# PREACHING IN THE WEST ## The Krsna Consciousness Philosophy 53-00 “Sages of India realized it by a perfect deductive process which descends on human consciousness by a *transcendental* chain of unbroken bona fide disciplic succession that material civilization is a temporary gigantic demonstration of a rabid process of sense gratification. The sense organs are given uncertain liberty to gratify their desires and the whole show of science, education, trade, industry, economy and politics are but different spheres of activities in the realm of gratifying the senses. Above these senses or sense organs is a diametric force which is subtler than the sense organs and is known as the mind but acts in terms of thinking, feeling and willing. ==The empiric philosophers speculating on an imperfect process of induction generally indulge in intellectual feats without knowing that behind the mind there is human intelligence== which is able to analyze the process of psychology but is unable to find out the ultimate force or spirit behind their intelligence. So the spirit that conducts even intelligence is the primeval root of everything and there is an adjustment of spirit and matter as much as there is an adjustment of smoke and fire. The smoke is a conditional state of fire and therefore smoke is nothing but fire and yet we cannot compare smoke and fire on the same platform. Smoke emanates from fire but it is the disturbing condition of fire. We need fire and not the smoke. The present smoky material or sensual civilization has to be kindled into the fire of reality or spiritual civilization. It is neither difficult nor impossible. It is just a simple process of fanning the fire in order to get rid of the disturbing smoke. The fanning process is eternally the same and one and the empiric speculators have nothing to invent new into it. It must be actually a fanning in spiritualized process and nothing else.” (SPL to Mr. Bailey, 1953) 67-06 “So far as your distress is concerned, it is not new; it is the general condition of living entities who are distressed for want of sense gratification. Unless one is related with Krsna, the reservoir of all pleasure, it is very difficult to have complete pleasure perception in this material world. You have read *Bhagavad-gita* and it is stated that ultimate happiness can be realized by transcendental senses only. ==Our movement for Krsna consciousness is to turn the present polluted senses into its original pure form== , just like when a man cannot see properly due to cataracts in the eyeball, similarly we cannot have real sense pleasure without being purified in Krsna consciousness. This purification can be done only by engaging the senses for Krsna. Krsna is called Hrsikesa, or the master of the senses. His senses are omnipotent; therefore, when our senses will be engaged to satisfy the senses of Krsna, at that time we will have perfect sense gratification, and be free of all distressed condition. A spirit soul is not impersonal and because he is a person he has the latent desire for sense gratification; but in the material condition he does not know how to enjoy. Therefore one should purify the senses, being free of all material designation. In conditioned stage we are designated souls like American, Indian, dog, demigod, etc. but in purer consciousness or Krsna consciousness we are part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman. By Brahman realization as you may have read in *Bhagavad-gita: brahma-bhutah prasannatma, no socati na kanksati* , so in our pure stage when we understand that we are eternal servants of Krsna there is no more distress. Therefore, the devotee prays: ’My Lord when shall I be freed from all material desires and be completely engaged in your transcendental loving service. At the present moment I am forlorn and nobody is my master. When shall I have You as my Supreme Master? Then I shall joyfully wander over the whole universe knowing that you are my master.’ Please therefore try to be in Krsna consciousness and there will be no distress. Gradually as you will realize this, you will experience it also; but the process is the same, both at the beginning and at the end.” ([[letters/1967/670609_nandarani|Mr. Taber, 9 June, 1967]]) *** 67-12 “You are right when you say that our past life is a dream only. Just like at night we see so many dreams and in daytime we forget everything. Similarly, we forget everything of our past life and as such so long we do not become reposed to our factual spiritual life, ==all these changes of lives, one after another, are considered to be dreams. Less intelligent persons are very much interested in dreaming life== *,* but one who is intelligent enough he searches after eternal life. The modern civilization does not understand what is eternal life. They are busy with the spot light of 50 or 100 years. Fools cannot think that one is not for 50 or 100 years, but one is for eternity.” (SPL to Nanda Kisora, December, 1967) ==68-01 “Your husband, Sriman Subala dasa is living with me very peacefully and he is carving Radha and Krsna, from hard wood. So this life of material existence is just like hard wood and if we can carve Krsna out of it, that is the success of our life.”== (SPL to Krsna devi, 26th* January, 1968) 68-04 “Regarding your questions, how material things dissolve, I may give you one example: ==material manifestation is temporary, as it stated in the Bhagavad-gita, that the material manifestation at times comes into being and it at times vanquishes. So, when material variegatedness vanquishes== , it does not mean that spiritual variegatedness also vanquishes. Material variegatedness is perverted reflection of spiritual variegatedness, as it is described in the *Bhagavad-gita* , that this material manifestation is just like a tree with the root upward. Roots upwards of the tree means it is reflection. So also in the *Bhagavatam* it is stated like this, that the material world is a combination of earth, water and fire; just like a beautiful girl made of earth, water and fire, standing in the window of a store front. Similarly, this material world is imitation beauty of the spiritual world as much as the doll is imitation of the real girl. So when the doll girl is broken, it does not mean that the real girl is also finished. Material manifestation is just like occasional cloud in the sky, so when the cloud disappears the sky remains. Similarly, when the material world dissolves, the spiritual world remains. Krsna and his kingdom, the spiritual world, are eternal. We have to understand things in this method. That is Krsna consciousness. Do not misunderstand that after the variegatedness of the material world being finished, everything becomes impersonal; that is nonsense. Try to understand *Bhagavad-gita* nicely.” (SPL to Yadunandana, 13th* April, 1968) ==69-01 “You have asked me how one can know that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead?== How do you know that the president is the supreme person in your state? You know this through the government organizations, the constitution papers, and by traditional knowledge. ==Similarly, to know who is the Supreme Personality you have to take evidence from vedic authorities, great personalities, and the spiritual master.== Otherwise, what is the use of accepting a spiritual master if you cannot take his words? Your spiritual master says Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna says he is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all the vedic literature says that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All great authorities like Narada, Vyasadeva, Lord Caitanya, Siddhanta Sarasvati, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Arjuna and what to speak of the countless others say that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So to understand these authorities you have to follow in their footsteps. You cannot speculate upon Krsna neither can you ever know him by such speculations. You can simply use your judgement submissively; that is all, and this cannot be done in a challenging spirit. Lord Jesus Christ also said that the kingdom of God is only for the humble and meek.” (SPL to Vilasavigraha dasa, 22nd* January, 1969) 69-01 “Regarding your questions, ==the so called love which goes on in the material world is simply a perverted form of dasya rasa. Everything in this world is a perverted form of rasa.== Just like Yasoda is loving Krsna as her Son. So this is *vatsalya rasa* , parental love. When Krsna is separate from Yasoda, she cried for whole life and thus became blind. In this world there is not a single instance where a mother has suffered so much from her son. Therefore, it is perverted reflection of the real love. (SPL to Mahapurusa, 25th* January, 1969) 69-01 “Regarding your question about Vasudeva, the father of Krsna, you should understand that he is not simply a symbol. The statement made in *Srimad-Bhagavatam* in this connection is meant for understanding, but unless one is in Vasudeva’s position, it is not possible to understand Vasudeva or Krsna. Vasudeva’s position means to be situated in pure goodness. ==In the material world, the three modes of nature which are named ignorance, passion and goodness, are always found mixed up together. In other words, these modes are never found pure, but if there is one mode present, there is sure to be at least a tinge of another mode there also.== For this reason, we may sometimes see a third class man showing the quality of goodness, and we may see a first-class man showing hints of ignorance. The modes are never found in a pure state in the material world. But in the Vasudeva stage of pure goodness there is no contamination from any material influence of passion or ignorance. Vasudeva is never to be understood as being a symbol. You should clearly understand this.” (SPL to Hamsaduta, 28th* January, 1969) 69-03 “Your fifth question, ’Is this understanding of Verse 18, Chapter Four, correct: “That the sage sees material activities as zero (inaction in action) and sees the devotee seated chanting as eternally active (action in inaction)?” Yes, action in inaction—action means to do something of which the result is enjoyed by Krsna. ==When we put ourselves in the position of enjoying good or bad reaction, then we suffer or enjoy. But action in Krsna consciousness has nothing to do with such material suffering or enjoying== . Therefore action in Krsna consciousness is inaction, whereas a person doing nothing materially may appear to be inaction to others, but actually he is doing something for Krsna. In other words, the materialist thinks of the devotees as inactive. Similarly, the devotees think of the karmis as inactive—simply spoiling time, building sandcastles.” (SPL to Rupanuga, 14th* March, 1969) 69-10 ==“The sum and substance of our philosophy is to love Krsna. Actually, we have got our inherent love propensity for Krsna, but due to our contact with material energy, that loving spirit is being overtaken by maya.== Just like a boy with hookworm, when he eats very much his body does not get nourished on account of the middle creature in his intestine. The food goes to the account of the hookworm. Similarly, we have got our dormant loving spirit for Krsna, but it is being misused by *maya* . As such, we have gradually to disassociate with *maya* or take such medicine which will counteract the contact of *maya* . Then our pure Krsna consciousness will come out automatically. So this chanting of Hare Krsna mantra is the only medicine to drive out the smoky curtain created by *maya* , covering our pure heart. In other words, our love for Krsna is being blocked by the intervention of *maya* , and as soon as we stop this intervention, our life becomes sublime. So this is not a sectarian religious convention, but it is a fact, and the proof is that Hare Krsna *mantra* is liked in the U.S.A., in Canada, in Europe and now in Japan.” (SPL to Bali Mardan and Sudama, 3rd* October, 1969) 69-10 “It has given me much satisfaction and ==if you read our Srimad-Bhagavatam you will find there what is the distinction between realization of Brahman, Paramatma (Impersonal Supersoul) and the Personality of Godhead.== According to *Srimad-Bhagavatam* , all of these realizations are on the transcendental plane as much as sunshine, the sun-globe and the predominating Deity on the sun-globe are all full of light and high temperatures. Similarly, either in Brahman, Paramatma, or Bhagavan (Personality of Godhead) realization you will always find spiritual light and heat. But as there are different degrees of sunshine, the sun-globe and the sun’s Deity, similarly there are also degrees of transcendental bliss in the different features of the Absolute. The summary is that the Absolute Truth is the sum total of eternity, bliss and knowledge. Impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth is realization of eternity. Localized Paramatma realization is realization of transcendental knowledge. But above all these as they are described in *Bhagavad-gita* there is Purusottama, the Supreme Person. That is Krsna. In the *Vedas* it is stated that one who has understood the Supreme Person has understood everything. That is because everything is subordinate to the Supreme Person. So if you kindly try to understand this philosophy of the Supreme Person as described in *Bhagavad-gita* , 8th chapter, you will understand our activities more clearly.” (SPL to Sai, 27th* October, 1969) 69-11 ==“Regarding your final question, Krsna is the Cause of all Causes. That is a fact. But we being subordinate to Krsna, sometimes we create our own cause under Krsna’s sanction only. Just like a child may persist in trying to do something, but unless the mother allows he cannot do it. Another example is that a criminal is put into jail by the trying judge; this is caused by the judgement of the court, but it is actually caused also by the criminal person.”== (SPL to Arundhati, November 2nd*, 1969) 69-12 “Regarding your question about the *brahmajyoti,* it is explained in *Bhagavad-gita* that ==the impersonal Brahman effulgence is emanating from Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.== The *brahmajyoti* is just like the sunlight, which emanates from the sun god, because the sunlight has no personal form, this does not mean that the sun god has become impersonal. You have seen in pictures of Lord Krsna that there is nice effulgence coming forth from His body. This effulgence is the *brahmajyoti* , and it is pervading throughout the entire spiritual and material manifestation. But above this *brahmajyoti* is the supreme source of everything, Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I hope this important point is clear to you now.” (SPL to Bhadra Bardhan, 4th* December, 1969) 70-01 “In Boston always 50 to 100s of devotees chanting, dancing and engaged in Krsna conscious business. That is the aim of our Krsna consciousness movement. We do not want stopping the natural instincts of the living entities. We simply want them to be dovetailed in Krsna’s service. Your country is fortunate enough by the grace of the Goddess of fortune. The Goddess of fortune or Laksmi devi is eternally engaged in service of the Lord. Therefore, the favor of Goddess of fortune which is bestowed upon the American people may be fully engaged in Krsna’s service. That will be a finishing touch to this material advancement. ==If people do not take to Krsna and simply want to utilize the Goddess of fortune for sense gratification, as it was the policy of demons like Ravana and Hiranyakasipu, then the finishing touch will certainly culminate in releasing the nuclear weapon exactly like Ravana was vanquished by such policy.”== (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, 2nd* January, 1970) 70-03 “The *pradhana* is the ingredient part of the material energy. Yes, the *maya* is covering all the material energies. Therefore, one who is materially advanced, covered with riches, covered with learning, covered with fame or covered with any material opulences, is understood to be covered with *maya* . Srila Bhaktivinoda says, *jada vidya saba mayar baibhava* , ’the material opulences are expansions of *maya* ’s influence.’ As such, according to Vedic process, one voluntarily renounces the material opulences. The Goswamis left their government service and there are many other instances. Bharata Maharaja left his kingdom and Lord Buddha left his kingdom—these are all different attempts to get out of *maya* ’s influence. ==But our philosophy is that things employed in Krsna’s service have no more influence of maya.== Therefore, it is called *cinmaya* or spiritual; spiritual means complete knowledge. One who can follow the instructions of *Isopanisad* can understand that nothing belongs to *maya* but everything belongs to Krsna. This knowledge is Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, 2nd* March, 1970) ==70-10 “I am so glad to learn that you are interested in the matter of Vaisnava philosophy. Vaisnava philosophy is very simple: that God is great and everyone is His servant. Nobody can be equal to or greater than God. They are simultaneously one and different. In quality they are one, but in magnitude they are different. This is the whole philosophy of the four Vaisnava sampradayas.”== (SPL to Sriman Sudhindra Babu, 3rd* October, 1970) ==71-01 “Universal form is a person also, and from that universal form so many things are appearing.”== (SPL to Gaura Hari, 29th* May, 1971) 71-12 “Also it is nice that you are infiltrating into the schools and colleges. These are the best customers for our philosophy. Give them nice philosophy, let them challenge us with any mundane philosophy and we shall very scholarly defeat them. The difference is that we have got absolute authority from the Source of Knowledge, Krsna, while your Western mundane philosophers are simply speculating on the mental platform, which is always changing. Therefore, a philosopher is not a philosopher unless he refutes his predecessor and produces something new. This kind of knowledge is useless. Actually, no one has got any philosophy nowadays, everyone is acting according to his own whims. Therefore, there is no security, no peace, everything is unpredictable and dangerous. Therefore all the young boys and girls in your country—and all over the world—are fed up with this lack of philosophy and they have taken to the philosophy of hopelessness: ’Everything is empty, therefore let me enjoy, it doesn’t matter.’ But this philosophy is also useless. Because if you want to enjoy and I also want to enjoy, there will be clash, fighting. And we have seen in Moscow that Marx and Lenin philosophy is no better. God is dead, the State is God. This philosophy has killed the spirit, and the Russian people are very morose and unhappy. They want to join us, that is a fact. So now you defeat all sorts of philosophies, become very convinced yourself and learn our Krsna philosophy perfectly. In this way, any sane man will listen to you and become convinced. Our philosophy is practical. ==Actually, philosophy means practical application—if it is mere theory then it has no value. But our Krsna philosophy is working now in modern society to solve all kinds of problems all over the world== , never-mind white man, black man, Christian or Hindu, Russian or American. Everyone is feeling the nice result of our philosophy. And it has worked in the same way for the last 5,000 years at least, taking historical calculation. So which philosophy is better, 50 or 100 year old Darwin philosophy, or eternal Krsna philosophy? Just try to understand. Approach Krsna way of life from every angle—it is perfect. So try to impress this intelligent class of men, give them nice debate, answer all questions nicely, distribute profuse prasadam, chant and dance nicely, and invite them to join us to get the perfection of their education, the Supreme knowledge.” (SPL to Danavir, 12th* December, 1971) ==72-02 “Thank you very much for your questions. You enquire about the mode of goodness, and why such people do not worship Krsna. Actually, this is not the final stage, one has to go further ahead to suddha-sattva. In the material mode of goodness there are sometimes tinges of the modes of passion and ignorance, but in the suddha-sattva stage there is only pure love of God or pure mode of goodness, that is the difference.”== (SPL to Caturbhuja, 28th* February, 1972) 72-07 “Everyone has become already animals. They are not interested in morality, religion, or other subject matter of the human form of life. And when one is prepared to become animal, then what this school-college education will do? ==This material world seems to me like a dead body, and even though they try to decorate it very gorgeously, what use can we enjoy from such dead body?== So practically we see the youth of your country have become very much frustrated by trying to enjoy this dead body, and they are seeking to find the point of real life which has been lost, but they are thinking that to become animals will give them new life, just like standing naked or growing long hairs. But without Krsna that is not possible. Therefore, it is your duty to inform them very seriously and tactfully that this dead body of material nature can only be revived if we inject it with Krsna consciousness movement. If we do like this, then your country will become the most gorgeous place, it will be Vaikuntha.” (SPL to Rupanuga, 1st* July, 1970) 75-12 “Naturally the *sankirtana* men travelling with bullock carts are blissful. It is Lord Caitanya’s engagement. Lord Caitanya personally travelled all over India for 6 years. ==His program was simply kirtana and prasad distribution. Lord Caitanya never spoke philosophy in public. When he met big scholars like Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya he spoke philosophy, otherwise for the mass of people, kirtana and prasada distribution.== So continue this program, it is very pleasing to Lord Caitanya.” (SPL to Mahamsa Maharaja, 17th* December, 1975) 75-12 “The books are already on the way. *Sankirtana* will always be appreciated, because it is the special blessings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu on the people of this fallen Age of Kali. Sukadeva Goswami says, this age is an ocean of faults, but there is one boon *—* in this age one gets the same result as was achieved in former ages through elaborate temple worship, costly sacrifices, or introspective meditation, simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord. It is for this reason only that this Hare Krsna movement has spread so quickly all over the world. The people of this age are so fallen they are like cats and dogs. What cats and dogs will understand about philosophy? If a dog is barking and you speak with him very nicely, ’My dear dog, please try to control your barking, it is very disturbing’ will he be able to understand? Therefore we simply throw him a bone, and he is satisfied. So distribute prasadam, and chant Hare Krsna. ==For the mass of people this is the only medicine. Lord Caitanya never spoke philosophy in public, he held kirtana and distributed prasadam. When he met Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya he talked high philosophy, otherwise—chanting and prasadam distribution.”== (SPL to Acyutananda and Yasodanandana Maharaj, 18th* December, 1975) 76-05 “Just now I am on my 15th world tour and your letter was forwarded to me here in Hawaii from my Bombay address. It will take at least three months to return to India. I am very much pleased that you have invited us to cooperate with you in the matter of humanitarianism. I shall be glad to know in detail what is your program. Our program is to awaken the human society to God consciousness. The living entity is eternal and changing body by the evolutionary process. In this material world there are 8,400,000 forms of body and the living entity is passing through the cycle. When the living entity is given a chance in the process to become a human being, he has to decide which way he wants to go. We are preaching on the basis of the Vedic literatures, which are considered to be the most authentic knowledge by Indian scholars, religionists, and people in general. This authenticity is being appreciated now by all scholarly sections throughout the whole world. Our books are being received by all libraries, universities, and scholarly persons, and I wish also that your institution may also order for all these books so that you can understand our point of view. Enclosed is one catalogue which vividly describes some of these books. They are available to your institution through our Bombay branch where address is: Hare Krsna Land, Juhu Road, Juhu, Bombay 400-054. With reference to your statement that you are concerned with this life alone, I could not follow what you mean by this. In this life also, you take care of educating your children. So if the child is not educated for the next stage of life, then how do you account for the child's youth-hood age. Life is a continuation. The baby grows to become a child, the child grows to become a boy, the boy grows to become a young man, the young man becomes a middle-aged man, and the middle-aged man becomes an old man. So with which stage of life are you concerned? I shall be glad to know in which stage of life you are interested. If you don't take care of the child and simply become concerned with the young man, is it possible to act properly in the matter of humanitarianism? And according to the transmigration of the soul, a man can become a dog in the next life. So you take care of this life, and if in the next life he becomes a dog, then what? ==Immediately, of course, we do not insist on philosophy, but if people join sankirtana, chanting and dancing and taking prasadam, then immediately we can begin cooperating without any distinction== **of Hindu, Christian, Muslim, etc. Unless we make our program in an authorized perfect way, anything we try to do will be a failure. So I shall be glad to hear from you further in this matter.” ([[letters/1976/760509_trivikrama|Sriman Joshiji, 9 May, 1976]]) *** 76-12 “Regarding the question you have asked, you can give a very straight answer, *Bhagavad-gita* says: *dehantara-praptir.* The soul transmigrates, but there is no regular process. In the beginning of creation, when all the world was water all living entities were aquatics. Then gradually from aquatics the soul passes into plant bodies, then insect bodies, then bird bodies, then animal bodies, then human beings. ==In the human form the soul can decide whether to== go back to home, back to Godhead or return to birth and death, accepting material bodies according to his karma *.* Therefore, it is advised to take advantage of the human form of body to go back home, back to Godhead. ==Our movement is for this purpose, to offer all human beings a chance to go back home, back to Godhead.”== ([[letters/1976/761217_vegavan|Vegavan dasa, 17 December, 1976]]) ## About of Being the Body 68-03 “I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 21st, 1968, and may inform you that the horrible scene in the hospital is certainly ghastly. But we should at the same time know that this ghastly scene is in the matter of the bodily concept of life. This is *maya’s* illusion, and although the spirit soul has nothing to do with these horrible affairs, due to absorption of one's consciousness in the body, one has to suffer the consequences of bodily identification. So far we are concerned we shall neither be sympathetic nor apathetic in the matter of such bodily concept of life. Of course, ==it is quite natural to become sympathetic when one's body is put into such horrible condition, but if you are firmly convinced that this body is separate from the soul, then we may not be distracted.== **That is not possible of course in the preliminary stage, but when we shall be in a transcendental position not to be disturbed by every such a horrible scene, then our position is secure. The suffering of the man and the sympathy of the other man, both are concerned on the body. But this we have to understand by knowledge. Then such horrible condition of body won't be disturbing to us. That is the position of liberation. It doesn't mean we shall not be sympathetic to one who is suffering, but we should always remember that such sufferings are due to the bodily concept of life. As you stated, that you simply want to leave the material world and be with Krsna that is the best solution, rather than taking account of how things happened that you came here. Like that our best occupation is to get out of the scene by constantly chanting Hare Krsna and being engaged in the transcendental service of Lord Krsna." ([[letters/1968/680326_yadunandana|Yadunandana, 26 March, 1968]]) *** 68-03 * * ==“The evening twilight first appeared as a beautiful girl to attract the demons but later on turned to be evening twilight. There is no reality in the material beauty. What you think as real that is also unreal because everything material transforms into matter at the ultimate stage. It is the spirit soul who is beautiful and not the matter== * .” (SPL to Satsvarupa, March, 1968) *** 68-06 “The example of Naradaji, that when he realized Krsna in his previous life, that life and the next life, there is no difference. The example is given sometimes in the coconut skin when it is dried up, the fruit within the covering is hard. And if the coconut is shaken, it is found that the coconut fruit is moving within. Because it has dried up and broken away from the inner walls of the coconut skin. So it has nothing to do with the outer skin, even though it appears that it is within that skin. ==Similarly, when one is purely in Krsna consciousness, it may appear that he is within the material existence, but actually he has nothing to do with it. He is dried up like the coconut fruit;== **and that process of drying up is forgetting all sense gratification and executing Krsna consciousness full time. So, when one is purely in Krsna consciousness, his present life and future life are identical." ([[letters/1968/680601_upendra|Upendra, 1 June, 1968]]) *** 68-07 “Regarding some of your questions: Your question was, ’I understand that we are not this body, mind and intelligence or ego, but are pure consciousness or pure spirit soul. This consciousness has been polluted by association with matter. By association with Krsna this consciousness will be purified. This consciousness is all throughout our body giving us the power to think, will and feel, but how is the consciousness inter-related with matter? Is consciousness like the mist that hangs around a mountain? How do matter and spirit connect and how do they work together? I hope you understand my question. And what exactly takes place when consciousness becomes purified?’ A living entity has constitutionally mind, intelligence and ego, but they are contaminated in contact with matter. At the present moment, our ego is working under some designation. Somebody is thinking that he is an American or Indian, and another is thinking that he is *brahmacari* or householder. This sort of ego is material but when one is firmly convinced that he does not belong to any material designation, but his pure identification is eternal servitorship of Krsna *—* in Vedic language it is called *aham brahmasmi.* That means I am spirit soul. The *Mayavada* philosophers on account of their negligence to serve Krsna, may sometimes come to this understanding of *aham brahmasmi,* but they again fall down to the material platform on account of such negligence. Therefore, this process of chanting is being constantly in Krsna consciousness, there is no such fear of falling down of the devotees. Your statement, ’By association with Krsna this consciousness will be purified,’ is right. Consciousness is not related with matter. Just like +the air is always pure but when there is a mixture of dust in the air, it appears to be a cloud. The cloud and air are different substances. ==Similarly, consciousness is pure spiritual, but when the consciousness desires to enjoy matter, it becomes cloudy and dusty, or contaminated. And then at that time, thinking, feeling and willing, everything becomes polluted.== The same example as I have given several times that the proprietor of a car and the car are different identities, but when the proprietor thinks that this car is for his enjoyment, he becomes absorbed in such thought, and as soon as there is some loss or accident to the car, he thinks that he is hurt. This consciousness is false, but one suffers the consequences on account of false identification. Consciousness is not like mist, but when it is materially contaminated it looks like that. Another example, that water from the sky falling down on the ground looks muddy but water is not muddy; it is clear. When the water is again filtered, and the muddy things are precipitated, the water comes to its original luster, crystal clear. So our Krsna consciousness movement is that we have to clear our consciousness by the transcendental addition of Krsna chemical. Then everything will be nice and clear, and we shall be able to see our identification without any designation. I think your questions are answered up to the last part, when you inquired, ’What exactly takes place when consciousness is becoming purified?’” ([[letters/1968/680712_cidananda|Cidananda, 12 July, 1968]]) *** 68-08 “I am so much thankful to you for your good wishes, and your realization that you are the eternal servant of Krsna. It is the primary understanding of our constitutional position. Actually, we are all servants, but in the conditioned state, every one of us is posing as the master. The sooner we forget that we are not master, we are servant; and if even though we are not inclined to serve Krsna, we have to become the servant of the senses. ==So the sooner we realize this fact, that our constitutional position is servant, that means we are liberated. Liberation means to be situated in one's original position.== **Just like a man suffering from fever, so relief from fever means to be situated in normal condition, but this service being misplaced, we are not happy, but as soon as the service is placed in the right person, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, everything becomes happy and successful." ([[letters/1968/680822_daniel|Daniel, 22 August, 1968]]) *** 68-11 “Your questions are very nice. Yes, the Supersoul and soul both are unchanged. The difference is that in material contact, the soul appears to be changed. But the Supersoul is not affected by material contamination, therefore there is no sign of change. ==The change of soul is like that water which becomes ice in contact with a refrigerator.== And as soon as there is temperature the ice again becomes water. Similarly the changing nature of the soul is just like change of water to ice. The tendency of ice is to melt and become water again. So due to contamination of matter, the soul by illusion identifies with material existence. But the tendency is to melt again to Krsna consciousness. So when there is sufficient temperature in contact with bona fide spiritual master and devotees, the soul again becomes Krsna conscious, like the water.” ([[letters/1968/681112_malati|Malati, 12 November, 1968]]) *** 70-02 “Now coming to the point of questions—your first question is—’What am I? Is the body itself matter, or spiritual soul, or a combination of both?’ Answer: You are eternal servant of Krsna. The body is matter. The spirit soul is different from the body—it is not exactly combination, but it is encagement. Just like if you put oil in the water the oil does not mix up with the water. Similarly, soul does not mix with the material body; but due to our material consciousness we are thinking that the movement of this body is the movement of the soul. Therefore, when the body is destroyed we think the soul is destroyed. That is stated in the *Bhagavad-gita* that the soul does not die with the destruction of the body. With the destruction of one body, the soul transmigrates to another body, thus the bondage of material existence. Therefore, to train the soul properly to revive his original consciousness, or Krsna consciousness, is the real purpose of human life. Then your second question: ’If this body is pure soul then why it gets engaged with worldly matter?’ As explained above, the body is not the soul, it gets engaged in worldly matter due to his vitiated consciousness. Just like some of us are thinking, ’I am American’ or ’I am Indian,’—it is due to the vitiated consciousness. The real consciousness is that ’I am eternal servant of Krsna.’ Or it is just like a madman who thinks himself that he is a king, he is free to do whatever he likes and talks nonsense; but a sane man laughs at him. Our encagement in the matter is just like a madman's activities. When one is treated by the treatment of Krsna consciousness, he becomes relieved from all these designated engagements. When I feel as American or when I feel as Indian that is the cause of all sorts of anxieties and frustrations. Krsna consciousness means to come to the pure understanding that one is neither American or Indian, but he is eternal servant of Krsna, and thus engages himself in rendering loving service to the Lord. This is his pure spiritual life. As long as he does not come to that standard he is supposed to be materially contaminated. The Krsna consciousness movement means to engage our senses in the service of the Lord, just opposed to the materialistic way of life wherein the senses are engaged for sense gratification. Your third question is, ’As you have explained in two essays, that as the body is covered with shirt and coat, similarly the soul is covered by mind, intelligence and false ego—if it is so then who are mind, intelligence and false ego? Who controls them?’ The soul controls the mind and intelligence. When he is designated he controls the mind and intelligence in one way but when he is free from designation he controls the mind and intelligence in another way. In other words, when the soul is designated for example as an American or Indian he controls the mind and intelligence in that direction and acts for that particular nation. Similarly, when he is free from the designations and feels himself as the servant of Krsna, he controls his mind and intelligence for that purpose. That is to say, a soul is destined to use his mind and intelligence for rendering service to others because his original position is servant. A servant has to render service to some master, so when he is in designated condition of life, he accepted somebody as master which is *maya. Maya* is illusion. When a soul renders therefore service as an American or Indian or any other designation, he accepts *maya* as his master, because thinking oneself as American or Indian is illusion. Therefore, one's perfect position in life is to render service to Krsna, and for that purpose control the mind and intelligence. ==So the conclusion is in either of his statuses of life, the soul itself is the controller of the mind and intelligence.== ** Fourth question: ’Where does the spiritual life lead us? How should people recognize whether we would take birth in our next life or not?’ Answer: Spiritual life leads us to our original constitutional position free from all designations. This is explained in the *Bhagavad-Gita* as *brahmabhuta* or *brahma-bhuta* status. This *brahma-bhuta* status means free from all anxieties without any hankering or lamentations. At that stage only, one can think of universal brotherhood. And the next stage is to be engaged in pure Krsna consciousness, and thus gradually be transferred to the spiritual world where there is eternal life full of bliss and knowledge. In other words, the spirit soul when he is fully liberated from material contamination or designations, he no longer transmigrates to another material body after death. He is transferred to the spiritual world for eternal residence in one of the spiritual planets known as Vaikunthas. The abode of Lord Krsna is the highest Vaikuntha planet, known as Goloka Vrndavana. People must understand intelligently that they are transmigrating from one body to another at every moment—this is a medical fact. The blood corpuscles are changing at every moment and new corpuscles are taking their place. The old order changes, yielding place to the new. In this way the soul is transmigrating from baby body to child body, from child body to boy body, from boy body to youth body. So, at the end, when the material of the body does not act very nicely, the soul has to take another material condition of body, giving up the present one. The body is changing but the soul is there. Every one of us can remember our childhood body or past body. That past body is no longer existing but I am existing now and I existed in the past and therefore I must exist in the future despite the change of body. These things are nicely explained in the *Bhagavad-Gita* and we should take advantage of this knowledge. Fifth question: ’To achieve the goal of Krsna should we pass our life through matter to spiritual life or direct to spiritual life?’ The goal of Krsna can be achieved in a second if we simply accept the truth that we are eternal servant of Krsna. Although I am within this material body I can immediately stop its material function simply by developing my Krsna consciousness, which means to accept that I am eternal servant of Krsna. Unfortunately all the *karmis, jnanis* and yogis are thinking of themselves in different degrees that they are not servants of Krsna. Therefore, it is stated in the *Bhagavad-gita* that after many many births of different activities under different concepts of life, when one actually becomes wise, he surrenders unto Krsna, understanding Vasudeva Lord Krsna is the cause of all causes. But such great soul, accepting Krsna as the Supreme Master is very, very rarely to be found. Fortunately, by the grace of Lord Caitanya, the Krsna consciousness revival is made very easy simply by the chanting the Hare Krsna *mantra.* Therefore, I advise you to chant this sublime Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, and be happy in this life without any frustrations, anxieties, worries etc. as you have mentioned in the first part of your letter. This is practical and very, easy to perform. Try it sincerely, and your life will be sublime.” ([[letters/1970/700205_hanuman_prasad_poddar|Sriman Anil Grover, 5 February, 1970]]) *** 70-04 “Regarding the presence of the soul, it is experienced by everyone as the living force or consciousness which gives the body life. So long the living force remains within the body, the life symptoms are exhibited. ==When at the last stage of a man's life the doctor is feeling the pulse and then the beating stops he says, ’He is gone now.’ Who is gone?== **The complete bodily machinery remains but the living soul has left it and the machinery stops working. It is the soul that has left. The soul was there and the presence is known by the life symptoms and when the soul departs its absence is perceived by the stopping of the exhibition of life symptoms by the body. Just as a machine is working so long the current is introduced into it and as soon as the electricity is removed the machine stops functioning. We know that there is electricity in the machine and that is making the machine run and we also perceive that the electric force is absent when the machine has stopped running. In this way the presence, of the soul may be perceived directly by any thoughtful man.” ([[letters/1970/700415_syamasundara|Syamasundara, 15 April, 1970]]) *** 71-01 “Recently I have read one article in the Gazette by Rae Corelli entitled ’Heart surgeon wants to know what a soul is’ and it was very interesting. Your comments show great insight and so I thought to write you on this matter. Perhaps you may know that I am the *Founder-Acarya* of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. I’ve got several temples in Canada: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Hamilton. This Krsna consciousness movement is specifically meant to give every soul his original spiritual position. Undoubtedly the soul is present in the heart of the living entity, and it is the source of all the energies for maintaining the body. The energy of the soul is spread all over the body and this is known as consciousness. On account of this consciousness spreading of energy of the soul all over the body, you can feel pains and pleasures in any part of the body. The soul is individual and he is transmigrating from one body to another, just as a person transmigrates from babyhood to childhood, from childhood to boyhood, from boyhood to youthhood and then to advanced old age. Then the change called death takes place when we change to a new body just as we change our old dress to a new dress. This is called transmigration of the soul. When a soul wants to enjoy this material world, forgetting his real home in the spiritual world, he takes this life of hard struggle for existence. This unnatural life of repeated birth, death, disease and old age can be stopped when his consciousness is dovetailed with the Supreme consciousness of God. That is the basic principle of our Krsna consciousness movement. So far as heart transplant is concerned, there is no question of success unless the soul is there in the heart. So it has to be accepted. Just like in sexual intercourse, if there is no soul there is no conception, no pregnancy. Contraception means to make the womb deteriorated so that it no longer is a good place for the soul. That is against the order of God. By the order of God a soul is sent to a particular womb and by this contraceptive, he is denied that womb and has to be placed in another. That is disobedience of the Supreme. Just as a man who is supposed to live in a particular apartment. If the situation there is so disturbed that he cannot enter the apartment then he is put at a great disadvantage. That is illegal interference and is punishable. The undertaking of ’soul research’ would certainly mark the advancement of science. But advancement of science will not be able to find out the soul. It can simply be accepted on circumstantial understanding. You will find in the Vedic literature that the dimension of the soul is one ten-thousand times smaller than the point. The material scientist cannot measure the length and breadth of a point. ==Therefore it is not possible for the material scientist to capture the soul. You can simply accept the soul's existence by taking it from authority.== **What the greatest scientists are finding we’ve explained long ago. As soon as one understands the existence of the soul, he can immediately understand the existence of God. The difference between God and the soul is that God is a very great soul and the living entity is a very small soul, but qualitatively they are equal. Therefore God is all-pervading and the living entity is localized. The nature and quality is the same.” ([[letters/1971/710120_manager_of_central_bank_of_india|Dr. Bigelow, 20 January, 1971]]) ==74-05 “You have asked what is the origin of the black race. This is not an important question. Why should you be curious about the temporary body?== If I am very interested in knowing about my clothing that I am wearing only temporarily it is not a very important thing. We have had many bodies which we change like sets of clothes; to be very absorbed in the present body one has, whether it is black or white or yellow is not the sign of a wise person or Krsna conscious devotee. As to whether the personality of Kali was black, (African) may not have been so. After all, Krsna is black also, although His body is different, He is *sat-cit-ananda.* So our inquiries should be on the point of Krsna not in references to the so called race or religion or nationality of this temporary miserable body.” ([[letters/1974/740501_jayatirtha|Markandeya Rsi, 1 May, 1974]]) *** 75-06 “Your second question is not very clear what you want to ask, but the fact is that each and every living entity is covered by two kinds of bodies, one subtle and one gross. So the subtle body causes the living entity to take another gross body. We have got experience that in dreaming the gross body is inactive while the subtle body is continuing activities; and again in deep sleep the subtle body is continuing activities. The living entity after being carried by the subtle body to another gross body, it sometimes remains in deep sleep in the womb of the mother. Then gradually the subtle body begins to act within another gross body. When this gross body is fully developed befitting to come out of the mother's body, that is called another birth. Again he changes to another gross body imperceptibly. Just like in the film thousands of pictures are moved imperceptibly. It looks that the body in the picture is moving, but the audience cannot understand that there are so many pictures in the spool. They think that the picture is moving. Similarly every second every moment we are changing the body. ==Those who are not sober cannot understand how the spirit soul is changing from one body to another.== Krsna therefore says that this change of body can be appreciated only by the *dhiras* — *dhiras tatra na muhyati,* while those who are not *dhiras* cannot understand how the soul is changing from one body to another. There are two kind of men, *dhira* and *adhira.* The modern education is producing only the *adhira* class who are neither sober nor educated. Therefore the majority of the population cannot understand how the soul is transmigrating from one body to another. They are only interested in wine and woman under the impression of the bodily concept of life. Therefore out of so many scientists in this country only you and the few others are understanding the importance of this subject *matter* — *manusyanam sahasresu.* So please work very hard, following the rules and regulations and you will always remain in the fire of Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Svarupa Damodara, 23rd* June, 1975) 75-09 “Regarding your question, God does not discriminate, but so long as we have got forms we have to discriminate. Without God consciousness the discrimination is there. Why should you think that you are American or that he is an Indian? Upon this platform of discrimination the whole philosophy of nationalism, communism, this ism and that ism is going on. When one learns how to see individual persons without discrimination, then he becomes perfect. That is described in the *Bhagavad* ==-== *Gita:* *vidya-vinaya-sampanne, brahmane gavi hastini* suni caiva sva-pake ca, panditah sama-darsinah “The humble sage by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle *brahmana,* a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater (outcaste).’ ( *Bhagavad-Gita* 5.18) It is only on the spiritual platform or Krsna consciousness or God consciousness platform that there is no such discrimination. So if you remain on the material platform and artificially desire no discrimination it is not possible. We are preaching therefore this Krsna consciousness movement so that we may not have material discrimination. The soul has nothing to do with the body. The body is of different varieties calculated to be 8,400,000 forms. The soul is the same passing through different bodies by the process of transmigration. It is exactly like gold passing through business transaction, but when it is in the hands of somebody he thinks that it is ’my gold,’ and when it is passed through another’s hands, he thinks it is ’my gold.’ Similarly the soul being as gold when he is situated in a particular body, it identifies with the bodily position, and each and every * * body is different from the other. So long the soul is in ignorance and identifies with the body, how can there be equality? ==So unless one is raised to spiritual understanding, there is no question of equality on the bodily platform. This is a scientific calculation.== * * Women claim to be equal, so that now they are thinking that they do not want to become pregnant, so they are killing their own child. What kind of equality is this that it creates another’s suffering? As soon as the body is different how can there be equality? We see that a woman cannot work so hard as a man, and women can do work that a man cannot do, so where is there equality?” (SPL to Ed Gilbert, 9th* September, 1975) 75-09 * * ==“So mind and intelligence are already there in the soul, but in the conditional stage the same mind and intelligence become polluted as false egotism or enjoyer.== * * The *bhakti* process is to purify everything. The mind is not the soul but is a venue for expressing the soul’s desire. So if the mind is purified, then things go on nicely in its original position. If he does not go on rightly he falls down in conditional life. The whole yogic system is to convert the mind from matter to spirit. You can utilize the mind in both ways. When the mind is spiritually trained up it is best friend of the soul, and when the mind is materially polluted, it is worst enemy. The *Bhagavad-Gita* states: bandhur atmatmanas tasya, yenatmaivatmana jitah*anatmanas tu satrutve, vartetatmaiva satru-vat (BG. 6.6) For those who are grossly materialistic persons, for them the yogic system is recommended, otherwise if the mind is directly engaged at the lotus feet of Krsna, the senses automatically become engaged in Krsna’s service; and that is the liberated stage. Chanting of the Hare Krsna *mantra* is the direct process for curing the mind of all materialistic contamination. Take to this process and be happy.” (SPL to Prema-Batra, 28th* September, 1975) ## And the Results 67-08 * * ==“I am glad that you had a demonstration of kirtana at the home of the Consul General. Whenever you meet you should strictly speak the truth without any consideration of future material gains. If we are sincere servants of Krsna, our material necessities will never be hampered.”== (SPL to Brahmananda, 4th* August, 1967) 67-12 “Both you and Srimati Krsna devi are sincere workers for Krsna consciousness and as such Krsna will never put you in difficulty, rest assured. Don't be discouraged. Sit down tightly husband and wife. If nobody comes to hear, please chant and hear yourself. ==Success or failure does not matter. In the absolute world there is no such relativities as a success and failure. The one thing in the absolute world is to serve Krsna.== * * Don't care for the result. Krsna must know that we are working very * seriously * and that is our success of life.” (SPL to Subala, 16th* December, 1967) 68-04 “I am very pleased to receive your letters of April 23rd, 1968, and I am very thankful to you for your nice sentiments. You are very intelligent nice boy and girl, and trying to understand Krsna consciousness, and I can simply pray that you shall try to understand more and more about this transcendental science, and whenever possible, try to talk about Krsna consciousness to your friends or whomever you may meet. ==Simply by this attempt you will get superior strength and knowledge about Krsna consciousness. It doesn't matter whether a man is convinced or not, but your sincere attempts to convince others will help you progress.== **Nandarani is very intelligent girl, both of you execute nicely and try to bring up your daughter in the same spirit, and live nicely in Krsna consciousness.” ([[letters/1968/680429_nandarani_dayananda|Nandarani and Dayananda, 29 April, 1968]]) ==68-05 “So do your duty is to continue as you are doing, even though nobody is coming in the morning. Lord Jagannatha will hear your kirtana, because we are always in the company of the Lord of the Universe. But I think Krsna has sent one nice boy to help you. Please try to convince him rightly about the philosophy of Krsna consciousness and read Srimad-Bhagavatam and other literatures from Back to Godhead, and I think this boy will be helpful to your activities there.”== ([[letters/1968/680505_subala|Subala, 5 May, 1968]]) *** 68-11 “Regarding your question about what determines our fortune, generally when we are in the material world, we try to be prosperous by material opulence. Just like a common man tries to have a good house, a good wife, a good property, good social prestige, and this way, go on increasing the bodily concept of life, and possess more and more in relationship to the body. This is unfortunate. All living entities beginning from Brahma down to an ant, everyone is trying to increase such materialistic way of happy life without knowing that any amount of material comforts of life cannot make the spiritual living entities happy. Therefore, when a living entity becomes very serious to become really happy and gets into touch with Krsna consciousness by the grace of Krsna and the spiritual master, that is the beginning of his fortunate life. And the more one becomes advanced in that fortunate way of life, the more he becomes happier and happier. This is the difference between fortunate and unfortunate. The beginning of contact with Krsna consciousness is the beginning of good fortune. That some people may come and others may not, this is also due to association. Suppose a man accidentally comes in contact with our Society and gives some service willingly or unwillingly, that is the beginning of his fortunate life. We go from door to door canvassing people to join Krsna consciousness movement means that we are trying to make them fortunate. Anyone who gives some service to this Krsna consciousness movement is fortunate proportionately. At least the seed of his fortunate life is sown there. Whether he gives service of some sort, willingly or even unwillingly, the seed is sown, and the fortune will come proportionately. ==Even if someone looks shabby and unclean, if he simply says this Krsna consciousness is a very nice thing, even he is not able to take full advantage of it at the time, still he is far more fortunate than any Rockefeller.”== ([[letters/1968/681113_patita_uddharana_was_patita_pavana|Tosana Krsna, 13 November, 1968]]) *** 68-11 “So don't be worried, do your best and success or failure does not matter. Krsna is absolute so there is no such thing as success or failure in Krsna consciousness, or in other words, there is no question of failure in Krsna consciousness, whatever we do it is success. Whatever one may do in the material world, if he is even Rockefeller, it is all failure, defeat, because it will not exist beyond this body. He does not know that next life I may be dog or cat. But whatever service we can do for Krsna, even if someone is not able to execute fully Krsna consciousness, whatever amount of service he does it never goes in vain. It will eternally remain. And it will act. ==Even if somebody does a small amount of service, and not even very willingly, still, he is assured to get a human body in next birth, and a chance to execute some service further.== **So there is no question of failure in Krsna consciousness. It is only success. Krsna says, My devotee is never vanquished. So we must try sincerely, that's all.” ([[letters/1968/681115_gurudasa|Mukunda, 15 November, 1968]]) ==69-02 “Your efforts to repeat the philosophy as it is will be successful by two things: the mercy of Krsna and the mercy of the spiritual master. These will keep us always fit in speaking the right thing.”== ([[letters/1969/690213_sivananda|Krsna dasa, 13 February, 1969]]) ==69-09 “I am receiving very encouraging reports from all our centers, including yours, so we should know definitely that Krsna is giving us all opportunities to serve Him more enthusiastically. Actually, the whole universe is Krsna's property. Krsna's devotees are His bona fide officers or sons, so if He likes He can entrust the whole charge to His devotees immediately. It is not difficult for Him, but He wants to see how His devotees are developing unalloyed Krsna consciousness.”== ([[letters/1969/690919_giriraja|Giriraja, 19 September, 1969]]) ==69-11 “So gradually I am getting to be an old man. I have given you the formula how to preach; you are young boys and girls, our future hope. Now you follow the principles, apply your intelligence, and everything will come out successful by the grace of our Lord Krsna.”== ([[letters/1969/691113_gaurasundara|Gaurasundara, 13 November, 1969]]) ==70-02 “The potency of spreading Krsna consciousness is everywhere the same. That was experimented by me in your country, where I came alone without any support;== * * and Krsna is so kind that He has sent me so many boys and girls like you. Lord Caitanya said that every village and town on the surface of the world will know the message of the * sankirtana* movement. This very statement affirms that in every village and town all over the world there are many candidates who are awaiting this message.” ([[letters/1970/700217_sudama|Sudama, 17 February, 1970]]) *** 70-02 ** ==“Your touring in different places and preaching Krsna consciousness is fulfilling my dream. May Krsna bless you on and on for being engaged in such exalted work. In the Bhagavad-gita, last portion of Eighteenth Chapter, it is said that nobody is dearer to Krsna than anybody on the earth except the person who is engaged in preaching the most confidential philosophy of life, namely surrendering unto Krsna, leaving aside everything material or spiritual.”== ([[letters/1970/700218_sivananda|Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, 18 February, 1970]]) *** 70-07 “I am very glad to learn from your letter dated 2nd July that both yourself and Acyutananda went to Babu Ghat for chanting Hare Krsna. I am very glad to learn it. The same process I adopted in your country when I started my *sankirtana* in Tompkins Square Park, New York. Krsna was so kind to send me all these boys and girls who are helping me now. Babu Ghat is a very nice place. Similarly, in front of Babu Ghat there is the Eden Garden that is also a very nice place. ==After all it is not the question of the place, but it is the person who chants which is important. A sincere soul like you, so much devoted to spiritual master and Krsna is sure to be successful anywhere.== **So you adopt the same principle as we are doing here.” ([[letters/1970/700710_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 10 July, 1970]]) *** 70-11 “You are one of my most determined students and for this reason I think that Krsna is giving you all facilities for serving Him. It is most encouraging to me to see that you are spreading this movement so nicely and I thank you for this. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has forecast that this Hare Krsna *mantra* will be heard in every nook and cranny of the globe. ==He is God, so it will happen, that is a fact. So if we take advantage then we may take the credit, but if we do not someone else will. You are right to just depend on Krsna.== When He sees that you are sincere He will reveal everything to you. And this preaching work is your key to success in Krsna consciousness; just see *Bhagavad-gita As It Is,* Ch. 18 texts 68-69.” ([[letters/1970/701104_karandhara|Karandhara, 4 November, 1970]]) *** 70-11 ** ==“The test of preaching ability is whether one is making some disciples or not. So it appears that your preaching is going on nicely. The standard of purity which I have introduced in the Krsna consciousness movement will give you the real spiritual strength needed to preach. If you will simply stick to your principles, you will gain the respect of the whole world and our preaching work will be successful.”== (SPL to Tirthapada, November 13th, 1970) 71-01 ** ==“I have just received a letter from Bhavananda from New York and it appears that there are many persons regularly attending our classes and following the regulative principles as well as chanting Hare Krsna mantra. That is the success of our preaching work when there is this result of more persons joining, so I am confident that things are going on.”== (SPL to Rupanuga, January 11th, 1971) 71-08 “So as you have gone to Kathmandu, you try to stay there somehow or other and simply by your personal example of chanting Hare Krsna *mantra* twenty-four hours, you sit down at any place and perform *kirtana.* Chant with *mrdanga* and *karatalas* or just on your beads, whatever is possible. ==If one or two men come to you that is sufficient for the present. In this way when you have gathered at least one or two local sympathizers then you can try and chant on the street.== * * Maybe they are too much fools to understand the philosophy but if you chant Hare Krsna * mantra* they will like it. So there is no need of making very gorgeous propaganda for the moment. Do everything humbly and in small scale and when Krsna desires it will increase. Don't be agitated in unfavorable circumstances. Chant gravely and peacefully.” (SPL to Gargamuni Swami, August 24th, 1971) 72-01 “The reports of your activities are most encouraging. From all over the Society, I am getting similar reports. People are very eager for Krsna consciousness. Especially the youth of the world are taking very serious interest, because they are not at all satisfied with the standards of happiness their parents have accepted. Neither their teachers, parents, nor anyone can offer them the solution to what this human form of life is meant for. So we have got a great responsibility to distribute this knowledge of *Bhagavata-dharma* to the whole world. If we remain very sincere and pure in following the line laid down by the previous great *acaryas,* this Krsna consciousness movement will undoubtedly be accepted throughout the world as the only religion. This has already been foretold in one newspaper here by ==a Japanese philosopher who has predicted that our Krsna consciousness movement will become the world religion by 1981.”== ([[letters/1972/720105_jagadisa|Jagadisa, 5 January, 1972]]) *** 72-01 ==“Our business is simply to plant the seed of devotional service wherever we go and to give everyone a taste of this transcendentally relishable activity of life.== If we are very much convinced ourselves of Krsna philosophy, then we shall be able to inject this seed of devotional service into the hearts of persons, and they should be given all encouragement and facility to hear from *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and chant Hare Krsna, and in this way the seed will come out and the creeper will come out by such watering process. So now you have taken great responsibility to plant the seed of Krsna consciousness in Cardiff, Wales, so I think that if you take the matter very seriously and remain cool-headed, that you will attract the attention of Krsna who will give you all opportunity. In this way, because you are responsible leader, Krsna will force you to advance in Krsna consciousness. So you may know it that you are very much favored by Krsna." (SPL to Kulasekhara, January 10th, 1972) 72-02 ==“I especially appreciate your concern towards increasing more and more the distribution of our books, that will sanctify all other activities of preaching because preaching means selling books.”== (SPL to Bhakta dasa, February 21st, 1972) 72-05 ==“‘Who God is’ can be summed up in only five words: Krsna is the Supreme Controller. If you become convinced of this, and preach it enthusiastically, success is assured, and you will be doing the greatest service for all living entities. So you continue more and more to serve Krsna, and He will help you.”== (SPL to Danavir, May 5th, 1972) 72-11 “If you become lazy in your spiritual life, everything else will deteriorate. We are not interested in big, big buildings, no. That was not my plan for Juhu. I simply want to engage everyone in the service of Krsna, that's all. And that means preaching. So if the preaching work has stopped, what can I do? In that case you must expect there will be so many troubles. So try to ==improve your preaching work, distribute all the books, and print more, and in this way, Krsna is the husband of the goddess of fortune, you will get as much money and as many big buildings as you need== for spreading Krsna consciousness movement, without any doubt." ([[letters/1972/721111_yadubara|Yadubara, 11 November, 1972]]) *** 72-12 “Yes, from the very beginning I went to New York because I thought that Krsna consciousness is the most important idea in the world, so let me go to that place, New York, which is the most important city in the world, and if I am able to do anything for Krsna and my spiritual master, even I am at the fag-end of my life, at least let me try for it there. So my dreams have all come true, and all of you nice boys and girls are getting the credit. When I was alone in your New York, I was thinking, who will listen to me in this horrible, sinful place? All right, I shall stay little longer, at least I can distribute a few of my books, that is something. ==But Krsna was all along preparing something I could not see, and He brought you to me one by one, sincere American boys and girls, to be trained-up for doing the work of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Now I can see that it is a miracle.== **Otherwise, your city of New York, one single old man, with only a few books to sell for barely getting eatables, how he can survive, what to speak of introducing God-consciousness movement for saving the humankind? That is Krsna's miracle. Now I can see it.” ([[letters/1972/721223_sudama|Sudama, 23 December, 1972]]) *** 72-12 * * ==“By this traveling and preaching in the schools, colleges, youth clubs, like that, selling books, this program is very, very much appreciated by me, and I think that you are accomplishing more good preaching result than anyone.== * * Yes, let the good men go with you to preach all over England and the less advanced devotees may stay at the London temple and become trained up to the point of becoming experts and then they also may go out for preaching in traveling party. And I think if you continue as you are doing in this traveling and preaching program in British Isles that very soon the entire population of that place will become our good devotees of Krsna. I am very much pleased upon you for your working and helping me in this way. It is the highest achievement of this human form of activity.” ([[letters/1972/721231_revatinandana|Revatinandana, 31 December, 1972]]) *** 73-02 “I am very pleased to hear of your determination in spreading this Krsna consciousness philosophy on all these campuses. This is a very important program. Right from the beginning of my mission, I have always stressed and encouraged my disciples to work with the college students. ==You should not be discouraged if people are not coming to your meetings== *.* We are trying to please Krsna. That is all. We simply must go on with our business, to the best of our ability. We must always sincerely try to do our best with great determination. This is the transcendental position. Success or failure, this is not our business. We leave that up to Krsna. ==My Guru Maharaja said it does not matter if anyone comes to hear. You go on with your chanting. If no one hears you the walls will hear.== **But this does not mean that we should sit down some place and simply chant Hare Krsna for our own benefit. We should be always anxious to save the cripple-minded people with the science of Krsna consciousness. This is the position of a Vaishnava. One disciple of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Vasudeva Datta, prayed to Lord Caitanya, ’Please Caitanya Mahaprabhu, take all these people back to home, back to Godhead and I will suffer for their sins.’ Like this, this is the attitude of a pure Vaishnava. Actually the true Vaishnava, he is the only true humanitarian in the world today, for he is interested in the wellbeing of all living entities. So you will continue on and consult with Karandhara and the other GBC men and formulate some program to preach this Krsna consciousness in the colleges and this will please me very much.” ([[letters/1973/730215_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 15 February, 1973]]) *** 74-06 “Do not be discouraged if so far the collections have not been very great in terms of money. ==More important than the results is the activity. Krsna wants to see that you are fully engaged with all sincerity in preaching His glories; that will please Him, not a certain amount of money.== **Moreover, if you remain determined in that activity, then automatically the results will come. It is like a woman who becomes married; if she immediately desires to have a child, that is not possible. But because she is associating with her husband, after due time, in nine months she may have a child. We have to be enthusiastic, determined and patient in the execution of our duties.” ([[letters/1974/740614_aksayananda_pancadravida|Aksayananda Maharaja and Pancadravida Maharaja, 14 June, 1974]]) ==74-11 “So go on with your preaching solidly. Krsna will be pleased and Caitanya Mahaprabhu will be kind. He is already kind. You simply have to go village to village, and your life will be perfect.”== ([[letters/1974/741121_nrsimha_caitanya|Tamala Krsna Goswami, 21 November, 1974]]) *** 74-11 “It is all Krsna's grace. Bon Maharaja had to go several times to get the Governor, but with one letter he has accepted our invitation. Our movement is being accepted. They are saying that Swamiji is doing nice things. ==So it is up to you Europeans and Americans to push it all over the world, and one day you will be the leaders of the world. It is not difficult. You just have to work sincerely and intelligently. Krsna will do everything.”== ([[letters/1974/741126_saurabha|Surabhi dasa, 26 November, 1974]]) *** 74-12 ==“I== am very glad to know that you are preaching there in Baltimore, and there is no question of bigness or smallness of the center so far pleasing me is concerned.== **It is the sincerity of the attempt that is the important thing. Of course as Krsna sees the sincerity of our hearts, He supplies the facilities. Just like I came to your country with only Rs. 40/-, and now we have got this huge institution. So you can be sure that Krsna will supply you according to your capacity. So I think that if you continue working sincerely, you will get all facilities that you require for your purposes.” ([[letters/1974/741209_sama|Sama dasa Adhikari, 9 December, 1974]]) *** 76-09 “Regarding against propaganda, it is going on practically everywhere, especially Bengal. So we have to work very sincerely and Krsna will give us protection. The only hope, we can understand that demons are disturbed. That is quite natural. When Krsna was born, from the day of His birth, the demons wanted to kill him in so many ways but practically it was found that demons were killed by Krsna and He established His mission: yada yada hi dharmasya, glanir bhavati bharataabhyutthanam adharmasya, tadatmanam srjamy aham ==So if we work sincerely, the Krsna consciousness movement is non *­== * different from Krsna. **As Krsna killed all the demons, we should also be able to kill all demons if we remain faithful in the discharge of our mission.” ([[letters/1976/760924_yasomatinandana|Yasomatinandana, 24 September, 1976]]) *** 76-11 “Yes, if you want to give us this land we shall be willing immediately to invest in developing a project there. We have long been interested in developing something in Delhi, but we were waiting for the opportunity. What Krsna preaches is meant for the weaker section. If they feel weak and abide by my direction, it is not my direction, it is Krsna's, they can be raised to the standard of the most exalted persons, even if they are all fools and rascals. The teaching is very simple: *man-mana bhava mad­* bhakto, mad-yaji mam namaskuru. Even a child can do it. Even the weakest child can do it if he is trained up. Let all the weaker section come to me. I shall train how to become first-class men by chanting Hare Krsna *maha mantra* and be fit for Krsna consciousness. That will solve all their problems. It is doing practically all over the world. ==I don’t think there is any other institution throughout the whole world which can take charge of a weaker section and raise them to the standard of most exalted persons.”== ([[letters/1976/761109_b.s._bodhayana_maharaja|S.N. Sharma, 9 November, 1976]]) *** 76-12 “You propose to induce the American people to surrender to Lord Caitanya by expansion of book distribution, that is wanted. When you come to that, that is success. Then ==you can take charge of the government. And, as soon as in America the Krsna conscious boys are in power the whole world will be changed.== **The idea is to bring under control all atheist class of men. There are two ways of bringing the opposition under control. One is by logic and philosophy, the other is by force. That was done by Bharata Maharaja when he was king of this planet.” ([[letters/1976/761220_rupanuga|Tamala Krsna Maharaja, 20 December, 1976]]) *** 77-01 ** ==“Yes, go on with your preaching work, Krsna will bless you. A little attempt is required, then all other things will come from Krsna. This is my practical experience: I made a little attempt and Krsna has sent me so many representatives like you to help me.”== ([[letters/1977/770116_prapujaka_avinasa_candra|Prapujaka dasa and Avinasa Candra dasa, 16 January, 1977]]) ## Comparative Philosophy 51-10 “Mr. Daniel Bailey Information Officer American Reporter 54 Queens Rd, New Delhi Dear Mr. Bailey, I am in due receipt of your letter No. AR2732 of the 26th ultimo and I am very glad to note your frankness to admit that you cannot go so far at present to disseminate the basic principles of Indian philosophies. ==Indian philosophies mean generally the Sada-darsana or the six different schools of philosophers, namely 1) the Mimamsa, 2) Sankhya, 3) Nyaya, 4) Mayavada, 5) Patanjali and 6) Vedanta.== * * The last named * Vedanta-darsana * was compiled by Sri Vyasa after a thorough refutation of all other five * darsanas * and therefore * Vedanta * is accepted by all Indian scholars and nobody is recognized as bona fide who has no interpretation of this * Vedanta-darsana.* The Western philosophers, mostly of the *Sankhya* school, have less acquaintance with the *Vedanta-darsana* and philosophers like Kant, Mill, Aristotle or Schopenhauer all belong to either of the five above *darsanas* except *Vedanta* because the limited human thinking power cannot go beyond that stage. But *Vedanta-darsana* is far beyond the limited mental speculation of the human brain conditioned by material nature. Unfortunately, Sankara, who belonged to the Mayavada school, made a misinterpretation of the *Vedanta* for his own purpose to convert the Buddhists in India. The Ramakrishna Mission, although it does not come out of the above six schools of philosophers generally they prefer to call themselves Sankarites or belonging to the Mayavada school. Interpretations of *Vedanta* made by them are neither Mayavadi or Sattattva. They have their own interpretation different from the Vyasa school of philosophers. Other *acaryas* such as Ramanuja, Madhva, etc., and lately Sri Caitanya *—* all belong to the original Vedantist school by direct disciplic succession. According to these *acaryas, Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam* are, in their original stand, the real commentaries of the *Vedanta-sutras.* The Mayavadis who do not actually belong to the *Vedanta* school have overcast a cloud unnecessarily over the *Bhagavad-gita* and therefore common people are misled by them. In other words, they have no entrance in the *Vedanta darsana* so to say. It is not at all necessary that an ailing person shall oblige all classes of physicians for the sake of their being medical practitioners only. The patient must be treated by such physician only who is able to cure him. Philosophical ways are practical and it is no use simply indulging in speculation without any practical result just like to keep a cow without any milk. We must always seek a practical value from philosophy for the benefit of all. The mission with which you have started your service inspired me to help you as far as possible and I thought it fit to inform you that your mission can be well guided by the practical philosophy of the *Bhagavad-gita.* If you do not wish to have it this is a different question. If you put up a program acceptable to one and all there is no necessity of patronizing a particular ism. A common formula can be of practical use both for India or others. As such you can have practical solutions of all problems such as social, religious, cultural, political, economic, as well as agricultural and industrial—from the *Bhagavad-gita.* It is possible only by simply assimilating it by direct perception. It is meant for all living beings. Indirect perception will mislead far away from the truth and I am afraid many such indirect misinterpretations in a speculative mood by various commentators have done more harm than good to the humanity in general. In all humanity I beg to differ with you that all men should be free to make their choices and interpretations in all things. Less intelligent men are always guided by those who are superior in knowledge in all spheres of life. This principle is applicable everywhere but the guidance must be right and bona fide. But it depends always on the sweet will of the guided to accept this principle or reject it. I am glad that you have a copy of *Gita* with you. Apart from Swamiji's learned interpretations you can see for yourself what is written in the eighteenth chapter, sixty-seventh *sloka.* Empiric philosophers may call it a sophistry but it is a fact substantiated after all human reasoning offered by Arjuna. It is clearly said here that one should follow Sri Krsna alone. If anybody makes his choice not to follow him surely he will have relative result. *Bhagavad-gita* is mostly read by almost all classes of people of the world but unfortunately they are accepted in an independent choice of indirect interpretation. That is a deviation and for that reason only they cannot derive the direct benefit. My sincere thanks are due to you for the last portion of your letter under reply. Yours sincerely, A.C. Bhaktivedanta. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.” (Mr. Bailey, 2 October, 1951) *** 52-01 “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru President - All India National Congress Working Committee Dear Panditji, Your article heading as ’Let Us Be True to One Another’ published in the A.B. Patrika (Allahabad Edition) D/30.12.5 attracted my attention and I read it over and over again. ==This article contains the nucleus of future activities of the human society in the spiritual realm and I have read in your statement about your deep thought on the onward march of human civilization.== **You have rightly said the following words in this connection viz. ’So we search for new ways, new aspects of truth more in harmony with our environment. And we question each other and debate and quarrel and evolve any number of 'isms' and philosophies. As in the days of Socrates, we live in an age of questioning, but the questioning is not confined to a city like Athens: it is world wide.’ There are two ways of answering such questions; I mean the deductive way and the inductive way. Mortality of man is established by either of the above ways. In deductive way we take it for granted from reliable source, ’Man is mortal.’ But in the inductive way we approach the same truth by our poor reasoning of ’observation and experiment.’ By observation we can see that Gandhi dies, Motilal dies, C.R. dasa dies, Patel dies and therefore we conclude that man dies or ’Man is mortal.’ Then again in the same deductive way when we reason that man is mortal, and find that Jawaharlal is a man we thus conclude that Jawaharlal is mortal. Truth means Absolute Truth. Relative truth is conditional and when the conditions fail, the relative truth disappears. But Absolute Truth does not exist on conditions; it is above all conditions. So when we speak of truth, we may take it for the Absolute Truth. And when we speak of approaching the Truth by new ways, we may take it for granted that we want to approach the truth by the inductive way. Absolute Truth is described in the *Vedas* as: *satyam param dhimahi—* the summum bonum. And from this Absolute Truth everything emanates *—janmady* asya yatah. * This Absolute Truth is described in the Vedic literature as * sanatana * or eternal. And the philosophy or science which deals in such eternal subjects is described as * sanatana-dharma.* Therefore, we have to first find out the eternal Absolute Truth by some new ways (?) and then we have to find out the new aspects of Absolute Truth in harmony with our present environment. The present environment is undoubtedly different from the old. And if we compare the present with the oldwe can very easily discover that: 1) People in the present age are generally short-living, the average duration of life being thirty years or so. 2) They are generally not very simple. Almost every man is designing and crooked. 3) They have no scope for high thinking because they are perplexed with different relative truths. 4) Unfortunate as they are in this age their problems remain unsolved for the whole life even though they are tackled by their leaders. They make the best effort to solve a problem but unfortunately the same becomes more acute and stringent. 5)And above all, people in this age are always distressed by famine, scarcity, grief and diseases in an increasing ratio.” (SPL to Nehru, 20th* January, 1952) 58-07 “India's Vedic knowledge is above all the conditioned defects mentioned above but we Indians at the present moment have neglected such wonderful Vedic knowledge. It is due to its improper handling now. ==The whole Vedic literatures namely the Vedas and Upanisads are summarized in the Vedanta-sutra which includes the purport of the six Indian philosophical theses of Kanada, Gautama, Kapila, Patanjali, Astavedya and Vedic Rsis.== This *Vedanta-sutra* was compiled by Srila Vyasadeva and by the advice of his spiritual master Srila Narada *—* Vyasadeva wrote a commentary of the *Vedanta-sutra* by compiling the *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* So *Srimad-Bhagavatam* is the last gift of Srila Vyasadeva to represent an authorized commentary of the *Vedanta-sutra* and Lord Caitanya’s mission is to preach this cult in every corner of the world in order to make the people really happy. This *Vedanta-sutra* is now mishandled in India by unauthorized persons of different camps and as such the people are being misguided. Newly sprung up national enthusiasm of the Indian leaders, industrialists and plan-makers, has no time neither desire to understand the message of *Vedanta-sutra* or even the *Bhagavad-gita.* You cannot do acts of humanity without proper guidance. The *Vedanta-sutra* is the proper guidance because the *sastras—athato* brahma- *jijïāsā* *is the beginning of enquiry into the essence of our different engagements.” (SPL to Ved Prakash, 7th* July, 1958) ==68-01“I do not find any basic difference in philosophy. From the very beginning I have always preached that basically we have no difference between the Christians, the Mohammedans, the Hindus or the Buddhists, the four principal religionists in the world.== * * But there is a class of impersonalists, whom we consider as atheists. The atheists directly say there is no God and the impersonalists say there may be God, but He has no form. It is indirectly saying that there is no God. I am very glad to read in your letter a nice line, ’My main concern is seeing Him constantly in my daily life, that is, to constantly remember Him and not to forget Him.’ This is actually Krsna consciousness. We can remember Krsna in every moment. We can remember Krsna while taking a glass of water because the taste of water is Krsna. We can remember Krsna as soon as we see the sunlight in the morning, because the sunlight is a reflection of Krsna's bodily effulgence. Similarly, as soon as we see moonlight in the evening we remember Krsna because moonlight is also reflection of sunlight. Similarly, when we hear any sound we can remember Krsna because sound is Krsna and the most perfect sound, transcendental, is Hare Krsna which we have to chant twenty-four hours. So there is no scope of forgetting Krsna at any moment of our life provided we practice in that way. The Society for Krsna consciousness is meant for preaching this philosophy throughout the world and I was very happy to receive your cooperation and I am still hopeful that the philosophy of * Bhagavad-gita * as science of God can be preached by you and all your Godbrothers.” (SPL to Hayagriva, 15th* January, 1968) ==68-06 “== I thank you very much for your letter dated June 22nd, 1968, and I have noted the contents. The suggestion of constructing New Vrndavana as I've suggested in Hayagriva's letter is the only method by which we can become successful in constructing the New Vrndavana scheme. But if you have got impediments in the matter as you say that the proprietor of the land is of different views, then I do not know how you'll be able to construct it freely according to our idea. Mr. Rose may be a very good man, but he does not know what is sectarian and what is non-sectarian. But at least you should know that Krsna is non-sectarian. Krsna claims that He is the seed-giving Father of all the 8,400,000 species of life visible within the material creation. They may be of different forms—some of them are aquatics, some of them are vegetables, plants, some of them are worms, some of them are birds, some of them are beasts, some of them are human beings. Krsna claims that all of them are His begotten sons. Neither Krsna claims Himself that He is an Indian or a *ksatriya,* or a *brahmana,* or white or black. He claims that He is the enjoyer of everything that be. He is the proprietor of all the planets and the creation and He is the intimate friend of all living entities. He never claims that one should offer Him very valuable things to satisfy Him; or very delicious foodstuffs should be offered to Him *—* but He says that even a little bit of leaf, a little bit of fruit and water, you offer to Him with devotion and love, and He accepts and eats such things. So it is a fact that Krsna is universal. Krsna is non-sectarian, and therefore if Mr. Rose actually wants to have some institution, he must know how that non-sectarian institution is possible. So factually, ==Krsna consciousness is non-sectarian movement. There is no sectarian question. But if somebody without understanding this non-sectarian philosophy thinks otherwise he himself becomes immediately sectarian. I therefore think that you should try to convince Mr. Rose about our philosophy of Krsna consciousness and let him become actually non-sectarian.== **Without understanding Krsna, everyone is sectarian and combination of such non-Krsna conscious persons will never create any institution of non-sectarian nature. If Mr. Rose is serious to give facility for a non-sectarian institution in that part of the country, he should understand Krsna and this philosophy thoroughly. Our Krsna consciousness movement is no religious movement as it is generally understood. Our propaganda is to make people feel for Krsna or God, and become engaged in His transcendental loving service. Anyone who has a concept of God will agree to this philosophy. There are many sectarian religions where acceptance of God is there, but there is no love for God. So we are teaching love for God. That means Krsna consciousness is the post-graduate class for all religious sects. We do not protest the Christians or Mohammedans or Jews or any other religious sect, that there is no idea of God conception in their religion. More or less in every religion the God conception is there. But nobody tries to love God. Just like in Christian religion, they go to church every day and try to exact bread from God, but they never try how to please God. And because this love of God, and the process is not thoroughly instructed, therefore they have come to the stage of understanding that God is dead. At the present moment in many Christian churches, this philosophy is being taught, that God is dead. But so far we are concerned, we cannot accept this philosophy that God is dead. But we preach on the other hand that God is not only not dead, but He can be approached finally face to face. And the method is very simple, chanting the holy name of God—Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This process is standard and tested. So far its test is concerned, you know very well about it because in this part of the world, all my disciples are non-Hindu, and non-Indians. But still they have taken to this *mantra, maha-mantra* very seriously and they are deriving good result out of it. So there is no question about its genuine presentation. We should therefore push on this movement in the same simple manner as we are doing. That everyone should come and sit together and chant this holy name Hare Krsna. If this system is taken as sectarian then I am sure your attempt for organizing New Vrndavana under the care of Mr. Rose will not be successful. The best thing will be to chant Hare Krsna, call all the neighbors in that part of the state, and gradually develop their taste for it. Then try to endeavor to do something for developing New Vrndavana. For the present, live as simply as possible, without any endeavor to develop that part into New Vrndavana, or do it peacefully as you have mentioned. But you must continue to chant Hare Krsna, at least you and Hayagriva and ask everybody to join you. At least Mr. Rose cannot object to this performance of *kirtana* because he wants to give facility to all sects. So even if he takes it that our Krsna consciousness movement is also a particular type of sect, certainly he will not have any objection. Therefore, the conclusion is that you must regularly hold Krsna *kirtana* now, and even as in. our other centers they are doing. And live peacefully without any exaggeration and try to convince people about the non-sectarian nature of Krsna consciousness. I think that will make you successful in this great adventure. Before the advent of Lord Caitanya, nobody had exhibited the practical way of developing love of Godhead and the process is open to everyone, therefore this is simple, non-sectarian and absolute. But, if the people are backwards and suspicious then how your scheme will be successful in that part of the country? This movement is meant for intelligent class of men, those who have reason and logic to understand things in a civilized way, and who are open-hearted to receive things as they are. But apart from such consideration, I think there is not any cause of suspicion if somebody sings and dances. So without remuneration if somebody sings and dances at his place what is the cause of suspicion? But if the place is infested with such suspicious men and backward class, then how can you develop a New Vrndavana there? The circumstances as you have described them are not very favorable. Therefore, I think the attempt will not be very successful. Krsna consciousness movement can be pushed forward in a favorable atmosphere. If the atmosphere is not favorable, then don't attempt, it will be failure. Precaution you may take, but as you grow larger if they are suspicious then they may cause trouble. Because you can dress yourself and live peacefully at your home, but if your neighbors are always suspicious, then there may always be danger. Therefore, why should we make our residence in such a place? And I think no *brahmacari* will agree to go and live in such uncomfortable situation, with suspicious neighbors. Simply for land, we don't care. We simply want favorable place for worshiping Krsna. That is our idea.” ([[letters/1968/680630_kirtanananda|Kīrtanānanda, 30 June, 1968]]) ==68-11 “== It is very nice that you shall speak on this at the yoga group program. ==Subala should read carefully that hatha-yoga received in the Bhagavad-Gita is very difficult in this age. Yoga system is approved, but nobody can follow the rules and regulations strictly== *,* neither there is suitable place for executing it, and everyone is always full of anxi­ety, so how they can concentrate? So best thing is to chant Hare Krsna which is forced meditation. In this way make nice speech, and conclude with declaring that the topmost yogi is he who surrenders to Krsna and worships Krsna with all thoughts, activities, and intelligence.” ([[letters/1968/681120_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 20 November, 1968]]) ==69-06 “I am very glad that the Queen has consented the Redundant Churches Bill, and there is good chance of getting one church for our temple. There are many redundant churches because the Christian people are gradually deviating from their religious beliefs== * * on account of stereotype presentation of the Bible by sophisticated priests. Modern youths are educated in advance, so they are no more interested in repetition of the same static mottos. They want something dynamic, progress in spiritual understanding, but the Christian priests could not satisfy them. In comparison to all these dogmatic principles, our Krsna consciousness movement presents everything in the right perspective, even from scientific and philosophical point of view. So if you can secure one church in England for utilizing in our movement, I think we shall be able to secure many such churches all over the world. We have great respect for Lord Jesus Christ. We accept him as powerful incarnation of Krsna, as much as we accept Lord Buddha. We can adjust the Buddhists, Christians, and even the Mohammedans to our Krsna consciousness movement, so if the religious heads of these faiths try to understand our philosophy, certainly there will be great impetus in the matter of spiritual rejuvenation of the world. So try to convince the Archbishop of Canterbury and implore him to give us this chance of spreading God-consciousness in the world's greatest city, London. If my presence is required, I am prepared to go at any moment within the month of June, because I am thinking of going to San Francisco in July for Ratha-yatra which Tamala Krsna is arranging.” (SPL to Syamasundara, 3rd* June, 1969) ==69-07 “== I beg to enclose herewith one letter I have received from your father which will speak for itself. From this letter it appears that you are a good scholar and there is very good background in your educational career. So if you wish to make progress further in your educational career, that will be a nice asset for our Krsna consciousness movement. You have a taste for psychology and divinity studies, and this is very nice. Of course, our Krsna consciousness movement is on the line of divinity, and we have got so many books about the science of divinity. Unfortunately, these books are not yet on the university curriculum, but if you take your post­graduate studies in divinity by comparative study, then in the future we shall be able to present the philosophy of Krsna consciousness in comparison to other theological presentations. Actually we are teaching how to develop our dormant propensity to love God. Being parts and parcels of the Supreme, we have got an eternal affinity to love God. Unfortunately, by our contacts with matter we have practically forgotten that we are eternally related with God. In our Krsna consciousness philosophy there is no question of sectarian views. Krsna consciousness is the postgraduate study of all religious conceptions of the world. ==I like the idea that you should make a through study of all theological schools, and in the future if you can explain our Krsna consciousness movement as the post-graduate presentation of all theological theses== *,* then it will be a great accomplishment. You are a grown up boy and intelligent also, so you make your position clear and do the needful.” (SPL to Giriraja, 10th* July, 1969) ==69-07 “== I thank you very much for your contribution towards my book fund. My next publication is going to be *Nectar of Devotion* and a paper­back edition of *Teachings of Lord Caitanya.* I thank you very much for your appreciation of our Krsna consciousness movement. ==Except for the Krsna consciousness movement, any other attempt for spiritual realization, such as drugs, voidness, impersonalism, bodily exercises of Hatha-yoga, etc.—they are all something like unconsciousness under some super-intoxicant== *.* Srila Rupa Goswami has given a very nice example in this connection. He says that a conditioned soul remains in the slumber of unconsciousness just like a patient bitten by a poisonous snake. In India there is a class of snake-charmers and physicians who treat snake-bitten persons with a particular type of jungle herbs. This treatment is to bring the herb near the nostrils of the patient for being smelled, and then the patient comes back to consciousness and finds relief from the snake bite effect. In our conditioned life we are bitten by so many types of *maya* snakes, and more and more we are put into unconsciousness of mind without any hope of eternal life. Krsna consciousness is the only herb for such *maya* snake-bite condition. So our duty is very responsible. We have to awaken so many snake-bitten patients under the spell of *maya.* A sincere soul like you will be a great help in this movement of Krsna consciousness. I am glad that you are reading our *Bhagavad-Gita As It Is* and *Teachings of Lord Caitanya.* You will get much enlightenment from them. Also you should read *Back To Godhead* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* and surely your life will be sublime. In the future we expect you to be a great preacher of this movement to the world.” ([[letters/1969/690712_carl_lange|Carl Lange, 12 July, 1969]]) ==69-08 “You have mentioned that you have been invited to attend some ’World Brotherhood Conference,’ and if it is convenient, you may go there with your sankirtana party, chant Hare Krsna, give some talk on Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, and distribute prasadam.== * * That is our only business, and we can do these activities anywhere; it doesn't matter on the street or in some World Brotherhood Conference. Everyone in this material world is conditioned by the laws of * maya,* so wherever we go, surely there is much work we have to do in help [PAGE MISSING].” ([[letters/1969/690801_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 1 August, 1969]]) *** 70-01 ==“== I am so glad to see your * * quotation from * Srimad-Bhagavatam * about the socialistic view of Sri Narada Muni. It is very nice and I have also mentioned it in the preface of my first volume of * Srimad-Bhagavatam. * ==The Krsna consciousness movement is so nice that it can adjust the disagreement between socialism and capitalism.== * * At the present moment, neither of these isms is perfect from the philosophical point of view, but if both parties take this common formula of Krsna consciousness each one will supplement the other. I think, therefore, that this Krsna consciousness movement should be pushed thoroughly all over the world and I am seeing practically that it has got powerful effect.” ([[letters/1970/700113_sethji|Sethji, 13 January, 1970]]) ==70-04 “== Regarding religion, not only at present, but also in the past, all of them are described as pseudoreligions. The *Bhagavata* has condemned such pseudoreligion in the second verse of the first chapter, first canto. Under the spell of material energy, man is forgetful of his eternal relationship with God. They create some religion to derive some material benefit as they create political organization for mutual undisturpseudoreligionsense gratification. So religion is also a part of that concept of life. As such, in most of the religions you will find some instruction on morality and goodness, and God consciousness is superfluous. ==So except Krsna consciousness or Bhagavata dharma or religion of the Bhagavata, any other system of religion is only pretension, that is the fact. It is not therefore surprising that your impression of the meeting of the Jews and Christians, where you had opportunity to speak, was that they were lacking so much in God consciousness.== **So far we are concerned, our principle is to live with God as actual fact, and not to make God a supplying agent. Our process is different because we want to supply God everything—whatever we have got and whatever we have not got.” ([[letters/1970/700411_subala|Subala, 11 April, 1970]]) ==70-07 “== Regarding *New Testament,* we can simply agree that the *New Testament* accepts God is great and the creation came into existence by His word. I do not know the details of *New Testament,* but I know so far that it is stated there that all creation is made by God. So this statement is Vedic statement. In the *Vedanta* philosophy also the same thing is stated that the Supreme Brahman is the cause of all creation, maintenance and destruction. So on the principle that God is Supreme, God is Great, ==I do not think there is any difference of opinion between us and the Christians.== But the Vedic literatures being older and disseminated by many, many superior *acaryas* we can find out how God is great, how the creation took place one after another. These details are not found in any other scriptures in the world. So on the whole if anyone accepts that God is greater than everyone and nobody is equal to Him, then we welcome such statement. And if he is sober and intelligent then he will try to learn from Vedic literature how God is greater than everyone and nobody is equal to Him. This knowledge is very clearly defined beginning from the *Bhagavad-Gita.* So if you meet such persons who are staunch Christians you can humbly put this argument before them for consideration. But if someone is dogmatic and blind follower then avoid to discuss with him. Better spend that time for enlightening a person who is innocent. Do not try * * to enter into the details of * New Testament,* but simply say that we agree on the principle that God is great.” ([[letters/1970/700623_tosana_krsna|Tosana Krsna, 23 June, 1970]]) ==71-02 “So far other Swamis and panditas are concerned, actually nobody would be equal to us because they do not come in the parampara system. As such their line of thought is null and void according to our understanding.== **Our movement is revolutionary to so­called religious principles, gurus and swamis. This fact is being appreciated even in India. Gradually it will be more and more enlightening to the public.” ([[letters/1971/710216_upendra|Upendra, 16 February, 1971]]) ==71-11 “== I am pleased also to learn that you are teaching a university course in Krsna consciousness. ==Try to make this program very stimulating for all the students at the university by challenging anyone and everyone to try to defeat our Krsna conscious philosophy with their philosophy.== **If such discussions can be held they will be very lively and the student body may take note and enroll in increased number. Philosophy is the highest knowledge, but even higher than philosophy is the practice of philosophy. So if your students can be enticed to practice Krsna philosophy, they will feel the practical benefit and become convinced, that is Lord Caitanya's process. As more students become involved in our philosophical discussions, you will be able to sell them our books. I want that my books and literatures should be very widely distributed, as many as possible.” ([[letters/1971/711120_bhakta_dasa|Galim dasa, 20 November, 1971]]) ==71-11 “== I am very * * pleased that your all efforts to spread Krsna consciousness movement are meeting with success. Krsna has given you this gift, how to present Krsna consciousness to the public in a very tasteful manner, so now just utilize that facility and your life will be perfect. Actually, because you have given your life to Krsna, you are already perfect. But it is just like the ocean, if you are swimming in it you may swim forever and not reach the shore. Similarly, there is no limit to the perfection of Krsna consciousness. Try to give this message to everyone, and the people will appreciate our movement because we have got very solid ground of philosophy, and, more than that, our philosophy can be applied to life and give good results. Especially I want that my books and literatures be distributed profusely, so try to do this, especially when you go in the schools and colleges. People must know that our Krsna philosophy will save the world from all kinds of dangerous conditions. We prove that ==when we compare our philosophy with any kind of ordinary so-called philosophy== * —* ==we can defeat them all very easily.== * * I am very encouraged that you are assisting me so nicely in this great mission, and I thank you very much.” ([[letters/1971/711127_abhirama|Abhirama, 27 November, 1971]]) ==71-12 “== The best news is that you are increasing nicely the distribution of my books and literature. This is the best activity, to distribute solid information about Krsna. Our preaching stands solid on these books. ==No other movement or cult has such vast background of authority, so we are not afraid to challenge anyone and everyone to defeat their philosophy on the basis of that authority.== Krsna appreciates such strong preachers as His dear most servants, so let us work very enthusiastically to drive away rascal philosophy and establish the real religion of *Bhagavad-Gita As It Is.” ([[letters/1971/711208_upendra|Upendra, 8 December, 1971]]) ==71-12 “In regard to your question about the Bible, you should just answer, you follow your Bible and I follow my Bhagavad-Gita.== * * There was no swastika on Arjuna's chariot. ’ * Kapi-dhvaja’ * means whose flag is marked with a picture of Hanuman. So Arjuna's chariot had the flag of Hanuman on it. As far as the restriction for reading the Tenth Canto pastimes of Krsna. That is only for those who do not know what is Krsna, but you are initiated, so you can read because you know who Krsna is. For example, when Krsna was seven years old he lifted Govardhana Hill. The non-devotee scholars say that it is mythology, but a devotee will know immediately that Krsna can do anything. Still our * Krsna* book is so nice that even an ordinary man can read it and derive benefit. Hoping this will meet you in good health.” ([[letters/1971/711229_chaturbhus|Caturbhus, 29 December, 1971]]) ==72-02 “As for your training in theology, if you simply present some of the popular Western points of view of theology and then point by point you may defeat them or expose them as speculators who are simply misleading the innocent public, and that will be a very nice service== *,* because when intelligent people begin to understand our philosophy and theology, that it is the Absolute Truth and that if anyone becomes Krsna conscious, that is the highest perfection of understanding philosophy. Then our Krsna consciousness movement will advance very quickly because everyone like the common people respect the opinions of intelligent scholars. So if you work in this way to convince the intelligent class of men, that will be a very great service and also the proper use of your educational training. Thank you very much for helping me in this way.” (SPL to Prajapati, 25th* February, 1972) ==72-06 “The ignorant people they do not understand either Christian philosophy or Hindu philosophy. If somebody makes distinction between Hindu or Christian philosophy, he is not a philosopher== *.* He cannot say the sun is the Indian sun because it shines in India, or it's the American sun because it shines in America. But actually the sun is the same sun. Similarly, God is the same either for Hindus or Christians; one who does not understand it does not understand God. The Christian philosophy says God is great, we say how God is great. Simply to know that God is great is not perfection, but to know how He is great is perfect knowledge. *Bhagavad-Gita* explains how God is___ [PAGE MISSING]” (SPL, unidentified) ==72-08 “== I sometimes remember that ==when I spoke in Portland there were many Christian people there, and they were very much favorable whenever we mentioned that we were also lovers of Christ. So you may preach in that way, that we are not canvassing for people to convert or criticize, we are canvassing people that they should simply utilize their time for loving God== * * by engaging in his devotional service, either they are Christian, Catholic, Jew, whatever. We are after God, that's all, we are servants of God. So preach like this, very simply, and hold * sankirtana * widely all over the city, and distribute * prasadam * profusely, especially to the young people and the students, and everything will be increasingly successful more and more. We have observed in Amsterdam that there are many frustrated young people and they have become very much degraded in their way of life. They will not even listen to philosophy. So it is better to concentrate on the * sankirtana * and get them to chant with us. If they go on chanting, eventually they will become purified. And if someone wants to understand a little philosophy, he can purchase one of our books. We have got so many big, big books. So in this spirit carry on with great enthusiastic endeavor and this will please me very, very much. “ (SPL to Danavir, 2nd* August, 1972) ==72-08 “== Regarding your questions, in the sense that they do not belong to disciplic succession, in that sense Christ, Buddha, and the others are not bona fide. But because they have got some special power we accept them as bona fide. Just like Buddha. We accept him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sometimes they play like that because they may have to. Although they are bona fide, they play sometimes as unbona fide. For example, we reject Buddha as unbona fide, but we accept him as an incarnation of God. We worship Lord Siva as a Vaisnava, but as a demigod we reject him. But to speak the truth, these personalities are not bona fide because who is caring for them? This so-called resurgence of feeling for Christ by the young people is due to our Krsna consciousness movement. They are seeing that the foreigners are here, there is some national feeling and they think why not our Christ? Whatever they are doing we do not approve. But that does not mean that they should stop their work, this factionalism will go on. But one can see by the results. It is better not to talk with these people. ==Better let them remain as Christians and Buddhists, we do not want to convert them. You tell them that if you stick to Christ you will come out all right. It is better to avoid these comparative studies.== *” ([[letters/1972/720816_nityananda|Nityananda dasa, 16 August, 1972]]) ==72-09 “== Your preaching in Hyderabad has become very successful along with your other colleagues, Sriman Subala dasa Maharaja and others, and I thank you very much for your great success in this respect. As it is our motto on the head of *Back to Godhead,* 'Godhead is light, nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead there is no darkness.' The whole world is full of darkness. ==The so-called yogis, swamis, Mayavadis, scientists, philosophers, political leaders, all are different types of glow *­== * worms, so in the darkness of cloudy night during the rainy season, the croaking of the frogs and glitterings of the glow-worms are supposed to be very prominent *.* But as soon as there is clear sunlight or moonlight, all these insignificant glowing and croaking disappear. So our movement is Krsna. The Krsna consciousness movement is non different from Krsna. If we therefore present the Krsna consciousness in right earnestness, then certainly all these insignificant glowworms and frogs will have no more importance. Please therefore take it very seriously and do it on the right path which is not very difficult, then certainly we will come out victorious all over the world.” ([[letters/1972/720907_tamala_krsna|Tamala Krsna, 7 September, 1972]]) ==73-06 “== Your report is very encouraging to me. ==The communists by dry philosophy have spread practically allover the world. We are holding festivals, feasting, philosophy and salvation== *—* ==why shall we not spread our influence and overthrow them?== * * Regarding your plan to travel around the world staging such Hare Krsna festivals * —* yes, do it, you have my blessings.” ([[letters/1973/730629_hansadutta|Hamsaduta, 29 June, 1973]]) ==73-07 “== I beg to thank you for your coming here yesterday evening, we had very nice talks on religious experience, and I have studied your replies to my questions very carefully. My first question was ’ ==What== * * ==is the problem of the human life?== * '* So I have already explained, the problem is that at the present moment there is no proper understanding of God. Human life is especially meant for this purpose, to understand God. That is quite natural, cats and dogs or lower animals or men almost like animals cannot understand God, neither they think such things are necessary, that one should understand God, and his relationship with Him. According to Vedic understanding, a human being without understanding of God is no better than an animal, and that is a practical proposition, that is the only difference between an animal and a man. For man there is a religious system—scriptures, it may be *Bible, Koran, Bhagavad-gita,* or *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* it doesn't matter everywhere there is a system, religious system, philosophical system to try to understand the supreme power. In your research institute you are also trying to explain that supreme power. Therefore the right conclusion is, the problem of the human society at the present moment is to understand God, or as you say the supreme power. When we speak of power, it means there must be a source of the powerful, for example we may speak of the electric power, so immediately it suggests that there must be a source of power, the power house, and the power house is being conducted by some engineer. So ultimately there is a living force, a living entity. He is generating the power by mechanical arrangement, and we can experience his power in so many ways. You have tried to explain in your book, ’The findings of such research might spark off a new phase in religious history, people might be induced to try the experiment of approaching this power in their own way, not by prayer or the alteration of physical events or for national safety or material aims, but for spiritual strength and guidance for a better way of life, or perhaps how best to deal with some difficulty.’ This is indeed very good. When you say 'People might be induced to try this experiment' of approaching this power—power is energy, so when you speak of approaching the power it means the powerful. This is reasonable, to search out the powerful but power is not independent. Behind the power there is a supreme powerful, this is reasonable, to search out the powerful. Without the powerful no power can exist. A politician or a big general exhibits his power as the powerful by his commandment or by his order. Therefore your understanding of the power is not complete, you must induce people to approach that supreme power. We can understand power in wealth, if a man is very wealthy he is powerful and can exhibit his power by spending money. Similarly if a man is very strong he can exhibit his power in so many ways. Similarly if a man is highly educated he is also powerful, he can influence so many men with his knowledge. Therefore we have to accept that behind the power, there must be the powerful, otherwise our knowledge is imperfect. When we understand the powerful then immediately we can know His different powers perfectly. The powerful has multi-powers. If a person can understand what is that powerful God, then he can easily understand what are His powers. So this whole world is being conducted by the power of the Supreme Person, or the Powerful. The only problem that we face is that we are neglecting to understand the supreme powerful. The subsidiary problems as you have stated, just like overpopulation, have been created by man. If we accept that the ultimate truth is the powerful, then the powerful can maintain any number of population, otherwise there is no meaning to powerful if He is subjected to any limitation. The supreme powerful is unlimitedly powerful, and practically we can see that the problem of overpopulation amongst the animals is not extant. Just like the elephants, they are not thinking where to get food. Or just like the cats and dogs and hogs, they are producing at a time half a dozen children or more, so in comparison to them man is producing one child, or two children. Formerly man used to have hundreds of sons, at the present moment a man has got two, three, at most ten sons. So where is the question of overpopulation? We understand from the history of *Mahabarata* that Dhrtarashtra had one hundred sons, but there are many other examples also. Maharaja Rsabhadeva had one hundred sons, so they were big prominent men in the history, the names of the most prominent men are mentioned. It is therefore safe to conclude that if the king can produce one hundred sons the subjects also can produce one hundred sons, if not all of them at least some of them. So at that time there was no question of overpopulation, we do not find it in the history of *Mahabarata.* Actually it is not a question of overpopulation but of equal distribution of food. Just like America, they are producing enough food, and there is potency of producing more. But the government prohibits the farmer to produce more. It is not a problem that the population has increased, but the distribution is mismanaged. Or by industrialization we have reduced the energy for producing food in favor of producing things other than food. So on the whole it is not a question of overpopulation but of equal distribution of food, or producing food. For want of God consciousness this mistake is there. If God is all powerful, He may not agree, or at least His agency, the material nature, may not agree to give sufficient food to the demons. Demons means Godless persons. We get this historical event from the *Srimad-Bhagavtam* that during the time of Maharaja Prthu there was scarcity of food, so the king wanted to punish the earthly Deity, because she was not supplying food. He wanted to kill her. But the earthly Deity replied, that she has reduced the supply of food because she did not like to supply the demons. So there is no question of overpopulation, it is a question of demons. The number of demons has increased and therefore by nature that supply is minimized. As we were discussing that verse from *Bhagavad-gita* that 'The production of food depends on sufficient pouring of water from the sky' that is not in our hands. Because we have become Godless, because we have stopped sacrifice or *yajna,* which means to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supply of rain may be stopped. God may not be angry, but his agents like the material nature, she does not like to give sufficient foodstuffs to the demons. That is the version of the Vedic literature. At the present moment the people are all demoniac, they do not care for sinful life, unrestrictedly they are killing animals which is the most sinful activity, unnecessary. They are indulging in all kinds of intoxicating habits, and unnecessarily they are indulging in prostitution. The demoniac people take advantage of women who do not get husband and take advantage of their body for sense gratification. These things are happening because people have no knowledge of the powerful. So the real problem is want of God consciousness. People should know that power, then other problems will be automatically solved. Similarly the problem of malnutrition, it comes to the same proposition. Because nature is taking revenge on the demoniac population malnutrition is also one of the branches of such revenge. Pollution of environment is a problem which people in America are viewing with great concern. This problem is also due to Godlessness. People instead of producing food they are producing in huge quantities some artificial necessities of life, for which so much industry is working at top speed. Industrialization means to bring the people more and more away from God consciousness. The laborer, the worker in the factory, all of them are *sudras,* and the capitalist of the industry they are *vaisyas,* so the whole population is now composed of *vaisyas* and *sudras,* which means the quality of passion and ignorance is now prominent. A passionate person or ignorant person cannot understand the powerful, only those who are in goodness or mixed goodness and passion they can understand the powerful. So there is a necessity of changing the ignorant persons into persons with real knowledge. Therefore these people should be turned to become God conscious, that is our program. Anyone from any group, either: *sudra, vaisya,* or any group lower than the s *udra,* we are taking them and making them intelligent and giving them a chance to understand the supreme power. So all around the real problem is to understand the supreme power and all other problems are subsidiary. There is no question of overpopulation if people become God conscious. The all-powerful can supply any amount of necessities of the people, and they can eat very nicely and so there is no question of malnutrition. For want of knowledge of the supreme powerful all these problems have come into being. Then as you mentioned, the problems of ==clashes between racial and national interests which often lead to war.== This problem is also due to lack of God consciousness because God consciousness means to understand that we are all sons of the same family. That is stated in the *Bhagavad-gita,* that the supreme Lord must be the supreme father. I have got my father, he has got his father, and he has got his father, on and on he has got his father, in this way there must be one ultimate father, nobody can deny it. So that ultimate father, He is God. Therefore in every scripture the supreme powerful is addressed as Father, and in the *Bhagavad-gita* also the supreme powerful is mentioned as the supreme seed-giving father. Because we are forgetting the father, because we are forgetting that we are all the servants of one supreme father we are missing our real relationship between one living entity and another. If we actually understand that we are born of the same father and everything that is there on the surface of the globe, in the sky and in the water, everything is the property of the supreme father, then we must understand that everyone has got the right to use the property of the supreme father. Just like in a big family the father is there, the mother is there and the sons are there. The father gives food to the sons as much as they require. One son may be a very voracious eater so he may eat more than the other son, but the father supplies him, he does not stop him, the father is competent to supply all the sons as much as they require. But if one son is hoarding food­stuffs, that is sinful. You cannot take more than what you need. We see practically if we throw one bag of grain in the street many birds will come, they may eat two, three, four, or ten grains, but they do not stock away for the future. But if we put a bag of rice into the street and allow people to take there will be regular fight, because every human being will want to take more than his immediate need. So this is also due to lack of God consciousness. If one can understand that the father is there, and he is supplying daily bread then why shall I stock more than I need. The present scarcity of foodstuffs is due to hoarding by the capitalist. There is enough foodstuff in the world, but at the same time there is a scarcity. If you pay more money on the black market then you will get enough. So from God's side there is enough food, but from our side we are mismanaging everything simply to make more money. Unless there is God consciousness, understanding that everything is the property of the supreme father, there are so many children so He will supply, why should I hoard food, the problems will not be solved. Now so far as ideology of religion is concerned: Religion means to abide by the orders of God, that's all. God is great, we are his sons, He is supplying all our necessities, this is the right understanding. Why should there be any difference in religious practices? If you come to God consciousness then we can understand the birds, the beasts, the plants, everyone is son of God, we have no right to kill. But the so-called man made religious systems say the animals are our food and another religion says, ’No there should be no animal killing’, this difference in practice of religious systems is due to want of God consciousness. If we actually come to the point of God consciousness then all these differences will be perfectly resolved, but unless there is actual God consciousness you will not be able to change the ideologies. I have asked many Christian gentlemen ’Why are you killing when in the Bible it is clearly said, Thou shalt not kill?’ They cannot give me any satisfactory reply. In a round about way they try to avoid this question. So all these are due to a lack of God consciousness. So all these problems are due only to a lack of God consciousness. Therefore if you can actually help people to know about the supreme powerful that will be a great help. But I see that your method is not very satisfactory. You are making research by accepting the statements of common peoples' expression of religious sentiment. There is no need of research; the result of research in this matter is already there perfectly presented in *Bhagavad-gita,* all we have to do is accept it and the whole problem of research is solved. You want to establish your conclusion of religious experience by taking the opinions of laymen. A layman's sentimental expression about religious problems is not a practical understanding of religious problems. Religion as we have explained means the orders of God, therefore it must be scientifically studied, what are His orders, how to abide by them. Simply by taking statistics of the sentiments of common men we cannot come to the right conclusion. Therefore for right understanding we are advocating that people take advantage of this institution, International Society for Krsna Consciousness, by hearing about God from authorized books like *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam* which were directly spoken by God Himself, therefore making the whole thing most scientific and practical. I hope that we can again meet and discuss this important matter further.” (SPL to Sir Alastair Hardy, 28th* July, 1973) 74-03 “I am also very glad to hear you want to retire completely from materialistic life and devote yourself fully to the service of the Lord. The service of the Lord can be done directly as Krsna says: *sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja.* There is no need of rendering service to the *daridras* in order to reach Krsna. Of course we can show our mercy to the *daridras,* there is not objection, ==but this philosophy that Narayana comes in the form of daridra to receive our service is against our philosophy.== *Daridra* is *daridra,* Narayana is Narayana. Narayana demands service directly not through *daridra.* But we can show our mercy to *daridra,* that is a different thing. ==There are philosophic differences between other schools and the Bhagavad-gita.”== ([[letters/1974/740317_dr._ghosh|SPL Dr. Ghosh, 17 March, 1974]]) *** 74-11 “The book compiled by your father V.R. Srisaila Cakravarti, namely *The Philosophy of Sri Ramanuja, given to* me by *you* on *2/11/74* was very interesting to read. Of course we Gaudiya Vaishnavas follow Srila Ramanuja’s philosophy almost in the same manner. * * Sri Caitanya Mabaprabhu gives the identification of * jiva * soul as the eternal servant of Krsna and is situated as marginal potency of the Lord based on the philosophy of * acintya-bhedabheda-tattva. * This is almost similar to * visistadvaita-vada. * Vaishnava philosophy is now being pushed * * on all over the world under the Hare Krsna movement *,* and we feel Sripada Ramanuja a great support for the Vaishnava philosophical understanding. It is like a combination of *nyaya sruti* and *smrti prasthans.* The *Bhagavad-gita* supports the *Vedanta-sutra: brahma-sutra-padais caiva, hetumadbhir viniscitaih. (Bhagavad-­* gita l3.5) To the *jiva brahma,* identification is one part of *acintya-bhedabheda­* tattva. As spirit soul or identical *brahma,* or *jiva brahma* is * * identical with the Supreme Brahma or the * param brahma. * In this sense the * jiva * soul is * abheda * or non-different from the * param brahma. * But on account of the * param brahma * being the supreme, the biggest, the identical * brahma * or * jiva brahma * being very minute, it is different from the * param brahma. * The summary is that the simultaneous one and different * jiva * brahma * is simultaneously one and different from the * param brahma. * ==Because it is appreciated simultaneously which is very difficult to comprehend by the common man, this philosophy is called acintya-bhedabheda * ­== * tattva, inconceivable. * *This is supported by the * Katha Upanisad * 2.5.13* : nityo nityanam, cetanas cetananam, eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. * This is almost similar to the * visistadvaita vada.* So far I, am personally concerned, following the footsteps of my Guru Maharaja Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupāda, we accept the principles of all the *acaryas,* although officially we belong to the Madhva *sampradaya.* Our *sampradaya* is known as the Madhva-Gaudiya *sampradaya.* We find great shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Ramanujacarya because his lotus feet are the strongest fort to combat the Mayavadi philosophy. I hope the book *The Philosophy of Sri Ramanuja* published by you will be a great help to the Vaisnavites all over the world.” ([[letters/1974/741122_nrhari|Sri Cakravarti, 22 November, 1974]]) *** 74-06 “Your report that a Christian gentleman became a life member being attracted to our books is also our experience. Just today we spoke at a seminary in Melbourne, Australia, and the young Franciscan monks listened very respectfully ==. When speaking to Christians we never say our religious system is better than theirs but we speak on the principles of love of God, sa vai pumsam paro dharma.== They become convinced and pleased to hear our explanations of God consciousness based on the Vedic conclusion—if they are at all sincere. So whenever you come upon such gentlemen or institutions try to place our books there and make them life members also. I shall be glad to hear from you again.” ([[letters/1974/740628_bhakta_dasa|Pancadravida and Aksayananda Swamis, 28 June, 1974]]) *** 74-12 * * ==“Anyway I know the people of Tehran they like hatha-yoga very much. I understand Parivrajakacarya Swami is teaching a course combining both hatha and bhakti-yoga to attract the people. This is a very good idea. Somehow or other inject the bhakti * ­== * yoga. That will save them from the degradations of sense gratification.” ([[letters/1974/741204_madhudvisab|Atreya Rsi dasa, 4 December, 1974]]) *** 75-06 ==“Regarding Acyutananda's preaching, what is the use of criticizing Sai Baba and creating some enemies? Do not do this in public meetings. It is different to do it in a private meeting.”== ([[letters/1975/750603_mahamsa|Mahamsa Swami, 3 June, 1975]]) *** 75-09 “I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15th, 1975 with the enclosed copies of the latest issue of *Back to Godhead* magazine No 10. I can say that each issue you produce is an improvement on the previous one. This is very good. You are doing it enthusiastically. For the article of my touring they have selected the photos very nicely. ==We can talk with anyone. Marx, Darwin, all professors and politicians, we can challenge and defeat them. Our philosophy is so perfect.== So go on exposing them, that is the purpose of *Back to Godhead* paper, to expose their materialistic ideas as all nonsense and present the real philosophy that Lord Krsna gives. This is the real knowledge.” ([[letters/1975/750926_jagadisa|Jagannatha Suta dasa, 26 September, 1975]]) *** 76-01 * * ==“Those who take Indian philosophy and scripture as mythological are not at all intelligent. They have been described in the Bhagavad-Gita as ’sinful, rascals, lowest of mankind, bereft of all knowledge, and atheistic’== * —na mam duskrtino mudah, prapadyante naradhamah mayayapahrta-jnana, asuram bhavam asritah. * This psychological conception of the so-called Indian philosophers has killed Indian civilization. There is no question of mythology when Krsna says: * dehino 'smin yatha dehe, kaumaram yauvanam jara, tatha dehantara-praptir, dhiras tatra na muhyati.* A baby grows to become a child, and a child grows to become a boy, and a boy grows to a young man, and a young man develops to middle age, and grows to an old man, and then what is next for the old man. The so-called mythologists don't know what will happen to the old man. Neither they believe in the next life, and even if they do believe they don't know what will happen to the old man or what kind of life he will get next. Therefore they are all fools and rascals. How a rascal can become a professor? That is the defect of modern day education. It is said in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam: na te viduh svartha gatim hi visnum.* Philosophy means to find out the actual source of everything. Our *Vedanta* philosophy *begins—athato* brahma- *jijïāsā* *, * to enquire about Brahman, that is real philosophy. And the Supreme Brahman is described as the original source of everything: * janmady asya yatah, * etc. * Srimad-Bhagavatam * is the real philosophy because it describes the original source of everything * —janmady asya yatah. * The first chapter of * Srimad-Bhagavatam * begins with this verse. Accept this, all other philosophies are simply jugglery of words to mislead the less intelligent class of men. You are benedicted by Lord Krsna that you are doubting the philosophical speculation of the * mudhas. * Please try to read real philosophy * —Vedanta­ * sutra and its right commentary by Vyasadeva, * Srimad-Bhagavatam. * And the preliminary study, * Bhagavad-gita. * If you (PAGE MISSING) directly in the * Bhagavad-gita. * My request is that you read carefully the * Bhagavad-gita As It Is * and do not be misled by the fools and rascals. The fools and rascals have spoiled * Bhagavad-gita * simply by their interpretation. We have published it * As It Is.* Try to visit our center at Juhu—Hare Krsna Land—and associate with the devotees. They will be able to answer all your philosophical questions.” ([[letters/1976/760126_sri_tikandas_j._batra|Sri Batraji, 26 January, 1976]]) *** 76-04 "Question #4: ==Why did all the present religions and spiritual systems come into existence, contradicting each other when humanity is meant to follow only one religion?== ** Answer: Religious system means the law given by God. In every system of religion the order is to follow the instruction given by God or His representative. Unfortunately, the so-called followers deviate from the orders of the master and sometimes create their own concocted religious system. Otherwise, there can't be different religions. We therefore accept only one religion which teaches one how to love God. Any religious system which doesn't teach this, how to love God, is not religion, but is cheating system. The conditioned soul who has come to this world on account of forgetfulness of his eternal relationship with God is prone to be cheated, but a person who is sincere is not cheated, but he takes up the path which leads one to the perfection of life, how to love God. The present religious and spiritual systems in varieties come into existence on account of imperfect leaders who defied the authority of God. My suggestion is therefore that the leaders who actually agree as eternal servant of God may sit together and find out the ways and means of one religious system in this world. God is one. There cannot be many Gods, otherwise there is no meaning of God. In the English dictionary, you find that God means the ’Supreme Being’. There are unlimited number of living beings, but God is one Supreme Being. Supreme Being must be one. Nobody can be equal to Him, and nobody can be greater than Him, otherwise there is no meaning of God. At the present moment it has become a fashion to become God very cheaply, therefore, such system being very cheap and not authorized there are so many religious systems. Otherwise, God is one, all living entities are His eternal servants, and therefore, the real religious system is to learn how to serve God.” ([[letters/1976/760402_v.g.k._dipple|Mr. Dhavan, 2 April, 1976]]) *** 76-04 “Question #5: What has Hasur Mohammed Sahib said about 14th century and why? Answer: I have not sufficient information about the instruction of Hazur Mohammed Sahib, but if you mean ==Mohammed, the inaugurator of Islam religion, I accept him as empowered servant of God because he preached God consciousness in those parts of the world and induced them to accept the authority of God.== * * He is accepted as the servant of God and we have all respect for him. I do not know what he has said about the 14th century, therefore I cannot answer this point. You are mentioning the holy names of Nanak, Krsna, Kabir, Christ, Mohammed, etc. Out of all of these names we accept Krsna as the Lord and all others representative servant of God, Krsna. In the English dictionary, it is said God is the Supreme Being, and when Krsna appeared on this earth He proved to be the Supreme Being in all respects. We are spreading this Krsna consciousness movement all over the world and if all the leaders would accept this philosophy of the * Bhagavad-gita As It Is,* then I am sure that the world would be fortunate to follow one type of religion, and accept one God without any faulty conviction.” ([[letters/1976/760402_v.g.k._dipple|Mr. Dhavan, 2 April, 1976]]) *** 76-05 “Just now I am on my 15th world tour and your letter was forwarded to me here in Hawaii from my Bombay address. It will take at least 3 months to return to India. I am very much pleased that you have invited us to cooperate with you in the matter of humanitarianism. I shall be glad to know in detail what is your program. Our program is to awaken the human society to God consciousness. The living entity is eternal and changing body by the evolutionary process. In this material world there are 8,400,000 forms of body and the living entity is passing through the cycle. When the living entity is given a chance in the process to become a human being, he has to decide which way he wants to go. We are preaching on the basis of the Vedic literatures, which are considered to be the most authentic knowledge by Indian scholars, religionists, and people in general. This authenticity is being appreciated now by all scholarly sections throughout the whole world. Our books are being received by all libraries, universities, and scholarly persons, and I wish also that your institution may also order for all these books so that you can understand our point of view. Enclosed is one catalogue which vividly describes some of these books. They are available to your institution through our Bombay branch where address is: Hare Krsna Land, Juhu Road, Juhu, Bombay 400-054. With reference to your statement that you are concerned with *this* life alone, I could not follow what you mean by this. In this life also, you take care of educating your children. So if the child is not educated for the next stage of life, then how do you account for the child's youth-hood age. Life is a continuation. The baby grows to become a child, the child grows to become a boy, the boy grows to become a young man, the young man becomes a middle-aged man, and the middle-aged man becomes an old man. So with which stage of life are you concerned? I shall be glad to know in which stage of life you are interested. ==If you don't take care of the child and simply become concerned with the young man, is it possible to act properly in the matter of humanitarianism?== * * And according to the transmigration of the soul, a man can become a dog in the next life. So you take care of this life, and if in the next life he becomes a dog, then what? Immediately, of course, we do not insist on philosophy, but if people join * sankirtana, * chanting and dancing and taking * prasadam, * then immediately we can begin cooperating without any distinction of Hindu, Christian, Muslim, etc. Unless we make our program in an authorized perfect way, anything we try to do will be a failure. So I shall be glad to hear from you further in this matter.” (SPL to Sriman Joshiji, 9th* May, 1976) 76-06 “Concerning the doubts of the commission: 1) Christians also convert. It is not conversion from Christian to Hindu. We convert atheist class of men to take God consciousness *.* ==God is one. It is not the question of Christianity, Hindu, Muslim; any religion that teaches to love God is genuine. It has nothing to do with Hinduism, Mohammedanism, etc.== 2) Sources (of funds) means we get contributions from all over the world. All of our branches will gladly contribute. Practically this institution is the real U.N. We have the co-operation from all nations, all religions, all communities, etc. It will be an international institute. To see the planetarium and how things are universally situated has nothing to do with sectarian ideas. It is a scientific presentation of spiritual life. 3) The local Mohammedans have already agreed.” ([[letters/1976/760626_manager_american_express_international|*SPL to Jayapataka Maharaja, 26 June, 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.” (SPL to Damodara Pandita dasa, 17th* July, 1976) ## That ISKCON is Bona Fide 47-07 “Besides you have not quoted any authority for your statements. So it is more or less dogmatic. If different men put forward different dogmatic views about religion and its essentials who is accepted and who is not? Therefore, ==the approach shall be and must be authoritative, scientific and universal. Your delineations do not conform to all these necessary things. That is my main contention.== * * If you have time to discuss on it, I shall be glad to substantiate my contention as far as possible. My basis of argument will be * Bhagavad-gita * which is the most authoritative, scientific and universal. To summarise the conclusions of * Bhagavad-gita* it may be said that, 1) God is one and everything is in Him and He is in everything. 2) To render transcendental service unto God is to serve everything that be, just like to water the root of the tree is to water the different branches and numerous leaves of the tree or to supply food to the stomach is to vitalize all the senses and the sense organs of the body. 3) The parts are automatically served when the Whole is served but when the parts are served the Whole may not be served or served at all. 4) The parts and the Whole being eternally related, it is the eternal duty of the parts to render service unto the whole. 5) A recipient of the services of the parts, God's *sat-cit-ananda-vigrahah,* i.e. the all-attractive cognizant and all blissful personality eternal. He can reveal Himself by His own potency called *maya* in order to be cognizable by the limited potency of the parts and as such He is not only the greatest of all but He is the smallest of all. That is His prerogative. 6) He is better realized when He by His causeless mercy agrees to descend in this mortal world, but He is never realized by the partial speculations of the empiric philosophers however systematic and long-term they may be. 7) Sri Krsna is the Personality of Godhead and is the *summum bonum* cause of all causes proved by fact and figures in the statement of *Bhagavad-gita,* but He reserves the right of not being exposed to the sensual speculations of the empiric philosophers. 8) One should therefore surrender unto Him if one wants to know Him as He is and that is the real process to approach the infinite by the ifinitesimals. 9) Sri Krsna is easily available by the religion of love, i.e. by love and service as conceived by the damsels of Vraja who had practically no education whatsoever and much less any claim for high-class birthright. 10) The highest service that can be rendered to mankind is therefore to preach the philosophy and religion on *Bhagavad-gita* for all times all the places and all the people. I hope you may agree with me and thus make a combined effort in this direction for the benefit of the mankind.” (SPL to Raja sahib, 13th* July, 1947) 65-10 “When I was speaking to the students they were very much eagerly hearing me about the principles of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and the clergy-men were cautious to allow the students to hear me so patiently. They thought that their students may not be converted into Hindu ideas as it is quite natural for any religious, sect. But they do not know that the ==devotional service of the Lord (Sri Krsna) is the common religion for everyone including the aborigines and the cannibals in the jungles.”== (SPL to Sumati Morarji, 27th* October, 1965) 69-02 “Regarding your German acquaintance, I understand that he may be a very intelligent man and believes in science. But even the most advanced scientist depends on statements of authorities. Science begins on some definite data, just like Sir Isaac Newton discovered the law of gravitation and so much scientific advancement depends on such authoritative statements. So even scientific knowledge has to stand on the evidence of authority. He admits that we are all spirit soul inside the body entrapped, and he believes this body is composed of various chemicals about which we know a great deal. But unfortunately, with all these chemical combinations combined together, we cannot produce a body like this; this is also a scientific fact. Just like *rasagulla* is a milk product everyone knows. But how to make a *rasagulla* from milk requires expert further knowledge. Therefore, simply to know that this body is made of chemicals is not sufficient knowledge. When one knows chemicals, then he is to be considered as the expert scientist. The spirit soul is impossible to find out by materialistic scientific means, but if one hears from authority, he may understand. The gentleman is disappointed that probably no one will ever know about the spirit, but this is not true. We know what is spirit, how does it work, how does it transmigrate from one body to another or from one planet to another. We know these very scientifically and we are firmly convinced about it. We can refute any dogmatic arguments against this conviction, and how do we do that? Simply because ==we start our understanding from the data of authoritative sources like Krsna or His representative.== In the *Bhagavad-gita,* Lord Krsna speaks about spirit soul from the very beginning. Unless one understands what is spirit soul his further advancement of the Supreme Spirit God has no value. So this gentleman is puzzled in his understanding about wherefrom we have come, what we are, and where we are going. But we are certain about it. So if he wants to know all these things, there is a bona fide source for understanding these problems, providing he agrees to give a submissive aural reception to the respective authorities as much as he believes in the authoritative statements of Sir Isaac Newton. So either to accept the statements of Sir Isaac Newton or the statements of Lord Krsna, the beginning is a kind of faith. Unfortunately, the so-called scientific men can usually pin their faith on Sir Isaac Newton but not to the statements of Krsna or His representatives. So try to explain to him in this way.” ([[letters/1969/690210_govinda|Govinda dasi, 10 February, 1969]]) *** 69-09 “Regarding your first question, ==the proof of Krsna consciousness is that the Bhagavad-gita is the oldest transcendental literature about God-consciousness in the history of the world.== * * It is estimated from authoritative sources of Vedic literature that * Bhagavad-gita * is eternal truth and was first revealed within our knowledge at least 120 millions of years ago. So what other literature can be compared with * Bhagavad­ * gita throughout the whole world or universe? The second proof is that Krsna is accepted as the Supreme Personality, not only in the modern age, namely within two thousand years, by great * acaryas* like Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Lord Caitanya, etc., but before this in all Vedic literatures given by Vyasadeva, Krsna is accepted as the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead. So whatever is spoken by the Supreme Lord Himself is certainly the most authoritative. So far as we are concerned, we do not make any alterations in the statements of Krsna. Therefore we are also authority. Just like two plus two equals four is mathematical truth. Anyone who accepts this axiomatic truth and works on this principle is also authority. To become authority is simply to follow the authority. If someone makes two plus two equal to three or five, he is a rascal. That means he does not follow the authority and thus he fails to become himself an authority.” ([[letters/1969/691102_arundhati|Arundhati, 2 November, 1969]]) *** 70-04 “I thank you very much for your letter. As you have liked to know more about the temple, the worshippers, and the scriptures, ==I== * * ==beg to inform you that this Krsna consciousness movement is based on the Vedic scriptures.== * Veda * means knowledge and there are two kinds of knowledge—one mundane and another transcendental. The * Vedas* are considered to be originally transcendental because they are coming from the platform which existed before the creation. This transcendental knowledge was impregnated in the heart of the first created living being, and then he distributed the knowledge for both the material and spiritual purposes. This Vedic knowledge was stated in the *Atharva Veda.* Later on, just at the beginning of this millennium, the Kali-yuga, Vyasadeva, who is the supreme authority of Vedic knowledge, considering the degraded position of men in this age, divided the whole *Veda* into departmental knowledge and some of his disciples were entrusted with a particular type of departmental knowledge. In this way the whole Vedic knowledge developed into four *Vedas,* the *Upanisads,* eighteen *Puranas,* then summarized into *Vedanta-sutra* and then again to benefit the less intelligent class of men like women, workers and the degraded descendants of the higher class he made another fifth *Veda* known as *Mahabharat* or the great history of India. The original Bharata and modern India are not the same. The original Bharata means the whole earthly planet. Gradually being sectioned, the modern India is only a fractional part of the original Bharata. So the knowledge is distributed in so many departmental Vedic knowledge, but the whole process is aiming at God realization. The living entities within this material world are supposed to be rebellious conditioned souls who disregarded the order of the Supreme Lord and they lost their spiritual kingdom. It is something like Milton's idea of ’Paradise Lost.’ The material world is created, developed, maintained, produces many by-products, then gradually dwindles and at last it is dissolved or annihilated. The spirit souls or living beings are by nature eternal. This condition of life for the living beings, namely to go through repeated birth and deaths, is unnatural for him. Therefore, the whole Vedic knowledge is devised to regulate the life of the living entities not in the animal form of life, but in the human form of life, so that he can fulfill his material desires, but at the same time he becomes elevated to his original spiritual position. This process of evolution from the lowest aquatic life up to the stage of brahminical culture is delineated in the whole *Vedas.* This is called knowledge, and when one is liberated from the material contamination, the same knowledge further advanced becomes transcendental knowledge. This process of elevating oneself from different platforms of understanding to the highest status of life is called religion. According to Sanskrit language, religion is not a kind of faith, but it is a prescribed form of duties to be discharged by respective human society, ultimately rising to the platform of Krsna consciousness or God consciousness. The first-class religion is therefore that which teaches the human being love of God because religion means to unite one's position in relationship with God. This God-realization also depends on three phases of life. When God realization is there distinguished from material realization, this is called liberated stage of transcendental enlightenment. The next stage is to realize God everywhere in His localized aspect, and the highest stage of God-realization is to know Him as the Supreme Person-all powerful, full of all riches, all reputation, all beauty, all wisdom, and all renunciation. For further understanding of this religious process I would recommend you to read our three books namely, *Sri Isopansiad, Bhagavad-gita As It Is* and *Easy Journey to Other Planets.* When you have finished them you can read *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and *Teachings of Lord Caitanya.* Besides these, we have many other books and our *Back to Godhead* magazines in which we are fully describing about this religion only. So you read them one after another, and whenever there is a question you may write to me and I shall be very glad to answer it as far as possible. I am so pleased to learn that you are so impressed with our activities and you are so eager to learn about religion. Thank you very much.” (SPL, no name available, 12th April, 1970) 72-10 “If you are actually very much eager to search out God, you should know that logic and argument cannot help you because the opposing elements may be better logicians and may convert your decision by better logical arguments. So far books are concerned, they are differently described for different types of men and a philosopher. So we cannot decide either from the books or by philosophical speculation or by argument and logic. So the best thing is that you find out yourself who you think is the right person in the matter of science of God. So far we are concerned we are following the *Bhagavad-gita As It Is* and we see the knowledge given in the *Bhagavad-gita* is quite perfect in the matter of understanding God. If we compare the truth mentioned in the *Bhagavad-gita* with other books, sometimes there may not be equal standard of understanding. ==So it is better to accept some recognized authority and follow his footsteps, and that is the best way for understanding God.== **We simply want that people should understand God, and love Him also, because human life is meant for this purpose. So if a man loves God more than anything else, he is the perfect man. I wish that you may follow this principle and be happy.” ([[letters/1972/721007_kirtanananda|Andrew Parco, 7 October, 1972]]) *** 76-07 ==“You can study the history of how cow-slaughter became prominent in the West and then use for preaching.”== ([[letters/1976/760708_balavanta|Balavanta, 8 July, 1976]]) *** 76-10 * * ==“Regarding the point about whether our movement is bona fide, you can use the following arguments.== * Bhagavad-gita* has got so many editions. Our books are older than the Bible. In India there are millions of Krsna temples. Let the judges and juries read our books and take the opinion of learned scholars and professors. Regarding the second point about the parents' jurisdiction over their children, here are some suggestions. Do the parents like that their children become hippies? Why don't they stop it? Do the parents like their children to become involved in prostitution and intoxication? Why don't they stop this? When the government takes the children for the draft neither the parents nor the children like it. This question should be raised. There are so many men over thirty. Are they brainwashed? It may be a minority in your country, but in other places it is the majority. The diamond seller caters to a minority. Why are they allowed to sell? Always when there is something valuable only a minority will be able to purchase. Our books are not commercial, they are religion and philosophy. They are now feeling the weight of this movement. Formerly they thought these people come and go, but now they see we are staying. Now we have set fire. It will go on, it cannot be stopped. You can bring big, big fire brigades but the fire will act. The brain-wash books are already there. Even if they stop externally, internally it will go on. Our first-class campaign is book distribution. Go house to house. The real fighting is now. Krsna will give you all protection. So chant Hare Krsna and fight. One movie expert has opined there are so many ideas in our movement. Try to get our ideas into movies. Get some Indian professors’ opinions. Get a list of standing orders from Indian Universities. Take this opportunity for being well advertised. They are afraid. So many young men are being affected. They have rightly said that it is an epidemic. Let all the Indians say that this is bona fide. Have profuse testimony. Collect testimony in London and Toronto. Ask Subhavilasa to collect opinions that this is bona fide Indian culture. This same attack came in Germany. By propaganda you cannot suppress the truth. You cannot suppress fire by propaganda. Now we have to become strong to defend. The fighting has become acute, but if you stick to the regulative principles, Krsna will give you all strength. Whatever is done is by Krsna's mercy. They are afraid that a different culture is conquering over their culture, *param drstva nivartate.* That is natural. If someone finds something better he'll give up the old, how can he stop? It is a fight, do not be afraid.” ([[letters/1976/761030_srutadeva|Tamala Krsna, 30 October, 1976]]) ==76-11 “You should present Krsna consciousness not as a religion, but a science of God realization. Try to convince them that it is not just a kind of faith. It is a chance to understand God. In every religion there is a glimpse of the idea of God. This movement is explaining what God is. The educated persons should be convinced about this fact. Every sane man should be interested to know God and then love Him.”== ([[letters/1976/761102_hrdayananda|Prthu Putra, 2 November, 1976]]) ## Importance and Guidelines 67-03 “I am pleased to learn that you are conducting classes very nicely and Krsna is supplying you intelligence to answer some critical questions by the audience. It is very good news. ==The more one can meet the opposite elements successfully the more one is supposed to be advanced in Krsna consciousness. To a sincere heart Krsna gives all intelligence to combat such dialogues.== **Be a sincere servant of Krsna and Krsna gives you everything. By the grace of Krsna you are now engaged in some good work. Do it sincerely and help the organization to your best.” ([[letters/1967/670316_rayarama|Rayarama, 16 March, 1967]]) *** 67-03 “As I have told you several times that my Guru Maharaja used to say that this world is not a fit place for gentlemen. His version is corroborated by the following verse of *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* It is said: ’A person who is not Krsna consciousness has no good qualifications. However so-called gentleman one may be or academically educated he may be he is hovering over the mental plane and therefore he must commit nuisance being influenced by the external energy. A person who has however unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead has all the good qualifications of the demigods.’ In other words, you should not keep your trust on so-called gentlemen of the world however nicely dressed they may be. ==In the matter of discharging our mission of Krsna consciousness we have to meet so many so-called gentlemen but we must be very cautious for dealing with them as we are cautious in dealing with serpents.”== (SPL to Brahmananda, Satsvarupa, Rayarama, Gargamuni, Rupanuga, Donald, 28th March 1967) 67-06 ** ==“The basic principle of Krsna consciousness is to receive one and all as our master and serve them with prasada as diet and Krsna kirtana as medicine for being free from materially diseased condition. So we shall follow this principle and Krsna will help us on our onward march.”== ([[letters/1967/670607_boys_himavati|Himavati, 7 June, 1967]]) *** 67-08 ** ==“That is the secret of Krsna consciousness—not that we all have to become preachers, but that we all dedicate our lives or our consciousness (no matter in what capacity) to Lord Krsna.”== ([[letters/1967/670829_satsvarupa_and_hansadutta|Hamsaduta, 29 August, 1967]]) *** 67-09 “Encouragement to the dead souls in the Western countries is to inform them that God is not dead. He is not only alive but we can go to live with Him face to face. The *Bhagavad-gita* gives us this specific information and one who goes there in the kingdom of God would never come back to this miserable material world. ==There is no need of artificial talents. One has to serve Krsna sincerely with whatsoever talent one may have.== **Guidance of the spiritual master and sincere service to the Lord will give us all strength in the science of Krsna.” (SPL to Dayananda, Nandarani and Uddhava, 20th September, 1967) 67-10 “I am glad that you are training Jagadananda to become my personal secretary as well as you are training Mr. Phil to translate our thoughts to German. Please keep this boy with great care because Krsna has sent him to help us. It is a good combination. Janardana is well acquainted with French, Hayagriva and you with English and Mr. Phil is well acquainted with German. ==So combinedly you can perform a great blitz for bombarding the Western world with Krsna philosophy. This I wanted and Krsna is sending my good lieutenants.”== ([[letters/1967/671004_rayarama|Rayarama, 4 October, 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 specific occupation and at the same time advance in Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Lilasukha, December, 1967) *** 68-02 “I am very happy to hear that you are making nice arrangements for the *kirtana* party. I am anxious to see the idea take shape. Yes, the more you develop the attitude for service sincerely, the more opportunities Krsna will give you to serve Him, in so many varieties of ways. And I am so happy to hear that you are finding strength to be determined to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world. My Guru Maharaja wanted like that, especially in the Western world, and ==my only request is that you all sincere boys and girls, spread this Krsna consciousness to every home, to every village and town, and to take this mission very seriously.”== ([[letters/1968/680217_pradyumna|Hamsaduta, 17 February, 1968]]) *** 68-02 “Regarding Krsna's being very kind upon us, should be on the principle as Arjuna followed: the principle is that Krsna was Arjuna's most intimate friend. He could have brought victory to Arjuna, without any endeavor by Arjuna, neither was that principle advised by Krsna, neither Arjuna followed it. As a military man, Arjuna fought to his best, but the victory was brought him by Krsna. Similarly, ==we should try our best to our best capacity, and victory will come from Krsna. We should never sit idly and ask Krsna to do everything. That is the teaching of the Bhagavad-gita== *.* It is clearly said in the *Gita: yudhyasva ca mam anusmara.* So ordinarily, we have to try our best to our best capacity to achieve something, and by Krsna's Grace, all of a sudden we shall see everything is there. This sort of help from Krsna is transcendental happiness. Our principle should be therefore that we should work for the mission with great enthusiasm, with certainty for its success, and patiently follow the regulative principles, and associate ourselves with pure devotees, and work being completely in Krsna consciousness, that will make us happy and successful.” (SPL to Brahmananda, February 20th, 1968) 68-02 “I am glad to learn that you had some discussions with some nondevotees. You can take it for granted that the nondevotee class who are not in Krsna consciousness as we are teaching, are all great fools never, mind however they may advertise themselves as meditators, yogis, philosophers, religionists, and so on. We are presenting a scientific program of God consciousness on the basis of the highest authority, *Bhagavad-gita.* For a preacher there are four principles to be followed. One, he must be fully surrendered to Krsna. Two, intimately in friendly relationship with devotees trying to elevate the conditioned living entities to Krsna consciousness and rejecting the nondevotee class. So if you find a nondevotee eager to listen submissively you can show your mercy to elevate him to Krsna consciousness, ==but a nondevotee who is already poisoned by the serpent of the demon class svami or yogi is very difficult to be dealt with, so the best thing is to reject them and not waste time for their elevation; but a person who is willing to hear us submissively must be given chance to understand the philosophy of Krsna consciousness.== **I am very much obliged to you for expressing your good sentiments on account of my humble service to you all. Your appreciation of my humble service is thankfully accepted.” ([[letters/1968/680224_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 24 February, 1968]]) *** 68-02 “You have to meet many opposing elements in the matter of preaching work, therefore you should always be careful to follow the principles of *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* You will be glad to know that our arrangements with Macmillan Company for publishing *Bhagavad-gita As It Is* is already completed and the manuscript is handed over to them. ==We should preach clearly that our Krsna consciousness movement is surely on the basis of Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Any other movement which does not tally with the principles of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is considered by us as unauthorized.== * * All these so-called yogic or other spiritualist movements in this country imported from India are all against the principles of * Bhagavad-gita. * It is our movement only which strictly follows the principles of the * Bhagavad-gita, * under the guidance of the authorities or * acaryas * in disciplic succession from Lord Caitanya who practically demonstrated in life and practice the principles of the * Bhagavad-gita. * The last word in the * Bhagavad-gita * is to surrender unto Krsna, and Lord Caitanya taught us to surrender unto Krsna. His transcendental movement of chanting the holy name of Krsna and Rama is the sublime movement not only at the present age, but for all the time past, present and future.” (SPL to Satsvarupa, 25th* February, 1968) 68-02 “I am so happy to hear that, by Krsna's grace, people in that place are taking interest in Krsna consciousness. This Krsna consciousness is the most urgent need of the whole human society and we need so many preachers, both boys and girls, to spread this message throughout the world. So it is very much encouraging to me to learn of your activities there in the Bahama Islands. So far my coming to the Bahamas, I am willing to come there and continue the work of my Guru Maharaja of spreading this *sankirtana* movement all over the Western countries. ==Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted that this Hare Krsna mantra be sung and chanted in every village and town of the globe, and I am simply trying to carry out the order of my Guru Maharaja to give this divine message to the people of the Western world.== * * I am a mendicant, * sannyasi, * and the guest of my students here in the Western world. If you wish for me to fly to the Bahamas, then you please send me airplane ticket and I shall come at your bidding. Also, two tickets will be required for my attendants, but I think they may go on the youth fare, which is less expensive. I have been told the weather is very warm there, and the sunshine may be very beneficial to my health. Simply I require some quiet place so to continue my translating work on * Srimad-Bhagavatam, * and that's all. We are mendicants and missionaries and can make our dwelling place anywhere.” ( * SPL to Andrea Temple, 26th* February, 1968) 68-03 “Today also, in the morning, I lectured and held *sankirtana* in the local YMCA building, and there were small children, almost within ten years, along with their teachers. And they very patiently enjoyed our company for one hour. All the teachers and students danced and sang with us and the scene was very much pleasing *.* ==So I am very much hopeful that this movement can be spread all over the whole world if we organize simply the performance of kirtana, and a little lecture on the principles of Krsna consciousness.”== ([[letters/1968/680317_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 17 March, 1968]]) *** 68-03 “I want to sit down tightly with some assistants and spend the rest of my time translating *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* and other books, and train students to do preaching work on the outside. So from now on I would only like to speak at very important engagements, and for most engagements have my students preach. ==All of you must learn to preach; and for me, my most important preaching work is to finish up the Srimad-Bhagavatam.== **So, please try to make arrangement like this, as it is very important that my books be finished, as soon as possible.” ([[letters/1968/680321_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 21 March, 1968]]) *** 68-03 “I am in receipt of your recent letter, and I am so glad to receive notes of your different *kirtana* functions. ==So far as preaching work is concerned, I am expecting both you and Janardana to be very powerful preachers in the near future. Both of you are sincere souls, sincere servitors of Lord Krsna, and He will be very kind to bestow His blessings upon you. As you go on preaching you will become expert.== **In every sphere of activity the more a man becomes active, he becomes more and more expert. Your humble attitude is very praiseworthy. You keep yourself in that very humble mentality and Krsna will be pleased upon you. All three of you are very sincere servitors, and you all should become very good preachers, Janardana, yourself and Sivananda, so that this Krsna consciousness movement will be spread all over the world.” ([[letters/1968/680328_mahapurusa|Mahapurusa, 28 March, 1968]]) *** 68-04 ** ==“Whenever there is need of my lecture, I am always prepared to serve; it doesn't matter whether big or small. Probably as you are making fine arrangements, many will come to the temple to hear me, so in that case, I must come. Best thing will be to see people in the class, not in my private apartment. Lecturing or meeting must be done in the classroom, that's all.”== ([[letters/1968/680408_jadurani|Jadurani, 8 April, 1968]]) *** 68-04 “Certainly we are not going to say these things about the negro people publicly; we have no distinction between black or white, or demon or demigod, but at the same time, so long as one is demon or demigod, we have to behave in the proper way. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu; He made no distinction between a tiger and a man. He was so powerful that He could convert even a tiger to dance. But so far as we are concerned, we should not imitate and go to some tiger and try to make him dance! But still, tiger is equally eligible like a man. So, you can understand that these talks are not for the public, as they have not got the ability to understand. Basically we have not got hatred for anyone, but when one is demoniac or atheistic, we should try to avoid their company. A preacher's business is to love God, to make friendship with devotees, to enlighten the innocent and to avoid the demons. This principle we shall follow, but in higher devotional service there is no such distinction. The topmost devotee sees everything in Krsna, and Krsna in everything. Generally, as preachers, we are middle class devotees. So we should not remain as neophyte devotee. Neophyte devotee does not know how to preach. He simply goes to the temple and offers everything with devotion to the Deity, and he doesn't know anything else. ==So our devotees of the Society should not remain in the neophyte position; neither should they try to imitate the topmost devotee. Best thing is to remain in the via media of the middle class position,== namely to love God, to make friendship with devotees, and to enlighten the innocent and to avoid the demons. These differences of body according to *karma* are there, but a devotee divides them into the above groups, and so we have to divide them into these different groups and behave differently with each of the groups. It is true that we should not be attached to the differences of material bodies, but practically, in practical field, the behavior should be as stated above.” ([[letters/1968/680409_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 9 April, 1968]]) *** 68-05 “Actually, this Krsna consciousness movement is the greatest need of the present day situation of the world. It is authorized, approved and very old and practical. It can be accepted by any person in any part of the world; that is already tested. ==Now each one of us has got a great responsibility to spread this movement as far as possible and that is the greatest service to the suffering humanity.== **You are a student of psychology, so you can study this movement more clearly than others and try to spread it to your best capacity.” ([[letters/1968/680528_hansadutta|Harer Nama, 28 May, 1968]]) *** 68-06 “The report of the *brahmacari* classes is very good; I do not mind that it is only two boys; if you work combinedly and very nicely, that is the program. ==We cannot expect that everyone shall become Krsna conscious, because only the most pious and fortunate living entities can join this movement. But we are giving a chance for everyone and it is up to him, to take advantage or not.== * * You will be glad to know that our super most contribution to the world, namely, * Teachings of Lord Caitanya, * is coming out very soon. The letter composition is already complete, and I am seeing the final proof, and the book will be ready by the month of September. So, if you can organize a nice * kirtana* party backed by this book, our program will be a grand success. Let us hope for the best by the grace of Lord Krsna. I hope this will find you in good health.” ([[letters/1968/680607_yamuna|Yamuna, 7 June, 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]]) *** 68-06 ==“I think Krsna is giving you the required intelligence how to spread our transcendental movement. This is the right way, as you have adopted. To chant Hare Krsna, very nicely, with musical instruments and mrdanga, speak the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, and sell our literatures like books and magazines. That process will make our mission successful. Please try to do it very nicely.”== ([[letters/1968/680621_brahmananda|Hamsaduta, 21 June, 1968]]) *** 68-08 ** ==“My mission is to establish that ’krsnas tu bhagavan svayam.’ The International Society for Krsna Consciousness wants to establish that one God, one scripture, one mantra, and one service. One God is Krsna, one scripture is Bhagavad-gita, one mantra is Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, and one service means everything for the Lord.”== (SPL to Vinode Patel, August 22nd, 1968) 68-09 “If you can write a nice short article, inviting the hippies to take to Krsna consciousness and practice it in New Vrndavana, I think many sincere hippies who are looking after something genuine, peaceful, they will come. So our movement, if it is introduced amongst the hippies, because so far I can understand, they are after such thing for peace of the mind. Not only for the hippies but for everyone. ==Everyone is seeking after peace and happiness, but they are seeking in the material platform. That is not possible to be achieved there.== * * One has to be elevated on the spiritual platform and then his aspiration will be fulfilled. I think you can write a nice article for publication in our * Back to Godhead* magazine. Hope this will find you in good health. Hare Krsna.” ([[letters/1968/680922_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 22 September, 1968]]) *** 68-09 ==“For service of Krsna sometimes we may agree to act in a way which may not be very agreeable to us. But in all cases, please do not agree to accept meat. Avoid such undesirable action very tactfully.”== (SPL to Krsna devi and Dinesh Candra dasa, September 26th, 1968) 68-09 “I am so pleased that Devananda is doing marvellous work in propagating our Krsna consciousness movement by lecturing in the Boston University, and he is being paid $25 per lecture. It is a great credit for me also. And I feel proud that Devananda is also nicely representing my views. By Krsna's grace everything is gradually coming to the fulfillment of my dream. The *sankirtana* party is walking on the streets and is getting good response, from the public. They are selling *Back to Godhead* magazine nicely and getting good sympathy from the public by considerable collections. ==We are not after collecting money, but when people offer something out of love and sympathy for our mission, it becomes a great asset.== **I am sure if you all my beloved disciples combined together try to preach Krsna consciousness in this spirit, Krsna will give the necessary strength. By the grace of Krsna and the spiritual master, the dumb man can speak like a great orator and a lame man can cross over a great mountain. So we must have the necessary unflinching faith in Krsna and the spiritual master, and the strength will be supplied by Krsna. After all, anything which we experience is but a fraction of the unlimited energy of Krsna. And even by fragmental touch of such spiritual energy of the Lord we can make our life successful.” ([[letters/1968/680927_mukunda|Satsvarupa, 27 September, 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.”== (SPL to Gurudasa, September, 1968) ==68-10 “I am very much pleased with your preaching enthusiasm, when you say, ’If people won't come to us here, we will go to them.’ And this is the process of preaching, and this is required.== **I thank you very much for your this spirit. Just like I have come to your country, with the same spirit. Actually, still even in so much fallen condition of India, if one has to learn spiritual science, then he must consult some bona fide spiritual master, in India. That is the opinion of a great Chinese author. So people are not going there, neither government has any arrangement to educate this spiritual science. So therefore I have come to your country, and those who are eager to receive, they are coming to us. In this way, we have to forward our mission. We may not expect good behavior from people where we go to preach, still we have to do that. The best example is Lord Jesus Christ, he was crucified by the people who were not very much advanced. From their behavior it may be known that the people at that time or at least the place where Lord Jesus Christ preached, they are not very much advanced, otherwise they would not have dared to crucify such a nice saintly person. So preaching work is always like that. But one who is real preacher, he shall be undeterred, and go on keeping his objective to the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord.” (SPL to Nandarani, October 15th, 1968) 68-10 “Next-regarding your point: program for a spiritual world civilization—it is a very nice suggestion. And practically our Krsna consciousness movement is built on this idea, that ==we want to make a world civilization on the basis of spiritual understanding. So I am giving you some points which you may expand or do it for understanding of the people in general.== **But the point should be as follows: First point, that any civilization devoid of God consciousness or Krsna consciousness, is no civilization at all. It is simply a polished type of animal society. This is the first point. So at the present moment, the modern civilization on the basis of so-called scientific knowledge and economic development is trying to avoid God consciousness, or Krsna consciousness—that is the defect of the modern civilization. Therefore, in spite of all advancement it is zero. So zero has no value. And millions of zeros put together does not make any value. But one is put on the left side of the zero and it increases the value. Then one zero becomes 10, two zeros become 100, three zeros become 1,000, so it is very nice. This point should be clearly discussed, that without God consciousness, Krsna consciousness, any attempt of human civilization so-called philosophical or political or economic or labor, they are all zeros. The human society should be divided as a social order, as the intellectual men, the administrator class, and the mercantile class, and the laborer class. And so far spiritual order, they should be divided as the renounced order of life, retired order of life, householder and student life. Third point, all these eight divisions are meant for understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead and this Krsna consciousness movement is meant for teaching these necessities of human civilization. Fourth point, so far the administrator class of men, or mercantile class of men and laborer class of men there are many institutions but to train a first-class intellectual man, there is no institution all over the world. And there is no institution for spiritual training also. So this Krsna consciousness movement is trying to help the human society on these two points, which they are lacking. So we have therefore taken a large tract of land to begin with, in West Virginia, and the place is called New Vrndavana. So we want to train students for becoming the first-class intellectual persons and instruct the whole human society about the aim of life and Krsna consciousness or God consciousness. So we are inviting the desiring or intending students to join us in our institution and we invite the public and government to cooperate with our movement. The fifth point is that in whatever division one may be situated, this very aim of life should be to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead . It is the duty of everyone; it doesn't matter in what status of life he is situated, but if he wants to have a successful life, then he must learn to see how by his activities the Supreme Lord is satisfied. That should be the aim. Then it does not matter what is the position and occupation of the man, but he is in the right order of civilization because his very aim is to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Next point, in order to learn this art, how he is able to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one has to take instruction or education in the art of Krsna consciousness, by reading *Bhagavad-gita As It Is,* by reading *Srimad-Bhagavatam* which are calculated the science of God, and following the *Teachings of Lord Caitanya.* Such practice should be performed twenty-four hours. It is not that one may meditate for fifteen minutes and he becomes spiritually advanced, it is not possible. So the Krsna consciousness movement is training people how to be absorbed in the thought of Krsna twenty-four hours. Take for example, the *Bhagavad-gita:* the instruction of Krsna in the *Bhagavad-gita* is just suitable for a perfect human civilization. So one should learn this teaching of *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* Next point: in order to understand these teachings of *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* there should be centers where people can assemble daily, morning and evening, and try to understand this Krsna consciousness or God consciousness movement. So we are trying to open branches all over the world in every city, in every town, in every village, and people should take advantage of it. There is no question of monetary transaction to enter into these centers and institutions, but because we have to maintain such institutions, all the public should voluntarily contribute and that is very gladly accepted. Next point, when people are accustomed to associate with these different centers of Krsna consciousness movement, they will one day come out of the material concept of life. Just like one becomes awakened from sleep. While sleeping, one sees so many nonsense dreams, but as soon as one is awakened he becomes conscious that Oh! I was seeing so many nonsense dreams, actually it has no existence. Similarly, when a person becomes Krsna conscious, he can understand the false representation of this material civilization. Next point, and when he is awakened, he becomes completely detached from the so-called affection for designations, namely, society, friendship and love. Next point, by such understanding one is not so much materially active. One is satisfied with income which can simply maintain his body and soul together and he is no more interested to increase the bank balance unnecessarily for sense gratification. The defect of modern civilization is that everyone is earning money undoubtedly in large volumes but he does not know how to spend. He is spending simply for sense gratification and the last word of sense gratification is sex, therefore all money is being spent up for intoxication and sexual life, nudey dance, nudey theater in so many ways. That means they are spoiling their human source of energy. Next point, one should be so trained up that within the heart he will be freed from all material attraction but so long the body is there, to keep the body and soul together, he has to work like an ordinary man. Next point, the society, friendship and love of material existence may be accepted without any attraction, and whenever the so-called society, friendship and love wants to take service from us, one should Simply say, yes, it is very nice, but actually he should give more importance for spiritual advancement of life. Next point, one should know it for certain that material resources, either in this planet or in other planets, either in the sky or within the earth, namely in the mines, all the properties, that are being utilized at the present moment as economic development, one should understand definitely that all the ingredients supplied or all the ingredients stocked, for example, the petroleum now stocked within the earth, and people are utilizing it for so many power machinery—one should know that this petroleum belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not man made. Nor the scientists can manufacture. Similarly, everything, all things, all properties, they are made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This understanding must be there. Next point, one can enjoy such properties but with this understanding, that they belong to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like one is situated in the public park in a very nice garden, but one should always remember that the public park does not belong to him, personally. But it is the property of the government or the state. Next point, therefore the properties made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be utilized by all living entities. Every living entity, not only the human beings, but also the animals, they have got right to live on the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Next point, nobody can encroach upon the right of other living entities. Everyone is supplied by the Lord, the food, the shelter, by natural arrangement, so nobody should encroach upon the right of living of others. As such, the human being considered to be the highest developed conscious animals, so if they utilize this consciousness in relationship with Krsna, that is called Krsna consciousness. Next point, a Krsna conscious person does not encroach upon the right of other living beings. As such they do not approve organized slaughter-houses for killing animals. Next point, if you maintain slaughterhouses then you have to suffer the consequence, because in the law of nature there is no distinction between one life to another. Every living entity is equally valuable. Next point, every living entity is claimed as the son of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they may be dressed differently, because the body is the dress; the body is not identification with the living entity, therefore the living entity may be dressed in 8,400,000 of different dresses, and the living entity as he is, there is no qualitative difference between human being and animal. Therefore, their material necessities are the same, ====namely, eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Next point, the foolish idea that animals or plants or other living entities have no life, *is the basic cause of sinful activities.* Next point, one should be satisfied only to fulfill the belly, that is the eating process. If you can satisfy your belly by such things as grains, vegetables, fruits and milk, you have no right to kill another animal for satisfying the taste of your tongue. The human society is meant for living on the natural production, namely, grains, fruits, vegetables, and milk. They should not indulge extravagantly for other things. And if actually they are Krsna conscious they know the art of how to prepare thousands of palatable dishes only from the varieties of vegetables, grains, fruits and milk. If anyone takes more than he requires then he is to be understood a thief. Nobody should accumulate for future consumption of family, society, or nation, more money or more grains or more vegetables or more eatables, one should have only as much as he requires. *If there is greater production, that should be distributed to persons who need them.* Because food grains, especially, they are meant for all living entities, they should not be spoiled. Next point, therefore, one who spoils food grains unnecessarily, he is criminal. And one who accumulates more money than is actually required, he is also criminal. And according to the law of nature, or according to the law of God, such persons are surely to be punished. This punishment may not be visible in this life, but because life is eternal, it is continuity, one must be prepared to accept such punishment in this life or next life, and because they are taking the risk, therefore, the living entity is transmigrating from one body to another, and that is his problem of life. The human life is meant for solving this problem. All animals like deer, camel, ass, monkey, even flies and snakes, none should be illtreated. Even they enter into the house or in the fields and take their eatables, they should not be stopped. Because they have also got the right to eat, eatables supplied by the Lord. And they will not eat more, neither they will take at home. They are better than human beings. If a human being is allowed to enter into the field or into the garden, he will try to take away something for selling or stocking, but the animals do not. So the innocent animals should be accepted as children of the householder. Nobody should take to very hardship labor. The modern civilization had discovered severe types of dangerous industries and laborers are attracted for high wages. But they should not accept such work. Then naturally there will be less capitalistic idea. Because the laborer cooperates, therefore demoniac persons they take advantage and make unnecessary increase of artificial demands of the body. Better one should be satisfied with agricultural produce than go into large cities to be engaged in industry. Peaceful life depending on agricultural produce can bring him real happiness and prosperity, not otherwise. The more persons will be satisfied at home, with home economics, not to go outside the home, that is peaceful life. In India, Mahatma Gandhi tried to organize villages in that way so that not to drag the people to the town. So peaceful atmosphere can be attained only when there is largescale village organization, actually village life. Not to borrow the ideas from the cities in the village life; poet Cowper said that country is made by God, and the cities and towns are made by man. So that is the distinction. There are many such nice ideas for living peacefully on this planet and executing Krsna consciousness, so that one may become completely freed from contamination of material existence, and get eternal life just after quitting this body. This is confirmed in the *Bhagavad-gita: tyaktva deham punar janma, naiti mam eti so’rjuna.* By simple prosecution of Krsna consciousness, one goes back to home, back to Godhead, just after quitting this present body. If people cooperate with this Krsna consciousness movement, certainly a better type of civilization can be introduced for permanent peace and prosperity of the whole world.” ([[letters/1968/681017_rayarama|Rayarama, 17 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 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]]) *** 68-12 “I am so encouraged that your activities in Hawaii are going nicely and I will be looking forward to seeing you again when I am able to go there. You had been having problems with Madhavi Lata and ==Krsna has solved the problem because she is now in the Halawa Jail and preaching very nicely. I received one letter from her yesterday and she describes that some of her acquaintances there are already considering initiation,== * * so Krsna has arranged to release you of any burden you were feeling and also she is having the opportunity to do service.” ([[letters/1968/681228_madhavi_lata|* SPL to Gaurasundara, 28 December, 1968]]) *** 69-06 ==“This kirtana, chanting and speaking of Krsna is the sure and certain method of propagating Krsna consciousness, and we already have so much experience in all of our centers that if we simply chant Hare Krsna with karatalas and mrdangas and if we speak from Bhagavad-gita just as we have heard it coming down from the disciplic succession, then automatically the people become attracted.”== ([[letters/1969/690602_gaurasundara|Gaurasundara, 2 June, 1969]]) ==69-08 “You have mentioned that you have been invited to attend some ’World Brotherhood Conference,’ and if it is convenient, you may go there with your sankirtana party, chant Hare Krsna, give some talk on Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and distribute prasadam. That is our only business, and we can do these activities anywhere; it doesn’t matter on the street or in some World Brotherhood Conference.” (== *SPL to Jayapataka, August 1st, 1969) 69-08 “Therefore, ==Krsna consciousness is also a sort of fight, but not with rifles. Our weapon is karatalas.== * * In this age there is no need of fighting with rifles because the population is so poor that they are already killed by so many disturbances. They are short-lived, poor in knowledge, slack in advancement of spiritual life, unfortunate and embarrassed by so many miserable conditions of life like war, famine, pestilence, poverty and so on. So to kill these persons by rifle is like bringing a canon for killing a mosquito. So Lord Caitanya introduced this fighting principle of * sankirtana * movement to reclaim all the fallen souls, who consist of so-called philosophers, half-educated scientists, misguided educationists and a miscreant society. If you can consolidate a party of soldiers as described by you, chanting Hare Krsna * mantra * and claiming every one of them to Krsna consciousness, that will be a glorious task and you have all of my good wishes for you for this purpose.” ([[letters/1969/690803_robert_hendry|* SPL to Robert Hendry, 3 August, 1969]]) *** 69-08 ==“You have asked me about my plans: My plan is for preaching with your help. You arrange for everything, and I shall talk about Krsna consciousness for any length of time, anywhere. That is my mission.”== ([[letters/1969/690805_satsvarupa|Krsna dasa, 5 August, 1969]]) ==69-08 “So far as that meeting you are invited to, it is not very important. Our stress should always be on the sankirtana party. These ’yoga’ societies are useless. If you do go, you should not eat their food. We cannot eat anything not offered to Krsna, and we cannot offer anything to Krsna which is not cooked by a devotee. I hope this will clear up the matter for you.”== ([[letters/1969/690812_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 12 August, 1969]]) *** 69-08 ==“I was very glad to learn from Upendra's 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.”== (SPL to Mahapurusa, August 17th*, 1969) 69-09 “So if this boy cooperates with our movement, it will be very nice impetus, for after all, he is moneyed man. ==These moneyed men and women have to be very cautiously dealt within spiritual life. We have to sometimes deal with them on account of preaching work;== otherwise Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has strictly restricted to mix with them for the Krsna conscious people. But we get instruction from Rupa Goswami that whatever opportunity is favorable for pushing on Krsna consciousness we should accept.” (SPL to Tamala Krsna, September 19th,* 1969) 69-10 * * ==“There is a proverb in Sanskrit literature that enthusiastic persons achieve the favor of the goddess of fortune.== * * In the Western part of the world there is tangible example of this slogan. People in this part of the world are very much enthusiastic in material advancement and they have got it. Similarly, according to the instructions of Srila Rupa Goswami, if we become enthusiastic in spiritual matters, then we also get success in that way. Take for example, I came to your country in ripe old age, but I had one asset: enthusiasm and faith on my spiritual master. I think these assets only are giving me some lights of hope, whatever I have achieved so far with your cooperation.” (SPL to Jaya Govinda, October 15th, 1969) 69-10 “You have asked me for suggestions of what to say to different persons on *sankirtana* party, but there is no specific saying to any person. Whatever we say we say to everyone. It doesn't matter what is his age. Krsna consciousness teaching does not depend on the age. It is the eternal platform of the soul. This is the meaning of transcendental; that it is beyond any consideration of material qualifications such as age or intelligence. Just like thunder in the sky does not need any explanation to any old person or to a young child, similarly ==the transcendental sound vibration of Hare Krsna and preaching of Bhagavad-gita philosophy will act on everyone, regardless of whether or not they are understanding at first.== **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]]) *** 69-11 “Regarding my going there, the first thing is ==that if I speak one has to translate into German. That does not make any good speech; it hampers the natural flow of the speech and makes it not very much impressive.== **If you think the major portion of the audience can understand directly English then it is much better. I am not very much enthusiastic to speak in a place where English is not directly understood. Besides that, I am expecting to be engaged in important business here, which will be ascertained on Monday next, November 10th. At that time I shall decide whether I shall go. If there is no very important engagement then I shall go to Hamburg and the decision will be informed to you by telegram on the 10th instant. You will have enough time for advertising because the meeting will be held some time on the 23rd. So you will get confirmation at least ten days in advance.” ([[letters/1969/691107_brahmananda|Krsna Dasa, 7 November, 1969]]) *** 69-12 ** ==“Simply propagate this chanting, dancing, feasting and following the regulative principles. These are the four pillars of our success.== ([[letters/1969/691225_krsna_dasa|Krsna Dasa, 25 December, 1969]]) *** 70-01 * * ==“Your statement in the letter, ’All glories to sankirtana, prasadam and Srimad-Bhagavatam is very welcome.’== Before coming to your country, when I was in India and I was planning to come here, I was thinking in the same way. I was thinking that my preaching work in this country would be a difficult job for me on account of the country’s position being completely different from the principles of * bhakti * cult. At that time I was also thinking of chanting and dancing in * sankirtana * as well as distributing * prasadam * in the matter of my preaching * Bhagavatam. * So this planning has by the grace of my Guru Maharaja and Krsna become successful in the practical field. Forty years before when two of my eldest Godbrothers came to London with this mission they simply devoted their time in lecturing in some renowned public place and inviting some leading politician to preside over the meeting. You know very well that when I began my preaching work in New York I never followed this policy of lecturing amongst the stereotyped politicians or elites of the society. And if I would have followed such a policy, I think I would also have gone back to India without any success. ==I think this policy of sankirtana, prasadam and Srimad-Bhagavatam has been successful in all the centers.== * * Please therefore follow this transcendental policy with heart and soul and make your center as spiritually opulent as possible.” (SPL to Rupanuga, January 2nd, 1970) 70-01 ** ==“Regarding your tendency to become angry in public, that is all right provided there is positive reaction. Otherwise we do not wish to create any unnecessary enemies and you should curb your anger by your advanced intelligence in Krsna consciousness. We have to better correct the faulty habits of the conditioned souls by persuasive authoritative preaching and personal example without stop.”== (SPL to Upendra, January 4th, 1970) 70-01 “I am so much glad to know that you are working both you and your wife with great enthusiasm to preach the message of Lord Caitanya to the fallen souls of this age. ==My Guru Maharaja has declared that the real life of a man is preaching. If one has at all got any life in him then he will preach.== **So I am very, very pleased by your constant efforts to enliven the people in general even in far off lands by the simple method of direct devotional service to the Lord, by chanting His holy names.” (Upendra, 4 January, 1970) *** 70-01 “Actually, I was thinking of you from London and by the grace of Krsna my anxiety was televisioned to you in your dream. So Krsna is very kind upon us, and His kindness will be more exhibited the more we expand this Krsna consciousness movement. Take it as a fact, there is no question of doubting this statement, ==the whole world is in need of Krsna consciousness. Krsna inspired my Guru Maharaja, and he inspired me, and I am trying to inspire you all because Krsna wants it.== You have gone to Tokyo with a great mission with the blessings of Krsna and I am very much encouraged to read your letter that there is great possibility of Krsna consciousness movement in Japan. I am so encouraged to learn that you are going to order 5,000 copies of *Back to Godhead* for selling in Tokyo. Thank you very much.” (SPL to Sudama, 8th* January, 1970) 70-01 ==“For a servant of Krsna, there is no distinction of hell and heaven. Our only ambition should be to serve the Lord. It does not matter where the service is demanded== *.* It is exactly like the soldiers are asked to come forward to fight and there is no question of selecting the place. There are many sincere souls like you in the Western world and my Guru Maharaja wanted me to come here and to pick up as many of you as is possible. And I am trying my best. By Grace of Krsna, you have joined me to help in this Krsna consciousness propaganda and Krsna will surely be pleased upon you very much. Please try to continue this activity of co­operation and we are sure to come out successful.” ([[letters/1970/700111_kulasekhara|Jaya Gopala, 11 January, 1970]]) *** 70-01 ==“We require hundreds of bona fide students in Krsna consciousness. The world is in need of this function. People are going to hell for want of proper guidance.== No other religious institution are so much serious about God consciousness as we are. So you must train your contemporaries in such spirit of alertness, then we shall be able to open hundreds of centers, and the people in general shall be saved from being misguided.” ([[letters/1970/700115_harer_nama|Harer Nama, 15 January, 1970]]) *** 70-01 “So under this formula the whole European and American people who are so intelligent and materially advanced can be converted to pure Vedic *brahmanas,* and thus their mission of human life becomes successful, and the whole world becomes a garden of blooming flowers. ==Take all these words very seriously and try to propagate Krsna consciousness with all serenity. It will be a great gift to the human society.== * * You are a learned and intelligent young man; think over the formula and try to execute to the best of your capacity. That is my request.” ( * SPL to Janardana, 16th* 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 *Bhagavad-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 some way 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 from practical experience.” (SPL to Dinesh, 22nd* January, 1970) ==70-01 “To sit down in a corner without preaching risk and to make a show of chanting Hare Krsna mantra is condemned by my spiritual master and he has written a very nice song in this connection which I am recording. The substance is that to become very dear to Krsna or Balarama or in other words to Lord Caitanya and Nityananda is to take the task of preaching work very seriously at all risk. Please always remember this and you will be successful.”== (SPL to Gajendra, 27th* January, 1970) ==70-02 “Actually the whole world problems can be solved by this movement, that is a fact, but people are so much involved in maya's activities that it takes some time to come to the right conclusion. But, if our preaching method is carried on in order, certainly it will be very much effective.== **So you are intelligent and one of the oldest members in the Society, and gradually Krsna is giving you better intelligence also; and thus push on the missionary activities as fast as possible. I came to your country completely in helpless condition and Krsna is so kind that He has picked up some serious students like you; and my only hope is that even if I die these missionary activities will go on. And to keep yourself on the standard spiritual strength, please do not neglect the sixteen rounds chanting and following the regulative principles. Try your best, and Krsna will help you in all respects.” ([[letters/1970/700218_umapati|Umapati, 18 February, 1970]]) ==70-03 “It is good news that Sriman Tirthapada has also engaged one carpenter to help rebuild our London temple house. As he is giving service, gradually he will come to Krsna consciousness. His giving service is his qualification. As we accept valuable metal like gold from a filthy place, similarly we should allow any karmi to work for Krsna.”== ([[letters/1970/700517_yamuna|Yamuna, 17 May, 1970]]) *** 70-03 “So far responsibility is concerned, there is an action in *Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu* to be executed by the devotee which is called, *Krsna arthe akhila cesta,* which means to take all kinds of responsibilities for Krsna's sake. Sometimes I also think that let me go back to Vrndavana, in that peaceful situation, to live without any responsibilities; still, in this old age, I take the responsibility of managing our quite a big institution now, and I have to reply so many letters from different centers to give them instruction. ==As an old man I can take relief from this work immediately, but for Krsna's sake I am pushing on even though there is sometimes personal inconveniences. So let us act in that way all together for Krsna’s sake.”== ([[letters/1970/700525_upendra|Upendra, 25 May, 1970]]) *** 70-06 “You write to say how you were saved from a commitment of suicide. So you have seen the *mantra* in *Isopanisad: ye ke catma-hano janah.* So not only you, but almost all the conditioned souls within this material world, practically ninety-nine per cent of the whole population is committing suicide. As it is natural for a gentleman to try * * to stop a person committing suicide when it so happens just in one's presence, Similarly when we see that so many men and women are simply committing suicide as described in the * Isopanisad: ye ke catma-hano janah, * let us try * * to save them through this Krsna consciousness movement. I am very * * glad that you are going with Kīrtanānanda Maharaja to colleges. So try * * to understand this philosophy nicely and spread it to your best capacity so that these suiciding men can be saved as far as possible. It is not, however, possible to check the suiciding policy of the modern society, but my Guru Maharaja used to say that if he could save one person then he would consider his mission successful. Similarly *,* ==if we individually could save at least one person, many of the suiciding men can be saved. So do your best and Krsna will give you necessary intelligence and help, and try to push on this movement as far as possible.”== ([[letters/1970/700617_yamunacarya|Yamunacarya, 17 June, 1970]]) ==70-06 “Regarding your consideration of management, no, we should take all risks for Krsna. This mentality to chant in a solitary place without any responsibility of preaching work is not approved by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja. One of our Godbrothers was doing like that and my spiritual master was not very satisfied with him.”== (SPL to Hamsaduta, June 22nd, 1970) 70-06 “I am very glad to learn about Giriraja's tricks for the imitation God. Just like expert businessmen make profit both ways, namely when the merchandise goes down by price or goes up by price. An experienced merchant makes profit both ways—when the price goes down, he purchases and when the price goes up, he sells. ==So our Krsna conscious men should be transcendental businessmen, and Krsna gives the right intelligence how to deal with all classes of men.”== ([[letters/1970/700625_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 25 June, 1970]]) ==70-06 “Yes, I am very glad that temple arrangement in Boston is nicely being carried out and new devotees are joining== — ==this is the success of preaching work. Preaching work means increasing the number of our family members.”== (SPL to Muralidhara, June 4th, 1970) ==70-07 “So as you are given full facilities for the execution of sankirtana activities you must do it wholeheartedly and especially try to encourage the hippies to accept this Krsna consciousness movement. They are our best clients. They are feeling very keenly the frustration of material life and it is our duty as good Vaisnavas to be very sympathetic with them and bring them to take up this Krsna consciousness, then their lives will become perfect and our mission successful.”== (SPL to Janmanjaya and Taradevi, 9th* July, 1970) ==70-11 “The test of preaching ability is whether one is making some disciples or not. So it appears that your preaching is going on nicely. The standard of purity which I have introduced in the Krsna consciousness movement will give you the real spiritual strength needed to preach. If you will simply stick to your principles, you will gain the respect of the whole world and our preaching work will be successful.”== (SPL to Tirthapada, November 13th, 1970) 70-11 “The new procedures you are instituting on *sankirtana* party are very encouraging to me. ==The opportunities for expanding the sankirtana movement are unlimited. We should tax our brains as to what is the best way to present Krsna consciousness to particular people at a particular time and place.== * * I have always thought that in L.A. there should be at least ten * sankirtana* parties going out simultaneously and as you have indicated, such places as Long Beach and other areas can each have their own Krsna consciousness center.” (SPL to Karandhara, November 13th, 1970) 70-11 ** ==“The new program of preaching on sankirtana using one basic verse from the Bhagavad-gita As It Is is an excellent idea. We should always be eager to find out such nice ways to spread this movement. This will automatically bring joy to the devotees as well as to the nondevotees.”== (SPL to Jagadisa, November 17th, 1970) 70-11 ==“I do not think it is necessary for you to spend time unnecessarily at this time of your life to learn some foreign languages, but the program as we have followed with good success is to find out some local boy who is well acquainted with the English language and train him to preach to the general less-educated public. This is the best system and do not be hopeless because you are sure to find such a helper very soon.”== (SPL to Upendra, November 21st, 1970) 71-01 “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 29th, 1970, along with enclosures of flyer and news clipping. I am so much glad to know that you are working on both you and your wife with great enthusiasm to preach the message of Lord Caitanya to the fallen souls of this age. ==My Guru Maharaja has declared that the real life of a man is preaching. If one has at all got any life in him then he will preach== *.* So I am very, very pleased by your constant efforts to enliven the people in general even in far off lands by the simple methods of direct devotional service to the Lord by chanting His holy names.” ([[letters/1971/710104_upendra|Upendra, 4 January, 1971]]) *** 71-04 * * ==“For the time being you can go to the jail and lecture about Krsna consciousness and the values of life. You can give this lecture simply by repeating different chapters from our books. And the same can be done in the mental hospital as well. Distribute prasadam there also. Preaching at these and other big institutions is solid work, so try to increase this activity.”== (SPL to Nayanabhirama, April* 4th, 1971) 71-04 “That there have been no newly initiated devotees from Japan is all right. It doesn't matter whether they are initiated or not. If they are coming in large number, that is the success of our mission. * * ==We are not after making initiated members very many but our concern is that people understand this philosophy in wider circles.== * * Initiated members are for managing the temples and preaching work, but our program is to invite people to our feasts, let them hear our philosophy and dance and chant. That is the basic principle of our philosophy in preaching work.” (SPL to Sudama, April 11th,* 1971) 71-06 ==“So do something wonderful there in Gainesville. Wonderful means simply you chant loudly and distribute prasadam. That is not very difficult. It is very easy. Simply if you do it enthusiastically and sincerely, then success will be there.”== (SPL to Bill, June 29th, 1971) 71-07 “We are not concerned with the common man because they will think that we are criticizing. So speak on general features of how we understand God. God is called great in every religion. Our appreciation of greatness are six in number. They are stated in the Krsna **book introduction. So you have to introduce the matter of God scientifically, and that will be appreciated by any reasonable man. If we say that your God is like this and our God is like that, then there will be great disturbance. ==Simply speak on general topics, that God is like this. Then let them read our literature and ask questions. In this way try to push on our missionary activities.”== (SPL to Dinesh Candra, July 13th, 1971) 71-07 ==“So far as mixing with society, we can do it. That is all right. But simply for jobs sake, we cannot. To mix with them intimately is not good. So that should be avoided. Lord Caitanya never said stop mixing with nondevotees. He was preaching Himself. How a preacher can stop? The whole world is nondevotees.”== (SPL to Vrndavan Candra, 23rd* July, 1971) 71-10 ==“We== have got a very heavy task before us. Together we have to push on this Krsna consciousness movement for a revolutionary change all over the world. It is not our manufactured movement but it was ordered by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and we are simply carriers of his shoes. So let us do this duty carefully so that our life may be successful, although our attempts are not as great as they should have been.”== (SPL to Jayapataka, October 5th, 1971) 71-10 “As a father is always sorry for the son who is out of the home, similarly Krsna is not very happy on account of so many bewildered fallen souls in the material world. He therefore comes personally to ask them to surrender again to Him. But the conditioned soul is so much in illusion that it is very hard to make him surrender to Krsna. Therefore ==each and every one of us, if we can give service to Krsna by making another man surrender to Krsna, then He will very much appreciate that service and that is our gain.== **Try to follow this principle and preach vigorously to your best capacity and everything will be all right. Don't worry.” (SPL to Upendra, October 9th, 1971) 71-11 “Learning Spanish is a difficult job. How can you learn? I am very much enthusiastic about expansion of our branches, but if it is dependent upon learning of Spanish language, don't take this adventure. We should serve Krsna in whatever talents we have already got. However if you are still very much anxious to go there, and you think that you shall be able to get along without knowing Spanish language, then you may go there immediately and push on this movement. ==The idea is to recruit active speakers who also speak English to translate and be trained for administering things locally.== **You simply organize everything and instruct them, and gradually they will take over full management.” (SPL to Nanda Kisora, November 15th, 1971) 71-11 ** ==“Our method is very simple. The preacher should also be ideal, sincere, serious and strictly adhering to our principles, chanting sixteen rounds and following the restrictive rules.”== (SPL to Govinda dasi, November 20th, 1971) 71-12 “The best news is that you are increasing nicely the distribution of my books and literature. This is the best activity, to distribute solid information about Krsna. Our preaching stands solid on these books. No other movement or cult has such vast background of authority, so we are not afraid to challenge anyone and everyone to defeat their philosophy on the basis of that authority. * * ==Krsna appreciates such strong preachers as His dearmost servants, so let us work very enthusiastically to drive away rascal philosophy and establish the real religion of Bhagavad * ­== * gita As It Is.” (SPL to Upendra, December 8th, 1971) 71-12 * * ==“One thing, you say that literature distribution is low; actuually, the test of the strength of our preaching work is that we sell many books and magazines. So what is the difficulty? Simply== * * ==preach very sincerely to anyone and everyone, and go on in this way preaching more and more, and the demand for our books will increase.”== (SPL to Sri Galim, December 17th*, 1971) ==72-01 “I am very encouraged by your enthusiasm for preaching.== * * Your proposal to go for preaching to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ceylon, and China is very good. So immediately arrange for your Canadian citizenship, if it will give you more facility to preach widely. You are a * sannyasi * so preach in this way and become * parivrajakacarya. * It may be that very soon I will ask you and Tamala to go to Bangladesh for preaching. They must be preached that this thinking ’I am Hindu’ or ’I am Mohammadan,’ is not any solution. We want unification of Hindu and Muslim, unification of all faiths and peoples and the method is being done by our Krsna consciousness movement. The intelligentsia and leaders of Bangladesh must be preached to, and informed of the activities of our Society. * Kirtana * will soften their hearts. So this proposal of yours for preaching is very good.” (SPL to Jayapataka Maharaja, 5th* January, 1972) 72-02 “You are learning Japanese language, that's all right, but it will be ==better for our preaching and translating work if the local boys and girls can perform such work, instead of us wasting so much time by learning difficult languages.== So if you spend your time to engage many native persons to translate for us, and train them up in our Krsna philosophy at the same time, that will be a better use of our time; but if you think it is necessary in order to establish this movement that you learn Japanese language, then it is all right, but generally I do not think it is absolutely necessary. If you can find some boys who speak English, and if you can engage them for translating and teach them our philosophy by holding classes, then that is better. We cannot become very good preachers in such difficult languages, even if we spend years to learn, but if we take a few weeks to train some local men in Krsna consciousness philosophy, then they can preach like anything, leaving us free time to organize and manage everything properly. In this way, we shall expand very rapidly.” (SPL to Sudama, 4th* February, 1972) 72-03 ==“My Guru Maharaja said that this materialistic society is a society of cheaters and cheated. Because people want to be cheated, men such as you mention have become very popular.== **They are preaching all nonsense and the people are accepting them, but if someone wants to be cheated, what can be done? This Krsna consciousness is authorized, practical and simple and those who have enough intelligence will recognize this fact and will join with us. Our program is to simply chant Hare Krsna, follow the regulative principles, and preach this philosophy without any adulteration. If we stick to this policy, then by our good example, people will see the potency of this great movement.” ([[letters/1972/720325_patita_uddharana|Patita Uddharan, 25 March, 1972]]) *** 72-03 “I am so glad to hear how you are expanding the book distribution program so rapidly. The more this literature is read and distributed, the more the world will be filled with auspicity. Please continue this program with ever-increasing enthusiasm and this will please my Guru Maharaja very much. ==If we simply repeat this philosophy exactly as it is, without any misrepresentation or adulteration, then this movement will never be checked, and we will conquer the world.== **So please train up all these boys and girls in the philosophy and brahminical culture and they will become useful tools in the hands of Lord Krsna for saving all the fallen souls in this age.” (SPL to Jagadisa, March 27th, 1972) 72-05 “I am also very much pleased to hear from you that you have sold 100 sets of paperback *Krsna* book in one day, and that you have re-or­dered from Dai Nippon. Gradually, we shall replace the literatures which are currently popular with our own style of transcendental literature. I have tried it: any page you open, that is wonderful reading matter. My ambition is to spread these books far and wide all over the world so that everyone shall read at least one of our books and that will change his life *.* ==If only 1% become devotees, that will change the world.== I think that eventually we can print *Teachings of Lord Caitanya* in paperback also. In the skyscraper building, that can be a guest house for receiving tourists, so they can see how practical spiritual life is developing. If just 1% of these tourists become devotees, if they adopt this process, then our effort is successful.” ([[letters/1972/720502_karandhara|Karandhara, 2 May, 1972]]) *** 72-05 ==“Who God is, can be summed up in only five words. Krsna is the Supreme Controller. If you become convinced of this, and preach it enthusiastically, success is assured, and you will be doing the greatest service for all living entities. So you continue more and more to serve Krsna, and He will help you.”== (SPL to Danavir, May 5th, 1972) 72-06 “I am in due receipt of your letter from Bombay dated May 24th, 1972, along with the very nice article, ’Prabhupāda: India's National Hero’. I am very grateful to you for your kind words about me, but I do not think that I have done anything, but I am only delivering the best message as it is. Actually, anyone who is a sincere devotee of Krsna and who is rendering service by preaching His message is to be considered as hero. So you are all heroes of your country and your humanity. Hero means someone who others want to follow as example of the best type of person. So you all become like that, perfect examples of Krsna consciousness heroes and heroines, and preach the message exactly as I have taught it to you very seriously and being fully convinced, and others will automatically come forward and join us. ==We shall all be like one great army of heroes for Lord Caitanya.”== (SPL to Visakha, June 6th*, 1972) ==72-06 “You mentioned that you are not yet a very bold preacher, but you will become bold, if you have got sincerity.== In the beginning also I could not speak. But Krsna is within you, and when you are serving Him sincerely He will give you courage, boldness, everything. We are not going to bluff anyone or cheat others, and we are delivering the message on behalf of the Supreme Lord, so we haven't got anything to fear and we should be always mindful of our topmost position of occupation of life. To be the messenger of the king is practically to be as good as the king, so the king is the most exalted position. I act like a king because none can defeat me, and similarly, you should take your responsibility very, very seriously as being the representative of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who is God Himself, and always remember that you are one of the few men I have appointed to carry on my work throughout the world and your mission before you is huge. Therefore, always pray to Krsna to give you strength for accomplishing this mission by doing what I am doing. My first business is to give the devotees the proper knowledge and engage them in devotional service, so that is not very difficult task for you, I have given you everything, so read and speak from the books and so many new lights will come out. We have got so many books, so if we go on preaching from them for the next 1,000 years, there is enough stock just like we have spent one day discussing one *sloka,* so you introduce this system in all of the temples, and very quickly the devotees will make spiritual progress by getting knowledge.” (SPL to Satsvarupa, June 16th*, 1972) ==72-06 “Your touring party has done a very excellent job of spreading Krsna consciousness in Bihar State as I have seen from the news clippings and other enclosures which you have sent. One thing, our Subala Maharaja is preaching alone in Kanpur and I do not very much approve of alone preaching, so if you like you can request him to join with your party.”== (SPL to Tamala Krsna, 28th* June, 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]]) *** 72-09 ** ==“Thank you very much for your letter from Tanzania dated August 24, 1972, and with great satisfaction I have noted the contents. Yes, the preaching work is giving you new life. My Guru Maharaja Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati used to say: pran ache yar sei hetu pracar, ’One can preach who has got life.’ So one who is preaching this Krsna consciousness movement means he has got real life.”== ([[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 be held anywhere all over the world and people will come in large numbers from 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. ==Have Bhagavata-dharma discourse and Hare Krsna festival all over your country widely, and this will be the success of our movement.== **You are an 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]]) *** 72-12 “... I have very much appreciated hearing from you the news of your successes in preaching tour. You are the pioneer preachers in South India. That is very important portion of India, and there is much to do there in future, so you are paving the way. ==I know that you are both best preachers and you will not stand by idly and listen to any nonsense ideas or Mayavadis. That is very nice. My Guru Maharaja was also inclined toward his bolder preachers.== **Therefore I am requesting that both of you, with your party, join me very soon at the Hare Krsna festival in Bombay, Cross Maidan, at least you should come by January 1st. This is our big opportunity to emphasize our preaching strength to the big men of India and population in general. There is arrangement of ’Questions and Answers’ tents for the general public, just by the main street of the city, wherein we shall conduct throughout day and night preaching by my disciples by answering any and all questions put forward by the public. I think that you will enjoy preaching in that way, and I want to place my best preachers there for that purpose of defeating all challengers. Kindly oblige and do the needful.” ([[letters/1972/721221_meenakatan|Yasodanandana and Gurukrpa, 21 December, 1972]]) *** 72-12 “Regarding your question whether some small lies may be said in order to sell our books, I have already replied to Bali Mardan on that point and a copy of his letter is enclosed herewith. But that kind of lie, as you have given example of the apartment manager, telling him that ’Yes, we have gotten permission to distribute here,’ that kind of lie is not harmful. The highest development of Krsna consciousness understanding will be when you are able to give anyone the truth but in such a manner that they will respond in a positive way. If people like to contribute by hearing such things, there is no harm, that is just to induce him to purchase. Some of my Godbrothers, I can remember, when we used to go out for begging some contribution from some big man, they used to say that my Guru Maharaja had lived for twelve years in the forest in a solitary place, living only on the Tulasi leaves. I could scarcely stop from laughing when I heard such story, but it was effective to get the money and give to our Guru Maharaja, and he was pleased by our gift. So the idea is not what you are saying, so much as how you say it. If you understand this properly, then you may be able to say the truth at all times in the most palatable way, according to the situation and the type of hearer. To perfect this art, that takes practice, so practice preaching from this understanding and gradually you will develop it more and more. But we should never steal anything like money, food, water, gasoline, just to enhance our service to Krsna. That is too much dangerous, and if we are caught then all of our work is finished. Just like in India recently, this Balyogi Guru Maharajaji was detected by the customs authorities attempting to smuggle some small items into India. By this one tiny incident his entire effort for preaching, even he is rascal number one and his preaching is nonsense, even so the example is there, his work is now ruined and he is practically finished as the government will not grant him passport to leave India. ==So we shall always be careful to avoid any kind of jeopardizing our high standing in the society by some foolish and small act of illegal stealing.”== ([[letters/1972/721231_sankarsana|Sankarsana, 31 December, 1972]]) *** 73-01 ==“I am very glad to hear from you the wonderful news of travelling party in England== *.* I think the people of that place are becoming more and more inclined for this Krsna consciousness movement, they are inviting you to stay at their houses, they are taking books becoming sometimes devotees—all of these are very encouraging signs to me. If you simply go on in this way, stopping in every village and city of England and Scotland, or if there are other places like Ireland, simply stop for some time, distribute books and hold *sankirtana* procession, answer their questions, give some leaflets or small informations freely, distribute *prasadam* wherever possible, at least some small thing, and if there is genuine interest being shown, then request the townspeople to arrange some engagements for speaking in their schools, or in someone's home, or a hall, like that. In this way remain always without anxiety for destination and comfortable situations, always relying only on the mercy of Krsna for your plan, just go on preaching His message and selling His books, wherever there is interest. We shall not waste time if there is no interest or if the people are unfriendly, there are so many places to go. But I understand from your letter that practically everyone is taking some interest. That means you are presenting the thing in a very nice manner, they can detect that here are some persons who are actually sincere and nice, let me hear them, let me purchase one book. So I can understand that it is not an easy matter to travel extensively over long periods of time without proper food, rest, and sometimes it must be very cold there also, and still, because you are getting so much enjoyment, spiritual enjoyment, from it, it seems like play to you. That is advanced stage of spiritual life, never attained by even the greatest yogis and so-called *jnanis.* But let any man see our devotees working so hard for Krsna, then let anyone say that they are not better than any millions of so-called yogis and transcendentalists, that is my challenge! Because you are rightly understanding through your personal realization this philosophy of Krsna consciousness, therefore in such a short time you have surpassed all the stages of yoga processes to come to the highest dint of surrendering to Krsna. That I can very much appreciate, thank you very much for helping me in this way.” ([[letters/1973/730103_prabhavisnu|Prabhavisnu, 3 January, 1973]]) *** 73-01 ** ==“Try to present everything very logically and always quoting 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]]) *** 73-01 ** ==“Everyone has got some propensity. The art of preaching is to engage that propensity in the service of Krsna. Whatever we have got, our mind, our intelligence, our possessions, our time, our energies, let them all be used in Krsna's service. So by training people in this way, this will be the success of your preaching work.”== ([[letters/1973/730128_palika|Kīrtanānanda, 28 January, 1973]]) ==73-02 “== All programs must go on but it is a fact that this book distribution program is very, very important. It is real preaching work but I think this program for TV and radio is not so important. There are so many TV programs. ==Someone will see us on TV and then right after they will see some other nonsense and they will forget.== **Therefore it is better for them to read my books but I think your proposal for seriously organizing the college programs is first-class. If this program is conducted in the proper fashion it can be our biggest book distribution outlet, I am convinced of this. You are advanced devotee and you should use your intelligence to convince the professors that they should use my books in the colleges. This will be the greatest service.” ([[letters/1973/730214_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 14 February, 1973]]) *** 73-04 “The report of book distribution going on in Chicago is very pleasing to me. As you know, our Chicago center is one of the most important. Please continue to use your intelligence to find out how to distribute my books more and more. I am especially pleased to learn that you are introducing my books as textbooks in the colleges. ==We especially have to try to attract the educated young men and women in your country so that in future there will be many strong leaders to keep our Krsna consciousness movement strong.”== (SPL to Govinda dasa, 7th April. 1973*) 73-04 ==“He killed so many demons, so in this age of demoniac tendency, we may not kill the demons like Krsna did it, but we can kill the demoniac tendency. How is that? By this sankirtana weapon. That is the specific contribution by Lord Caitanya, Krsna Himself, in this Kali-yuga== *.* So I am informed that you are the *sankirtana* leader for Laguna Beach temple, so you should very enthusiastically lead the *sankirtana* party, and in this way you will very successfully kill the demoniac tendency of the rascals.” ([[letters/1973/730418_bali-mardana|Doug Russell, 18 April, 1973]]) *** 73-06 ==“You have asked about whether nuclear devastation on this planet would effect the sankirtana movement. No, there is nothing that can stop the sankirtana movement because it is the will of God Himself, Lord Caitanya, that His holy name be heard in every town and village.== Neither can the demons devastate this planet independent of the will of Krsna. Nothing happens without His sanction. If Krsna wants to kill someone no one can save Him, and if Krsna wants to save someone no one can kill him. For our parts we should just be determined to carry out our mission against all opposition, demons, nuclear war, whatever. The whole universe is finally subject to certain annihilation by the will of Krsna, but devotional service is eternal and is the only certain way one can save himself from devastation. We can preach all over the world that the only way to be saved from collective and individual devastation is to take to the chanting of Hare Krsna. In short, this material world is a very precarious place therefore we should always chant Hare Krsna and seek Krsna's protection.” ([[letters/1973/730622_makhanlal|Makhanlal, 22 June, 1973]]) *** 73-06 “Recently Mr. Brijmohan Mohata, along with his wife, niece and other family members, came to see me at *Mayapur* . He is very much pleased with our movement. He has given me one idea to educate our men in Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati: for preaching work in the interior part of Bombay. I think it is a good suggestion. ==If you are really serious in this matter you can immediately engage some of our men to learn these different languages.== **He has already given us a place to stay and for this proposal he will continue his patronage. So try to execute this part of our propaganda immediately.” ([[letters/1973/730625_tamala_krsna|Tamala Krsna Maharaja, 25 June, 1973]]) *** 73-10 ==“So far as the woman distributors who have left New York and Boston temples and have gone to New Vrndavana, they should return immediately and resume their original service. In Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement, everyone is preacher, whether man or woman it doesn't matter. I do not know why Kīrtanānanda Maharaja is encouraging our woman devotees not to go out on sankirtana for book distribution. Everyone should go out.”== ([[letters/1973/731006_karandhara|Karandhara, 6 October, 1973]]) *** 73-11 “Regarding the black lady in Cleveland, if she is actually serious about Krsna consciousness, give her a little freedom. Just behave with her a little gently, so she may be encouraged to spread Krsna consciousness amongst the blacks. Actually if she preaches the importance of this movement amongst the blacks, it will be more effective. This racial color distinction may continue, but when a devotee is actually advanced these things will disappear. Therefore we have to be a little tactful how to induce people to take to Krsna consciousness seriously. That should be our main object. Encourage her to sell books. ==If black men read our books, it will be a great achievement. As your President Lincoln gave the blacks equal rights, let us cooperate with them.”== ([[letters/1973/731102_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa dasa Maharaja, 2 November, 1973]]) *** 73-11 ** ==“Regarding killing the demons, yes, Krsna has done it: paritranaya sadhunam, vinasaya ca duskrtam. But, for us to kill like that we first have to become first-class devotees like Arjuna or Hanuman, then we can fight with the Ravanas and demons. But that requires good strength, and we are not in that position now. Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not kill the demons, but He converted them. So this should be our example.”== (SPL to Hamsaduta dasa, 8th Novemher, 1973) 73-12 ** ==“My Guru Maharaja used to say, ’One who has got life, he can preach.’”== ([[letters/1973/731201_jayananda|Jayananda, 1 December, 1973]]) *** 73-12 ** ==“Thank you very much for your endeavors in book distribution and please offer your good wife my blessings for her service in this connection. Our preaching work will be measured by the quantity of books we distribute so continue ever increasingly.”== ([[letters/1973/731211_makhanlal|Makhanlal, 11 December, 1973]]) *** 74-05 “The enclosed newspaper story, *Krsna Followers Freed from Police Harassment* is just further testimony of the great victory made by Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Chicago. I understand that the Chicago area is the most lucrative place in the world for distribution of our books and that you have done very careful work in getting all permission. ==Therefore this rumor that within a few years there will be police repression and people will have no more money to buy books and sankirtana will stop is completely bogus.== * * Whoever told you that is a rascal, saying it in my name. I never said that. Rather * sankirtana* movement will expand, continuing so long as we are sincere. When I came in the beginning I began to expand it and it is now going on and there is no question of it stopping. Therefore go on with your lifetime plans making secure in distributing of books. There is no cessation. This movement is eternal.” ([[letters/1974/740508_govinda|Govinda dasa, 8 May, 1974]]) ==74-10 “So for your preaching you should just request everyone you meet to chant Hare Krsna and to follow the four regulative principles. This will be your preaching principle wherever you go. On this basis travel and work, and Krsna will bless you.”== ([[letters/1974/741014_stephen_graham|Tamala Krsna Goswami, 14 October, 1974]]) *** 74-11 ==“It is all right, but the general public will take Krsna as an ordinary man. This will deteriorate from the standard. Every picture is with the gopis. People are generally inclined to man and women connection, and by seeing these pictures will affirm their sinful activities in the name of Krsna. These pictures are not meant for the common man but for advanced devotees. If we would distribute them, they would misuse it. I hope you can understand this.”== ([[letters/1974/741121_nrsimha_caitanya|Kirtiraja dasa, 21 November, 1974]]) *** 74-11 ** ==“I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 22nd, 1974 regarding your proposal to spread Krsna consciousness in Germany village to village by horse and wagon. I do not know if this is a practical suggestion, but if the preaching goes on I have no objection. You can consult with Hamsaduta in this connection to see if he approves. Preaching is the important thing and not the mode of transport. So if it can be done I have no objection.”== ([[letters/1974/741122_nrhari|Padmagarbha dasa, 22 November, 1974]]) *** 74-11 ** ==“Regarding there going to be depression and atomic war, who said that? This is all false propaganda. I never said this.”== ([[letters/1974/741124_bhakta_dasa|Sukadeva dasa, 24 November, 1974]]) *** 74-11 * * ==“Never mind if you do not get the visa for India. We can preach anywhere. We have to preach both in heaven and hell. There is a Bengali saying that a husking machine will husk the rice whether in heaven or in hell. So wherever Krsna desires we will preach this movement.”== (SPL to Pancadravida Swami, 24th November,* 1974) 74-12 ** ==“Regarding the interest of Miss Thakura, very good, that's nice. Keep friendship with her and introduce our books. Give her prasadam, and after all she is woman, Flatter her. Then she will remain pleased, so keep her as friend.”== ([[letters/1974/741201_hansadutta|Hamsaduta dasa, 1 December, 1974]]) *** 74-12 ==“Anyway I know the people of Tehran they like hatha-yoga very much. I understand Parivrajakacarya Swami is teaching a course combining both hatha and bhakti-yoga to attract the people. This is a very good idea. Somehow or other inject the bhakti *­== * yoga. That will save them from the degradations of sense gratification.” ([[letters/1974/741204_madhudvisab|Atreya Rsi dasa, 4 December, 1974]]) *** 74-12 ** ==“Regarding the preaching there in Japan, the Japanese people are giving money, even more than America, that is preaching. Somehow or other they are giving service to the Lord. This is wanted.”== ([[letters/1974/741204_madhudvisab|Gurukrpa Swami, 4 December, 1974]]) ==74-12 “Regarding your question, actually it is a fact that ultimately everyone should preach and distribute books if they want to please me in the best way. Book distribution must be given stress always. He has spoken the right thing. If you do this sincerely, it is a fact that Krsna will supply everything else required.”== ([[letters/1974/741206_sri_govinda|Sri Govinda dasa, 6 December, 1974]]) *** 75-02 ==“I understand from your letter that you are now in prison. Anyway, you can use such a situation as an opportunity for preaching Krsna consciousness.== **I am very glad to hear that you have already distributed some books in prison. Please try to keep yourself fixed in Krsna consciousness by chanting sixteen rounds daily and following the four regulative principles strictly and reading my books very carefully. These things will keep you nicely in Krsna consciousness so that wherever you are you will remain strongly fixed in the service of the Lord.” ([[letters/1975/750215_svarupa_damodara|Yadavacarya dasa, 15 February, 1975]]) ==75-05 “I am very glad to hear that you are keeping yourself busy preaching. Don't become a dead man. Always preach.”== ([[letters/1975/750520_prabhanu|Tamala Krsna Goswami, 20 May, 1975]]) *** 75-06 ** ==“Keep on preaching. Preaching is our life. Introduce our books, then everyone can understand, if he has good brain.”== ([[letters/1975/750610_radha_krishna_dhawan|Tamala Krsna Goswami, 10 June, 1975]]) ==75-06 “You are enthusiastic for spreading Krsna consciousness. This is the most important quality. Please continue.”== ([[letters/1975/750628_punjab_national_bank|Nandikesvara dasa, 28 June, 1975]]) *** 75-07 ==“So it is all right that Aksayananda Swami travels and collects provided that the management of Vrndavana does not suffer. This collecting is also preaching. But not only collection, but expenditure must also be stabilized and scrutinized. Nothing should be spent extravagantly. That you have to see. Do not bother my brain how to do it. I have put you in charge how to do it.”== (SPL to Gopala Krsna dasa, 17th* July, 1975) 75-07 “Regarding the problem of how to be aggressive on *sankirtana* and submissive in the temple, my request to you is that you should go on being aggressive on *sankirtana.* I myself was aggressive in coming to your country *.* No one invited me. Even you boys and girls did not invite me. But, I came and I preached aggressively, and therefore you are now my disciples. So now you well know you have to approach the men and women of your country * * and it may appear that superficially that you have to disturb them. They are doing their business peacefully, and you come and disturb them, ’Please take this Krsna * * book.’ Of course it is good that you are concerned about being chaste, shy and submissive amongst your Godbrothers. Canakya Pandita said that every man should see all other women as mother, and similarly a woman should see all men as son. So what is your difficulty? If you are completely aggressive on *sankirtana,* there should be no material aggressiveness and pride remaining. You have to distinguish between devotees and non-devotees. ==Aggression for the cause of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is pure.== If you become completely absorbed in such aggression to spread *sankirtana* movement, there will be no question of wanting to lord it over in the temple. Preaching purifies us of these material tendencies for sense gratification. It is simply a matter of time that you will see this. Do not worry *.* Krsna will help you.” (SPL to Srimati Jagaddhatri, Pasupati, Sailogata, and Pamela devi dasi, 30th* July, 1975) 75-08 ==“Do not worry, in spite of war, Srimad-Bhagavatam will be distributed. We don't care for war. Our preaching business will go on.”== (SPL to Radhaballabha dasa, 21st* August, 1975) 75-08 “I am very sorry * * for the incident which has taken place between you and my devotees. So you may please note it that I am dealing with these foreign students and teaching them to become Krsna devotees, and some of them being neophytes may sometimes commit some offense. There is nothing surprising in this, but their ardent desire to convey the idea of Krsna consciousness is always laudable. ==Of course we have to speak the truth but very palatably. These neophyte devotees have not yet learned how to speak the truth palatably, but gradually they are learning.== * * Certainly Hindu culture does not allow, illicit sex, eating meat, fish or eggs, taking intoxication, or gambling. If Indians, after going to the foreign countries, learn this behavior, certainly it is not good. The only fault on the part of the devotee is that he could not present the things very politely. So you know the nature of the Western young men, so toleration is needed by you considering the position of the other party. Anyway I beg to apologize on behalf of my student, and shall solicit the pleasure of your goodness to visit our temple regularly. One should not be angry and eat his meals on the floor just because someone has stolen his plates. This is a Bengali saying. The logic is that if one's plates are stolen by a thief, we should not become angry and decide not to purchase new plates and eat on the floor.” ([[letters/1975/750831_minister_for_land_revenue|Sri Rameshji Mahalingam, 31 August, 1975]]) *** 75-09 ==“I hope everything is going nicely in your preaching. Simply read my books and repeat what I have written then your preaching will be perfect.”== ([[letters/1975/750904_gatravan|Ksirodakasayi dasa, 4 September, 1975]]) *** 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 of *sastra,* not 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, sakha 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 ** ==“This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's blessings that everyone 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 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]]) *** 75-11 ** ==“This preaching and managing of the sankirtana parties is our real business. Do it more and Krsna will bless you more and more. It is very good that they are paying something for the lectures.”== ([[letters/1975/751112_sacimata|Gurudasa Swami, 12 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]]) *** 75-12 “I am in due receipt of your telegram as follows: Christmas week book distribution in Los Angeles despite closed airport better than ever by your grace 112,000 *Back to Godhead's* 8,000 *Gitas* sold stop ==on invitation of Governor Brown of California 50 devotees visited State mental institutions to help improve conditions and morale by giving religious message publicly. Very good, Hare Krsna. Thank you very much== *.* This is very good. Fight and depend on Krsna, that will bring you victory.” ([[letters/1975/751227_visvambhara|Ramesvara dasa, 27 December, 1975]]) *** 75-12 “We have got so many big, big books now, so any sane man will appreciate them, you simply have to present them, that's all. Is it very difficult? It is being done all over the world and professors and scholars are appreciating them by writing reviews and introducing them as standard text books in their university courses. So try * * to present my books there. It is assured of success because Lord Caitanya predicted, ’In every town and village of the world, My name will be known.’ The whole world is full of rascals presenting concocted ideas and everyone is suffering. Caitanya Mahaprabhu came just to deliver these rascals. * How?—harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha.* ==Chant Hare Krsna, induce others to chant, and distribute prasadam. This can be done everywhere, who will object? Temple or no temple, you simply chant and give prasadam and it will act.”== ([[letters/1975/751231_madhudvisa|Kirtiraja dasa, 31 December, 1975]]) *** 76-01 “Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu desires that in every city, town and village, Krsna consciousness should be preached. Therefore I left Vrndavana to come to your country. And now you have left your country also on behalf of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, therefore your life is glorious. May Krsna bless you that your preaching attempt becomes successful. As soon as a devotee endeavors to serve Krsna, Krsna immediately wants to help that devotee. Krsna will certainly protect and maintain you. You are an intelligent sincere boy so try to introduce this movement to the people of Greece. ==Everyone in the world is suffering. Despite so many attempts on the part of the governments and planning commissions of the world, still the suffering continues.== * * People are thinking that by more education, hospitals, food and so many other things they will become happy. But we actually have the ingredient which alone can make them satisfied * —* Krsna consciousness. So please deliver Krsna to everyone you meet; instruct them in the philosophy of * Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* If it is possible to get our books translated into Greek that will be very helpful for your preaching. In the meantime as you are preaching to intelligent persons such as the lawyer you met, they will be able to read English, so you can give them our English books. I cannot read the news clipping you have sent. But as you say Lord Krsna’s name appears four times, then it is very nice. My Guru Maharaja always saw if Krsna’s name or Lord Caitanya's name appeared in someone's writing and would appreciate the writing for this alone. Yes, your idea to teach English by having the students read *Krsna* book is very good. When you were in *Mayapur* you saw Bhavananda Maharaja doing this and it was very successful. Simply repeat this. Have them also chant the Hare Krsna *mantra* and as far as you can arrange, feed them nice Krsna *prasada.* That is our entire process. I started this movement just in this way. It is not very difficult. The important thing is that you behave nicely, chant all your rounds and follow strictly the regulative principles. Example is better than precept. These spiritual practices are our actual strength.” ([[letters/1976/760106_k.c._kapur|Dina Dayala, 6 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 “ ==When you have got very excellent land, so develop it very nicely. Miami is a tropical climate, so it should be made very lush with fruit and flower trees. I was very glad to see how your temple is now amongst the big leaders in book distribution. This is a sure sign of spiritual strength, for where there is preaching there must be life. Please go on increasing more and more the book distribution. You are working in the right direction.”== ([[letters/1976/760109_abhirama|Abhirama, 9 January, 1976]]) ==76-01 “== I thank you very much for sending the conversation between yourself and Professor Verdu. You have talked very nicely. I have asked that the conversation and photos as well as the letter of appreciation from Prof. Verdu, be printed as a small pamphlet by the BBT. Please study carefully my books to be enlightened. You have presented our philosophy very nicely. ==This engladdens me that our students are presenting so convincingly. This is the way to become future preacher.”== ([[letters/1976/760130_dhrstadyumna|Dhrstadyumna, 30 January, 1976]]) *** 76-06 “If you can arrange with Gopala Krsna then I have no objection to you increasing your preaching activities there. If Gopala Krsna wants to be interim president, then if that is your mutual arrangement, then you can do more preaching work, especially to the government officers. I was very pleased to see how you are getting top-ranking men to read my books. ==That is real preaching. If all the government officers at least purchase some of our books, it will be a great credit so do it very nicely.”== ([[letters/1976/760618_tejiyas|Tejyas dasa, 18 June, 1976]]) *** 76-07 ** ==“Concerning the distinction between the innocent and the atheists, those who give time to listen to us are innocent. Those who naturally oppose us and have no time are atheists, because we are the only ones talking about God. We don't talk anything about politics, etc.”== ([[letters/1976/760708_balavanta|Balavanta, 8 July, 1976]]) ==76-07 “Preaching is the most important business. Although my personal service is also important, the preaching work comes first. I want every one of our men to become first-class preachers.”== ([[letters/1976/760725_pusta_krsna|Pusta Krsna, 25 July, 1976]]) *** 76-08 ==“== My Dear Sons and Daughters, Please accept my blessings. I am due receipt of your letter dated August 9th, 1976 and the enclosed *daksina* and pictures of the *Murtis* in New Dvaraka which I am having framed and put on my wall here in Bombay. ==If you feel at all indebted to me then you should preach vigorously like me. That is the proper way to repay me. Of course, no one can repay the debt to the spiritual master, but the spiritual master is very much pleased by such an attitude by the disciple. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said: vyavasayatmika buddhir, ekeha kuru-nandana,== * * ’Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one.’ Our only business is to be fixed up in devotional service by pleasing the spiritual master. Those who are not fixed up they have various lines of action. (eka * means 'one' and * bahu* means 'many'). The real ocean of mercy is Krsna and it is the duty of the spiritual master to tell his disciple to come to the ocean and be happy. The spiritual master's duty is to lead the disciple to this ocean. I am trying my best and if you try to follow surely you will benefit. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung: *krsna sei tomara, krsna dite paro, tomara sakati ache; ami to kangala, krsna krsna boli, dhai tava pache pache. ’* Krsna is yours and you have the power to give Him to anyone you wish. I am poor and wretched and running behind you shouting Krsna, Krsna!’ Krsna is unlimited, no one can catch Him, but if someone follows the *parampara,* He agrees to be captured. Everyone is afraid of Krsna, but Krsna is afraid of Mother Yasoda. That is Krsna's special mercy.” ([[letters/1976/760814_ramesvara_radhavallabha|Residents of New Dvaraka, 14 August, 1976]]) *** 76-08 “If you relieve me of the burden of management, that will be a very great service to Krsna and the movement. See that everything is going on nicely. With great endeavor we have made the framework, now we have to see that things are going on nicely. Yes ==this preaching work is our mission. It is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, my Guru Maharaja's mission, and my mission. It is through the parampara. As I am trying to discharge my Guru Maharaja’s mission, you also try and things will go on nicely.== *” (SPL Pusta Krsna, 14th August* 1976) ==76-09 “We should not criticise the Ramakrishna Mission by name, or directly, for they have become somehow or other popular and people are against us for it. So carefully avoid this type of preaching.== *” (SPL to Jayapataka Maharaja, 22nd* September, 1976) 76-11 ==“== I == == am very happy to hear that you are going to Poland. Baradraja also speaks Polish. He may come there sometimes if it can be arranged. Sri Garbha’s wife doesn’t have to go to Mayapur, she may go to the farm in France, it is very nice there. Or she may go to any of our farms. The preaching in Poland is the first consideration. Vrndavana is being managed somehow or other. Aksayananda has one man who is collecting very well (Rs. 15,000-20,000 per month). Vrndavana is becoming self-dependent. If you can preach vigorously in Poland it will be a great asset. You may come to Vrndavana if you like, but preaching in Poland is my greater interest. So, now Vrndavana is somehow being managed. Now the most important work is that side in the Communist countries. If you can do something there, it is more than if you come here. Our business is to glorify Krsna as the Lord of Vrndavana and to popularize Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Hare Krsna movement. I was a resident in Vrndavana, but at the age of 70 I tried to preach Krsna consciousness a little bit and now this Institution has come out. So, I think == it is more profitable to preach about the Master of Vrndavana, Krsna, outside of Vrndavana. A devotee of Krsna can create Vrndavana everywhere by preaching the glories of Krsna== *.* There are many *sahajiyas* who imitate Rupa Goswami not to go out of Vrndavana, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained always outside Vrndavana for preaching purposes, although He is the master of Vrndanana personally. I have no objection to your coming to Vrndavana, but as you have accepted the *sannyasa* order, it is more important to preach about Vrndavana rather than to come to Vrndavana. I am getting older and older and it is getting difficult for me, therefore I am requesting all my younger disciples to preach all over the world. Otherwise, you are always welcome in Vrndavana. I have no objection. I am a little hopeful that if we preach in the communist countries, they will like it. According to our Vaisnava philosophy even a snake or lizard is in the house he shall not go without eating, what to speak of other living entities. The communists have an idea for feeding human society, but our idea is expanding. We want to see even a snake not fasting.” (SPL to Gurudasa, 18th* November, 1976) ==76-12 “Who says you are a bhajananandi? Don’t be a bhajananandi. As soon as you become a bhajananandi you’ll be spoiled. You’ll== ** ==be spoiled as Nitai has spoiled himself. You have an intense desire to preach, so do that. So far as your engagement is concerned, you are already engaged as pujari, so do that and whenever you get time preach Bhagavad-gita.”== ([[letters/1976/761211_purnaprajna|Purnaprajna dasa, 11 December, 1976]]) ==77-01 “== It appears that now it is the government policy to curb our activities. The zoning problem is another harassment. The general policy is to stop our movement. That has begun, in so many ways: by the parents, by the municipality, by the government, by zoning, somehow or other to check this movement. We are enemies to their standard of civilization, that is the problem. We are enemies, certainly. We frankly say, ==’This civilization is soul-killing.’ We have to save them, para== *-* ==upakara.== **Actually that is also fact, they are misleading people that the skin is everything. That is not the fact. The soul is everything. That they do not understand. They say, ’What is this nonsense?’ They have no idea of religion. For them it is just a decoration.” ([[letters/1977/770104_balavanta|Balavanta dasa, 4 January, 1977]]) ## With Compassion and Risk ==67-09 “== Your specific duty is to chant and hear the transcendental name of the Lord, read some passages from my English version of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and *Srimad Bhagavad-gita (Gita Upanisad) and explain them as far as possible as you have heard from me. Any devotee who has developed genuine love for Krsna can also explain the truth about Krsna because Krsna helps such sincere devotee seated in his heart. Everyone must be frustrated who is not Krsna conscious because the eternal relationship with Krsna is so nice. That eternal relationship with Krsna can be revived simply by chanting His holy name in right earnest. I understand from your letter that the situation in Los Angeles is different from San Francisco or New York in the matter of communication. But the flavor of Krsna consciousness is so far-reaching that it will go far and wide if we chant with devotion. After all, Krsna is the master of all situations. ==In the beginning you may feel some difficulty but rest assured that Krsna is always with you and He will help you in all respects.”== (SPL to Dayananda, Nandarani and Uddhava, 20th September, 1967) 67-11 ==“== I have seen your statement regarding opening centers. I am not in agreement with Mr. Altman that we are expanding very thinly. In my opinion a single sincere soul can maintain a center. ==You know I started the center at 26 Second Avenue alone. I took the risk of $200 per month for the rent. At that time there were no assistants. Mukunda was at that time a friend but there was no responsibility for him for maintaining the center== *.* Gradually Kīrtanānanda and Hayagriva joined but they did not take any responsibility. Still I was maintaining an establishment simply depending on Krsna, and then Krsna sent me everything, men and money. Similarly, if a sincere soul goes out and opens a center in any part of the world Krsna will help him in all respects. Without being empowered by Krsna nobody can preach Krsna consciousness. It is not academic qualification or financial strength which helps in the matter but it is sincerity of purpose which helps on these matters. Therefore, I wish that you will remain in charge of Boston. Let Mukunda be in charge of San Francisco. Let Janardana be in charge of Montreal. Let Nandarani and Dayananda be in charge of Los Angeles and let Subala dasa be in charge of Santa Fe. In this way, you will follow my example as I did in the beginning at 26 Second Avenue. That is preaching; cooking, writing, talking, chanting, everything one man show. I never thought about the audience. I was prepared to chant if there were no men to hear me. The principle of chanting is to glorify the Lord and not to attract the crowd. If Krsna hears nicely then He will ask some sincere devotees to gather in such place. Therefore, the advice is that thousands of centers may be started if we find out a sincere soul for each and every center. More when we meet. Hope you are well,” ([[letters/1967/671112_subala|Subala, 12 November, 1967]]) *** 68-02 ==“== The matter is little more risky in the sense that the rent is $400 per month, but you have assurance from friends and your own resources of $250, so balance is $150 which I think you can collect from the meetings very easily. So far I am concerned I always take risks for Krsna. I came here in your country risking my life. And still, although I am physically unfit, I am trying to execute the orders of my Guru Maharaja as far as possible. ==So to take risk for Krsna is very good. You know the history of my starting the Society in 1966, it was all risky, and I was alone, but I took it, depending on Krsna== *.* So I think if you take the risk of $150, for Krsna’s sake, Krsna will supply you the required money undoubtedly. It depends however on your personal discretion, but I am hopeful that if you take the risk it will not be bad. In the meantime, Upendra is also released earlier from his internment and I think if he takes some job he can also help. So try to open this branch and let us depend on Krsna’s good will.” ([[letters/1968/680212_gargamuni|Gargamuni, 12 February, 1968]]) *** 68-02 ==“== I have already instructed Jayananda not to occupy the storefront in Berkeley if it is too much risky. ==We should not accept anything very risky because that will hamper us in our program of Krsna consciousness. Our motto is simple living, and high thinking== *.* We should think of Krsna without being hampered by material disturbances, as far as possible. So too much risky thing is not for us. If something comes very easily for our manipulation we welcome it. You have already got a center in San Francisco, so it is better to make propaganda so that people may come there in throngs. Gargamuni can make this propaganda by selling *Back to Godhead* magazines. Personally, I shall advise you to try for our own temple, either in San Francisco or Los Angeles.” ([[letters/1968/680218_mukunda|Mukunda, 18 February, 1968]]) *** 68-10 ==“== I am very much pleased with your preaching enthusiasm, when you say, ’If people won’t come to us here, we will go to them.’ This is the process of preaching, and this is required. I thank you very much for your this spirit. Just like I have come to your country, with the same spirit. Actually, still even in so much fallen condition of India, if one has to learn spiritual science, then he must consult some bona fide spiritual master, in India. That is the opinion of a great Chinese author. So people are not going there, neither government has any arrangement to educate this spiritual science. So therefore I have come to your country, and those who are eager to receive, they are coming to us. In this way, we have to forward our mission. We may not expect good behavior from people where we go to preach, still we have to do that. The best example is Lord Jesus Christ. He was crucified by the people who were not very much advanced. From their behavior it may be known that the people at that time or at least the place where Lord Jesus Christ preached, they were not very much advanced, otherwise they would not have dared to crucify such a nice saintly person. So preaching work is always like that. ==But one who is real preacher, he shall be undeterred, and go on keeping his objective to the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord.”== ([[letters/1968/681015_nandarani|Nandarani, 15 October, 1968]]) *** 69-01 ==“== So far as my taking botheration in coming to your country, I must take this so-called botheration for Krsna But what botheration I have taken? You know that the Goswamis were ministers in the government’s service and they left their posts for going to Vrndavana and living there just like paupers. They produced such great literature like *Sandarbhas,* by Jiva Goswami, and *Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu,* by Rupa Goswami. Apparently they took so much botheration but they preferred to accept it because they were compassionate for the suffering humanity. Similarly, Lord Caitanya is Narayana Himself, and His wife, Visnupriya, is the Goddess of fortune. Lord Caitanya was a very learned scholar, a very beautiful young *brahmana,* and He had a very affectionate mother, but Lord Caitanya Himself accepted the botheration voluntarily for the good of the human society and all living entities. ==We should always follow these footprints== *—* ==not try to imitate, but to follow the same spirit of compassion for the conditioned soul and try to help them advance to Krsna consciousness. Actually in the service of Krsna there is no botheration. Rather we feel more transcendental pleasure.== **I hope you will more and more appreciate this status as you work combinedly with your very good husband, Gaurasundara.” ([[letters/1969/690126_gaurasundara|Govinda dasi, 26 January, 1969]]) *** 69-04 ** ==“Regarding Girish, until I go to New Vrndavana, Girish may stay there. Otherwise he may be admitted in some school. We should not take any risk of legal implication in this matter.”== ([[letters/1969/690422_dinesh|Tamala Krsna, 22 April, 1969]]) *** 69-10 ==“== Regarding your plan for the house in Beverly Hills, it is all right but how can you expect $25 per week from all the centers? I have already asked them for $15 per month for maintenance fund but they are not sending regularly. Mostly they are not sending at all. So money depending on others is no money and education depending on books is no education. The cash-down price can be arranged somehow or other, but how to meet the monthly expenditures? ==If it is too straining, I don’t think it is advisable to take up the risk. Of course, we must take risk for Krsna, but not to the extent it may hamper our Krsna consciousness temperament.== **We can take a risk as long as it can be managed easily.” ([[letters/1969/691001_tamala_krsna|Tamala Krsna, 1 October, 1969]]) *** 69-11 ==“== Regarding the house, I think there is indication of Krsna that we shall have our own house in Hawaii. Usually we do not wish to have our own house, but when Krsna offers it we must take the facility without any hesitation. In Boston also, Satsvarupa was put into similar trouble and by the grace of Krsna he has got now our own house and we have established our own press there also. The description of the house as you have given appears to be very nice, because it is near the University of Hawaii. ==If by the grace of Krsna you get the bank loan, I think that you can take the risk. For Krsna, to take some risk is also devotional service. That is ordered by the Goswamis:== *krsnartha akhila cesta* ==.== * * This means for Krsna’s sake to do everything possible. From San Francisco when I pushed you alone for Hawaii you did not know where you were going, where to stay and what to do. But since more than one year you have struggled very hard, and gradually you are getting some foot in that distant place, and your good wife, Govinda dasi is helping you. Also, some very nice assistants have joined you, so try for Krsna to do your best. That is our duty. Success or no success it doesn’t matter. The only thing is that we should try our best. So that I know you are doing your best and Krsna will be very much pleased upon you all.” (SPL to Gaurasundara, 20th November,* 1969) 70-01 ==“== Regarding your question that, ’the devotees are more kind than the Lord because they understand the purpose of the Lord,’ I may inform you that the Lord’s advice to His devotee (pointing out to Arjuna) is that ==one should not speak about God consciousness to a person who is neither a devotee nor has undergone any disciplinary methods. But a devotee sometimes takes the risk of approaching nondevotee rascals even at the cost of life.== **The best example is your Christian religion’s Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus Christ risked his life for speaking God consciousness amongst people who were fanatics. A similar incidence is there in the action of Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda, when passing on the street saw a crowd of people howling at some incident and on inquiry it was found that there were two rascals of the then name of Jagai and Madhai. They were always disturbing people in drunken condition. Nityananda Prabhu thought it wise that these two brothers may be delivered so that Lord Caitanya’s mercy could be well known all over the world. When Lord Nityananda approached them He was immediately hurt by violent attack. On this incidence Lord Caitanya became very angry and He called for His Sudarsana Cakra to kill these debauchees. Lord Nityananda then implored Lord Caitanya not to kill Jagai and Madhai but to save them. By this time Jagai and Madhai came to their senses and immediately they surrendered unto both the Lords and were delivered by the mercy of Lord Nityananda. So Lord Nityananda or Baladeva is the original spiritual master, and such pure devotee sometimes takes the risk of life in order to reclaim a person who might have otherwise been rejected by the Lord. The devotee knows that the Lord wants all the fallen souls to come back to home and therefore the devotee always tries to induce the conditioned souls to take to Krsna consciousness by various ways and means. Therefore, the conclusion is that a devotee is more kind than the Lord Himself. By such advanced devotional service a devotee becomes quickly recognized by the Lord. That is also stated in the *Bhagavad-Gita.* Actually, without the mercy of a devotee nobody can approach the Lord directly *—* and it is easier to get the mercy of a devotee than to get the mercy of the Lord. So therefore the most intelligent way of approaching God is to take shelter of a pure devotee. Somehow or other if one can please a pure devotee of the Lord, such action means immediate satisfaction of the Lord, even though such a person is not officially qualified to receive the mercy of the Lord.” (SPL to Sriman Yeager, 21st* January, 1970) 70-03 ==“== Regarding your question about the various demoniac species of life, the Lord’s condemnation, although appearing to be very harsh, is not so. The Lord being Absolute, His condemnation is as good as His blessings. Whenever the Lord or anyone of His pure devotees condemns somebody, it is to be taken as blessing. You know that the great sage Narada condemned the sons of Kuvera to become trees but as a result of this they were able to see Lord Krsna which is very difficult even for the great mystic yogis. You have been a little bit perturbed that the demons are eternally condemned and I thank you very much that you have been compassionate with the demons. That is the sign of Vaisnavism. The Lord may condemn the demons, but because the Vaisnavas are there, there is ample chance for the demons to become blessed by the devotees of the Lord. ==The devotees of the Lord are so powerful that each and every one of them has the power of delivering many demons, even condemned by the Lord.== * * The preaching work of Krsna consciousness movement is specifically meant for delivering the demons. Therefore, if you remain faithful to the Lord, you shall be able to deliver many such demons. So there is no cause of being disappointed because of the demons being condemned by the Lord. It is the duty of the devotee to deliver them. And the Lord is so powerful that through His pure devotee anyone can be delivered, never mind how he is fallen or condemned. I think the answer to your question is now clear and you can do the needful.” (SPL to Revatinandana, 25th* March, 1970) 70-04 “We are the best peaceful group in the world and we are trying to bestow upon the people the super most knowledge for the humanity. Everyone should cooperate with us, but unfortunately this is the Age of Kali and people are not very much eager to accept genuine things, so don’t be disappointed. Do as you are doing now and Krsna will help you without fail. To face difficulty in the course of preaching work is a kind of austerity. These difficulties do not go in vain. ==The more we face difficulties the more we draw the attention of Krsna. So in that way we shall be prepared to meet all kinds of difficulties in our preaching work.== **Such attempt gives us a lift on our progressive march in Krsna consciousness. In my last letter to Bali Mardan I have already written that I was very much anxious to hear from you. Now this letter has given me much relief. Thank you very much that you are working so hard for this movement, and surely Krsna will reward sufficiently for your transcendental labor. ==Be blessed and preach.”== ([[letters/1970/700422_upendra|Upendra, 22 April, 1970]]) *** 70-06 ** ==“Regarding your consideration of management, no, we should take all risks for Krsna. This mentality to chant in a solitary place without any responsibility of preaching work is not approved by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja. One of our godbrothers was doing like that and my spiritual master was not very satisfied with him.”== (SPL to Hamsaduta, June 22nd, 1970) ==== 71-01 “I am so much glad to know that you are working both you and your wife with great enthusiasm to preach the message of Lord Caitanya to the fallen souls of this age. My Guru Maharaja has declared that the real life of a man is preaching. If one has at all got any life in him then he will preach. ==So I am very, very pleased by your constant efforts to enliven the people in general even in far off lands by the simple method of direct devotional service to the Lord, by chanting His holy names.”== ([[letters/1971/710104_upendra|Upendra, 4 January, 1971]]) ==== *** 71-11 “Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of November 7, 1971, and I am encouraged to note that you are working very nicely in Krsna consciousness, despite being there in a foreign land with so many obstacles. ==This kind of service is especially appreciated by Krsna, that some devotees should take risk for His preaching work.== **And my Guru Maharaja repeatedly requested his disciples to go out into far-off lands for spreading the message of Lord Caitanya. Thank you very much for this.” (SPL to Krsna devi, November 20th, 1971) 72-02 “I am very much encouraged that you want to remain in Austin City because the people there are in desperate need of Krsna consciousness. Actually, ==that is the mood of the devotee, that he is always concerned for the general mass of people, that they should stop their sinful activities and become delivered from the most dangerous conditions of life== by taking to this Krsna consciousness or devotional service. So I am very much pleased that you do not want to leave. Actually, that is our policy, once we enter a place, to sit down, then gradually to lay down and occupy everything! So because there is such good possibility there for preaching, especially in the university, then I am recommending that some men must remain there and work very hard to get a permanent center. If the preaching work is sincere, then there will be no lack either of temple or of devotees to fill it. Now you have sat down, and although you are squeezed a little tightly, if you push a bit harder there will be enough space, and very soon you will find yourselves laying down and occupying the big space.” (SPL to Sankarsana, February 4th, 1972) ==72-08 “I am very glad to hear that Amogha is returning to Jakarta along with others for continuing our preaching work there. He may send me regular reports how work is going on. Krsna is always prepared to give special favor to His devotees who take special risk to spread His name in the far away places and who do not care very much for the comfortable surroundings. Thank you very much for helping me in this way.”== ([[letters/1972/720824_giriraja|Madhudvisa and Amogha, 24 August, 1972]]) *** 72-09 ** ==“Now you are working very seriously and sincerely for Krsna, and you have taken great risk and courage to work in far off place on His behalf, so you may expect that He is giving you His all blessings at every turn and will continue to fix you up in the bliss of His devotional service more and more.”== ([[letters/1972/720913_amogha|Amogha, 13 September, 1972]]) ==== ==74-06 “In the beginning I was only one and I started everything, so you have twice as many men. Trust in Krsna and simply dedicate your life to introducing the chanting of Hare Krsna and Krsna consciousness philosophy to whomever you meet. Surely Lord Caitanya will be pleased by your effort there, and thus you will be eligible for His benediction which is to award love of Krsna.”== ([[letters/1974/740609_krsna_dasa|Trivikrama Maharaja, 9 June, 1974]]) *** 74-08 “ ==I am very pleased that you have gone to that place simply on my order, alone, to preach the message of Lord Caitanya. I like this kind of spirit in you very much.== * * You know I went to your * * country also alone, in old age, because of the order given to me by my spiritual master. So I get great pleasure when I see my own disciples from America going to far off places leaving their rich nation with all facilities and their families, to preach. The secret of success in spiritual life is to satisfy one’s spiritual master. This is the essence. You have captured this. So now go on in this way and do not falter. Follow the regulative principles and devotional practices I have given you. This will keep you fit. Be patient and determined, and ask everyone you meet to please chant Hare Krsna. I shall be very glad if you send me regular reports of your attempt.” ([[letters/1974/740817_hrdayananda|Bhurijana dasa, 17 August, 1974]]) *** 75-12 ==“== I read your *sankirtana* newsletter with great relish. Europe and America are in great danger; this Hare Krsna movement is enveloping them. The *sankirtana* devotees are very, very dear to Krsna because you are doing the field work of distribution, Krsna has immediately recognized them as true servants. Just like during war time, a farm boy or ordinary clerk who goes to fight for his country on the front, immediately becomes a national hero for his sincere effort. ==So Krsna immediately recognizes a preacher of Krsna consciousness who takes all risks to deliver his message.== * * It is called * drdha-vrata—determination. * These boys and girls are * mahatmas:* ’O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.’ This verse is applicable here, if these boys were under material nature they would not take so much risk, they are *mahatma,* they are real *mahatma,* not that long beard and saffron cloth *mahatma.* They are unswerving in their *determination—drdha-vrata.* All glories to the American devotees!” ([[letters/1975/751211_uttamasloka|Uttamasloka dasa, 11 December, 1975]]) ## Door to Door 68-11 ==“== Regarding your question about what determines our future, generally when we are in the material world, we try to be prosperous by material opulence. Just like a common man tries to have a good house, a good wife, a good property, good social prestige, and this way, go on increasing the bodily concept of life, and possess more and more in relationship to the body. This is unfortunate. All living entities beginning from Brahma down to an ant, everyone is trying to increase such materialistic way of happy life without knowing that any amount of material comforts of life cannot make the spiritual living entities happy. Therefore, when a living entity becomes very serious to become really happy and gets into touch with Krsna consciousness by the grace of Krsna and the spiritual master, that is the beginning of his fortunate life. And the more one becomes advanced in that fortunate way of life, the more he becomes happier and happier. This is the difference between fortunate and unfortunate. The beginning of contact with Krsna consciousness is the beginning of good fortune. That some people may come and others may not, this is also due to association. Suppose a man accidentally comes in contact with our Society and gives some service willingly or unwillingly, that is the beginning of his fortunate life. ==We go from door to door canvassing people to join Krsna consciousness movement means that we are trying to make them fortunate. Anyone who gives some service to this Krsna consciousness movement is fortunate proportionately.== **At least the seed of his fortunate life is sown there. Whether he gives service of some sort, willingly or even unwillingly, the seed is sown, and the fortune will come proportionately. Even if someone looks shabby and unclean, if he simply says this Krsna consciousness is a very nice thing, even he is not able to take full advantage of it at the time, still he is far more fortunate than any Rockefeller.” (SPL to Tosana Krsna, November 13th, 1968) ==70-01 “It is so satisfactory to understand that you are preaching from house to house recruiting members for our London center. This was the procedure of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda when they began preaching. I think the charity box system will be very nice success especially from the Indian store owners.”== ([[letters/1970/700127_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 27 January, 1970]]) *** 71-09 “Your service is most valuable in spreading this cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The process you have adopted is just right for preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s cult. ==When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was personally present, He used to send His most confidential disciples to go out on the street and canvass house to house to accept the sankirtana movement== * * and even if the Magistrate would object to such * sankirtana * movement on the complaint of some demons, Caitanya Mahaprabhu would still send out his disciples and at the same time He exhibited a great civil disobedience movement on account of the Magistrate’s order to stop * sankirtana. * The idea is that * sankirtana * must be pushed on, even there are some difficulties. That is our mission. So tactfully, according to place, time, and surroundings, try to push on this * sankirtana* cult as far as possible and Krsna will be very, very much pleased upon you. I am also very much pleased for your activities and I have all my blessings for you. Please continue this activity and be blessed.” ([[letters/1971/710924_makhanlal_tilaka|Gaura Hari, 24 September, 1971]]) *** 72-01 ==“== Regarding your proposal to open one store, that is not a very good proposal. Our devotees cannot work in that way. ==Better they are preaching and selling books door-to-door.== **That man simply wants to take our men for nothing, create some trouble, then drive us away. This has been our experience. If the man wants to open such store and without us working give us some profit, that is all right.” ([[letters/1972/720110_hayagriva|Sri Govinda, 10 January, 1972]]) ## With Purity and Conviction 68-06 “I am very much pleased to hear of your good success in the park on Sunday. This is very much encouraging to me, to hear so many people are hearing the chanting and philosophy and also taking nice *prasada* as well. Yes, it is very good, and you please continue with this sort of program! This system should be followed and you will be successful. Because in New York also Hamsaduta is following this system, holding in Central Park every day, and he is collecting in the same way. Altogether he is collecting $50-70 by contributions and selling *Back to Godhead* magazine. This is actually our successful propaganda. We want to distribute our literature and books as well as our *prasada* and inject our Hare Krsna medicine within the ear. So, reading of the literature and hearing of the chanting is the medicine, and *prasada* is the diet. ==So, if diet and medicine are properly administered the disease of maya will be cured. But the physician must be always healthy. People may not say, physician is ill thyself.== **That means the preachers must be of highly elevated character, following strictly the rules and regulations and chanting regularly in the temple. There may be so many odds in the progressive march of Krsna consciousness, but if we pin our faith in Krsna, everything will come out successful in due course.” ([[letters/1968/680627_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 27 June, 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 me to become 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, the * 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.” (SPL to Devananda, September 27th,* 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.”== (SPL to Gurudasa, September 29th,* 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.”== (SPL to Hayagriva, November 18th, 1968) 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. In comparison to that situation, our 6 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 35 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 direction 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.”== (SPL * to * Hayagriva, 31st January,* 1969) 69-03 ==“== I am very glad to learn that Mukunda has invited you to go to London and if there is possibility you should go immediately, both of you and join them. The six boys and girls, husbands and wives, are preaching Krsna consciousness movement in London so nicely, that in the *London Times* there was a news heading: ’Krsna Chant Startles London’. These boys and girls are also initiated for the last two years only—they are not very great scholars in theological studies, but still by the grace of Krsna they have created some impression in a city like London simply by their sincere effort. My spiritual master used to send preachers who were all in the renounced order of life (sannyasis) but I am doing a completely different process *—* namely, preparing some young couples of husband and wife to take up this job. This is approved by Lord Caitanya. He said that it does not matter whether the preacher is in the renounced order of life or a family man, or a *brahmana* or a *sudra—* nothing is hampering in the process of preaching Krsna consciousness. ==The only qualification required is that one should know the genesis of Krsna consciousness and then he is just the fit person to preach this great philosophy== *.* I understand both you and your wife are very intelligent boy and girl and I hope if you sincerely wish to serve Krsna He will give you intelligence how you can nicely serve Him. I am here at Hawaii in the care of Gaurasundara and his wife, Govinda dasi; they are also doing very nicely. Similarly, another couple of disciples, Satsvarupa and Jadurani are also doing very nicely. Similarly, in Buffalo Rupanuga and his wife and their small child are doing very nicely. Similarly, in New Vrndavana Hayagriva and his wife Syama dasi are doing very nicely. So it is a part of my missionary work; I want to see that the Western boys and girls who are very much loose with their sex life should get themselves married and take to Krsna consciousness seriously and they will be happy both materially and spiritually. So if you go to London to join Mukunda and his company you will be very much pleased to see how husband and wife combined together can so nicely preach this Krsna consciousness movement. Please take up this philosophy very seriously and you will be happy in this life and next life.” (SPL to Isana and Bibhavati, 8th March,* 1969) 69-05 “I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 14th, 1969 and I have received a similar letter from Brahmananda also that ==you are finding some difficulty in keeping pace regularly with the routine work. My advice to you under the circumstances is that at least for one hour you must all go to have sankirtana outside on the streets or in the park.== * * That is your life and soul, first business. The next business is completing the chanting of sixteen rounds every day. The next business is your editing and if you find extra time then you can attend the temple ceremonies. Otherwise you can stop these activities, but outdoor * kirtana, * your editing work and chanting of sixteen rounds must be done. Outdoor * kirtana * must be done, even at the cost of suspending all editorial work. That is your first and foremost business. Temple worship is not so important. If need be, the whole temple can be locked, but the outdoor * kirtana* cannot be stopped.” ([[letters/1969/690517_rayarama|Rayarama, 17 May, 1969]]) *** 69-12 “Sri Narottama dasa Thakura says all sinful persons and suffering persons were delivered by the *sankirtana* movement inaugurated by Lord Caitanya who was formerly the son of Nanda Maharaja, accompanied by Nityananda Prabhu who was formerly Sri Balarama. ==If we keep ourselves purely on the standard of Lord Caitanya’s order then chanting by us of the holy names of Krsna will descend as powerfully as He acted previously, during the time of Jagai and Madhai.== * * So I am very glad that you both, husband and wife, are executing the mission of Lord Caitanya so nicely and faithfully. Please continue to act like that and certainly Lord Caitanya will bestow all His blessings and power upon you. Personally I am so much gladdened that the pairs of young boys and girls whom I have placed in householder life are doing so nicely in the Western world. When Lord Caitanya delivered Jagai and Madhai He was also a householder, but when Jagai and Madhai were actually reclaimed, His wife, Visnupriya, was not there. But in this case and in many other cases also, I find that my disciples combined together, husband and wife are doing this preaching work so nicely. So I am especially proud how my householder disciples are preaching Lord Caitanya’s mission. This is a new thing in the history of the * sankirtana * movement. In India all the * acaryas * and their descendants later on acted only from the man’s side. Their wives were at home because that is the system from old times that women are not required to go out. But in * Bhagavad-gita * we find that women are also equally competent like the men in the matter of Krsna consciousness movement. Please therefore carry on these missionary activities, and prove it by practical example that there is no bar for anyone in the matter of preaching work for Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Himavati, 20th December,* 1969) 70-01 * * ==“Amongst all our duties surely we must now never forget to complete our sixteen rounds. We should not be carried away simply by the Krsna duties which is also regarded as good as chanting,== * * but in all circumstances we shall not forget this duty…. Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice *—* in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will be answered.” (SPL to Ranadhira, January 24th, 1970) 70-01 ** ==“To sit down in a corner without preaching risk and to make a show of chanting Hare Krsna mantra is condemned by my spiritual master and he has written a very nice song in this connection which I am recording. The substance is that to become very dear to Krsna or Balarama or in other words to Lord Caitanya and Nityananda is to take the task of preaching work very seriously at all risk. Please always remember this and you will be successful.”== ([[letters/1970/700127_gajendra|Gajendra, 27 January, 1970]]) *** 70-02 ==“== The Krsna consciousness movement has a basic philosophy in view, which is the propagation of the ideal of one God, one religion, one scripture, one hymn and one human society. ==So far we Indians are concerned, we are ordered to preach the philosophy of Krsna consciousness throughout the whole world, after personally realizing what it is.== This means that as we have different types of limbs for different functions, but at the ultimate end all the different limbs of the body cooperate for the maintenance of the whole body, similarly, if we accept the human society as one, then different sections of the human society may act differently for one purpose of growth of human civilization.” ([[letters/1970/700205_hanuman_prasad_poddar|Sriman Anil Grover, 5 February, 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]]) *** 70-10 “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.” (SPL to Vrndavana Candra, November 9th, 1970) 70-11 ** ==“The test of preaching ability is whether one is making some disciples or not. So it appears that your preaching is going on nicely. The standard of purity which I have introduced in the Krsna consciousness movement will give you the real spiritual strength needed to preach. If you will simply stick to your principles, you will gain the respect of the whole world and our preaching work will be successful.”== (SPL to Tirthapada, November 13th, 1970) 71-01 “It is my firm conviction that this Krsna consciousness movement of Lord Caitanya’s will be successful in all parts of the world if our students kindly continue in their enthusiastic endeavors to distribute this message freely to all persons. Our movement is now appreciated all over the world and it is gradually coming to the attention of the important leaders of the present society, so ==it is incumbent upon us to keep our spiritual strength by rigidly following the regulative principles, then we can deal adequately with all facilities offered by the Lord== * * for expediting His Holy Mission. I am confident that all our sincere intelligent young devotees like your good self will carry this program to fruitful conclusion namely the delivery of the holy name to all the fallen souls suffering in varieties of conditional misery and material happiness. Please execute your program for distribution of literatures and * sankirtana,* therefore, with increased vigor and may Krsna bless your sincere efforts to serve Him faithfully.” (SPL to Damodara, January 10th, 1971) 71-01 “The secret of preaching work is that one must keep himself fit in spiritual strength by maintaining always the highest standard of purity in Krsna consciousness. Our process is simple and practically experimented everywhere. Simply by vibrating the Hare Krsna *maha-mantra* sixteen rounds daily one advances to the stage of *sadacara* or good habits and when he is pure in consciousness by devotional service, he advances to the stage of ecstatic love of Krsna. ==We should always pray to Lord Caitanya simply to be engaged in His confidential service by chanting Hare Krsna mantra always. That will purify us and give the strength needed to infuse others with Krsna consciousness.”== (SPL to Vaikunthanatha, January 12th, 1971) 71-01 ==“== I am so pleased to see you and your good wife in every picture in different poses of preaching work. That is real Krsna consciousness service to preach the message of the holy name to all persons. And they appear to be all responding very enthusiastically to your preaching; that is very good sign. ==If you remain pure and enthusiastic, you will have the spiritual strength to enthuse others with the chanting of Hare Krsna maha-mantra and devotional service to the Lord.”== (SPL to Upendra, January 27th, 1971) 71-03 ** ==“The good reports are coming and it is a fact that we are being highly appreciated for our efforts to introduce this pure spiritual life to the society at large, but we must not lose our own status of advancement in Krsna consciousness. Everything must be done very intelligently.”== (SPL to Karandhara, March 18th, 1971) ==71-03 “So our movement should be very vigorously pushed on. But those who push must be pure; then it will be effective.”== (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, March 24th, 1971) 71-10 “ ==I== * * ==am so glad to learn that you are eager to preach but we should know it that we cannot preach without being solid in our standing as devotee.== * * Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that, *’apani acari prabhu jivera sikhaya.’* This means that Lord Caitanya wanted that one should preach by behaving himself exactly what he preaches. So our Krsna consciousness movement, preaching, depends on personal behavior. If you want to preach the gospel of Lord Jesus Christ on the principles of *Bhagavad-gita* you will find so many differences. Those who are following Jesus Christ, let them follow strictly to the principles of the Bible. ’Thou shalt not kill’ is now being misinterpreted by Christian priests. Now they say ’Thou shall not murder.’ This means trying to save themselves from the crime of animal killing. So you cannot teach such unscrupled followers the message of *Bhagavad-gita.* If you want to preach the Bible you can ask them why there will be misinterpretation. In N.Y. there is a big press that prints 'Watchtower.' They are forcefully criticizing Christian behavior. I read that one Christian priest allowed a marriage between two men *—* homosex. So these things are going on. So your proposal for preaching the gospel on the basis of *Bhagavad-gita* will not be successful. If you want to do that I cannot check you but I cannot allow you to do such things from within our Society. You have to understand our philosophy perfectly, follow the regulative principles, and then in fact you can edit our books and papers. When I shall go to Mayapur then upon hearing from you of my proposal as mentioned above, I shall arrange for your coming to India. First of all you have to decide yourself whether you are prepared to surrender to our principles, but if you keep your independence either in Mayapur or N .Y. your position is the same. To associate with me you are always welcome but not with your independence. That will not help me or you.” ([[letters/1971/711022_rayarama|Rayarama, 22 October, 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.” (SPL to Lalita Kumara, November 15th, 1971) 71-11 “Philosophy is the highest, but even higher than philosophy is practice of philosophy. So when your students apply Krsna philosophy to their lives, they will feel the beneficial result, and this will make your teaching work very easy. Just like you add hydrogen and oxygen and get water. So let them chant and learn *Bhagavad-gita* and they will get Krsna’s mercy. ==I== am successful in my teaching work because I have not deviated one inch from my spiritual master’s instruction, this is my only qualification. So if you simply remain pure, your preaching will have effect== *.* Kindly push on this college program as only the most intelligent persons can understand Krsna philosophy. So it is very important that we spread this message to the intelligent class of men. Soon I shall be printing my latest book, commentaries on your Western philosophers, and with this instruction you will be able to defeat all of the mental speculators and so-called scientists who are simply misleading everyone.” (SPL to Brhaspati dasa, November 17th, 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.” (SPL to Locana dasa, November 24th, 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.” (SPL to Vamanadeva and Indira dasi, December 8th, 1971) 71-12 ==“== This routine work, such as chanting, speaking, rising early, cleaning, cooking and offering *prasadam, arati,* reading books *—* these activities are the backbone of our Society, and if we practice them nicely in a regulative manner, then our whole program will be successful. If we become slack or neglect these things, then everything else we may try will fail. ==So it is very important that you keep your standards very high in these activities, then your preaching will be strong.”== (SPL to Patita Uddharana, December 8th, 1971) 71-12 ==“== One thing is that all the students on the party must strictly follow the rules and regulations. Cleanliness is most essential, rising early, taking bath, etc. ==It is not that because we are traveling that we can neglect our routine work and become irregular in our habits.== * * No, we must make every effort to remain regulated and clean, this is the solid basis for our work. When our routine work, like chanting, reading books, nice * arati,* Deity worship, etc., is very nice, then our preaching will have effect. That is the secret.” (SPL to Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, December 12th, 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 men’s 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) 71-12 * * ==“As long as we keep ourselves pure for preaching, then we shall have all good results== * —* of * * that there is no doubt. One thing, make certain that your routine work is going nicely *—* chanting sixteen rounds, rising early, cleansing, street *sankirtana,* etc.—then all other programs will be successful. If routine work becomes slack or neglected, then all other attempts will fail. We should always cling to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by following very strictly the routine work of devotional service, and then we shall qualify to associate with the Lord by becoming very pure, and that is our real happiness, know it for certain.” (SPL to Cyavana, December 26th, 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 magazine. 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.” (SPL to Hrdayananda, January 6th* , 1972) 72-01 ==“== Our business is simply to plant the seed of devotional service wherever we go and to give everyone a taste of this transcendentally relishable activity of life. ==If we are very much convinced ourselves of Krsna philosophy, then we shall be able to inject this seed of devotional service into the hearts of persons,== * * and they should be given all encouragement and facility to hear from * Srimad-Bhagavatam * and chant Hare Krsna, and in this way the seed will come out and the creeper will come out by such watering process. So now you have taken great responsibility to plant the seed of Krsna consciousness in Cardiff, Wales, so I think that if you take the matter very seriously and remain cool-headed, then you will attract the attention of Krsna who will give you all opportunity. In this way, because you are responsible leader, Krsna will force you to advance in Krsna consciousness. So you may know it that you are very much favored by Krsna.” (SPL to Kulasekhara, January 10th* , 1972) 72-01 ==“== We must become so responsible for seriously practicing this art of Krsna consciousness, because this world is so full of degrading elements of life for dragging everyone down and down, and if just a few men can perfect the art, they can save the rest of all the people from the greatest dangers. So I count you and your godbrothers among those few men who are treading seriously on the path back to home, back to Godhead, and now we must maintain such exalted position and not fall back by neglecting our highest standards of devotional practices. In this way, what I have introduced into your Western countries, the pure love for Godhead process of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, will go on increasing more and more to have effect by saving others; otherwise, it will gradually become mechanical and fade away like every other so-called religious movement. ==So you can understand that I am very much depending on you to become very much convinced yourself of our Krsna philosophy and to take full responsibility for teaching others purely.”== (SPL to Ranadhira, January 17th*, 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.”== (SPL to Ekendra dasa, February 3rd*, 1972) 72-02 ==“== You are experiencing some doubts, that you cannot believe that the Krsna from *Krsna* book can be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that it must be like some fairy-tale. To clear up these things the best remedy is to discuss amongst yourselves, all members regularly, all our books in classes, then these doubts will be killed. Without reading books it becomes hackneyed and such obnoxious ideas trouble us. Our thoughts are always changing, that is the nature of the mind, so you cannot expect that even the great saintly persons are free from thoughts coming and going. But after thinking there is feeling and willing, willing being the stage of putting the thoughts into action. So if we are able to employ our intelligence, then we kill the thoughts before they become manifest in activity, but because we are so much inclined to enjoy something unintelligently, we have to therefore daily sharpen our intelligence faculty by reading and discussing and preaching to others. In this way we are able very easily to defeat all challengers to our philosophy and everything becomes very clear as it is revealed from different angles of vision. Krsna makes promise to one who is striving to serve Him sincerely that He will give such devotee the intelligence by which he may come to Him. Therefore we should always pray that Krsna may kindly provide me the intelligence to kill all demons of doubt, and because He understands the heart of His sincere devotee, immediately He gives assistance. ==For my part, for example, I am absolutely certain that anyone who challenges me I can defeat you. Why is that? Because Krsna gives me the intelligence.”== (SPL to Satyabhama, February 28th, 1972) 72-07 ==“== Especially I am very much pleased to hear that the University of Buffalo has given to you more than $1200.00 in grant. I can understand by your enthusiastic preparations for Ratha-yatra in Buffalo that you are very sincere boy and capable devotee. This is very much wanted through­out the society of men, that some few of you will come to the understanding that by serving the Lord with my full energy that this will be my happy position of life and that no other occupation will give me any, not even an ounce of pleasure. Such persons like yourself who are thinking in this way are getting all intelligence and facility by how to do the things properly, and that Krsna is helping you with intelligence and ability, now you take the right course and utilize the opportunity given to you by Krsna to actually inject the human society with that same determination to serve the Lord. ==Only a handful of you are there who are convinced beyond any doubt about this Krsna consciousness movement, but [this] is sufficient to change the entire course of history.”== (SPL to Gunagrahi, 3rd* July, 1972) 72-08 ==“== Your program for preaching in Delhi is very much approved by me; preaching for 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]]) *** 72-12 * * ==“If you yourself remain always pure, then your preaching will have effect. As soon as there is a little impurity, the whole thing will deteriorate and go to hell.== * * So we shall not like to take the credit in that case, therefore I am praying simply that all of you, my advanced disciples, GBC men, *sannyasis,* temple officers, like that, that all of you will become sober-minded and feeling always very much responsible how the things will go on as I have given them. If you simply do as I am doing, not avoiding anything which may have to be done for pushing on Krsna’s movement, remaining always stuck up very tightly to the footsteps of Rupa Goswami, then without any doubt you will remain always fresh and enthusiastic for working very energetically on Krsna’s behalf, without any falldown.” ([[letters/1972/721229_deva_mira|Pusta Krsna, 29 December, 1972]]) *** 73-01 ==“== I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 27, 1972, and with great happiness I have read your figures of amount of books sold during three-day period, December 22-24, 1972. It is scarcely believable that more than 17,100 books could have been sold by one temple in three days! That indicates to me that people are at last becoming little serious about this Krsna consciousness movement in your country. Otherwise, why they should buy our books? But they can see that our boys and girls, devotees, are so much sincere and serious to distribute the message of Krsna consciousness, they are at once struck by seeing them and therefore they appreciate and purchase. This is unique in the world. Perhaps we are the only sincere persons on this whole planet. At least our books are not to be seen anywhere else. So you may understand it that by disseminating our Krsna consciousness propaganda anywhere and everywhere, by selling books, by making publicity, newspapers, television, so many ways there are to spread Krsna consciousness information, you may know it that by utilizing our energy in this way to give everyone access to the Absolute Truth, that is the real understanding of desire to serve humanity. Understanding is one thing, and practical application of that understanding is another. But as devotees of Krsna, being engaged in the practical work of spreading Krsna consciousness that is already the highest realization. That’s all right, that is our real mission, ==to deliver the world by preaching Krsna’s message to others, but even higher realization, the highest realization, is to save oneself.”== (SPL to Ramesvara, January 9th, 1973) 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]]) ==73-11 “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]]) *** 74-04 ==“== You are asking what should your preaching work be now that you are attending the university. So the first preaching work is that yourself should become an ideal devotee. ==Lord Caitanya said that one should first make himself perfect and then attempt to instruct others.== There is no point in telling another man to stop smoking if you yourself are smoking cigarettes. Even though you are mixing with all kinds of the student class at the university, you must strictly refrain from the four prohibitive sinful activities, and as an initiated student you must not let a day pass when you do not chant at least sixteen rounds of Hare Krsna *mantra.* If you can follow just these things nicely that in itself will be strong preaching by behavior. You should also always wear *kunti* beads around the neck and wear the marking of *tilaka.* People will inquire from you and you can tell them about Krsna consciousness and sell them books also.” (SPL to Niranjana, 23rd April,* 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 Pannalalji, 16 May, 1974]]) *** 74-06 ==“So try to spread and encourage this philosophy of thinking of Krsna, after thoroughly assimilating it yourself.”== ([[letters/1974/740608_syamasundara|Hamsaduta, 8 June, 1974]]) *** 74-09 “To join our mission first of all you have to become a pure Vaisnava. For this purpose you have to remain with us and live the techniques in your life. Then you can be trained up as a preacher *.* ==We do not allow anyone to become a preacher unless he is strictly following the Vaisnava principles== * * of no eating meat, fish, or eggs; no sex outside of marriage; no gambling; and no taking any kind of intoxication whatsoever. You must also chant sixteen rounds Hare Krsna on the * japa* beads. So if you are interested, you can practice these things within our association for some time. Then we shall consider you for preaching work.” ([[letters/1974/740918_mr._ogata|Mr. S.N. Sharma, 18 September, 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.”== (SPL to Gopijanavallabha dasa, 19th September, 1974*) ==74-10 “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|SPL to * Mr. * Muckerheide, 12 October, 1974]]) *** 74-12 ==“== Your desire for leading a *sankirtana* party, preaching and travelling 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 you 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.”== (SPL to Jitaprana, 17th December,* 1974) 75-03 ==“== You go to those rascals and they will convert you. You are not so strong that you can convince them and convert them from their foolishness. It is distinctly said in the *Bhagavad-gita* that the purpose of Vedic knowledge is to understand Krsna *vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo, (Bhagavad-gita* 15.15 *).* So, we are presenting Krsna in so many ways, politically, socially, economically, philosophically, and religiously, etc. We are describing Him in 75 books of 400 pages each. Better read these books thoroughly and be firmly convinced yourself before going to these demons for convincing them. ==If you are weak yourself, while trying to convert them, you will be converted by them. Don’t try any hard task before you are very strong.== **Chant sixteen rounds daily, follow the rules and regulations, and read our books. Don’t become very big preacher immediately.” ([[letters/1975/750520_prabhanu|Madhava dasa, 20 May, 1975]]) *** 75-10 ** ==“As soon as someone is trained then go to preach very nicely in Poland. Try to make some literature in Polish and Russian. Anyone can be trained to execute orders in sending out the books but preaching requires special qualification. So you have this good qualification for preaching and now do it very nicely.”== ([[letters/1975/751016_svarupa|Kirtiraja dasa, 16 October, 1975]]) *** 76-08 ** ==“Kindly take up the mission of spreading the message of the Lord all over the world with greater and greater enthusiasm. Preaching is our life. But in order to preach one must become firmly fixed in the spiritual practices otherwise his words will not act. It is the duty of every initiated disciple to try and please the spiritual master by rendering service and inquiring submissively.”== ([[letters/1976/760820_sampath_kumar|Tarksya dasa, 20 August, 1976]]) *** 76-10 * * ==“One has to be qualified to preach. It is a gradual process that one becomes sense controlled and sets a personal example. Preaching is not an easy thing.== * * In the beginning one should worship the Deity and follow the basic practices. When one becomes advanced he can preach. The *kanistha-adhikari* is not condemned. It is a comparative study. The *kanistha-adhikari* can also achieve perfection. If one does not preach, it does not mean that he is fallen, condemned. It is not artificial; one gradually becomes perfect by association.” ([[letters/1976/761030_srutadeva|Srutadeva dasa, 30 October, 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]]) ## With Yukta-vairagya 67-08 ==“== I am so glad to receive your first letter to me in India and also to receive your contribution of $10. You are always first in contributions, and therefore your contribution is also the first to come from the American centers. It is so stated in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* that the best use of the human form of life is to serve Lord Krsna by one’s life, resources, intelligence and words; so you are all good souls, especially your example is very nice, for ==you have practically given all your life and soul to Krsna consciousness and you are utilizing your resources for the Society and using your intelligence and words== for the furtherance of Krsna consciousness. So I very much appreciate your effort, and surely Krsna will bless you more and more, and you will feel it yourself.” ([[letters/1967/670829_satsvarupa_and_hansadutta|Satsvarupa, 29 August, 1967]]) *** 68-06 ==“== Your judgement that because you think that you cannot take part in the translation work, therefore, you have decided to contribute for its publication—this dictation from within your heart from Krsna is quite in order. For serving the Lord we require to sacrifice our life, our wealth, our intelligence and our words. ==One can serve the Lord with these four possessions; if not with three, if not then with two or even one and that is sufficient to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.== * * I wish that you can utilize your best talents in business organization and the result utilized for Krsna’s satisfaction is on the absolute platform. To make the idea more clear, if I am translating * Srimad-Bhagavatam,* and if you are contributing for its publication and helping for its distribution, this means there is no difference between your service and my service. In the absolute platform there is no such distinction. And service is always on the absolute platform. One has to make the best use of his talent for the service of Krsna. That is wanted. Best example is Arjuna, that he utilized his talents, military science, in the service of Krsna.” ([[letters/1968/680607_gargamuni|Gargamuni, 7 June, 1968]]) *** 68-08 ==“== On Sunday morning 29/6/68, when you were speaking, I was very glad to note that you have studied the whole question of social and spiritual upliftment of mankind in a very broader sense. I was also glad to note that your study is deeper than many of the so-called *sannyasis* who take the shelter of yellow robe for solving the question of bread problem. And because you are a critical student of everything, I am sure that you will appreciate the teachings of Lord Caitanya when you hear them patiently and scrutinize the same by all practical tests. ==Lord Caitanya’s presentation of facts is that you cannot kill the human propensities, but they can be changed for higher purposes.== * * You said of annihilation of desire or * vasana. * But you can think on it very wisely if * vasana * can be stopped at all. No. * Vasana * can never be stopped. The * vasana * is an eternal function of the soul and as the soul is eternal or * sanatana * souls so also is the * vasana. * Therefore * vasana* can be changed only from one object to another. The mind is always a thinking and feeling organ. It does not matter what does it think but it is a fact that it thinks. I am sure that you cannot probably put the mind completely at rest without thinking something. So the quality of thinking, feeling, and willing has to be changed but we may not attempt to kill the mind altogether. That is an impossible fact because the mind acts even after the so-called death or after the annihilation of the material body. So far *para-upakara,* which you have very nicely explained, is concerned—it is the only function of every living being. But what is the standard of *para-upakara* that should be known. On that way we must know the actual position of the entity entitled to received benefit. A patient suffering from a chronic disease may have many kinds of painful symptoms. The physician does not give much attention to the various symptoms of the disease but wants to treat with the root cause. Therefore when we wish to render *para-upakara* we must know the actual cause of the miserable conditions. You cannot do any benefit to a fish on the land by any amount of earthly comfort. The fish must be allowed to go down to the water where every comfort is there for it. Therefore we have to take account of the living being and its real nature. The living being is an eternal spiritual fragment of the whole spirit. A living being is called *sanatana* or eternal whereas the absolute whole is also called *sanatana.* And the *sanatana* activities of the combination of the whole and the part are also *sanatana.* These are the informations from all reliable sources of Vedic knowledge. Lord Caitanya’s teachings are based on the above facts. If you give it patient hearing you will know how He wants to solve the whole problem. He is as much Vedic as anyone can claim but he is more than any Vedic scholar with limited qualification. Lord Caitanya’s movement still awaits for being preached all over the world. And to broadcast anything all over the world-English language is the only medium of circulation. I shall be very much pleased if you kindly cooperate with this world movement very intelligently and be knowing it with all your reasoning powers. More when we meet on Sunday next at 10 a.m. Thanking you in anticipation.” (SPL to Ved Prakashji, no date available) ==69-06 “== As you are a very nice, good soul, Krsna will certainly bless you with all benedictions. It doesn’t matter whether or not you remain in this part of the world or in India. Wherever you remain you chant Hare Krsna regularly, and your example may be followed by others. The world needs this benefit, and when you return to India there are so many ways you can convince your parents that to take to Krsna consciousness does not mean one has to give up his worldly affairs. I know in India there are many foolish persons who think that by reading *Bhagavad-gita* one is apt to renounce this world. This is completely foolishness. Arjuna was a family man, a soldier, and he was directly taught the principles of *Bhagavad-gita,* but he never renounced the world nor the battlefield. I do not know why there are certain crazy men who think like that, that if a man becomes devotee, he will have no more interest in worldly affairs. We are not Mayavadi; we do not state that the world is false. We say that if Krsna is truth, the world is also truth because the world is a manifestation of Krsna’s energy. So if Krsna is true, how His energy can be false? The Mayavadis preach so-called monism, but they always distinguish *brahma* and *maya* ==. They say brahma is true, maya is false. We say maya is true, and because it is Krsna’s energy, she must be employed in Krsna’s service. That is our philosophy.”== ([[letters/1969/690605_candanacarya|Gopala Krsna, 5 June, 1969]]) *** 69-12 ==“== Regarding your question about items being used in Krsna’s service becoming spiritual, you should understand it that anything which will remind one of Krsna is spiritual, and anything which will make one forget Krsna is material. Actually, everything is of spiritual nature because everything is coming from the ultimate source, Krsna. ==But when something is offered to the Lord or when it is used in His service, then it resumes its spiritual quality because it will remind one of Krsna.== **Therefore, even though such object may not have consciousness, it will act as spiritual. It is just like when an iron rod is put into the fire: the rod has not actually become fire, but it will act in just the same way as fire.” ([[letters/1969/691204_bhadra_bardhan|Bhadra Bardhan, 4 December, 1969]]) ==70-01 “== Regarding your question: ’What is meant by an object regaining spiritual quality?’ The answer is that Krsna is pure knowledge and therefore He is the Supreme Person. In other words He is the Supreme Power and His Power is manifested throughout by different energies, as much as the power of fireplace is expanded by light and heat. When we perceive heat and light, it means that we perceive the original fireplace. The perception of Krsna in everything is actually Krsna consciousness. In our conditioned state we take it for granted something is separated from Krsna. But == == actually it is not so. Nothing can be separate from Krsna everything is resting on Krsna therefore, == things which we consider now matter, when dovetailed for the cause of the Absolute Truth or Krsna, regains its spiritual quality.== * * Another example may be cited in this connection. When we cook foodstuffs in the kitchen for eating ourselves, it is a different thing from the foodstuff which is prepared and offered to Krsna. The same * dal,* rice is material for one purpose but the same thing becomes spiritual when it is dovetailed with Krsna. So on the higher platform, there is nothing material when everything is accepted in relationship with Krsna or the Supreme Spirit. I think this will clarify your question.” ([[letters/1970/700110_bhagavan|Bhagavan dasa, 10 January, 1970]]) *** 70-02 ==“== Sriman George Harrison has certainly done a unique service by contributing $19,000 for publishing my *Krsna* book. When I was in London, he saw me four times and he was very submissive and devout and he was not at all proud of his well-to-do material position. He has a reputation as a first-class musician and he is considered to be rich or as they say one of the richest men in the world. Still he was not at all puffed up, but was humble, meek, polite and devout. So all these qualities and his service to Krsna will certainly help him in his advancement of Krsna consciousness. Thus I see that although he is not an initiated disciple, still he has been trying to help us in so many ways. This change of his heart has been possible by the endeavor of Syamasundara. Syamasundara tried to win his friendship by all means and the result obtained thereof was offered to Krsna. In the London temple the first-class Italian marble throne worth about $3,000 was also contributed by George through the service of Syamasundara. So actually George’s leaning towards Krsna consciousness has been greatly influenced by Syamasundara’s endeavor. *Srimad-Bhagavatam* recommends that we shall employ our life, our money, intelligence and words for the service of the Lord. So Syamasundara employed his intelligence to bring George Harrison into the service of Krsna consciousness and thus George’s money has been employed in Krsna’s service. This is the whole process of Krsna ==consciousness== — ==first of all one should dedicate his life for Krsna’s service; that is very nice. If he cannot dedicate his life then let him devote his money, if he cannot devote his money then let him devote his intelligence, and if he cannot devote his intelligence also, then let him devote his voice in Krsna consciousness by uttering Hare Krsna mantra== *.* Therefore, Hare Krsna *mantra* is the greatest common factor for self-realization. Please preach this philosophy wholeheartedly and Krsna will be very much pleased upon you.” ([[letters/1970/700208_yamuna_mandakini_ilavati_jyotirmayi_dhananjaya_digvijaya_jotilla_prithadevi_tamala_krsna|Bhagavan dasa, 8 February, 1970]]) *** 70-11 “The new procedures you are instituting on sankirtana party are very encouraging to me. ==The opportunities for expanding the sankirtana movement are unlimited. We should tax our brains as to what is the best way to present Krsna consciousness to particular people at a particular time and place== *.* I have always thought that in L.A. there should be at least ten *sankirtana* parties going out simultaneously and as you have indicated, such places as Long Beach and other areas can each have their own Krsna consciousness center.” (SPL to Karandhara, November 13th, 1970) 71-11 * * ==“Please give them all facilities to finish this work nicely. If Bill Prabhu holds a university post, then that is a very important position for spreading Krsna consciousness and he should try to keep it as long as it will be beneficial in that way. My Guru Maharaja used to say that anything material, if it is used in the service of Krsna it is a mistake to give it up.”== (SPL to Galim dasa, November 20th,* 1971) 72-01 ** ==“Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said that ’externally we may behave like ordinary men but internally we remain fixed in the service of Radha-Krsna.’ The Mayavadis cannot accept this fact and they take devotional service to be maya; therefore we call them Mayavadi. You should never, therefore, accept the Mayavadi philosophy, at any time.”== (SPL to Satsvarupa, January 29th, 1972) 75-09 ==“== I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 12, 1975 with enclosed check for $127.68. In this way you are rendering very nice service and the more you render service, the more you advance. This is the only way. Therefore the Vedic regulation is that whenever one goes to see some saintly person or to visit a temple, he must offer something. That will help him. ==It is enjoined that one should first of all dedicate his life and if it is not possible to do that, that one should dedicate his money.== **If he has no money, then he should utilize his intelligence how to spread Krsna consciousness. Or if he has no intelligence, then he should utilize his words that, ’Yes, they are doing nicely. This is a nice movement.’ This is the process for advancement in Krsna consciousness.” ([[letters/1975/750918_sushil_k._arora|Bhurijana dasa, 18 September, 1975]]) *** 76-01 ==“== You can attract the fair sex community. Most of them are frustrated being without any home or husband. If you can organize all these girls they will get a transcendental engagement and may not be allured to the frustration of life. Your engagement should be chanting and worship of the Deity. Jiva Goswami advises that in the Kali-yuga *sankirtana* is the principle worship. Even if one chants many *mantras* it must be preceded by glorious *sankirtana—sankirtana* is the *maha-mantra.* Yes, you are right, women are generally after sense gratification. That is the disease. Chant twenty-four hours a day and don’t dress nicely to attract men. It is better that you don’t make a large program. Remain a humble program. In *bhakti* there is no grotesque program. A humble program is better. ==We are doing all these grotesque programs to allure the masses. My Guru Maharaja used to say that no one hears from a person coming from a humble, simple life.== **You remain always very humble.” ([[letters/1976/760113_jayatirtha|Yamuna and Dinatarini, 13 January, 1976]]) ## Without Compromise 67-11 “I have seen your statement regarding opening centers. I am not in agreement with Mr. Altman that we are expanding very thinly. In my opinion a single sincere soul can maintain a center. You know I started the center at 26 Second Avenue alone. I took the risk of $200 per month for the rent. At that time there were no assistants. Mukunda was at that time a friend but there was no responsibility for him for maintaining the center. Gradually Kīrtanānanda and Hayagriva joined but they did not take any responsibility. Still I was maintaining an establishment simply depending on Krsna, and then Krsna sent me everything, men and money. Similarly, if a sincere soul goes out and opens a center in any part of the world Krsna will help him in all respects. Without being empowered by Krsna nobody can preach Krsna consciousness. It is not academic qualification or financial strength which helps in the matter but it is sincerity of purpose which helps on these matters. Therefore, I wish that you will remain in charge of Boston. Let Mukunda be in charge of San Francisco. Let Janardana be in charge of Montreal. Let Nandarani and Dayananda be in charge of Los Angeles and let Subala dasa be in charge of Santa Fe. In this way, you will follow my example as I did in the beginning at 26 Second Avenue. ==That is preaching: cooking, writing, talking, chanting, everything one man show. I never thought about the audience. I was prepared to chant if there were no men to hear me.== The principle of chanting is to glorify the Lord and not to attract the crowd. If Krsna hears nicely then He will ask some sincere devotees to gather in such place. Therefore, the advice is that thousands of centers may be started if we find out a sincere soul for each and every center. More when we meet. Hope you are well.” ([[letters/1967/671112_subala|Subala, 12 November, 1967]]) *** 68-01 “I thank you very much for your appreciation of my disciples in New York and you will be glad to know that all my disciples in different centers are being so trained. The four principles of restriction, namely no illicit sex relations, no animal food, no intoxication, and no gambling, are acting on their character. Character building is the groundwork for seating Krsna consciousness and the Vedic injunction is that one can advance in spiritual life by following the rules of austerity and celibacy. We do not bluff our students that he has liberty to do all sorts of nonsense and at the same time advance in spiritual understanding. ==And because we are a little bit strict in this matter, we have not a very large number of followers, neither do we want any large number of nonsense followers. We want only one moon at night, and we do not care for millions of stars.== **When we meet we shall talk further on this matter, and I hope you shall be initiated. I thank you very much for your nice letter and hope you are well.” ([[letters/1968/680118_rayarama|Jai Mazo, 18 January, 1968]]) *** 68-11 “So far Mr. George Harrison is concerned, he promised to call Dayananda, but he has not done so. Therefore I think it is not probable to meet him. It doesn't matter, let us grow slowly but surely. Let us try our best to spread this Krsna consciousness movement with sincerity. And Krsna will give us all facilities. After all, it is Krsna's business. We are simply servitors. Our sincere desire is to serve Him and this is our bona fide position. Krsna says that we should give up all engagements and be seriously in Krsna consciousness and surrender unto Him. We believe in this philosophy and we try to follow the principles and we instruct others also to follow the same path. That is our bona fide position. We are representative of Krsna because we present Krsna's order as it is. And therefore we are bona fide representative. If somebody inquires whether we are as good as Krsna, the reply is that it does not matter. We may not be as good as Krsna, and that is also not possible anyway. Krsna is great and we are minute particles. So how we can become as good as Krsna? This is false theory of the Mayavadi philosophers. But we sincerely serve Krsna, we are sincere servants of His Lordship, ==and we present things as presented by Krsna, and that is the test of our bona fide position and our bona fide presentation.== * * So don't be worried, do your best and success or failure does not matter. Krsna is absolute, so there is no such thing as success or failure in Krsna consciousness, or in other words, there is no question of failure in Krsna consciousness, whatever we do it is success. Whatever one may do in the material world, if he is even Rockefeller, it is all failure, defeat, because it will not exist beyond this body. He does not know that next life I may be dog or cat. But whatever service we can do for Krsna, even if somebody is not able to execute fully Krsna consciousness, whatever amount of service he does it never goes in vain. It will eternally remain. And it will act. Even somebody does small amount of service, and not even very willingly, still, he is assured to get human body in next birth, and chance to execute some service further. So there is no question of failure in Krsna consciousness. It is only success. Krsna says, My devotee is never vanquished. So we must try sincerely, that's all.” (SPL to Mukunda, 15th November, 1968* ) 68-11 “...it is very encouraging that Devananda is combating with Mr. Jarvis representing Maharishi Mahesh. Yes, in each and every meeting ==you should go and challenge these persons, but you must be equipped very strongly with the 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]]) *** 69-01 “I am very much encouraged to learn that you are bold enough to challenge any non-devotee as you did with that impersonalist yoga student. That should be the temperament with all our preachers. ==We should not be aggressive, but we should not tolerate any sort of nonsense. One who says that God is not merciful because He has made one person happy and one distressed is most nonsensical.== **This very statement affirms that man as a godless rascal. All of these so-called yogis are therefore rascals because they have no actual realization of God. Falsely they think themselves as God, and their association should be avoided as far as possible.” ([[letters/1969/690128_malati|Malati, 28 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 * * ==“The Press cutting sent by you is very nice. Every other organization has demand for money for their bogus classes but we don't demand any money. People should know this difference. I can challenge to all the other organizations that they are all bogus from spiritual point of view.”== (SPL to Brahmananda, 30th January, 1969* ) 69-03 “I am glad to note your arguments with the yoga meeting people. Actually this so-called yoga system and meditation that is so much popular in your country is bogus. ==But if we speak the naked truth to the people, sometimes they may get angry because unpalatable truth is not tolerated.== * * If we call a black man black he will be angry because it is unpalatable. So we have to present our case very carefully. The best way of presentation will be like this: 1) Yoga system is recommended in the * Bhagavad-gita; * 2) It is an approved system; 3) But it is not suitable for ordinary man, especially in this Age of Kali; 4) The so-called yoga system practiced by the people of this age is not bona fide. They cannot follow all the rules and regulations of yoga practice; 5) Therefore it is conclusive that so-called yoga followers are simply cheated and they are wasting their time. I have already explained these points in the * Sankhya-yoga * chapter of the * Bhagavad-gita As It Is, * so you read them carefully and present it, point by point, in suitable occasions.” (SPL to Satsvarupa, 19th March, 1969* ) 70-02 “All other points in your letter are completely agreed upon by me, and please execute the program accordingly. We ==must follow our own principles. We can go anywhere to perform the sankirtana but the process in which we execute the performances should be strictly followed;== * * namely first of all we chant and dance, then we deliver a short lecture on our philosophy, try to advertise our books and magazines and sell them, then at last we again chant and dance and conclude the meeting by distributing * prasada.* Generally we must have at least one hour time if not more for functioning this program.” ([[letters/1970/700220_tamala_krsna|Tamala, 20 February, 1970]]) *** 70-11 “It is always the difficulty with the *karmis* that they 'have no time' for attending spiritual functions or gatherings. Sukadeva Goswami analyzes the situation for the *karmis* in the narration of *Bhagavatam* as sleeping and indulging in sex-life in the night and in the day-time working hard ’Where is money? Where is money?’ and when they have got money, how to accumulate household paraphernalia, etc. Anyway, by the mercy of Lord Caitanya even such materially absorbed persons can be extricated from their entanglement in the *maya* by contact with offenseless chanting of the Lord's holy names Hare Krsna *mantra.* If you vibrate these transcendental sounds everywhere continually, it will pierce their ears and enter their hearts, and then their natural attraction for Krsna will be revived. ==So do not care for the temporary excuses of the unwilling and unfortunate persons, you simply carry our program forward distributing sankirtana, prasadam and literatures and the effect will take place.”== ([[letters/1970/701116_bansidhari|Bansidhari, 16 November, 1970]]) *** 71-02 “Our preaching on the basis of Personal God is almost revolutionary in India also. Last night somebody said that Aurobindo is greater than Krsna. So this is the world situation. Somebody is Krsna Himself, somebody is greater than Krsna, somebody says Krsna has no form, somebody says Krsna is dead and so on. ==Our program is to offer vehement protest against all these nonsensical declarations.== * * I am so glad to know that you are preaching alone assisted by a * brahmacari* at Gainesville and it is very encouraging that you are introducing our philosophy in schools, colleges, etc. This should be our present program of work. If you can introduce our books in the schools and colleges and libraries and preach there about our philosophy, that will be a great success.” (SPL to Gargamuni Maharaja, February 16th, 1971) 71-11 *“* ==The idea is if we speak the truth, those will hear who are intended to hear by being qualified or prepared. It is not that we should compromise to attract the mass *—== we are after the class.* *Still it was my method to make Krsna consciousness palatable to you Western boys and girls; how else could I attract you to give up your habits of sense gratification? Krsna philosophy can be approached from every angle because it is the Complete Whole, * purnam. * So if your scientific explanation, beginning from the point that sound vibration is the root cause of everything, and leading to the understanding that Krsna is the Cause of the sound vibration is having good effect, why not continue in this way. Only thing is to remain true to the authorities of Krsna, the great saints and * acaryas* and everything you say will come out nicely. People are of different natures so we have to use our talents how to convince people in different circumstances, that's all.” (SPL to Lalita Kumara, November 15th, 1971) 71-11 “A man is known by his actions and by his words. But sometimes it may appear that he is doing something, but he may be thinking something else. So a man is really known when he speaks, then everything is revealed. So if this Mayavadi *sannyasi* does not speak, then he can fool everyone. But if you force him to speak he will expose himself, therefore he is silent. ==Even he remains silent, we shall speak very loudly and expose these bogus men. Let our philosophy be challenged by anyone and we shall defeat them.== I want that you distribute our books very widely, as many as possible, then people will get the right information. We show people by the results: so many centers, happy devotees, big books, strong conviction *—* like that. Let people judge who is better by the results.” (SPL to Hiranyagarbha dasa, November 22nd, 1971) 71-12 * * ==“I am not much fond of the idea of changing things to accommodate the public* —== better to change the public to accommodate us. Therefore I suggest wherever there is Sanskrit used there should also be English spelling in brackets. In this way, the public will become accustomed to Sanskrit language so that in the future we may use only Sanskrit and they will understand.” (SPL to Bali Mardan, December 28th, 1971) 71-12 * * ==“Our process is to show Krsna consciousness as it is, not as others want to see it. By showing Krsna consciousness in this way, you are making the thing less important. It is not that we should change to accommodate the public, but that we should change the public to accommodate us. Better you devote your full time to one thing only, not many things. That way your enthusiasm and talents will have big effect by being concentrated.”== (SPL * to * Yogesvara, December 28th, 1971) 72-01 “The fact is that I am the only one in India who is openly criticizing, not only demigod worship and impersonalism, but everything that falls short of complete surrender to Krsna. ==My Guru Maharaja never compromised in his preaching, nor will I nor should any of my students. We are firmly convinced that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all others are His part and parcel servants.== This we must declare boldly to the whole world, that they should not foolishly dream of world peace unless they are prepared to surrender fully to Krsna as Supreme Lord.” (SPL * to * Giriraja, January 3rd, 1972) 73-11 * * ==“Regarding the rascal Bharati, yes, capture this rascal and defeat him in debating, and prove him as a rascal number one.”== ([[letters/1973/731102_satsvarupa|SPL * to * Satsvarupa dasa Maharaja, 2 November, 1973]]) *** 74-03 “We will present our program at Bhaktivedanta Manor exactly in the line of Lord Caitanya, by *kirtana, prasadam* distribution and speaking from *Bhagavad-gita.* ==We cannot deviate even an inch in order to attract the followers of the ecology philosophy or any other materialistic utopian movement.== **You say you know a number of influential leaders of the group, but what is the use of knowing them, since you yourself found them deficient and left them? Our ideal Vedic community will attract everyone on its own merit, and we shall be glad to welcome and accept everyone who comes without our compromising in order to attract them.” ([[letters/1974/740303_mahadeva|Mahadeva, 3 March, 1974]]) *** 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 Pannalaiji, 16 May, 1974]]) *** 75-02 “I have heard that you want to make apologies to the police and others. This policy is not at all good. We cannot apologize. We have not done anything wrong. ==Our policy should be to protest against this persecution if they are determined to suppress our movement there.== **However, everything can be settled peacefully, if they agree to drop the charges and give us facility to push on our movement without further harassment in the future. These are the two points to be considered, so, discuss with Hamsaduta and Bhagavan and do the needful.” ([[letters/1975/750206_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 6 February, 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]]) *** 75-09 ** ==“You have to deal tactfully in your preaching. Do not compromise the truth, but speak palatably so he does not reject it but accepts it. That is preaching.”== ([[letters/1975/750901_jayananda|Badrnarayana dasa, 1 September, 1975]]) *** 75-09 “I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 15th, 1975 with the enclosed copies of the latest issue of *Back to Godhead,* No. 10. I can say that each issue you produce is an improvement on the previous one. This is very good. You are doing it enthusiastically. For the article of my touring they have selected the photos very nicely. ==We can talk with anyone. Marx, Darwin, all professors and politicians, we can challenge and defeat them. Our philosophy is so perfect.== So go on exposing them, that is the purpose of *Back to Godhead* paper, to expose their materialistic ideas as all nonsense and present the real philosophy that Lord gives. This is the real knowledge.” ([[letters/1975/750926_jagadisa|Jagannatha Suta dasa, 26 September, 1975]]) *** 76-01 “I was very glad to learn how our devotees are coming out victorious in the preaching to the university professors and students. Other groups have no philosophy nor do they have any idea of spiritual life, what to speak of living it. ==Our movement is authorized. Our books are based on the statements of the most exalted devotees. And if we follow strictly the guidelines for devotional service as they are given in The Nectar of Devotion and The Nectar of Instruction, then no one can touch us== *.* Our position is definitely due to our books, therefore I am always pressing on this point. All the groups are declining including the Christians. We are being harassed by the authorities and they are all Christians. Because they are losing ground, and we are increasing, they are trying to stop us. There is always this battle between the demons and the devotees, but the devotees always win because they are protected by Krsna.” ([[letters/1976/760111_bahudak|Bahudaka, 11 January, 1976]]) ## Temple Worship 68-02 “Yes, the verse concerning *arca vigraha* is like this: *arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu, nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih.* The meaning is that one should not think of the Deity as made of stone, wood, etc. Another verse is: *arcayam eva haraye, pujam yah sraddhayehate.* The meaning is that ==one who worships the Deity with great devotion but doesn't show any devotion to the devotees of the Lord, or doesn't preach Krsna consciousness for the benefit of the general public; he is in the lower stage of devotional service.”== (SPL to Madhusudana, 1st February, 1968*) 69-05 “I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 14th, 1969 and 1 have received a similar letter from Brahmananda also that you are finding some difficulty in keeping pace regularly with the routine work. My advice to you under the circumstances is that at least for one hour you must all go to have *sankirtana* outside on the streets or in the park. That is your life and soul, first business. The next business is completing the chanting of sixteen rounds every day. The next business is your editing and if you find extra time then you can attend the temple ceremonies. Otherwise you can stop these activities, but outdoor *kirtana,* your editing work and chanting of sixteen rounds must be done. ==Outdoor kirtana must be done, even at the cost of suspending all editorial work. If need be, the whole temple can be locked, but the outdoor kirtana cannot be stopped.”== (SPL to Rayarama, 17th May, 1969*) 69-05 “I have received a letter from my Godbrother informing me that in Vietnam also somebody is spreading Hare Krsna movement. So there is no need to be disappointed. You go on with your work as best as Krsna gives you the opportunity, and there is no cause of your anxiety. Everything is going smoothly. But since you are now separated the strength of your activities appears to be a little disturbed. Now you try to assemble together in the same spirit as you were doing, and in that case, temple or no temple, your movement will go on progressively. ==We are not much concerned about the temple because temple worship is not primary factor in this age. Primary factor is sankirtana. But sometimes we want a center where people may gather and see, so a temple is required secondarily.== So try your best immediately to live together. I am very much eager to see that you are again living together.” ([[letters/1969/690527_mukunda|Mukunda, 27 May, 1969]]) *** 69-08 “Regarding your questions about details for Deity worship, I have already mentioned in a previous letter that I shall teach you these things when I arrive in London. In the meantime there is no necessity for you to increase Deity worshiping. For the time being these new Deities may be put away nicely until I personally install them and instruct you very nicely how to tend for them correctly. For the present you may join *sankirtana* party because I know that your presence will enliven everyone. Actually, temple worship is for the neophyte devotee, and the preacher is in a higher position than the neophyte. ==The advanced devotee should be very much enthusiastic in preaching the transcendental message of Lord Caitanya, and temple worship should be entrusted to the newcomers or neophytes.”== (SPL to Yamuna dasi, August 12th, 1969) 69-09 * * ==“In this age, chanting of Hare Krsna mantra is the prime business of the devotee, and preaching of this Hare Krsna mantra by outdoor sankirtana and propagation of literature is our more important business. Side by side, Deity worship is recommended, but when there is a question of accepting one of them, we shall prefer to accept chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra first.”== (SPL to Hamsaduta, 5th September, 1969* ) 69-12 * * ==“Sankirtana and distributing Back to Godhead magazine and our other literatures is the fieldwork of this movement. Temple worship is secondary.== * * People are invited to come to the temple to see the behavior of the devotees specifically in the matter of purification. There are two kinds of purification methods, external and internal. In our Krsna consciousness movement, Deity worship helps to keep us externally purified and *sankirtana* helps to keep us internally purified. So as far as possible we shall execute both of these processes simultaneously. And by your exemplary character, the general mass of people will be benefited. Our hearts in material condition are filled with all dirty things, and this Krsna consciousness movement is the cleansing process.” (SPL to Cidananda, December 15th, 1969) 70-01 “That is a fact, this plan of *sankirtana* is the only way, the only way for our success. ==Sankirtana, love feast and selling Back to Godhead are our primary engagements and next temple worship. Temple worship is needed for the inner section.== * * In the beginning, * sankirtana* is more important for drawing the attention of the people in general. Last night, I went to see our men chanting in Hollywood Boulevard and I saw it was so fine and satisfactory.” ([[letters/1970/700108_sudama|Sudama, 8 January, 1970]]) *** 70-02 ==“I am so glad to learn that you are taking very much interest in Deity worship and such activities must be accompanied with chanting of the holy name regularly.”== ([[letters/1970/700210_ekayani|Ekayani, 10 February, 1970]]) *** 70-03 “Now work with great enthusiasm and ask Himavati to take care of the Deities very, very nicely. Both of you have seen in LA how much they are careful about Deity worship. We have to make our steady progress, keeping both sides in balance, namely *pancaratriki-vidhi* and *bhagavata-vidhi.* The *pancaratriki-vidhi* is *arcana* or temple worship and the *bhagavata-vidhi* is to preach by chanting and distributing literature. ==Although chanting is quite sufficient to cover all the vidhis still to keep ourselves pure and sanctified we must observe the rules and regulations of pancaratriki-vidhi.== Our London Deities are certainly very, very nice; and everyone is captivated by seeing the smiling face of the Lord. It is very enchanting. Now everything is there and you are also experienced, therefore go on opening branches as many as possible and preach the *sankirtana* movement to your best capacity. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura entrusted the responsibility to my Guru Maharaja and he also in his turn empowered us to do the work. Similarly, I am requesting you, all my European and American students, to spread this movement city to city and village to village and make all people of the world happy. Actually, they are missing the central point—Krsna, therefore they are unhappy. Let us inform them about this missing point and certainly they will be happy.” ([[letters/1970/700312_citsukhananda|Hamsaduta, 12 March, 1970]]) *** 70-03 “At first I must thank you for your slides and the viewer which I enjoy whenever I find some time. The pictures of the London temple immediately get me there and I enjoy your company. So I can understand that everything is going on well in the London temple. The service of the Lord should be so nicely executed that Radharani will bestow upon you blessings, raising her right hand palm. You have got a very nice wife, a devotee and intelligent. So both husband and wife combined together please see that the temple service is being executed regularly and nicely and thus make your lives happy and successful. Side by side, both of you should train your junior brothers and sisters in the service of the Lord, so that in case both of you go for preaching work, the scheduled program of the temple may not be hampered. We should follow two important lines, namely the *pancaratriki-vidhi* as well as the *bhagavata-vidhi.* The *bhagavata-vidhi* is preaching work, and *sankirtana,* and the *pancaratriki-vidhi* is temple worship of the Deities. ==The temple worship will keep us sanctified and when we shall preach in sanctified pure heart the preaching will be immediately effective.== **So we have to follow the two parallel lines simultaneously for successful execution of devotional service.” ([[letters/1970/700315_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 15 March, 1970]]) *** 70-04 “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 12th April 1970, and the information is very encouraging. The more you worship the Deity very nicely, all of you will feel very nice and peaceful spiritually. Therefore, this point should be very much carefully attended. Similarly, in London Yamuna is also doing nicely, and ==all the wives of our students should be trained up for Deity worship and cooking, and when possible they should go on sankirtana party with their husbands and others.”== ([[letters/1970/700418_hansadutta|Hamsaduta, 18 April, 1970]]) *** 70-05 “As I have already said many times that we have to maintain two lines parallel, namely the path of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* and the path of *pancaratriki. Srimad-Bhagavatam* is the path for the *paramahamsas,* and *pancaratriki* path is for the neophytes. So ==the temple worship is necessary for the beginners so that by following the regulative principles such devotees become more and more purified and thus gradually come on the platform to understand Srimad-Bhagavatam.== **So we shall always keep these principles in view and maintain our centers on this standard.” ([[letters/1970/700528_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 28 May, 1970]]) *** 70-07 “I do not know what Kīrtanānanda Maharaja has told you, but where there is want of *pujaris* only Panca Tattva picture should be worshiped by performance of *kirtana* and as soon as Jagannatha or Radha­Krsna Deities are installed you will require some qualified *pujaris* immediately. If there is scarcity of such qualified *pujaris,* each center should be satisfied only by worshiping Panca-tattva of Lord Caitanya by performance of *sankirtana.* ==I am glad to learn that you are continuing your maha-sankirtanas, that is very nice. This is our main business. Temple worship is not so important as sankirtana on the public roads and selling our literatures.== **Your class schedule is also very nice.” (SPL to Damodara, July 1, 1970) 71-04 “So far as waiting for sending Deities, that is all right. Although there is no Deity, still this Hare Krsna *mantra* is considered to be the sound vibration incarnation of Krsna. ==Actually we should give more stress in worshiping the incarnation of sound vibration but whenever there is possibility of installing Deities and strictly following the regulations of worship, we should do this,== **but the essential part of our activities is to worship the sound incarnation.” (SPL to Visnujana Maharaja, April 4th, 1971) 71-09 ** ==“Your proposal for a grhastha traveling sankirtana party is a very good one but the temple work should not be neglected. Both things should go on simultaneously. Our process is to work on Bhagavata and pancaratriki-vidhi systems simultaneously. Deity worship is pancaratriki-vidhi system and preaching is Bhagavata system. If we keep both systems in a regular way that will help us solidly in our advancement in Krsna consciousness.”== (SPL to Makhanlal and Tilaka devi, September 24th, 1971) 71-12 ** ==“When our routine work, like chanting, reading books, nice arati, Deity worship, etc., is very nice, then our preaching will have effect. That is the secret.”== (SPL to Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, December 12th, 1971) ==73-01 “You have my sanction to take with you Gaura-Nitai Deities. Carefully worship Them, attending to Them with regular aratis and bhoga offerings. Be very careful to maintain a strict standard of worship, and whenever you arrive at a temple you can place the Deity on the altar.”== ([[letters/1973/730126_sudama|Sudama, 26 January, 1973]]) *** 73-02 ** ==“Regarding your question about taking Gaura-Nitai Deities with you on traveling kirtana, this is not so important. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring India He did not bring His Deity with Him. But if you can make proper arrangements then you may take Them, but if you say you have no brahmana then I think for the time being you may postpone this program.”== ([[letters/1973/730214_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 14 February, 1973]]) *** 73-03 “You mentioned about your temple bus, and that is very nice. When I saw Rupanuga's bus in New Vrndavana I wanted that there be a whole fleet. ==But you should not take Radha-Krsna traveling, better you take Gaura-Nitai. For serving Gaura-Nitai there is no offense, but if Radha-Krsna are there and there is some discrepancy, then there is great offense== **and this should be avoided. Therefore, I gave the same advice to Visnujana when I was in Pittsburgh. The idea of the temple bus is to attract them aboard back to Krsna and the hippies and college students, anyone, will be very much attracted to the program. Now you have my full blessings, so go out and recruit some solid new devotees to help us push on this movement.” ([[letters/1973/730323_sudama|Sudama, 23 March, 1973]]) *** 73-08 * * ==“To install Deities in a moving vehicle is not very good. There is always danger of falling and breaking. Sudama already has experience of this. Why is Deity worship being introduced?== * * It should not be introduced because it is very difficult to maintain the standard under such circumstances. If you have picture of Guru-Gauranga that is sufficient. You are wondering if you did the right thing by giving the Deities to Sudama, so the answer is no. The Deities may be brought back and worshiped in the temple as before. The idea of traveling *sankirtana* is to distribute books not to do Deity worship, it is very difficult to maintain the standard of Deity worship in the temple, how will it be maintained in a truck? Another thing is that opening temples should not be encouraged at this time. Subala did the same thing in Santa Fe years ago, why again he is doing the same thing? Hamsaduta in Germany instead of increasing the temples and Deity worship he has increased the *sankirtana* parties. He is running on eight new buses and distributing large quantities of literature, this is more important. Neglectful Deity worship means offense. So make propaganda in this way, but in the bus there should not be Deity worship, simply the picture of Guru-Gauranga.” (SPL to Jagadisa, 15th August, 1973*) 73-08 “I am happy to note that you are traveling and preaching. This process was also practiced by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In the beginning of his *sannyasa* life he traveled all over India for almost six years and my Guru Maharaja also traveled, similarly I am also traveling. One thing is that ==I do not know how practical it is to carry Deities in the truck, by the jarring of the vehicle there may be some damage and also I think that it is not possible to keep the top standard of worship, cleanliness, punctual offerings, etc.== **We must be very careful about Deity worship, if it is neglectful then it is very offensive and that will not help us, we should not do it simply for show. My suggestion is that all our buses should be outfitted with the picture of Guru-Gauranga, that will be quite nice. Main business of traveling buses is to distribute books profusely, what do you think?” ([[letters/1973/730828_sudama|Sudama, 28 August, 1973]]) *** 73-09 * * ==“My sanction for the Deities in the touring van is still there. But I have heard that sometimes the Deity falls down, so these things are objectionable.== * * Touring and book distribution, side by side, this is the main business. The general public will not be very much interested to see the Deity, it is our personal business. When you contact, with the mass of people, *sankirtana* is the main business. So considering all these points you do the needful, I have no objection.” ([[letters/1973/730904_trai|Sudama Maharaja, 4 September, 1973]]) *** 74-09 ** ==“Regarding taking the Deities out on sankirtana as advised by Tamala Krsna Goswami, occasionally the Deities may come and go, however you can let Tamala Krsna Goswami guide you in this connection.”== ([[letters/1974/740907_batu_gopala|Batu Gopala dasa, 7 September, 1974]]) *** 76-12 “I have seen the pictures of the Deity installation you have sent. It appears to be very nicely done. Stick to the principles. All the *brahmana* devotees appear to be very nice. Do this and be happy. In your country hundreds of temples like this must be opened. Town to town, village to village. I am very pleased. Another temple opened, another book published that is the success of this movement. ==Without book distribution the temple worship standard will also diminish. Therefore both of them should go side by side.== * * I can see in the pictures so many outsiders offering respect with awe and veneration. This Deity worship is very important. As soon as you get sufficient initiated * brahmanas* try to open another center.” ([[letters/1976/761228_kurusrestha|Kurusrestha dasa, 28 December, 1976]]) ## To Students 67-04 ==“Last night we had very successful meeting at Berkeley and I think there were about three hundred students who participated in the meeting for two hours, danced with us and after the close of the meeting they surrounded me to offer their respects and some of them inquired various questions. Every one appreciated what I could speak in the meeting for about forty minutes and so I was very much encouraged.”== ([[letters/1967/670407_kirtanananda|Kīrtanānanda, 7 April, 1967]]) ==67-05 “== You will be pleased to learn that yesterday we had a nice meeting in the City College, 138th Street. There were about two hundred students attending and the program began at twelve noon and ended at one thirty. First of all we chanted and prayed for forty-five minutes, then I lectured for another thirty minutes and then there were questions and answers for twenty minutes, then again there was chanting and dancing and *kirtana* for fifteen minutes and at the end all the students danced and sang with me. They appreciated the meeting. ==If we can arrange such meetings in the schools and colleges it will be a very nice thing, because my purpose of coming here is to enthuse the younger generation and it is very pleasing to me that Krsna is sending me younger generation sincere souls like you.== I think some of you like yourself, Brahmananda, Satsvarupa, Mukunda and Gargamuni, Acyutananda and all of you have already cultivated this Krsna consciousness in your past lives; now Lord Caitanya wants that this movement should be spread in the Western countries so most probably in your previous births you were all Indians and cultivated this Krsna consciousness. Now Lord Caitanya has placed you in the Western part of the world so that you can now combine together and broadcast the holy message all over the world.” (SPL to Kīrtanānanda, 5th* May, 1967) ==67-05 “You will be pleased to know that yesterday at noon at the City College of New York I had a very successful meeting amongst the students. There were about two hundred students present, and at the last kirtana they all danced and sang with me, and there were twenty minutes of answers and questions. This meeting was arranged by the Philosophy Dept. Chairman, so it was very nice and successful.”== (SPL to Mukunda, 5th* May, 1967) ==67-09 “Your== * * ==plan for starting an Indian philosophical society amongst your students is very good for propagating Krsna== * * ==consciousness. Wherever you remain please do not forget kirtana and it will do good to you and your friends.”== ([[letters/1967/670927_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 27 September, 1967]]) ==67-10 “I can understand that you have secured a very nice place in Boston and there is very good possibility of pushing our movement amongst the student community there.== Our movement is certainly very much appealing to the younger section of your country and if we are successful in the matter of attracting the student community in your country certainly this movement will scatter all over the world and the foretelling of Lord Caitanya that in every town and village of the world the Lord will be famous for His glorious *sankirtana* movement. Please try for this with your heart and soul and your life will be a successful mission.” ([[letters/1967/671006_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 6 October, 1967]]) *** 67-12 * * ==“Regarding Boston and Harvard University kirtanas, I quite appreciate your noble activities.== * * Our *kirtana* movement is genuine and if the unsophisticated students take it seriously, it will be a great achievement. I know that all these bogus yogis are cheating the public, but at the same time your countrymen also want to be cheated. They are cheating the public by words of extravagancy, saying that anyone can meditate even he is a drunkard. These cheap words attract people and these rascals become popular. So we don't want cheap popularity.” ([[letters/1967/671223_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 23 December, 1967]]) *** 68-02 ==“So far the speaking engagements are concerned, they must be well organized and sponsored so that there will be enough publicity and many people will come. We are not cheap, we want to speak something, but there must be good accommodations provided. There must be good sound system, and there must be good publicity beforehand so that many may know of us and come.”== ([[letters/1968/680226_andrea_temple|Uddhava and Cidananda, 26 February, 1968]]) *** 68-03 ** ==“It is very good news that you are holding kirtanas in universities; I very much appreciate your endeavors for holding kirtanas. Krsna has given you good opportunity for serving and you are doing it sincerely, so there is no doubt about your being promoted to the transcendental platform of eternal life, bliss and knowledge. I thank you once more and I shall always pray to Krsna for your advancement in Krsna consciousness.”== ([[letters/1968/680307_mahapurusa|Mahapurusa, 7 March, 1968]]) *** 68-03 ** ==“Today we had a very nice lecture at the San Francisco State College; the attendance was very nice and the meeting was successful as it was in Los Angeles. They have arranged many other meetings also which I shall attend one after another.”== ([[letters/1968/680313_aniruddha|Aniruddha, 13 March, 1968]]) *** 68-03 * * ==“In your last letter you informed me that you are holding class and kirtana in your college, and I will be glad to know the reaction.== * * You will be pleased also to learn that Rupanuga dasa Adhikari has gone to Buffalo to open a branch there and his report is also very encouraging. Although he has started his class just anew, still there is assembly of thirty students twice in a week classes, and out of them, ten students are regularly attending and taking part in this movement. There was press interview also with Rupanuga and they have reported very nicely in the paper, Buffalo News.” ([[letters/1968/680317_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 17 March, 1968]]) *** 68-03 “I have some lectures in the colleges, both in LA and San Francisco, and the other day I ==delivered a lecture in San Francisco State College and the students enjoyed the atmosphere very much. They heard our kirtana very attentively,== **and although my lecture was a little terse, on account of our prohibitory regulations, still the students heard me very attentively. And they stood around me even after the meeting was over. One girl questioned why I am against meat-eating and she was very satisfactorily replied.” ([[letters/1968/680317_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 17 March, 1968]]) *** 68-03 “Please send a copy of my *Isopanisad* as soon as possible. I believe it is lying in the care of Rayarama. We shall have to arrange for publishing it in a nice booklet just like *Two Essays,* and *Easy Journey to Other Planets.* Please see **about how to do it. It will be nice for our classroom instructions in Krsna consciousness, in the colleges. We ==are beginning instructions weekly in San Francisco State College, and there is prospect of having an accredited course to teach beginning next September. This is a very good opportunity.”== ([[letters/1968/680321_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 21 March, 1968]]) *** 68-03 “Yes, your devotion will grow at ’doubled rates’ as you give more and more service to the Supreme Lord. Krsna states in the *Bhagavad-gita* that the one who is spreading Krsna consciousness is the one most dear to Him. So, ==you are doing the most valuable service to the Lord by introducing your class fellows and friends to this sankirtana movement and therefore you will feel more and more increase in your devotion to the Lord.== * * Please continue to do like this * ,* and Krsna will be pleased, and you will always be happy in this life, and what to speak of the next.” ([[letters/1968/680322_balai|Terry and associates, 22 March, 1968]]) ==68-04 “The engagements sound very nice, and especially it is good if they pay us. We are not cheap, we are distributing a bona fide process, so for travelling far distance they should especially pay us something.== * * For television we should have at least one hour appearance; this fifteen or twenty minutes, and with nonsense questions by the interviewer is not very good. We should be given time for * kirtana * and for lecture. That will be best. And if you can secure some payment from each place we visit, that will be very nice.” (SPL to Brahmananda, 6th April, 1968* ) 68-04 ==“Last night we had a very nice meeting at Temple University at Philadelphia, and there were nice kirtanas and speeches and questions and answers from 7-9 p.m. They paid us $150 for transportation charges and my lecture fees,== **and on the 30th of April we are going to hold similar meeting in Long Island, at the State University of New York, at Stoney Brook. They also have promised to pay us $200. Similar meetings were held in different parts of San Francisco and Los Angeles, when I was there. So there is great possibility of spreading our Krsna consciousness movement, and if we work conjointly, with serious sincerity, we are sure to come out successful in this great adventure.” ([[letters/1968/680426_janardana|Janardana, 26 April, 1968]]) *** 68-06 ==“I have already informed you about my successful program in Boston, attending many colleges and universities, and the church meetings, practically throughout the whole month. And Sriman Satsvarupa is to be congratulated for his endeavor to keep me engaged in such meetings.”== ([[letters/1968/680614_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 14 June, 1968]]) *** 68-09 ==“Please accept my blessings. 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 me to become 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, the * 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 description 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.” ([[letters/1968/680927_mukunda|Devananda, 27 September, 1968]]) *** 68-09 ==“I am very much pleased to know that the students of different universities in Boston are taking some interest in our missionary activities.== * * You write to say that it appears the students are more discontented than ever and are openly stating that they do not have any solution to their discontent with the present civilization. It is very good opportunity therefore for presenting our manifesto, on the basis of * Bhagavad-gita As It Is, * and * Teachings of Lord Caitanya. * These books are also coming out very soon, by the end of next month. If there is good opportunity for agitating the student community in Boston, I must take advantage of the opportune moment if actually they are eager to know about it. I am sure they will appreciate the techniques of our movement if they patiently hear for some time. If they are ready to spare such time, I am prepared to deliver lectures on the * Bhagavad-gita As It Is, * as well as * Teachings of Lord Caitanya,* once in a week in different colleges and universities. But I shall appreciate their genuine desire if I am invited directly—so that I can know they are actually eager about it. In that case, I can cancel all my engagements in the Western part of your country, and may spare one or two months in Boston for executing this urgent and important work. The thing is that if they are serious, they must hear the philosophy for some time, and I am prepared to spare my time for this purpose. So I shall be glad to hear from you further in this matter, and then I shall chalk out my program.” ([[letters/1968/680929_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 29 September, 1968]]) *** 68-10 ** ==“Please try to organize the students in the State University, that will be a great service to the cause, but do it very tactfully so that the administration may not be disturbed.”== ([[letters/1968/681007_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 7 October, 1968]]) *** 68-10 ** ==“The Free University program is a good proposal and if we can introduce study of our books, Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Teachings of Lord Caitanya, that will be a great success for our missionary propaganda, as well as financial help to our New Vrndavana scheme.”== ([[letters/1968/681007_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 7 October, 1968]]) *** 68-10 “So far my going to Boston, unless the students agree to hear patiently for some time, *Bhagavad-gita, Teachings of Lord Caitanya,* the casual lectures will not be very much beneficial. So they are not very much interested otherwise they would have come to our classes. But I told you previously that I am prepared to go provided they pay the expenses. But I think that is also not possible. So why should you take the risk of getting me there and with great difficulty you shall maintain my expenses. I think it is not very much favorable, so we shall see later on what is to be done; for the time being let it be dropped. Students prayers twenty-four hours a day to listen to the political talks and desiring the war should stop is useless. God cannot be their order supplier. First of all they act sinfully, and when there is reaction of war, pestilence, famine and so many other nature's disturbances, they pray to God for stopping them. This is not possible. Just like a criminal first of all commits theft, burglary and debauchery, and when he is captured by the police force, if he prays to the government to stop, that is not possible. So they are engaged in all sinful activities and by nature's law there must be reaction. I am encouraging now cow killing or animal killing, and when by nature's law the turn comes upon me to be killed, if I pray I want to stop it, how it can be stopped? So their process is not very genuine. They want to make God as order supplier. So God is not order supplier. He is order giver. He orders everyone to surrender unto Him, and the fools and rascals who do not surrender unto Him, they want to order God in the form of so-called prayer, that He should ask material nature to stop her legal activities. That is not possible. So the situation is not very favorable, but ==if somebody agrees to hear Bhagavad-gita and Teachings of Lord Caitanya continually for some time, even they do not pay me anything, I am prepared to go and lecture. But not to take part in some political agitation.== * * So I was awaiting your letter if I was to go to Boston, now I shall prepare my next program, I think for going to Los Angeles. And my going to Europe is not yet fixed up.” (SPL to Satsvarupa, 9th October,* 1968) 68-10 “So far Seattle is concerned, we have opened here a branch about one month past, and it is well established. People have known it and ==students are coming from the university community, and taking interest. I've gone to the university and delivered lecture.== * * And last Sunday we initiated three devotees, and two or three are still waiting. So this branch is going nicely and the * kirtana * party led by Tamala Krsna and Jayananda, they are also selling * Back to Godhead* magazine daily at least fifty to seventy-five copies, and collecting money also, average of $40-50 daily. So this branch is very nice. I hope I shall hear soon that you are doing the same thing in Hamburg.” ([[letters/1968/681021_syama|Krsna dasa, 21 October, 1968]]) *** 68-11 “I hope the enclosed statement of certificate of your being an ordained *brahmana* will help you. As mentioned in the letter, you will be pleased to know that I am now admitted as ordained minister of religion in the USA. Now there is no difficulty of my staying in your country and ==if the students in different universities and colleges want to hear from me about the teachings of Lord Caitanya, Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Srimad-Bhagavatam, I shall be glad to accept such invitation, provided such students pay reasonable contributions.== I am getting gradually older, therefore even if I remain in your country, I shall restrain my moving and my main business will be henceforward to train you all my disciples for preaching work. I think you will approve of my program. Hope this meets you in good health.” ([[letters/1968/681101_satsvarupa_jadurani|Satsvarupa, 1 November, 1968]]) *** 68-11 ** ==“I understand that you have started to firmly initiate a campus society, called OSU Yoga Society. It would have been better to name it as Bhakti Yoga Society, otherwise the society may be understood as one of the many yoga societies. Anyway, whatever the name may be, it does not matter. If you are successful in capturing the students for chanting in the auditorium, it will be a great success.”== (SPL to Hayagriva, November 8th, 1968) 68-11 “I understand that you are trying to get more lectures at colleges, also in sociology and political classes and philosophy classes. You should not give political or social discussions, while speaking on Krsna consciousness philosophy from the *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* you can simply touch on some socio-political implications. Krsna consciousness is so broad and all inclusive that naturally when speaking in Krsna consciousness ==we get so many opportunities to deal in politics although that is not our subject matter. To do so requires expert handling.== * * You can take part in such classes and present the subject matter in such a way that it may at first appear like socio-political-philosophical affairs, but actually introduce our Krsna consciousness philosophy. That requires tactful handling. You can give it a political, etc., headline and then end it with our philosophy. This is * visokumbham payomukhan.* That means to give somebody a jar of poison with a label of nectarine or milk preparation on it. So we have to become politician in this way, just like in old politics there was presentation of *visokanya.* This *visokanya* is a poison beautiful girl. The idea was that a baby girl was from the very beginning administered little doses of poison every day, which she could tolerate. And gradually increasing the doses, culminating in large doses when she was youth. Such girls were engaged in killing enemies. The enemy will be received as a guest, and this girl will be engaged for looking after his comfort, and when they are friendly, as soon as the enemy will kiss the girl on the mouth, the poisonous effect will immediately affect because with the tongue the poison is very quickly effective. And the enemy would die. Similarly, we have to introduce Krsna consciousness in such a way that through politics and sociology they will be injected and become Krsna conscious. But instead of being a victim, they will be immortalized. That is the difference.” ([[letters/1968/681114_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 14 November, 1968]]) *** 68-11 ** ==“The handbill of Dr. Frog Ph.D. is very funny, and we should try to fight with these frog philosophers overcrowding all over the world. Your success in kirtana performances in the university campus is also very encouraging.”== ([[letters/1968/681118_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 18 November, 1968]]) *** 68-12 “I have received your letter of December 15th, 1968 and have noted the contents with much satisfaction and encouragement. This accredited course which you have attained at the University of Buffalo is a very nice breakthrough for Lord Caitanya's movement in the West. Please do this very carefully and seriously and I am sure that Lord Caitanya will give you the intelligence from within to successfully execute this new, important project. I think that under your expert guidance many of the students in your class will eventually understand something of the great importance of what you are teaching. By Krsna’s grace perhaps the more intelligent will also decide to join you and help you. I am handing over the course proposal which you have sent me to Hayagriva who is here in Los Angeles with me. He is planning to attempt a similar course in the University of Ohio. So ==if we can teach to the college students in this way surely it will be a great boon to our Society. You have laid the ground work for this project and for this I give you my heart thanks.”== ([[letters/1968/681220_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 20 December, 1968]]) *** 68-12 ==“I was very happy to read how you are keeping nicely engaged in giving lectures at schools and preparing for a puppet show of Krsna consciousness stories.== **This is very nice and if you continue to accelerate with engagements such as these then I am sure that you will be very successful in propagating this movement of Lord Caitanya. When Krsna sees that we are trying very sincerely to preach His message to others He becomes very pleased and showers all blessings upon the devotee. So please continue to progress in this spirit and I am sure that Krsna will arrange to see that your future in Krsna consciousness will be very nice.” ([[letters/1968/681221_syamasundara|Harer Nama, 21 December, 1968]]) *** 69-01 ** ==“Please try to introduce the reading of Bhagavad-gita As It Is in your university where you shall be teaching. I understand that some rubbish commentaries upon Bhagavad-gita are allowed to be studied in every university, so if you can replace our Bhagavad-gita As It Is it will be a great advancement for our missionary activities, and people will thereby be benefited.”== ([[letters/1969/690115_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 15 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 “Regarding the teaching at Sir George Williams University, if you like you may take charge, I have no objections. But if there is someone who may speak better at present, you should give him a chance. In either case, ==you should please try to introduce into every college and university our Bhagavad-gita As It Is. That will surely be a great service.== * * The * Bhagavad-gita* is well read everywhere, and you need only to convince them that this is the best edition.” ([[letters/1969/690130_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 30 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 “I am pleased that you have been speaking to educationists and you are trying to introduce them to Krsna consciousness. ==Try to introduce our Bhagavad-gita As It Is into every university and college in Hawaii. Along with Gaurasundara try to convince them that our publication is the best.== * * This will be great service. If need be, the chief men in various departments of the colleges may be given a copy of * Bhagavad-gita* to go through and decide. In this way, try to introduce it into every college and university religious class and book department.” ([[letters/1969/690131_vamanadeva|Vamanadeva, 31 January, 1969]]) *** 69-02 * * ==“As much as possible you should try to introduce to the colleges our Bhagavad-gita== * .* In every college there is a religion department, and most of them have interest in the * Bhagavad-gita. * So you can show the chief man of this department that this is a real presentation of Vaisnava philosophy. I have received a statement from Dr. Haridasa Chaudari of the California Institute of Asian Studies that ours is the best presentation of the teachings of Lord Krsna to the Western public. So if they are actually serious to receive instructions from Krsna in the * Bhagavad-gita * they absolutely must read this publication of * Bhagavad-gita As It Is. * If they want some nonsense upon the plea of reading * Bhagavad-gita * there is nothing we can do to help them. Everyone is free to act according to his inclination.” (SPL to Upendra. 1st February, 1969* ) 69-02 “Regarding my teaching in different universities, you will be pleased to know that recently I got one letter from Cultural Integration Fellowship president, Dr. Haridasa Chaudari. He has appreciated my book and he remarks as follows: ’The book is without doubt the best presentation so far to the Western public of the teachings of Lord Krsna from the standpoint of Vaisnava tradition and devotional Hindu mysticism.’ So actually this is the correct position of our Krsna consciousness movement. ==There are religious classes held in almost every university of your country, and they are eager also to study different kinds of religions.== So far as *Bhagavad-gita* is concerned, there is no doubt about it that I am the only authority in your country in this matter. Nobody can speak on the *Bhagavad-gita* so authoritatively as I can do. That is a fact. So if the university wants to take advantage of this opportunity, even in this old age I can go from one university to another, and I am sure they can learn from me the only true teachings of the *Bhagavad-gita;* from me and from my students who are already trained up in this connection. So, if something can be done in this connection, it will help our missionary propaganda, and the students shall get new light from our book *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.” (SPL to Brahmananda. 5th February, 1969* ) 69-02 “I'm also glad to learn that Boston center is improving and people are taking interest more and more. ==More important feature is that by Krsna’s grace you are given the facility of lecturing in various universities.== **Next spring by the first week for certain I shall be in New York and from New York I shall be glad to visit Boston, say for fifteen days and you can give me a tentative program of lecturing in different universities at that time. It is very engladening to hear that you have now secured an eight week seminar in yoga at Emerson College.” ([[letters/1969/690220_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 20 February, 1969]]) *** 69-02 * * ==“Regarding your endeavor to arrange my teaching in colleges, it is very, very welcome. I was just seeking this opportunity to teach boys and girls in the schools, colleges and universities. So if such opportunities are available you must capture them without any fail.”== (SPL to Brahmananda. 27th February, 1969* ) 69-02 “About *sankirtana* movement, in New York Brahmananda has also begun *sankirtana* in different colleges, and I quote herewith a few lines from his letter, 'You will be pleased to know that we had a very successful *kirtana* engagement at two colleges in Pennsylvania, Dickinson College and Franklin and Marshall. ==At Dickinson the students were so enthusiastic that practically all of them (fifty at least) were all dancing, what to speak of everyone singing and clapping. Even the professor, a dried stick scholar, danced in ecstasy:== So in the future we will stick to the principle of *sankirtana* movement and distributing our *Back to Godhead* magazine specifically and the other literature generally.” (SPL to Mukunda, 28th* February, 1969) 69-03 * * ==“In New York we have got engagement and they are paying $100 for a meeting, so you try to settle fees not less than $50 per lecture. So you can engage the whole duration of my stay there, and I shall deliver every day one lecture.”== (SPL to Satsvarupa, 23rd* March, 1969) 69-03 * * ==“Yes, you can accept the class on the 8th instant in the City College. I am going to San Francisco on the 31st so on receipt of your passage money, I shall start on the 7th April, reaching New York some time in the evening. And I shall be glad to meet the people from the New College while I am in there, as well as Seton Hall College. I would like $100 per lecture== (SPL to Brhamananda, 23rd* March, 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.” (SPL to Tamala Krsna, 6th* May, 1969) 69-05 “Regarding your questions about *sankirtana* party, I think you should try to always have *sankirtana* going on. All other things are subsidiary. ==This chanting is our life and soul, so we must arrange our program now so that there will be as much chanting on the streets and at college engagements as possible.== * * On May 12th we had a very successful engagement at Ohio State University, and over one thousand boys and girls were chanting and dancing along with us. So this policy should be continued as far as possible.” (SPL to Satsvarupa, 14th May, 1969* ) 69-05 “I am very pleased to note that there are some nice boys and girls who are joining you at *kirtana.* Try to show them the importance of our movement, and the best way of doing this is by *sankirtana.* Here in Columbus we had a very big meeting at the Ohio State University and more than one thousand students were chanting and dancing along with us. So there is very good potential for spreading our movement amongst the college students, and if we simply present them with the opportunity of chanting with us, and then we lecture on *Bhagavad-gita As It Is,* then surely many intelligent people will become attracted. ==So sankirtana party in the streets and sankirtana party in school engagements should be our chief business. This will assure success in our propaganda activities.”== ([[letters/1969/690514_ananda|Ananda, 14 May, 1969]]).* *** 69-07 “When Lord Caitanya was discussing with Ramananda Raya, Who is the best educated man? The answer was that ==a person who is in Krsna consciousness is the topmost educated man.== * * Similarly, Prahlada Maharaja stated before his father that one who has taken to Krsna consciousness, he is supposed to be the best educated man. In * Srimad-Bhagavatam* also it is said that unless a man is Krsna conscious, his external advancement of knowledge has no value. On the other hand, any person who is on the platform of Krsna consciousness is supposed to have acquired all the good qualities of the demigods. So your present engagement is very nice; neither I think that you can be better educated in the universities. Practically we find that in your country there are so many big universities, and the government arranges for educating the entire population, but still the hippies are coming out from the educational institutions. It is understood that in some of the big universities the entire student body has turned to be hippies. Of course the hippy philosophy is nice in the sense that they have been disgusted with the materialistic way of life. Therefore they want to renounce this stereotyped way of life. Unfortunately, they have no good leader, neither they have information that there is another beautiful life in Krsna consciousness. I am so pleased to learn that you have taken Krsna consciousness as the most valuable gift. One who can understand this, is not an ordinary living entity, but is the most fortunate. I think therefore that in all circumstances you should steadfastly continue your Krsna consciousness engagement, rather than joining any more universities.” (SPL to Giriraja, 21st* July, 1969) 69-10 ==“I am so encouraged to learn of your nice propaganda work in the local schools. Last Monday we were at a law college and at least one hundred law students were up and chanting and dancing along with us. So there is much potential for organizing the student communities to take part in our movement.”== (SPL to Upendra, 27th October, 1969*) 69-11 * * ==“Regarding my accepting a teaching position in Berkeley University, which is said to be the finest university in the US, this is also a nice proposal.== * * Actually, I want to have such position for some time in order to attract the university students. But one thing must be noted that I will not be free to take the class between eleven am and five pm. If that is possible you can negotiate for such post. If I actually get such post, naturally I will have to live in Berkeley. And as you say the climate is nice there, there will be no difficulty.” (SPL to Hamsaduta, 2nd November, 1969*) 69-11 “Regarding the building, if it is already acquired by the university then if you purchase, the university authorities must give you guarantee that they will return the money, whatever we have paid, after deducting the usual rent only. On this we can negotiate. For the land, first of all ascertain the real situation as I enquired in my last letter. Then try to secure it. But ==the university course should be given more stress than purchasing the house or securing the land.== This is a very important thing. If such courses are taken by you, then practically there is no need of my employment there.” ([[letters/1969/691118_umapati|Hamsaduta, 18 November, 1969]]) *** 69-11 “As you have now improved in speaking you can do nice preaching work. I think you must have improved in that way because you are going through so many transcendental literatures, so you must have your ideas and philosophical notions in the matter of Krsna consciousness. So it will be a great advantage if you get occasional speaking engagements in various schools, colleges and universities, provided they pay for it. In your country if somebody accepts a service free of charges or at lower rates he is considered to be third-class. So ==although we are prepared to render our services free of charge, still for the prestige of the Society we must charge.== **And if you get some scholarship stipend from the foundations, that will be a great achievement. Not for the money, but the foundations will gradually recognize what valuable service we are rendering to the human society.” ([[letters/1969/691127_pradyumna|Pradyumna, 27 November, 1969]]) *** 69-12 “I could not check my laughing when you have said so many things in bereavement for asking me to serve in the university. There is no question of bereavement. A child sometimes commits mistakes, and the father says, ’Don't do like this: So there is no question of being very seriously bereaved. There is a story that one man was very * * hungry and he went to an unknown friend and asked him to give him some food. The man supplied him a little foodstuff but he was not satisfied. His hunger was still there. So he asked the man for more food and the man said there wasn't any. Then the hungry man inquired from the other man, ’Which caste do you belong to?’ The other man said, ’I am Mohammadan.’ Then the hungry * * man said, Oh! I have lost my caste and still my belly is not satisfied: The idea is that if we have to accept some service, there must be proper remuneration. Otherwise, our free service is open in the temple. Anyone can come and take advantage. ==Generally in the universities they pay the teachers from $800 to $2000 per month, so at least they must pay via media not less than $1000 per month.== Anyway, don't bother about it. Go on with your business. But I thought that I required some money for my *book fund,* so I could gather some money in this way. But this will not satisfy my hunger so forget this incident.” ([[letters/1969/691207_sridhara_maharaja|Hamsaduta, 7 December, 1969]]) *** 69-12 * * ==“Please go on with the school course. That is a very nice program. In Hawaii also they are doing that; and also in Seattle, Los Angeles, etc. this program is going on. So it is a good opportunity. Sankirtana party on the streets, selling our literature, taking some opportunity for teaching students, and giving them nice prasadam: This program should be followed very rigidly and things will come out very successful without fail.”== (SPL to Hamsaduta, December 7th,* 1969) 70-01 * * ==“If Kīrtanānanda Maharaja moves amongst the school, college and university authorities and induces them to recommend this Isopanisad for additional reading by the students either privately or in the library, it will be a great achievement.== * * As you have read it, we have tried to discuss the nature of God's greatness and our relationship to Him as preliminary chapter of Krsna consciousness. So this book is the cheapest of all our other books and they can easily be introduced for mass reading and they will be benefited undoubtedly.” ([[letters/1970/700114_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 14 January, 1970]]) *** 70-01 “So far Hindu religion is concerned, there are millions of Krsna temples in India and there is not a single Hindu who does not worship Krsna. Therefore, this Krsna consciousness movement is not a concocted idea. ==We invite all scholars, philosophers, religionists or members of the general public to understand this movement by critical study. And if one does so seriously, one will understand the sublime position of this great movement.== The chanting process is also authorized. Professor Staal’s feeling of disgust in the matter of constant chanting of the holy Name of Krsna is a definite proof of his lack of knowledge in this authorized movement of Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Executive Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, January 14th, 1970) ==70-01 “I am especially enthusiastic for our Krsna consciousness philosophy or the teachings of Lord Caitanya to be advanced for the benefit of the learned circle and in this connection your well received expose at the university is encouraging.== Please continue your efforts to convince them of the great universal necessity of this scientific philosophy to solve all the knotty difficulties of life by practical application of the Vedic knowledge according to the *parampara* prescription of the bona fide *acaryas.” ([[letters/1970/700116_janardana|Janardana, 16 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 *Bhagavad-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.” (SPL to Dinesh, January 22nd* 1970) 70-01 * * ==“Extend your activities to the University campus because the younger generation is our future hope.== Bamboo while it is green can be bent and carved, but while it is yellow and ripe if there is any attempt to bend it, it cracks. Krsna is evergreen youthful Original Person and He gathers around Him all young boys and girls as cowherd boys and * gopis * in His eternal Vrndavana Lila * .* ==So try seriously to impress upon the young hearts and you will be successful.”== ([[letters/1970/700127_gajendra|Gajendra, 27 January, 1970]]) *** 70-02 “I am so happy to see that you have introduced our *bhakti-yoga* or Krsna consciousness classes in two universities, St. Louis University and Washington University. This is the real course of study for human beings and we should use such good opportunities to give the young collegiate boys and girls this education of spiritual science. ==So please conduct these courses diligently to influence the hearts of the students and encourage them to participate in your temple's activities as well as weekly classes at the universities.”== ([[letters/1970/700212_vamanadeva|Vamanadeva, 12 February, 1970]]) ==70-02 “Our Isopanisad is now published. This excellent book of God consciousness should be introduced as study book for school and college students== **because it is so nicely explained about God consciousness. Any sincere gentleman serious about knowing God consciousness must read this book. A little education will make everyone aware what is meant by God. It is a challenge to the atheists, agnostics, skeptics and gross materialists. Please get this book in quantities from Boston and try to introduce it.” ([[letters/1970/700218_sivananda|Kīrtanānanda Maharaja, 18 February, 1970]]) *** 70-02 “So far we are concerned, every one of us must chant 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 be convince them about our movement and philosophy with great strength.”== ([[letters/1970/700220_tamala_krsna|Tamala, 20 February, 1970]]) *** 70-02 “I am very pleased to learn how things are going on very well in Washington center and that you are nicely celebrating the various advent days of our great *acaryas.* ==But I am especially glad to know of your very successful work amongst the students.== * * This is very encouraging to me. I know that the young people of your country are all eager to take up this Krsna consciousness movement, simply we must sincerely present our program to them in such a nice way by chanting Hare Krsna, dancing, speaking something about our philosophy, advertising and selling our literatures, and distributing * prasada.” ([[letters/1970/700222_damodara|Damodara, 22 February, 1970]]) *** 70-03 ==“I am glad to learn how the students are friendly towards the devotees although they are generally depressed and rebellious. So Krsna consciousness is so nice it can pacify even the most rebellious person because it appeals to the soul.”== ([[letters/1970/700307_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 7 March, 1970]]) *** 70-03 “But I think if Kīrtanānanda Maharaja as well as you ==try to introduce our books for study in the university classes, especially in the religions department, that will be very nice and you can get good income out of that.== * * Kīrtanānanda Maharaja has already introduced to one college, similarly Brahmananda has also introduced in some college and in each place they have sold more than forty copies of * Teachings of Lord Caitanya.* So the potency is there because these books are not ordinary literature, being based on Vedic philosophy they are in a way a new line of thought to the Western world. And those who are really interested in spiritual understanding surely will appreciate. But for this introduction I don't find anyone just competent except yourself and Kīrtanānanda Maharaja. So you can think over this matter and Krsna will show some way out.” ([[letters/1970/700319_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 19 March, 1970]]) *** 70-04 “The moving *sankirtana* party was programmed long, long ago even when I was in India. When there was talk about our preaching amongst our Godbrothers, I used to say to my Godbrothers that when I would begin preaching I shall take 2 trucks, one for *sankirtana* party and one for carrying requisites, and I would go from village to village throughout the whole world preaching Lord Caitanya's message. So the time has come as per my dream, by the grace of Krsna you are carrying on this program. ==Please therefore organize this moving sankirtana party as you are already doing from one school or college to another. If we can rightly impress the Krsna consciousness idea in some intelligent student's heart, it will be of great service.== **Perhaps some time after, I will request you and Kīrtanānanda to go to India and execute this program in the student community there.” ([[letters/1970/700427_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 27 April, 1970]]) *** 70-06 ** ==“You have written to say that your sankirtana party is truly an ocean of transcendental knowledge and bliss. So everywhere they say sankirtana is nice. I have received letter from London and we are experiencing this here also. So this is our life and soul. It is nice that you are visiting two university towns regularly for sankirtana and lectures. Such news engladdens me.”== (SPL to Krsna dasa,, 22nd June, 1970) ==70-07 “== You write to say that your preaching work has not been very successful at the Ohio State University but your visits to several others nearby have been well received. ==This is good news that in several university campuses Krsna consciousness movement is well liked and you are giving a credit course next winter.== **So do not be discouraged that some of the young students are too much involved with some other business to listen, but go on with the work undaunted. Actually, the younger generation, especially the hippies, are our best clients, so they are feeling very keenly the frustration of material life and it is our duty as Vaisnavas to be very sympathetic with them and give this Krsna consciousness to them some way or other.” ([[letters/1970/700707_yamuna_gurudasa|Jananivisa, 7 July, 1970]]) *** 70-10 * * ==“It is most important if you arrange lectures and kirtanas at the schools and colleges because the more intelligent young boys and girls of your country are very much eager to understand this Krsna consciousness movement.== They are frustrated in so many ways and they are looking for some new kind of happiness which they will find in this Krsna consciousness movement. Please also try to introduce our books in the colleges and schools as well as local libraries. I have received word from other centers that our literatures are very well received and often they are being used as course textbooks in the schools and colleges. You are already preaching on the university campuses, so you add this book distribution to your program and make it complete with preaching, chanting of Hare Krsna * maha-mantra, * distribution of * prasadam* and literatures. I know how well this program is received by the students because they are very intelligent. You are also very intelligent boy and devotee of Krsna and Krsna will give you even more intelligence in proportion to your endeavor to serve Him faithfully.” (SPL to Nayanabhirama, October 26th, 1970) 70-11 ** ==“It is my desire that every American boy and girl receive a Krsna conscious education, so your program in the Buffalo area schools is very encouraging to me. Young people especially are eager to receive our philosophy and this must be presented very palatably, just as you have induced your young son, Ekendra, to become first-class devotee. Now you must make hundreds of devotees like him.”== (SPL to Rupanuga, November 4th, 1970) 70-11 “ ==I am glad to read in your letter you are going to the universities to preach. The universities are very important places because there there are men who can appreciate our philosophy. So when you speak in the classroom, just quote from any of my books and then try and explain the meaning in your own words and the students will appreciate it very much.”== ([[letters/1970/701109_vrindaban_candra|Tulasi dasa, 9 November, 1970]]) *** 70-11 ** ==“Please continue your work in the ’Bhakti-Yoga Society’ at the University, the students cannot be overestimated as our best prospects.”== (SPL to Vamanadeva, November 12th, 1970) 70-11 ==“I am glad to see that you are working in the universities. They are a good field for spreading our Krsna consciousness activities.== * * Try and get all our books accepted in the college libraries and classroom courses. That will be our real success. Dr. Cenkner is correct in saying that Sankaracarya's belief is personal. Actually he is a covered personalist. He became impersonalist just to drive away Buddhism. All of India was Buddhist voidism. So, although a personalist, he had to keep pace with voidism by expounding impersonalism. There is very little difference between impersonalism and voidism, but because he had to bring Buddhists back to the Vedic cultural form, he adopted impersonalism. From the * Padma Purana,* it is learned that Sankaracarya is Lord Siva, and who can be a greater devotee than Lord Siva? Lord Siva is considered to be the foremost Vaisnava.” (SPL to Damodara, November 12th, 1970) 70-11 ** ==“The school, college and university students are very receptive to this movement, so we must present them with an excellent example. They are very intelligent and bad experience has taught them to be cautious, so if you keep all your programs to the standard as I have already instructed in so many ways, then they will easily become satisfied that this is the real way of life for any intelligent person—Krsna consciousness.”== (SPL to Tirthapada dasa, November 13th, 1970) 70-11 “You have remarked how the students on campus receive our devotees and Krsna philosophy so well. It is a fact that they are eagerly looking for some real meaning in life and that reality is Krsna. ==So you must carry on work on the campuses very diligently and try to impress them with the importance of Krsna consciousness.== **I am very pleased to know that Sriman Singh is helping by speaking to campus authorities and students Krsna consciously at UCI. That is a very large University and many highly intelligent boys, girls and faculty can be approached there for joining our program.” ([[letters/1970/701116_rsabhadeva|Rsabhadeva, 16 November, 1970]]) *** 70-11 “It is very good news that your Washington temple is now expanded with devotees and you are increasing your program regularly. I am especially eager that all our books may be distributed to all the libraries and school-colleges of the world and so far the program of distribution has met with good success everywhere. So you also do it thoroughly with the help of your assistants. ==The university community is also a prime target for our propaganda work and I am most pleased to know that classes are being regularly taught at the universities and other classes are using our books as texts.== * * You are one of our intelligent devotees, so please try your best to convince the students of the necessity for chanting Hare Krsna * maha-mantra.” (SPL to Damodara, November 29th, 1970) 70-11 ** ==“I see that you are moving in the schools and universities for preaching. That is very good. Krsna says that this knowledge is the king of education. So it will be appreciated.”== (SPL to Karandhara, November 3rd, 1970) 71-01 ** ==“Regarding the college programs you propose to start this month, please carefully do it so that the young men and girls may take advantage of this transcendental movement for their ultimate welfare and highest education. Our program in the schools and colleges has everywhere been successful and I am confident that you can also carry on such a program with very good results.”== (SPL to Visnujana Maharaja, January 8th, 1971) 71-01 *“* ==Please continue your program in the universities. They are the best places for propagation of our philosophy and the students are very eager for this crucial information.== **They are not unaware of the futility of material education which gives a paper degree only, because it is common observation that the graduates are unable to find good employment and the students are becoming hippies, etc. So they are wanting something good and that best thing is Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Citsukhananda, January 10th, 1971) 71-01 ** ==“It is very good news that you are introducing courses in Krsna consciousness in the Universities and the yoga institutes. As you know this is the only real yoga—bhakti-yoga, and it is the only practical means for God realization in this age. So you are doing the greatest good for your countrymen and the world at large by introducing this sublime movement for regaining our lost position as eternal servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”== (SPL to Damodara, January 10, 1971) ==71-01 “It is always so much encouraging to me to hear how nicely you are distributing our books, especially to the schools and universities. Please continue in this way and let your fine example be incentive for all the other centers to follow.”== (SPL to Jagadisa, January 16th, 1971*) 71-02 ** ==“The best news is that the college students are so much receptive to our message of Krsna consciousness. Try your best to present the matter to them in such a nice way as we have already established and they are sure to recover their rightful position as devotees of the Lord.”== (SPL to Sridhama, February 15th, 1971) 71-02 ** ==“Also your college program sounds very nice. Preaching in schools, colleges and universities, along with distribution of our books and prasadam will flourish the propaganda of our mission.”== (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, February 16th, 1971) 71-02 ** ==“It is a very nice way to distribute our literatures and gain support for our movement, especially from the higher circles. Also book distribution to the schools, libraries, and various institutions is most important. So try and increase on these programs more and more.”== (SPL to Ranadhira, February 16th, 1971) 71-02 “Our preaching on the basis of Personal God is almost revolutionary in India also. Last night somebody said that Aurobindo is greater than Krsna. So this is the world situation. Somebody is Krsna Himself, somebody is greater than Krsna, somebody says Krsna has no form, somebody says Krsna is dead and so on. Our program is to offer vehement protest against all these nonsensical declarations. I am so glad to know that you are preaching alone assisted by a *brahmacari* at Gainesville and it is very encouraging that you are introducing our philosophy in schools, colleges, etc. This should be our present program of work. ==If you can introduce our books in the schools and colleges and libraries and preach there about our philosophy, that will be a great success.”== (SPL to Gargamuni Maharaja, February 16th, 1971) 71-03 ==“Your preaching program there sounds very encouraging and I am glad to note how you are approaching university officials, etc. with our philosophy. Go on in this way and Krsna will-surely help you. The more you preach in schools and universities and distribute our books, that will be the success of our missionary propaganda.”== (SPL to John Milner, March 24th, 1971) 71-03 “I am so glad to hear your program is steadily expanding in St. Louis and how you are regularly making university engagements and are being so well received. ==Actually these college students have all been misguided. Without Krsna consciousness, all their book learning amounts to zero.== **Simply if they will add Krsna consciousness to their curriculum all their endeavors will know perfection. So it is so important that we distribute our books, especially in the schools and colleges, because anyone who reads them is sure to become Krsna conscious. So make your program in that way and Krsna will surely help you.” (SPL to Vamanadeva, March 25th, 1971) 71-04 “I am so glad to hear how you are increasing your program at the schools and colleges and teaching classes there also. That is very encouraging. ==This university teaching should be vigorously done and our literatures introduced as well.== * * It is an ideal opportunity to do so. And you are getting free ghee from the city school system. That means support of the local government. That is very nice. If you can gain the sympathy there of the government, local state or national, that will so much enhance our prestige. So go on trying for it.” (SPL to Damodara, April 11th, 1971* ) 71-05 ** ==“This book distribution program is so very important. Also you should try and increase your programs at the schools and colleges and try to have a regular credited course in the University also.”== (SPL to Gaura Hari, May 29th, 1971) 71-08 “So we have to work very hard and with intelligence and sincerity for this movement. It is a great movement undoubtedly but it takes a little time to convince the higher section of the society. Still that is one of our businesses because unless the higher section understands this movement, it will make progress slowly. If the higher section says yes, it is a nice movement, it will progress very quickly. Our mission is undoubtedly the highest welfare activity to the human society. Everyone has forgotten his real constitutional position. Therefore all of them are hovering in the air without any concrete knowledge of the goal of life. Actually we are in the position to teach everyone, never mind however great a philosopher or scientist he may be, but everyone must learn from us about spiritual activities. ==All the universities and educational institutions are in darkness and still they are very much proud of advancement of knowledge. This we shall challenge everywhere and come out victorious.”== (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, August 21st, 1971) ==71-09 “So Krsna will give you all intelligence how to push on this movement. Already you have a program for preaching at the university and you should continue this program more and more. The universities are always good field for preaching and distributing our literatures also. So work very hard and just depend on Krsna and surely you will be successful.”== (SPL to Sri Galim, September 25th, 1971*) 71-11 “The idea is if we speak the truth, those will hear who are intended to hear by being qualified or prepared. It is not that we should compromise to attract the mass, we are after the class. Still it was my method to make Krsna consciousness palatable to you Western boys and girls, how else could I attract you to give up your habits of sense gratification? Krsna philosophy can be approached from every angle because it is the Complete Whole, *purnam.* ==So if your scientific explanation, beginning from the point that sound vibration is the root cause of everything, and leading to the understanding that Krsna is the cause of the sound vibration is having good effect, why not continue in this way?== * * Only thing is to remain true to the authorities like Krsna, the great saints and * acaryas,* and everything you say will come out nicely. People are of different natures so we have to use our talents how to convince people in different circumstances, that's all.” (SPL to Lalita Kumara, November 15th, 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.” (SPL to Lalita Kumara, November 15th, 1971*) 71-11 “Philosophy is the highest, but even higher than philosophy is practice of philosophy. So when your students apply Krsna philosophy to their lives, they will feel the beneficial result, and this will make your teaching work very easy. Just like you add hydrogen and oxygen and get water. So let them chant and learn *Bhagavad-gita* and they will get Krsna's mercy. I am successful in my teaching work because I have not deviated one inch from my spiritual master's instruction, this is my only qualification. So if you simply remain pure, your preaching will have effect. ==Kindly push on this college program. Only the most intelligent persons can understand Krsna philosophy, so it is very important that we spread this message to the intelligent class of men.== Soon I shall be printing my latest book, commentaries on your Western philosophers, and with this instruction you will be able to defeat all of the mental speculators and so-called scientists who are simply misleading everyone.” (SPL to Brhaspati dasa, November 17th, 1971) 71-11 ==“We should always be thinking of how to spread this sankirtana movement by applying our basic principles according to time and place, and I especially want that my students enter into the schools and colleges and present our Krsna philosophy and sell our books.”== (SPL to Badrinarayana dasa, November 18th, 1971) 71-11 ** ==“Please give them all facilities to finish this work nicely. If Bill Prabhu holds a university post, then that is a very important position for spreading Krsna consciousness and he should try to keep it as long as it will be beneficial in that way. My Guru Maharaja used to say that anything material, if it is used in the service of Krsna, it is a mistake to give it up.”== (SPL to Galim dasa, November 20th, 1971) ==71-11 “== I am pleased also to learn that you are teaching a university course in Krsna consciousness. ==Try to make this program very stimulating for all the students at the university by challenging anyone and everyone to try to defeat our Krsna conscious philosophy with their philosophy.== If such discussions can be held they will be very lively and the student body may take note and enroll in increased number. Philosophy is the highest knowledge, but even higher than philosophy is the practice of philosophy. So if your students can be enticed to practice Krsna philosophy, they will feel the practical benefit and become convinced, that is Lord Caitanya's process. As more students become involved in our philosophical discussions, you will be able to sell them our books. I want that my books and literatures should be very widely distributed, as many as possible.” (SPL to Galim dasa, November 20th, 1971) ==71-11 “== I am very pleased that your preaching work is going nicely. That is the test, that you are making devotees. Especially I want this school and college program. If only the intelligent class of men understand our Krsna philosophy, then our mission is successful. ==So try to attract these students with profuse prasadam and nice philosophy and they will appreciate more and more. Slow but sure, that is our motto—and class not mass.== So never mind some other Christian movements are getting many followers. The competition is beneficial for us. Everything is beneficial for Krsna consciousness if it is utilized properly. That is the art. Anything without substance will not last, so just demonstrate sincerely that we have got solid ground beneath us, not that we have only some sentiment, that's all. Many fanatic spiritual movements have come and gone, but without the flawless philosophy of Krsna, they cannot stand. Therefore I want especially that my books and literature should be distributed profusely. This is our substance, real philosophical information, not some weak sentiments. So try for this, to give all men this Krsna philosophy, and many real devotees will come with us back to Home, back to Godhead.” (SPL to Lalita Kumara and Jambavati dasi, November 27th, 1971*) ==71-12 “Your program of opening only a few more centers, concentrating instead on colleges and other parts of the world is also very nice. In fact, preaching in the schools and colleges is very, very important.== Practically you have introduced this college program in Buffalo. Now you make it perfect by infiltrating every school-college in your country, and give them pure Krsna philosophy, the highest knowledge. This is a great proposal for distributing our books, literature and philosophy.” (SPL to Rupanuga, December 10th, 1971) 71-12 ** ==“Also it is nice that you are infiltrating into the schools and colleges. These are the best customers for our philosophy. Give them nice philosophy, let them challenge us with any mundane philosophy and we shall very scholarly defeat them. The difference is that we have got absolute authority from the Source of Knowledge, Krsna, while your Western mundane philosophers are simply speculating on the mental platform, which is always changing.”== (SPL to Danavir, December 12th, 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 men's 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* ) 71-12 ** ==“So it is also very encouraging to learn that you are preaching in the schools. If you do this nicely, then you will have no end to your success, because these students can understand our Krsna philosophy and become convinced by it, more easily than others. So if they join you, then our movement will grow like anything.”== (SPL to Nityananda, December 17th, 1971) 72-01 “Your songs and poems are very much liked by me. Syamasundara informs me of 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 Krsna’s 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 Caitanya's movement.” (SPL to Kulasekhara, January 10th, 1972) 72-01 “I am very, very pleased to hear from you again and to hear that your roving party is having great success and opening many temples. Actually that is the process, travelling, preaching, taking opportunity wherever Krsna offers it and leaving behind solid centers where propaganda will continue to go on nicely. You are doing very good work and I am very much pleased upon you for such sincere effort. ==Your program of speaking in colleges and other places and getting paid is very much liked by me; in this way try to penetrate every school and college and introduce our books profusely.== **It is nice you are taking advantage of every opportunity for spreading Krsna consciousness by speaking on radio, attending engagements, etc. That is the method recommended by my Guru Maharaja-now you are practically demonstrating this fact with good results. So go on like this, you have all Krsna's blessings.” (SPL to Kīrtanānanda, January 20th, 1972) 72-01 ** ==“Krsna book distribution is our greatest propaganda for spreading Krsna consciousness. You must secure one letter from Temple University stating that our Nectar of Devotion is being used as a text. This will be very helpful in introducing our literature in all the big Universities all over the country. This is very important, so you may do it immediately.”== (SPL to Ravindra Svarupa, January 25th, 1972) 72-02 ==“I am encouraged by the amount of books you are selling, that is very, very good sign, and also by our course you are teaching in the University. That is our most important program: to teach in the schools and colleges and distribute many books and literatures.”== (SPL to Sri Galim, February 4th, 1972) 72-02 ==“I am very much encouraged to hear from you that you are teaching Krsna consciousness in the schools. This is our best field for making demons into devotees,== * * so if you give intelligent presentation of our Krsna philosophy in all the schools and colleges, there will be no end of devotees to push this movement on all over the world. Simply demonstrate chanting and dancing, and induce them to participate, then give them nice philosophy talk, with questions and answers, distribute * prasadam* profusely, ask them to buy our books and magazines and study them closely—that's all. Try for this program, and that will help me very much. Thank you, for helping me in this way.” (SPL to Madhucara, February 4th, 1972) 72-02 ** ==“The traveling SKP and teaching in the schools and colleges which you are organizing is excellent proposal, and I think that this is the best program for pushing on this Lord Caitanya’s movement: simply traveling and preaching, and infiltrating the schools where young boys and girls are interested to learn something which will satisfy them. In both activities you may distribute many of our literatures, and that will please me very much.”== (SPL to Jagadisa, February 5th, 1972) 72-02 ==“I am very, very pleased with your program to infiltrate the schools and colleges, especially by introducing our books and classes in Krsna Yoga.== * * I say one thing, if you can somehow or other turn all of these students and hippies, or even a portion of them to Krsna consciousness, then this movement will sweep across the world and save it from the present-day precarious condition when everything has become so much degraded. If many of their student class take up this movement, your country’s government will help, and if they help, there is immense potency for spreading to all other places. Now you push very cool-headedly and tactfully on this program of reaching and convincing the student class with our books and philosophy, and that will be your success of life and for that Krsna will very quickly reveal Himself to such sincere worker face-to-face, you may know it for certain.” (SPL to Rupanuga, February 22nd* , 1972) 72-04 “In every college and university all over the world, there are so many different courses available to help the student become more entangled in the material world and to forget his real occupation. But none of them offer any instruction on the nature of the spirit soul and his relation with the Supreme Soul.· So ==our program at these colleges is so important, because we are giving all these young people an opportunity to develop real knowledge and make their lives successful.== * * I am so pleased to know that all of you are very enthusiastic for pushing on this program. Always keep this enthusiasm, and increase it more and more, and Krsna will give you all help and guidance.” (SPL to Gunagrahi, April 22nd* , 1972) 72-05 * * ==“Regarding the high school programs, this is a very good opportunity to introduce our movement and try also to introduce our cheap editions of Krsna book.== * * Every student will be interested to read it. I think the whole set can be purchased for $2. Some way or other these books should be introduced to the understanding of the mass of people, especially these students. There are religion classes in schools, the authorities should be approached with the books so they will recommend *Bhagavad-gita* and *Krsna* book especially. At least there are no such books throughout the whole world, God is nicely explained. The authorities must implement God consciousness among the people, otherwise they are going to hell, and our books only introduce God so clearly that they must be introduced. At least nobody can tell so much about God as we can.” (SPL to Damodara, May 9th, 1972) 72-05 “I have heard that Revatinandana wants to return to the USA but I do not see any need that he should return. It is simply sentimental feeling. You report that he is doing very nicely by speaking at colleges and schools so let him continue in that way. ==He may take as many assistants as he requires and very strongly preach this philosophy to the student class of men. That is the greatest service.== **But if we allow ourselves to wander here and there without any fixed-up program that is not good. So at least let him remain there until I come and then we shall discuss further.” (SPL to Dayananda, 20th, May, 1972) *** 72-06 * * ==“Because there is close proximity of many students, the important thing to give them is our books and literature. They are interested to get knowledge,== * * but the materialistic knowledge will lead them astray from real goal of their intelligence, and all of their credits in education will only add up to so many zeros. But if you yourself are very much well-acquainted with our Krsna or God, the center of their learning process, never mind they are scientists, chemists, politicians, whatever they may be, if they put Krsna in front of so many zeros they will come out with a huge sum and their life will be very much perfect. If you require assistance for preaching to the student class, I think Revatinandana can come there and preach very nicely to the scholarly class in their own language. Now in our philosophy classes, each day I am discussing one of your Western philosophies and so far we have discussed many, many philosophers like Aristotle, Kant, Hegel, Marx, like that, and now we are discussing Darwin and other scientists from your Western countries. Because they have missed the central point that we are not the controllers of nature, rather we are controlled by nature, and because they do not see that there is a Supreme Controller who is controlling even the nature, therefore their vast research and display of intelligence is only so much waste of time. It is just like a child. A child may play with the imitation of another child and the child will hold the doll and play with it as if it is real. But the parents who gave the child the doll, they know good and well the child is nonsense but they tolerate and enjoy sometimes. Just like my sisters used to prepare for me some imaginary *puris* from their toys of very small cooking things, and I used to pretend I was eating them and we were quite happy that this was the same thing just like our parents were doing. We did not know we were nonsense, one nonsense cooking, another nonsense eating, but our father knew we were nonsense. So it is like that in this material world, everyone is acting more or less like children clinging to some playthings provided by the Father, and taking them very seriously. But when we become actually wise and see things from the point of view of our Father and take His instruction, then we make progressive advancement out of the childish nonsense stage of life or life in the material world.” (SPL to Tribhuvanatha, 16th* June, 1972) 72-07 * * ==“Especially I am very much pleased to hear that the University of Buffalo has given to you more than $1200 in grant== * .* I can understand by your enthusiastic preparations for Ratha-yatra in Buffalo that you are very sincere boy and capable devotee. This is very much wanted throughout the society of men, that some few of you will come to the understanding that by serving the Lord with my full energy that this will be my happy position of life and that no other occupation will give me any, not even an ounce of pleasure. Such persons like yourself who are thinking in this way are getting all intelligence and facility by how to do the things properly, and that Krsna is helping you with intelligence and ability, now you take the right course and utilize the opportunity given to you by Krsna to actually inject the human society with that same determination to serve the Lord. Only a handful of you are there who are convinced beyond any doubt about this Krsna consciousness movement, but is sufficient to change the entire course of history.” (SPL to Gunagrahi, 3rd* July, 1972) 72-07 “I have heard from Bhakti dasa that the University in San Diego where I spoke is willing to have me there, so unless you are able to arrange something there at Berkeley or San Francisco, I shall probably teach at San Diego. Accredited or not accredited, it doesn't matter, ==I simply want to present this great philosophy to serious students who will understand it and deliver the world from the present-day ignorance of misinformation,== **so if you can help me in this way I shall very much appreciate.” ([[letters/1972/720714_rsabhadeva|Rsabhadeva, 14 July, 1972]]) *** 72-09 ** ==“I am very much encouraged to hear that you want to open a Krsna Yoga Society branch in your high-school, along with Lalitananda. That will be the best service to Lord Caitanya, and it is the best gift you can give me. Thank you very much for helping me in this way.”== ([[letters/1972/720904_jadurani|Patty Dorgan, 4 September, 1972]]) *** 72-09 ==“I am especially interested in your college program for the students, because they are intelligent and inquisitive to understand the higher things of knowledge== *,* so try to approach them nicely and lead them gradually into Krsna consciousness or the topmost knowledge. I am surprised to hear that the universities are freely allowing us to reside on campus and propagate Krsna consciousness, this is a very good sign. I am going in a few days to San Francisco to speak at the San Francisco State University there on the topic of *’Krsna consciousness: The Best Alternative Life Style, the Ideal Community, the New Social Order.’* ====The professors and students at the University intend to ’Examine particular new movements in depth. The basic issue underlying the study of these movements is whether they comprise the beginning of a trans-national world culture, and what long-range social and political effects might result from them.’ So we shall reply in this manner and illustrate that the Krsna consciousness movement is the best solution for solving all these problems and that it is the best trans-cosmic culture for making everyone happy.” ([[letters/1972/720929_jagadisa|Jagadisa, 29 September, 1972]]) *** 72-10 ==“Your program for the university students is very, very nice, try to do it seriously and with scholarly approach. Yes, your chief weapon will be prasada, because everyone likes to eat nice foodstuffs and philosophy and other things will come gradually. In this way try to make many devotees, just like so many of you my top grade disciples came from Buffalo University under the direction of Rupanuga.”== ([[letters/1972/721023_narottamananda|Narottamananda, 23 October, 1972]]) *** 72-11 * * ==“Especially I am so much pleased to hear that you are travelling with a few men to each and every college campus to preach. That is wonderful news. Now try to build up and develop that program to perfection== * ,* so that simply by hearing and seeing you the students will want to come forward to join this great movement. And distribute books, as many as you can, and I think you can distribute many millions of books alone, that Krsna will help you do.” ([[letters/1972/721123_hrdayananda|Hrdayananda, 23 November, 1972]]) *** 72-12 “We are not dogma or like army camp, no. We are servants of Krsna, that means because we understand that Krsna is our protector under all circumstances, we have no more any anxiety, so we become very liberal and tolerant of all kinds of seeing others’ sinful activities, and we see them innocent victims of *maya,* and we try to help them understand what is the real position of life. So you know this art, how to attract and engage men, so aim yourself at the top-class of men and give them every opportunity and facility to become convinced of our philosophy and engage themselves to their satisfaction. That will be the best contribution. Now spread this idea also to the other leaders. So now I do not think there will be any difficulty for you to fill your Seattle center with the best devotees in our movement, and then I shall be very glad to come there at next opportunity to give them all my personal instruction. In this way, ==appeal yourself to the high class of men, not the mass. Mass, too, we do not eliminate anyone, but if the best men are there to run on things, the mass will follow later.”== (SPL to Sukadeva, 13th December, 1972*) 72-12 “I have had a good laugh and enjoyed your tricking the opponent candidates in election race, especially in front of the college students. That is a very good sign. Now I want that we shall recruit more and more our men amongst the intelligent class of men. Because they are a little educated or they have got some wealth or fame or ability, so they will be sometimes little puffed-up, but that is all right, they deserve it. ==Now we shall have to learn the art how to approach such higher-class of men and attract them to apply themselves to this Krsna consciousness process of self realization. That requires much tact, and we shall have to expect to meet all challenges by sharp minds.== **But if we remain always absorbed in remembering Lord Caitanya, how He converted so many intelligent men, even sitting for three days and nights to hear them speak without Himself speaking anything, and if we remember how Krsna was so much patient to explain everything to Arjuna, even Arjuna was speaking like a fool—in this way, being always tolerant of others and appreciating their points of view, it will be easy matter for us to convince them gradually to join us. So you have got a very great opportunity for this kind of preaching work. You want to place yourself for public office, that is nice. But that will require your best brain how to do it. Try to win, why not? Of course we may utilize the situation to expose our philosophy and ideas, but if there is also competition spirit, that will increase our enthusiasm to preach and try to convince the citizens. So if there is again occasion for voting race, why not invite and organize some of the other devotees in your country who have got some experience to advertise, canvass, make propaganda, like that, and they may come there for a few weeks at a time to help you. In this way, make big, big propaganda. Attract the public to hear our views and plans for practical welfare for the common men. You are American boys and girls, you have got the best brains, now cooperate to place this Krsna consciousness movement at the front of all others, that is my request.” ([[letters/1972/721213_balavanta|Balavanta, 13 December, 1972]]) *** 72-12 “Just like in your country, there was election, and the opponent of Mr. Nixon, he was supported by all high-class men, but because Mr. Nixon had help of the common men he was successful and won the fight. But, if even one such high-class man becomes preacher on our behalf, if he actually becomes converted to Krsna consciousness preaching work, then that is the best contribution of your preaching also. Just like George, now he is practically converted and he is only preaching about Krsna, and he has done that from the beginning. I think you knew him in London also, so you know how he is helping us push on the preaching. So that type of big personality, if you can catch one or two such men for preaching contribution, Oh! that will be wonderful achievement for you. ==We want that the mass shall support us, but we want that the class shall preach for us, that is the distinction.== Is it clear? Please inform me from time to time how that program, of inducing influential men to preach somehow or other our Krsna philosophy is progressing. I know that you have got good ability to do that work I remember how you used to bring so many big men to see me in London, at that John Lennon's house. So if you sincerely desire to serve Him in that way, Krsna will give you every opportunity and intelligence how to seize it up, that He says: *tesam satata-yuktanam, bhajatam priti-purvakam dadami buddhi-yogam tam, yena mam upayanti te (B.G. 10.10) Hoping this meets you and your nice wife, Janaki, in good health.” ([[letters/1972/721227_mukunda|Mukunda, 27 December, 1972]]) *** 72-12 * * ==“By this traveling and preaching in the schools, colleges, youth clubs, like that, selling books, this program is very, very much appreciated by me, and I think that you are accomplishing more good preaching result than anyone.== * * Yes, let the good men go with you to preach all over England, and the less advanced devotees may stay at the London temple and become trained up to the point of becoming experts and then they also may go out for preaching in traveling party. And I think if you continue as you are doing in this traveling and preaching program in British Isles that very soon the entire population of that place will become our good devotees of Krsna. I am very much pleased upon you for your working and helping me in this way. It is the highest achievement of this human form of activity.” ([[letters/1972/721231_revatinandana|Revatinandana, 31 December, 1972]]) *** 73-01 “We should preach in this way, whatever is palatable to the student class, and give them factual Krsna consciousness. ==In this way, try to recruit some men from the student class of men for joining us as future leaders of our Society. If we simply go on expanding and there are no qualified men to lead, then everything will be spoiled eventually== *.* So you have got the best opportunity for this great service to Krsna, and I think that Krsna will send you some very qualified men to take instruction from you. But one thing is, do not spend much time for topics that are not concerned with Krsna consciousness, neither try to speculate about history and other things. But the way you have described it, your program is nice. So if anyone students are serious to learn Krsna consciousness from you, give them all help and facility, let them accept gradually by their intelligence. Do not force, but if gradually they understand, they will voluntarily accept the life of *tapasya* or austerity of Krsna consciousness movement. In this way, by their voluntary agreement to join and follow strictly, they will assist me in the leading posts to spread on Lord Caitanya's message all over the world.” ([[letters/1973/730105_kirtanananda|Ravindra Svarupa, 5 January, 1973]]) *** 73-01 “So far your ideas about influencing the leaders of society, yes, that must be done. But political power is not in their hands actually, factually speaking. It is the common people who elect the leaders of your country. Therefore we must get the support of the common men. What good is the support of a handful of so-called leaders of society? But, on the other hand, if such leaders of society can be influenced to preach on our behalf, help us to spread Krsna consciousness in some practical way, that is the best service. But simply supporting, that will not help us. Support of mass of people will help us. But mass of people take direction from their leaders, so if the leaders of present day society can be persuaded of our beneficial working for the human welfare, and if they help us somehow to spread what they have learned from us to the people in general, that is the point to be considered. By going out for *sankirtana* and selling books to the citizens at large, in this way we are gradually getting the support of everyone, not just a select few. I have heard that during the last election of president in your country that the opposite party to Mr. Nixon was supported by most of the so-called intelligent class of men of your country, but still, what could they do, such high class of men, in comparison with Mr. Nixon? Mr. Nixon has got the support of the common men, therefore he is successful. So like that, ==we must get the support of the mass of men, and if the leading men can be induced by you to preach on our behalf, then you will be able to speed up the process and actually that is a very great service for Krsna.== Spending so much time with upper-class citizens to get funds must be judged on this idea, whether their appreciating our movement will have any practical effect in terms of widespread spreading of Krsna consciousness and preaching to the mass of men? The program, as you have mentioned it, of approaching the professors to introduce our books in their classrooms, that is the right idea. In that way the leading class, just like the professors, if they can be induced to preach on our behalf, just like introducing the books to their students is one form of preaching, if they will do like that, then spending time with them is very, very desirable and effective.” (SPL to Damodara, January 9th, 1973) 73-01 “I very much appreciated your publicity material for the *Bhagavata-dharma* program. Now go on developing it more and more to perfection. I am very much satisfied by this activity, that is your real work for Krsna. In this way, ==try to recruit some of the intelligent class of the student class to take up this Krsna consciousness philosophy and study it carefully. Try to recruit some of such men to become our devotees.== **There is need for intelligent young men to train them up as future leaders and preachers to go all over the world for spreading the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If we simply go to the college on one night and leave immediately for another place, it will be difficult to make very much impression upon these students. I think it is better to stay at one place for some time, at least one week, or as long as the students are interested, and try to sell as many books as possible. After your lecture in the college you may request if there are any interested students, that they may make further programs for you in their homes, or in some club or hall, like that, so that you may remain some time longer and concentrate on recruiting two or three good men, whoever appears to be the most interested, and by your diligent preaching to them you may be able to persuade some of them to become our devotees. Of course we shall not expect them immediately to come into the temple, like that, but if at least the seed is planted and they begin chanting rounds and following the principles while continuing their studies at school, that is our great victory. And if they like, they may go and live in one of our centers, wherever they like, and learn further. But we shall not present Krsna consciousness as anything dry or like set of rules and regulations only, no. Krsna consciousness is the topmost philosophy also, the highest knowledge of educational experience, so try to impress this aspect of offering the perfect scientific understanding of everything as it is, not the temporary and unsatisfactory and incomplete understanding of things. Try to present everything very logically and always quoting our Sanskrit authorities in connection with the main points, and that will impress them greatly. Yes, and if you also yourselves write something daily, that will sharpen your use of language and you will be able to make your points very clear. And if you dress neatly and conduct yourselves properly, that will help further.” (SPL to Satsvarupa and Hrdayananda, 9th* January, 1973) 73-02 ** ==“I think your proposal for seriously organizing the college programs is first-class. If this program is conducted in the proper fashion it can be our biggest book distribution outlet, I am convinced of this.”== *“* All programs must go on but it is a fact that this book distribution program is very, very important. It is real preaching work but I think this program for TV and radio is not so important. There are so many TV programs. Someone will see us on TV and then right after they will see some other nonsense and they will forget. Therefore it is better for them to read my books but I think your proposal for seriously organizing the college programs is first-class. If this program is conducted in the proper fashion it can be our biggest book distribution outlet, I am convinced of this. You are advanced devotee and you should use your intelligence to convince the professors that they should use my books in the colleges. This will be the greatest service.” (SPL to Rupanuga, 14th* February, 1973) 73-02 “I am very pleased to hear of your determination in spreading this Krsna consciousness philosophy on all these campuses. This is a very important program. ==Right from the beginning of my mission, I have always stressed and encouraged my disciples to work with the college students.== * * You should not be discouraged if people are not coming to your meetings. We are trying to please Krsna. That is all. We simply must go on with our business, to the best of our ability. We must always sincerely try to do our best with great determination. This is the transcendental position. Success or failure, this is not our business. We leave that up to Krsna. My Guru Maharaja said, it does not matter if anyone comes to hear. You go on with your chanting. If no one hears you the walls will hear. But this does not mean that we should sit down someplace and simply chant Hare Krsna for our own benefit. We should be always anxious to save the cripple-minded people with the science of Krsna consciousness. This is the position of a Vaisnava. One disciple of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Vasudeva Datta prayed to Lord Caitanya, please Caitanya Mahaprabhu, take all these people back to home, back to Godhead and I will suffer for their sins. Like this, this is the attitude of a pure Vaisnava. Actually the true Vaisnava, he is the only true humanitarian in the world today, for he is interested in the well-being of all living entities. So you will continue on and consult with Karandhara and the other GBC men and formulate some program to preach this Krsna consciousness in the colleges and this will please me very much.” (SPL to Satsvarupa, 15th February, 1973* ) 73-04 ** ==“Please go on preaching Krsna consciousness amongst the students because they are our best clients.”== ([[letters/1973/730420_govinda|Gaurasundara dasa, 20 April, 1973]]) *** 73-10 ** ==“Your plan to spend up to one month in each big university city sometimes taking an apartment for conducting regular evening meetings is approved by me. But do not open any permanent centers; just take the apartment for a month and then move on to another city.”== ([[letters/1973/731004_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 4 October, 1973]]) *** 73-11 ** ==“Regarding the arrangements for meeting the scholars in Chicago, yes, I am also anxious to see scholars. In the meantime our propaganda should be going on for drawing attention of the educational institutions to accept our books at least in the religious courses.”== ([[letters/1973/731102_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa dasa Maharaja, 2 November, 1973]]) *** 74-01 ==“Are you approaching universities and schools and attempting to get our books placed in classes? This is another important phase of our preaching work.”== ([[letters/1974/740108_jagadisa|Jagadisa, 8 January, 1974]]) *** 74-04 * * ==“Yes, by all means you may print my morning walk speaking about ’Life comes from Life’ into a small book; this argument should be spread, as any intelligent man will be convinced that our discussion is thoroughly scientific and exposes the so-called materialistic scientists as rascals.== * * So go on printing and distributing as many books as possible; this is your real work and your personal success.” ([[letters/1974/740421_whom_it_may_concern|Hamsaduta, 21 April, 1974]]) *** 74-05 “Your list of achievements by college course, *Yoga Club* and programs in general is very impressive, particularly that you have a regular four-credit college course at Fordham University wherein the students are required to read some of my books. ==The idea of employing an interested professor and making him the co-teacher seems to be a major break-through in our attempts to teach at the colleges. I am very happy about this.== **Now as you have described the process to me, make a newsletter and distribute this information to all the centers, so they can try to get the assistance of a college professor and gain accredited courses. The world is most sorely in need of education in Krsna consciousness, but due to the ignorance of the age they are not interested in knowledge of the self. So if by labeling the bottle in some way more to attract them we are still able to teach Krsna consciousness, let us do it. Krsna has given you good intelligence because of your sincerity; as He sees we are humble and sincere about propagating His message He will give us more and more opportunity.” ([[letters/1974/740502_pancaratna|Pancaratna, 2 May, 1974]]) *** 74-05 ** ==“The report of the BBT traveling library party is something new for us and this is also only the beginning. Please give my heartful thanks to the boys, Sriman Maha Buddhi dasa Brahmacari and Sriman Ghanasyama dasa Brahmacari. These books are specifically meant for the intellectual class of people in your country and I have great hope in the results of this preaching at the Universities.”== ([[letters/1974/740509_ramesvara|Ramesvara, 9 May, 1974]]) *** 74-08 * * ==“Regarding your suggestion for a book especially for use in college courses, if possible you can pick it up from my other books, articles and speeches. You have the idea, so you can do it, just suitable for them.”== (SPL to Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, 8th August, 1974* ) ==74-08 “Regarding Yasomatinandana's college programs, you should give him full facility for this preaching work. This should be very much encouraged. He is a good preacher in Gujarati and Hindi.”== (SPL to Giriraja, 16th* August, 1974) ==74-10 “Regarding Yasomatinandana engaged in college programs. When I come to Bombay at the end of this month or the beginning of next month, if he can arrange my lecture on the Bhagavad-gita in all colleges and universities, I shall speak to the students very gladly. It is good that boys are joining us and shaving up. Yes, whoever may live with us must shave and take kunti beads, otherwise they may come and go.”== (SPL to Giriraja dasa, 19th* October, 1974) ==74-11 “== Without being God conscious you cannot expect perfection in the human society. It is said in the *sastra* that if a person is God conscious, then all good qualities manifest in his person, but without being God conscious no material quality can make anyone a respected gentleman. Therefore ==it is essential to teach God consciousness in every school, college, and university to revive man's dormant God consciousness.== I hope you will continue to cooperate with us in this attempt. Thanking you in anticipation. I shall read the book when I get it.” (SPL to Professor Judah, 20th* November, 1974) ==74-11 “== I am very glad to hear of the continued success of the Library Distribution Program. You know it that I also was selling my books in this way to the schools and colleges and libraries. I would write, then publish, and then distribute without help. So how much pleased I am with you that you are helping me in this mission. So you go on with your work Krsna will help you. You are sincere in your purpose. ==This is very important engagement of visiting the professors, and the colleges and libraries, and getting the standing orders. This is the most important engagement. Do not doubt this.== It is also good that you are trying for the teaching course. What do the others know? Yes, simply they have written nonsense books. There in America is very good field. Regarding Franklin and Marshall College that was a misunderstanding. I am prepared to take the class. So you write the professor. You had told me it was very cold there, otherwise I was ready.” (SPL to Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, 28th* November, 1974) ==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 discussed 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 you are a * Bhakti-sastri* from ISKCON.” ([[letters/1975/751024_jayatirtha|Svarupa Damodara dasa, 24 October, 1975]]) ==75-11 “Your program in the schools, that is very nice. That is your success, that even the unruly students were well-disciplined:== *dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau. ’* I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Goswamis, who are always engaged in chanting the holy name of Krsna and dancing. They are just like the ocean of love of God, and they are popular both with the gentle and with the ruffians because they are not envious of anyone.”’ ([[letters/1975/751114_sri_v._s._murthy|Bhagavan dasa, 14 November, 1975]]) *** 75-12 ==“I am very pleased to note that you are attempting to preach seriously in the schools and colleges.== Prahlada Maharaja, a great devotee and authority in our line said, Krsna consciousness should be taught from the beginning of childhood. The defect of modern education is that the children are taught all nonsense things. They do not receive even the first point of knowledge, that I am pure spirit soul part and parcel of God. Everyone is interested in the body only, which is compared in *Bhagavad-gita* to a dress, ’As a person puts on new garments, giving up the old and useless ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones: (Bhagavad-gita 2.22).* This simple fact they have yet to learn. So if you can teach them just this one point it will be a great success, because this is the basic platform of advancing in spiritual understanding. If we want to read and write, then it is essential to learn first of all ABC. Whatever knowledge they have got now is on the platform of this body, which is a lump of matter only. There is no knowledge of the soul which is entrapped within the lump of matter, and so people are suffering because of ignorance of this simple point. So try to enlighten them on this point and make them happy, that will please me and Krsna, and thus you will become perfect yourself.” ([[letters/1975/751204_mark_phillips|Aja dasa, 4 December, 1975]]) *** 76-01 ** ==“Gaura Nitai Deities should not be taken into university classrooms. The professors and students will think we are fanatics. It is better to keep a big picture of Gaura Nitai which can be seen by everyone, rather than taking Deities into a classroom.”== ([[letters/1976/760105_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa Maharaja, 5 January, 1976]]) *** 76-01 ** ==“Wherever you deliver your lectures to students try to introduce at least our small books. If the students purchase these cheaper, smaller books, they will get a permanent impression of Krsna consciousness. Especially present them Easy Journey to Other Planets, Topmost Yoga, Beyond Birth and Death, Krsna Trilogy, and The Nectar of Instruction—these are cheaper and they can purchase them and read them easily.”== ([[letters/1976/760127_revatinandana|Revatinandana, 27 January, 1976]]) ==76-02 “As far as the college and university lecture party is concerned that is very important and it may be done very seriously.== **As a matter of fact Tamala Krsna Maharaja is here and he suggests that our educated gentlemen travel with his buses. So what is the use of working alone. Working conjointly is better. Therefore I have instructed him to call you when he returns to the United States. He has assured me that his college programs are very organized and he is very enthusiastic to increase.” ([[letters/1976/760211_svarupa_damodara|Svarupa Damodara, 11 February, 1976]]) ==76-11 “Your report on the library party is very encouraging, especially regarding the use of Bhagavad-gita as a text for College courses.”== ([[letters/1976/761118_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa Maharaja, 18 November, 1976]]) ## To Mayavadis and Voidists 67-03 * * ==“Gita Press is full of Mayavada philosophy which says Krsna has no form but He assumes a form for facility of devotional service.== * * This is nonsense. I am just trying to wipe out this Mayavada philosophy and you may not therefore order for any more copy of the English *Bhagavatam* published by the Gita Press. The one which you have got may be kept only for reference on having an understanding of the Mayavada philosophy which is very dangerous for ordinary persons. The Mayavada philosophy has played havoc in spiritual understanding leading to atheistic tendency. The interpretation that one has to be naked before the Lord is also Mayavada philosophy. The pictures which Dan might have brought in the temple are certainly unauthorized. In future before publishing any picture you must consult me. Any stage of life in Krsna consciousness [one] may be a victim of strong material energy. Therefore, we have always to take care and strictly follow the rules and regulations. You are a good boy and sincere devotee and I hope you will understand me right.” ([[letters/1967/670307_rayarama|Rayarama, 7 March, 1967]]) *** 67-10 *“* ==The last attack of maya upon the conditioned soul is impersonalism. There are four stages of attack of maya,== viz.:1) The first stage is that a man wants to be a protagonist of religion; 2) is that man neglects religiosity and tries to develop his economic development; 3) is to be a protagonist of sense enjoyment and when he is frustrated in all the above mentioned stages he comes to 4) which is impersonalism, and thinks himself one with the Supreme. ==This last attack is very serious and fatal.”== ([[letters/1967/671017_pradyumna|Pradyumna, 17 October, 1967]]) *** 67-10 “I have already requested Brahmananda to stop Kīrtanānanda’s speaking at any of our functions till my arrival. If he wants to preach anything he can do it on his own at a different place. ==Krsna is certainly one and different, but His oneness is stressed by the impersonalists which is distinct from our philosophy. Our philosophy of Krsna’s oneness and difference is explained in the Bhagavad-gita== (9.4) in which it is clearly stated that Krsna is one by distribution of His diverse energies. When Krsna controls His diverse energies He does not become impersonal. If Kīrtanānanda believes in one self, why does he stress the vibration and not the words? Why does he find difference in vibration and words? If he believes in one, there is no difference between vibration and words? And why shouldn't one be attached to the chanting? All this means that he has no clear idea and he is talking nonsense. If Kīrtanānanda does not understand this philosophy then better he should stop speaking nonsense. I can understand his designs but I cannot help because I am far away from the place. I am leaving here with a note to Kīrtanānanda which please show him and do the needful.” ([[letters/1967/671016_rayarama|Rayarama, 16 October, 1967]]) *** 67-11 “Differentiation between spirit and matter is a clear and practical experience; when a living creature is dead no amount of material advancement of science can bring back a dead body to life. The thing which is absent from a dead body is the spirit. As there is an individual spirit in the individual body, similarly there is Great Spirit in the universal material form. As the individual spirit is working systematically within the individual material body, similarly the Supreme Spirit is conscious of the universal body. The Lord knows what is happening in each and every planet as much as an individual soul knows what is happening in each and every part of his body. Therefore, the individual consciousness which is limited, when dovetailed with the supreme consciousness of the Lord, is called Krsna consciousness. “When I return some of you shall be offered sacred thread. I very much appreciate your version that Rayarama is roaring like a lion cub. I wish that every one of you should be lion’s descendant. ==Our Lord Krsna assumed the form of a lion and killed the atheist Hiranyakasipu and by disciplic succession we shall also kill an impersonalist atheist.== * * Absolutely there is no Krsna consciousness for the impersonalist. Hope you are well.” (SPL to Madhusudana, 2nd November, 1967* ) 67-12 * * ==“The impersonalist due to poor fund of knowledge, forgets the self. They are much concerned for being freed of all duties which is not possible by the living force.== * * The living force is always dynamic; therefore the living entity cannot stop discharging duties. Real duty begins in Krsna consciousness. The impersonalist cannot accommodate such spiritual activities of devotional service; therefore they are satisfied only by so-called knowledge of the self.” ([[letters/1967/671212_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 12 December, 1967]]) *** 68-01 “The marginal position of voidness between *brahmajyoti* and the material world manifestation is the destination of the Buddhist philosophers. Therefore, ==the voidness philosophy is worse than impersonalist philosophy. The voidness philosophy is simply nirvana, or absence of material manifestation, but actually it is a material stand whereas impersonal monism is transcendental to material manifestation and voidness.== * * Therefore, the conception of the * brahmajyoti * is more advanced realization than conception of * nirvana. * Nobody can be satisfied in the void or impersonalist philosophy; they are against the nature of the spirit soul. We understand from * Vedanta * philosophy that the spirit soul is by nature joyful. There is no joy in voidness or impersonalism because such imperfect philosophers do not know of the association of Krsna which is full of bliss and knowledge. They will fall down repeatedly into voidism and impersonalism with the result that they cannot stay there and they fall down to the material atmosphere. In * Bhagavad-gita it* is said by the Lord that these people, void and impersonalist philosophers, are in great trouble. If they are fortunate enough to meet a pure devotee of Krsna and if they are sincere in their search for the Absolute Truth, they will find Krsna consciousness as the last resort of their philosophical researches. Try to help these bewildered philosophers by presentation of your nice Krsna consciousness thesis which you have prepared, and I am sure Krsna will help you in all respects. Simply your sincerity of service is required and He will dictate from within you how to make your thesis. It will be a great service to the humanity, especially to the Western world.” ([[letters/1968/680121_janardana|Janardana, 21 January, 1968]]) *** 68-03 “So, my point is that whatever you want at the end, that doesn't matter, but you worship Krsna and He will award whatever you desire. One God, Krsna, means that let everyone come to one God, Krsna, and be engaged in Krsna consciousness, and the award will be as the devotee desires.... ==So those who are aspirant of merging into the formless effulgence of Krsna, they can also worship Krsna. That is recommended in all Vedic Literatures. But Krsna is the Supreme Lord.”== ([[letters/1968/680303_hansadutta_himavati|Seth Harikrishnadasji, 3 March, 1968]]) *** 68-03 *“Tattvam asi* means you are that. You are that, means you are also Brahman. That means qualitatively you are one with the Supreme Absolute. ==The Mayavadi philosophers interpret this tattvam asi that the living entity is the same Supreme Absolute Truth. They do not make any difference of quality and quantity, but Vaisnava philosophers are very accurate in their estimation of the Absolute Truth.== * * Therefore, we interpret this Vedic verse as * tattvam asi * means that the living entity is qualitatively one, as much as a particle of gold is also gold.” (SPL to Rupanuga, 12th March, 1968* ) 68-06 ** ==“I am so glad that your kirtana is driving away the Mayavadi philosophers from that part of the country, and Haridwar and Hrsikesa are full of impersonalists. If you can drive them away by your vibration of Hari kirtana, Krsna will be so much pleased and Lord Caitanya will shower His blessings upon you.”== ([[letters/1968/680610_harivilasa|Hari Vilasa, 10 June, 1968]]) *** 68-07 “So far I could understand from the letter of Kīrtanānanda, that we had no freedom of action because the land belongs to Mr. Rose who wants to develop an institution appealing to all sections of seekers in spiritual enlightenment. Such ideal of impersonal views can never be successful. ==That is the distinction between impersonalism and personalism. The impersonalists ultimate goal is something void, and therefore, any attempt for self-realization ending in voidness is all the same for the impersonalists.== * * But we, the personalists, we do not agree that all systems of self-realizing process end in the same goal. In the * Bhagavad-gita,* it is explicitly said that the worshippers of different demigods ultimately reach the planets of the respective demigods; the worshippers of the forefathers also go to the different pitri planets, respectively; the worshippers of mammon remain in the mammonish world; and the persons in Krsna consciousness, ultimately reach the planet of Krsnaloka. So our mission is to reach the supreme planet, in the spiritual sky, namely the Abode of Krsna. As such, we cannot compromise that all sorts of meditation gives the same result. This sort of view is practiced and preached by the impersonalist missionaries like Ramakrishna mission, that one may follow any path, but he reaches the same destination. There is no Vedic evidence, neither any proof of the *acarya* principles.” ([[letters/1968/680710_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 10 July, 1968]]) *** 68-07 “You know that Lord Buddha was Hindu, born in India, in a royal family, but because He advocated voidism, His philosophy was not accepted by the leaders of Vedic principles. For the time being, Lord Buddha's philosophy was accepted by Emperor Asoka, and due to royal influence, it spread all over India. But later on, when Sankaracarya preached the Vedic principle, the voidism of Lord Buddha was driven out of India. Similarly, when Ramanujacarya found Sankaracarya to be a second edition of Buddhist philosophy, he also expunged Sankaracarya as compromising the Buddha, and he established Personal worship of Lord Visnu. Later on, other *acaryas,* including Sri Caitanya, developed the transcendental reciprocation of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Lord Caitanya preached that loving service in the highest conjugal love with Krsna is also possible. So ==we are preaching the highest principles of loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such, there is no scope for compromising with any of the kinds of philosophies of the impersonalist school.”== (SPL to Hayagriva, July 10, 1968) 68-12 “It is just like that in the milk there is butter, but if you want concentrated butter you have to churn milk and take out the butter. Similarly, Krsna is spread everywhere by different potencies but when there is question of love, we have to be in direct touch with Krsna. That is personalism. The heat of the impersonalist sunshine and the heat in the sun globe is far different. One who is in personal touch with Krsna, their spiritual bliss in incomparable. ==The spiritual bliss derived from impersonalist realization is just like a drop of water in the presence of the Atlantic Ocean. That is the difference between personalism and impersonalism.”== (SPL to Gurudasa, 14th* December, 1968) 68-12 *“* ==The Mayavadi philosophers even they do not follow Sankaracarya because their philosophy itself is offensive. Sankaracarya has accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the Mayavadis take Krsna as a great personality only.== * * That is their misfortune. On account of successive offensive attacks on the Supreme Person. So therefore the subsequent result of Mayavadi philosophy, on account of their rigidity to this misleading philosophy, they cannot make progress. Besides that, as it is confirmed in the * Bhagavad-gita, * the personal feature of Krsna is very difficult to be understood by the non-devotee class of men. So the Mayavadi philosophers are, as a class, non-devotees. Naturally they are misled almost in all occasions. But some of them were extraordinary to come out and accept Krsna's personality. This is explained by Arjuna also in the * Bhagavad-gita.” (SPL to Gurudasa, 14th* December, 1968) ==69-01 “== In regard to your next question, self realization means God realization, and God realization means self realization. Just like to see the sun means to see oneself, and to see oneself means to see the sun. Self realization depends completely upon God realization, or else it is not complete. One must know his relationship to the Absolute Truth to fully know his position. ==The Mayavadi school simply discerns spirit from matter, but that is not Ultimate Knowledge. One should know the different manifestations of the spirit also. The highest manifestation of the spirit soul is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna.== In this age the mind is so much agitated that it cannot be fixed up on the Supreme Objective. Real meditation means to fix up the mind on Krsna or on Krsna's Expansion, Lord Visnu. The modern so-called meditator has no information of Krsna or Visnu. They try to meditate on something void or impersonal which is simply troublesome. It is clearly stated in the *Bhagavad-gita* that those attached to the impersonal feature have their path to be very, very troublesome. Not only in this age when everything is troublesome, but it was so in former ages also, so what to speak of this age. Therefore, in this age, to fix up your ears upon the transcendental vibrations of Hare Krsna is the highest form of meditation, and the only one which will prove feasible for you. We may or may not condemn the impersonalists, but they are already condemned by Lord Krsna in the *Bhagavad-gita.” ([[letters/1969/690122_vilasavigraha|Vilasavigraha dasa, 22 January, 1969]]) *** 69-01 ==“I am very much encouraged to learn that you are bold enough to challenge any non-devotee as you did with that impersonalist yoga student.== **That should be the temperament of all our preachers. We should not be aggressive, but we should not tolerate any sort of nonsense. One who says that God is not merciful because He has made one person happy and one distressed is most nonsensical. This very statement affirms that man as a Godless rascal. All of these so-called yogis are therefore rascals because they have no actual realization of God. Falsely they think themselves as God, and their association should be avoided as far as possible.” ([[letters/1969/690128_malati|Malati, 28 January, 1969]]) ==69-02 “Regarding your dealings with impersonalists, anyone who teaches of the impersonal nature should be avoided. If we hear them, it will hamper our progress. That will be the result-no progress. Therefore, rigidly we will try to avoid the impersonal teachings. Generally, it only produces bad effects.”== (SPL to Sivananda 13th February, 1969) 69-03 “Your second question: how the impersonalists mistake the difference between the soul and the Supersoul?—The mistake is due to their obstinacy. The impersonalists masquerade as Vedantists, but actually they are defying *Vedanta.* In the *Vedanta* it is clearly said, the Original Source of all being; in the *Upanisads* it is clearly said that the Supreme is the Supreme being of all living beings. So all the *Vedas* affirm it vehemently that the Supersoul and the soul are two different identities, although qualitatively one. But the impersonalists they accept *Vedas* as authority, but they go against the verdict of the *Vedas.* Lord Caitanya has depicted this impersonalist class of men as more dangerous than the Buddhists. The Buddhists plainly declare that they do not accept the authority of the *Vedas,* but the impersonalists masquerade themselves as followers of *Vedas,* but actually they are hidden Buddhists. The idea is, if a person is actually fast asleep, it is easier to awake him but if a person pretends to be sleeping but actually is awake, then it is very difficult to wake him up. So from all sastric point of view, the living entity and the Supreme Lord, or the Supreme Living Entity are always simultaneously different and one. One in quality, and different in quantity. This simple thing is understandable by any common man, but these impersonalists, they will simply invent jugglery of words to mislead innocent people. Therefore Lord Caitanya has warned not to associate with these impersonalist Mayavadis because they will spoil one's life by diverting one from devotional service. ==It is very difficult to bring to reason the obstinate impersonalists. For example, Prahlada Maharaja, such a great authority, could not convert his father to devotional service, who preferred death, and still did not agree to accept that God is different from him. So better to avoid the impersonalists as far as possible.”== ([[letters/1969/690314_rupanuga|Rupanuga, 14 March, 1969]]) *** 69-07 “ ==You have asked a question, ’What is the difference between a Mayavadi philosopher and a Krsna conscious person?’== **The answer is that the Mayavadi philosopher has only imperfect knowledge of God whereas the Krsna conscious person can understand Krsna fully. The example is given that a person may know about the sunlight, but that does not mean that he knows about the sungod within the sun planet. Within the sun there is a sungod named Vivasvan and his body and the bodies of the other inhabitants are made of fire. It is the heat from these fiery bodies that gives warmth and light to this universe. So if someone knows something about the sunlight, it does not mean that he has knowledge about Vivasvan. Similarly, from Krsna's spiritual body there is the emanation of the Brahman effulgence, which pervades the entire universe. The Mayavadi philosophers are trying for knowledge of this Brahman effulgence, but even if they are able to merge into this effulgence emanating from Krsna’s body, that does not give them perfect knowledge of the source of everything. This source is Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So both the Mayavadi philosopher and the Krsna conscious person are seeking spiritual advancement, but the Krsna conscious man is higher because he is going to the source of everything, including the Brahman effulgence. I hope you will understand this nicely.” ([[letters/1969/690730_yoland|Yoland, 30 July, 1969]]) *** 69-10 “Regarding your question about *mantra* twelve of *Isopanisad,* the verse as it is is correct. The Absolute means Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan. When the Absolute is realized hazily it is Brahman. When the Absolute is realized more clearly it is Paramatma. And when the Absolute is realized distinctly it is Bhagavan. So Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan are different phases of the Absolute Truth. But the Bhagavan aspect of the Absolute Truth is distinct from everything. ==Those who worship the Brahman and Paramatma aspect of the Absolute Truth are in a dangerous position because they have every chance of again falling down into the lowest regions.== * * This is because they are not fully purified, and the least trace of contaminated desire can cause havoc to one's progress. Just like one lit cigarette can cause a whole house to bum down, so incomplete knowledge of the whole Absolute Truth may not be able to save one from going to the darkest regions of ignorance. * Isopanisad* says that such persons who accept Brahman or Paramatma as the final word of God realization will be ’still more’ condemned. This is because they are offenders of God and are very stubborn to accept the Supreme Personality. If one refuses to progress to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then he is sure to fall down again into darkness. The worshippers of the demigods at least have fear of some higher personality, and that may eventually develop into fear of the Supreme Personality. But the impersonalists think that everything is Brahman, everyone is God, therefore they can do whatever they want; and that is a still more dangerous position. I think this will clear up the matter for you.” ([[letters/1969/691015_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 15 October, 1969]]) *** 70-07 “Regarding your second question how to convince young persons who are thinking that Meher Baba is an *avatara:* it is very difficult to deal with these misguided people. If you meet sincere people you may inform them that we are concerned with Krsna, Who is historically 5000 years old. So any other party who comes from India or any part of the world cannot claim such long history as far back as 5000 years. There are sometimes manufactured *avataras* in the history of the Vedic literature, but we don't accept them. We take the oldest one which is genuine-that is Krsna consciousness. We are not interested in anything newly manufactured. ==If Meher Baba or for the sake of that, any other Baba claims to be Krsna, so why any intelligent man will go to the substitute leaving aside the original?”== ([[letters/1970/700709_jagadisa|Janmanjaya and Taradevi, 9 July, 1970]]) *** 70-01 *“* ==Western culture is monotheistic, but they are being misled by the impersonal Indian speculation. The young people of the West are frustrated because they are not diligently taught about monotheism.== * * They are not satisfied with this process of teaching and understanding. This Krsna consciousness movement is a boon to them because they are being really trained to understand Western Monotheism under authoritative Vedic system. We do not simply theoretically discuss, but we learn by the prescribed method of Vedic regulations. But I am surprised to see that in the last paragraph of your letter you say, ’It is an indisputable fact that the * Bhagavad-gita (not to mention the * Vedas) does not require such constant chanting.’ I think, however, that you have missed the following verse in * Bhagavad-gita,* apart from many other similar verses: The engagements of the great souls, freed from delusion and perfect in their realization of God, are described here: *satatam kirtayanto mam,* they are always (satatam) chanting (kirtayanto) My glories, and *nityayukta upasate* —always **worshiping Me. So I do not know how you can say 'indisputable.' And, if you want reference from the *Vedas,* I can give you many. In the *Vedas* the chief transcendental vibration *Omkara* is also Krsna. *Pranavah Omkara* is the divine substance of the *Vedas.* Following the *Vedas* means chanting the Vedic mantras, and no Vedic *mantra* is complete without *Omkara.* In the *Mundaka Upanisad, Omkara* is stated to be the most auspicious sound representation of the Supreme Lord. This is also confirmed again in the *Atharva Veda. Omkara* is the sound representation of the Supreme Lord and is therefore the principal word in the *Vedas.* In this connection, the Supreme Lord Krsna says: *pranavah; sarva-vedesu (B.G. 7:8)—’I am the syllable * Om * in all the Vedic * mantras’ * Furthermore, in the 15th verse of chapter 15, * Bhagavad-gita, * Krsna says, ’I am seated in everyone's heart. By all the * Vedas * I am to be known; I am the Compiler of * Vedanta * and I know Veda as it is.’ The Supreme Lord, seated in everyone's heart, is described in both the * Mundaka * and * Svetasvatara Upanisads: dva suparna sayuja sakhayah,* The Supreme Lord and the individual spirit soul are sitting in the body as two friendly birds in a tree. The one bird is eating the fruits of the tree or reactions of material activities and the other bird, the Supersoul, is witnessing. The goal of Vedantic study, therefore, is to know the Supreme Lord Krsna. This point is stressed in *Bhagavad-gita* Chapter 8, verse 13, where it is stated that by the mystic yoga process, ultimately vibrating the sacred syllable Om, one attains to His Supreme Spiritual Planet. In the *Vedanta sutras,* which you have certainly read, the Fourth Chapter, Fourth *Adhikaran* twenty-second *sutra* states it positively: *anavrtti savat…* By sound vibration one becomes liberated. By devotional service, by understanding well what is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, anyone who goes to His Abode never comes back again to this material condition. How is it possible? The answer is, simply by chanting His name constantly. This is accepted by the exemplary disciple, Arjuna, who has perfectly learned the conclusion of spiritual science from the Yogesvara, master of mystic knowledge, Krsna, recognizing Krsna to be the Supreme Brahman, Arjuna adresses Him: *stane hrsikesa… (B.G. 1l:36)—'The world becomes joyful hearing Your Names; and thus do all become attached to You.’ The process of chanting is herein authorized as the direct means of contacting the Supreme Absolute Truth the Personality of Godhead. Simply by chanting the holy name, Krsna, the soul is attracted by the Supreme Person, Krsna, for going home, back to Godhead. In the *Narada-pancaratra* it is stated that all the Vedic rituals, *mantras* and understanding are compressed into the eight words; Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Similarly, in the *Kali Santara Upanisad* it is stated that these sixteen words Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare are especially meant for counteracting the degrading and contaminating influence of this materialistic Age of Kali. All these points are elaborately presented in my book, *The Teachings of Lord Caitanya.* The process of chanting is, therefore, not only the sublime method for practical perfection of life, but it is the authorized Vedic principle and inaugurated by the greatest Vedic scholar and devotee (Whom we consider as an incarnation of Krsna, Lord Caitanya, and we are simply following His authorized footsteps. The scope of the Krsna consciousness movement is universal. The process for regaining one’s original spiritual status or eternal life full with bliss and knowledge, is not abstracted dry theorizing. Spiritual life is not described in the *Vedas* as theoretical, dry or impersonal. The *Vedas* aim at the inculcation of pure love of God only, and this harmonized conclusion is practically realized by the Krsna consciousness movement or chanting Hare Krsna *mantra* . * * As the goal of spiritual realization is only one, love of God, so the * Vedas * stand as a single comprehensive whole in the matter of transcendental understanding. Only the incomplete views of various parties apart from the bona fide Vedic lines of teaching, give a rupturous appearance to the * Bhagavad-gita * . The reconciliative factor adjusting all apparently diverse propositions of the * Vedas * is the essence of the Veda or Krsna consciousness (Love of God).” (SPL to J.F. Staal Professor of Philosophy and of South Asian Languages, University of California, Berkeley, California, 30th* January, 1970) 70-04 “The truth within this material world is relative. The Absolute Truth is outside the relative world. Just like when a child is born, he is relative—he is born by his father. Then you go on researching and you will find that his father is also born of his father and so on. In this way if we go on searching out the Absolute Truth, you will find Him, the Supreme Person, not impersonal. Just like the child is a person, therefore the agent or the truth which begot the child is taken without any hesitation as a person. Therefore the Absolute Truth cannot be impersonal—that is a fact. Impersonalism is only a solace for the frustrated. ==When we are frustrated by the relative personalism of this material world, we try to find out, in material way, the opposite number. Just like a patient who is suffering in diseased condition tries to find out something opposite number.== * * So this is a long course explanation, but actually impersonalism cannot give us the answer to our eternal search after peace. So far we are convinced from the Vedic literatures, God is a Person exactly like you are a person, I am a person, but His personality is very great, full with six opulences, and none of the living entities beginning from the highest like Lord Brahma down to the ant, nobody can be on the equal level with God. These things are all explained in our books, and I would request you to read these books especially the recently published * Isopanisad. * There are many impersonalists within our experience who renounced this world to merge into the impersonal existence, but being baffled there they come down again to the material world to find out engagement as altruist, philanthropist, communist, etc... So there is no stand on impersonalism, but there is steady stand in * bhakti* cult because in this cult God is there, the devotee is there and the devotional service activities are there, and when they are joined together that makes us able to stand on the Absolute platform.” ([[letters/1970/700419_bali-mardana|Robert and Karen, 19 April, 1970]]) *** 70-09 * * ==“Lately there has been some misunderstanding amongst our devotees about our Krsna consciousness philosophy. Particularly there has been some confusion about the relationship between the spiritual master and Krsna.== The * Vedas * say that there is a Master Krsna. This servant Krsna is the spiritual master and this is the conclusion. The spiritual master is the mercy representative of the Supreme Lord and as such He is given honor as good as Krsna, but He is never identical with Krsna. Perhaps you know the picture of Madhvacarya, one of the great * acaryas * in our line, who is holding two fingers up to indicate Krsna and * jiva.* The impersonalists hold up one finger because their idea is that everything is one. So if we make the spiritual master identical with Krsna, then we will also become impersonalists. If we say that our spiritual master is Krsna, then the conclusion is that if we become spiritual master some day, then we will also become Krsna. Please try to understand how dangerous this kind of reasoning is. In my books I have tried to explain clearly this simultaneously one and different philosophy, *acintya bheda-abheda-tattva,* propounded by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But sometimes it happens that this philosophy is given a self-interested interpretation. As soon as personal motivation comes in it is not possible for one to understand our Krsna consciousness philosophy.” ([[letters/1970/700921_isana_vibhavati|Isana and Bibhavati, 21 September, 1970]]) ==70·10== ** ==“Regarding the impersonalist swamis, don't try to mix with any swami who has no knowledge of Krsna consciousness. So their speaking is simply maya, therefore they are called Mayavadis. Lord Caitanya has warned us that anyone who listens to or tries to understand the impersonalist philosophy is doomed, his devotion will become dried up.”== (SPL to Upendra, October 26th, 1970) 71-11 “The example regarding the Swami's argument is that God is the ocean and the living entities are waves. So accepting this argument we may say that the waves are being formed perpetually and again, and they are mixing with the sea water. So what is the question of liberation? That is the example in *Bhagavad-gita.* The whole material manifestation is generating and again vanishing. So we are not concerned with this kind of business. We are concerned to go deep into the sea and have our own individual identity exactly like the fish and other aquatic animals, and enjoy perpetually in the sea. This is liberation. ==This Mayavadi philosophy is very superficial, and therefore they cannot go deep into the matter and they are satisfied simply by suggesting the activity of the waves.== **I am very glad that you are challenging all of these so-called Swamis and gurus. My Guru Maharaja appreciated devotees who boldly present our Vaisnava philosophy. We must take advantage of every opportunity to defeat these rascals and drive them away, so please continue this strong attitude.” ([[letters/1971/711130_bahulasva|Bahulasva, 30 November, 1971]]) ==71-12 “So far the impersonalist rascal, you may simply challenge him by asking ’What is your philosophy’== * * It is not very difficult to defeat these persons, because they haven't got any substance, simply big words. But we have got our books, * Bhagavad-gita * if * * you engage him in public debate, politely handle his statements with a cool head and reply from the authority of our books, that's all. Krsna will give you all help to expose his lack of knowledge and his faulty understanding.” ([[letters/1971/711217_murti_mahati_adhideva|Sri Galim, 17 December, 1971]]) *** 72-01 * * ==“You speak of impersonalism. We welcome all impersonalists to come because if they are real impersonalists they will see that our Society is perfect and complete.== * * Ramanujacarya is considered to be very stalwart *acarya* simply because he completely defeated the impersonalism of Sankaracarya. And even to this day in India, especially in the south, the followers of Ramanujacarya and Sankaracarya engage in talks and always the Sankarites are defeated. But most of the so-called impersonalists of today are rogues.” ([[letters/1972/720126_atreya_rsi|Atreya Rsi dasa, 26 January, 1972]]) *** 72-07 ==“One thing on the invitation card you have written all glories to our Guru Maharaja. This is impersonalism. As soon as we offer obeisances to guru, the name should be there. We are strictly personalists. The sahajiya's, they write glories to guru. Why you are learning this impersonalism? Who has taught you? Daily I am offering obeisances to my guru by vibrating his real name, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, otherwise it is impersonal.”== ([[letters/1972/720714_bhavananda|Bhavananda, 14 July, 1972]]) *** 73-02 ** ==“Through the distribution of this literature, we can completely annihilate all the bogus yogi groups in the world. Of this fact I am sure. Therefore there is no need for us to directly attack these charlatans but simply by this distribution of books the sunlight of Krsna consciousness will prevail.”== ([[letters/1973/730214_ramesvara|Ramesvara, 14 February, 1973]]) *** 73-03 “Actually, everyone is trying to enjoy Lakshmi without Narayan. ==Ultimately, the Mayavadi is envious of Krsna and wants to enjoy the original Lakshmi, therefore they call each other Namo Narayana they sit around and address each other as Narayana.== **This is the greatest offense, and they are actually unfortunate because they do not engage in devotional service. The goddess of fortune Lakshmi is fickle towards the materialist: sometimes he is prince and sometimes he is pauper. But Lakshmi cannot leave the side of Lord Narayana and wherever Lord Narayana is worshipped with care, good fortune and opulence is there. Therefore, the devotee is known as the most fortunate, and you American boys and girls are the most fortunate of all, now make everyone else fortunate by spreading this Krsna consciousness.” ([[letters/1973/730308_vijitatma|Vijitatma, 8 March, 1973]]) *** 74-08 * * ==“Regarding your question about eternal spiritual and temporary spiritual, the temporary spiritual is the impersonal brahmajyoti. The impersonalists by severe austerities and penances arise to the Brahman effulgence. But it is only temporary.== Eternally we cannot remain aloof. As living entities, we want pleasure in association; therefore we see in the material world where for sense gratification the * karmis* take so much responsibility. First of all they accept one wife. The more he enjoys the wife, the more he becomes implicated. So, this means that we must have pleasure even at the risk of gross implication. Therefore our Krsna consciousness movement is that we want pleasure but without any implication. This is happening actually. All of our Krsna consciousness students they are enjoying life without any implication. The impersonalist who prefers to merge with the Brahman effulgence has no shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna. Therefore such impersonalist even though raised to the Brahman platform come down again to the material world for pleasure's sake. In India you will find many *sannyasis* who merge into the Brahman effulgence, but without any pleasure there, they come down to the platform of material activities of opening schools and hospitals— *daridra* Narayana, etc. Such men with poor fund of knowledge do not know that in the material world however you try to arrange things very right, it will always fail. But in the spiritual world the spiritual varieties displayed by Krsna along with his associates gives eternal pleasure. That is wanted. The Brahman effulgence, there the pleasure is temporary.” ([[letters/1974/740819_sridhara|Sridhara dasa, 19 August, 1974]]) ## To Communists 72-06 “With reference to an article entitled ’Baptists Besieged’ published in the international edition of ’Time Magazine’ of June 12, 1972, page 66, it is understood that your people are now protesting against atheistic government. ==So far we know your government is pledged not to believe in God. But this kind of suppression will not be tolerated by the general mass of people. It is understood also that your Constitution allows freedom of religious expression.== **But it appears from the facts that you do not wish to indulge in religious principles which are simply sentiments. We agree whole-heartedly that without philosophy, religion is reduced to sentiment or ’the opium of the masses.’ We are likewise in full agreement with your national leaders that the state and the citizens in general must be organized upon philosophical principles. We, the above institution, have got our spiritual communism idea, and we want to see not a single person, man or animal, remains hungry or in want of material necessities of life. According to our philosophy, a householder or substantial citizen of the state has to see not only after the wellbeing of his wife, children, relatives and dependents, that they shall be properly taken care of and they will not starve, but also even if a lizard lives in his house, he should see that it is not hungry. Therefore, to give all facilities of living condition to all living entities is our Krsna consciousness movement. Besides this human welfare activity for communal sharing of the material necessities of life, there is an ancient Vedic program for simultaneously raising the whole society to the highest perfection of spiritual consciousness. We are, like you, the good public leaders of your nation, interested in material improvement, but also there must be spiritual improvement as well. It is not that I should be concerned only that my wife and sons eat and get satisfaction, but I must be concerned for the ultimate well-being of everyone. By nature, everyone is endowed with individual tastes and preferences; therefore what satisfies one may not satisfy another, so there will always be some dissatisfaction and discrepancies of all sorts. Therefore, if we try to satisfy everyone's well-being on the material platform, we shall never find the end of it, and we shall be frustrated in our attempts, and there will be protest, etc. Your great founder of your nation, Mr. Nikolai Lenin, was very much intelligent, and he could understand that people become united only under the guiding principles of a commonly accepted philosophy or standard of truth. But if we examine the course of history, we must conclude, with Mr. Karl Marx, that this so-called standard of truth constantly changes, and that what one group of people accept as standard of perfection at one time, the same people may again reject that standard and take another philosophy as the all-in-all and so on. So if we are intelligent leaders of state, it is to our advantage to benefit all the citizens by satisfying their material requirements, but even more is it our duty to satisfy their need for being secure and confident that they are working under the principles of a truth or reality which does not change and is therefore absolute. That is spiritual satisfaction. Spiritual means philosophical, otherwise it is sentiment and sentiments are fickle and always changing. So we can very much appreciate your rejection of sentiment as a basis for practical activity. Our institution, as above mentioned, is a philosophical and cultural movement originating long ago in the Vedic period of history of your friendly neighbor, India, and it is meant for awakening people’s dormant acceptance of the Absolute Truth, or God-consciousness, without which a human society is no better than animal society. By the progressive evolutionary process, the human being is enriched specifically with dormant obeisances for the supreme authority. We cannot deny logically and scientifically the supreme authority of the whole cosmic manifestation. In abnormal conditions only we deny this authority, but normally it is not possible to deny this fact. I think your people are now protesting against this suppression, and at the same time, we can understand that your government does not wish to encourage the above-mentioned sentimental religious faiths. Our International Society is based upon scientific and authoritative understanding of God-consciousness. Any philosopher or scientist will certainly agree with our philosophical point of view on religion and God-consciousness. We also understand from one prominent Soviet professor of Indology that a few years ago your government published a translation of the *Ramayana,* an ancient Vedic scripture describing the pastimes of Lord Rama, who advented Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead long years ago, and that this translation, the whole stock, was sold out within a few days. With reference to this obvious preference by the citizens in general, we wish to publish our translation of another ancient classical Vedic literature namely, *Bhagavad-gita,* in the Russian language. The English edition of this great book of knowledge, which has been called by us as *Bhagavad-gita As It Is,* is already published by the famous London publishing house of Messrs Macmillan Co. This book of knowledge is perfectly educational and is an authoritative cultural presentation in the matter of understanding God-consciousness. If you therefore permit, I can send you the copy of *Bhagavad-gita As It Is* and ask my publishers, Macmillan Co., to send you one copy immediately on hearing from you. Our only desire is that when the good people of your country are so anxious to continue the natural God-consciousness, why not give them the opportunity to read a book which is full of philosophy and science in the matter of developing their firm understanding of the truth or God-consciousness, and thus very easily unify and satisfy all the citizens.” (SPL to Secretary to Minister of Education and Culture, government of the USSR, June 7th, 1972) 74-03 * * ==“Sometimes back, when I was in Moscow, I had discussion with a big Professor, Kotovsky, and I challenged him. Where is the difference between the Communist philosophy and any other?== * * Everyone has to accept a particular leader and follow his instructions under a brand of ’ism.’ But because leaders are all fools and rascals, the ultimate result of following them is disappointment. In the Western countries there have been many revolutions, in France, England, Germany and Russia, simply to change leaders of this ism to that ism. In India also since India's contact with the Western countries, there have been certain types of revolutions, and they are now going on. Recently in our experience there was attempt to drive away the British. This revolution changed India from dependence to independence, but factually the situation has deteriorated from bad to worse. We are old friends, we know that in Allahabad when I was there, ghee was selling for 1 kg Per 1 rupee, and now its costs 20-25 rupees per kg. In this way, things have not improved, in so many ways. This is due to imperfect leaders. Therefore our propaganda is to educate people to accept Krsna as the perfect leader in all fields of activity, and if people take to it seriously they will be happy in this life and after quitting this body he goes back to home, back to Godhead. There is no difficulty in understanding this philosophy in full brain and it is the urgent necessity that it be spread all over the world. Therefore the best service to human society is to educate them after the principle of the *Gita,* otherwise they are losing the chance of perfection in the human life and going down again to the circle of birth and death and transmigration in different species of life numbering 8,400,000. It is very interesting to discuss on this point and it will be a great pleasure for me if you come and stay with me for some time and preach this philosophy amongst the higher section of society. This is confirmed in the *Bhagavad-gita:* Thanking you in anticipation.” (SPL to * Dr. * Ghosh, 29th March, 1974*) 75-08 * * ==“The article on Marxism is very much appreciated. We can say all these big so-called philosophers are all simply mudhas.== * * Perhaps I am the first to do it. Our philosophy is perfect, and we cannot be defeated by anyone. So it is up to you to learn it and be able to present it nicely. Now you have everything, respect, philosophy, money, temples, books, all these things I have given, but I am an old man and my notice is already there. Now it is up to you all how to manage it. If you cannot increase it, you should at least maintain what I have given you. You cannot accuse me that I have not given you anything. So it is a great responsibility you now have.” ([[letters/1975/750826_ramesvara|Jagannatha Suta dasa, 26 August, 1975]]) *** 75-09 ** ==“In the latest issue of Back to Godhead magazine, English edition, there is my discussion about Marx philosophy. It will appeal to any sane man. Lenin has murdered the Czar, that was his only accomplishment, but any gunda could do that. This article should be read and translated.”== ([[letters/1975/750901_jayananda|Alalanatha dasa, 1 September, 1975]]) *** 75-11 “Regarding the China preaching, so ==far as I know Chinese people, although communists, they are not devoid of God consciousness. If they are sincere communists, they will accept our philosophy.== **Our philosophy is that every living being is the son of the Supreme Being and whatever we see within our vision—either living beings on the land, on the water-everything belongs to the Supreme Being. Every living being has a right to enjoy the Supreme Father's property. So everyone means not only the human being, but also other living entities, those living in the sky, water, trees, plants, creepers, ants, beasts, birds—all living beings, they are sons of the Supreme Being in different forms. So we should be compassionate to every living being, accepting them as sons of the Supreme Being. That is the real communistic idea, perfectly enunciated in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* So any communist country, if they take help from us, their communistic ideal will be perfect. Let the leading men of any communistic country come and talk with us about our philosophy and they are sure to become convinced about this loftiest philosophy of Krsna consciousness. We do not criticize the communistic idea, but we want to make it perfect.” ([[letters/1975/751118_mr._mohan_majundar|Madhudvisa Maharaja, 18 November, 1975]]) *** 76-01 * * ==“If there is a possibility to preach amongst the communists, you must do it immediately. The intelligent communist people will very easily understand our philosophy.== We can convince them on the basis of * samah sarvesu bhutesu, * a Krsna conscious person is equally disposed to every living entity (Bhagavad-gita * 18.54). You become a communist and make the present imperfect idea of communism perfect. The idea of the communist philosophy is that the state should be benefitted. But the state being imperfect, the living entities other than the human beings cannot derive any profit. It is therefore no better than the capitalists. For the benefit of the human beings, the capitalist kills the poor animals. Similarly, the communist does the same thing. Where is the difference? Perfect communism is in the * Srimad-Bhagavatam * wherein it is stated that you feel for the poor animals as well as the human beings. * Srimad-Bhagavatam* instructs that even if there is a snake or lizard in the house, it is the duty of the householder to see that they are also eating, not starving. So you have to begin your preaching with such broader idea of communism. So this is a good wish for Krsna's service. If it is possible take immediate opportunity for it. So far as coming out of Hungary once you enter, if you can preach what is the need of coming out?” ([[letters/1976/760118_dvarakesa|Dvarakesa, 18 January, 1976]]) *** 76-03 “I have marked how they are attracted to our *kirtana* and *prasadam* there in Hungary. If they consider our philosophy too revolutionary, there is no necessity to print books immediately. First, the heart must be cleansed by chanting Hare Krsna and taking Krsna *prasadam.* To take birth in such place is due to impious past so it is not easy for them to immediately accept our philosophy. Just give them chanting and *prasadam.* ==You must be very tactful to preach in such places.== **If you like you can print one record there as you have suggested. If the young people become very serious, if you find it is detrimental to have them wear *dhoti* and shaved head, that is not necessary. Simply introduce the chanting and *prasadam* distribution and gradually they will be elevated to being Vaisnava. A Vaisnava is aloof from all material conditions of life, so even under such circumstances a Vaisnava will not feel inconvenienced. ==Kirtiraja should be returning to preach in Eastern Europe so you can work together to introduce Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement in this part of the world.”== ([[letters/1976/760307_harikesa|Harikesa Maharaja, 7 March, 1976]]) *** 76-10 “I am very pleased to learn of our success in Yugoslavia. When there is a little hope of success in these countries, ==it encourages me one hundred times more than in other places. If they take up this Krsna consciousness, they’ll take it very seriously. This is the perfection of Communist ideology.== **Everything belongs to God. No private proprietorship. They have gone on the radio, that means they have purified the whole atmosphere. That is the way to introduce; the transcendental sound vibration will act. Utilize this approach. Gradually try to convince them that this movement is the perfection of Communism.” ([[letters/1976/761028_caitya-guru|Harikesa Swami, 28 October, 1976]]) *** 76-11 “There are many *sahajiyas* who imitate Rupa Goswami not to go out of Vrndavana, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained always outside Vrndavana for preaching purposes, although He is the Master of Vrndavana personally. I have no objection to your coming to Vrndavana, but as you have accepted the *sannyasa* order, it is more important to preach about Vrndavana rather than to come to Vrndavana. I am getting older and older and it is getting difficult for me, therefore I am requesting all my younger disciples to preach all over the world. Otherwise, you are always welcome in Vrndavana. I have no objection. ==I am a little hopeful that if we preach in the communist countries, they will like it.== **According to our Vaisnava philosophy even a snake or lizard is in the house he shall not go without eating, what to speak of other living entities. The communists have an idea for feeding human society, but our idea is expanding. We want to see even a snake not fasting.” ([[letters/1976/761118_gurudasa|Gurudasa, 18 November, 1976]]) ## To Vegetarians 67-04 * * ==“Why we cannot eat meat? ’To answer this question the straight reply is that because Krsna does not eat meat.’ We are concerned with Krsna consciousness so our eating is dependent on Krsna consciousness.== * * We cannot eat, cannot act, cannot think, cannot win or can do nothing without Krsna consciousness. By nature one has to eat some weaker living being and therefore animals are eaten by man, vegetables are eaten by animal or the weak is eaten by the strong and therefore one living being is eaten by another stronger living being. But there are systematic rules and principles for eating and a human being is to eat Krsna *prasada.* If Krsna would have eaten meat we would have eaten His meat *prasada.* We are concerned with Krsna *prasada.* In· this connection please consult my writing in *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* third volume, page 822, ’One living being is the food for the other.’ Also please consult page 984, ’The Principles of Cow Killing.’” ([[letters/1967/670414_sripad_narayana_maharaja|Kīrtanānanda, 14 April, 1967]]) *** 68-10 * * ==“Regarding vegetarian movement, practically we are not very much interested with such partial movement. We have taken the supreme sublime movement, Krsna consciousness, which includes all other subordinate movements.== * * Although we are not interested in the vegetarian movement, but because we eat Krsna *prasada,* we are already vegetarian. So any good thing all over the world may be brought before us and we can say that we have already accepted it. That is the position of Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness is all including. Just like if a man has got one million dollars, so 10 dollars, $20, $50 or $500 or $5,000, everything is included in that one million dollars. So we have accepted something which is all including so don't worry about this vegetarian movement—if they are not inclined to understand what is Krsna consciousness. We have no quarrel either with the vegetarian or non-vegetarian, because according to *Bhagavad-gita* both of them are sinful. Anyone who is not eating Krsna *prasada,* either vegetarian or non-vegetarian, he is a sinful person. That is stated in the *Bhagavad-gita: bhunjate te tv agham papa, ye pacanty atma-karanat.* Anyone who is cooking for himself, he is eating simply volumes of sin. So in the material world, either a man is vegetarian or non-vegetarian, they're eating simply sin, and they will have to suffer the consequence. But so far as we are concerned, we are eating remnants of foodstuff which was offered to Krsna, so we are not afraid of anything. If Krsna wants vegetable foodstuff, therefore we supply Him vegetable foodstuff, and if He wants non-vegetarian foodstuff, we can offer Him also, but He does not want it, as it is explicitly stated in the *Bhagavad-gita.* So we are concerned with Krsna *prasada,* not vegetarian or non-vegetarian. You can say to your friend who has invited us that Swamiji is not very expert at speaking about nutritional value of foods, but whatever we take as Krsna *prasada,* there is no comparison of nutrition with any other foodstuff all over the universe. If this group however is ready to hear something about Krsna consciousness, the philosophy of *Bhagavad-gita,* it is not religious. It is essential information for human life. So all these old men and women, they should be interested in the value of life. There are many vegetarian animals also; the monkeys are vegetarian; the pigeons are vegetarians, so to become vegetarian is not very good credit. But to become Krsna conscious is the most important business of life. You should try to convince your friends in that way. They should try to learn about Krsna consciousness. But because they are vegetarians, there is great possibility for them to understand this philosophy.” (SPL to Nandarani, 17th October, 1968*) 68-11 “Regarding propaganda against animal slaughter in *Back to Godhead* magazine, please do not print any picture showing how a cow is being murdered in our *Back to Godhead.* This will pollute the whole atmosphere. We are not meant for moving anyone's sentiment against animal slaughter; ==we are neither Buddhists nor Jains, whose main propaganda is against animal slaughter. Even the so-called vegetarians who do not take Krsna prasada are as much sinful as the non-vegetarians.== Our propaganda is different, to make people Krsna conscious, which automatically makes them sympathetic against any kind of animal slaughter. According to *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* one living entity subsists on the life of other living entities, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. But we are neither of them. We are not vegetarian nor non-vegetarian. We are transcendental. We are concerned with *Krsna prasada.* Try to popularize Krsna *prasada* as you have already done. People will naturally become vegetarian without any ghastly propaganda. The pictures of a *mahajana* or similar pictures for propagating the *Bhagavata* conclusion should be our objective. Other pictures, there are so many subject matters, just like we follow four principles, say for example, illicit sex life, we can publish so many pictures of illicit sex life, but that will not advance our cause. Similarly, we may make propaganda against animal slaughter, but that will not advance our real cause. Krsna consciousness is based on pure understanding, not by any sentimental provocation. People must be intelligent enough to catch up this Krsna consciousness movement without being carried away by any sentimental wave. We should always remember that we do not belong to any group like the *Karmis* , *jnanis* or yogis. We belong to pure devotional service group, following the footprints of the great *mahajana* s. Our purpose should be that we are in one side and all the others are on the other side. We deprecate everyone, even one who is against animal slaughter. In the *Caitanya-caritamrta,* it is clearly said that there are two classes of activities. Pious and impious. We do not favor anyone of them. Neither we favor any philosophical speculation; we simply stick to Krsna, and wish to render loving transcendental service unto Him. That should be our main objective, and the policy of *Back to Godhead* must be pursued on this line of action. I hope you will understand me rightly. Everyone who is not a Krsna conscious person is a butcher. Even the so-called pious man who is not Krsna conscious, he is also a butcher. Because he is killing his own self. So in our view, everyone is butcher, and everyone is thief also, because he is enjoying Krsna's property. So how we can discriminate who is honest and dishonest and butcher and not butcher? Our only test is how one is taking to Krsna consciousness: Even a so-called butcher comes we welcome to chant Hare Krsna.” (SPL to Rayarama, 19th* November, 1968) 69-08 * * ==“Regarding your question about why we do not eat meat and yet we eat plant life, the answer is that we do everything as Krsna recommends. Everything we eat is first offered to Lord Krsna, and because Krsna does not eat meat, therefore we also do not eat meat.== * * The fruits, grains and vegetables which we offer to the Lord are not caused any suffering by our offering them to Krsna. Rather they are greatly benefited because to be offered for the pleasure of the Lord will grant for the living entity within the plant body certain liberation in the near future. Everything that we do in Krsna consciousness is ultimately beneficial to all living creatures because we are working under the recommendations of the Lord Himself who is the well-wisher of all His part and parcel children. I hope this will sufficiently clear up this matter for you.” (SPL to Ann Clifford, August 2nd, 1969*) 76-01 “I am glad to know that a restaurant has been started. In Hawaii you may have seen that the restaurant is very successful. Now that boy’s money will be used properly. Instead of maintaining a slaughterhouse, he is paying for *prasadam* distribution. Very good. But ==we should not waste time encouraging vegetarianism as opposed to meat eating. We want to encourage prasadam taking and that is automatically vegetarian.== * * The * karmis* are concerned for vegetarian-non- (PAGE MISSING)” ([[letters/1976/760109_vishambhar|Tamala Krsna Maharaja, 9 January, 1976]]) ## To Yogis and Meditators 67-12 “Regarding Boston and Harvard University *kirtanas,* I quite appreciate your noble activities. Our *kirtana* movement is genuine and if the unsophisticated students take it seriously, it will be a great achievement. ==I know that all these bogus yogis are cheating the public, but at the same time your countrymen also want to be cheated. They are cheating the public by words of extravagancy,== * * saying that anyone can meditate even he is a drunkard. These cheap words attract people and these rascals become popular. So we don't want cheap popularity.” (SPL to Satsvarupa, 23rd* December, 1967) 68-11 “Your question, ’Is it to be understood that once the yogi sees the Narayana form, his desires for travel and material perfection cease (as did the desires of Dhruva Maharaja)? Or do the yogis still persist in desiring to do wonders even after seeing the Narayana form? You say in your essay, ’Super Consciousness’, that the topmost is to see the Narayana form and take dictation. In short the question is, is it true that the yogi who is traveling to planets and performing *siddhis* — *has* never seen Narayana?’ The example of Dhruva Maharaja, he was a devotee. ==The yogis are not devotees. They are more or less after some material perfection. But generally one who sees Narayana, he becomes a devotee.== * * And sometimes such devotee, before entering the Supreme Abode of Krsna or Narayana, they want to see some of the wonders of this material world. Just like I have come to your country, and I have no interest for sightseeing, but my main business is preaching Krsna consciousness, but still, when I go to a new place, sometimes the devotees take me to some important sightseeing place. Similarly, a yogi after becoming a devotee sometimes goes to other planets also and Narayana fulfills such material desires. In other words, a devotee, even if he wants to fulfill some material desires, he is given the chance by the Lord, but a pure devotee in higher status does not desire like that. They do not care for any * siddhis.” ([[letters/1968/681118_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 18 November, 1968]]) *** 68-12 “In distributing the *Perfection in Yoga* leaflet, when people come to your temple you may explain to them the principles of yoga as they are described in the *Bhagavad-gita.* Such instructions by you may be preceded and followed by Krsna *kirtana.* If they are interested, you may show them how to sit, concentrating the eyesight on the tip of the nose. The concentration should be on Lord Krsna or Lord Visnu, as is explained in *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* So ==if they come to know about hatha-yoga you can show them in the authoritative scriptures how it cannot be successfully practiced in the present Age of Kali.”== (SPL to Satsvarupa, December 29th, 1968) 68-12 * * ==“Regarding teaching other forms of yoga in yoga class, you may instruct upon the sixth chapter of Bhagavad-gita. That will include the process of Patanjali system. Practically, any process besides sankirtana will not be very effective in this Age of Kali-yuga, so as much as possible try to have your students chanting Hare Krsna and dancing in ecstasy. This will be very successful for everyone.”== (SPL to Dayala Nitai, 29th December, 1968* ) ==69-01 “Regarding your question about the individual soul becoming all-pervasive, the idea is completely nonsensical rascaldom.== * * Such theory is simply a bluff. Artificially by means of practical psychology, one can understand very little of another’s thinking and feeling. But this is in no way all-pervasive. ==If any yogi says like that, especially the modern, so-called yogis, it is simply falsehood.== * * In however perfect stage of yoga one may be, he may understand something of another’s mental condition, but this is never all-pervasive. This all-pervasive consciousness is possible only in the Supersoul.” ([[letters/1969/690131_rukmini|Rukmini, 31 January, 1969]]) *** 69-07 “I am very pleased to note that you have been coming to our Krsna consciousness temple in New York and what you are learning there from the disciples and from our literature is provoking you to think very deeply on the matters of self-realization. Actually, what the devotees there are telling you about the *hatha-yoga* system is correct. In ==Bhagavad-gita you will find confirmation of the fact that this hatha-yoga system is not so easy process as you have been led to believe by various ’masters.== *’* To do actual *hatha-yoga* one must not live in the city, but he must go to a sacred spot, and completely freed from all attachments and all material desires and disturbances, he must concentrate his mind upon the Lord within his heart. This process is not completed in just six months time, but it extends over many, many lifetimes. So in this Age of Kali-yuga it is not possible to faithfully follow the procedures of *hatha-yoga* because our minds are too restless and our lives are very brief. Therefore, the Lord has descended upon this earth 500 years ago as Lord Caitanya to encourage the process among all men of chanting the holy names of God, the Hare Krsna *mantra.* This chanting will immediately captivate the hearts and minds of all sincere souls, and therefore it is the prime benediction for the most fallen souls of the Age of Kali-yuga. If you will continue to come to our temple and associate with the devotees as much as possible, you will see practically how you are making very, very nice progress in spiritual advancement. Krsna consciousness is not some invented process nor is it something brought to America in an altered form. Krsna consciousness is the bona fide process of God realization that has brought so many great saints and sages to the perfectional level of knowledge of God. Therefore, I request you to scientifically and seriously follow the principles of Krsna consciousness as they are recommended by Lord Krsna Himself in the *Bhagavad-gita* and many other Vedic literatures, and I am sure you will come out successful. When you have questions you should consult with Brahmananda or the other devotees, and if you like you may ask your questions to me.” (SPL to Martin Malles, 22nd July, 1969*) 69-08 ==“I am pleased to note that you have performed at certain ’yoga’ groups in the area, and already you are making a nice dent in their maya, as they are now preferring the maha-mantra to the chanting of Om.== Actually, this chanting of *Om* is also a bona fide form of meditation, but as we learn from Vedic literature and from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the chanting of Hare Krsna is the prime benediction for this age, and it is the authoritatively recommended means of God-realization.” (SPL to Gaurasundara, 2nd* August, 1969) 69-08 “Actually, one who is Krsna conscious is to be understood as the topmost intelligent man and the best yogi. The whole purpose of the yoga system is to gain control of the mind and concentrate the full attention on Lord Visnu within the heart. In Krsna consciousness, by chanting the Hare Krsna *mantra,* we immediately fix our mind upon Krsna’s Name, which is exactly identical to Krsna Himself, and Krsna is the source of Lord Visnu. So one ==who has taken fully to Krsna consciousness must be accepted as having surpassed all of the perfections obtained in other yoga processes.== * * This idea is confirmed by Krsna Himself in * Bhagavad-gita * when He instructs Arjuna that one who worships Him in transcendental loving service is the highest of all yogis.” (SPL to Jananibas dasa Brahmacari, 19th* August, 1969) 70-07 “Regarding your first question: When a person becomes a perfect yogi he can transfer himself to any planet in the material or spiritual sky at his will. That is the perfection of the mystic yoga process. ==Generally the yogis are impersonalists, therefore they transfer to higher planets within this material world. This is explained in the second canto of Bhagavatam.== * * In chapter 8, verse 13 of the * Gita * it is described that the yogi is thinking of the Lord while vibrating * Om, * so he goes to the Lord's abode because he is thinking of Krsna. One who knows what is * Om * knows that * Om * is the sound representation of Krsna; he immediately remembers Krsna just like we chant: * Om namo bhagavate Vasudevaya. * This conception of * Om * and impersonal conception is different. The impersonalist has no information of Krsna, he thinks of something like the * brahmajyoti * effulgence.” (SPL to Vrndavana Candra, 19th* July, 1970) 70-07 “Regarding your third question: ==This yoga process is authorized, but Arjuna says that it is too difficult. The so-called yogis are simply making farce. They do not reach to the perfectional point of yoga.== * * Arjuna admitted this difficulty and it is explained in the * Bhagavad-gita. * Therefore, Krsna said that anyone who is thinking of Him within his heart is a first-class yogi. In the * Bhagavad-gita * it is recommended about * kirtana. * This * kirtana * means * kirtana * or glorifying of the holy name, fame, form, activities, qualities, etc., of the Lord. They are all * kirtana. * Not that everything has to be included in the * Bhagavad-gita. * Therefore, the spiritual master is required. Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends: * kirtaniya sada hari,* one has to chant the glories of the Lord always.” ([[letters/1970/700719_hayagriva|Vrndavana Candra, 19 July, 1970]]) *** 71-10 ==“I quite follow the situation prescribed by you, and all these yogis are mostly bluffers. They have no substance to give. You can openly declare this fact. Try to distribute our books very widely and preach also. These bogus yogis and Swamis will vanish.”== ([[letters/1971/711012_citsukhananda|Citsukhananda, 12 October, 1971]]) ==74-05 “You have very thoughtfully asked me what do I think of the Self Realization yoga and meditation. We are not concerned with other religions or yogas in terms of competition or sectarian spirit.== * * Actual spiritual knowledge is to take the authoritative statements from the scriptures and from the great * acaryas, * spiritual masters in disciplic succession. Others’ opinions are not important. For example, in the * Bhagavad-gita, * Lord Krsna gives His opinion, but He is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by all the great sages of the Vedic philosophy including Vyasadeva the compiler of all the scriptures, as well as Narada, Brahma, Siva and in the modern time, Ramanuja, Sankaracarya, Lord Caitanya, etc. They all confirm that Krsna is the supreme truth, the Personality of Godhead. Although this is plainly described throughout the * Vedas, * you will not find it in the teachings of so-called * swamis * and yogis who are teaching nowadays. Therefore you have intelligently discovered that in my * Bhagavad-gita * the approach is very different from what you have found elsewhere. That is because I am not trying to avoid Krsna or give some interpretation, but I have accepted the actual * Bhagavad-gita, * wherein Krsna says: * mattah parataram nanyat, * there is no higher than Me. Nowadays so-called gurus are promising us that we ourselves can become equal to God or that God is impersonal, or that everyone is God, but nowhere is this stated in the * Bhagavad-gita* or any other Vedic literature, nor is it taught by any of the great spiritual masters above mentioned.” ([[letters/1974/740503_trista_hubbarth|Trista Hubbarth, 3 May, 1974]]) *** 75-02 “I am glad that you enjoyed our chanting. You are welcome to come again and again if you like. You should understand though that we are not very much concerned with the principles of *hatha-yoga.* We practice *bhakti-yoga* strictly and since *bhakti* includes all other results obtained from practicing other yogas, as it is declared in the *Bhagavad-gita* to be the culmination of all yogas, it becomes unnecessary for us to apply any other techniques besides simply chanting and hearing about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna who is called Yogesvara or the master of all yoga. ==Of course, it is certain that if one sits with straight spine it may be of some help in his ability to concentrate, but it cannot be considered as essential by any means.== * * That thing which is really essential in * bhakti * is to develop one's eternal dormant love for Krsna.” (SPL to Mr.King, 2nd* February, 1975) 75-09 ==“I have read the article of Transcendental Meditation. From this study I understand that it is not seriously taken. Therefore it means that this Transcendental Meditation, so-called, will not stay.”== (SPL to Jayatirtha dasa, 7th* September, 1975) ## To the Business Community 69-09 * * ==“My suggestion to meet the businessmen is to convince responsible men of your country to understand the importance of the Krsna consciousness movemen== * t* and how we are molding the character of the younger generation by giving them peaceful home, philosophy of life, artistic sense, musical entertainment, nutritious foods, and above all these we are giving them spiritual enlightenment, which is never to be found elsewhere throughout the whole world. Every gentleman in your country is anxious about their children, and gradually if the richer section of the people or the government cooperates with us, we can expand this movement for total welfare of the younger generation. This calculation is only one side of the picture: The other side of the picture means the solution of the eternal problem. Even though people in general may not be able to understand it, the fact is there. So in winter season this propaganda may be done. Some very responsible man may be selected to preside over a meeting, either in the temple or in some rented private hall, if the meeting is to be very big. In this way we can try to invite the so-called important people of the society and try to convince them about the importance of this movement.” (SPL to Brahmananda, 9th* September, 1969) 72-02 ==“I am also encouraged that you are preaching to many businessman acquaintances. That is very important work== *,* so speak to them very frankly and with strength and conviction, and they will see, that even you are yourself a big businessman with high position and salary, still, you are a devotee, and they will also become devotees if you ask them. And ==if only a few of such big businessmen become devotees, they can change the whole world.== * * So it is a very great and responsible task, now do it very boldly and Krsna will reward you with all success. The secret is to engage everyone, even big businessmen; so at first engage them in some small way so they will not feel threatened, but they will enjoy that small service so much, and then gradually you convince them by strong arguments and engage them more and more, and then they will perfect their lives in Krsna consciousness and go back home, back to Godhead.” (SPL * to * Atreya Rsi, February 4th, 1972) 72-12 * * ==“We want that the mass shall support us, but we want that the class shall preach for us, that is the distinction. Is it clear?== * * Please inform me from time to time how that program of inducing influential men to preach somehow or other our Krsna philosophy is progressing. I know that you have got good ability to do that work, I remember how you used to bring so many big men to see me in London, at that John Lennon's house. So if you sincerely desire to serve Him in that way, Krsna will give you every opportunity and intelligence how to seize it up, that He says: *tesam satata-yuktanam, bhajatam priti-purvakam dadami buddhi-yogam tam, yena mam upayanti te (B.G. 10.10).* Hoping this meets you and your nice wife, Janaki, in good health.” ([[letters/1972/721227_mukunda|Mukunda, 27 December, 1972]]) ## To Christians 65-11 “Sometimes the Lord speaks through an innocent child and I take this honor as sent by Lord Jesus through an innocent child free from all formalities of the current society. ==Lord Jesus preached the message of God and I have taken up the same mission, and it would be good luck for me if I can follow in the footprints of Lord Jesus who preached the message of God in spite of all persecution.== * * Lord Jesus is a living example how one has to suffer in this material world simply for the matter of preaching the message of God. In the * Bhagavatam* also there is another example like Lord Jesus. He is Prahlada Maharaja, a boy of five years old but because he was a great devotee of God and preaching the message of God amongst his little class mates, his atheist father tried to kill him. So the atheist class of men are always inimical to the devotees of God even though such devotee happens to be the atheist's son like Prahlada.” (Sally, 19 November, 1965) *** 67-04 “I am very glad to learn that Lord Jesus Christ has approved our activities. ==Perhaps you have marked it in my preaching work that I love Lord Jesus Christ as good as Krsna== because he rendered the greatest service to Krsna according to time and circumstances and society in which he appeared. Similarly, Hajrat Mohammed and Lord Buddha also rendered the greatest service to the human society according to circumstances. So work with more enthusiasm and we are sure to be successful in our great mission.” ([[letters/1967/670407_kirtanananda|Kīrtanānanda, 7 April, 1967]]) *** 67-04 “I wish that at least four centers may be established in the Western countries including one in London, and then a company of twelve at least of all your brothers and myself may have an extensive tour all over the world for preaching this unique cult of Hare Krsna. And because it is approved by Lord Christ at least the Christian world will accept our *kirtana* procedure. ==I have seen in the Bible that Lord Jesus Christ recommended this kirtana performance in the Bible.== * * You know better than me and I would request you to write a small book on ’ * SANKIRTANA MOVEMENT IN THE BIBLE.’ * I have given a note of direction to Hayagriva for writing a drama on Lord Caitanya and if he can deliver us a nice drama for staging in your different parts of the State it will be a great stride for our mission and I hope it will help us financially a great deal. Just you encourage Hayagriva to write this drama very nicely in poetry so that they can be sung in Western tone all over America and Europe and staged everywhere to cover our expenses.” (SPL to Kīrtanānanda, 7th April, 1967* ) 67-04 “I have heard that you have been ailing since a long time but I have heard also that you are a great devotee of Lord Jesus Christ. It is very good. ==I am also an insignificant servant of Lord Jesus Christ because I am preaching the same message as Lord Jesus did. I am preaching God consciousness or Krsna consciousness.== Fools thought that Lord Jesus Christ was dead by crucifixion but he resurrected. All living entities are parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord and therefore they are also eternal. All our ailments are due to the external body. Although we have to suffer some time from bodily inconveniences especially in old age, still if we are God conscious we shall not feel the pangs. The best thing is therefore to chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. I would request you to chant always God's holy name. We are chanting God's holy name always and instructing our students to do so. If you have any holy name for God do chant it always and it will do you the greatest benefit. And by chanting so you will be remembering Him always, then your transfer to the kingdom of God is guaranteed. When you return to the kingdom of God there is no necessity to come back again to this rotten world full of miseries. We are chanting God's name as Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare, Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. The Lord has millions of holy names and you can chant anyone of them and each and every name of the Lord is full potential. We chant the above mentioned holy name of the Lord because the name was chanted by Lord Caitanya the father of this movement of Krsna consciousness. We follow Lord Caitanya's footprints to achieve very quick result. I would advise you also to follow the principle. Krsna means the most attractive reservoir of pleasure. Who does not want such pleasure? Therefore, we want Krsna and nothing more.” (SPL to Mr. Senior Dambergs, 12th* April, 1967) 68-04 “Your faith in the Christian religion is very strong, I can understand. So, when you want to convert Christians into Krsna consciousness, you should understand first of all the philosophy of Krsna consciousness. ==Without understanding the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, if we try to convert Christians into Krsna consciousness, it will be utter failure.== * * We do not condemn any religion because the * Bhagavatam* says that the religious process is the best by which one can attain love of God. So we are teaching love of Godhead, not any particular type of religion. Our Krsna consciousness movement is not a religious movement; it is a movement for purifying the heart. Modern civilization is defying the authority of the Personality of Godhead; the more a man advances in his material adventures, the more he becomes covered by the illusory energy. This conception that when one's material concept of life is finished, the material vision of this also vanishes [is misunderstanding]. Actually, there is one energy of Krsna, which is spiritual. Material consciousness of life means forgetfulness of Krsna when one is fully Krsna conscious, there is no more any material existence in the vision of such an advanced devotee. We have to learn it step by step; just like we prepare *prasada* and ordinarily it is rice, *dal,* and *capatis.* But when it is offered to Krsna, it becomes *prasada.* How ordinary rice, *dal* and *capatis* turns into spiritual *prasada* is to be understood by advancement of Krsna consciousness, but actually anything in relation with Krsna is spiritual energy. The mind does not dissolve, it changes its quality, or rather it becomes purified. No, thoughts of feelings of love for Krsna is not ego-projected, or emotional, provided it is confirmed by spiritual master [TEXT MISSING] great. Anyone who can understand how God is great, automatically he can understand that God is great. You can mention some parallels from Christian literature while explaining the *Bhagavad-gita,* but you cannot find in any other scripture in the world the full information as given in the *Bhagavad-gita.* We should not forget that we are preaching the science of God from *Bhagavad-gita,* which contains all spiritual instructions contained in other scriptures. But if the public is unruly, simply to chant, and not speak anything philosophy is the best. At that time there is no use wasting time talking with them on philosophy. Better for both you and the audience to chant and hear Hare Krsna. I hope your questions are fully answered and I will be looking forward to again seeing you all. Hope you are well.” ([[letters/1968/680413_yadunandana|Yadunandana, 13 April, 1968]]) *** 68-04 * * ==“Regarding the Christians' Trinity, I believe it is called God, the Holy Ghost and the Son. A person in Krsna consciousness accepts this by the name Visnu, Paramatma, and jiva.== * * God is a Person; the holy spirit or Supersoul is a Person and the living entity is also a person. Also, Mary is the representation of the energy of God. Either as internal energy Radharani or as external energy Durga, the energy of Godhead can be considered the mother of the living entities. But there is no clash between the Bible and the *Vedas,* simply some people formulate their personal ideas and cause quarreling. Nobody can say the Bible was meant for the same class of men as the *Bhagavad-gita.* And the *Bhagavad-gita* is the ABC of spiritual knowledge. Beyond that is *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* How great *Srimad-Bhagavatam* is nobody can imagine. And beyond that is *Caitanya-caritamrta.* But beginning from the Bible or Koran, on up the principle remains the same. Just like the beginning from the pocket dictionary up ... [PAGE MISSING]” ([[letters/1968/680419_sivananda|Sivananda, 19 April, 1968]]) *** 68-06 “Regarding your questions, ’How the simpler faith of a real Christian that is not so advanced in knowledge of the Supreme Person, differs in ecstasy or the end result of God consciousness?’ There is no ecstasy in such simple faith; there cannot be any ecstasy. ==The Christian faith as it is now exhibited; they have simply a faint idea of God as order supplier.== Certainly God is the origin, source of all supplies and either God conscious persons or demons, everybody is enjoying the general supplies made by God. It is just like a rich father maintains all kinds of children; some of them may be highly qualified and some of them are rascals. The father does not mind whether a child is rascal or qualified, but out of his love for all of them he supplies the essentials for the children. Out of such many children, if someone of them feels grateful to the father and thus develops love for the father as it is expected, his position is better than the other children. And the father is also endeared to such a devoted child. Similarly, God is equal to everyone, but one who developed love of Godhead and has practically employed oneself in the service of the Lord, he is in real touch and favor of the Lord. That is the difference. We want ecstasy, it does not matter one feels in the Christian church or in other church. But one who feels ecstasy in Krsna consciousness or God consciousness finishes his ecstasy in material enjoyment—that is the test. One cannot say he is feeling ecstasy in some company, and at the same time, he is trying to take advantage of material sense gratification. That is not possible. This ecstasy doesn't depend on the intelligence or non-intelligence; it is spontaneous response, without any cause. If one is fortunate enough to have such ecstasy, it is to be understood that his life is successful. We do not advocate any sectarian religion. We are concerned to invoke our dormant love for God. Any method that helps us in reaching such platform is welcome, but we find practically that by chanting Hare Krsna, many students have come to the platform of ecstasy. But we have hardly found anyone to come to that stage simply by following religious rituals; that is the difference. So, Krsna consciousness is meant for the most intelligent class of men.” (SPL to Rupanuga, June, 1968) *** 68-07 “Yesterday Janardana took me to a nice church here called Notre Dame, a very nice wooden structural workmanship with colorful figures and windows, decorated with nicely painted pictures about the crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ. Everything was grotesque. ==Generally the Roman Catholic religion depends on this crucifixion incident in the life of Lord Jesus Christ, but I think depiction of this incident simply stimulates the tensions of differences of opinion== **and differences of religious principles, between the Jews and the Christians. My idea is that if simply by narrating the crucifixion incident of Lord Jesus Christ, the Roman Catholic religion can spread to such a wide area of the world, how much there is great potency of spreading of Krsna consciousness by depicting hundreds of thousands of such incidents like Ratha-yatra. There is not one incident like Ratha-yatra, but there are many hundreds and thousands of incidents in different appearances of the incarnations of Lord Krsna. In different cities and different centers we can introduce such multi-pastimes ceremonies of Lord Krsna. And certainly people will be engladdened to observe such transcendental and happy ceremonies. So in Los Angeles, as promised by Mukunda, you try to construct a grand temple and then we shall introduce gradually many ceremonial functions, which the people will be so glad to enjoy. Think of Krsna always and try to work sincerely and everything will come automatically.” ([[letters/1968/680707_aniruddha|Aniruddha, 7 July, 1968]]) *** 68-08 “ ==His Holiness The Pope, Paul VI== Vicar of Jesus Christ State of Vatican City Rome, Italy Your Holiness: Please accept my respectful humble obeisances at your lotus feet. I beg to introduce myself as an Indian monk, following the Vedic principles of religious life, and at present I am in the renounced order of *sannyasa (aged seventy-two years) and preaching God consciousness all over the world. I came to America in 1965 and since then I have many followers belonging to both Christian and Jewish faiths. And I have established eight centers of Krsna consciousness temples in the USA and Canada. In the month of September, 1968, I am scheduled to go to London on this mission and maybe I can visit other cities of European countries. My mission is in the line of Lord Caitanya, Who is personified love of Godhead, and Who advented Himself 482 years ago in India, and preached God consciousness all over the country. His, mission is to revive God consciousness all over the world, on the basis of *Srimad-Bhagavatam (science of God). The principle of * Srimad-Bhagavatam * is that any religious faith which helps a man to develop love of God, without any motive, and without being hampered by any material condition, is transcendental religion. And the best process or the easiest process, in this age especially, is to chant the holy name of God. From this definition of religion as we find in the * Srimad-Bhagavatam,* the criterion test of religion is how it helps people to develop this dormant love of God, which is not artificially invoked, but it is aroused from within by bona fide association of devotees and hearing about God. The human form of life is especially meant for this purpose, namely, to invoke the dormant love of God, because better development of consciousness is found in the human body. Animal propensities for sense gratification are equally found both in man and animals. But the special significance of human life is to achieve love of God as the prime perfection of life. Unfortunately, at the present moment people are more concerned about the principle of sense gratification, or the animal part of human life and they are gradually declining in God consciousness. This tendency is very much deteriorating, and because Your Holiness is the head of a great religious sect, I think we should meet together and chalk out a program for cooperation. The human society cannot any more be allowed to continue a Godless civilization at the risk of decreasing truthfulness, hygienic principles, forgiveness, and mercifulness. Because on account of predominance of these principles at the present moment, duration of life, strength, and memory of the human being is decreasing. The human society is gradually degrading in the matter of religiosity and justice; and 'might is right' is gradually taking the place of morality and justice. There is practically no more family life, and the union of man and woman is gradually degrading to the standard of sexuality. I understand it from reliable sources that people are trying to get Your Holiness' sanction for contraceptive method, which is certainly against any religion of the world. In the Hindu religion, such contraceptive method or abortion is considered equivalent to murder. Therefore, in the matter of sex, the human society is gradually degrading even less decent than the animals. As a result of unrestricted sense gratification, even in ordinary dealing, a man cannot trust another man, because the cheating propensity of a man has increased beyond imagination. Attraction of young boys for young girls is no more as a matter of love, but such attraction is only on the basis of sexual potency. As soon as there is slackening of sex life, there is immediately the divorce petition. In India, which was one day the land of religion and brahminical culture, things have deteriorated to such an extent that a man in a higher caste is recognized simply by putting a piece of thread on the body as a sign of sanctity. The so-called *swamis* are cheating the public because the public also want to be cheated by cheap method of self-realization. They are practicing so-called yoga performances for the matter of reducing fat, and keeping the body fit for sense gratification. If somebody has no sufficient money, it is very hard for him to get justice from the court. And if anyone can simply bluff by so-called advancement of knowledge, he is offered the doctorate degree. If a man is poor, he is at once accepted as non-civilized. By frustration, people are generally becoming Communists and hippies and the guardians of the society must now take up the situation very seriously, without further delay. The Krsna consciousness movement is meant for overhauling the whole situation. We are creating men of character and we are training our disciples to become lovers of God, or Krsna. From the very beginning they are trained to refrain from following four principles of degradation: 1) Sex life outside of marriage. 2) Meat-eating or eating of any animal food. 3) All forms of intoxication. 4) Gambling and idle sports. The teachings are based on authorized movement of Lord Caitanya, on the principles of *Bhagavad-gita,* as the beginning, and *Srimad-Bhagavatam* as the graduation. I do not wish to prolong the body of this letter further, but if you think that a meeting with you will be beneficial for the human society at large, I shall be very much pleased if Your Holiness will grant me an interview. Thanking you in anticipation for an early reply.” ([[letters/1968/680803_gargamuni|the Pope, 3 August, 1968]]) *** 68-10 “I think Seattle branch will come out very successful because we have drawn the attention of the students of the university here. One girl came to see me, as representative of the student paper, and we had a nice discussion. But another thing that the priestly class of Christian and Jewish Churches ==I think they are becoming envious of our movement.== * * Because they are afraid of their own system of religiosity, because they see so many young boys and girls are taking interest in this system of Krsna consciousness. Naturally, they are not very satisfied. So we may be facing some difficulty by them in future. So, we have to take some precaution. Of course, this priestly class could not do anything very nice till now, but dogmatic way of thinking is going on. So anyway, we shall have to depend on Krsna, and I think the new center in the United Nations, if we make nice propaganda from there, then this tendency may be diminished. In the United Nations center, I have already suggested to Purusottama things to be done there, and if possible we shall hold meetings and * kirtana * in the church center and distribute * prasada,* invite the prominent members of the United Nations, this is, I am thinking like that, I do not know what Krsna desires.” ([[letters/1968/681006_brahmananda|Brahmananda, 6 October, 1968]]) *** 68-10 “I am very much pleased with your preaching enthusiasm, when you say, ’If people won't come to us here, we will go to them.’ This is the process of preaching, and this is required. I thank you very much for your this spirit. Just like I have come to your country, with the same spirit. Actually, still even in so much fallen condition of India, if one has to learn spiritual science, then he must consult some bona fide spiritual master, in India. That is the opinion of a great Chinese author. So people are not going there, neither the government has any arrangement to educate this spiritual science. So therefore I have come to your country, and those who are eager to receive, they are coming to us. In this way, we have to forward our mission. We may not expect good behavior from people where we go to preach, still we have to do that. The best example is ==Lord Jesus Christ. He was crucified by the people who were not very much advanced. From their behavior it may be known that the people at that time or at least the place where Lord Jesus Christ preached, they were not very much advanced, otherwise they would not have dared to crucify such a nice saintly person== *.* So preaching work is always like that. But one who is real preacher, he shall be undeterred, and go on keeping his objective to the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord.” ([[letters/1968/681015_nandarani|Nandarani, 15 October, 1968]]) *** 68-11 “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 31, 1968 along with the letter from the Methodist Church. I suspected in the beginning that they would not allow us to work with freedom and, therefore, in spite of their promise to enter into lease agreement I wanted to clear up the situation. Now they have shown their real face so don't feel sorry for this. We know very well what is the world situation. It is my personal opinion that at the present moment except for a few persons, practically there is no man in the world who is strictly religionist, Hindu, Moslem, Christian, Buddhist. In the ten commandments of the Bible it is clearly stated that, ’Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not indulge in adultery, thou shall not covet their servant or animals,’ ==but practically we see the so-called Christian world is full of the killing process reflected with adultery in every state encroaching upon others’ property and very organized== *.* Similarly, we find in India the so-called Hindus are doing all sorts of nonsense. So practically the whole world is without religion. Officially they claim some sectarian identification. Therefore, it is a fact that the religious principles of Krsna consciousness which we are trying to preach under the direction of Lord Caitanya inducing people to chant Hare Krsna is the only panacea for the animalistic human society at the present moment. A man without religion is nothing but an animal and being every man is irreligious, therefore, the whole human society is certainly animalistic. We do not mind because we could not get any place in the Church Center and there is no cause for your being sorry for this. You have tried your best in the service of Lord Caitanya. This is sufficient. We do not calculate the so-called success or failure; we are simply to discharge our duties in Krsna consciousness and chant Hare Krsna loudly.” ([[letters/1968/681103_purusottama|Purusottama, 3 November, 1968]]) *** 68-12 “I have received your letter of November 30, 1968 and have noted the contents carefully. I have noted with pleasure that you have spoken before a group of the Catholic Church. You should know that as far as our Krsna consciousness movement goes, ==we are better Christians than those who proclaim that they are following the orders of Christ. This is because we are following and generally they are not.== * * Just like the ten Commandments order that thou shall not kill. But these so called Christians are performing so much killing by meat-eating and wars. So how are they good Christians? You may ask them this in your meetings and try to convince them of their position. Also, we do not commit adultery; we do not take the Name of God in vain, in fact we practice that the Name of God is just as good as God. So according to the ten Commandments, nobody is Christian, but in our own way we are following the principles of the ten Commandments strictly. So I think you may explain to them how this Krsna consciousness movement will help them advance to be better Christians.” (SPL to Upendra, 2nd December, 1968* ) 68-12 “So far as singing of the Christian hymns, if others sing this we have no objection, it is very nice, but in these ==hymns they have no definite idea of what is God. We are directly approaching and praying to Krsna for the highest benediction of eternal devotional service so we do not require to repeat the Christian hymns.== * * Our point is to always follow the example of the * acaryas * and this will bring us to the perfectional stages with no doubt. For the Christian hymn you describe, the example may be given of where one person is appreciating that the water is very nice and another is tasting water. So when we taste water the appreciation automatically is there and when we have taste for chanting, automatically the appreciation is there for God.” (SPL to Sivananda, 4th December, 1968* ) 69-03 “In the meantime, I may inform you that your newspaper cutting, 'Non-Christian Unity Ruled out,’ is not very surprising. Religious bigotry is one of the strong material symptoms, therefore, in the beginning of *Srimad-Bhagavatam* it is said: *dharmah projjhita.* This means that the idea of religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and endeavors for merging into the impersonal absolute are the different activities for the materialist person. Leaving aside the too grossly materialistic persons, who are without any moral principles or social conventions, if we take the right type of civilized man, then we find that he is engaged in some types of religious principle. It doesn't matter if he is Christian, Moslem or Jew, the symptom of a civilized man is that he must have the recognition of religious principles; that is required for civilized man. But ==generally men take to religious principles for economic development. Just like in the Christian religiosity the prayers for solving the economic problem or bread problem.== **Similarly, in the Vedic rituals also different methods of sacrifices are recommended for pleasing the demigods so that they will supply quantity of rain and there will be enough grain for eating. In this way, religious principles are generally practiced by men for some economic development. In this modem age, people are being scientifically advanced, they seek economic development without any reference to worship of God or following any religious principles. So such people are gradually forgetting their eternal relationship with God because they think that without God they can acquire sufficient progress in economic development which is required for sense gratification. Some of them, when they are frustrated, try thinking of voidness or merging into the impersonal Absolute Truth. So voidness or impersonal idea of the Absolute Truth is just an opposite of material variegatedness. So this idea can also be accepted as the material concept of transcendence. So things are going on like this, not only now, but it is the nature of the material world.” (SPL to Janardana, 2nd March, 1969*) 69-03 * * ==“Actually we have nothing to do with compromising with Christians or Buddhists. Our principles should be to preach Krsna consciousness as it is spoken in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam== * .* As we are now collecting some fortunate students in our movement, similarly, it will be possible to collect more students in the future. But it is a fact that the unfortunate persons who stick to the four material misbehaviors, just like illicit sex life, etc., cannot accept these principles of Krsna consciousness. But still there is a chance for them simply by giving aural reception to this transcendental sound of Hare Krsna * mantra.* If we turn our attention to fit with the Christian people, or any other religious sect, I think it will not be very much fruitful because nobody will change his faith even though he is given scientific or archaeological evidence. And that will also not help anybody. We have already discussed this point in many articles and change in religious faith does not make one advanced in spiritual understanding. The spiritual understanding as taught by Lord Caitanya is that all living entities are eternal servants of God. We have to propagate this philosophy and for this we have to make propaganda. Every religion believes in God, and we want that everyone should actively come to this understanding of accepting one's eternal servitorship to God. 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 involve 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 shall 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 shall 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.” (SPL to Janardana, 2nd March, 1969*) 69-06 ==“I am very glad that the Queen has consented the Redundant Churches Bill, and there is good chance of getting one church for our temple. There are many redundant churches because the Christian people are gradually deviating from their religious belief== *s* on account of stereotype presentation of the Bible by sophisticated priests. Modern youths are educated in advance, so they are no more interested in repetition of the same static mottos. They want something dynamic, progress in spiritual understanding, but the Christian priests could not satisfy them. In comparison to all these dogmatic principles, our Krsna consciousness movement presents everything in the right perspective, even from scientific and philosophical point of view. So if you can secure one church in England for utilizing in our movement, I think we shall be able to secure many such churches all over the world. We have great respect for Lord Jesus Christ. We accept him as powerful incarnation of Krsna, as much as we accept Lord Buddha. We can adjust the Buddhists, Christians, and even the Mohammedans to our Krsna consciousness movement, so if the religious heads of these faiths try to understand our philosophy, certainly there will be great impetus in the matter of spiritual rejuvenation of the world. So try to convince the Archbishop of Canterbury and implore him to give us this chance of spreading God-consciousness in the world's greatest city, London. If my presence is required, I am prepared to go at any moment within the month of June, because I am thinking of going to San Francisco in July for Ratha-yatra which Tamala Krsna is arranging.” ([[letters/1969/690603_syamasundara|Syamasundara, 3 June, 1969]]) *** 69-07 “Yes, Kīrtanānanda Maharaja is not very much in favor of Nara Narayana so for the time being I am not asking him to return to New Vrndavana. He has done very nicely here in the Ratha-yatra festival and it was very successful in San Francisco. I shall send you later on the reprint pictures published in the local newspapers and you will be glad to learn that about 10,000 people participated in this function. The procession was taken along about an eight mile distance and the people followed all through simply chanting the Hare Krsna *mantra.* This was a unique scene in this part of the world. Some of the Christian-minded people became almost envious and I have received some anonymous letters. Maybe as our movement increases in volume the orthodox section of Christianity may be envious of our successful march. ==I think you should collect some information from the Bible that sankirtana, chanting of the holy names of God, is recommended there also.== There is a book called *Aquarian Gospel* in which it is stated that Lord Jesus Christ lived in the temple of Jagannatha. Without being His devotee, how could he live there and how could the authorities allow a non devotee to live there? From that book it appears that Lord Jesus Christ lived in intimate relations with the priest order. So as far as possible, you should prepare yourself for future writings that our movement is not against the philosophy of Jesus Christ, but it is in complete collaboration with his line of religiosity. Actually, we don't decry any religious way of the world, but we are simply advocating that people should learn to love God by following their religious principles. If one is not fortunate to be learning how to love God, then his religious principles are simply fanaticism, without any value. ==We are presenting the same thing== practically by which one can learn very quickly how to love God, and then his life becomes sublime. So our process is a system, following which any man from any religious sect may come and join and learn how to love God.” ([[letters/1969/690731_hayagriva|Hayagriva, 31 July, 1969]]) *** 69-08 “Some time back I sent one letter addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury, supposed to be presented through Mr. George Harrison, and I shall be glad to know what happened to that letter. If it was not presented before, it may be done so when George Harrison meets the Archbishop for the church. ==Actually our Krsna consciousness movement is a genuine Christian movement. Christ means Krsna, love of Godhead, Who has His face anointed with tilaka.== * * There is a word Kristos in the Greek dictionary, and this word is supposed to be borrowed from the Sanskrit word Krsna and Christ is derived from Kristos. I find these things in a book known as * Aquarian Gospel of Lord Jesus the Christ. * Anyway, any genuine Christian will find our movement nice and perfect. We simply want their cooperation in this matter that they allow us to use their many vacant churches in the Western countries for rejuvenation of spiritual life in this part of the world. So if the Archbishop kindly gives us a church through the intervention of Mr. Harrison, it will be a great success for our movement. So try your best for this achievement.” (SPL to Syamasundara, 31st August, 1969* ) 69-09 “And if the Archbishop of Canterbury gives us one, two, three, four, up to the point of all the redundant churches, I shall turn them all into great places of worship for all kinds of men. If so desired we can worship the picture of Lord Jesus Christ who we admit as the son of Godhead. ==We worship all worthy sons and servants of God, but we kick on the face of all rascals who claim to have become God so cheaply to mislead many innocent persons.”== (SPL to Mukunda, September 2nd, 1969*) 69-10 “So we have to judge such societies where there are murderers and those having sex life with their mothers, what kind of men they are. In the *Bhagavad-gita* the religious principles are divided into three categories: in the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. Generally, all so-called principles are in the mode of passion and ignorance. Maybe there are some moral instructions but moral instructions without God consciousness is impossible to follow. In another place the gentleman quotes one book written by Professor Charles Smith. The book’s name is ’The Paradox of Jesus in the Gospels.’ ==In this book it is admitted that all the statements in the Bible are not directly spoken by Jesus. Some of them are staged through the mouth of Jesus Christ, and specifically this passage, I am the way, the truth and the light. No man comes unto the Father but by me.== This gentleman admits that it is put into the mouth of Jesus because that is the literary convention of the author of the Fourth Gospel. Such kinds of observations definitely suggest that there are many passages in the Gospel which are later on set up to be spoken by Lord Jesus Christ, but actually they were manufactured by different devotees. So far as our *Bhagavad-gita* is concerned, we do not find any such thing. Everywhere it is stated: *Sri Bhagavan uvaca,* the Supreme Personality of Godhead said. And all the *acaryas* have accepted these words as they are spoken by the Lord. No authorized *acarya* has ever commented that it was put into the mouth of Krsna by Vyasadeva or Sanjaya or any other person. I give you all these hints not for general discussion but for your personal understanding to know the respective positions of different types of religious principles. Our position is transcendental because we are not very much concerned with the minor moral or immoral principles, although each and every devotee is a first-class moralist. But our religious principles or natural occupational duty is to learn how to love Krsna. We are practicing this and we are teaching this. So let us very steadily stick to our principles and our movement will surely come out successful.” ([[letters/1969/691031_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 31 October, 1969]]) *** 69-11 “Regarding your question about Lord Jesus Christ, we accept him as a *saktyavesa-avatara.* Lord Buddha is in the same category also. Lord Buddha is mentioned specifically in the *Srimad-Bhagavatam* as incarnation of Godhead, and yet Vaisnavas do not accept his philosophy which is classified as atheism. Similarly, even if we accept Lord Jesus Christ as *saktyavesa-avatara,* it doesn't mean that we have to accept his philosophy. But we have all respects for him without fail. Regarding books like *Aquarian Gospel* or even the *Testaments,* we cannot accept them as authorities because sometimes it is learnt that the words are not actually spoken by Christ but they are so set up by the devotees. For example, in the Ten Commandments it is clearly stated, ’Thou shall not kill’ but some bishop in Boston has changed it to, ’Thou shall not murder.’ This means the bishop wants to keep hold for animal slaughter. So don't bother about all these literatures. We have all respect for these great preachers, but we do not require to study books save and except for some reference. We must push on our philosophy how to love God. Our process is simple. We have got volumes of books also, so it is better for us to mind our own business than to divert our attention in the studies of other books. This was definitely forbidden by Lord Caitanya. After all, Krsna consciousness philosophy is as old as 120 million years at the least. So nothing can be compared with our philosophy either in the matter of antiquity, philosophy, ethics, science, morality, etc, all in correct vision and approved by great stalwart *acaryas.* So far others are concerned, they cannot be compared even. For example, if Lord Jesus Christ said, ’Thou shall not kill’ or ’Thou shall not murder’ to the people, it does not reflect very good social structure of the audience. Our philosophy is above all these things. Just like we prescribe to our students no illicit sex life, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication, but they are not ends in themselves. The real end is how to serve Krsna and sacrifice everything for Him. And to learn this transcendental art we have got so many volumes of books. So the summary is that instead of diverting our attention to read such unauthorized books, better to pay our attention to more authorized Vaisnava literature. These scriptures of the Buddhists and Christians may be the words of God, but still they are not always applicable to us. It is just like a king may give some rules and regulations for some criminals in prison, but for the good citizens out of the prison these rules are not necessarily applicable. ==So these Christian and Buddhist scriptures were delivered for a different class of men, and we needn't spend our time in studying their doctrines. You should read our own books over and over again== * * and as far as possible do not try and enter into controversy. We do not concern ourselves with any other religion. Our religion is to become the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna.” (SPL to Hamsaduta, 2nd* November, 1969) 69-12 “I am very glad that you are feeling very strongly for Jesus Christ. ==You have already mentioned the exemplary character of Lord Jesus Christ that he sacrificed everything for God. This example should be taken. The process should be to follow the example, not to imitate the exact activities.== **For example, Lord Jesus Christ wanted to preach amongst some persons who were practically against the principle of accepting God as the Supreme, and the result was that these people crucified him. At the present moment, the world situation is more dangerous than before. People have become actually Godless. So if you follow the footsteps of Lord Jesus Christ to preach God consciousness against Godlessness and dedicate your life in that way, that will be the real purpose of following Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus Christ revealed that he was the son of God, and Krsna revealed that He is God Himself, the Supreme Father of all living entities. So if you dedicate your life to the service of Krsna, the Supreme Father, don't you think that Lord Jesus Christ will be pleased with this? At the present moment we have to preach in an enlightened society. So Krsna consciousness has got an inexhaustible treasure-house of philosophy, logic and science to convince people about God consciousness. So if you are actually serious about following the footsteps of Lord Jesus Christ, you should take advantage of the great philosophical background of this Krsna consciousness movement and make people God conscious, dedicating your life. One should try to make progress. One should not try to remain satisfied at a point which awaits further advancement. For example, the Commandment says, ’Thou shall not kill.’ This means one should be nonviolent. This is a good principle, but in the actual field, for want of sufficient knowledge, even this commandment is being misinterpreted and misused. In the *Bhagavad-gita* you will find there are twenty items for advancing in knowledge. Perhaps you have read in the thirteenth chapter. Out of the twenty items, this nonviolence item is one. But devotional service is so potent, that if one is engaged in devotional service to Krsna, automatically all good qualifications are there. Thus, from the practical point of view you can see the distinction between our disciples and any other group of religious faith. We do not indulge in illicit sex life, which includes not to covet with another's wife or daughter. We do not eat meat, and that means automatically that we are nonviolent. We do not indulge in intoxication, and that means we are sane in considering things in their true perspective. You have asked to know what is the difference between Jesus Christ and Krsna. That we have several times explained in many meetings, that Krsna is God and Jesus Christ is the son of God. And as there is no difference between the father and the son, so there is no difference between Krsna and Lord Jesus Christ; but still the son is never equal to the father. So you have got advantage of reading our many books for advancement of knowledge. The best thing will be for you to engage your time more in *sankirtana* party and reading our Krsna consciousness literature.” ([[letters/1969/691208_sucandra|Sucandra, 8 December, 1969]]) *** 70-01 ==“Regarding your question: you are right when you write to say that everything about us, tables, chairs, bricks, etc. is originally emanating from sound vibration. This is also admitted in the Christian Bible wherein it is said that God said, Let there be creation.== And there was creation. So, ’said’ means it was sound vibration; but this sound vibration is not material sound vibration because before creation of material sky and sound, transcendental sound was there. So actually the transcendental sound is the cause of creation, but material sound is not transcendental sound. We have to receive transcendental sound through the transcendental channel; therefore, *Vedas* are called *sruti.* That means transcendental sound can be received through the ear. And by hearing this transcendental sound through the ear our heart becomes spiritually purified, and we can realize at that stage the transcendental Name, transcendental Qualities, transcendental Form, transcendental Pastimes, etc. That is the way of descending process.” (SPL to Hamsaduta, January 23rd*, 1970) 70-03 * * ==“Regarding the end of the devotees of Lord Jesus Christ, they can go to heaven, that is all. That is a planet in the material world.== * * A devotee of Lord Jesus Christ is one who is strictly following the Ten Commandments. Now just like the commandment, ’Thou shall not kill,’ this is a moral instruction for the sinful man. Similarly, Lord Buddha also emphasized: *ahimsa parama-dharma* the highest religion is nonviolence. So these instructions are for sinful men. When one is pious, instead of being sinful, he is promoted to the higher planetary systems like Janaloka, Maharloka, or Tapoloka and they are above the planet Svargaloka. So persons who are cleansed of sinful life become eligible for spiritual life. From the instructions of Lord Jesus Christ we find that the stress is given to make men free from sinful life—such as ’Thou shall not kill, thou shall not covet,’ like that. Therefore, the conclusion is that the devotees of Lord Jesus Christ are promoted to the heavenly planets which are within this material world.” (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, 2nd* March, 1970) 70-03 *“* ==I am very glad to know that you have arranged a nice meeting in the National Conference of Christians and Jews.== * * I * * am sending herewith copies of my address to the Japanese people as well as the preface to my book Krsna * * book. They will help you to have some clear idea of our Krsna consciousness movement. You know them all, and still this will be a great help. ==Try to convince in the meeting that the difference between animal society and human society is that the human society has in some form the ideals of Krsna consciousness or God consciousness.== * * That is religion. Religion without God consciousness has no meaning and God consciousness means we are eternally related with Him. He is the Father, and every one of us is the part and parcel or the son. He is the Supreme Leader and we are subordinates. He is the Supreme Maintainer and we are completely dependent on Him. Whatever we possess including our body and our self, everything, belongs to Him. When one is completely in sense of this fact—he is God conscious. And unless a living entity becomes God conscious, which is his constitutional position, he cannot be happy. So this is our propaganda. There is no question of sectarianism. Every religion should have this aim in view. But that system of religion which teaches development of God consciousness is first-class. We have to estimate by the result and not by the formalities. So this movement, Krsna consciousness, very * * quickly develops God consciousness and it is very * * easy to adopt it. But at the same time, we must remember that a sinful man cannot develop God consciousness. The four pillars of sinful life are: 1) illicit sex, 2) animal killing or animal eating, 3) indulgence in intoxication in any form, and 4) gambling. We therefore request all religious institutions to check their followers from the reactions of these four principles of sinful life, and that will pave the way of developing God consciousness and thus all the people will be happy. It is not a question of following this religion or that religion. It is a question of philosophy of life. Our Krsna consciousness philosophy is practical, easier, and based on sound reasoning and philosophy. We place them before impartial, thoughtful men of the world, and we are certain that they will find it sublime.” ([[letters/1970/700315_subala|Subala, 15 March, 1970]]) *** 70-04 * * ==“Regarding the disturbing groups of Christians so-called, that is all right. Let them follow Lord Jesus Christ== * .* Regarding their dogmatic insistence, everyone thinks like that, so if one is not prepared to advance more, it is better to avoid them. If one is limited by some formulas only, he is described as an animal which is bound up by the chain of the master and cannot move beyond the length of the chain. So we are concerned with persons who are not chained by anything.” ([[letters/1970/700428_citsukhananda|Citsukhananda, 28 April, 1970]]) *** 70-06 ==“With further reference to question five, in both the Bible and Koran it is always recommended to be engaged always in kirtana or glorifying the Supreme Lord. Kirtana means to glorify the Lord by your vibration.== * * In the churches there is always singing of praise and glories of the Lord and there is preaching naturally also. Mohammedans actually have singing * kirtana * publicly. This I have seen in India that they were holding * kirtana* with drum accompaniment.” ([[letters/1970/700604_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 4 June, 1970]]) *** 70-06 “Regarding *New Testament,* we can simply agree that the *New Testament* accepts God is great and the creation came into existence by His word. I do not know the details of *New Testament,* but I know so far that it is stated there that all creation is made by God. So this statement is Vedic statement. In the *Vedanta* philosophy also the same thing is stated that the Supreme Brahman is the cause of all creation, maintenance and destruction. So on the principle that God is Supreme, God is Great, I do not think there is any difference of opinion between us and the Christians. But the Vedic literatures being older and disseminated by many, many superior *acaryas* we can find out how God is great, how the creation took place one after another. These details are not found in any other scriptures in the world. So on the whole if anyone accepts that God is greater than everyone and nobody is equal to Him, then we welcome such statement. And if he is sober and intelligent then he will try to learn from Vedic literature how God is greater than everyone and nobody is equal to Him. This knowledge is very clearly defined beginning from the *Bhagavad-gita.* So if you meet such persons who are staunch Christians you can humbly put this argument before them for consideration. But if someone is dogmatic and blind follower then avoid to discuss with him. Better spend that time for enlightening a person who is innocent. ==Do not try to enter into the details of New Testament, but simply say that we agree on the principle that God is great.”== ([[letters/1970/700623_tosana_krsna|Tosana Krsna, 23 June, 1970]]) *** 70-07 ** ==“What Lord Jesus Christ says, that is the destination of his devotees. What Lord Jesus Christ says I do not know. If there is no description of the kingdom of God then we give that—cintamani prakara-sadmasu ... etc.”== ([[letters/1970/700719_hayagriva|Vrndavana Candra, 19 July, 1970]]) *** 70-07 “Fifth Question: If Mohammed is servant of God and Lord Jesus Christ is the son of God then where is the break of the disciplic succession? After all the disciplic succession is beginning from God, so how do you find that there is no disciplic succession? If the original tree has branches, twigs and leaves and they are in touch with the original tree, it is all right. The test is whether the line is in touch with the Supreme, that is all. ==Although Mohammed and Jesus Christ appeared in the Kali yuga their instruction is as it is because the persons to whom they had to speak could not understand any more and they find it difficult to understand even that much.”== ([[letters/1970/700719_hayagriva|Vrndavana Candra, 19 July, 1970]]) *** 70-08 * * ==“Lord Jesus Christ is a saktyavesa-avatara, an empowered living entity or jiva. In order to attain such a position one must be pure, so in this sense Lord Jesus Christ was a pure devotee.== * * Of course, humanitarianism is not a sign of the pure devotee, but unless he did like that no one would hear him. So Lord Jesus Christ was acting a part suitable for the particular circumstances.” (SPL to Upendra, August 14th*, 1970) ==71-10 “If you want to preach the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ on the principles of Bhagavad-gita you will find so many differences.== * * Those who are following Jesus Christ, let them follow strictly to the principles of the Bible. ’Thou shall not kill’ is now being misinterpreted by Christian priests. Now they say ’Thou shall not murder.’ This means trying to save themselves from the crime of animal killing. So you cannot teach such unscrupulous followers the message of * Bhagavad-gita.* If you want to preach the Bible you can tell them why there will be misinterpretation. In N.Y. there is a big press that prints 'Watchtower.' They are forcefully criticizing Christian behavior. I read that one Christian priest allowed a marriage between two men—homosex. So these things are going on. So your proposal for preaching the Gospel on the basis of *Bhagavad-gita* will not be successful. If you want to do that I cannot check you but I cannot allow you to do such things from within our Society. You have to understand our philosophy perfectly, follow the regulative principles, and then in fact you can edit our books and papers. When I shall go to Mayapur then upon hearing from you of my proposal as mentioned above, I shall arrange for your coming to India. First of all you have to decide yourself whether you are prepared to surrender to our principles, but if you keep your independence either in Mayapur or N.Y., your position is the same. To associate with me you are always welcome but not with your independence. That will not help me or you.” (SPL to Rayarama, 22nd* October, 1971) 71-12 * * ==“In regard to your question about the Bible, you should just answer, you follow your Bible and I follow my Bhagavad-gita.== * * There was no swastika on Arjuna's chariot. *Kapi-dhvajah,,* means whose flag is marked with a picture of Hanuman. So Arjuna's chariot had the flag of Hanuman on it. As far as the restriction for reading the Tenth Canto pastimes of Krsna. That is only for those who do not know what is Krsna, but you are initiated, so you can read because you know who Krsna is. For example, when Krsna was seven years old he lifted Govardhana Hill. The non-devotee scholars say that it is mythology, but a devotee will know immediately that Krsna can do anything. Still our Krsna **book is so nice that even an ordinary man can read it and derive benefit. Hoping this will meet you in good health.” (SPL to Caturbhuj, December 29th, 1971) 72-08 “I sometimes remember that when ==I spoke in Portland there were many Christian people there, and they were very much favorable whenever we mentioned that we were also lovers of Christ. So you may preach in that way, that we are not canvassing for people to convert or criticize, we are canvassing people that they should simply utilize their time for loving God== by engaging in his devotional service, either they are Christian, Catholic, Jew, whatever. We are after God, that's all, we are servants of God. So preach like this, very simply, and hold *sankirtana* widely all over the city, and distribute *prasadam* profusely, especially to the young people and the students, and everything will be increasingly successful more and more. We have observed in Amsterdam that there are many frustrated young people and they have become very much degraded in their way of life. They will not even listen to philosophy. So it is better to concentrate on the *sankirtana* and get them to chant with us. If they go on chanting, eventually they will become purified. And if someone wants to understand a little philosophy, he can purchase one of our books. We have got so many big, big books. So in this spirit carry on with great enthusiastic endeavor and this will please me very, very much.” ([[letters/1972/720802_danavir|Danavir, 2 August, 1972]]) *** 72-08 “Regarding your questions, in the sense that they do not belong to disciplic succession, in that sense Christ, Buddha, and the others are not bona fide. But because they have got some special power we accept them as bona fide. Just like Buddha. We accept him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sometimes they play like that because they may have to. Although they are bona fide, they play sometimes as un-bona fide. For example, we reject Buddha as un-bona fide, but we accept him as an incarnation of God. We worship Lord Siva as a Vaisnava, but as a demigod we reject him. But to speak the truth, these personalities are not bona fide because who is caring for them? This so-called resurgence of feeling for Christ by the young people is due to our Krsna consciousness movement. They are seeing that the foreigners are here, there is some national feeling and they think why not our Christ? Whatever they are doing we do not approve. But that does not mean that they should stop their work, this factionalism will go on. But one can see by the results. It is better not to talk with these people. ==Better let them remain as Christians and Buddhists, we do not want to convert them. You tell them that if you stick to Christ you will come out all right. It is better to avoid these comparative studies.”== ([[letters/1972/720816_nityananda|Nityananda dasa, 16 August, 1972]]) *** 72-09 “As for the second question I do not know what you mean by this statement, but we accept Jesus Christ as a very good son of God. So far his preaching is concerned, that was with reference to the people amongst whom he preached. Just like ’Thou shall not kill,’ that means they were accustomed to killing. So you can just imagine what class of men they were. It is simply a difference of mode of teaching, that is all. ==But we accept him as the son of God, and he talked about God consciousness. That much we accept. So far the audience is concerned, it is a proof they are not very elevated, otherwise how they could kill Jesus Christ?== **That means they are not very enlightened.” ([[letters/1972/720909_bhakta_dasa|Krsna dasa, 9 September, 1972]]) *** 73-08 “From your report I can understand that you are very enthusiastic. I like also your idea of celebrating Govardhana *puja.* This should be our program to attract the general mass of people. If we go on preaching vigorously, as we have been for another twenty-five years then all these other so-called religions will disappear. After all what do they have to offer? ==In the Christian religion all we see is Christ's picture as he was crucified, so how people can be attracted to such thing? There is no science, philosophy, music, art, prasada, it is no wonder that the people are rejecting this nonsense.== Not that Christ himself was nonsense, but those who are preaching in his name, they are nonsense because they do not follow even the simplest of his orders—’Thou shall not kill.’ I have met with so many Christians and when I ask them why Christians are killing they cannot answer. The first principle of spiritual life is non-violence. They will say killing in this matter means actually murder, but accepting even this argument, it means that the society in which Christ was preaching was composed of murderers, so what kind of men they were, and practically we see it is a fact because they murdered Lord Jesus Christ. At any rate there is nothing in the world that can compare with our movement of chanting and dancing. So chant, dance and when you get tired take *prasada,* this is our actual solid preaching work all over the world.” (SPL to Bhakta dasa, 3rdAugust, 1973) 74-06 “Your report that a Christian gentleman became a life member being attracted to our books is also our experience. Just today we spoke at a seminary in Melbourne, Australia, and the young Franciscan monks listened very respectfully. ==When speaking to Christians we never say our religious system is better than theirs but we speak on the principles of love of God—sa vai pumsam paro dharmo.== **They become convinced and pleased to hear our explanations of God consciousness based on the Vedic conclusion-if they are at all sincere. So whenever you come upon such gentlemen or institutions try to place our books there and make them life members also.” ([[letters/1974/740628_bhakta_dasa|Pancadravida and Aksayananda Swamis, 28 June, 1974]]) *** 74-08 “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 16th, 1974 with enclosed clippings and the Christian paper *Southern Cross.* The articles are very nice, and I am very pleased how the Christian community is appreciating our movement. Actually we have no quarrel with them. ==We accept Lord Jesus Christ as the son of God and he was a great Vaisnava. Because he appeared in another country does not mean that we should not offer him respect.== * * If we stick to our principles as I have given you, more and more these priestly class they will come to respect us and appreciate something of our philosophy. Therefore I stress so much the devotional rules and regulations.” (SPL to Amogha, 5th August, 1974* ) 75-12 ** ==“The Jehovah’s witnesses do not accept the fact of rebirth, and they claim ’AWAKE’ so this is nonsense. Your letter was very nice. The whole world is in darkness, we are bringing light by preaching Bhagavata Dharma. Thank you for helping me.”== ([[letters/1975/751202_cakravarti|Pusta Krsna Maharaja, 2 December, 1975]]) *** 76-01 * * ==“Christianity is now declining, therefore they are having to sell all their churches to us. Because they have got no clear idea of God, people are not satisfied with them.== * * But we can explain what God is, so people are appreciating more and more our movement. Now by Krsna's grace you have a beautiful temple, use it to preach very vigorously. If you all strictly follow the principles and chant sixteen rounds, your spiritual strength will be insured, and our movement will become increasingly prominent.” ([[letters/1976/760110_visvakarma|Visvakarma, 10 January, 1976]]) *** 76-09 “I can give you all guidance and direction for there are millions of Christians in the world today. We are not concerned with how, so much as the fact that one must develop his dormant love for God. ==This is all right that you will chant the names of Christ for after all he was the representative of God.== **People are lost due to not following a bona fide religious system. If you can revive their God consciousness that will be very good service.” (SPL to David B. Richeter Hughes, Founder of World Christ COR, 8th September, 1976) ## To the Indian Community 67-03 “Regarding cooperation in the matter of preaching work in the Western countries, it is the duty of every Indian and Hindu to cooperate in this task. There are so many *sanatana-dharma* establishments in India but nobody has tried to preach the principles of *Bhagavad-gita* in the Western countries although the *Bhagavad-gita* is widely read all over the world. *Swamis* like Vivekananda or others who came here before me, manufactured their own ideological religion and that is not in conformity with the *Bhagavad-gita.* The straight way of *Bhagavad-gita* is that Lord Sri Krsna is the Original Personality of Godhead and He is the only worship able object for all humanity: *mattah parataram nanyat, kincid asti dhananjaya,* there is no superior Truth than Sri Krsna; this is the Gospel of all Vedic instruction. ==I am trying to implement the truth in this part of the world and it is the duty of the Hindus and Indians to help me in all respects.== As far as possible try to help me in this mission at least in the publication of my books from India and if possible meet Sriman Joshi with this letter and talk with him. Let me know your joint decision and that will help me much.” (SPL to Sri Krishnaji, 25th March, 1967*) 67-04 “Regarding Bengalis, I think it will be difficult for them to join us because we are pure Vaisnavas. The Bengalis are generally worshipers of goddess Kali for facility of eating meat and fish. But some of them may join us in minority. ==Indians other than the Bengalis may join us in large numbers because most of them are vegetarians== *.* Anyway do not disturb them or anyone about their personal affairs but give everyone the chance of joining us in *kirtana.* That will pave the path of Krsna consciousness. You are intelligent enough and I hope you will understand me right.” ([[letters/1967/670427_pradyumna|Kīrtanānanda, 27 April, 1967]]) *** 68-03 “So far the temple is concerned, do what is easier without too much implicating yourself. The Indians there do not sound to be very reliable; that is my opinion also. So concentrate more on the Canadians and Europeans. ==Generally, the Indians who come to this country are for material gain only; they have not got very much serious interest in anything spiritual. So when I come there, I shall try to turn the Indians there to become sympathetic to our temple== but most of them, being non-Vaisnavas, may not take to our strict Vaisnava principles. Therefore, they are hopeless to the 80%.” ([[letters/1968/680306_janardana|Janardana, 6 March, 1968]]) ==68-07 “== I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 2nd, 1968. The language was Hindi and the script was Gujarati I am not accustomed to read Gujarati script, but I can understand a little Hindi. Anyway, I have grasped the substance of your letter that you are a devotee of Lord Krsna Rancorji of Dakore. You also desire to become my disciple. You have passed your M. Com. degree and you want to stay with my other disciples in San Francisco. These are all nice proposals. And I think there is nothing objectionable. Gargamuni came here day before yesterday, and he has gone back yesterday afternoon. He spoke to me about you, that you are coming in the temple and taking some active part in the affairs of our temple. I understand also that you have come to the USA on student's visa. But you do not wish to prosecute your studies any more, but want to do some business. I know also that you are a family man, and in India you have got your wife and two daughters. The first thing is that you may remain in the temple with the permission of Jayananda Brahmacari, the president of the temple, and as you are rendering some service to the temple, I think he will be very glad to accept you as one of the inmates. Your desire to do something tangible for the temple is a very welcome suggestion. There are many things to be done in the matter of the temple. Perhaps you will appreciate that this Radha-Krsna temple is the only one in San Francisco. And ==I know there are many Gujarati gentlemen in San Francisco to whom you can approach for the improvement of the temple. If we get our own temple we can organize so many things== which will be appreciated both by the Indians and the Americans. So far business is concerned, Gargamuni is getting goods from some importer on credit, and he is selling the goods and then paying him the amount. So, he has not got to invest his capital in the business, but he is a good salesman. And if you can import some goods according to his choice and on your account, I think he will have no objection to purchase from you on the same system as he is doing with the others. He did not talk with me about your business proposal. Under the circumstances, if you want to do something, you can talk with Gargamuni personally and if he consults me I shall give my opinion. I know your community, Patels, in Gujarat, are a business community. And they can do lots of lucrative business for material benefit. But you should know that we are not doing any business for material benefit. Gargamuni spends his profit for Krsna consciousness. He is so much elevated that he works very hard for doing business diligently, but the profit made out of it, he spends for Krsna. If you wish to do business in that spirit, that will enhance your spiritual assessment. Generally, people are inclined to do business or make profit for sense gratification; such tendency is the cause of material bondage. But to act for Krsna is the cause for opening the door for liberation. So, I shall not try to implicate you in business if you are not ready to award the profit for Krsna's benefit. The best thing will be that if you can come here for some days, say, at least for a fortnight, you can remain here with us in the temple, and talk with me in detail before you become my disciple. Actually, I shall be very glad to accept an educated and intelligent disciple like you, but first of all we must meet and you should know whether you can accept me as your spiritual master, or I can accept you as my disciple. This is preliminary necessity. I am therefore requesting you to come here at least for a fortnight, and let us understand one another. I think it is better if you reply me this letter in English because I find it difficult in reading Gujarati script, though I can understand Hindi fairly well.” ([[letters/1968/680706_vinode_patel|Vinode Patel, 6 July, 1968]]) *** 68-08 “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 17th July, 1968, delivered to me just yesterday after a month on account of the mail strike. Anyway, I am very glad to learn that you are approaching the Gujarati people in San Francisco, and asking them for their support in the temple; this is a great satisfaction for me. Next time when I go to San Francisco, I wish to visit personally all the Gujarati residents of San Francisco, through your exigency and I shall be glad to speak to them about my mission. My mission is to establish that: *krsnas tu bhagavan svayam.* The International Society for Krsna Consciousness wants to establish that one God, one scripture, one *mantra,* and one service. One God is Krsna; one scripture is *Bhagavad-gita,* one *mantra* is Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, and one service means everything for the Lord. So ==it is pleasing to me that the Gujarati ladies and gentlemen who are in San Francisco, they should take keen interest in this movement because superficially or from the historical point of view, Krsna was a Gujarati.== **His father was a Gujarati, but His maternal uncle's house was in Mathura. And His foster father's house was at Vrndavana. So of course, these are superficial, so even we take Krsna as a historical Person, the Gujaratis must take more interest than others. I thank you very much for your promise that you shall try your best to cooperate with me, and with my movement, and for the temple, and for which all blessings and grace of Krsna will be bestowed upon you.” ([[letters/1968/680822_mr._david_exley|Vinode Patel, 22 August, 1968]]) *** 68-09 “Regarding the Hindu community: Don't expect anything very wonderful from them, as we have got experience in Montreal—they have come in the foreign countries to earn money. As such, you cannot expect any cultural contribution. So you will tactfully deal with them, and whenever possible, vehemently protest against their foolish ideas. But you should try to support your statements on the strength of *Bhagavatam* and *Bhagavad-gita.* Best thing will be to avoid them as far as possible. I am concerned to preach this Gospel amongst the Europeans and Americans, and I am not at all interested to preach amongst the Indians, because they have now become hodgepodge, due to so many years of subjugation by foreigners, and ==having lost their own culture.”== (SPL to Gurudasa, September, 1968*) 68-09 “The San Francisco *sankirtana* party is doing very wonderful work, and I understand they are collecting also very nicely. And I have come here so that a permanent *sankirtana* party may travel all over the country. Let me see what happens. ==Here the Indians who have come from the Gujarat province, they are generally devotees of Lord Krsna. They are offering their willing cooperation. Especially I have come for this purpose, how to engage them in Krsna consciousness.”== ([[letters/1968/680909_subala|Subala, 9 September, 1968]]) *** 68-09 “I have received one letter from Mukunda that your preaching work is going on nicely, and so it is also confirmed by you. I shall be glad to know how you're meeting in the Hindu center, and how the meetings are being carried out successfully. ==These people might be impersonalists so far I can understand from the handbill, but still, we can perform kirtana in any place. It does not matter what they are.== By our *kirtana* process we have to influence others.” ([[letters/1968/680923_yamuna|Yamuna, 23 September, 1968]]) *** 68-10 “Regarding your good suggestion about permanent organization, this institution is already incorporated in New York State and we are opening different branches in different states. So I shall be glad if our Indian friends in San Francisco also come into the management of the local organization. I welcome it. So I would suggest that in your presence, a committee may be formed, combination of Indian and American, and a temple of our own may be organized, Radha-Krsna temple. So in your presence if it is possible to organize, I shall be very glad. And as soon as you call me I shall come to San Francisco. Because I have got an engagement in Montreal, from here I shall go there and from there I can come. This is one point. Another point is that from India I am not getting sufficient encouragement, either from the government or from the people. Now you have personally seen my activities and responses from the Americans, and if you kindly organize an Indian branch of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness, it will be a great help. I am enclosing herewith a copy of one letter from Hanuman Prasad Poddar, which is sent to me unsolicited. He appreciated my activities here. And similarly, I get many letters from unknown persons, but when I say some practical cooperation they do not come forward. And so far government is concerned, they are not at all interested, that we have got our *svaraja;* but Hindus cannot make propagation of their religious activities, even outside of the country we are so much crippled. The Christians and the Buddhists, they are making so much propaganda in India and they are spending lots of money, but here although the response is so nice, there is no help from the people nor from the government. So after returning to India, ==if you can organize some opinion, at least amongst the Vaisnava sect, in your Gujarat, there are so many Vaisnavas. All over there are so many Vaisnavas. So they should come forward to cooperate with me, then it will be a very nice organization.== We want to establish that one God, Krsna; one scripture, *Bhagavad-gita;* one *mantra,* Hare Krsna; and one work, service to the Supreme Lord. And people are responding. So please try to cooperate with me. So far government is concerned, they will not cooperate. They have become secular. But even the people do not cooperate how it will be successful? Please, therefore, try to organize Indian opinion to cooperate with me, that will be a great help. And so long you are here in America, just try to induce our Gujarati friends to cooperate, and have our own temple, at least in San Francisco. So far the piety of my disciples is concerned; you know they are strictly Vaisnava. They are restricted from illicit sex life, all kinds of intoxication, they do not eat anything except Krsna *prasada,* and they do not participate in any kind of gambling. So far piety is concerned; I think you will find them more advanced than some of our Indian friends. And if our Indian friends will also cooperate in this way, it will be a great success. I thank you very much once more for your nice letter and appreciation of my activities, and if you kindly cooperate with me I shall be still more encouraged. Thanking you.” ([[letters/1968/681016_b._n._jariwala|Jariwala, 16 October, 1968]]) *** 68-11 * * ==“Whenever the Indian community invites you to go and take prasadam, be always kind with them, and go there and chant Hare Krsna. They are vegetarian, so whatever prasadam they prepare you offer to the Deity and enjoy it.”== (SPL to Aniruddha, November 14th, 1968* ) ==68-11 “== Please accept my hearty greetings and the blessings of Lord Krsna. I am very much encouraged to receive your invitation and I shall consider it a great opportunity when you actually arrange to receive me at your place. ==When I was in India I heard there that many Indians, especially Hindus, are residing in that part of the world, (South America) even for generations and they require spiritual guidance by their original Vedic culture.== I believe you have read *Bhagavad-gita* very well and you may remember that in the fifteenth chapter it is said that the Lord in His incarnation as Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa compiled the *Vedas s.* The objective of the *Vedas* is to know Krsna and the *Bhagavad gita* is the essence of all Vedic instructions. Lord Caitanya made it still easier by introducing the holy name of Krsna and it has now become so easy that the cult of Vedic knowledge can be preached all over the world without any difficulty. As evidence of this statement, you may know from me that the Hare Krsna movement is spreading like wild fire all over America, Canada, England and Germany. If you kindly join this movement and help this inundation over flood South America, it will be a great service to the Lord. I am very glad to receive your letter and I accept your invitation. Now you can arrange for this and in the meantime I am sending herewith some papers in this connection, which you may please go through.” ([[letters/1968/681122_ranadhir|Sriman Petambar Dinadayala, 22 November, 1968]]) ==68-12 “So far as the Indian population is concerned, I think that the Sikhs are useless for our purpose. They do not understand our philosophy nor are they interested in spiritual advancement of life.== * * We have no such discretion that we have to pick our members from a particular group of people. Everyone is Krsna's part and parcel and wherever we find it convenient we will pick up a person to be trained in Krsna consciousness who is interested in going back to home, back to Godhead.” (SPL to Ananda, 17th* December, 1968) ==69-05 “== Of course, there are many Indians who may be delighted to have a Hindu temple there, but we are especially interested in something else. ==Our plan is not to sponsor the Hindus or any other individual group. Our real purpose is to spread Krsna consciousness.== This means that there is one God, Krsna, there is one scripture, *Bhagavad-gita As It Is;* there is one *mantra,* Hare Krsna, and there is one work, service of Lord Krsna. We want to preach this cult all over the world, and I am sure people from all groups of religion will join us. If we establish a temple on the principles of Mataji, it is also very nice, we may draw the attention of a section of the Hindus, but we cannot really execute our ideals. So we cannot be very much enthusiastic in this connection. She is undoubtedly a good devotee of Krsna, but she has to learn the science of Krsna consciousness. I hope this will meet you in good health.” ([[letters/1969/690527_yamuna|Yamuna, 27 May, 1969]]) *** 69-06 ==“Regarding Mataji Syamadevi's temple in Leicester, your version is all right, and I am not very interested to establish a Hindu temple. Perhaps you know from the very beginning I never described my movement as Hindu religion.== * * Religion means the bona fide process by which we understand God and the first-class religion is that which teaches people to develop love for God. To know or accept the authority of God is one thing, but to love God is another. Generally, people are interested in material comforts and they make God as the supplying agent. This kind of devotion is not purified. It is contaminated by material desires, but when one is elevated to the position of giving everything to God out of love and affection, that is the first-class position. We are teaching this philosophy in the name of Krsna consciousness, and it is applicable to all sober persons. The * Bhagavata* principle is that because we can be happy simply by developing our dormant love of God, this is our first business.” ([[letters/1969/690610_mukunda|Mukunda, 10 June, 1969]]) *** 70-01 ==“So far approaching the Indian community, you may do so with an appeal that Krsna consciousness movement is so nice that, by its propagation, there would be no more any other sect and that will be perfect position of the human society.== **Being influenced by this movement, nobody shall now remain a Hindu, a Christian, a Mohammadan, a Buddhist, like that, but everyone should become servant of Krsna by the simple method of chanting His holy name. Krsna is the Supreme Father, and He claims all living entities, in all forms and species of life, as His sons. So why not take this philosophy and practically see how the followers are feeling happy on the basis of Krsna consciousness. You have got to convince all sections of human society and induce them to come to Krsna consciousness. London is a great city, perhaps the most important metropolis in the world, many people visit every year. So, combined together, Englishman and Indian should erect such a nice institution there that people from all parts of the world may take advantage of this. Now this is the program before you, and you can further develop it with sincere service and great devotion. Regarding your Tuesday class at your place, you can continue it as a sub-branch of ISKCON Radha Krsna temple. The procedure should be exclusively for chanting Hare Krsna *mantra* or singing other songs just like *Govinda jaya jaya, Gopala jaya jaya,* and nothing more. Demigod worship in your house or thinking a demigod as equal with Narayana or Krsna should be stopped altogether; actually that is not the fact. Special stress should be given on chanting Hare Krsna *mantra,* reading from *Bhagavad-gita As It Is* or *Srimad-Bhagavatam.* In the *Bhagavad-gita* editions, you will find a peculiarity that, in place of Krsna, they have mentioned Paramatma or Paramesvara, or like that. These expressions are more or less indications of impersonalism. Therefore, when *Bhagavad-gita* should be recited, always read 'Krsna.' This transcendental word should be mentioned. So, in that way, you may continue your Tuesday class. Both you and your wife should decorate your foreheads with *urdvapundra tilaka,” (SPL to Ksirodaksayi, 10th* January, 1970) 70-01 ==“So far Hindu religion is concerned, there are millions of Krsna temples in India and there is not a single Hindu who does not worship Krsna. Therefore, this Krsna consciousness movement is not a concocted idea.== * * We invite all scholars, philosophers, religionists or members of the general public to understand this movement by critical study. And if one does so seriously, one will understand the sublime position of this great movement. The chanting process is also authorized. Professor Staal's feeling of disgust in the matter of constant chanting of the holy name of Krsna is a definite proof of his lack of knowledge in this authorized movement of Krsna consciousness.” (SPL to Executive Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, January 14th* , 1970) 70-01 “I understand that you are now preparing for going to Australia, and I am so much glad that you are so enthusiastic in preaching the transcendental cult of Krsna consciousness. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu will be very much pleased upon you. Lord Caitanya desired that this cult of love for Krsna, which is the highest benefit for the living entity, shall be preached all over the world. As an intelligent boy you can understand how much this Krsna consciousness movement is necessary for the upliftment of the human society. ==So the disease of the human society is becoming more and more acute and Lord Caitanya desired that the Indians should preach this cult for the benefit of the human society. Unfortunately, the present generation of Indians is more attracted to technological knowledge than this cult of Krsna consciousness. Their position is very precarious.== **Somehow or other, under the order of my spiritual master I have brought this cult of Krsna consciousness and handed it over to the American boys and girls. So I am appealing to everyone, especially intelligent boys like you, to take up the propaganda work of Krsna consciousness movement very seriously, and it will be a great service to the human beings. We have got now sufficient books and literatures and our philosophy is super-excellent. We are authorized, and we shall go ahead more and more.” ([[letters/1970/700121_yeager|Bali Mardan, 21 January, 1970]]) *** 70-03 “Sri R.D. Birla Industry House Bombay 1, India Dear Sri Birlaji, Please accept my greetings. I have received one letter from Sri Balmukund Parikh of 78 Woodstock Avenue, London, NWll, and the copy of the letter is enclosed herewith for your perusal. ==Perhaps it may be known to you that in the Western world I am preaching the cult of Krsna consciousness strictly on the Vaisnava principles== * * and I have established already twenty-six centers as listed on the enclosed sheet. I want to establish many Radha-Krsna temples in all important towns and countries of the Western world. I am not only establishing temples, but I am creating the devotees of the temples. There are many thousands of disciples in America, Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia. So I am in need of many pairs of Radha-Krsna * murtis * and from the letter of Sri Balmukund Parikh I learnt that you are interested to donate such * murtis * for being installed in different parts of the Western countries. I understand that four pairs of * murtis * have already been donated by your trust through correspondence with the Secretary of the Dalmia Jain Trust. But I want many hundreds of pairs of such * murtis. * Generally in our temples we install 24 inches high brass * murtis * or 42 inches high marble * murtis.* A picture of our London Deities is sent herewith for your inspection. Thanking you in anticipation of your early reply. Yours in the service of the Lord, *A.C.* Bhaktivedanta Swami” ([[letters/1970/700309_gopala_krsna|R.D. Birla, 9 March, 1970]]) *** 70-03 ==“I thank you very much also for your kind appreciation of my humble service in the cause of Krsna consciousness movement. I think every Indian is responsible for spreading this movement all over the world. That is the order of Lord Caitanya in pursuance of the dictum of Lord Krsna.== Lord Caitanya says that anyone who has taken birth as a human being in the land of Bharatvarsa should sanctify his life, taking advantage of the Vedic culture, and then distribute the knowledge for welfare activities of the rest of the world.” ([[letters/1970/700313_sudama|Sriman Bankaji, 13 March, 1970]]) *** 70-03 “I think the Society to which you have referred in your letter under reply, namely Visva Hindu Parishad, should take up this message of Lord Caitanya if they are actually serious about doing something for the Vedic culture which is known as Hindu culture. ==Actually, there is no such word as Hindu in the Vedic literatures. The Hindu name was given by the Mohammedans with reference to the river Indus or Hindus, from Sindhu.== * * So the Vedic culture is not for any sect or country, it is meant for the whole human society. In other words, Vedic culture is also known as * sanatana-dharma * which means, ’The eternal function of the eternal living entities.’ Krsna is eternal and we all living entities, being parts and parcels of Krsna, are also eternal. And the reciprocal exchange of love between the two eternals is called eternal occupational duty or * sanatana-dharma.* I am very glad to know that you are very much anxious to cooperate with my movement in the Western world. And if you kindly do so it is not only welcome, but also Krsna will be very much pleased upon you and bestow his blessings. If your friends who are an educated and ambitious band of young workers will agree to follow my direction I think they can render a great service to the human society. We should not any more think in terms of Hindu society. If we limit ourselves to Hindus then there will be many competitors like Christians, Mohammedans, Buddhists and so on. But if we preach the philosophy of Krsna consciousness in right earnest, it will be accepted throughout the whole world. And that is practically experienced during the last three or four years. There are thousands of my disciples, European and American; their background is not Hindu culture and still they are accepting Krsna consciousness philosophy. Some of my students are from the Mohammadan sect also; but all of them conjointly are chanting the Hare Krsna *mantra,* dancing in ecstasy, honoring Krsna *prasadam* and happily living on Vedic principles, namely as *brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha* or *sannyasa,* not to mention their personal dealings in the matter of four kinds of prohibitive regulations; namely no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating and no gambling. So we have to train the whole younger generation at the present moment by the simple method recommended by Lord Caitanya, and then this movement, Krsna consciousness, will spread allover the world.” ([[letters/1970/700313_sudama|Sriman Bankaji, 13 March, 1970]]) *** 70-03 ==“As advised by you, I have already written letters to the Murti makers as well as to Birlaji and Jaipuriaji. Actually, my mission is to establish hundreds and thousands of temples like the one which I have established in London and other places. And I wish that every Indian who has a little love for Krsna may cooperate with me in this attempt.”== ([[letters/1970/700315_subala|Sri Balmukundji, 15 March, 1970]]) *** 70-03 “Please try to understand this Krsna consciousness movement as very, very great. The people are missing the point—love of Krsna, and if somehow or other they can revive their lost consciousness and be fixed up in Krsna consciousness, all questions and problems of the world will be solved very easily. So I would again request you to take up the preaching work of this great movement. It does not matter whether you accept *sannyasa* order of life or not. You can preach this Krsna consciousness movement even along with your good wife and why not this procedure? My disciples are my only children. ==If they can preach this Krsna consciousness movement husband and wife together, without having any background of Vedic culture, why not an experienced gentleman like you with full knowledge of Vedic culture preach this movement?== **If you take up this work in right earnest, I am sure you will feel transcendental bliss.” ([[letters/1970/700315_subala|Sri Balmukundji, 15 March, 1970]]) *** 70-04 “Regarding the Hindu centers in the foreign countries, none of them are bona fide. There is a similar hodge podge center in London. Actually, ==Hindus and non-Hindus, everyone is at the present moment out of touch of the real science of spiritual knowledge.== **Everyone is going under some religious badge only, so it is very difficult to deal with them unless they are very much serious to understand the science of God. Everyone of the Hindu community in the Western world has got some very good feeling for me because superficially they are seeing that I am spreading Hindu religion, but factually this Krsna consciousness movement is neither Hindu religion nor any other religion. It is the function of the soul. So even though the Indian Hindus are very much inclined in my favor, so far I have experienced it is very difficult to turn them into pure devotees. The difficulty has become more acute on account of Ramakrishna Mission's preaching that any opinion about religion is all right. But our philosophy is different; we do not accept any opinion which is not advised by Krsna. So unless one is very fortunate, never mind whether he is Hindu or non-Hindu, one cannot take to the Krsna consciousness movement and accept its bona fide principles.” ([[letters/1970/700417_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 17 April, 1970]]) *** 70-05 “So far the proposal of the Karachi Gujarat Hindu Union and the Brahma Samaja to take our devotees to Africa, if they give return fare we will go to Africa but I am not very much hopeful of the Indians there. They may be of the same type as they are in England. The difficulty with the Indians is that they are under the impression that they know everything and have not got to learn anything from us, but factually ==most of them have lost their original culture and they have to learn so many things from this Krsna consciousness movement.”== ([[letters/1970/700527_tamala_krsna|Tamala, 27 May, 1970]]) ==70-06 “== I wish that if our Vrndavana center is opened you may take charge of this center and thus help advancing this Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. There is a great necessity for this movement from all angles of vision. I am experiencing practically that through this movement the entire human society will be happy. And as you write to say that, ’The Lord has very, very kindly given me human form in the sacred soils of India-simply to serve the humanity and through that Him alone;’ so this is the opportunity offered to you by the Lord—take advantage of it and ==set exemplary activities so that our countrymen may know what is the duty of a bona fide Indian.”== ([[letters/1970/700625_radharamana_sharanji|Sriman Radharamana Sharanji, 25 June, 1970]]) *** 70-07 ==“Regarding your questions: Hindu means the culture of the Indians. India happens to be situated on the other side of the Indus River which is now in Pakistan which is spelled Indus—in Sanskrit it is called Sindhu.== * * The Sindhu was misspelled by the Europeans as Indus and from Indus the word 'Indian' has come. Similarly, the Arabians used to pronounce Sindus as Hindus. This Hindus is spoken as Hindus. It is neither a Sanskrit word nor is it found in the Vedic literatures. But the culture of the Indians or the Hindus is Vedic and begins with the four * varnas * and four * asramas. * So these four * varna * and four * asramas * are meant for really civilized human race. Therefore, the conclusion is actually when a human being is civilized in the true sense of the term he follows the system of * varna * and * asrama * and then he can be called a Hindu. Our Krsna consciousness movement is preaching these four * varnas * and * asramas,* so naturally it has got some relationship with the Hindus. So Hindus can be understood from the cultural point of view, not religious point of view. Culture is never religion. Religion is a faith, and culture is educational or advancement of knowledge.” ([[letters/1970/700709_jagadisa|Janmanjaya and Taradevi, 9 July, 1970]]) *** 70-07 ==“So this Krsna consciousness cultural movement is not actually Hindu movement, but originally it is India cultural movement. Krsna does not claim Himself either as Hindu or anyone else, but He claims to be the father of all living entities.== * * The people of the world now require this cultural movement for actual peace and prosperity. In the * Caitanya-caritamrta * it is said that Krsna consciousness is not a foreign thing which is imposed by force, but is dormant within everyone's heart, simply it has to be awakened by the authorized process. The authorized process is chanting of the holy name as it is recommended in all the Vedic literatures, and it is being effective amongst the people whose background is neither Hinduism nor Indianism. Because it is the natural propensity of all living entities it is being accepted by all classes of men without any distinction of caste, creed, or color. Such a great cultural movement originated from India and Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation, was always carrying with him the * Bhagavad-gita. * Then why the Indian government will not give us support for this great movement? The Gandhi Memorial Fund has got immense amount of money, the Cultural Department of the Education Ministry of the Indian government is spending so much money and why not for the real Indian cultural movement, Krsna consciousness? So kindly try to convince the Prime Minister and take up this matter very seriously because by the spreading of this cultural movement India's prestige will be glorified. * Bhagavad-gita* although accepted as Hindu Gospel is not limited with the Hindu community. All over the world this book is studied. There are hundreds of foreign editions of this book and actually I am seeing how they are anxious to receive this culture. If you want more information I shall be very glad to supply you, and you please try to help this movement for the remaining days of your life. Both of us are now old enough. I shall complete my 74th year by the next month and you are of the same age, so let us do something combinedly for the remaining days of our life so that our mother India may be glorified all over the world.” (SPL to Nirmala Babu, Member of Parliament, 9th July, 1970) 71-03 “About the *’guru’* living next door, as well as other so-called *sadhus* in Fiji, why be disturbed by them? Simply go on with your preaching work with determination. Sincere people will be attracted by the purity of your message. And ==if that man insists on chanting Hare Rama first, what harm is there?”== ([[letters/1971/710321_upendra|Upendra, 21 March, 1971]]) *** 72-02 “If you are living in an old Hindu temple, that is very nice. Yes, actually this Hindu religion is a dead religion. In India too, and in Africa, we have been offered many empty Hindu temples to take-over and manage. ==This Hindu religion has no philosophy, therefore it has died because in this age people have become very much hardened by material living and they are not much interested in sentimental religions like Hinduism.== **Sentiments are temporary and they always dry up. But what the people really want is a philosophy to give their life meaning and guide it under all changing circumstances—and the only philosophy available nowadays is profit, where is profit for sense gratification, or Marxism, or this -ism or that -ism. But none of these so-called philosophies have proven very successful in satisfying the people. Therefore, there is trouble all over the world, dissatisfaction, and people are taking to the only philosophy left or hopelessness philosophy. But our Krsna philosophy is bringing real meaning and hope to the modern people. We are opening up the dead churches and temples, so we may be certain that because our philosophy offers the substantial basis for everyone's life and the solution to all kinds of problems of miserable material life, that very soon the prediction of Lord Caitanya will come true and all men of the world will find shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna.” (SPL to Vaikuntanatha and Patita Pavana, February 4th, 1972) 73-03 “But the thing is, without Indian devotees rural preaching cannot be effective. They are mostly illiterate, how they will understand? ==We must avoid the risk of a separatist movement, unity is our purpose; just like in London where the Indians are starting their own Hindu Radha-Krsna temple. We want to avoid skin disease and the Indian people are like the tannery expert== *.* Such a cobbler is expert at skin disease. They will see our *sankirtana* party and think it is a white dance. Anyway, how to gather Indian devotees, that program is wanting.” ([[letters/1973/730305_kirtiraja|Sriman Hariprasad Badruka, 5 March, 1973]]) *** 74-04 “I am asking Pradyumna to send you a list of Vaisnava functions which you can give to the Indians who are inquiring about it at the New York temple. ==Other than the bona fide Vaisnava functions we cannot divert our devotees attention to such participation in so called religious functions. This has spoiled the Hindu religion into a hodge podge pseudoreligion.== For advancement in Krsna consciousness we should simply concentrate on Krsna; therefore we can help them but the function has to be in connection with Krsna.” (SPL to Gopala Krsna, 27th April, 1974*) 74-12 “Regarding your farm, that will be very nice. But be sure to maintain your temple there in Denver. It is a very beautiful temple. Do not lose it. ==Also your idea of forming a trust between ISKCON and the leading men in the Indian community is approved by me. That is very nice. Let the Indians take part in our movement and help us to push on this mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.== * * In that trust you must be very careful to make sure that my name is registered there as the founder- * acarya * and that I am to be the ultimate authority. In other words, in any case of necessity of vetoing or cancelling any decision made by the other trustees, I should be able to do like that. My decision should overrule all the other trustees combined.” (SPL to Kurusrestha, 28th December, 1974* ) 76-04 ** ==“Your program of visiting the local Hindu temple and giving discourse on our philosophy is nice. Try to follow the four regulative principles and chant sixteen rounds daily and you will gradually make progress in Krsna consciousness.”== ([[letters/1976/760402_v.g.k._dipple|Niranjana dasa, 2 April, 1976]]) ## To Other Minor Groups 68-01 ** ==“Regarding Baha'i philosophy, I have read the pamphlet you have sent me and I find in it that this Baha'i movement is more or less a humanitarian movement which has no spiritual information.== Generally people are attracted by humanitarian movements and Swami Vivekananda was a popular figure of this platform but this humanitarian movement of the material platform is always unsuccessful because one has to counteract the three modes of material platform. I do not find any hint in Baha'i literature where one can surmount the reactions of material qualities. The idea of Baha'i movement is more graciously presented in our Krsna consciousness movement. The Baha'i movement doesn't take any consideration of living entities beyond the human society. But our Krsna consciousness movement included everything in the creation of God. As a scholar you can read such books but I am sure it will not help very much in the matter of advancing our Krsna consciousness movement. Humanitarian movements are certainly very attractive for the people in general, just like if you start a movement to stop the war, it will be very attractive to the people in general. But, as a matter of fact, war cannot be stopped. We aren't after stopping the war, but we are after utilizing war actions for satisfying of Krsna, as Arjuna practically performed. War cannot be stopped from the material world, but it can be purified. Therefore, so-called humanitarians are our target of Krsna consciousness. Their statement about Krsna is that He is an individual chosen by God as His representative means they have no knowledge of God. They require to learn what is God, then they will understand Krsna. Generally speaking, everyone has got the conception of God, but actually they do not know what is God. That is explained in the *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam,* therefore our knowledge of God is far better than any other one in the world. That means if the Baha'is do not accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead they have never read *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* Their claims of reading *Gita* is false. You should try to convince them of the supremacy of Godhead, Krsna. Whenever we are able to meet such opposing elements about Krsna, we should know that our Krsna consciousness is perfected. The Baha'i people, if they are really sincere, should try to understand *Bhagavad-gita* sincerely. As soon as they say they have understood *Bhagavad-gita* and at the same time accept Krsna as a chosen individual person, their sincerity fails. There is less rational thinking in Baha'i philosophy as I can understand from the pamphlet. There is already contradiction that they accept Krsna as chosen person and not as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; that is contradiction of *Bhagavad-gita.” ([[letters/1968/680121_janardana|Janardana, 21 January, 1968]]) *** 70-05 * * ==“Regarding your inquiry about Aurobindo, I may inform you that Aurobindo does not belong to the bhakti school. He is more or less a dry philosopher, mental speculator, with some mystic ideas.== * * We are simply concerned with pure devotees, so we have nothing to learn from Aurobindo. One practical estimation of Aurobindo, I know that one of the important disciples of Aurobindo, Dilip Raya, tried his best to induce one English devotee, Professor Nixon, later on Krsna Prema, to become a disciple of Aurobindo, but Krsna Prema never agreed to this. On the contrary, Dilip Raya later on became influenced by Krsna Prema and he left Aurobindo as *rama* and is now chanting Hare Krsna *mantra* at Purna. So you can judge yourself what is my estimation of Aurobindo.” ([[letters/1970/700513_balmukundji|Balmukundji, 13 May, 1970]]) *** 68-01 “Regarding Maharishi Mahesh, I do not know much about his activities, but so far I have heard that he has got his particular type of *mantra* which he sells for $35. And there are hundreds of students for being cheated by him. Anyone who does not know the science of Krsna is a great fool and if he poses himself as spiritual master, he must be cheating the public without any doubt. Your process of discouraging friends in the matter of their being cheated by such misnomer is very good. You know that out of many millions of people, somebody tries to be spiritually advanced. And out of many millions of spiritually advanced men, hardly there is one who understands Krsna consciousness. So, in your country there are many who may be spiritually inclined, but because they want to be cheated, Krsna sends them many kinds of cheaters to bewilder them. It is understood that Maharishi Mahesh says that one can drink and at the same time make advancement in meditation; this is clearly a cheating process. But what can be done? Your countrymen also want to be cheated like that. They want to continue their illicit sex relationships, intoxication habit, meat eating and all other nonsensical things, and at the same time they want to make spiritual advancement. This is clear indication of being cheated. Nobody can make any advancement in spiritual life by keeping himself conditioned by the above sinful activities. So you can judge yourself what is the position of the so-called Maharishi Mahesh, and try to help your friends in such a way. ==There is no need of talking with people who are interested in the Maharishi Mahesh, but if you have any sympathetic friends, you can let them know how the cheating process is going on.== I do not think that his disciples claiming advancement in spiritual life is bona fide.” ([[letters/1968/680130_satsvarupa|Satsvarupa, 30 January, 1968]]) *** 68-02 “In the meantime we are trying to get membership (non-government organization) in the U.N., and if we are fortunate enough to get this membership, then we shall be able to attract the heads of all nations in this important movement. Our program for Krsna consciousness is solid, and backed by the most authoritative literature— *Bhagavad-gita* and *Srimad-Bhagavatam;* there is no question of our not being popular to the world. Simply we have to present ourselves in true perspective. We can challenge any rascals of the world but the difficulty is that it is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss. Maharishi Mahesh has gained so much popularity all over Europe and America and this means the people of this part of the world are not very much advanced in spiritual science. ==What is their philosophy in the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh? He is a clever man to collect funds. He is proposing individual mantra which is complete nonsense, and he is charging for mantra and allowing his disciples to enjoy life as they like.== **So these are all nonsense propaganda proposals, but people are blind in accepting his advice. One thing is, however, clear, that the Western people are searching after some spiritual enlightenment in the real sense of the term. *Bhagavad-gita* with the right presentation and the program of Krsna consciousness is the right prescription, simply we have to administer them with cool head and solid program. I think by the grace of Krsna my working has produced some sincere souls like yourself, Brahmananda, Hamsaduta and others. Now we have to chalk out a solid program by consulting together. In the Western countries, there is no dearth of men and money as well as intelligence, simply put them together and our program will be successful. My present program is that I am waiting for a little warmer climate otherwise I would have gone to New York without waiting further. Therefore, my present program is that I shall remain in the Western Coast, California, during February and March. Then I shall go to New York in April. When I will come there we will meet together. Then I will go to Boston in May, then by the month of June I will go to Montreal. I think that is the best time. I shall remain in Montreal for June and July, then we shall go to England and possibly from England, we may go to Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, etc. Now, man proposes, God disposes. I do not know what is Krsna's desire, but I have chalked out my program like this. Pray to Krsna that He may give me strength to render some service to you and to the humanity at large.” ([[letters/1968/680207_janardana|Janardana, 7 February, 1968]]) *** 68-02 “I am very glad to learn that you are holding kirtana on the university campus; do it nicely. ==Do not bother your head about that rascal Maharishi Mahesh. His activities are like the waves tossing foam on the ocean== *.* It will stay for some time and then vanish. For the time the ocean appears to be all-devouring but in proper time it is calm and quiet. Krsna consciousness isn't like that. It is a great science. It requires great spiritual asset to adopt the principles. You have desired to meet with Maharishi Mahesh for argument, and as Lord Caitanya argued with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was talking on the basic principle of *Vedanta.* So there was a *via media* interpretation. This man does not follow any *sastra* or any authority. He is authority by himself, and has manufactured his own meditation process. Therefore, he is not standard. We cannot waste our time with a non-standard loafer class man. Therefore, do not agitate your mind in this way. We are following the footprints of Lord Caitanya. We are not going to become God, as Maharishi says every one of us is God. You should be firmly convinced in your own philosophy, *Bhagavad-gita,* otherwise you may be misled. Why don't you try to convince the followers of Maharishi that they are following a rascal, a cheat. Because he does not follow a standard process. So try to understand the followers of Maharishi, how far they have advanced in spiritual consciousness, and get it corroborated from the teaching of *Bhagavad-gita* as you learned. Lord Caitanya talked with Sarvabhauma on the basis of *Vedanta-sutra.* The Maharishi has no basic principles; he is manufacturing his own way. So it is useless to talk with him. He has gathered the not very intelligent class of men, and they will not stay. We are teaching *Bhagavad-gita As It Is;* that is called Krsna consciousness. Why don't you try to understand Maharishi from the point of view of *Bhagavad-gita.” ([[letters/1968/680212_mahapurusa|Mahapurusa, 12 February, 1968]]) *** 68-02 * * ==“You want to counteract the activities of Maharishi but you must know the Maharishi is the agent of maya. Our process of Krsna consciousness and sankirtana movement is already counteracting the spell of maya, but the Maharishi says that you remain under the spell of maya.== * * His preaching is that you enjoy, and simply you pay him $35 and purchase his *mantra.* People in general are already under the spell of *maya.* That is to say, they want sense gratification. If anyone encourages the method of sense gratification, at the same time become a yogi, why people will not prefer that method? We say there is no illicit sex life, no intoxication, no meat eating, no gambling, so if Maharishi says there are no restrictions naturally large number of people will follow him. That means they want to be cheated and Krsna sends them a cheater. We cannot cheat people like him. We must say the truths as they are prescribed: in the *Bhagavad-gita* there are eighteen kinds of austerities, thirteenth chapter. The restrictions which we are following are austerities. Without austerity, without celibacy, any amount of nonsense meditation will not help. So there is no comparison of our method with Maharishi's method. We are not out to counteract any kind of vandalism. We must present the genuine thing before the public and if they are intelligent enough they will take it up and realize it. The followers of the Maharishi are not intelligent class of men. If you have any advancement in the knowledge of *Bhagavad-gita,* you can test any follower of Maharishi and you will find he is nil.” ([[letters/1968/680212_sivananda|Sivananda, 12 February, 1968]]) *** 68-07 “I can understand that you are mixing with a crowd of hodgepodge men but none of them will ever get the real thing by such hodgepodge philosophy. We are following a standard philosophy, acknowledged by standard *acaryas,* namely: *harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha.* The people of this age are of short duration of life; they are very slow in the matter of seriously understanding spiritual importance of life, and even some of them are inclined, like yourself, by misfortune they associate with hodgepodge men like those you have mentioned in your letter—namely, Yogananda, Alan Watts, Maharishi, Leary, etc.-because they are unfortunate and severely disturbed in mind on account of various frustrations and desires. I am glad to learn that still you have got some glimpses of understanding Krsna consciousness, and I hope this faint idea may one day develop into reality and your life become successful. ==So far the hodgepodge men, they are gradually being defeated and perhaps you may know that Maharishi Mahesh has left your land with great disappointment but his mission to cheat your people was very successful. He wanted to collect some money and he cheated so many people because they wanted to be cheated,== **and now he is in India, and so many Western boys are still going there and paying some money for interview and hotel charges, and still following the so-called yoga system. I can challenge all these so-called yoga societies in the Western countries that they are not standard in terms of Vedic yoga system. The preliminary processes of yoga system is to control the senses, and practice some bodily position by which the mind can be made fixed up on the point of Visnu *murti.* But none of them do practice like that, but generally they are attracted by the bodily exercises only, haphazardly. And they take it as yoga practice. And others, they are addicted to sex indulgence and intoxication habit. Our system is completely different from theirs. In the beginning, we simply invite men to come and join us in the transcendental vibration by chanting Hare Krsna. We do not say you pay me something and I give you this chanting. But this chanting is open without any secret and we do not ask anyone to pay for it. But the chanting is transcendental, and therefore, simply by vibration, one gradually becomes spiritually advanced, and he offers himself to become my disciple. In that discipleship also, I do not charge anything. Neither do I offer anything new. I offer the same Hare Krsna beads, but it becomes spiritually powerful on account of being delivered in disciplic succession. And practically we see that the students who are initiated in this way, they are advancing slowly and surely, and anyone of my students can challenge any student of so-called yogis, and that is practical evidence. So, I would advise you not to waste your time in such hodgepodge society, but follow the principles rigidly and faithfully and your life will be successful. You say that you do not really know enough about what they are following because you have not assimilated the philosophy. But if you take the philosophy seriously, certainly you will be able to convince others.” (SPL to Christopher, 13th* July, 1968) 69-08 “Regarding your meeting with the Ramakrishna Mission man, you write to say he has advised you how you should work combinedly with the Maharishi group in Hamburg and he has said that our goals are actually the same. I do not know how our goals are actually the same. Our goal is Krsna and we are preaching the gospel of Krsna, *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* In the *Bhagavad-gita* the point is stressed to concentrate on Krsna only, and the highest perfection of yoga process is to realize Krsna both externally and internally. We are teaching to vibrate the transcendental chanting of Krsna because in that way by hearing the sound vibration of Krsna, we can see everything as diverse extension of Krsna's external energy. ==And because we think of Krsna always in all our activities, therefore, internally we are 24 hours in meditation with Krsna. I don't think the Maharishi group or the Ramakrishna Mission is teaching like that. So how can it be accepted that our goal is actually the same?== Accepting that Krsna is everything, what is aimed by the Ramakrishna Mission or by the Maharishi group is also Krsna; but Krsna says that although everything is expansion of Himself, He is not in everything. Exactly like in our material experience we can understand that everything is ultimately produced of sunshine, but that does not mean everything is sunshine. Rather, other things cover the sunshine and create a shadow. The Ramakrishna Mission or the Maharishi's activities are nothing but expanded energy of Krsna, but by such work Krsna is covered. Therefore it is called *maya. Maya* has no separate existence beyond Krsna, but when there is *maya* Krsna is covered. Exactly like cloud is nothing but creation of sunshine-the cloud has no independent existence-but whenever there is a cloud in the sky the sunshine becomes covered. Therefore it is *maya. Maya* means things which have no existence independent of Godhead, but its business is to cover Godhead. Similarly, either the Ramakrishna Mission or Maharishi's group, they have no existence independent of Krsna, but their activities are just like the cloud covering Krsna. Actually, they never directly preach Krsna consciousness. On the other hand, they do something to cover Krsna consciousness. So although water is generated from fire, we cannot pour on water when the fire is blazing. We cannot adulterate Krsna consciousness with the Ramakrishna Mission or with anything else. We must present Krsna consciousness in its pure form [text missing] disturbances. If we nicely organize as it is going on now, only selected persons will live there and peacefully cultivate Krsna consciousness.” ([[letters/1969/690813_jayagovinda|Jaya Govinda, 13 August, 1969]]) *** 68-01 “I become very much proud of nonsense rascal disciples like you. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu represented Himself as a nonsense rascal to understand *Vedanta* philosophy. Actually, at the present day the people in general cannot understand *Vedanta* philosophy. The other day I met here Swami Pravhavananda and I talked with him. To speak plainly how I found him—a great rascal. I know that this station is one of the Ramakrishna Mission, beginning from Vivekananda down to this age, all are living in fool's paradise. Pravhavananda said that Ramakrishna in his previous life was Lord Caitanya. Similarly, it is said that he was formerly Rama and Krsna. ==If actually he was Rama and Krsna and Lord Caitanya, why there are so many contradictions between Rama, Krsna and Lord Caitanya on one side, and the Ramahamsa (Ramakrishna Paramahamsa) on the other side.== Do you think that the Ramahamsa was Lord Caitanya and just after 400 years he changed the whole philosophy? Lord Caitanya propagated worship of Krsna, that one should worship Him, Krsna; how is it that this Ramakrishna worships the material goddess Kali? Ask the question. So, such rascaldom is going on all over the world. So we have to be very careful in understanding Krsna consciousness and therefore if we remain continuously rascals and try to understand Krsna consciousness, to understand Krsna as He has spoken in the *Bhagavad-gita* or in other Vedic literatures through the right sources of disciplic succession, that is our real knowledge. The idea is everyone should try to pace himself as if he doesn't know anything. Then his position is secure. But as soon as he says that I know everything, and I was previously such and such, actually he is rascal. So I know that you are trying to know things from the real source, and you are not puffed up like the other fools who think they know everything. Your humility is very much appreciated by me.” ([[letters/1968/680121_janardana|Janardana, 21 January, 1968]]) *** 68-02 “I am very much satisfied with your replies on the questions made in the *Istagosthi.* The meeting is called *'Istagosthi'* not *Istagoshi.* ==You know also that Ramakrishna's worship of Kali makes him a third class man. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that one who worships the demigods just like Brahma, Siva, Indra, Candra or demigoddesses like Kali, Durga, Sarasvati, etc., are described as persons who have lost their intelligence.== * * One person has lost his intelligence, how he can become an incarnation of God? A person who has lost his intelligence is not even counted amongst the higher section of society. So, the Ramakrishna is a bogus man according to the statement of the * Bhagavad-gita.* Vivekananda was also not even an intelligent man because he accepted Ramakrishna as incarnation of God. This Ramakrishna, who is actually Gadadhara Chatterjee, declared himself as the same Rama and Krsna. If he is accepted as such by some person, is he very intelligent man? Suppose a man comes before somebody and says he is President Johnson and the foolish man accepts the pretender as President Johnson; is that man to be accepted as very intelligent man? Vivekananda was not even an intelligent man because he accepted Gadadhara Chatterjee as incarnation of God without any credentials. We accept Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, on the evidence of Vedic literature. There is no evidence in the Vedic literatures that a common unintelligent person, by worshiping a demigodess like Kali can become an incarnation of Godhead. The goddess Kali is divine mother for the conditioned souls, not for the liberated souls. There is no direction in the Vedic literatures that one can become liberated even by worshiping the goddess Kali. She is superintendent of the prison house known as the material world. One can derive some material facilities by worshiping Kali or Durga, but nobody can become liberated by worshiping such demigoddesses, so what to speak of becoming incarnation of Godhead? So the propaganda that Ramakrishna became incarnation of God by worshiping Kali is not accepted by any authorized *acarya* and therefore it is a bogus propaganda. One who follows therefore, such bogus propaganda is also misled as far as his spiritual advancement is concerned.” (SPL to Satsvarupa, 25th February,* 1968) ==68-09 “Regarding Ramakrishna's book reviewing, I am not very much in favor of this unnecessary publicity to a person whom we do not like. We know that this institution is a bogus humbug only without any substance,== * * and why should we bring them in prominence by criticizing them. They are not very much popular in America. They are working for the last 75 or 80 years in this country, since 1893, but I think our ISKCON institution is better known in your country than the Ramakrishna missionary activities. If you actually make progress in the constructive program of our Krsna consciousness movement very soon we shall surpass all nonsensical activities, including Ramakrishna mission, Yogananda * asrama, * or so many yoga societies. Simply we have to push on the * sankirtana * party and organize them nicely. And increase the sale of our * Back to Godhead* magazine.” (SPL to Brahmananda, November 16th, 1968) 69-08 “Regarding your meeting with the Ramakrishna Mission man, you write to say he has advised you how you should work combinedly with the Maharishi group in Hamburg and he has said that our goals are actually the same. I do not know how our goals are actually the same. Our goal is Krsna and we are preaching the Gospel of Krsna, *Bhagavad-gita As It Is.* In the *Bhagavad-gita* the point is stressed to concentrate on Krsna only, and the highest perfection of *yoga* process is to realize Krsna both externally and internally. We are teaching to vibrate the transcendental chanting of Krsna because in that way by hearing the sound vibration of Krsna, we can see everything as diverse extension of Krsna’s external energy. And because ==we think of Krsna in all our activities, therefore, internally we are twenty four hours in meditation with Krsna. I don't think the Maharishi group or the Ramakrishna Mission is teaching like that. So how can it be accepted that our goal is actually the same?== Accepting that Krsna is everything, what is aimed by the Ramakrishna Mission or by the Maharishi group is also Krsna; but Krsna says that although everything is expansion of Himself, He is not in everything. Exactly like in our material experience we can understand that everything is ultimately produced of sunshine, but that does not mean everything is sunshine. Rather, other things cover the sunshine and create a shadow. The Ramakrishna Mission or the Maharishi's activities are nothing but expanded energy of Krsna, but by such work Krsna is covered. Therefore it is called *maya. Maya* has no separate existence beyond Krsna, but when there is *maya,* Krsna is covered. Exactly like cloud is nothing but creation of sunshine-the cloud has no independent existence—but whenever there is a cloud in the sky the sunshine becomes covered. Therefore it is *maya.* *Maya* means things which have no existence independent of Godhead, but its business is to cover Godhead. Similarly, either the Ramakrishna Mission or Maharishi's group, they have no existence independent of Krsna, but their activities are just like the cloud covering Krsna. Actually, they never directly preach Krsna consciousness. On the other hand, they do something to cover Krsna consciousness. So although water is generated from fire, we cannot pour on water when the fire is blazing. We cannot adulterate Krsna consciousness with the Ramakrishna Mission or with anything else. We must present Krsna consciousness in its pure form.” ([[letters/1969/690813_jayagovinda|Jaya Govinda, 13 August, 1969]]) *** 70-02 * * ==“Regarding competition with the Ramakrishna Mission and yoga camps in Toronto, why should you be afraid of them? They are very insignificant organizations in the face of Krsna consciousness movement.== * * Everyone says that what Ramakrishna Mission could not do in eighty years time, we have done many more times in three years time. So nobody can check this genuine movement of Krsna consciousness by artificial means of bluff. Any sincere soul, serious in the matter of self-realization will certainly be attracted by our movement.” ([[letters/1970/700202_jayapataka|Jayapataka, 2 February, 1970]]) ==70-02 “== I am in due receipt of your letter undated and I was so glad to learn that you have defeated four of the whips of the Ramakrishna Mission by giving quotation from the *Bhagavad-gita.* It is a fact that ==all other institutions, never mind whether it is Ramakrishna Mission or philosophical speculators, nobody can stand our arguments and reason if we can support them by quoting scriptures.== **So if we thoroughly study the books which we have so far published, as well as serve Krsna in great devotion by following the regulative principles, we shall be able to defeat anyone who is not in Krsna consciousness. So do it nicely and every one of you become great preachers.” ([[letters/1970/700210_yamuna|Yamuna, 10 February, 1970]]) *** 72-05 ==“So far your observation that the Bengalis have been degraded by bogus, so-called sadhus, yes, the Bengalis are generally fish-eaters and some are flesh-eaters, so the Ramakrishna Mission gave this concession that there is nothing harmful in eating flesh.== **The Bengalis got this appetite for eating flesh and fish and at the same time becoming one with God. This foolish theory and fanaticism has killed the Bengali culture. Not all, but a few percentage.” (SPL to Bhavananda, May 9th, 1972) 76-09 ==“We should not criticise the Ramakrishna Mission by name, or directly, for they have become somehow or other popular and people are against us for it. So carefully avoid this type of preaching.”== ([[letters/1976/760922_jayapataka|Jayapataka Maharaja, 22 September, 1976]]) *** 68-11 ==“Regarding the challenge in the International Times, I am sorry to read the letter of a rascal advertising himself as Swami Gitananda, but from his letter it appears that he is neither a swami nor has he ever read Bhagavad-gita.== **He is so rascal that he describes the Yamuna River as metaphysical in lower consciousness, although the River Yamuna is flowing so happily all over the Northern India. He is claiming yogi but he does not know that the greatest yogi is the devotee of Lord Krsna. So we can reply him in so many ways to teach this rascal a good lesson, but the more we continue such correspondence, we give unnecessarily some publicity to a rascal. Mukunda has already protested such rascal and we have to go on with our own work positively. Fault-finding men will always be there, that is the history of the world, but one has to execute his prescribed duties:” (SPL to Yamuna, Mukunda and Syamasundara, 8th November, 1968) 75-02 * * ==“One copy of our book, Lord Caitanya in Five Features, may be handed over to Swami Cinmayananda as our humble presentation. If somebody, or yourself sees him personally, give him thanks for his letter recommending our admission in the temples and present this book to him. That will be nice.”== (SPL to Giriraja dasa, 4th February, 1975* )