a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1975 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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16 February 2008 Sunday, 16 February, 1975 Mexico City Dr. Santosh Kumar McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario, Canada My dear Dr. Kumar, Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Jan. 18, 1975 and have noted the contents carefully. Regarding your question, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is recognized through the sastras not otherwise. For instance, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, first canto, third chapter, all the major incarnations of Godhead are listed. Many times the scheduled time of appearance and family, etc. are also mentioned. The incarnation of Godhead must be indicated in the scriptures, otherwise we cannot accept him as being incarnation. Today, there are so many bogus incarnations, but we do not accept them. The Supreme Lord can appear in this world at any time, but he does so according to the regular scheduled appearances mentioned in the sastras. According to the sastras, the last most recent incarnation was Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who appeared in West Bengal about 500 years ago. We are following in direct line of disciplic teaching from Him. Another point is that the words of the Lord have been recorded in the Bhagavad-gita, so if someone comes claiming to be incarnation, but also contradicts the Bhagavad-gita, then we can be sure he is phony. Please try to read and understand my books very carefully. All these things are explained. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: Srimad Bhagavatam letters | 18:50 |16 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Dina Bandhu das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 6th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you very much for the 300 dollars daksina. Thank you again and again for distributing my books with great enthusiasm. Now, try to double this enthusiasm. Anyone who even touches one of our books gets such great benefit. Give them to everyone. Because you are all very sincere and working very hard, Krishna is giving you all facilities. I have accepted upon your recommendation the three persons for 1st initiation and their names are as follows: Dave--Devarsi, Michele--Maladhari, Andrea--Abhaya. Their beads will be sent to you by separate post. I have also accepted Anantatma dasa for 2nd initiation. His thread and mantra sheet are enclosed herein. Let him hear the tape of myself chanting the gayatri mantra. It should be heard through the right ear. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ENC: one thread, mantra sheet. ACBS/ps Labels: book distribution, initiation, Portland letters | 18:49 |16 February, 1975 Mexico City My Dear Jayatirtha Das, Please accept my blessings. I have accepted Jesus's for 1st initiation upon your recommendation. His name is Yaduvamsi. His beads may be chanted by Kirtanananda Swami. I have also accepted Aroudha, Vidambha, Pujana, Sastramayi, Jalakara as my duly initiated brahmanas. You should allow them to hear through the right ear, the tape of myself saying the gayatri mantra. Please make sure that these devotees follow very strictly all of our regulative principles and chant at least 16 rounds daily. Then they will not go away from us. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Enc: 2 threads, mantra sheet. Labels: initiation, regulative principles letters | 18:48 |15 February 2008 Saturday, 15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Jennifer, Please accept my greetings. I am in due reciept of your letter dated Jan. 6th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for your donation of 20 dollars. We are Vaisnavas. We are not concerned with male or female position in life. That is simply bodily concept of life. It is not spiritual. Whether one is male or female, it doesn't matter, simply chant Hare Krishna and follow the four regulative principles and your life will be perfect. Regarding initiation, it is required that you be recommend by one of our temple presidents to me and then I shall consider it. First of all, one must have followed the regulative principle for at least six months without deviation. It is not necessarily required to live in the temple, but you must observe the rules. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: female, initiation, San Francisco letters | 18:46 |15 February, 1975 Mexico City Pasadena, California My dear Doctor Currier, Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 7th, 1975 and have noted the contents carefully. Thank you for your kind suggestions and interest in our movement. In brief, I have always instructed my disciples to eat only healthy foodstuffs which will be beneficial for the body and mind. Not only that, but I have also instructed that whatever they eat must be first offered to the Supreme Lord Krishna for His pleasure and then they can take the remnants which are called Prasadam or mercy of the Lord. We are very practical. Whatever is necessary for the maintenance of the body and mind, we will accept. I have never said that my disciples should sever all relationships with friends, relatives and others, but sometimes an inexperienced devotee may do it out of fear of being too much attracted to the materialistic way of life by associating with such persons. An experienced devotee is strong enough not to be affected, rather he can help others to become purified by his association. For more information, I suggest you visit one of our centers there in California. Thank you again for your concern. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ACBS/ps Labels: family life, health letters | 18:45 |15 February, 1975 Mexico City San Pedro, California My dear Yadhavacarya das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 6th, 1975 and have noted the contents. I think in connection with film making, you should contact Yadubara das adhikari in Los Angeles temple. He can help you and give you advice as to how is the best way to work in this way. He is experienced in this field. I understand from your letter that you are now in prison. Anyway, you can use such a situation as an opportunity for preaching Krishna Consciousness. I am very glad to hear that you have already distributed some books in prison. Please try to keep yourself fixed in Krishna Consciousness by chanting 16 rounds daily and following the four regulative principles strictly and reading my books very carefully. These things will keep you nicely in Krishna Consciousness so that wherever you are you will remain strongly fixed in the service of the Lord. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: prison letters | 18:45 |15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Svarupa Damodara dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 20th, 1975 and have noted the contents. I was very glad to receive your letter and to hear that you are feeling very happy in Krishna's service. I will be coming to Atlanta around the first week of March. Rupanuga prabhu has informed me that he will call a meeting of all the scientists in the movement at that time in Atlanta. So I will be seeing all of you there. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: Atlanta, scientists letters | 18:44 |15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Pancananda das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 31, 1975 and have noted the contents. The problem that you are experiencing may have something to do with the drugs you were taking previous to joining our movement. Any way, you should try very sincerely to become a pure devotee of Krishna by following all of the four regulative principles and chanting at least 16 rounds daily, as well as rising early, attending mangala arati, attending classes, etc. By this simple method, you will be very strongly fixed in spiritual life and whatever problems you may have will seem insignificant. However, if you need medical attention, your temple president should make the necessary arrangement for your seeing a doctor. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps letters | 18:44 | 15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Nityananda das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 5th, 1975 and have noted the contents. I am very glad to hear that your farm project in Mississippi is going on nicely. Develop it nicely like New Vrndavana. I have accepted the two persons that you have recommended for 1st initiation. Their names are Michael--Muniraja, and Robin--Rajanatha. Their beads can be chanted by Kirtanananda Swami. Train them to be first class devotees by following very strictly all of our rule regulations, chanting at least 16 good rounds daily. Thank you for the 100 dollars donation. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: initiation, New Orleans letters | 18:43 |15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Mrdapriya dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter and have noted the contents. It is never too late to become Krishna Conscious. If you actually follow all of the regulative principles and chant 16 rounds avoiding the offenses, and attend the mangala arati and classes, then Krishna will see that you are sincerely trying to follow the real process of Krishna Consciousness. Don't try to manufacture some artificial process. The process I have already given. Now you simply have to follow it strictly and Krishna will give you all help. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: follow strictly, Laguna Beach letters | 18:43 |15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Krsna dasi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter and have noted the contents. You are very fortunate to be attending the Gurukula school. You please take advantage of it and become a pure devotee of Lord Krishna. I would like to come there very much and see all of my sons and daughters there. I will be coming sometime soon, maybe next time I come back to USA after the Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals. Be very careful to follow all of the regulative principles nicely and chant 16 rounds and study my books very deeply. This will make you able to go back to Godhead at the end of your life. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: Dallas, gurukula, visit letters | 18:42 |15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Govardhana dasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 8th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for the photo of Sri Sri Radha Kunja-Bihari. It is very nice photo. They are looking very beautiful. I have accepted the following for 1st initiation: Bruce--Brajendralala, Miriam--Mukhya, Jeff-- Jayavamana, Robin--Rajendranatha, Kim--Kaviraja, Karl--Kapiladeva, Sue--Sukti. Their beads may be chanted on by Satsvarupa Maharaja. Be sure and help them become first class devotees by following all the rules and regulations, very carefully, especially, they must rise early for mangala arati, chant at least 16 rounds and attend class. Your list of qualifications for choosing candidates for 2nd initiation is very good. Regarding Rudra dasa, he can worship Gaura-Nitai in his home. The most important element for their worship is the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mantra. They can have at least one arati and whatever foodstuffs are prepared can be offered. Regarding my books, everyone should read. I am also reading. Everyone should be engaged 24 hours. That is the sum and substance. How much you should read and how much you should do other types of service, that has to be decided by each individual devotee. Eating and sleeping should be minimized--not a single moment should be misused. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: Detroit, initiation, reading letters | 18:42 |15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Gopiparanadhana das, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 6th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Regarding your problem of not being able to get married, this is not the proper type of question to place before your spiritual master. I think you should discuss this matter with Rupanuga das. Anyway, you should be sure to follow all the regulative principles without fail and to chant at least 16 rounds daily. If you do these things, then in any position of life you will be satisfied. Krishna is fully aware of your every necessity and he will surely provide everything that you need for your bodily maintenance. You should have this kind of faith. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: faith, marriage, New York letters | 18:41 |15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Giriraja das, Please accept my blessings. The interest rate here in the west is very low now, so I am thinking very seriously to invest about 410,000 dollars (approximately 32 lakhs rupees). I want to know immediately what kind of monthly interest I would receive if I was to put this amount in a fixed deposit for five years. Check with the big banks and find out what the highest interest rate would be. You can check with many of the big banks such as First National Bank, Punjab National, Central, Bank of India, State Bank of India, etc. Please see to this matter immediately without any delay and let me know by return post to New York Temple. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Send news about new construction. ACBS/ps letters | 18:40 | 15 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Satsvarupa Maharaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 8th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you very much for sending the book reviews. Send more if you can. These are very very encouraging. I am keeping a collection of these reviews and I show them to big big scholars and professors when they come to see me. They are very impressed. Regarding your lecturing in the college classes. This is a very good program also. Why not continue it? I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBs/ps Labels: college preaching, Dallas letters | 18:40 |14 February 2008 Friday, 14 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Sripada Sridhara Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. I thank you very much for your kind letter dated 1-1-1975 and I have noted the contents with great pleasure. I left India on the 26th January from Bombay and I went to Hong Kong and Tokyo. Then I went to Hawaii and I received your letter there. Then I went to Los Angeles. Now I am staying at our Mexico City temple at the address below. Here the Mexicans are taking part in sankirtana and Deity worship very nicely. They have become very good devotees. In the neighboring countries like Venezuela, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Trinidad and the Dominican Republic we have also got our temples. So, I am touring in these temples to see how things are going on, and by the grace of Krishna, everyone is becoming Krishna Conscious. I shall be reaching India by the 15th of March and by the 20th of March, I shall be in Calcutta. If possible, Sriman Govinda may see me in Calcutta in our temple at 3 Albert Road, near Camac St. off of Theater road. At that time, I may be informed about your health and then I shall do the needful. As you have mentioned in your letter under reply that you cannot take any active part in executing the performances, I have asked my assistants in Vrndavana to take help from the local panditas in Vrndavana to do the needful. I have asked them to invite all different categories of saintly persons and devotees to take part in the ceremony. I am very much thankful to your Holiness for your good wishes in the matter of my preaching work. Factually, it is all being done by the grace of Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, otherwise it was not possible. Srila Prabhupada was very much fond of publishing books and he especially advised me to preach in English language. So, by his blessings, we have now about 30 big books of 400 pages and more than 20 small booklets in English and all of these books and booklets are being translated into French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Swahili, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Italian, etc. Thanking you once again for your kind letter and more when we meet. Yours affectionately, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: Gaudiya Matha, Navadvipa, Vrindavan letters | 18:38 |12 February 2008 Wednesday, 12 February, 1975 Mexico City My dear Hanuman das, Please accept my blessings. Regarding your engagement, I strongly recommend and encourage you to travel extensively and preach our philosophy everywhere you go. You have my authorization to open centers as you see fit after considering twice and thrice. Do not whimsically open or establish any center and then close it down later on. Please report to me directly as to your whereabouts and your programs for preaching work. You must be very strict to follow all of the rules and regulations that I have given without even the slightest deviation. By a perfect example from your own conduct, others will be nicely trained up to be perfect Vaisnavas. I hope this meets you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami ACBS/ps Labels: Mexico City, preaching, regulative principles letters | 18:37 | |
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