. Therefore people respect what I am saying and they listen, because I do not say one thing and do another. So now you are doing my work and you shall be like me and be yourselves the worthy representatives of our disciplic succession." ([[letters/1972/720616_madhudvisa|Madhudvisa, 16 June, 1972]]) *** 72-06 "This means that now all of you leaders, especially the GBC members, must become very much responsible and do the work that I am doing to the same standard. So I want you leaders especially to become very much absorbed in the philosophy of *Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam,* and become yourselves completely convinced and free from all doubt. On this platform you shall be able to carry on the work satisfactorily, but if there is lack of knowledge, or if there is forgetfulness, everything will be spoiled in time. ==So especially you must encourage the students to read our books throughout the day as much as possible, and give them all good advice how to understand the books, and inspire them to study the things from every point of view.== In this way, by constantly engaging our tongues in the service of the Lord, either by discussing His philosophy or by chanting Hare Krsna, the truth is that Krsna Himself will reveal Himself to us and we shall understand how to do everything properly. Now we have got so many students and so many temples but I am fearful that if we expand too much in this way we shall become weakened and gradually the whole thing will become lost. Just like milk. We may thin it more and more with water for cheating the customer, but in the end it will cease to be any longer milk. Better to boil the milk now very vigorously and make it thick and sweet, that is the best process. So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krsna consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always, and in so many ways instruct them in the right propositions." ([[letters/1972/720622_hansadutta|Hamsaduta, 22 June, 1972]]) *** 72-07 "One thing is, our process of Krsna consciousness, if it is followed with determination and enthusiasm, automatically it has the effect of fixing us, body, mind and soul, to the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, so that all sorts of fluctuations of the material nature, all sorts of difficulties and discrepancies of life are easily withstood. But first you have to agree to understand the process and follow it scrupulously. That is wanting. If I only think I know something, that is mental platform of accept/reject, and any knowledge gathered from the mental platform is like that, tottering and precarious, and it can be immediately rejected at any time. Krsna consciousness has great potency to deliver us to the highest platform of perfection, but only if it is understood by the intelligence. Something understood by the intelligence is fixed forever and cannot waver, and that is almost spiritual. From your letter, I can understand you are confused in your mind, because you do not want this, you do not want that, you might like another, like that. That position of confusion is not very much desirable, so you are a Vaisnava, now rid yourself of such misunderstanding of things. Vaisnava means one who is able to sit down anywhere, under any conditions, and be happy. He wants only a place to lay down, a little *prasadam,* and if there's a little service he can do, gladly let me do it for Krsna, that's all. As long as we are thinking I want this, that is not to my liking, or if I adjust things a certain way everything will be better, these thoughts are material. Devotional service is not conditional. So stop this dreaming state. Try to understand things with the light of your intelligence, and if your are sincere in this way, without a doubt Krsna will give you full facility to understand Him and become freed of the bondage of ignorance. Nowadays it seems many of the older disciples like yourself are having difficulty. If you do not set the example for the younger students and take the responsibility for instructing them in the right line, how will things go on? ==Try to always study our books and see our philosophy from different lights of directions, become convinced yourself of this knowledge and without a doubt all of your difficulties of mind will disappear forever and you will see Krishna face-to-face.== ([[letters/1972/720708_bhagavatananda|Bhagavatananda, 8 July, 1972]]) *** 72-09 Your program for preaching in Delhi is very much approved by me, preaching Krsna is the same as remembering Krsna. I can understand if one of my students is making spiritual advancement if he is also making many life members and devotees. ==So you have not to minimize the preaching program in order to study independently, no, continue as you are doing, preach as much as possible, collect, make life members,== and whenever you have time read and study and never neglect to chant your sixteen rounds daily, and this will be the perfect program." ([[letters/1972/720809_cyavana|Tejyas, 9 August, 1972]]) *** 72-09 "I am glad to hear the nice report about St. Louis temple, and also that you are training yourself up nicely to be a serious preacher of this Krsna consciousness movement. That much is wanted, sincere men who will become very strong for preaching work throughout the world, on behalf of Krsna. Now you apply yourself to this task very seriously and ==become learned in all the aspects of our Krsna consciousness philosophy and take this opportunity in this lifetime to go back to home, back to Godhead. That is my request."== ([[letters/1972/720902_lalitananda|Radha Damodara, 2 September, 1972]]) *** 73-01 "Whatever you can do to turn the minds of the people towards Krsna consciousness, that is very much appreciated by me. You are intelligent boy. In consultation with your Godbrothers you can decide how to effectively run the campaign. I want to turn over now the management to my disciples as I am desiring to devote my time now simply for translating the books like *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* So ==if you study my books very carefully, then I am sure you will find out the means for applying this Krsna consciousness philosophy in all spheres of life. There is no limitation. Simply it requires a little common sense practically.== The main point is that Krsna is the center of all activities, whatever is going on. Whatever the activity may be, if Krsna is at the center, that is all right. The details simply require a little common sense. So you are there in Dallas, and you have all the details of the situation. So now, with the help of your Godbrothers there, you decide exactly how to execute the thing. After all, the result is given by Krsna. So the main point is simply to execute everything with complete sincerity and enthusiasm, without deviating from the principles that I have given you in my books. So I have seen the news clippings and they are very nice. Now you go on making more and more propaganda for informing people of this philosophy of Krsna consciousness. If we push this propaganda very strongly and at the same time remain completely pure by following all of the regulative principles very strictly, by chanting sixteen rounds, reading the books, attending *mangala-arati,* etc., then everything will be all right." ([[letters/1973/730131_rajiblocan|Amarendra dasa, 31 January, 1973]]) *** 73-02 =="As far as studying my books is concerned, I have already given the order. One hour in the morning class and one hour in the evening and if there is extra time during the day it may be used for studying but we cannot expect everyone to be studious. If someone has desired to distribute books all day he may do this, but he must always follow the principles of rising early, chanting sixteen rounds, etc. Just as some rich men have no inclination for studying, but still he opens many schools for others to study at. Like this, all of my students may not be inclined to study but they are very much eager to give others the opportunity to read my books and this should not be discouraged. All programs must go on but it is a fact that this book distribution program is very, very important."== ([[letters/1973/730214_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 14 February, 1973]]) *** 73-02 =="It has been brought to my attention that some of my students are not studying. I do not know if this applies to you or the devotees under your care, but I must stress again that we must have our classes one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening== and the devotees must also chant regularly their sixteen rounds and follow the principles. The rest of the time they may go on distribution of my books. So I hope you will do the needful in this regard." ([[letters/1973/730214_ramesvara|Ramesvara, 14 February, 1973]]) *** 73-06 =="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]]) *** 73-11 "I am glad to learn that you are preaching nicely. It is very important business. ==Unless our men understand thoroughly the philosophy, how will they be able to preach?"== ([[letters/1973/731107_tamala_krsna|Tamala Krsna dasa Goswami, 7 November, 1973]]) *** 74-05 =="So to preach the Bhagavata religion sometimes we have to quote from the sastras what is not palatable to unscrupulous so-called religious persons. But in preaching we cannot do without quoting the proper verses.== Sometimes they take it adversely and we become subject to unwanted criticism. Actually there is no religion in the world except *Bhagavata* religion, namely surrendering to the lotus feet of the Lord." ([[letters/1974/740516_bhima_krsna_dasa_sanat_kumara_nityananda_samba_joseph|Sri Pannalalji, 16 May, 1974]]) *** 74-05 =="By Krsna's mercy and the unlimited potency of Lord Visnu, anyone can be purified as a Vaisnava and elevated to the supreme position. Unless one learns this philosophy thoroughly he cannot become a preacher however learned and educated he may be."== ([[letters/1974/740516_bhima_krsna_dasa_sanat_kumara_nityananda_samba_joseph|Sri Pannalaji, 16 May, 1974]]) *** 74-06 =="Try to spread and encourage this philosophy of thinking of Krsna, after thoroughly assimilating it yourself."== ([[letters/1974/740608_syamasundara|Hamsaduta, 8 June, 1974]]) *** 74-09 =="But before saving others we must first see that we ourselves are protected from the dangerous effects of maya. Therefore my recommendation to you is that you should associate yourself with my disciples in one of our Krsna consciousness centers, practice our regulative principles, and study my books very carefully.== You are now living very near to our Los Angeles center, so please take advantage of this and participate fully in the program there. In this way your intelligence will become more and more purified and in consultation with the others there Krsna will give you the proper idea of how to spread Krsna consciousness." ([[letters/1974/741012_mr._perry_muckerheide|Mr. Muckerheide, 12 October, 1974]]) *** 74-09 =="Everyone can become a first-class speaker. Simply cram the purports of my books. The references are there, the philosophy is there. Everything is there. So if you do it, everyone will be pleased with your speaking."== ([[letters/1974/740919_ramesvar_prabhu|Gopijanavallabha dasa, 19 September, 1974]]) *** 74-10 =="You should read Bhagavad-gita As It Is carefully verse to verse and word to word, and you will be benefitted, and if you have any difficulty to understand anything I shall be very glad to have your inquiry."== ([[letters/1974/741014_stephen_graham|Frederico Lourenco, 14 October, 1974]]) *** 74-11 "So far your worship of Lord Jagannatha in your home and your becoming initiated. It is all right provided you have the recommendation of the temple president. I am very glad to see that such a young boy as yourself is taking serious interest in this Krsna consciousness movement. Please continue in this way. Our process is something universal. It cannot be checked by any means. Anyone in any place, in any country can chant Hare Krsna. If it is possible to go to the temple, then take advantage of the temple. A temple is a place whereby one is given the opportunity to render direct devotional service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna. In conjunction with this ==you should always read my books daily and all your questions will be answered and you will have a firm basis of Krsna consciousness. In this way your life will be perfect."== ([[letters/1974/741122_nrhari|Hugo Salemon, 22 November, 1974]]) *** 74-12 =="Please continue reading our books with great care, studying again and again and staunchly following all of our regulative principles and always stay in the association of devotees, chanting Hare Krsna."== ([[letters/1974/741216_rsabhadeva|Bhakta Steve, 16 December, 1974]]) *** 74-12 'Your desire for leading a *sankirtana* party, preaching and traveling is a very good one and I suggest that you talk to your temple president or GBC and try to arrange such a program if it is possible. If we sincerely try to serve Krsna then He will give us the ability and the facilities. So please continue your service with great enthusiasm and follow strictly all of our principles and regulations. This is the way to spread our Krsna consciousness movement, the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. ==First of all one must become spiritually strong by following these basic principles staunchly and by learning our philosophy fully. Then his preaching will be very potent and many many people will become attracted."== ([[letters/1974/741217_jitaprana|Jitaprana, 17 December, 1974]]) *** 75-01 "I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 16th, 1974 and have noted the contents. I think your idea is a little Utopian. First thing is that one must understand *Srimad-Bhagavatam* fully. The first verse, if you simply explain, will take volumes and volumes. ==So, please study my books intensely and do not fail to chant sixteen rounds daily following the four regulative principles strictly. This will make everything perfect."== ([[letters/1975/750104_nrsimha_dasa|Aticandra dasi, 4 January, 1975]]) *** 75-01 =="Please keep yourself fixed up in Krsna consciousness by strictly adhering to all the rules and regulations. Always be sure to chant sixteen rounds and study my books daily. This will keep you strong in spiritual life."== ([[letters/1975/750116_m.v._sita_ramalai|Locanananda dasa, 16 January, 1975]]) *** 75-02 =="Please study my books very carefully and do not fail in chanting at least sixteen rounds daily."== ([[letters/1975/750202_sahadeva|Duryodhanaguru dasa, 2 February, 1975]]) *** 75-02 "I am very happy to see that you are learning our philosophy so nicely. You will grow up to be a great devotee of Krsna. You are very fortunate to have the opportunity of attending *gurukula,* so don't waste this opportunity. Take full advantage of it by always rising early, attending *arati,* classes and chanting at least sixteen rounds daily without fail. These things will make you very strong in Krsna consciousness. ==Thank you for appreciating my books. Read them carefully and you will preach very nicely."== ([[letters/1975/750202_sahadeva|Candramukhi devi dasi, 2 February, 1975]]) *** 75-02 =="Be very careful to follow all of the regulative principles nicely and chant sixteen rounds and study my books very deeply. This will make you able to go back to Godhead at the end of your life."== ([[letters/1975/750215_svarupa_damodara|Krsna dasi, 15 February, 1975]]) *** 75-02 =="Regarding my books, everyone should read. I am also reading. Everyone should be engaged twenty-four hours. That is the sum and substance. How much you should read and how much you should do other types of service, that has to be decided by each individual devotee. Eating and sleeping should be minimized—not a single moment should be misused."== ([[letters/1975/750215_svarupa_damodara|Govardhana dasa, 15 February, 1975]]) *** 75-03 =="Thank you very much for reading and appreciating my books. Please continue to do so as much as possible== and visit our temple in Miami frequently. You mentioned in your letter that you had read many other *Bhagavad-gitas* before you read mine and that none of them revealed as much to you as *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* The reason is because we do not change the actual meaning of the *Gita* at all. Many other commentators, due to poor fund of knowledge, tamper with the lines of *Bhagavad-gita* and twist the meaning for their personal motives, but we do not do like that. We present it exactly as it is, without any additions or subtractions. That is perfect in every way and therefore it is actually having a tremendous effect all over the world. The original words of Lord Krsna have unrivaled potency and anyone who is fortunate enough to hear those words and tries to apply them to his life becomes perfect." ([[letters/1975/750314_mr._dennany|Mr. Dennany, 14 March, 1975]]) *** 75-03 =="I am so much grateful that you have enjoyed studying my books. Many young intelligent persons such as yourself are studying these books in the colleges and universities all over the world.== Actually anyone who tries to understand these books will become a great realized devotee of Lord Krsna gradually. The original potency of the sastra remains in these books because I have not added or opinionated anything of my own. I have simply presented the scriptures such as Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam as they are. Therefore just see the effect they have on the world.” ([[letters/1975/750319_lata|Miss Nedungadi, 19 March, 1975]]) *** 75-07 =="Be== sure and read my books very carefully, Bhagavad-gita, then Srimad-Bhagavatam, and then Caitanya-caritamrta. You should read every day without fail and become fixed in our philosophy. If you are going to England, we have our temples there so there should be no difficulty for you to remain in Krsna consciousness."== ([[letters/1975/750725_urvasi|Urvasi dasi, 25 July, 1975]]) *** 75-08 "So by study of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* under the bona fide spiritual master, one becomes aware of the full value of life, and then he revives his original Krsna consciousness. That is the perfection of life. The individual soul is already under specific material nature, and the process is going on in lower grades of life, but ==in the human form of life by advancement of education, one can become above the modes of material nature.== That chance is given to him. This is stated in the *Bhagavad-gita: yanti deva-vrata devan.* So if he likes he can go back to Godhead: *yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam,* and stop this transmigration process. Then he comes again perfect in Krsna consciousness. We are trying to bring the human society to this stage of life. In human life even in the lower stage of modes of nature, he can come to the higher stage. That is our movement. In the animal form there is no chance, only in the human form. Unfortunately the modem mode of education is to kill the chance. In animal stage of life it is very dangerous." ([[letters/1975/750831_minister_for_land_revenue|Svarupa Damodara dasa, 31 August, 1975]]) *** 75-09 "The other professor has remarked that my books will be appreciated by students of consciousness. That is very good. ==Our books are meant to educate people in consciousness, and it is very good that the other professor has recommended the Krsna book for undergraduate study.== This book should be introduced as a Krsna study book. As soon as the book is discussed in the class the books will be purchased by the students." ([[letters/1975/750926_jagadisa|Kirtiraja dasa, 26 September, 1975]]) *** 75-11 =="So study my books and reproduce the purports in your own language. You should instruct your temple presidents to preach like this.== This is preaching. We haven't got to invent something by our fertile brain for preaching. Everything is there. One who is expert for presenting these things before the audience so they can conveniently understand, this is a successful preacher. You have only to speak what Krsna has said. Then you become a preacher." ([[letters/1975/751109_jagadisa|Jagadisa dasa, 9 November, 1975]]) *** 76-01 "Svarupa Damodara has written me about the Bhaktivedanta Summer Institute. It is a very good idea. If possible try to accommodate it on one of the farms we already have. To buy another farm simply for this purpose is not very practical. ==The Institute should not only stress book study but there must be equal time given to kirtana, arati, prasadam, etc. There must be spiritual life, then book study will have meaning."== ([[letters/1976/760111_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 11 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 "They must always keep clean, internally by chanting the Lords glories, and externally by regularly bathing. In addition ==they should regularly study Bhagavad-gita, The Nectar of Devotion, The Nectar of Instruction, lsopanisad and all the paperbacks because soon we shall be holding examinations based on these books for the brahmanas.== Those who pass will be given the title *Bhakti-sastri.* Gail Bergerons spiritual name is Paratpara dasi. See that she chants minimum sixteen rounds daily and strictly follows the regulative principles." ([[letters/1976/760111_bahudak|Bahudaka, 11 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 =="All of the leaders should study my books very carefully,== since now everyone will have to appear for the examination. But I don't get any time to go into seclusion. My Guru Maharaja also did not approve of seclusion. He used to say: *dusta mana tumi kisera vaisnava, pratisthara tare, nirjanera ghare, tava hari-nama kevala kaitava;* 'My dear mind, what kind of Vaisnava are you? Simply for cheap adoration you sit in a solitary place and pretend to chant the Hare Krsna *maha-mantra,* but this is all cheating.' " ([[letters/1976/760122_jayatirtha|Jayatirtha, 22 January, 1976]]) *** 76-02 "It is nice to hear that your activities are going on successfully in Athens. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: *prthivlte ache yata nagaradi-grama, sarvatra pracara hoibe mora noma;* so now it is actually becoming a fact. This movement is being spread everywhere. ==Maintain your activities and increase gradually. I have instructed everything in my books.== You may translate the *Bhagavad-gita* first." ([[letters/1976/760225_nitai|Dina Dayala dasa, 25 February, 1976]]) *** 76-05 =="The teachings of the Bhagavad-gita are so potential that if it is practiced seriously, it can bring in a new life and civilisation. Now you have established a Gita Pratisthan, so do it very seriously."== ([[letters/1976/760514_ramakrishnaji|Sriman Ramakrishnaji, 14 May, 1976]]) *** 76-07 "Concerning making a comparative study and critique of philosophy, unless one is very expert it is difficult for him. First of all, let people understand Krsna. We are doing that. Maybe one or two are interested in philosophy and for so few persons we can't spare so much valuable time. Better to induce everyone to chant Hare Krsna and take *prasadam.* That will be a mass benevolent activity. In the Western countries many Ph.D.'s are out of employment because they do not get any service. ==We do not want to become great philosophers but rather to understand the philosophy in our own books. If we remain strong in our own literature, we can meet anyone else without any fear."== ([[letters/1976/760717_damodara_pandita|Damodara Pandita dasa, 17 July, 1976]]) *** 76-08 "I am sorry to learn that you have become a little agitated regarding the publication of an article in our *Back to Godhead* magazine. It is certainly unpleasant, but the officers who publish the magazine do not know *satyam bruyat priyam bruyat,* in this material world only palatable truth should be spoken. Unpalatable truth should be carefully avoided. The cause of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's agitation was much the same as your own. As you are irritated by the criticism of Sri Vallabhacarya, similarly Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also agitated when Vallabhacarya criticized Sridhara Swami. Sridhara Swami is accepted as the original commentator on the *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* Perhaps you know that there is an edition of the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* by Krsna Sankara *Sastri 'abhinavah sukah'* Vedantacarya, Sahitya-Tirtha, Sribhagavata-sudhanidhi, from Ahmedabad. In his book he has given almost all the important commentaries on the *Bhagavatam,* as follows: 1) Sridhara Swami 2) Sri Vamsidhara 3) Sri Gangasahaya 4) Srimad Viraraghavacarya 5) Srimad Vijayadhvaja Tirtha 6) Srimad Jiva Goswami 7) Srimad Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura 8) Srimad Sukadeva 9) Goswami Sri-Giridharilal (Vallabhacarya *sampradaya) 10) Sri * Bhagavata* Prasadacarya, etc. Among all commentaries, Sridhara Swami's is given the first position. This *parampara* has existed for a very long time. It was also accepted during Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's time, but Sri Vallabhacarya violated the system. Instead of acknowledging Sridhara Swami's pre-eminent position, he wanted to take it himself. I am enclosing herewith some photocopies of the important verses from the original book *Caitanya-caritamrta* that specifically deal with the subject matter. These verses are from Antya-lila Chapter Seven, entitled *'Lord Caitanya Meets Vallabha Bhatta.'* I would like to draw your attention to verse 113 on page 55 where Vallabha Bhatta says: In my commentary on *Srimad-Bhagavatam* I have refuted the explanations of Sridhara Swami. I cannot accept his explanations.' Moreover, verse 114 states: 'Whatever Sridhara Swami reads he explains according to the circumstances. Therefore he is inconsistent in his explanations and cannot be accepted as an authority.' Vallabha Bhatta's declaration certainly agitated Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Consequently, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remarked sarcastically that He considered that anyone who did not accept the *svami (or Sridhara Swami) as an authority was a prostitute. * Prabhu hasi kahe;* but he smiled and said this jokingly, because they were friends. Although this point is very controversial, it is not based on hearsay, as you have stated, but it is authoritatively documented by the *Caitanya-caritamrta.* As you have written in a friendly spirit, I do not wish to discuss this point further. If you will kindly take a little trouble to read this chapter 'Lord Caitanya Meets Vallabha Bhatta' you will understand the whole situation. Actually Vallabha Bhatta should not have criticized Sridhara Swami, because even now Sridhara Swami is very respected. Even authorities like Sri Jiva Goswami and Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura mention in their commentaries, *svami-caranat,* as we have learned it from the lotus feet of Sridhara Swami. So when Vallabha Bhatta criticized Sridhara Swami, Caitanya Mahaprabhu criticized Vallabha Bhatta strongly. This is a fact, but this does not mean that Vallabha Bhatta and Caitanya Mahaprabhu were inimical. Vallabha Bhatta honored Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as a superior. Sometimes Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would chastise Vallabha Bhatta and sometimes He would favor him, because this was their relationship. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would never refuse the occasional invitations of Vallabha Bhatta. Everything will become clear if you kindly read this chapter with attention. For example, we see that two lawyers in the courtroom may fight vigorously about a law point, but upon returning to the law library, they talk and embrace like friends. So you should always remember that we have no ill feelings toward Vallabha Bhattacarya. We have full respect for him, so ==there is no harm if these facts are discussed in the society of devotees. Devotees always humbly offer respect to everyone, but when there is a discussion on a point of sastra, they do not observe the usual etiquette, satyam bruyat priyam bruyat. They speak only the satyam, although it may not necessarily be priyam.== I hope you will understand the whole situation. If you still have any doubts, I shall be glad to hear from you and shall try to satisfy you to the best of my ability. I am presently not in very good health, nonetheless I hope this meets you well." ([[letters/1976/760809_sumati_morarjee|Madame Sumati Morarji, 9 August, 1976]]) *** 76-09 "I thank you very much for your very nice presentation of the issue of birth. You have assimilated the process of birth very nicely through the books. This has pleased me very much and ==I wish that all my students can become as adept at presenting the information in the books like this.== You can make this a grand subject for agitation in that country and your preaching on this point alone will make you very famous. Therefore you should speak everywhere on this subject matter from the *Bhagavatam* and *Gita* and you will be glorified. As the disciple is glorified so also the spiritual master becomes glorified more. Use this issue to advance your propaganda and become a leader in the society." ([[letters/1976/760918_dr._b.n._shukla|Tusta Krsna, 18 September, 1976]]) *** 76-09 "So far our *gurukula* is concerned, we require some practical assistant who can teach the boys how to be controlled in the mind and senses, how to rise early in the morning, chant the Hare Krsna *maha-mantra,* go to the Yamuna for bathing, then study some Vedic literatures like the *Bhagavad-gita* and the *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* remain always for the benefit of the *guru,* and work for him as a menial servant. These things are recommended for the *brahmacari.* You will find the statement in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* Canto Seven, Chapter Twelve, as follows: *brahmacari guru-kule vasan danto guror hitam.* I want my *gurukula* should be in that way, we don't want big, big scholars, for doing research work; what research work they will do? Everything is in perfect order in the Vedic scriptures summarised so beautifully in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and the *Bhagavad-gita* is the primal study. So we want to introduce this system of education for the boys who are at the *kaumara* age. That is recommended by Prahlada Maharaja: *kaumara acaret prajno, dharman bhdgavatan iha.* So this is the practical application in life of the education mentioned in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* I am also practically finding that if any of our students artificially try to become scholars by associating with unwanted persons they become victimized, for ==a little learning is dangerous, especially for the Westerners.== I am practically seeing that as soon as they begin to learn a little Sanskrit immediately they feel that they have become more than their guru and then the policy is kill guru and be killed himself. So we shall have to teach character and spiritual understanding to the young children. To study other things as a high grade scholar is secondary for us. The first thing is to build up character and be experienced in the understanding of the conclusions of the *Srimad-Bhagavatam: harer namanukir-tanam, nrpa nirnitarh;* it is decided, there is no more need of research work. So think over these matters. You are experienced and if you take up the charge of our *gurukula,* it will be a great relief for me, but the principles are described above—and we do not want anything more or less. The principles are vividly described in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and we have to follow and accept. I am glad to hear that you are coming here during *Diwali* holidays and you are always welcome. I hope this meets you in good health." ([[letters/1976/760918_dr._b.n._shukla|Dixit dasa, 18 September, 1976]]) *** 76-10 =="If you want to stay in Krsna consciousness you will have to develop firm faith in guru and sastra. Therefore, you must study my books very scrutinizingly, follow the four regulative principles very strictly and chant sixteen rounds daily avoiding the ten offences. Don't take this movement as something cheap."== ([[letters/1976/761030_srutadeva|Srutadeva dasa, 30 October, 1976]]) *** 77-02 "Your suggestion that the devotees visiting Vrndavana engage in preaching and chanting and not in gossiping is very good. I have instructed that this be taken to the GBC and implanted. We have sacrificed our life for Krsna's service, where is there scope for sleeping and gossiping? You can see in my example, not a single moment is wasted. This idleness is the business of the *karmis.* They can be seen sitting in the park gossiping, 'My son in law said this, this man has cheated me.' But it has no place in devotional service, so your suggestion is well made. ==Your suggestion for groups teaching practical subjects like book distribution, Deity worship, is also good. These things are wanted."== ([[letters/1977/770205_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 5 February, 1977]]) *** 77-02 =="If you like to stay in my rooms at Radha-Damodara then you may stay there. I allow it. Preaching also means reading and writing, or else what will you preach?"== ([[letters/1977/770218_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 18 February, 1977]]) *** 77-03 =="The Krsna conscious katha contest and the workshops appear to be very nice. This is our only business—to endeavor to serve Krsna at every moment.== The whole world is busy for sense gratification, it is ant-hill civilization. So much endeavor for what? We also work hard because we know the goal of life—to please Krsna. So, ==if by these workshops service to Krsna has been increased in everyone, then they are very nice.== Why there was no weaving and spinning workshop?' ([[letters/1977/770318_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 18 March, 1977]]) *** 77-03 =="Your proposal for arranging a Gita on tapes in different languages for distributing all over the world is very good. You may contact my representative, His Holiness Harikesa Swami..."== ([[letters/1977/770330_nicholas|Nicholas, 30 March, 1977]]) ## Lecturing on the Philosophy 58-08 "I beg to inform you that I am in receipt of your invitation letter in the matter of observing the *Bhagavata* week through the secretary of Bombay spiritual center. As I know what sort of *Bhagavata* week can be observed by the Mayavadis for misleading the innocent public I therefore not only restrained myself from attending the function, but also I advised many others not to attend, for the very reason that the recitation of the holy *Bhagavata* is being performed by men who have no access to this great scripture in which only the liberated persons who are freed from all pretentious religiosities can take part. The Mayavadis especially have no right to discuss *Srimad Bhagavata Purana* for the only reason that they are aspiring after liberation (moksa vanoha). * And Sripada Sankaracarya, because he was the incarnation of Sankara, very carefully avoided to make any commentary on the holy * Bhagavatam. * Sripada Sankaracarya preached his Mayavada philosophy for bewildering the atheistic class of men in order to confound them to become more and more atheist and thus suffer perpetually within the threefold miserable conditions of the material nature. But because he was a great devotee at heart he dared not to commit sacrilege by unauthorized commentation on the * Bhagavatam * for he knew it well that a person who aspires after * mukti * or to merge one s identity in the impersonal feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is debarred from the benefit of * Srimad-Bhagavatam.* If you read *Srimad-Bhagavatam* from the beginning (which is absolutely necessary for a serious student) you will find what is spoken there in the second *sloka* of the first chapter of the first canto. It is clearly stated there that mundane religiosities, economic development, sense gratification and ultimately a frustrated mans desire to merge in the impersonal feature of Godhead and all similar other things are completely thrown away from the transcendental literature of *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* Sripada Sridhara Swami, the most authorized commentator on the *Bhagavad-gita,* has said that by the prefix 'PRA in the *sloka,* the desire of liberation *moksa vanobha* is also stopped herewith. A person who is not a pure Vaisnava cannot understand *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* A Mayavadi may pretend to become a so-called Vaisnava but because he cherishes at heart to merge into the Supreme, he is unable to develop the devotional cult which is a necessary qualification for understanding *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* And to qualify the Mayavadis and other common men who indulge in the mental speculative transactions, *Srimad-Bhagavatam* gives them instructions from the First to Ninth Cantos about the transcendental nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unfortunately the cheap and unscrupulous professional readers of the *Bhagavata* or Mayavadi misleaders in the garb of a renouncer indulge in the highest topic of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* described in the *Rasa Pancadhya.* A person who is compact in mundane thought of material enjoyment will certainly be indulging in playing with poison if anyone, devoid of transcendental realization, playfully deals with the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna. Some friends who attended your *Bhagavata* week have told me how the pastimes of Lord Krsna were being wrongly interpreted in your organization on the pretext of saving Krsna from being an immoral personality. To save these foolish audiences in future, Maharaja Pariksit had already asked Sukadeva Goswami to clear the *rasa-lila* activities of Lord Sri Krsna. The transcendental nature of *rasa-lila* does not require to be apologized by a Mayavadi or mundane moralist. The *lila* is what it is. Srila Vyasadeva never desired that in future the real purpose of *rasa-lila* had to be explained by some mundane scholar with poor fund of knowledge. It does not require to be changed a bit but the only thing required in this connection is to qualify oneself in the matter of undergoing a strict spiritual training to realize the same transcendentally from the right sources. In order to keep the *rasa-lila* activities of the Lord intact Srila Sukadeva Goswami has already explained the matter in the *Bhagavata* 10th Canto Chapter 33 Verses 29-39. I shall request you to go through them with special reference to the *slokas,* numbers 30, 34 and 39. In the *sloka* number 30 it is forbidden that a mundane person should indulge in hearing *rasa-lila* or that one should hear *rasa-lila* from a mundane person. In your organization both the audience and the lecturer are mundane persons and their indulgence in the matter of *rasa-lila* out of sheer foolishness will result in imitating Rudra who swallowed up an ocean of poison. There is no immorality in the transcendental activities of the Lord, neither it requires to be defended by any immoral man because simply by remembering the holy name of Krsna or by serving His lotus feet one can at once become a liberated person. (SB 10.33.34). Besides that, the result of reading or hearing the *rasa-lila* in the devotional mood is stated (SB 10.30.33-39) to become culminated in complete disappearance of the devotee's lust disease in the heart. Persons who are not pure devotees and must have therefore an impure heart full with dirty things of mundane affairs will not only try to defend *rasa-lila* by interpretations, but also shall be ruined for decry the dealings as by drinking poison a man goes to hell. I shall request you therefore not to mislead the people in general under the garb of religiosity and indulge in the transcendental pastimes of the Lord known by the name *Rasa Pancadhya.* ==This Society stands to rectify all these anomalies in the name of religion and I shall ask your good sense to join hands with us to stop all this nonsense. India's culture of spiritual value has a unique position and it has to be learnt by the human society in right earnest and from the right sources.== As an Indian and a man of good sense with practical business brain you should not at least indulge in such organization under the influence of unauthorized persons. Instead of indulging in the organization of such unauthorized persons you may kindly learn the science from the authority and make your life enlightened and attain success of the boon of human form of life. The League of Devotees is an organized effort to render this service to the human society without any pretentious conventions. We are publishing one paper in the name of *Back to Godhead* to educate people in the right direction and I am sending herewith one pamphlet in which the opinions of several respectable gentlemen are inserted as to how they are being appreciated. It is our duty to defend the cause of *Bhagavata* either by request or by legal action according to necessity and I hope you will understand us in our most responsible task. Awaiting your early reply and thanking you in anticipation." (Sri Ratanshi Morarji Khatau, 5 August, 1958) *** 67-10 "Regarding the teachings in the temple, every one of my disciples may become a teacher strictly following my instructions. I am a bona fide teacher as long as I follow the instructions of my spiritual master. That is the only one qualification for becoming a teacher. As soon as one deviates from this principle one is no longer a teacher. ==I do not know how Subala dasa speaks but if there is any deviation you can point it out and adjust things between yourselves.== Personally I know both yourself and your husband, Dayananda, are very sincere souls and I am much obliged to you because you have opened a nice center in Los Angeles. Similarly, Subala dasa also opened a center at Santa Fe. All this activity is very encouraging to my mission and I believe sincerely that you are doing the best to serve the cause of ISKCON." ([[letters/1967/671029_nandarani|Nandarani, 29 October, 1967]]) *** 68-01 =="My dear boy, lecturing for Krsna has nothing to do with this body. If I would not have lectured how you would have come?"== (SPL to Madhusudana, January, 1968) *** 68-02 "Regarding lecturing by women devotees: I have informed you that in the service of the Lord there is no distinction of caste, or creed, colour, or sex. In the *Bhagavad-gita,* the Lord especially mentions that even a woman who has taken seriously is also destined to reach Him. We require a person who is in the knowledge of Krsna, that is the only qualification of a person speaking. It doesn't matter what he is. Materially a woman may be less intelligent than a man, but spiritually there is no such distinction. Because spiritually everyone is pure soul. ==In the absolute plane there is no such gradation of higher and lower. If a woman can lecture nicely and to the point, we should hear her carefully. That is our philosophy.== But if a man can speak better than a woman, the man should be given first preference. But even though a woman is less intelligent, a sincere soul should be given proper chance to speak, because we want so many preachers, both men and women." ([[letters/1968/680208_jayagovinda|Jaya Govinda, 8 February, 1968]]) *** 68-03 "That is a very good proposal, to get Indian pavilion for our *kirtana* program. Please try for it. And we can exhibit some of our paintings, and pictures. When I go to Montreal, I shall take selected pictures from Jadurani as well as some of the pictures by Gaurasundara and Govinda published in our *Back to Godhead* magazine. Jadurani has now become a nice preacher. I have report from Satsvarupa that she gives lectures very nicely. ==If we open a pavilion I shall take Jadurani also at that time so she will deliver nice lectures.== I shall probably be coming there to Montreal by first week of June." ([[letters/1968/680328_mahapurusa|Mahapurusa, 28 March, 1968]]) *** 68-06 =="Regarding preaching work, if you simply reproduce verbatim the purports which I have given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and chant Hare Krsna with ecstasy, that will be sufficient for your preaching work, and as you do it seriously and sincerely, Krsna gives you more and more strength for this noble missionary work."== ([[letters/1968/680610_harivilasa|Hari Vilasa, 10 June, 1968]]) *** 68-10 "Regarding your third question, morning lecture is also allowed. Lecture is also *kirtana,* and so as morning *kirtana* is there, similarly morning lecture can also be delivered. In New York, or even in San Francisco, when I was present I was giving lectures in the morning also. ==So far as girls or boys lecturing in the morning, that doesn't make any difference.== Either girl or boy devotees may deliver lecture if they choose to do. We have no such distinction of bodily designations, male or female. Krsna consciousness is on the spiritual platform. As such, anyone who is a devotee of the Lord, following in this line of disciplic succession can deliver lecture on the teachings of *Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam,* etc." ([[letters/1968/681021_syama|Syama dasi, 21 October, 1968]]) *** 68-12 "I have seen the *Istagosthi* notes of your meetings which were sent by Lilavati, and you are doing very nice in speaking on the principles of Krsna consciousness. So with your speaking talents there is so much valuable preaching work that you will have the opportunity to do something to relieve the burden of the suffering humanity. ==So more and more try to develop this skill, such able speakers as yourself are a great boon to spreading this movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."== ([[letters/1968/681228_gaurasundara|Gaurasundara, 28 December, 1968]]) *** 69-08 "I was very glad to learn from Upendras letter that you have lectured nicely, and improve this preaching habit. *Kirtana* means whatever we hear from the spiritual master we repeat it again nicely. ==One who can reproduce the sound vibration heard from the spiritual master, he will be a good preacher.== I hope you will keep me informed of your further progress, and I hope this will meet you in good health." ([[letters/1969/690817_mahapurusa|Mahapurusa, 17 August, 1969]]) *** 69-10 =="When preaching you only repeat what you have heard from the disciplic succession and this will act."== ([[letters/1969/691005_prahladananda|Prahladananda, 5 October, 1969]]) *** 70-01 "I also thank you very much for your appreciation of my books and letters and for my speaking in the meetings. They are not my words, as I have repeatedly informed you that I am simply the bearer of the message from Lord Caitanya through the disciplic succession and I do not make any addition or subtraction. Similarly, ==if you all carry these words successively, then the transcendental parampara system will be exactly maintained and people in general will be benefited.== I am very much obliged to my disciples because they are realizing the importance of Krsna consciousness movement and it is very much encouraging to me. Please, therefore, continue the standard of understanding. Read regularly our books and try to expand and preach the philosophy as far as possible." ([[letters/1970/700110_bhagavan|Bhagavan dasa, 10 January, 1970]]) *** 70-01 "I am very pleased to learn that both you and your wife have been lecturing on Krsna consciousness at the George Washington University and there was good response to your program. You simply read our books and if you simply reproduce the purport of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* or *Bhagavata Gita,* people will take it very seriously. So, of course, ==you must understand the purport and reproduce it in your own language. That will be very good,== but someway or other, if in some way you present the purport of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* or *Bhagavad-gita* that will be also very good. ==The idea is that we should not make any addition or subtraction of mental speculation,== but we should endeavor, even if we do not fully understand from our present platform, to present simply the philosophy as we have received it directly and realized it by practical experience." ([[letters/1970/700122_dinesh|Dinesh, 22 January, 1970]]) *** 70-02 =="I am now delivering some lectures every Sunday at the Los Angeles temple and the series may be called 'Sinful Activities and Their Sinful Reactions.' They will be transcribed here weekly and sent to you for editing."== ([[letters/1970/700219_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 19 February, 1970]]) *** 70-06 =="Speaking or anything all depends on practice and study. I remember when I was first called for speaking by one of my senior Godbrothers. I felt very much hesitating because I was not practiced to speak.== Later on by speaking and hearing or reading I got experience and now we can speak forty-five minutes, fifty minutes or one hour at a stretch. So you have to read our books very nicely and gather thoughts, then you can speak for hours without any difficulty. It requires practice. So read your books carefully, especially *The Nectar of Devotion* is now published, and practice speaking. It will be all right." ([[letters/1970/700624_upendra|Upendra, 24 June, 1970]]) *** 72-05 =="Yes, that is a nice proposal if you speak like a learned scholar. Everything is there in our books, so learn it and put it your own way by reproducing. You are also materially well-educated so reproduce what I have taught in your own language.== These things are new thoughts in your Western countries, everyone will be interested. Writing is also required. Let it be published first in our *Back to Godhead* magazine, then sometimes they may be printed into books also." ([[letters/1972/720502_kirtanananda|Kīrtanānanda, 2 May, 1972]]) *** 72-07 =="So far your question, Yes, it is good to be prepared with a well-thought lecture in advance. However, we must be able to preach effectively at a moment's notice or under any conditions or circumstances also. As you begin to study the Sanskrit words, in each word you will find a treasure house of different understanding."== ([[letters/1972/720701_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 1 July, 1972]]) *** 72-07 "Another thing is, wherever I shall be from now on I want the *Bhagavata* Seminar to go on. In San Diego, I spoke at one such seminar on 'Hinduism' which attracted many scholarly persons from all over the United States. So I am thinking that if we arrange similar seminar programs in the future, wherever I am speaking at the time, that will be a great success. So I am coming to New Vrndavana for the Janmastami celebration by end August from Europe, so if ==you can arrange and advertise widely for such Bhagavata-dharma seminar or festival, I shall speak for minimum seven days on the subject matter of Bhagavata-dharma.== You may invite all the intelligent class of men, like students, professors, philosophers, scientists, educationists, like that, and they can pay some fee and we shall give them all facilities for living, and they shall attend our classes daily for some set period and take away immense benefit. I am enclosing the copy of one sample advertisement for the seminar in San Diego. Similarly, we can arrange such seminar at New Vrndavana. What do you think?" ([[letters/1972/720701_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 1 July, 1972]]) ==72-07 "Bhagavata Dasaha means ten days of transcendental discourses on the science of Bhagavan, reading from Bhagavad-gita As It Is, as well as from Srimad-Bhagavatam. If I attend, I shall let you know timely so that you could give publicity sufficiently. Most probably I shall attend."== ([[letters/1972/720711_subala|Subala, 11 July, 1972]]) *** 72-07 "Yes, Singhania will not help us very much, but if he wants to sponsor a ten-day 'Hare Krsna Festival' in Kanpur from September 22nd to October 1st, 1972, that will be nice. If I am in India at that time, I shall be pleased to attend. =='Bhagavata Dasaha' which means ten days of transcendental discourses on the science of Bhagavan reading from Bhagavad-gita As It Is as well as from Srimad-Bhagavatam.== If I attend, I shall let you know timely so that you could give publicity sufficiently. Most probably I shall attend." ([[letters/1972/720711_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 11 July, 1972]]) *** 72-09 "Our *Bhagavata-dharma* discourses are going on very nicely here in New Vrndavana, and hundreds of devotees and other persons from outside are also coming here, and there is one large pavilion on the hilltop where I speak every evening and the meetings are being very well appreciated by all. ==Now go on holding these Bhagavata-dharma discourses in every city of the world,== in a simple way, as we have done it in Nairobi, speaking something, having *kirtana,* distributing *prasadam,* and keep place to stay, camping and tents, for the devotees and guests, and in this way very quickly Lord Caitanya's movement will be spread all over the world and actually everyone will get enlightenment out of it." ([[letters/1972/720902_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 2 September, 1972]]) *** 72-09 "I am happy to hear that your program in New Vrndavana has been very successful, and for my part I was very much pleased to attend this year. Now ==I can understand that this Bhagavata-dharma discourse can he held anywhere all over the world and people will come in large numbers such great distance and under all kinds of hardships just to hear our discourse.== That is very encouraging to me. Now you are *sannyasis* and GBC men and I leave it to you to hold this *Bhagavata-dharma* discourse and Hare Krsna festival all over your country widely, and this will be the success of our movement. You are experienced devotee, and you know how to do things well, so kindly train the others and distribute your experience widely, and organize. If such festivals can be held in different places continuously then my dream will be fulfilled." ([[letters/1972/720923_kirtanananda|Kīrtanānanda, 23 September, 1972]]) *** 73-01 =="Try to present everything very logically and always quote our Sanskrit authorities in connection with the main points, and that will impress them greatly."== ([[letters/1973/730109_hayagriva|Satsvarupa and Hrdayananda, 9 January, 1973]]) *** 74-04 =="As for speaking this knowledge effectively, that requires a little experience. The more you are experienced then you will be able to give examples."== ([[letters/1974/740428_balavanta|Balavanta, 28 April, 1974]]) *** 74-05 "So to preach *Bhagavata* religion sometimes we have to quote from the *sastras* what is not palatable to unscrupulous so-called religious persons. But ==in preaching we cannot do without quoting the proper verses.== Sometimes they take it adversely and we become subject to unwanted criticism. Actually there is no religion in the world except *Bhagavata* religion, namely surrendering to the lotus feet of the Lord." ([[letters/1974/740516_bhima_krsna_dasa_sanat_kumara_nityananda_samba_joseph|Sri Pannalalji, 16 May, 1974]]) *** 74-09 =="Everyone can become a first-class speaker. Simply cram the purports of my books. The references are there, the philosophy is there. Everything is there. So if you do it, everyone will be pleased with your speaking."== ([[letters/1974/740919_ramesvar_prabhu|Gopijanavallabha dasa, 19 September, 1974]]) *** 74-12 "So you please continue your devotional service, cooking etc, and ==you can also keep giving Bhagavatam class if you like. Women in our movement can also preach very nicely. Actually male and female bodies, these are just outward designations.== Lord Caitanya said that whether one is *brahmana* or whatever he may be if he knows the science of Krsna then he is to be accepted as *guru.* So one who gives class, he must read and study regularly and study the purport and realize it. Don't add anything or concoct anything, then he can preach very nicely. The qualification for leading class is how much one understands about Krsna and surrendering to the process. Not whether one is male or female. Of course women, generally speaking are less intelligent, better she has heard nicely then she will speak nicely." ([[letters/1974/741225_malati|Malati, 25 December, 1974]]) *** 75-10 "Concerning our use of analogy. We do not bring in imperfect analogy, but we follow the instructions of the *sastras* strictly. Our authority is on the basis *sastra,* not on analogy. So, Vyasadeva, while giving the history of creation, says: *janmady asya...adi-kavaye...* so He impregnated the heart of Brahma with all the designs of creation. So what is wrong there? If I instruct someone you do like this, and he does it, then what is the difficulty? This is the system. Our authority is *sastra.* ==We give analogy for the general mass of people who have no faith in sastra. Analogy is not proof; sastra is proof. Foolish people cannot understand or accept, so we use analogy.== The conclusion is not drawn from the analogy but from the *sastra.* We don't use a combination of logic and authority, we use authority. Logic we use to convince someone who doesn't accept the authority. The basic principle is authority. *Vedas* say that cow dung is pure and we accept it. There is no logic, but when we practically use it we see that it is correct. The logic of using analogy is called in the *sastra: sakhi candra nyaya.* It is easier to focus on the moon through the branches of a tree. The moon is great distance away, and you say that it is just through the branches. So you can focus more easily on the moon because two points joined make a straight line. So focusing on the nearby object helps us to focus on the far-away object. This is the use of analogy. So there is no question of stagnation in Krsna consciousness. Krsna is unlimited. The more we advance in Krsna consciousness, the more we understand about Him. We cannot finish the process of understanding Him. The little more that we advance, we see still that He is far away. Even Krsna couldn't understand His position in relationship to Radharani, therefore, He took the position of Radharani to understand Himself as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu." ([[letters/1975/751021_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, 21 October, 1975]]) *** 75-11 =="For lecturing, any one of our members can speak. Simply one has to memorize the purports and then speak in one's own language. Anyone who chants and follows the rules and regulations, where is there room for anxiety for him? You are an old, experienced devotee, so you behave like this and teach others to do so wherever you may stay." ([[letters/1975/751107_madhudvisa|SPL== *to Revatinandana Swami, 7 November, 1975]]) *** 75-11 =="This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's blessings that every one of us should become a sadhu and preach Krsna consciousness. So far Krsna consciousness is concerned, we have got new and sufficient number of books and if we read them carefully and reproduce the purports in our own language, that is perfect preaching."== ([[letters/1975/751109_jagadisa|Tripurari Swami, 9 November, 1975]]) *** 75-11 =="So far your lecturing is concerned, you simply put in your own language the purports of our books. That will make your lectures successful."== ([[letters/1975/751109_jagadisa|Satsvarupa Maharaja, 9 November, 1975]]) *** 75-11 =="I am glad to see that your preaching programs are going on. I think Acyutananda Swami, he is a very good preacher. The process is simply to read the books and learn the purports and then speak them in your own words."== ([[letters/1975/751121_dr._w.h._wolf-rottkay|Acyutananda Swami and Yasodanandana Swami, 21 November, 1975]]) ## Writing on the Philosophy 68-01 "Your attempt to present a nice article on Krsna consciousness on the basis of a scholastic understanding is very much encouraging to my mission, and ==I shall be thinking successful in my mission when you present your Krsna conscious article before the misguided philosophers and religionists of the world.== *Vedanta* means ultimate knowledge. Knowledge is never perfect unless one comes to the point of understanding Krsna. To remain in Krsna consciousness is actual understanding of *Vedanta.* Anything which is not Krsna consciousness is polluted profane consciousness. Generally the philosophers are acting on the mental plane. The *Bhagavatam* clearly confirms it; unless one is situated in Krsna consciousness he is sure to fall down to material consciousness because he has no other platform. Just like one man flying in the sky, if he doesn't get any supporting planet, he has to come back again on the planet from which he started. Similarly, those who are hovering on the mental plane, they must come back to the material manifestation without being in knowledge of spiritual life." ([[letters/1968/680121_brahmananda|SPL * ====* to Janardana, 21 January, 1968]]) *** 68-09 "I am so pleased to learn that you are lecturing in the Boston University class in mysticism, and they are appreciating your versions. Please always remain submissive in spirit to Krsna and spiritual master, and by their grace you will get all strength to speak and satisfy your audience. I remember when you were walking with me on the New York street, you were proposing for me to become a lecturer in some university. And your honest desire has been fulfilled by Krsna, that He has given sufficient strength unto you, that instead of me, you are speaking there as my representative. This is all Krsna's grace. But one thing I may inform you, that the three books which I have already prepared, namely *Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Teachings of Lord Caitanya,* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* all these books are the ultimate source of knowledge. If you simply reproduce what I have tried to explain in those books, surely you will come out victorious, even in the midst of so many great mundane scholars. ==The descriptions given in these books are not mundane speculations, but they are authorized versions of liberated souls, presented by our humble self.== So the strength is not in us, but the strength is in the Supreme Lord. And we have simply to present them without any adulteration, in humble service spirit. That is the secret of success. Hoping you are well." (SPL to Devananda, September, 1968) ==68-10 "So far your long letter, I am very much pleased to have your long letter. I can see from your writing that you have got capacity to write; this is a great help. You can write articles for Back to Godhead, so writing capacity is not discouraged. And I shall always be glad to receive your long letters."== ([[letters/1968/681021_syama|Krsna dasa, 21 October, 1968]]) *** 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 this 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 five to ten page edition of German *Back to Godhead.* That is my request." ([[letters/1969/690213_sivananda|Krsna dasa, 13 February, 1969]]) *** 69-03 "There are many things to criticize in the matter of any faith, and if we divert our attention to such activities we shall simply create more opposite elements and waste our time. Better if we try to push on this Krsna consciousness movement and use our energy, education, scientific knowledge etc. to simply convince the present generation that everyone is a servant of God. Then our mission will be successful. Actually at the present moment, never mind if one is Christian, Jew or Moslem, most people are Godless and don't care for God. They simply take an official stand, but actually, from the depth of their hearts they have no idea what is God. So we have to invoke the dormant understanding of God consciousness; that is the principle of Krsna consciousness movement. If a Christian believes in God let him love God prominently rather than loving matter. If we wish to criticize Christian faith we can do so, and we can prove that hardly there are any sincere Christians. In the Ten Commandments we see Lord Jesus Christ advised, 'Thou shalt not kill,' but this killing process is still prominent among Christians as well as any other religious group. So much so that it is simply horrible. Recently, the head of the Christian people, the Pope, declined to sanction the killing process in the embryo, namely contraceptive methods. We can see that so many Christians revolted. Apart from this killing process within the embryo there is also killing process in the slaughterhouse and in so many ways. I do not know how a Christian can violate this important commandment of the Bible, 'Thou shalt not kill.' So in this way, if we want to criticize we can, but it will simply increase our enemies. Better let us try to invoke the dormant transcendental emotion by chanting and dancing. ==You try to understand this philosophy more seriously, and as you are able try to write articles on this subject matter without being inclined to compromise with any other religious faith.== I shall write to you again from Hawaii." ([[letters/1969/690302_janardana|Janardana, 2 March, 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 "Regarding your request to sing prayers in English, this is a nice suggestion and you may do it. So far as the songs you have written, you may send me a copy of them and I shall see them. In Montreal also they are writing songs in the popular Western style of music and it is coming very nicely."== ([[letters/1969/690430_isanadas|Harer Nama, 30 April, 1969]]) *** 69-07 "The circular you have sent to the presidents and members of ISKCON is very nicely drawn, and please follow the principles. ==All students should be encouraged to write some article after reading Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and Teachings of Lord Caitanya. They should realize the information, and they must present their assimilation in their own words. Otherwise, how they can become preachers?"== ([[letters/1969/690701_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 1 July, 1969]]) *** 69-07 =="I hope you have by now received one circular from Brahmananda in which it is stated that you are all requested to write articles of Krsna consciousness as you have personally realized it, and also send as many pictures as possible of sankirtana movement for Back to Godhead magazine along with short descriptions."== ([[letters/1969/690705_upendra|Upendra, 5 July, 1969]]) *** 69-07 =="Regarding articles for Back to Godhead Magazine, I have already issued instructions to all centers requesting my disciples to send articles every month, and I am going to repeat it again for the second time."== ([[letters/1969/690712_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 12 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? ==We== 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 magazine.== 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* magazine 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 very nice engagement for you." ([[letters/1969/690715_jadurani|Bibhavati, 15 July, 1969]]) *** 69-07 =="I am so glad to learn that Mr. Ted Berk, the American poet, is now living with you as brahmacari. Let him become now a Vaisnava poet. There are so many Vaisnava poets in India. Now as Krsna consciousness is spreading, I think there must be some Western Vaisnava poets, and Mr. Ted Berk may be the first one."== ([[letters/1969/690728_mukunda|Mukunda, 28 July, 1969]]) *** 69-11 =="Regarding the songs you have written yes, you may send them here for Mukunda to consider for future recordings.== I expect to visit your Hawaii center again when I go to Japan. Surely at that time it will not be difficult. But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always thinking of me I am always thinking of you also. Although physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection." ([[letters/1969/691113_gaurasundara|Gaurasundara, 13 November, 1969]]) *** 69-12 "I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 7th, 1969 along with the article of Acyutananda. Your decision not to publish this article is correct. To the neophyte devotees we should issue instructions that there are four stages of understanding the Absolute Truth. The first stage is re-establishing our relationship with Krsna. This is the first stage. The second stage is after understanding our relationship, to perform devotional service under proper guidance. The third stage is acquisition of the desired object. The fourth stage is relishing the nectar of perfectional love. So Radha-Krsna *lila* belongs to the fourth stage of understanding, and we are publishing *Back to Godhead* for people in general to re-establish their forgotten relationship with Krsna. So we should always remember this and ==from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and Isopanisad they should try to write how our relationship is revoked from this stage of forgetfulness.== They should write articles like this: 1) Krsna, the Omnipotent, 2) How God Can be Realized as All-Pervasive, 3) The Original Source of Everything, 4) Transcendental Process of Hearing, 5) How One Gets Out of the Clutches of Maya, 6) Prayers By Arjuna, 7) Prayers By Kunti Devi, 8) Prayers By Bhismadeva. They should try to understand Krsna first in so many ways which are described in our *Bhagavatam.* They should read them carefully and pick up subject matters as above mentioned. What general people will understand about Radha-Krsna *lila?* Immediately they will take it as ordinary boys and girls in spite of a thousand warnings. 'This is not this, this is not this.' So you shall issue instruction that they should write articles on the subject matters as above mentioned. They should read our *Bhagavatam.* The purports are there. They should assimilate them in their own words in a literary career. I was very much pleased to see one of your articles which you picked up from Daksa *yajna.* The articles should be very scrutinizingly published. We want to make our *Back to Godhead* magazine an authorized, first-class magazine, and the writers and students should be equally responsible. So when we meet we shall talk more about this." ([[letters/1969/691213_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 13 December, 1969]]) *** 70-02 =="You write very nicely. I have seen your articles. In that way you may take out so many purports from Srimad-Bhagavatam and write nice articles upon them."== ([[letters/1970/700215_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 15 February, 1970]]) *** 70-03 =="You must all find time to write some articles for publishing in Back to Godhead magazine. That is culture."== ([[letters/1970/700302_yamuna|Yamuna, 2 March, 1970]]) *** 70-03 =="I am very glad to know that your pen is inspired to create, because we are in need of many intelligent writers who can express our Krsna consciousness philosophy nicely== just following exactly the transcendental words and purports of our vast Vedic scriptures according to the previous *acaryas* of our *Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya.* And if you continue to work in this writing and publishing of our literatures with steady enthusiasm and sincerity, your success in Krsna consciousness is certain. Therefore, to keep your spiritual strength, always observe the regulative principles strictly and chant at least sixteen rounds of beads daily without fail. This is essential for understanding our philosophy practically to advance in Krsna consciousness. And we should always avoid mental speculations." ([[letters/1970/700319_patita_uddharana|Patita Uddharana, 19 March, 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* magazine. 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 magazine 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]]) *** 70-07 "Before coming to your country I took *sannyasa* in 1959. I was publishing *Back to Godhead* magazine since 1944. After taking *sannyasa* ==I was more engaged in writing my books without any attempt to construct temples or to make disciples like my other Godbrothers in India. I was not very much interested in these matters because my Guru Maharaja liked very much publication of books rather than constructing big, big temples and creating some neophyte disciples."== ([[letters/1970/700727_satsvarupa_uddhava|Satsvarupa and Uddhava, 27 July, 1970]]) *** 72-01 "You must all study very scrutinizingly all of the books so that when the need arises you can repeat in your own words their purport. Also ==I will be very pleased if you contribute articles to Back to Godhead. By writing regularly, what you read will become realized. As much as possible read, chant and preach. This is our life and soul.== If we keep to this simple formula then there is no doubt that we will be victorious wherever we go and very soon we will become the only religion in the world." ([[letters/1972/720106_hrdayananda|Hrdayananda, 6 January, 1972]]) *** 72-01 =="Your songs and poems are very much liked by me.== Syamasundara informs me your proposal for traveling party for roving all over England and Wales, just like Kīrtanānanda is doing in America. I think this is a good proposal, and you may compose many such nice songs for attracting the young people from villages and towns. I very much approve of such traveling SKP program. And if you are able to infiltrate into schools and colleges for introducing Krsna consciousness and selling our books, that is also very nice. In this way, keep yourself always twenty-four hours engaged in Krsnas service, and very quickly you will advance to the highest platform of life. Somehow or other, Krsna has sent me sincere souls like yourself and others to assist me, therefore there has been a little progress. Thank you very much for helping me to spread Lord Caitanyas movement." ([[letters/1972/720110_kulasekhara|Kulasekhara, 10 January, 1972]]) *** 72-03 "Regarding your question about writing songs about Krsna, this is not very important thing. You can write, but one cannot take it very seriously. If any Vaisnava is writing songs about Krsna, that should be from one who himself has realized Krsna, just like our great saints and *acaryas* like Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya, Rupa Goswami, six Goswamis, Bilvamangala, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, like that. They are self-realized souls, therefore if they write something song about Krsna, that is perfectly from the transcendental platform, without any tinge of mundane influence or nonsense imagination. Unless someone comes in the category of these great leading Vaisnava personalities, his manufacturing some songs will be misleading to himself and to others. And unless his writing of poems and songs can be accepted as Gospel, as *Vedas* or the Absolute Truth, such writing is diverting the attention from the subject matter only and should not be regarded very seriously. Now you should become serious to pursue this Krsna consciousness movement with full energy of body, mind and soul. ==If you are writing poems and songs, that's all right, you can do it also, but if you can write articles for our Back to Godhead magazine, that is better, that is solid preaching work. No one should write songs of Krsna unless he is a self-realized soul,== that will spoil the value of the whole thing. But try to use your writing and singing talent for Krsnas preaching work, by writing articles, singing the *kirtana,* like that. Then you will be happy, and I think you should without further delay try to become a devotee as the others are doing and live with us and practice the regulative principles of *brahmacari* life. In this way, become determined to fix your attention for seeing Krsna face to face by the Krsna consciousness process and then you shall qualify yourself for writing songs about Krsna and you chant always this Hare Krsna *mantra* and you can come to the highest point of seeing Krsna very soon, you may know it for certain." ([[letters/1972/720312_manager_of_punjab_national_bank|Billy Reyburne, 12 March, 1972]]) *** 72-04 "So far your ideas that some of our students have not realized what they are writing, that they are merely repeating the philosophy mechanically, and that Rayarama is more appreciated by you, then you can do it, and give the example as he has done it. But the difference is, that in spite of his becoming a philosopher he could not assimilate and practice the philosophy, and he went away, so you may write like him, but please do not go away. I think others like Kīrtanānanda may be repeating, but they stay. But I am always wondering, ==why others do not write, so many big, big preachers we have got, but none of them write, so if you can inspire them to write in more convincing way, that is great service, do it."== ([[letters/1972/720402_revatinandana|Mandali Bhadra, 2 April, 1972]]) *** 72-05 "I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 27th, 1972, along with a sample of ==your booklet. It is very nice, I have enjoyed it very much, but there are some direct criticisms and that we are not going to do.== These men are not as important as our institution, so we shall not give them unnecessary publicity by criticising. We shall consider it later after reading more carefully." ([[letters/1972/720503_rupanuga|Patita Uddharana, 3 May, 1972]]) *** 72-05 "You are a very descriptive writer and I enjoy very much your descriptions and use of words. Actually, ==if we are engaged in writing and speaking on behalf of Krsna, this is the best process for advancing in Krsna consciousness. Such activity forces us to think very clearly on the subject matter in order to speak or write on it to convince others.== So I think that you should develop your ability for writing and spend some time writing articles for *Back to Godhead* magazine." ([[letters/1972/720521_ranadhira|Ranadhira, 21 May, 1972]]) *** 72-07 =="Regarding the songs by Jayadeva, 'Srita Kamala' is not approved.== Sometimes our Krsnadasa Babaji sings, but it is not approved by Prabhupāda. Those songs are for *siddha-bhaktas,* not for us who are *sadha-bhaktas* or learning *bhaktas.* Lord Caitanya never divulged in public, He enjoyed them in the company of His selected three or four devotees. There is one song by Jayadeva, 'Worshiping the Ten Incarnations,' that song is all right. The other songs that you mention are all right. Regarding the manuscripts, you may photograph all of the pages, then we shall type them later. If there is shortage of film, I have instructed Karandhara to send you a large supply of the appropriate films for photographing the pages. Or you may purchase there and we shall pay from the book fund. These are important works and they must be preserved forever, so what is that expense?" ([[letters/1972/720715_acyutananda|Acyutananda, 15 July, 1972]]) *** 72-11 =="Yes, every one of you should write something, so if you have completed any small booklets, you may send them to me and I shall see them and send to Hayagriva for possibly printing."== ([[letters/1972/721108_pusta_krsna|Pusta Krsna, 8 November, 1972]]) *** 72-12 "So this playing guitar and writing of songs is not very important thing. You can write and play, but one cannot take it very seriously. If any Vaisnava is writing songs about Krsna, he should have realized himself what is Krsna, just like our great saints and *acaryas* like Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya, Rupa Goswami, six Goswamis, Bilvamangala, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, like that. They are self-realized souls, therefore if they write something song about Krsna that will be perfectly from the transcendental platform, without any tinge of mundane influence or nonsense imagination. Unless he comes in the category of these big Vaisnava personalities, his manufacturing some songs will be misleading to himself and to others. And unless his writing of songs can be accepted as Gospel, like *Vedas,* then such writing is simply disturbance and is diverting the attention from the subject matter only. That songs writing we cannot regard very seriously. That will spoil the whole thing. But ==you can utilize your propensity to write poems and articles for Back to Godhead, for singing in the kirtana, like that. That will make you very happy. Now you just apply yourself for becoming qualified to see Krsna face-to-face, then you will be able to actually write songs about Krsna."== ([[letters/1972/721218_sankarsana|Sankarsana, 18 December, 1972]]) *** 73-01 =="Yes, and if you also yourselves write something daily, that will sharpen your use of language and you will be able to make will be saved from maya. Regarding your writing, it is a little off-time. I suggest that you read my books more carefully and present things as I have presented them."== ([[letters/1975/750318_supriya|Gandharva dasa, 18 March, 1975]]) *** 75-04 =="Regarding your idea for writing articles for different legal journals, that will be very nice. I think it will be best if you take a little help from the editors who will be in Los Angeles soon.== They can help you to make sure that nothing is stated improperly. They are experienced, so consult with them. Jayadvaita and the others are now here in India, but they will be back by the first of May, so take their advice in this matter. Please continue your work, and most of all try to rigidly follow all of the rules and regulations and chant at least sixteen good rounds daily without fail." ([[letters/1975/750408_gupta|Gupta dasa, 8 April, 1975]]) *** 75-04 "I think that the best thing for you is to study our books very carefully and then try to write something. Do not try to concoct your own theories. This is not the process. ==You must write just as you have heard from your Guru and nothing else. Otherwise, your writing is useless.== I think you may contact Svarupa Damodara Prabhu if you want to ask any questions. Most important thing is to make sure and follow all of the regulative principles and chant at least sixteen rounds daily." ([[letters/1975/750408_gupta|Bhakta Dennis, 8 April, 1975]]) *** 75-05 "I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 12, 1975 and have read the Cintamani poetry book. It is indirect, impersonal and useless. Who will read these things? Krsna's name is only mentioned in two poems in the whole book. What is this? There are so many poems written by great *acaryas.* Why do you try to concoct something like this? It is not in our line. How is it that our Kīrtanānanda Swami is there and he has approved printing this? It is a waste of time, paper, money, ink, and labor. There is so much work to do for spreading this Krsna consciousness. Who will become attracted by such things as this. You should all spend more time reading my books very carefully and stop all this unnecessary manufacturing. N.B. Why there is no picture of Krsna on the cover? ==If you have the desire to write poetry, better if you read one chapter of Krsna book very carefully. Then put it into poetry. But, do not concoct anything.== There is no need for that type of poetry. If you do this, I think it will be appreciated nicely." ([[letters/1975/750526_hasyakari|Vahna dasa, 26 May, 1975]]) *** 75-05 =="Regarding your writing, this is very much wanted, but I think that it is better if you write articles, not books. Write articles that can be printed in our Back to Godhead magazine.== That will be very nice. Also, be very sure that you always maintain a high spiritual standard by following all of the rules and regulations very carefully. Chant sixteen rounds minimum daily and study my books deeply." ([[letters/1975/750526_hasyakari|Damodara dasa, 26 May, 1975]]) *** 75-07 =="As far as your writing additional poetry is concerned, do not spend very much time in this way. It is not very important. There are already so many prayers written by great acaryas. What will you add to this? However if you have got some spare time and the inclination you can read the chapters of Krsna book and put them into verse."== ([[letters/1975/750712_ameyatma|Ameyatma dasa, 12 July, 1975]]) *** 75-12 "Your report of book sales is over encouraging. You are all becoming very, very dear to my Guru Maharaja. I started this movement by book selling. I was never a beggar for money, but I was writing books and selling. ==My Guru Maharaja very much liked my writing and he used to show others in my absence 'Just see how nicely he has written, how he has appreciated.'== He encouraged me; and my godbrothers, they also liked my writing. After I wrote that poem for *Vyasa-puja* of my Guru Maharaja they used to call me Poet. Anyway, I was working writing books and publishing *Back to Godhead* magazine alone, but I could not give the thing shape, so I decided to go to USA and now you all nice boys and girls have helped me so much, it is all the mercy of Krsna. Thank you very much." ([[letters/1975/751203_g.l._nanda|Ramesvara dasa, 3 December, 1975]]) *** 75-12 =="The poem is very nice. However one should not think himself a devotee; the third poem should read:== 'Your servants calling so sadly, Your servants falling so badly, A servant trapped in the city' One cannot call himself a devotee, but servant he can call himself always. (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented Himself as *'kinkaram patitam mam visame bhavambudhau.' Kinkaram* means servant.) Your bus program sounds nice, it is approved by me. I hope this letter meets you well." ([[letters/1975/751222_hrdayananda|Hrdayananda Maharaja, 22 December, 1975]]) *** 76-02 =="Regarding publishing books, these books can be published by you and men in your rank. Ordinary man cannot write such books. So therefore if a book is written by one man with Bhaktivedanta or Bhakti-sarvabhauma and it is of high quality then it may be considered by me for publishing."== ([[letters/1976/760211_svarupa_damodara|Svarupa Damodara, 11 February, 1976]]) *** 77-02 =="If you like to stay in my rooms at Radha-Damodara then you may stay there. I allow it. Preaching also means reading and writing, or else what will you preach?"== ([[letters/1977/770218_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 18 February, 1977]]) *** 77-04 =="Unless the books are written by a Ph.D. we do not want it. We are not going to be able to print the books you have suggested. There is no need for such books. Instead of writing simply read my books. That will be better for you. Whatever free time you have engage in reading my books. Otherwise, an idle mind is a devil's workshop."== (Nalini Kanta dasa, 13 April, 1977) *** 77-05 "The two essays which you have sent are very nicely written. ==It appears that you have good talent for writing, so kindly continue to develop in this way and write more and more of your realizations based upon our books.== There is no need to concoct anything new. You simply have to study carefully our books and then in your own words try to express what you have read. This will automatically make you a very successful preacher." ([[letters/1977/770513_dasanudasa|Dasanudasa, 13 May, 1977]]) ## Philosophy Examinations and Certificates 55-01 "Dear Brother, I am in due receipt of your kind enquiry and I am glad that you wish to become a member of the League of Devotees for learning the science and techniques of theism or spiritualism of the highest standard. The prospectus is enclosed herewith; please find and decide for yourself for becoming a permanent member of this noble institution. ==If you become preacher member, you will have to pay once Rs. 10/- only for the degree of Bhakti-sastri== which will be awarded to you by registered certificate of degree for your becoming preaching member of the League and doing the necessary preaching work on behalf of the League. The preaching work is conducted as follows: 1) As soon as you get the certificate of *Bhakti-sastri* at once you become a bona fide preacher of this institution and for this you will have to read *Bhagavad-gita* regularly. 2) As you go on reading *Bhagavad-gita* questions will arise in your mind for so many teachings in that book and you are at liberty to ask us for the answers of those questions which will be replied to you very clearly for your understanding. 3) Some of the general questions are already answered in different pamphlets and one of them is sent herewith for examination and your understanding. 4) These questions and answers you will have to preach to others, so that both yourself and your audience will be benefitted by that practice. 5) If you cannot go to others outside your hearth and home, you can do the preaching work amongst your family members only and in this meeting your other friends, neighbors and relatives also can join. 6) Hold this meeting regularly for one hour in your home or any other suitable place near about your home and chant the hymns or *slokas* of *Bhagavad-gita* with reverence and devotion. If possible the reading of *Bhagavad-gita* may be preceded and followed by a congregational chanting of the holy name of God as mentioned below—Hare Krsna—Hare Hare. 7) Now relevant questions that may be arising out of the meeting may be answered relevantly and just according to the authority of *Bhagavad-gita.* But if it is found difficult the question may be at once referred to us and it will be very nicely and clearly answered by us for clear understanding of all concerned. 8) Some of the audience also may be interested in becoming a preaching worker of this League and we shall be glad to sustain him in the same way as we shall be dealing with you. We are interested more in preaching members than in the sleeping members. The motto of preaching shall always be aimed at the ultimate goal of life. The ultimate goal of life is to re-establish our lost relation with Godhead who is the Absolute Whole, and we all living entities are His parts and parcels. We have forgotten our relation with Godhead from time immemorial by somehow or other and due to our forgetfulness of the relation, we are roaming life after life in different species of bodies which are eighty-four lakhs in number. This process of transmigration from one body to another after death is a-of disease of the living entity and the chance of curing this disease is possible very effectively in this human form of life." (SPL to League of Devotees, 1950-60) 68-01 =="A first examination will be held some time next January on Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and those passing will have the degree of Bhakti-sastri.== Next year we will hold an examination on *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* and the person who passes will have the title *Bhakti-vaibhava.* And the next year we shall hold an examination on *Teachings of Lord Caitanya, The Nectar of Devotion* and *Vedanta-sutra,* and those who will successfully pass will be awarded with the title of *Bhakti-vedanta.* By 1975, all of those who have passed all of the above examinations will be specifically empowered to initiate and increase the number of the Krsna consciousness population." (Kīrtanānanda, 12 January, 1968) *** 68-12 "Next January there will be an examination on this *Bhagavad-gita.* Papers will be sent by me to all centers, and those securing the minimum passing grade will be given the tide as ==Bhakti-sastri.== Similarly, another examination will be held on Lord Caitanyas Appearance Day in February 1970 and it will be upon *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and *Bhagavad-gita.* Those passing will get the tide of ==Bhakti-vaibhava.== Another examination will be held sometime in 1971 on the four books *Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord Caitanya,* and *The Nectar of Devotion.* One who will pass this examination will be awarded with the title of *Bhakti-vedanta.* I want that all of my spiritual sons and daughters will inherit this title of *Bhakti-vedanta,* so that the family transcendental diploma will continue through the generations. Those possessing the tide of ==Bhakti-vedanta will be allowed to initiate disciples.== Maybe by 1975 all of my disciples will be allowed to initiate and increase the numbers of the generations. That is my program. So we should not simply publish these books for reading by outsiders, but our students must be well-versed in all of our books so that we can be prepared to defeat all opposing parties in the matter of self-realization." ([[letters/1968/681203_mahapurusa|Hamsaduta, 3 December, 1968]]) *** 69-01 "Regarding the examination you are already a passed student so don't be afraid of it. When the examination will be held, you will find the questions so easy that within a few minutes you shall be able to answer them all. ==I wish to introduce this examination system so that in the future our students may not remain unconcerned with these books we are publishing.== These books are not material knowledge. To a sincere student, all of the contents of these books become revealed from within, even if he has not thoroughly studied them all." ([[letters/1969/690112_kirtanananda|Hamsaduta, 12 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 "Try to help in our Krsna consciousness activities, and whenever you feel the necessity of my help you are welcome to address me in a letter. Read *Bhagavad-gita As It Is* very carefully, and ==we are going to hold an examination next year in January upon this book. I hope that you will be expert enough in this Krsna consciousness science to pass the examination and be awarded with the title of Bhakti-sastri,== one who knows the principles of devotional service. So think over these matters discussed herein very carefully, and Krsna will help you in all respects." ([[letters/1969/690115_kanupriya|Kanupriya, 15 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 =="Regarding Brahma-saḥhitā, this book shall be included in the examination of the second year along with Srimad-Bhagavatam. I don't know why you are so concerned with starting the Bhakti-Rasamrta-Sindhu already. First study carefully the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. This is the most important book for you to learn at first."== ([[letters/1969/690121_kulasekhara|Hamsaduta, 21 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 =="Regarding your questions about the examinations to be given, the girls will also be able to take these. In Krsna consciousness there is no distinction between girls and boys. The girls also may become preachers if they are able."== ([[letters/1969/690124_himavati|Himavati, 24 January, 1969]]) *** 69-02 =="We wish to hold examinations and award such titles as Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava and Bhakti-vedanta.== The whole program will continue for seven years, and the students who will be fully engaged in this study of a seven-year course will be classified in the 4D section of the Draft Board. Such students will not be called for military activities. In this connection, an experiment is going on with Karukeya, and if it is successful then we can give protection to many such students provided they take things seriously. Apart from the Draft Board chasing, actually we require many enlightened students who can go to any part of the world and establish there a center. Anyone who is a little bit conversant with the above books can go anywhere, chant Hare Krsna, distribute *Back to Godhead* and hold classes on the above books. I have received one letter from Gurudasa today that they have got permission to chant Hare Krsna in all the streets and parks of London. The world needs this consciousness of Krsna, and we have to manufacture many preachers for this purpose. I wish that you can also take the responsibility of teaching staff when we actually open our theological school in New Vrndavana." ([[letters/1969/690204_aniruddha|Aniruddha, 4 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 "I thank you very much for your appreciation of *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* I think you may have already heard that in January of 1970 we will be holding an examination among all of our students on this book, and those who will pass shall be awarded with the title of *Bhakti-sastri.* ==With these examinations I wish to encourage all my disciples to very carefully learn this philosophy of Krsna consciousness because there are so many preachers who will be required to bring this message to all of the corners of the earth."== ([[letters/1969/690207_mahapurusa|Mahapurusa, 7 February, 1969]]) *** 69-03 ==[Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhdva and Bhakti-vedanta.]== "Yes, we must set up our Society as a school as best we can—I have already sent you a letter. Please formulate the whole curriculum because we have to immediately submit to the Draft Department and if this is accepted that will be great gain for our Society. *Bhakti-sastri* is awarded after extensive study of *Bhagavad-gita, Easy Journey to Other Planets,* and *The Nectar of Devotion. Bhakti-vaibhava* is awarded after study of *Vedanta-sutra* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam* on a preliminary basis and *Bhakti-vedanta* the highest tide is awarded after extensive study of *Caitanya-caritamrta." ([[letters/1969/690323_brahmanandaa|Brahmananda, 23 March, 1969]]) *** 69-07 "Both of your letters were delivered to me by special air mail. Unfortunately I could not reply you earlier because I was waiting for the help of others. Anyway, I have signed the certificate and sent it to New York for countersignature of the president, entitling you as *Bhakti-sastri.* The certificate was finally made a little hastily, so the printing is not to my full satisfaction. I have asked Aravinda to make a nicer copy, and if you like, we can give you this nicer copy later on. You remark that in New Vrndavana the capacity is lacking for taking care of the children. If you can organize a higher level School of Theology under your care, I shall very much appreciate it. In Los Angeles, although the place is nice, it is already almost congested. We are planning ministerial status documents through the lawyer here, and it is almost prepared. This document will be submitted to the Draft Board, and copies will be sent to other centers for doing the necessary arrangements. ==Bhakti-sastri is actually recognition, accepting a person that he knows the principles of devotional service.== In issue Number 25 of *Back to Godhead,* page 14, under, 'Organization of Society", we discuss why our students must be relieved of this draft obligation. So you read this portion when you receive this issue." ([[letters/1969/690724_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 24 July, 1969]]) ==69-09 I am pleased to note that you will be giving four classes in Los Angeles universities this year, and everyone is welcome to appear in the Bhakti-sastri examination and take the title.== But one must be acquainted with Krishna philosophy at least for one year. So students may attend class for one year as you have already arranged, and if they learn this philosophy, even if they don't become initiated students, it will be a pleasure for us. Regarding the tests you are holding there in Los Angeles, keep them there, and when I return I shall see them personally." ([[letters/1969/690914_satsvarupa|Tamala Krsna, 14 September, 1969]]) *** 69-12 =="Regarding the Bhakti-sastri certificates, the papers have been marked, but the certificates were not taken due to our minimizing the luggage to Europe.== Therefore, if there is urgent need of the certificates immediately, you can look in the trunk left in New York and send here the certificate which we will have printed here. Otherwise, we shall take care of this business when I return to the States, most likely around December 20th." ([[letters/1969/691202_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 2 December, 1969]]) *** 71-02 =="We want to influence these misguided college students so that they might take to this Krsna consciousness movement very seriously. And if we can establish a seat of Krsna consciousness these students may take their doctorate degree in Krsna consciousness and go out and preach all over the world."== ([[letters/1971/710224_gargamuni|Tulasi dasa, 24 February, 1971]]) *** 71-08 ==Certificate.== "To Whom It May Concern: This is to certify that Sriman Bhagavan dasa Adhikari is an ordained minister in the International Society for Krsna consciousness, of the title *Bhakti-sastri,* and fully qualified to instruct on Krsna consciousness and Vedic literature in general. He has been studying under me for many years and is one of my foremost disciples." ([[letters/1971/710830_whom_it_may_concern|Bhagavan dasa, 30 August, 1971]]) *** 73-03 =="Actually one can be perfectly Krsna conscious without being literate. Education is not necessary. Simply it is required to accept the fact that we are the eternal servants of Krsna and engage in some tangible service.== Otherwise, there are so many convincing arguments, i.e. the *Bhagavad-gita,* to bring us to the right point of surrender. Even the *karma-kanda,* and *jnana-kanda* sections of the *Vedas* are designed to bring us to the proper *siddhanta,* conclusion. And that conclusion is made by Krsna in the *Gita,* that one who knows the purpose behind the *Vedas,* surrenders unto Him." ([[letters/1973/730307_dr._aggarwal|Dr. Aggarwal, 7 March, 1973]]) *** 75-10 "Enclosed you will find one form for application to a new professorship that has opened up in the big university here in Durban, South Africa. It is a university only for Indian students, and the rector there is very much impressed and eager to have one of our men with the educational qualifications to come and take the seat of professor there. The rector wants an experienced teacher for Vedic Culture. The whole Vedic Culture is discuss in our books. I think that you shall be able to do this job very well. Please fill out the form enclosed and return to the Johannesburg Temple, 59 Muller Street, Yeoville, Johannesburg, South Africa. ==When mentioning your qualifications, you can also mention that you are a Bhakti-sastri from (ISKCON).== ([[letters/1975/751024_jayatirtha|Svarupa Damodar, 24 October, 1975]]) *** 76-01 To: All Governing Body Commissioners ==Re: Examinations for awarding titles of Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava, Bhaktivedanta and Bhakti-sarvabhauma.== Your response is requested immediately by Srila Prabhupāda. Dear Prabhus, Please accept my most humble obeisances. Srila Prabhupāda has requested me to write you in regard to the above examinations which he wishes to institute. Here in India many persons often criticize our sannyasis and brahmanas as being unqualified due to insufficient knowledge of the scriptures. Factually, there are numerous instances when our sannyasis and brahmanas have fallen down often due to insufficient understandingstanding of the philosophy. This should not be a point of criticism nor a reason for fall-down, since Srila Prabhupāda has mercifully made the most essential scriptures available to us in his books. The problem is that not all the devotees are carefully studying these books, the result being they fall down at the least unsteadiness. His Divine Grace therefore wishes to institute examinations to be given to all prospective candidates for *sannyasa* and *brahmana* initiation. In addition he wishes that all present *sannyasis* and *brahmana* also pass the examination. Awarding of the titles will be based upon the following books: *Bhakti-sastri: Bhagavad-gita, The Nectar of Devotion, The Nectar of Instruction, Isopanisad, Easy Journey to Other Planets,* and all other small paperbacks as well as *Arcana-paddhati. Bhakti-vaibhava:* all the above plus the first six cantos of *Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhakti-vedanta:* all the above plus cantos seven to twelve of *Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhakti-sarvabhauma:* all the above plus the entire *Caitanya-caritamrta.* Anyone wishing to be initiated as a *brahmana* will have to pass the *Bhakti-sastri* examination and anyone wishing to take *sannyasa* will have to pass the *Bhakti-vaibhava* examination as well. This will prevent our Society from degrading to the level of so many other institutions where, in order to maintain the temple they accept all third-class men as *brahmanas.* Any *sannyasis* or *brahmanas* already initiated who fail to pass the exams will be considered low-class or less qualified. Anyone wishing to be second-initiated will sit for the examination once a year at Mayapur. Answers will be in essay form and authoritative quotations will be given a greater score. During the exams, books may not be consulted." (To all GBC, 6th January, 1976, signed by Tamala Krsna Goswami and approved by Srila Prabhupāda) 76-01 "As to your question concerning whether relationships between devotees are eternal, the answer is yes. This is confirmed by Sri Narottama dasa Thakura: *cakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei* —he is my Lord birth after birth. In this way you have to understand, by studying carefully the philosophy. We have got so many books now and I want all of my disciples to read carefully. ==Soon we shall be instituting Bhakti-sastri examinations and all brahmanas will have to pass.== So utilize whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered." ([[letters/1976/760107_upendra|Upendra, 7 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 *"Brahmana* means to be very clean—inside by chanting the Lords glories and outside by regular bathing. Teach everyone by your personal example. Also you must see that the *brahmanas* are given sufficient time to read the books. ==Soon we shall be introducing the Bhakti-sastri examination which all brahmanas will be expected to pass.== It will be based on *Bhagavad-gita, Nectar of Devotion, The Nectar of Instruction, Isopanisad,* and the small paperback books like *Easy Journey to Other Planets.* A *brahmana* should be a *pandita." ([[letters/1976/760107_madhudvisa|Brsakapi, 7 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 *"Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava, Bhakti-vedanta,* and *Bhakti-sarvabhauma.* ==All our brahmanas and anyone wanting to become brahmana, will have to sit for examination once a year at Mayapur.== They will be expected to know *Bhagavad-gita,* Nectar of Devotion, *The Nectar of Instruction,* Sri *Isopanisad,* a book soon to be published on Deity worship, as well as all the small paperbacks. If they pass the examination they will be awarded *Bhakti-sastri* certificate. *Sannyasis* will be asked to sit for *Bhakti-vaibhava* examination which will include the first six cantos *of Bhagavatam." ([[letters/1976/760109_vishambhar|Tusta Krsna, 9 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 "Now beginning from this years Mayapur festival the devotees will begin preparing for *Bhakti-sastri* examination. Therefore ==we require a guidebook for Deity worship, Arcana-paddhati, based on Hari-bhakti-vilasa. All brahmanas will be responsible to learn this book.== I would like to have the manuscript ready as soon as possible, preferably by Gaura Purnima. So please work diligentiy for this. Pradyumna began this, but I do not know what he has done with his work." ([[letters/1976/760109_nitai|Nitai, 9 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 "The *brahmanas* must practice cleanliness, internally by chanting the Lords glories and externally by bathing regularly. In addition the *brahmanas* should study carefully, especially *Bhagavad-gita, Isopanisad, The Nectar of Devotion* and *The Nectar of Instruction* as well as all the small paperbacks. ==Soon we will have yearly examinations for brahmanas based on these books and those who pass will be awarded Bhakti-sastri titles."== ([[letters/1976/760110_visvakarma|Locanananda dasa, 10 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 "I have also suggested for the GBC s consideration, that we introduce a system of examinations for the devotees to take. Sometimes there is criticism that our men are not sufficiently learned, especially the *brahmanas.* ==Of course second initiation does not depend upon passing an examination. How one has molded his life—chanting, attending arati, etc., these are essential. Still, brahmana means pandita. Therefore I am suggesting the following examinations:== *Bhakti-sastri: (for all * brahmanas) based on *Bhagavad-gita, Sri Isopanisad, The Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction,* and all the small paperbacks. *Bhakti-vaibhava:* the above plus first six Cantos of *Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhakti-vedanta:* the above plus cantos 7-12 *Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhakti-sarvabhauma:* the above plus *Caitanya-caritamrta.* These titles can correspond to entrance BA, MA, Ph.D. So just consider how to organize this Institute. At Mayapur we shall finalize everything." ([[letters/1976/760110_visvakarma|Svarupa Damodara, 10 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 "They must always keep clean, internally by chanting the Lord's glories, and externally by regular bathing. In addition ==they should regularly study Bhagavad-gita, The Nectar of Devotion, The Nectar of Instruction, Isopanisad and all the paperbacks because soon we shall be holding examinations based on these books for the brahmanas.== Those who pass will be given the title *Bhakti-sastri. ([[letters/1976/760111_bahudak|Bahudaka, 11 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 "I accept Sriman Rama dasa and Sriman Dayasara dasa for second initiation. Their sacred threads are duly chanted on and are enclosed. *Brahmana* means to be clean—inside by always chanting the Lords glories, and outside by regular bathing. ==Brahmana also means pandita, so they must be able to support their preaching by quoting sastric references.== Particularly, they should study *Bhagavad-gita, Sri Isopanisad, The Nectar of Devotion* and *The Nectar of Instruction* as well as all the small paperbacks. ==There will be a yearly examination for all brahmanas based upon these books."== ([[letters/1976/760118_yasomatinandana|Yasomatinandana, 18 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 =="All of the leaders should study my books very carefully, since now everyone will have to appear for the examination.== But I don't get any time to go into seclusion. My Guru Maharaja also did not approve of seclusion. He used to say: *dusta mana tumi kisera vaisnava, pratisthara tare, nirjanera ghare, tava hari-nama kevala kaitava;* 'My dear mind, what kind of Vaisnava are you? Simply for cheap adoration you sit in a solitary place and pretend to chant the Hare Krsna *maha-mantra,* but this is all cheating.' " ([[letters/1976/760122_jayatirtha|Jayatirtha, 22 January, 1976]]) *** 76-02 "Regarding the examinations, the idea is that ==anyone, after studying the books, who wants to gain the title of Bhakti-sastri, can take the exam.== This is academic. Just like a *brahmana* with *sastric* knowledge and *brahmana* without. It is optional—one who wants may take. ==The real purpose is that our men should not be neglectful of the philosophy.== The examinations will begin on Gaura Purnima, 1977, not this year, so there is no reason why any of the devotees should give up their normal engagement." ([[letters/1976/760203_radhavallabha|Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, 3 February, 1976]]) *** 76-02 =="Regarding publishing books, these books can be published by you and men in your rank. Ordinary man cannot write such books. So therefore if a book is written by one man with 'Bhakti-vedanta' or 'Bhakti-sarvabhauma' and it is of high quality then it may be considered by me for publishing."== ([[letters/1976/760211_svarupa_damodara|Svarupa Damodara, 11 February, 1976]]) *** 76-02 "Regarding the examination, I never meant that the examination would be held this year. It will be held first next year. ==The examination is meant for the intelligent class, not all.== Neither it is compulsory. So to pass the examination means one must have knowledge. ==There are higher intelligent class of disciples, otherwise it is not compulsory.== So how to organize it, how to do it, you GBC can decide. I have given the idea, now how to do it is up to the GBC." ([[letters/1976/760221_gabhira|Rupanuga dasa, 21 February, 1976]]) ## Higher Education / Varnasrama Colleges 49-07 "Mahatmaji started another spiritual movement known as the temple entry movement, and he wanted to give this facility to everyone irrespective of caste distinction. The temple worship is another kind of spiritual cultural movement for the benefit of the ordinary class of people. He himself installed the Deity of Sri Radha-Krsna at Noakhali when he was there and that is also very significant. ==The theistic temples all over India are actually the different centers as are the churches and mosques all over the world. These sacred centers were meant for diffusing spiritual education and by this process of spiritual culture the disturbed mind could be trained up in concentration for higher duties== which every human being must do. Such education in practice can help man in realizing the existence of God without whose sanction according to Mahatma Gandhi, 'Not a blade of grass moves.' " (The Board of Trustees of Mahatma Gandhi National Memorial Trust Fund, 5 July, 1949) *** 67-08 "I understand that Acyutananda is coming here on Janmastami Day, but I have received no word from him. Anyway, if he comes it will be a great joy for us. You will see in the letter to Brahmananda that ==any student who comes here for studying further in Krsna consciousness will have no difficulty for room, board and tuition. It is a good opportunity for our students,== and I shall be very glad to learn how many of you desire to come." (SPL to Rayarama, August, 1967) *** 67-08 =="I am very glad to learn that many of my devotees are coming to India. Students who will come here for studying Krsna philosophy as scholar and devotee will have ample opportunity. My Godbrother, Swami B.H. Bon, has agreed to give them free boarding, lodging and tuition, at least for ten students at a time. So they are welcome."== ([[letters/1967/670827_jananivasa|SPL Mrinaline, 27 August, 1967]]) *** 67-09 "Kīrtanānanda has decided to return back for preaching work in the States as he has accepted the *sannyasa* order of life. Acyutananda is here but he is not eating well, so I am also put into anxiety. In the beginning Kīrtanānanda was also sick, and he also at the present moment is feeling some pain in his leg. On the whole the American boys who come here become first depressed, so I do not know how far our American house in Vrndavana will be successful. ==I am negotiating with the Revenue Minister of Rajasthan government to have some place in the very nice temple of Jaipur. This temple is very ideal place for our imagination of an American house,== and it is almost 50% settled that the house may be partly occupied by us. But in any case, at least two American boys must live here and take charge of the management. I am an old man. At the same time sick. Even if I am well, it is not possible for me to look after the affairs of the American house. I want to remain free, being taken care of by all of you. In your States I was happy being taken care of by you, and that enjoyment is liking to me in this old age. Anyway, ask Brahmananda what to do in this connection." ([[letters/1967/670909_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 9 September, 1967]]) *** 67-09 "Regarding the American house, as I told you previously, I'm trying to get a nice house in Vrndavana and unless I'm sure of that, I cannot advise anyone to come here incurring so much expenditure and undergoing so much trouble. ==Students at Swami Bon Maharaja can come only if they are very much eager and serious about study. He has already given me a letter that ten students can be accommodated with food and rooms.== In this connection Acyutananda wishes to submit a report by practical experience." ([[letters/1967/670922_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 22 September, 1967]]) *** 67-12 "I am very glad that you are prepared to go to Vrndavana. Many students, boys and girls, are also prepared here to go to Vrndavana. I am just in negotiation for a good place for you and as soon as it is fixed up, we shall go to Vrndavana, at least one dozen students. Acyutananda and Ramanuja had very good reception and they are planning to preach Krsna consciousness and to open a branch there, and I have encouraged them in that idea. ==My dream is that at least one dozen students shall remain in Vrndavana, be trained up nicely and sent for preaching work all over the world."== (SPL to Madhusudana, December, 1967) *** 68-01 "So you have now taken charge of the sunrise of New Vrndavana. Our program is there for constructing seven temples. One Rupanuga Vidyapatha—that is a school for educating *brahmanas* and Vaisnavas. We have enough of technological and other types of educational institutions, but perhaps ==there is none where actual brahmanas and Vaisnavas are produced. So we will have to establish an educational institution for that purpose."== (Kīrtanānanda, 12 January, 1968) *** 69-02 "I will be glad to know what is your future program. Do you think you will be continuing as *brahmacari,* or in the future you will wish to become householder? The idea is that ==when we open our educational institute, we will require some dedicated monks, just like Christian Fathers, who have no connection with women. In that case, we can start a theological school along with a boy's primary school. Our theological school will regularly teach our published books== such as *Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, The Nectar of Devotion, Brahma-saḥhitā,* and *Krsna* book. We wish to hold examinations and award such titles as *Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava* and *Bhakti-vedanta.* The whole program will continue for seven years, and the students who will be fully engaged in this study of a seven-year course will be classified in the 4D Section of the Draft Board. Such students will not be called for military activities. In this connection, an experiment is going on with Kartikeya, and if it is successful then we can give protection to many such students provided they take things seriously. Apart from the Draft Board chasing, actually we require many enlightened students who can go to any part of the world and establish there a center. Anyone who is a little bit conversant with the above books can go anywhere, chant Hare Krsna, distribute *Back to Godhead* magazine and hold classes on the above books. I have received one letter from Gurudasa today that they have got permission to chant Hare Krsna in all the streets and parks of London. The world needs this consciousness of Krsna, and we have to manufacture many preachers for this purpose. I wish that you can also take the responsibility of teaching staff when we actually open our theological school in New Vrndavana." ([[letters/1969/690204_aniruddha|Aniruddha, 4 February, 1969]]) *** 69-07 "Both of your letters were delivered to me by special air mail. Unfortunately I could not reply you earlier because I was waiting for the help of others. Anyway, I have signed the certificates and sent it to New York for countersignature of the president, entitling you as *Bhakti-sastri.* The certificate was finally made a little hastily, so the printing is not to my full satisfaction. I have asked Aravinda to make a nicer copy, and if you like, we can give you this nicer copy later on. You remark that in New Vrndavana the capacity is lacking for taking care of the children. ==If you can organize a higher level school of theology under your care, I shall very much appreciate it.== In Los Angeles, although the place is nice, it is already almost congested. We are planning ministerial status documents through the lawyer here, and it is almost prepared. This document will be submitted to the Draft Board, and copies will be sent to other centers for doing the necessary arrangements. *Bhakti-sastri* is actually recognition, accepting a person that he knows the principles of devotional service. In issue Number 25 of *Back to Godhead,* page 14, under, 'Organization of Society," we discuss why our students must be relieved of this draft obligation. So you read this portion when you receive this issue." ([[letters/1969/690724_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 24 July, 1969]]) *** 69-08 =="Regarding the higher school of theology, according to the Vedic system it is not at all difficult.== The students are taught by the spiritual master, or the teacher, and the students themselves go from door to door for begging alms, and because everyone's son is in the *asrama,* nobody declines to give alms. So there is no financial difficulty at all; but I do not know what to do in ====your country. There are so many laws. We have to adjust things to the circumstances. I think as soon as our Institution becomes formal, as Tamala Krsna is doing through the lawyer, it will be easier to start a theological school." ([[letters/1969/690808_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 8 August, 1969]]) *** 70-11 =="Your enthusiasm for starting centers for educating the people of the world in this sublime Krsna consciousness process is very good.== You are actually authorized agent of my Guru Maharaja and through him, Lord Caitanya. He predicted that in every town and village of the world His Name will be well known and you are trying for fulfilling His mission. Certainly He will give you all strength and blessings. We simply have to work sincerely, and automatically all other things will come. Recently one very responsible Indian gentleman was in our temple in Sydney and he has given very good certificate for our activities there." ([[letters/1970/701124_hayagriva|Bali Mardan, 24 November, 1970]]) *** 71-08 "This membership program is so nice that you can make members all over the world. So this temple should be subscribed by money raised all over the world and it must be very unique. The aim is to make it an international institute for taking perfect spiritual order of life; we shall give titles like Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Divinity, Doctor of Divinity. Besides that as I have already told you all several times in India, respectable gentlemen want to educate their children through the English medium. ==If we can organize such an institution as St. Xavier's College in Calcutta and Bombay and we can give them instruction through the English medium and raise them in a Krsna conscious culture, we shall get unlimited number of students from respectable families of India.== Such institution will be very much welcome especially in Bombay and Delhi. So think over this matter how best to organize such an institution as St. Xavier's College. Our mission is solid. Our philosophy is not Utopian. Our men are being trained for exemplary character. So we shall have a unique position all over the world provided we stick to the principles, namely unflinching faith in spiritual master and Krsna, chanting not less than sixteen rounds regularly and following the regulative principles. Then our men will conquer all over the world." ([[letters/1971/710823_tamala_krsna_gurudasa|Tamala and Gurudasa, 23 August, 1971]]) *** 71-11 =="So far establishing Krsna conscious schools for higher education in St. Louis, this is a very nice proposal.== Let us see what develops in future. The details can be discussed between you and the GBC, whom I have appointed to manage such things." ([[letters/1971/711117_brhaspati|Brhaspati dasa, 17 November, 1971]]) *** 72-07 "Syamasundara has passed on your telephone message that ==you wish to open a Vedic college or school of higher Krsna consciousness education there at Houston. That is not very much desirable.== Actually, every center should be a college, and this is our training, singing, dancing, working, temple worship, like that... Try to understand the subject matter from different varieties or approaches. For example, we know from *Bhagavad-gita* that Krsna says He is the taste in water. Now try to understand just *how* Krsna is that taste in water, that is the high-class education." ([[letters/1972/720709_hrdayananda|Hrdayananda, 9 July, 1972]]) *** 74-05 "Sometimes in the year 1950 or '51 I first met you in Jhansi and since then we were very intimately connected and you took *Harinama* from me and I also expected in the future both of us would preach the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. So practically more than 20 years have passed and you are working in a different field of activities. I am also working in a different field of activities. But by Krsna's grace again we are trying to come to one platform. Your statement that present educational system has produced no good effect is confirmed by the *sastra:* *yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah hariv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guna manorathenasati dhavato bahih (S.B. 5.18.12) Human life is especially meant for spiritual education or Krsna conscious education. For eating, sleeping, sex life and defense it is not very much necessary for the human being to receive education, because naturally every living being has natural education for these demands of the body. Therefore for the human being spiritual education is essential: *athatho brahma-jijnasa.* You are a competent scholar and very intelligent personality so if you understand this philosophy of life then immediately I shall be able to cooperate with you. Our Krsna consciousness movement is specifically based on *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* We accept Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead with full opulences of wealth, power, potency, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. If we want perfect education then we must follow the principle of *Bhagavad-gita.* Such education will help the whole human society. In all different fields of acitivity, social, political, religious, cultural, economic and so on. If you take up this principle then the educational department should be divided into four divisional departments for advancement of knowledge. ==There are many departmental institutions for giving education just like medical, engineering, legal, administrative etc. But there is no educational institution where real ideal brahmanas are educated according to Srimad-Bhagavatam brahminical culture, or to educate a certain section as ideal, perfect persons is essential in human society.== At the present moment all over the world, hardly you will find such ideal men on top of society. So this class of men is essentially required if we want to keep peace and harmony with one another. I am trying to do this work and now we have got a very nice place in Bombay. I invite you immediately to come and see the place and I am prepared to amalgamate or affiliate your institution with ours. I think when I was in Delhi I went to this place Kirti Nagar and stayed two or three days with you." ([[letters/1974/740501_jayatirtha|Acarya Prabhakar, 1 May, 1974]]) *** 74-05 =="The news that you are able to keep up the prasadam program which is now up to 1500 persons on Sunday is very welcome and I hope you can continue this without stoppage. The success of Bhavananda Maharaja's English lessons of the Varnasrama College has given me great pleasure and I am sure many devotees will come from this program. It is a first-class idea."== ([[letters/1974/740509_manager_of_liberty_bank|Jayapataka and Bhavananda, 9 May, 1974]]) *** 74-06 =="It is very good news that there are persons there who want to cooperate to help us start a varnasrama college project and that they may supply us land for living as an ideal community producing our own food from the land. So this should be followed up carefully."== ([[letters/1974/740617_malati|Brahmananda Maharaja, 17 June, 1974]]) *** 74-11 =="I have also received the enclosed clipping from Ottawa and the information about the property. This property must be considered by the GBC. If it can be properly utilized, it is nice, for varnasrama college and dairy farm.== With 100 acres for cultivation you can make much production. The land is attractive. If it can be utilized by the opinion of the GBC, then it is good. I think it should be utilized." ([[letters/1974/741112_tripurari|Jagadisa dasa, 12 November, 1974]]) *** 75-05 "So immediately, what I want is in the Kuruksetra University a class should be opened for studying Krsna consciousness and there are already about fifty books in English and Sanskrit, so if the University offers degree, BA, MA, and Ph.D. in different grades of understanding, I can arrange for many foreign students to come there. My first business is to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world. Actually, this movement is not to be limited in India only—that is the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. As desired by you, ==I can immediately take up the task of opening a center there and to open a varnasrama college there, affiliated by the university. In this college we shall train up pure brahmanas (qualified brahmanas), ksatriyas and vaisyas.== That is the injunction of *Bhagavad-gita.* And this institution will be open for all without any discrimination. As I am training these European and American boys, most of them coming from Christian and Jewish families, and they are accepting to become pure *brahmanas* and then pure *sannyasis.* This system should be introduced. They must sit for proper examination after being trained. And then why not accept them as real *brahmana* by quality and work? This procedure is recommended both in the *Bhagavad-gvtd* and in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* In the *Bhagavad-gita* it is said that the *brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra* should be selected by quality and work. Similarly, in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* it is said that if quality and work are present in a different *varna,* that is to say, if the quality of a *brahmana* is visible in a person born in *sudra* family, such person on account of quality and work, should be accepted as *brahmana.* So, if we start a *varnasrama* college in terms of *Bhagavad-gita* instructions and approved by *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* why the University will not give degree to a qualified person as approved *brahmana?* This is the necessity of the present day. In the days past, when Prthu Maharaja was the Emperor, his government was inspecting to see whether a *brahmana* is acting actually as a *brahmana,* whether a *ksatriya* is acting as *a ksatriya,* and all the different castes were engaged in all their respective duties. At the present moment, even though one is qualified *brahmana,* he does not get sufficient opportunity to act as *brahmana,* and therefore he is obliged to accept the occupational duty of someone who is outside the *brahminical* post. But if we accept the principle of *varna* and *asrama* as they are recommended in the *sastra,* and if we push on the Krsna consciousness movement, surely everyone will be engaged in his occupation and the question of unemployment will be finished. Therefore, I think if we propagate this movement on the principles of *Bhagavad-gita,* all the problems of the human society will be solved." ([[letters/1975/750531_prabhakar|Prabhakar, 31 May, 1975]]) *** 75-11 =="The varnasrama college means to train people in varnasrama life. In human society a section of people must act as strict brahmanas.== Similarly, another section must act as strict *ksatriyas,* still another as strict *vaisyas,* and the rest will be considered as *sudras* and less than *sudras* or the *candalas.* This is a materialistic division, but spiritually anyone can be elevated to the transcendental position simply by devotional service. This is the sum and substance of the Vedic education. If you and Siddhasvarupa Maharaja can organize such an institution following yourself the rules and regulations then it will be very glorious thing and I shall be very happy. But in any case both of you do not forget to come to Mayapur during Caitanya Mahaprabhus Birth Ceremony. Let us act cooperatively, maybe sometimes separately, but the central point and aim should be one—Krsna." ([[letters/1975/751109_jagadisa|Tusta Krsna Svami, 9 November, 1975]]) *** 75-11 =="Your idea for the scholastic institution as discussed with you and Siddhasvarupa Maharaja is a very good idea.== Now we have got so many books—almost 50 books of 400 pages—so this institution can be affiliated with some nearby university. Then the students will get their degrees of Bachelors and Post Graduates Ph.D.. We have enough matter to qualify a person in academic career. At least we can offer the degree of DD—Doctor of Divinity by affiliating ourselves with some neighboring recognized university." ([[letters/1975/751109_jagadisa|Tusta Krsna Swami, 9 November, 1975]]) *** 76-01 "Please continue to work on the *Arcana Paddhati* and finish it. We cannot be sure that Pradyumna will come in time. Also, you can go on translating the drama of Girish Ghosh. Everyone here has appreciated it. As you translate the scenes, there should be people rehearsing it. In the syllabus of Nrsimha Vallabha Goswami, the *Sankhya-karika* must be by Kapiladeva, Devahuti-putra. The other is atheistic. There are two *sankhyas* —theistic and atheistic. The Sanskrit in the *Visnu Purana* is even easier than in *Raghuvamsa.* Yes, *Bhagavad-gita As It Is* should be studied from the beginning. There must be study from my books also. Whatever the syllabus you make up, the point is to somehow or other get recognition. The syllabus can always be changed later on. ==If we can get equivalency for our degrees that will be even better than affiliation. But whichever is possible that you should get. It is very important because as soon as we are recognized then our students will be able to come very easily."== ([[letters/1976/760124_nitai|Nitai, 24 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 =="Regarding the land of Sri R. N. Bhargava, since he is offering it to us for our unconditional use, why not take it? Naturally if we start a Gosala there, later on we can start a Vedic school for the higher class of people. Study of the Vedas is not meant for children."== ([[letters/1976/760106_k.c._kapur|Aksayananda Maharaja, 6 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 =="In the tentative course outlines some additions are as follows:== In the philosophy section there should be a class dealing with all the Vaisnava philosophies (the four *sampradayas).* Music class can be based on the *Sama Veda.* In the Political Science class Maharaja Prthu's life may also be studied. There should also be a discussion with the GBC regarding what titles should be awarded to students who pass." ([[letters/1976/760129_karandhara|Svarupa Damodara, 29 January, 1976]]) *** 76-09 "I have no objection to your proposal and I can finance this proposal also. But I am afraid there will be hardly any students—that is the difficulty. I have seen in foreign countries that practically no students join high philosophical and scientific classes. People nowadays are only interested in money-earning philosophy. Nobody goes to the philosophical classes in universities. A similar institute was imagined by my Godbrother Bon Maharaja in Vrndavana, but it has not become very successful. There are many difficulties in the line, but I like the idea; therefore if some practical solution can be made we can discuss personally, but I appreciate your idea. The only difficulty I'm feeling is whether we can get sufficient students. Some of my disciples who are Ph.D. s in science, they are also attempting our institution in Boston USA, but I'm still doubtful how far they'll be successful on account of scarcity of students. It is said in the Kali-yuga every man is on the standard *of sudra,* and the curriculum suggested by you is meant for the *brahmana* —that is the difficulty. We are attempting a *gurukula* in Vrndavana and we have already begun building, to train children from the very beginning of life as is advised by Prahlada Maharaja: *kaumara acaret prajno, dharman bhagavatan iha durlabham manusam janma, tad apy adhruvam arthadam (S.B. 7.6.1) But there is also difficulty of getting students because the parents and the guardians are not interested. Before going to America I approached many respectable friends for giving me at least one boy from each family to be trained up in this line of self-realization, but I was not successful. The parents had no interest—the same difficulty of *sudra* mentality. Anyway, we are attempting again this *gurukula* program, so why not begin from this small endeavor and gradually develop to the ideal university. On the whole if you can arrange such university there will be no financial difficulty. ==So I think if you kindly begin from this gurukula attempt and then develop to the International University, that will be very practical.== Of course we have to have independent private university because the government is not interested according to Vedic ideology. Bon Maharaja tried for the last forty years to make a Vaisnava university recognized by the government, but he failed." ([[letters/1976/760927_gopala_krsna|Dr. Chatterji, 27 September, 1976]]) ## Learning Sanskrit and Other Languages 68-01 =="Regarding diacritical markings, you may refer to the book First Lessons in Sanskrit Grammar and Reading by Judith Tyberg of the East West Cultural Center, published in 1964.== Each letter should be transliterated in a careful manner so that one may be able to know the *Devanagari* character corresponding. *Devanagari* type characters will not be there in this new book we are preparing. Markings are as follows. Here follows the Sanskrit alphabet and English equivalents as are found in *Bhagavad-gita,* etc." ([[letters/1968/680122_pradyumna|Pradyumna, 22 January, 1968]]) *** 68-02 =="I hope you are continuing to study Bengali. I shall be glad to know how much progress you have made by this time. Hope you are well."== (SPL to Sivananda, February, 1968) *** 68-02 =="Yes, you can sing prayers in Sanskrit, but prayers in English can also be pronounced because the Lord accepts the motive not the pronunciation of the language. He wants to see spiritual motive. Even if some effectiveness is lost in translation if the motive is there it will make no difference."== ([[letters/1968/680201_madhusudana|Madhusudana, 1 February, 1968]]) *** 68-02 =="Yes, Sanskrit is spoken not only on Krsnaloka but also in higher planets of the demigods. It is called the language of God and the demigods.== It was spoken also on this planet when people were all Godly, they used to speak in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the origin of all languages of the civilized peoples. It is most perfect, not only descriptive, the word Sanskrit means 'the most perfect, because not a single word you can pronounce without having a bona fide principle. It is not like the English language, *'but,* put' with irrational difference in pronunciation, no principles. Sanskrit isn't like that. Therefore it is perfect. It isn't whimsical. English poetry has one line one inch long, next line six hundred inches long. Sanskrit is not like that. There are strict principles, and it is so beautiful. Therefore in Sanskrit language not an ordinary man can become a poet. No other language of the world can be compared with it. No other language of the world is so perfect as Sanskrit. Any language near to Sanskrit (like Bengali) is nearer to perfection." ([[letters/1968/680201_harekrishna_aggarwal|like Bengali) is nearer to perfection." (SPL Madhusudana, 1 February, 1968]]) ==68-03 "You mention that you have enclosed the transliteration work of Srimad-Bhagavatam, but I do not find it here... Anyway, I am happy to hear you are steadily studying Sanskrit and reading Srimad-Bhagavatam—that is very good."== ([[letters/1968/680323_pradyumna|Pradyumna, 23 March, 1968]]) *** 68-04 "So far standard Sanskrit transliteration, that which Pradyumna is doing will be our standard. The spelling should also be standard, and based on his work. So far the word *'ksatriya,'* this is the correct spelling. ==All these discrepancies are happening on account of my students being unaware of the Sanskrit language. Therefore, I requested Pradyumna to learn Sanskrit very seriously.== He has got the aptitude, and I hope he may come out very successful." ([[letters/1968/680409_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 9 April, 1968]]) *** 68-04 =="Your endeavors to learn Sanskrit is very encouraging. We want somebody in our Society to know Sanskrit well enough for reading, not to be a great scholar, but just enough as needed."== (SPL to Pradyumna, April, 1968) *** 68-09 'Your staying in Delhi has no use for me. So far your studying Bengali and Hindi, it is not at all important for the Society. If you want to satisfy your whims, that is a different thing. ==Even if you study Hindi and Bengali so late in your life, I don't think you can become a very good scholar in those languages.== So for studying Bengali and Hindi you needn't stay in Delhi. You can do some work in India on behalf of me definitely by selling our magazines and our books published in India, and in no other way. The books and magazines will be sent to you in India for selling and you can send in exchange Sri Murtis or musical instruments. And for all these activities, Bombay will be the best place for your staying. There is already a friend in Bombay who is inviting you to stay with him, so why don't you take advantage of this opportunity? I have already advised Brahmananda to send you the letter of guarantee so you will have it from him in due course, or by the time this letter reaches you. In the meantime, I hope you might have received the six month extension residential permit. But you must prepare for going to Bombay. I am giving herewith one note to Parvat Maharaja which you will please show him." ([[letters/1968/680915_brahmananda|Jaya Govinda, 15 September, 1968]]) *** 68-10 "I am very much concerned about yourself, that you have been injured, by working; I do not know what sort of *ugra-karma* you were doing, but whatever you do, you must be careful. Your body is dedicated to Krsna, therefore you should not be neglectful about your body. You should always think that your body is no more your body, but it is Krsna's body. Therefore, you should take care of it. ==So far studying Bengali, of course if you can do it with spare time, I have no objection. But I don't think there is any importance in studying Bengali.== It is too late now to study Bengali and become a scholar, neither Bengali is very useful in your country and this part of the world, but there are many literatures in Bengali. If you can study conveniently, then spare your time; otherwise, do not waste your time. If you have got some time, the best thing would be to chant Hare Krsna more and more, because our life is very short, and we have to finish our Krsna consciousness in this life very quickly. We do not know when we shall meet our next death, our next exit from this platform. But before going out of this platform, we may try to finish Krsna consciousness. That is our main business." ([[letters/1968/681006_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 6 October, 1968]]) *** 68-10 'Your statement, 'within the month I hope to have some students chanting' is very encouraging for me. Sanskrit is the mother of all languages, there is no doubt about it. ==In our childhood, we read one grammar made by two English professors Mr. Rowe and Webb in Calcutta, Presidential College, and they have given their statement that Sanskrit is the mother of all languages.== Besides that, we understand from reliable sources that Sanskrit is spoken by the higher planetary denizens. It is therefore called *Devanagari. Devanagari* means the cities of the demigods. This language is spoken there. And so far AUM is concerned, actually the AU, the alphabet A, is the basic principle of all languages. And Krsna says: *aksaranam akarasmi,* the A amongst all alphabets is Krsna. Because A is the beginning of all language. A or Au. So your representation that Sanskrit is the origin of Indo-European languages is quite right, but our main concern is how we can impress people about the importance of Krsna consciousness, and your scholarly presentation of the Anglo-Saxon language is very much pleasing to me; I hope in future you have to move amongst the scholars representing our Krsna consciousness movement, so I am glad that you are thinking in that way for our future program." ([[letters/1968/681007_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 7 October, 1968]]) *** 68-11 =="I understand that you are beginning to learn Sanskrit grammar which I think will be a great difficult task for you in these late hours of life.== It is very nice to hear that Dr. Singh will conduct a special course of Panini's grammar. But our immediate task is to prepare the transliteration of the First Canto for next publication. But if you have to do the same after learning Sanskrit grammar it will take a long time to finish it. I have not heard anything as to how far yourself and Hayagriva will combinedly finish the editing of the First Canto which we are going to print next. If you can learn Sanskrit grammar conveniently it is very nice. But the mode of teaching in the schools and colleges is so slow that it will not be practical to learn Sanskrit grammar there and then prepare our transliteration. Of course, the grammar helps in analyzing the combined words, but I think it will take a very long time. Regarding the diacritic marks, there are many systems and I do not know which one of them is the standard, but I think the system followed by Dr. Radhakrishnan in transliterating *Bhagavad-gita* is the approved. You are reading *Hitopadesa* and you will know from this that the author of this book, Visnu Sharma, compiled this book for some grown-up princes in order to teach them Sanskrit in a short cut way. So you have to follow that way and do our main work and at the same time. I shall be glad to learn how Hayagriva is taking *sankirtana* classes amongst the university students. And I shall be glad to hear from you." ([[letters/1968/681103_pradyumna|Pradyumna, 3 November, 1968]]) *** 69-04 =="Besides that, if you have learned Sanskrit I can give you one brahmacari, twelve years old, named Birbhadra, whom I want you should teach Sanskrit from the very beginning. We want a few students who know Sanskrit and Bengali, or at least Sanskrit. Most probably the boy will go with me there, and if you think you can take charge, he can also remain there."== ([[letters/1969/690410_pradyumna|Pradyumna, 10 April, 1969]]) *** 69-05 "I think that when Mandali Bhadra comes there will be no more difficulty in the translation work. ==As far as possible though you should all try to learn a little German. One should learn the local native language if one desires to live there.== For the present, even though some people may think our translation work is terrible, there is nothing to lament. After all, German language is a foreign language for us, and our main business is to present our thoughts to the German people. If in a foreign country a man is met with some catastrophe such as fire, he has to take help from the neighbors even though he has no language to express himself. Some way or other he has to inform his neighbors there is a fire in his house so they can help him. So if the foreigner cannot express himself in very good language, he is not at fault. So there is a blazing fire of *maya* and we have to inform the people, even if we must use broken language. That is no fault. But by Krsna's grace this problem will soon be solved. Don't worry." ([[letters/1969/690522_jayagovinda|Jaya Govinda, 22 May, 1969]]) *** 69-07 "You can make my program for lecturing in the Indo German society, taking it that I shall be going there in the month of August. I know there are many Sanskrit scholars in Germany, but unfortunately I have no practice to speak in Sanskrit. I can read and write, but I cannot speak in Sanskrit. But I don't think my speaking in Sanskrit will be required, and if I read from Sanskrit literature like *Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam,* that will be sufficient. After all, ==I am not going to Germany as a Sanskrit scholar, but my attempt will be to deliver the message of Lord Caitanya in the shape of Krsna consciousness.== I hope this meets you in good health." ([[letters/1969/690704_krsna_dasa|Krsna dasa, 4 July, 1969]]) *** 69-08 =="If you want to learn Bengali, there are many sources. Simply Caitanya-caritamrta will be sufficient. I shall deliver to you my old copy when I go to New York on the way to Europe."== ([[letters/1969/690816_pradyumna|Pradyumna, 16 August, 1969]]) *** 70-03 =="Regarding Neil's study of Sanskrit I am very glad to learn of his seriousness to study, and we need many such Sanskrit scholar devotees. When it is convenient he may study with Pradyumna in Boston, and there are Sanskrit courses at the university there also. In the meantime, for his studies Manva-dharma sastra is not bona fide. The Hitopadesa is all right for study."== ([[letters/1970/700315_subala|Harer Nama, 15 March, 1970]]) *** 70-04 "I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 31st March 1970 and in the meantime I have received one small tape record. Your teaching of Sanskrit pronunciation has been very much successful. ==I was just thinking of teaching our students the pronunciation of the Sanskrit verses in the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc. and by Krsna's will you have already begun this.== It will be a great help for me if the students are taught to pronounce in Sanskrit vibration. It will be another effect of transcendental sound vibration. But we should always remember that our aim is spiritual realization so in such classes in the beginning there must be *kirtana* and at the end also there must be *klrtana.* And they should not only pronounce the verses, but they should also understand the meaning and purport of each verse, then it will be a grand success. If possible, you can make another complete tape for use in other centers. You should make several copies and perhaps Dinesh can help you in this connection. Then distribute these specimen tapes to all centers and they may be asked for the charges. About word endings, when we speak about *sabdharupa* it is just like *sabdharupa* is *gunin* or *svamin,* but when we actually articulate, we speak the nominative form. In the place of *gunin* we speak *guni (nominative form). So the nominative part of speech is used when we articulate, not the * pratipadika. * That is usage. Similarly, in the matter of * atman, * we should speak * atma.* So I do not know what the scholars in this place want to have. You can make your own self-discrimination. Do you think you shall require all these books? Of course I have no objection if you keep these as reference books, but we should always remember that we have to give more stress on our spiritual side than the scholastic side. But at the same time, if our books are presented in a scholarly way that will be very nice. So you use the best part of discretion and do the needful. So far grammar is concerned, one has to learn Sanskrit grammar for at least twelve years, then he becomes an expert grammarian. In India, those who are Sanskrit scholars studied in the beginning, from five to fifteen years—that is for ten years continually—and they study grammar thoroughly. When one is expert in grammatical rulings and formation, that is to say— *sabda, dhatu, sandhi, samasa, prakaran, vidhan, pratyaya, adhikarana (sic)—after this they study * nyaya. * In this way when one is expert in ten to twelve years, that is by the age of the seventeenth year, a student becomes very much expert and any departmental knowledge he can master in one to two years. But you need not become such a scholar. You require simply to understand * sastras, Bhagavad-gtta, Srimad-Bhagavatam, * etc. and chant Hare Krsna * mantra* as much as possible. The thing is if you give more stress on scholarly line, other devotees will try to imitate you. Already your wife has expressed such intention and as soon as we try to be scholars our devotional line will be slackened. These points will be our unique position. Therefore, ==the main aim of this Sanskrit class should be how you can learn this chanting in the proper accent. It is not our aim to become a Sanskrit scholar."== ([[letters/1970/700416_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 16 April, 1970]]) *** 70-04 =="Yes, if you live in India it will be a better facility that you have some preliminary knowledge of the local language. This was recommended even for big British officers who used to go to India either for business or for political purposes.== I was a student in the Scottish Churches College and 90% of our professors were Europeans. All of them learned Bengali just to understand the local language. Although all of them were speaking with us in English, still they could understand Bengali nicely. Acyutananda has already learned Bengali, so I think for preliminary knowledge in Bengali there will be no difficulty for you." ([[letters/1970/700417_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 17 April, 1970]]) *** 70-04 =="I am very glad to learn that you have begun to teach Sanskrit pronunciation to our students. Please see that they can pronounce very nicely the Sanskrit verses in Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Isopanisad and Brahma-saḥhitā,== and teach them to chant conjointly as they chant Hare Krsna *maha-mantra.* In your class, the chanting of Hare Krsna *mantra* must be done in the beginning and at the end. That will keep the spirit of the temple." ([[letters/1970/700417_balmukundji|Balmukundji, 17 April, 1970]]) *** 70-04 =="Regarding the French edition Back to Godhead magazine, your attempt is coming to be successful and the present copy looks very nice. Regarding Sanskrit, you can learn it in your leisure time. For Indians it is not difficult to learn Sanskrit."== ([[letters/1970/700421_sudama|Gopala Krsna, 21 April, 1970]]) *** 70-05 "I have received one letter from Balmukund Parikh, the copy of which is enclosed herewith. It is understood that he is introducing something new in the name of teaching *Devanagari* script. The prayer of the spiritual master as he has quoted has no use for us; it is completely impersonal. This prayer immediately must be stopped. Another thing is he asked me about Aurobindos estimation. This means that he gradually wants to introduce Aurobindo philosophy. All these things do not sound very nice. Please let me know what is the necessity of learning the *Devanagari* script. We are transliterating all our books— *Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, Brahma-saḥhitā* etc., in Roman type. So why you should waste your time in learning *Devanagari* script? So ==I am very much anxious to know what is the actual situation because I can sense that Mr. Parikh wants to introduce something in my absence which is completely against Krsna consciousness.== I hope you will understand me right and reply this letter by return mail what is the actual situation." ([[letters/1970/700509_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 9 May, 1970]]) *** 70-11 =="It is no use to learn Hindi or other languages, just try to learn to speak our Krsna consciousness language very nicely."== ([[letters/1970/701115_jayapataka|Jayapataka Maharaja, 15 November, 1970]]) *** 71-10 "Regarding your teacher problem, I have advised Pradyumna to go there and teach students primary Sanskrit lessons, at least to learn the alphabet, so that in the future when they go to India they may learn Sanskrit very easily. ==The students should be taught Sanskrit both in Devanagari and Bengali alphabets.== Satyabhama in New Vrndavana has written a nice book for elementary lessons in English. I think this book may be printed immediately. If not the manuscript may be used to teach the students." ([[letters/1971/711009_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 9 October, 1971]]) *** 72-03 =="I am very glad to hear that you are happy in your service in Los Angeles. Your letters show that you are very much talented in writing, so my proposal is that you engage yourself in editorial work. Or if you like, you can learn elementary Sanskrit, and when I come there we shall see how it can be put to use."== ([[letters/1972/720326_lilavati|Lilavati, 26 March, 1972]]) *** 72-04 "I have just seen one Sanskrit dictionary of Pradyumnas, and it is compiled by one Englishman, Williams, and he has taken so much trouble and he has made a thorough study and it is very nice and scholarly book. So this dictionary is proof of the superior nature of this Indian Vedic culture. ==This great European scholar, he has not taken so much pains for Greek or Latin or any other old language, and because he has chosen Sanskrit language for his study, therefore it is the highest example of scholarship and knowledge."== ([[letters/1972/720402_revatinandana|Mandali Bhadra, 2 April, 1972]]) *** 72-06 =="If Mr. Chabria wants to send a Sanskrit teacher there, he can teach Ramanuja and he may teach in a class also, I have no objection, but without salary. Our work is honorary."== ([[letters/1972/720621_giriraja|Giriraja, 21 June, 1972]]) *** 72-08 =="We have seen your note regarding Sarasvati, and you may engage one Sanskrit teacher for Sarasvati so she shall become a very great scholar, just like Jiva Goswami was trained in Sanskrit language from early childhood and no one could surpass him in all of India."== ([[letters/1972/720801_bhavananda|Bhavananda, 1 August, 1972]]) *** 72-08 "That is a very good program that you have begun, namely traveling from center to center and preaching especially from the scholarly point of view of being able to understand this Krsna philosophy very scientifically and positively. ==You have studied the Sanskrit language for some years, that is sufficient of study, there is no more need. Now you read our books, not that lifelong you have to study Sanskrit.== Simply read our Sanskrit wherever it appears in our books and teach these *slokas* to the devotees, do not waste time by studying Sanskrit independently of our books." ([[letters/1972/720806_hrdayananda|Hrdayananda, 6 August, 1972]]) *** 73-03 =="You are studying Sanskrit, that is very nice. If you can learn to vibrate some important Sanskrit verses then you will be listened to wherever you go. On my return trip to India next time I expect to land in Tokyo so I can see you at that time."== ([[letters/1973/730328_satadhanya|Satadhanya, 28 March, 1973]]) *** 73-04 =="The simple method I have introduced, namely learn English and Sanskrit, is sufficient. Why the so-called Montessori method?"== ([[letters/1973/730411_jayapataka|Satsvarupa Maharaja, 11 April, 1973]]) *** 73-12 =="I have written two letters, one to Dr. Kapoor and the other to Hari Goswami for starting an adult school for learning Hindi and Sanskrit. Please see them in this connection. We want this school in Vrndavana."== ([[letters/1973/731211_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 11 December, 1973]]) *** 73-12 "Enclosed find a copy of a letter I have just received from Hari Charan Goswami. As he states therein, he is willing to teach our students Hindi and Sanskrit. ==We want to introduce this program of teaching our students Hindi and Sanskrit for two reasons.== First of all, as I have already explained in a previous letter, if we can establish a bona fide language school then our American and European disciples can acquire student visas for coming to India. This will solve our visa problem. Secondly, if our students can actually preach in Hindi, periodically quoting Sanskrit, it will be a very good credit for us and will be very respectfully received by the Indian people. I have asked Dr. Kapoor in Vrndavana and also one *pandita* named Nrsimha Vallabha to also teach our students Hindi and Sanskrit. The curriculum can be two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening and the pandits can be paid Rs. 200/- per month. Our students, however, must be prepared to apply themselves and actually learn the languages. Mr. B.R. Mohatta, our life member from Bombay, has just today visited me in Los Angeles and we have discussed this matter of the language school. He has advised that we take sanction for our school from different branches of the Indian government such as the Educational Department, the Social Welfare Department, and the Cultural Department. He says that we must approach them on the platform of wanting to present and develop this school for its educational and cultural value but not to place any stress on any religious import. Otherwise we shall not get any support from the government. He has described to me how the Ramakrishna Mission is getting so much support from the government only on the pretext that they are keeping schools and medical clinics. Factually their schools and clinics are for namesake only and they are using the government's support to mainly propagate their philosophy. So in this way we also must take government support by tactfully presenting a solid and organized proposal. I want very much that this project should be initiated immediately and followed through with all necessary attention and endeavor. Now I have given some hint and I am turning the matter over to you for execution." ([[letters/1973/731221_tamala_krsna|Tamala Krsna Goswami, 21 December, 1973]]) *** 74-01 =="Regarding starting a school in Vrndavana, we don't want any school for studying philosophy. Simply a school for teaching our members Sanskrit and Hindi.== Dr. Kapoor has expressed his inability to teach language, that's all right, for the time being we don't require any philosophical teacher. Start with Hari Goswami for teaching Hindi and Sanskrit. Regularly he can teach two hours in the morning and two in the evening. He can be paid a reasonable remuneration, maybe at least Rs. 200 per month. He can be assisted by another teacher available in Vrndavana." ([[letters/1974/740109_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 9 January, 1974]]) *** 75-09 =="I am in due receipt of your letters dated September 7th and 8th and have noted the contents and the enclosures. The reviews are very nice. He has written that people will want to learn Bengali just to read Caitanya-caritamrta. That was the prediction of my Guru Maharaja. This is very enlivening. Get all these appreciations published in a nice booklet."== ([[letters/1975/750915_kirtiraja|Kirtiraja, 15 September, 1975]]) *** 75-09 "I have seen the latest reviews that you have sent with your letter and I thank you for them. The linguistics professor has correctly remarked. ==It was my intention in presenting the books that anyone who would read, they would learn Sanskrit. For example almost all of my disciples are pronouncing Sanskrit very nicely just by reading my books.== He says that there is no pronunciation guide, but it is there is it not? The best thing would be a recording. Therefore our process of learning is by hearing. Hearing is so important." ([[letters/1975/750926_jagadisa|Kirtiraja dasa, 26 September, 1975]]) *** 75-11 "Enclosed is some correspondence I had with one Mr. Kumarachar. So he is now in London and he has his ticket up to New York, so ==if you want him to be a Sanskrit teacher in gurukula, you will have to pay for him from New York to Dallas.== I do not know what he has been doing so long for one-and-a-half years since I wrote him April 17, 1974. Anyway, you can see if he is useful and if so, then you should keep him. So you can bring him to Dallas." ([[letters/1975/751120_ghanasyama|Jagadisa dasa, 20 November, 1975]]) *** 76-06 "I am in due receipt of your offering of *Bhaktivedanta-astakam,* and I thank you very much. It is very nicely done. ==I have noted that you also have the aptitude for Bengali language, so you can learn this nicely and then you will be able to preach in Bengal in the native language.== It would be very effective. Also, you can chant the *Gita-gan* in Bengali and people will profusely take our *Gita-gan.* Thank you very much." ([[letters/1976/760604_sridhara|Jaya Sacinandana dasa, 4 June, 1976]]) *** 76-06 "I am in due receipt of your offering of the Sanskrit verse which you composed for me and I thank you very much. ==Now I am encouraging my young disciples to all try to learn at least one Indian language, like Hindi or Bengali.== At least those who have the propensity can become proficient in some language, especially Hindi, and then you will be able to preach in India in the native language. It will be very effective." ([[letters/1976/760604_sridhara|Gopavrndesa dasa, 4 June, 1976]]) *** 77-01 "Whether you will be able to teach our boys Sanskrit in the standard way? That is the first question. ==Have you ever worked as a Sanskrit teacher anywhere? To teach these young boys requires a special technique.== Whether you know it? We have reports from the USA about you but to the contrary. Kindly reply this point. We don't pay any salary to anyone. You can bring your aged parents to Vrndavana. They shall also be provided and you can take personally care of them." (SPL to Embar Sampath Kumarchar, Karnataka, 5th January, 1977) 77-04 =="Our students should be taught English and Sanskrit so in the future they can read our books. That will make them MA, Ph.D.. That much I want. Other things are external. And their behavior and character must also be most upstanding. Now you are all senior intelligent men so yourself, Yasodanandana Maharaja and Aksayananda Maharaja cooperatively do everything."== ([[letters/1977/770406_jagadisa|Jagadisa, 6 April, 1977]]) *** 77-05 =="There is no need to learn Bengali. I do not encourage learning any new skills. Whatever material abilities one has when he comes to Krsna consciousness, let him learn to engage these in Krsnas service, that is sufficient. There is no need of learning new skills now. That will simply be a waste of time."== ([[letters/1977/770513_dasanudasa|Dasanudasa, 13 May, 1977]]) ## Krsna Conscious and Academic Education 67-05 =="I thank you for your letter of April 27th, 1967 and have noted the contents carefully. My first instruction to you is that you must pass your MA Examination before any other consideration. Your degree will be a great asset for the society in the near future. So this is your first consideration."== ([[letters/1967/670501_janardana|Janardana, 1 May, 1967]]) *** 67-12 "I think Krsna has brought me again in your country for the purpose of training you perfectly. One must be educated. The education may be taken either in schools or privately but one must be educated. We want many preachers to broadcast this message of Krsna consciousness. ==Without education we cannot preach because a preacher has to meet many kinds of opposite elements.== One has to be engaged in one's specific occupation and at the same time advance in Krsna consciousness." (SPL to Lilasukha, December, 1967) *** 67-12 "For the present you should continue going to school because education is important. Without education nobody has any social position and all our students in Krsna consciousness are expected to be preachers. So preachers must have sufficient education because they have to meet with so many opposing elements. ==Education should be continued at the same time chanting should be continued. There will be no difficulty."== ([[letters/1967/671217_indira_iris_mendoza_ekayani_esther_mendoza|Indira dasi, 17 December, 1967]]) *** 68-01 "Rayarama's suggestion to open an *asrama* is very nice. If it is possible to keep sufficient number of cows in the *asrama* there can be very nice milk business and that may make sufficient income for maintaining one institution for educating children in Krsna consciousness. Actually, ==the modern educational institutions are different grades of slaughterhouses. If you can open an ideal institution for the future children of our associates, it will be a great service.== Actually, as I have already discussed in my *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* for economic problem one requires a little land and a few cows. Then the whole economic problem is solved. We should use our time for elevating ourselves in Krsna consciousness rather than for so-called economic development. If we are satisfied with plain living with minimum time, and the balance time is engaged for elevating our Krsna conscious program, then every man can be transferred to Goloka Vrndavana, just in this very life. The modern civilization has encumbered the mode of living and people are engaged all the time in the matter of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Both yourself and your wife, Himavati, are good combination. If you can develop such an institution for future children of our Society, or outside the Society, it will be a great service for humanity. I am sure Krsna will give you more and more intelligence in this matter, if you seriously think on the subject by gradual evolution. Offer my blessings to your good wife and I pray to Krsna for your all round prosperity. Hope you are both well." ([[letters/1968/680111_gargamuni|Hamsaduta, 11 January, 1968]]) *** 68-02 "If you are inquisitive to leam this science personally from me, I have no objection if you come here and stay with me for some days. A ==school life isn't an impediment for becoming a full time devotee; it is a question of devoting oneself sincerely to Krsna consciousness.== To prosecute Krsna consciousness there is no limitation, no material impediment can stop the progress of Krsna consciousness. That is the symptom of spiritual life. Spiritual life doesn't depend on material conditions. We have got many instances from the history of devotees' lives as Prahlada Maharaja. He was a small schoolboy; his father and teachers were all against God consciousness. Still he flourished and converted all his class fellows to be Krsna conscious in spite of severe trials experimented on his personal body. So it is only the question of understanding the process how to execute Krsna consciousness. If you can therefore spare some live with me, it will be better. You appear to be a very intelligent boy and I hope you will learn the art quickly." ([[letters/1968/680213_robert_pekala|Robert, 13 February, 1968]]) *** 68-02 "So far school is concerned, ==we know that modern education in schools and colleges is not very much helpful in advancement of Krsna consciousness, but still we have to take advantage of such institutions in absence of any other good organization.== But I shall advise you that by leaving your school, you have got immense books and literatures for studying, so you should form the habit of studying and understanding the philosophy very nicely and when there is difficulty in understanding, Brahmananda, or Rayarama, or myself, will help you in all respects. School may be bad, but studying is not bad, it is very good. So we should not give up the habit of studying, especially *Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam,* and *Brahma-saḥhitā." ([[letters/1968/680220_robert|Robert, 20 February, 1968]]) *** 68-04 =="I am so glad to learn that your examination in MA., is successful, and I hope very soon you will have your Ph.D. degree, both titles engaged in the service of the Lord.== There are four things desirable in this material world, namely, good parentage, sumptuous wealth, sufficient education, and good beauty. These things are sometimes impediments in the service of the Lord because such persons with great parentage, wealth, etc., become materially puffed up, and thus deviate from Krsna consciousness, but when they are employed in the service of the Lord, their value becomes many more times greater. Just like zero has no value, but when zero is placed on the right side of one, the value of zero enhances to ten times; similarly, our life, intelligence and words become one hundred times greater and greater if they are employed in the service of the Lord. I shall always pray to Krsna that you may come out a successful and eminent scholar so that your writings and thoughts may be taken seriously by the mundane wranglers. Our only business is to present Krsna consciousness to the ignorant mass of people, and if such people agree to hear, in consideration of our important position in the material world, it is a great opportunity to place our submission, and thereby our mission is fulfilled. Acaryas in the disciplic succession of Lord Caitanya teach us that we shall try to place the message of Lord Caitanya very humbly to the people in general and that will make us successful in our service to the Lord. I sincerely bless you that your future hopes to present Krsna consciousness in terms of French custom may be crowned with success." ([[letters/1968/680426_janardana|Janardana, 26 April, 1968]]) *** 68-07 'Your appreciation of the Ratha-yatra festival and realizing the beauty of *kirtana* and Jagannatha as well as the magnanimity of Lord Caitanya in His sublime teachings are some of the wonderful things that I mark in your progressive advancement in Krsna consciousness. Please try to continue this attitude and you will be more and more happy in your life, and at the end, get entrance into the association of Krsna. Chant Hare Krsna, both husband and wife, regularly, and worship Lord Krsna's Sri *Murti,* as you are doing and try to elevate others in Krsna consciousness, which has nothing to do with academic education; ==I therefore wish that instead of wasting your time for two or three years for taking a degree, you may increase your scope of activities for recruiting such boys and training them== in Krsna consciousness. But if your state laws do not allow it to hold any class without such degree then you must get such degree. On the whole you have got a very nice engagement for training children in Krsna consciousness. And I think you are very fit for it. I am sure if you endeavor in this line of service, Krsna will be very much pleased and will shower His blessing more and more. You are a very nice girl and I have got full faith in you and I wish that you can develop this line of service to the Society." (SPL to Yamuna, July, 1968) *** 68-09 "In the *Vedas* it is stated that simply by understanding Krsna, one understands everything. This means ==there are two departmental educational policies; one department of education is spiritual education, and the other departmental educational system is material education.== One who is highly elevated in material education, cannot understand about anything spiritual. But one who is elevated highly in his spiritual education can understand anything material. In other words, all material things are dependent on the spiritual soul. Just like your body, my body, this material body, they have developed on the basis of spirit soul. Therefore, Krsna being the Supreme Spirit, one who tries to understand Krsna, he can understand everything else. From your statement of the letter under reply, I can understand that by the grace of Krsna, you are improving in Krsna consciousness. And if you continue to keep up your attitude in this spirit, surely in this very life, you will be successful to reach the perfectional stages. It is my duty to open your eyes, because a spiritual master is he who can save his disciples from the darkness of nescience, illusion. So I am trying my best to do my duty, and if you cooperate with me fully, certainly both yourself and myself will be successful in our missionary work." ([[letters/1968/680911_syama|Syama dasi, 11 September, 1968]]) *** 68-10 "Regarding your proposal to become a doctor, because your mother wants to prosecute your education, ==I think if you can learn Krsna consciousness perfectly, by reading our different literatures and books, you will be a better doctor than the ordinary physician.== The ordinary physician may cure the disease of the body, but if you become advanced in Krsna consciousness, you will be able to cure the disease of the soul for many many persons. And that is more important than a doctor or a medical practitioner for curing the disease of this body. However we may be expert for keeping this body fit, it is sure and certain that this will end. But if you can protect the soul from becoming a fallen victim of this material existence, that is a greater service. In some of the Vedic literatures, it is said that: *atmanam sarvato rakset;* that means one should give first protection to the soul. Then he should take care of his particular type of faith, then he should take care of the material things, namely this body and anything in relation with this body or wealth. Please try to read all our books very carefully and whenever there is any doubt, you can ask me, and be an expert preacher. That will make you a great doctor for protecting the human society from being a fallen victim to *maya." ([[letters/1968/681007_tosana_krsna|Tosana Krsna, 7 October, 1968]]) *** 68-12 =="It is very good that you and the other girls are preaching in school to your classmates. This will bring the greatest benefit not only to them but also it will help you to progress more and more in your devotional service.== Krsna consciousness is so nice that when one makes some gain it does not detract from another's gain, but, rather, it means that there is gain for the whole world. When one is chanting or speaking of Krsna or working for Krsna then so many living entities hear him or help him in some way and thus find benefit also. This is why the devotee is dear to all creatures and to Krsna. So always be engaged as you are doing and with your all good qualities Krsna will surely bestow His full mercy, rest assured. So all of the girls you have mentioned, such as Ekayani, Kancanbala and Indira are similarly very good souls and I am always praying that Krsna will help you all more and more." ([[letters/1968/681217_lilasukha|Lilasukha, 17 December, 1968]]) *** 68-12 =="I think that now that you are going to public school that you must study hard especially keeping in mind to learn how to read and write and do arithmetic.== Perhaps after the summer we will have our own school in New Vrndavana and you will be a student there. But in the meantime, try to acquire these skills. They shall be a great asset to you in reading our literature and so many other services. So now that you are in school, you may make the best of it and become expert in these abilities." ([[letters/1968/681213_girish|Girish, 13 December, 1968]]) *** 70-03 'Your remark on the student demonstration is quite appropriate. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said that materialistic knowledge is another expansion of the influence of maya. ==The result of material education is that the living entity forgets his own identification and takes to the business of a particular type of body which is given to him by the grace of maya.== The Vedic education means one has to understand his identity as Brahman or the spirit soul. Unfortunately the modern educational system is so defective that everyone is educated to accept this body as self. At the present moment they have no clear idea of identification, so much so that even a person who is partially advanced about the importance of the soul does also improperly identify himself with the Supreme Brahman. So Krsna consciousness movement is meant for defying both classes of men; namely the *karmis* and the *jnanis* or yogis. That is our mission. Now among our students those who are advanced should take up this matter more seriously, and the movement which you have started may not be stopped for want of adequate preachers—that is my request to you all. I am very glad to know that Kīrtanānanda Maharaja has now taken up this matter seriously and is preaching. Similarly, I expect our advanced students like you, Rupanuga, Bhagavan dasa, Brahmananda, etc., may be seriously engaged now for this preaching cult." ([[letters/1970/700522_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 22 May, 1970]]) *** 70-04 "Regarding Paramatma dasa, I think he should simply push on with his school work as much as it may be necessary and the remainder of the time he may spend with the devotees in our Krsna conscious activities. Certainly he is feeling some inconvenience due to the poor association at the *karmi* school but this is not a permanent situation. In the past many of our devotees like Lilasuka, Kancanbala, Indira, etc. in New York; Saradiya in Boston; and some others in Buffalo and in other places also have finished up their required education in the public schools in spite of continuous feeling of disturbance by the non-devotee students and faculty. So ==if he finishes up his education in this way remaining under your care at the temple, then the unwanted association will not be harmful;== just see that he is strictly executing his prescribed duties and that will keep him strong in spiritual life." ([[letters/1970/700418_bahulasva|Bahulasva, 18 April, 1970]]) *** 74-04 Regarding Srinivasa Svarupa it is very pleasing to hear that this Indian boy wants to surrender his whole life to Krsna. ==There is no harm if he finishes college and gets his degree. If possible, he can live in the temple and attend the university daily.== At any rate, he should carefully follow all the regulative principles and associate with his fellow devotees as much as possible. The university is well known for demoniac association, but if he is able to keep up his devotional practices and protect the creeper of devotional service, then he may complete his degree. I think there is more advantage in Bir Krsna remaining fully engaged in his temple duties than in going back to college. What would be the practical benefit of such a degree?' ([[letters/1974/740413_vrindaban|Bhakta dasa, 13 April, 1974]]) *** 74-12 "Thank you very much for your sentiments. It appears that you have understood our philosophy very nicely, and that is a great boon for someone who is as young as yourself. The perfection of human existence is to somehow or another develop Krsna consciousness and the sooner that one can develop his Krsna consciousness the better. Not that I will wait until I become old man, then I will become spiritually advanced. No, it is better if one starts immediately. So there is no question of your discontinuing your efforts in Krsna consciousness. By all means you should ==continue practicing Krsna consciousness every day. But that does not necessarily mean that you have to move into the temple immediately. It is also important to get some education.== So for some years you should remain studying in school. But on the weekends, with your parents permission you can go to the temple and stay there but do not fall behind in your school work. And every day you should follow the Krsna conscious principles that our devotees in our temples follow which means rising early, chanting sixteen rounds, eating only Krsna *prasadam,* no meat, fish or eggs, no illicit sex life, no gambling and no intoxication. This is the process. So follow it strictly and at the same time learn some practical knowledge from your school studies. And then later it may be more appropriate for you to join our temple as a full-time *brahmacari.* But in all circumstances always chant Hare Krsna. That is a must. In the *Bhagavad-gita* it says: *tesam satata-yuktanam, bhajatam priti-purvakam, dadami buddhi-yogam tam, yena mam upayanti te. (Bhagavad-gita* 10.10) To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.' So do not be in distress. Simply try to engage yourself constantly in devotional service and develop your love for Krsna. And in this way Krsna will give you all facilities for coming to Him." ([[letters/1974/741216_durgesh|Durgesh, 16 December, 1974]]) *** 75-02 I am very pleased to know that you have taken such a great interest in our Hare Krsna movement. You are an educated man and you can use your education very nicely in the service of Krsna. I like the idea of yours to continue on for Ph.D. presenting our books and philosophy in your thesis. This will be a great service for you to perform and I shall be very grateful to you if you can do it. ==Please therefore go ahead with obtaining Ph.D. and become a learned scholar in the science of loving Krsna.== This will be a wonderful credit for you and you will surely get recognition from Krsna for such an attempt. Keep in touch with Jagadisa dasa and he can give you all assistance. That is the verdict of SB: idam hi pumsas tapasah srutasya va *sv-iṅṃasya* suktasy ca buddhi-dattayohavicyuto 'rthah kavibhir nirupito yad-uttamasloka-gunanuvarnanam" ([[letters/1975/750202_sahadeva|Mr. Sauvageau, 2 February, 1975]]) ==76-02 "I am very glad to learn that you have got your MS degree in Industrial Engineering, so do finish your Ph.D. course. Krsna will bless you with a good situation for the service of the Lord."== ([[letters/1976/760203_radhavallabha|Dipakji, 3 February, 1976]])