Prabhupada Letters :: 1969 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
14 May 2005 Wednesday, May 14, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Ananda, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated April 29, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. As you have suggested, I have sent one letter to Annapurna, in care of her father, and without writing my return address. As of yet I have not received her reply. 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. 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. Please convey my blessings to Mandali Bhadra and to his good wife, Vrndavanesvari, as well as to his nice little boy. I hope this will meet you all in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami NB: Enclosed is a few nice poems by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura which you may hand over to Mandali Bhadra for translation into German and to be submitted for publication in German Back To Godhead. letters | 06:39 | May 14, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Indira, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your nice letter dated April 5, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. The sincere sentiments you have expressed are very nice, and surely Krishna will be pleased to bless you because of your nice attitude for serving Him. I think that because you are unable to tend the Deities in the temple, that you and your sister, Ekayani, may serve the small Radha-Krishna Deities which you will be receiving soon. Try to follow all the rules and regulations of Deity worship as are followed in the temple. Please convey my blessings to Ekayani and all the others at the New York temple. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 04:35 | May 14, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 12, 1969, delivered by Arundhati here in Columbus. This evening Arundhati will be married to Pradyumna, and they appear to be a very nice couple. 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. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. What about the Omega watch? I have sent you one tape. Have you received any check for the meetings? You paid me two checks (75 & 25) but if there is any more please send. I want to purchase one compositor ($3000.00 Down payment $600.00) ACB letters | 03:31 | 13 May 2005 Tuesday, May 13, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Jayasri Dasi, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of May 5th, 1969, sent along with your beads, and I have duly chanted upon them and initiated you as my student. Your name, Jayasri Dasi, means victory, and if you will simply continue to develop your Krishna Consciousness by following the rules and regulations, then surely your life will be very victorious in defeating all contaminations of the material world and in returning back to Home, back to Godhead in the Spiritual Kingdom. Our process is to faithfully follow the rules of no illicit sex-life, no meat-eating, no intoxication, and no gambling. Also we should chant at least 16 rounds each day, trying to avoid the ten offenses. You have very nice association with your godbrothers and godsisters there with you in Hawaii, and you should help them to propagate our movement in that area. So consult with Gaurasundara and Govinda, and there will be ample engagement for you in this connection. When any questions or difficulties arise, you may consult with them there, or if you like, I am always at your service to help in any way that I can. So now you have great opportunity to make perfection of your life, and my request to you is to be very serious always about this and Krishna will give you all facilities for advancement. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 04:44 | May 13, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Dayananda, Please accept my blessings. I am very glad to have received your letter post-dated May 8th, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. There is a Bengali proverb that it is not wise to pick up quarrel with a crocodile while living in the jurisdiction of the water. Therefore we may agree to the desire of Mr. Spellman to keep peace with him so that in the future if required we may increase the term of lease. But as we are increasing in volume ourselves, it is better to find out a suitable place. We require nice compound around our temple. This will facilitate our work. So as soon as you find a suitable place through Mr. Leo Brown or any other Realtor, I shall return to Los Angeles. For the time being, I shall stay in New Vrindaban, and if I am not called for a London visit, surely I will return to Los Angeles as soon as possible, the latest by the end of June. One thing is though, I am wondering if in July it is very hot in Los Angeles. Please inform me on this point. I am enclosing the papers you sent to me, and you can hand them over to Mr. Spellman without any further delay. Please convey my blessings to your good wife, Nandarani, and your nice little daughter. I hope this will find you all in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 04:41 | May 13, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Tamala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated May 9th, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. I am pleased to note that you are doing nicely for giving the student community to hear about our Krishna Consciousness Movement. Yesterday, at the Ohio State University we had a tremendous meeting, and nearly two thousand students were dancing, clapping and chanting along with us. So it is clear that the student community has a nice potential for accepting this philosophy. I will not be going to North Carolina as I had planned, but I am sending Kirtanananda Swami in my place because they have extended my program here in Columbus. So now I have to create more sannyasis to lecture on our philosophy, and I shall pick these sannyasis from the brahmacaris who are firm in their decision not to marry. Your next festival will be as follows: RAIRAYA--On this day the Gopis played by making Radharani a Queen, and She is seated on a gorgeous throne, and Krishna is made as Her doorman of the palace, so He is standing by the throne-room with a sword. So this is one Pastime arranged by the Gopis, and there is nice feasting, dancing and singing on account of the coronation of Srimati Radharani. You have asked about my travelling schedule, and I shall see if London will invite me, and if not, then I will return to Los Angeles at the utmost by the end of June. Please convey my blessings to all of the other devotees there with you in Los Angeles temple. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami NB: Enclosed is one letter received from Cidananda, which you may read and do the needful. P.S. The Los Angeles consignment from Calcutta is dispatched on 10th May 1969. Take delivery of the documents from Bank of America by the 10th of June 1969 or inquire. ACB letters | 04:36 | May 13, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Gopala Krishna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated May 6th, 1969 and May 9th, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I think that since you are willing to observe the four principal rules of spiritual life, you may be initiated by me as soon as you like. The other rules you should try to follow as far as possible, but according to circumstances they may be adjusted if necessary. But the four rules must be maintained. Regarding your idea of marrying one Krishna Conscious girl and then going to India, that will depend upon the desire of your wife. I cannot interfere with that. But generally the wife is meant to follow wherever the husband goes. Most likely your wife would agree with you--she will not disagree to go. Rather, some girls will be very much encouraged to go to India with her husband. So you may consider on these points and inform me what you have decided. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 01:40 | May 13, 1969 Columbus, Ohio Discussion with Allen Ginsberg. letters | 01:24 | 12 May 2005 Monday, May 12, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Balabhadra, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated May 6th, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I can understand that you are working very nicely and sincerely for helping our movement in Hawaii, and this is very encouraging to me. Please continue with this attitude and surely Krishna will provide you from within the intelligence of how you can serve him in the best way. Regarding your question about maintaining your body nicely, I think that if you follow our regulations of diet, sufficient sleeping, and keep to the prescribed rules of cleanliness, two baths per day,* then you will be able to keep yourself in proper health. Of course disease will always be there at some time while there is this material body, but this we must tolerate and not be very much agitated by. Actually, the Vaisnava who knows that he is not this body, he does not therefore neglect his body, but he takes very nice care so that he may utilize his body in the service of Krishna. Just like a man may know that he is not his car, so he does not therefore neglect his car, but he will take care of it so it will be able to render service to him. So we must take sufficient care to provide our bodies with its demands, but when disease or other necessary inconveniences arrive, we do not become disturbed because such troubles are simply temporary manifestations. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami *at least one letters | 03:50 | May 12, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Colin Jury, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your nice letter (undated). Practically, our Krishna Consciousness movement is based on transcendental pleasure. Music, dancing and feasts are the chief items for pleasure, and this pleasure is originally on the transcendental realm. They are simply reflected pervertedly in the material world, and every living entity has natural inclination for these three items. So Krishna Consciousness is to go back to the original position. Therefore, music and dancing can be purified for transcendental realization. Factually we do not reject anything, but we will accept anything as favorable for Krishna's service. In other words, we can dovetail anything in Krishna's service, and thus purify the contaminated covering of everything. So your talents for music may be employed fully for the cause of serving Krishna. Several days ago I got three pairs of boys and girls married, and this married life is different from the material married life. The example is already there in London how six disciples there are all working so nicely in pushing the Krishna Consciousness movement. Actually, we are trying to give real life to the human society by purifying the activities in Krishna Consciousness. The method is very simple: By chanting Hare Krishna one becomes purified immediately and by constant practice, there is no chance of being contaminated again. Please continue to follow there principles, and your life will surely be sublime. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 02:46 | May 12, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Gaurasundara, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 6, 1969, and I have noted the contents. I think you should send United Shipping Corporation the price in advance of the sitar, and for the balance they can make their invoice. The balance may be deposited in the Hawaii bank, and ask the United Shipping Corporation to send the documents to the Hawaii bank; and the invoice may be made in your name because you have got account there. So you may accept the proforma invoice and send them back the copy. You advise them to collect through the Hawaii bank, (branch #-- wherever you have got your account), and advise the United Shipping Corporation where your documents should be sent for collection. So please sign one proforma invoice and send it with the branch number where they are to collect the money from. Please convey my blessings to the others. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami NB: I have chanted upon the beads sent by Jill (Jayasri), and I will be sending them back to her very soon. P.S. Please let me know if Jadurani has gone there and let me know how Govinda Dasi is. ACB letters | 02:08 | May 12, 1969 Columbus, Ohio Excerpt from a conversation with Allen Ginsberg Allen Ginsberg: I'm wondering what's the future of a religious observance so technical as this? Requires so much sophistication in terms of diet, daily ritual, arati, ekadasi, how far can that spread by it's very complex.. Prabhupada: First of all you have to understand that we are trying to make people Krsna conscious. So how we can remain twenty-four hours Krsna conscious, that is the program. Allen Ginsberg: Well, modern life does not allow that much Krsna consciousness. How far can total Krsna devotion spread? How many people can that encompass in a place like America? Or are you intending only to get a few devotees, like several hundred or a thousand who will be solid and permanent? Prabhupada: Yes that is my program. Because Krsna consciousness is not possible for everyone. Because in the Bhagavad-gita we learn after many thousands of men, one may be interested how to liberate himself. And out of many such liberated persons, one may understand what is Krsna. The human life is meant for understanding the Absolute Truth, jivasya tattva-jijnasa. That is the real business of human life. So to come to that business, you won't find mass of people. It is not possible. Allen Ginsberg: Your plan here in America, then, is to set up centers so that those who are that concerned can pursue their studies and practice? Prabhupada: Personally, I have no ideal or ambition. But it is the mission of human life to come to that point. So at least there must be some center or institution who may give them this idea. It is not that everyone will come. So our mission is the intelligent persons of the world may know that seeking after sense gratification is not the aim of human life. Allen Ginsberg: But there is a thirst by many, many people for an alternative answer, for a better alternative system. Prabhupada: If they are actually thirsty then they can adopt this. There is no difficulty. So many Americans have already adopted and they are feeling relief. What is the difficulty? Hare Krsna chanting; you are chanting. Allen Ginsberg: Yes. Prabhupada: What difficulty you are feeling? Allen Ginsberg: I don't feel too much difficulty, except aesthetically I do feel a difficulty. Yes, there is. The difficulty I feel is that there should be some flower of the American language to communicate in rather than... Prabhupada: Therefore we are seeking your help. Allen Ginsberg: Well I haven't found a way, I still just stay chanting Hare Krsna. Prabhupada: Therefore why I have come to you? I have come to America with this view, that America is on the summit of material civilization. They are seeking after something. I have come, "Take this, you'll be happy." That is my mission. And if America takes, then all other countries will take because America is leading. So exalted persons like you, try to understand. What is the difficulty? Chanting Hare Krsna, anyone can chant. Even the child is trying. letters | 01:08 | May 12, 1969 Columbus, Ohio Excerpt from Allen Ginsberg's introduction at Ohio State University Allen Ginsberg: I've known Swami Bhaktivedanta for about three years, since he settled in the Lower East Side in New York, which was my territory and my neighborhood... (applause) It seemed to me like a stroke of great intelligence for him to come, not as an uptown swami (laughter) but a real down-home street Swami, and make it on the street in the Lower East Side, and also opening a branch on Frederick Street right in the center of Haight-Ashbury. People in Haight-Ashbury several years ago zeroed in on the Frederick Street rugged. incensed, ashram, where chanting could be heard at dawn as they were coming down off an all night trip. I thought Swami Bhaktivedanta made a great move in coming to the Lower East Side and to Haight-Ashbury. And then, naturally, because people dig chanting, centers formed in other parts of the United States, so that there are small, street-level houses and storefront centers in Vancouver, L.A., Montreal, up in Buffalo... there's some Buffalo chanters here. There are Santa Fe chanters also. It's strange, it's so far-out an Indian form should take root in the United States a little more naturally than the more Protestant Vedanta Society or the extremely rigorous Zen groups. I think in large part it's due to the magnanimity, generosity, charm, wisdom, and cheerfulness of Swami Bhaktivedanta, his openness of heart, his willingness to come down on to the street, his sense of his own divinity and the divinity of those around him that has made it possible for the bhakti-yoga cult of India to be planted very firmly here in America so that now there are communes and ashrams. So I will leave the rest of the evening to Swami Bhaktivedanta who will explain his divine self. Then we will continue chanting. Swamiji. (applause) Prabhupada: om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur-unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah My dear boys and girls, I thank you very much for your coming here and participating with this sankirtana function... letters | 01:02 | 11 May 2005 May 11, 1969 Columbus, Ohio Discussion with Allen Ginsberg. letters | 01:20 | May 11, 1969 Columbus, Ohio Address to Indian Association Prabhupada: So this sankirtana movement was inaugurated in Bengal in India and in Navadvipa. So in this sense the Bengalis are very fortunate that in their country this movement was inaugurated by Lord Caitanya, and He predicted that... Those who are Bengalis here present, they will understand. prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama He predicted that "As many villages and towns there are all over the world, everywhere this sankirtana movement will be preached." That is His future prediction. So by the grace of Lord Caitanya, this movement is already introduced in the Western countries, beginning from New York. Our first movement, the sankirtana movement, was introduced in New York. I came in New York first, and I began to chant this Hare Krsna mantra in the Tompkinson Park. Is that Tompkinson Park or Square? Devotee: Tompkins Square. Prabhupada: Tompkins Square. So I was chanting there for three hours with a little small mrdanga, and these boys, American boys, they assembled, and gradually they joined. And it is increasing. First of all it was started in New York in a storefront, 26 Second Avenue. Then we started our branch in San Francisco, in Los Angeles, in Santa Fe, in Buffalo, then here. We have got now twenty branches, including one in London and one in Hamburg. And in London, the boys--they are all American boys, American boys and girls--they are preaching. They are not sannyasi, neither they are Vedantist, neither they are Hindus, neither they are Indian. But they have taken this movement very seriously. Here one lady from London, she has come. She was very much praising about their movement. And in London Times there was an article. They said that "Krsna Chanting Startles London." So we have got many followers now. All my disciples till now, at least in this country, they are all Americans and Europeans. They are chanting, dancing. They are issuing paper, Back to Godhead. Now we have published so many books, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Teachings of Lord Caitanya. letters | 01:08 | 10 May 2005 May 10, 1969 Columbus, Ohio Conversation with students. letters | 13:58 | 9 May 2005 May 9, 1969 Columbus, Ohio A class on Bhagavad-gita 4.1 letters | 01:22 | 8 May 2005 Thursday, May 8, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Sudama, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your two letters, sent Special Delivery, dated May 5th and May 6th, 1969. I was very much anxious for Karatieya after receiving the first letter, so now that he is somewhat improved, try to protect him. He is a very nice boy, but sometimes he gets crazy. You should treat him as your younger brother and with kindness. In the meantime, if he wants to go to the New York center, then he can go there, and Brahmananda can take care of him. Or if he wants to go to New Vrindaban, I will be going there soon, and he will be glad to remain with me as usual. But try to keep him from getting upset. I do not know why he becomes at intervals like that. I can only pray that Krishna will save him from this upsetting business. The proposal that you shall have a cart moving in the Japanese Fair with Deities, kirtana and selling books is very, very nice proposal. If you can get sanction for it, it will be a very nice thing. I thank you very much for your constant and sincere efforts, and surely Krishna will bless you more and more for this. I have received one letter, sent along with beads of the girl, Jill, and I will send them back to her, initiated upon by me, very soon. Please convey my blessings to the others. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 10:43 | May 8, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated April 29, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. I think that you may delete the two clauses if you think it will be helpful in having our society recognized in London. I understand that there is new hope now for getting a nice temple there, so I will await the results with interest. I think that there is no necessity for Isana das and his wife to go there now, because it will not be very good if they have to live apart from the others. Please convey my blessings to your very good wife, Janaki, and, I hope this will meet the both of you in very good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. Tomorrow morning I am going to Columbus (Ohio) letters | 06:40 | May 8, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Sivananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 26, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. You have mentioned that you may be interested in marriage, and if you think that you should marry, there is no question of living as an artificial brahmacari. Regarding your wish to open a center in the United States, first of all you have to establish the center firmly in Germany by leading the Sankirtana Party. Now Jaya Govinda is there, he is a very nice and competent boy, and soon the German couple are coming. So when you are all assembled and the Back To Godhead is coming regularly, then you can attempt another center. Practically it is your credit that you went to Germany and first began our movement there. So now it is your duty to help establish it more strongly. Most probably, if I go to London, I shall go to your place also. So then I shall decide if you can go to Chicago or any other place in the USA. In the USA we have so many centers, and now we want to open at least three or four centers in Germany and at least half a dozen centers in England. I hope this will meet you in very good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 05:38 | May 8, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Jaya Govinda, Please accept my blessings. I am so much glad to learn that you have arrived in Hamburg. Your letter of 26 April, 1969 gives me a great relief. I was very, very much anxious while you were in India. For the time being, I have given up the idea of opening a center in India because by so attempting, I have simply lost money in so many ways. Now you have come to our own place and you will enjoy the company of the guru and sincere devotees who have dedicated their life for pushing on the Krishna Consciousness Movement, and I am sure you will feel happy in their company. Please try to publish Back To Godhead as soon as possible, and very soon Mandali Bhadra and his wife, Brindabaneshvari will join you. All of you combined together will be happy propagating our literatures, magazines, books in German language with concentrated attention. Krishna das, Sivananda, yourself and the new devotees will be a happy combination, so please do your best. Regarding your future status in Germany, Krishna will save you; don't bother yourself about it. For the time being, engage yourself in His service, and I think it is the desire of Krishna that you live in Germany and be engaged in His service. I understand from Krishna Das's letter that there is great possibility of pushing our movement in Germany, so it is a great advantage for you to be there. I understand that you had some difficulty in reaching Hamburg, travelling for two weeks, but do not mind this trouble, because you underwent it for Krishna's sake. I was on the sea for one month and ten days continually, and that was a horrible account. Perhaps you have read it in my diary which you collected in Vrindaban. So let us forget our past difficulties and in Krishna Consciousness, if anyone faces difficulties, it is considered as blessings, because without tapasya, or voluntarily accepting some inconveniences, nobody can realize the Transcendence. So when we are put into difficulties while discharging Krishna Conscious duties, it is to be understood that Krishna puts us in a field of austerities and penances which help us making progress towards realization of our goal of life. Here in the USA, especially in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, they are taking out Sankirtana Party in the streets and getting very good results. The student community in the above cities are gradually realizing our activities as very good. Yesterday evening we had very good meeting in Harvard University, and many students and professors attended. There were nice discussions and they are convinced that our activities are genuine and for the real welfare of the human society. And actually it is so. We are not adulterating the transcendental message with any mundane rubbish. If we stick to the principles of Lord Krishna, Lord Caitanya and the Goswamis, then surely they will appreciate. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 04:35 | May 8, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Krishna Das, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 28 April, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. You say that there is great prospect for moving our Krishna Conscious propaganda and activities in Germany. We are already experiencing in several cities in the USA that by performing Sankirtana on the streets, they are collecting $40-$50 minimum daily. Sometimes they are going to $150, so now you are three, so one mrdanga and two karatalas will be nice beginning for your German Sankirtana Party. I think if you go and chant in the park, you can sufficiently collect for meeting your expenditures, and the balance money you can engage for producing Back To Godhead and other German literature. Actually, if you can pull on with the center without having to work outside, it is the best. If it is not possible, then the question of working outside arises. But if you can profitably start a jewelry shop and earn something, that is also very nice and will help give us income. You will be glad to learn that your sister, Saradia, was married last night with Vaikunthanatha, and they appear to be very nice, happy couple. When I was in Montreal, your sister proposed personally that she wanted to marry Vaikunthanatha one year ago. So according to her desire she is now married. Regarding your question about keeping daily income and expenditure records, I am enclosing a brief lesson in how to do this. I hope this will meet you in good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami There are two things in accounting; one thing is I am receiving some amount, and the other thing is I am paying some amount. The paying or receiving will come under certain account. Whatever I receive is put under debtor column. Debtor means receiver, and the particular begins with the word "to." Whatever I am paying is entered into the creditor column. Creditor means payer. In this way, after the whole day's transactions, you make a total of the debtor column and creditor column, and if there is any balance, it is adjusted by the words "balance carried forward." This balance is entered in the creditor column. So we have to see that the amount in the debtor column and the amount in the creditor column is equal. This is called a correct account. Next day you begin with "To Balance B.F." That means whatever balance you had the day before you put in the debtor column with particulars To Balance B.F.. Then begin your transactions as in the previous day. This is the system of keeping an account in general. For the time being, keep your account in that way, and later on, as you inquire, I will let you know more about how to keep books. letters | 04:07 | May 8, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Gargamuni, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 6, 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. I have advised Uddhava to inform you of what is decided regarding your business, and you may invite Karatieya to come there to help you, as I have advised Uddhava to inform you. But your business must cooperate with the other departments, so that all departments can go on smoothly. Otherwise it is not a very good situation. I hope this will meet you in very good health. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. I am going tomorrow to Columbus. letters | 03:29 | May 8, 1969 Columbus, Ohio My Dear Upendra, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 4 May, 1969, and I have noted the contents with much encouragement. Regarding the church, I think you should try for it by all means, and if need be I shall see that the funds which you need will be loaned to you. I have already informed Tamala Krishna that the Los Angeles temple may be called upon to give this loan. So try for it, because such a nice church will be a tremendous boon to our Seattle propaganda activities. Regarding your question about the difference between mind and soul, the mind is one of the senses, and the soul is the owner of the senses, including the mind. The mind is material, just like the material body, but when the material coverings are taken away, as we revive our spiritual body, similarly we revive our spiritual mind also. At the present moment, my material mind, intelligence and ego is carrying me in different types of bodies, because mind has different desires, and it carries the soul just like finer air carries the flavor of the flower or some other smell. So the mind is an instrument, and the soul is the worker of the instrument. I hope this will meet you in good health and cheerful mood. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 02:27 | |
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