Hare Krishna Society

Feb 4 1969 letter Hamsadutta

Regarding Kirtana Party: My idea is that at least one dozen persons should form a Kirtana Party. Two persons play mrdangas, eight persons play karatalas, one person playing tamboura, and one person playing melodious harmonium. The person who will play on tamboura will be leader singer. You have just calculated what I want, when you suggest that the leader should sing as I do, and the others will respond. That will be very nice. But all the members of the party will be pure devotees. None of them should be outsiders. We do not want any outsiders as far as possible. Mrdanga playing as you are doing at present will make you more and more expert as you go on playing. Here also I see Gaurasundara simply by playing is improving. If all the members keep their faith in Krishna and tries to please Him, certainly everyone will be pleased by hearing our Kirtana. It is sure and certain. When such Kirtana will be demonstrated, only the harmonium player may sit, and all the others may stand up and join the Kirtana and dancing properly dressed. This is actual idea and I hope if such Kirtanas are performed even on public stage, we can sell tickets. That will be a source of earning to maintain our activities.

… Our process will remain the same eternally, namely, to begin with Sankirtana and prolong it at least for 1/2 hour, then speak something from Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Brahma Samhita, etc. and invite questions and answer them. Then again concluded by chanting. This is my dream or idea, and I shall be glad if you, Brahmananda, Purusottama, Rayarama, and others can give this idea a practical shape and life, then I shall be very much thankful to you. Please convey my blessings to your good wife Himavati, and I hope to meet you very soon. Hope you are both well.

Feb 8 1968 letter Brahmananda

Your remark that we cannot make Krishna our order supplier is very appropriate. We should always try to supply everything to Krishna and we shall try to avoid any return by Krishna. That is Vaisnava philosophy. The Gopis and Radharani served Krishna without any expectation of material or spiritual profit. They never expected any return from Krishna and Krishna remained ever indebted to the Gopis. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu exalted the worship method of the Gopis, and Krishna when He tries to understand the heart of the Gopis, that is the transformation of Krishna into Lord Caitanya.

I have seen the Life Magazine article; the pictures have come very sublime, and imperceptibly they have admitted our superexcellence of chanting Hare Krishna. You have marked it that they have said: “The chanting of Hare Krishna continues to vibrate the brain for several days.” We want to inject this transcendental poison into the heart of the Maya-serpent bitten people in general. Krishna Consciousness by the sound of Hare Krishna, it continues for a moment in the brain of the rascals, then certainly it will act in future to help them to become Krishna Consciousness. I think the Television proposal as written by you may be utilized in that way. Yes, I saw the late Ambassador Mr. B. K. Nehru at San Francisco Hotel and he and his wife received me well. He introduced me also with the Consul General, Mr. Bazpai. So the meeting was nice and I understand that he has recommended my case as a permanent immigrant to the Immigration Department. His assistants and secretaries in the Embassy and Consulate General have written me letters confirming this. They have promised that they will do their best in getting my permanent visa, but usually it takes 5 to 6 months to complete the process. We have, however, submitted the Immigration application by the first week of January, 1968. So I think I shall have to wait for securing the visa. I quite appreciate your proposal that you cannot go out until the two books are published.

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May 13 1973 LA morning walk

Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions, for example, on questions that may arise?

Prabhupāda: Well, the questions… Answers are there in my books.

Paramahaṁsa: Other than that, for example, that we would ask you in…

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Paramahaṁsa: Do you direct us also through the heart? Besides the Paramātmā?

Prabhupāda: If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity. Whether there.

“The photos of my murti are very nice. The murti of the Spiritual Master should be treated as good as the Deity. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair, uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih/kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya. The guru should be treated as good as God. This is stated in all the sastras. The difference is that God is master-God and guru is servant-God. So the installation ceremony for such a murti should be similar to that done for other Deities. All Temples can have this Deity if they like. But Temples which have only Panca-tattva painting worship should not be given this Deity.

You should make a murti of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and then they may be worshiped together as is now being done in our Krishna Balarama Temple. They should be placed with Gaura Nitai — Guru Gauranga.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, Januray 29, 1976)

“I have no objection to your worshiping my murti for Guru Puja. But for placing in the temple there must be a pair of murtis, (my Guru Maharaja must be there) as in Krsna-Balarama Mandir, and they must be permanently installed. This may be done in accord with the temple authorities. Or else you may worship one murti of myself privately in your room.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 13, 1977)

“So far I am concerned, I have no objection if there is carved form of guru on the Guru-Gouranga altar, but one thing, is unless that sculptor is very excellent, it should not be attempted.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, September 2, 1972)

“Those who are spiritually advanced, their photograph and ordinary photograph is different. Just like here is statue of Krishna. He’s not different from Krishna. The original person Krishna and this statue of Krishna is the same. Similarly, a spiritually perfect person and his photograph is the same. Because it is in the absolute stage. In the absolute stage there is no difference. In the material stage there is difference. Is that clear?

In the absolute stage there is no difference. Just like we are chanting Hare Krishna. The Krishna is the name of the Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So this name and Krishna is nondifferent. Do you realize it? There is no difference between Krishna who is in His supreme abode and the name Krishna which you are chanting. That is the same. There is no difference. This is absolute conception. Whereas if I am thirsty and if I call the name of water, ‘Water, water, water,’ I require the substance water actually. Simply by calling ‘water’ will not do. That is the difference between matter and spirit.”

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, New York, September 16, 1966)

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May 3 1973 LA

Svarūpa Dāmodara: If we publish that the original source is life, then everybody has to accept it that the… Everybody has to accept Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is our program. As soon as they agree, “Yes, life is…,” then they have to accept Kṛṣṇa automatically. Sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam [Bs. 5.1]. [break] Some of them are thinking that this is a saṅkīrtana party. We are saṅkīrtana party, undoubtedly. But they may not think “They are sentimentalists.” They must know that we are scientists. Everywhere is the direction. These high waves, this big Pacific Ocean, they are also carrying out the direction of that Supreme life. Just like this airplane is floating. Is it floating without any direction?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: There is direction.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So everything is working under direction. Why do the rascals say like that? The aeroplane is a big machine. It is flying, but under the direction of a small spiritual spark, the driver, pilot. How you can deny? So as the small spiritual spark can direct a so-called gigantic plane, similarly, the big spiritual spark is directing this whole cosmic manifest… What is the difficulty to understand? You cannot say that “Without that spiritual spark, that airplane can be operated.” You cannot say. That is not possible. You prove that “Without that spiritual small spark, this big 747 aeroplane will…” You cannot prove that. Where is your proof? You have to put that small spiritual spark. First of all the pilot body. Now, within that body, Kṛṣṇa says, asmin dehe, dehino ‘smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ, tathā dehāntaram [Bg. 2.13]. There is dehinaḥ. There is a proprietor of this body. So that proprietor is 1/10,000th part of the tip of the hair, very, very, small, atomic. On account of that atomic spiritual energy, there is working. This is bare fact. That small atomic spiritual energy is within this body, and therefore the body is working, and therefore the plane is working. Where is the difficulty to understand? Now, this man thinks himself very stout and strong, but why he is stout and strong? On account of that small spiritual spark is there. As soon as the small spiritual spark is gone, stout and strong has no meaning. Immediately all the birds will come. Vultures will come and eat him, eat the body. Immediately.

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Everything is spiritual-when it is used for Krsna Seva

May 14 1973 LA

Karandhara: They say energy cannot be created or destroyed, then life cannot be created or destroyed.

Prabhupāda: We say that. Life is eternal. It is not created nor destroyed. It is covered only for the time. Just like, I’m eternal, but last night I was covered by dreaming, sleeping.So I say “yesterday” and “today.” This is my position. I’m eternal, but because last night I was covered by dreaming, therefore I say “yesterday” and “today.”

Devotee: Śrīla Prabhupāda, if material nature is the absence of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then where is material? I’ve heard you say that once before…

Prabhupāda:There is no material. Yes? If you continue Kṛṣṇa consciousness, there’s nothing material. Just like when we offer this flower in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is it material?

Devotees: No.

Prabhupāda:You still can accept anything material? No. So how it becomes? It was material in the tree and it becomes spiritual? No. It is spiritual. So long I was thinking it is meant for my enjoyment that is material. As soon as I take it for Kṛṣṇa’s enjoyment, it is spiritual.

Paramahaṁsa: So, actually this entire world is spiritual.

Prabhupāda:Yes. That we want, that engage everything in Kṛṣṇa’s service. This will be spiritual world.

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Hari nama sankirtan part 2

Aug 24 1968 letter Anirudha

Chanting in the park and on the street is our new movement and it is successful. It has become successful in San Francisco, in New York, as well as in Montreal. So if we adopt this means in Los Angeles, I am sure it will also become successful. In San Francisco, I understand the Kirtana party collects sometimes up to $40.00 daily, and Montreal, the other day, Hamsaduta collected $24.00, similarly I hear from Boston, they are also making good collection.So if you can organize this Sankirtana party chanting in the parks and in the street, with permit from the authorities, there will be no scarcity of money, and people will be very glad to contribute

Note-This was a big collection back then-$ 24- 40 dollars daily.

I remember vividly on one of the very first days I was out on sankirtan in dhoti and shaved head I went two blocks down some street bugging this man and finally he said-alright, “damn it, you beat me down here’s a quarter now leave me alone” and he took the BTG I gave to him. I think net profit for our temple was about 15 cents per that “transaction”. Soon later I met our temple TSKP party members and I found them so enlivened I went with them traveling and learned how to distribute the “big books”.

May 14 1969 letter 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.

May 14 1969 letter Ananta

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.

May 17 1969 letter Krsna das

Please accept my blessings. I am very much encouraged to receive your letter of May 12, 1969, along with the German articles published in two different papers with pictures. It is very, very encouraging that you are holding kirtanas in public places and some way or other people are becoming interested. These outdoor kirtanas should be rigidly followed at least one hour daily. That will make our movement popular there. We have good experience here in every city, especially Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and here in Columbus. This is making our movement very popular more and more, so in any circumstances, you all go together outdoors for kirtana at least for one hour daily.

Jun3 13 1969 letter Krsna das (Germany)

Regarding registration of the society, you can simply translate our New York registration form into German and submit it to the court clerk, depositing the requisite fees, and I think that will finish the registration problem. If the police do not allow you to perform kirtana in public places, do not disobey their orders. Try to abide by the law of the state for taking advantage of performing kirtana as far as possible.

Aug 2 1969 letter Gaurasundara

Regarding the difficulties you are having because of the police stopping your chanting in the streets, when Subala was arrested in Philadelphia for this same reason the judge declared him as “not guilty” when he learned of the nature of our movement and the purpose of our collecting. Subala has testimonial of this “not guilty” verdict as declared by the judge, so if you think it will be of help to you in getting permission from the police for chanting on the streets, then you may write to Subala for a xerox copy of this testimonial. Regarding your order of BTG, on such matters you should negotiate with Tamala Krishna. But one thing is that we are now stepping up publication from 20,000 to 25,000 per month, so we must likewise step up our sales on Sankirtana Party. In Philadelphia, Subala has reported that simply by standing on the street corners wearing our robes, automatically many, many people come up to inquire and purchase BTG from them, and they are selling about 80 copies per day. My Guru Maharaja always stressed the importance of distributing this Krishna Consciousness literature, so try to do it as far as possible.

Aug 1 1969 letter Jayapataka

I am pleased to note that you are selling about 25 copies of BTG daily and you are going out on Sankirtana twice daily. I have learned from Brahmananda that he is increasing the number of BTGs to be printed from 20,000 to 25,000 copies per month. So there is much potential for selling these issues to the many people who are gradually taking more and more interest in our movement, and please organize your sales there to increase at a steady rate.Sankirtana is the tried and proven method of propagating all aspects of our Krishna Consciousness Movement, so continue to go out chanting in the streets as much as possible.

Oct 13 1969 letter Pradyumna

I understand from your letter of October 8th that there is a struggle with the Kazi. This obstacle by the Kazi is not new to our Krishna Consciousness Movement. It was there even during the time of Lord Caitanya, but we must steadily go on with our activities without caring for these so-called custodians of law. We are the most lawful citizens in the world, but if some demon Kazi gives stumbling to our execution of duties, we cannot abide by such order. I am very glad to learn that some of the Catholic priests are sympathetic with our movement. The government says “In God we trust”, and we are preaching the message of love of God, pleading with the people to become servants of God. So where is the cause of breaking the public peace? I am enclosing herewith a declaration of our Krishna Consciousness Movement which you may present in court if necessary. You depend on Krishna, try to face the charges by your best abilities and surely Krishna will help you. A similar charge was brought against our men in Philadelphia and the learned judge found that we are not culprit.

Feb 8 1970 letter Bhagavan

The court case is very humorous, happy, and authoritative. The charge was “Chanting God’s Name” for the welfare “of mankind.” So what can be the charges? If a man is chanting God’s Name for the welfare of mankind, how the learned judge can convict him with any charges? So he has done real justice by dismissing the case. This will be great evidence of our sincere activities and you can send copies to all the centers as well as to the editors of BTG for immediate printing. The copy which you have sent me I have redirected to India to the editor of “Kalyana” a very influential religious paper. Perhaps you know the Gita Press. So you can send me also a few copies more.

This charge against Hare Krishna chanting is not very new. Even during Lord Caitanya’s days a similar charge was brought against Him by Chand Kazi who later on converted to become His devotee. So chant Hare Krishna Mantra sincerely and seriously and Krishna will give you all protection.

Feb 21 1970 leter Shyamasundar

But I will suggest one thing—that you can organize a mass Sankirtana procession on the Advent Day of Lord Caitanya, 22 March, 1970; that day is also Sunday. Therefore if George and John Lennon both lead the procession, that will be a great service. Because of their presence many young men especially will join the procession. And if you carry flags, festoons, and pictures in that procession, starting from a big park like Hyde Park or St. James’ Square and then pass over some important streets, especially the residential quarters, that will be a great success. In that procession, you can distribute our literatures of various kinds—books and magazines also. I think that will be a great successful program.

I have already written a letter to George and it is sent through you. In that letter I have suggested the importance of Krsna Consciousness movement, so if George elaborates this idea in his foreword that will be very nice.

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Feb 4 1969 letter Hamsadutta

Feb 8 1968 letter Brahmananda

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Nov 15 1969 letter Harold Torf

Regarding Omkar, you may know that Om is the impersonal sound form of Krishna. Those who are unable to utter immediately the Sweet Name of Krishna, they are recommended to chant Om. Just like a child is taught to make a particular type of sound, and thus he learns the name of father, mother and other relatives. That is the beginning. So in the beginning, Om is the right vibration of transcendental sound, and the meaning is to address the Supreme Lord. Our business is directly with the Supreme Lord. Impersonal feature of the Lord is just like the illumination of the lamp.The lamp is the more important thing. You will gradually understand all these features of the Absolute Truth if you read Bhagavad-gita and adhere to the regulative principles.

jan 23 1970 letter Hamsadutta

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.

Jan 24 1970 letter Ranadhir

Amongst all our duties surely we must not forget to complete our sixteen rounds. We should not be carried away simply by the Krishna duties which is also regarded as good as chanting, but in all circumstances we shall not forget this duty. I am very glad to learn that the small children are also increasing their dispositions and service attitude. Please get it recognized and increase the activities of the school more and more. All the devotees who desire to know may ask their questions to the elderly members but still they are open to write me for all their questions and there should not be any hesitation. I reply each and every letter that I receive, but sometimes it may be a little late due to pressure of work. But they should write; there is no checking. But it is better if simple questions are solved amongst yourselves in the Istagosthi class. Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice—in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will be answered.

(Note-here Prabhupada is saying he wanted each disciple to write him letters but the GBC always discouraged us-same thing happened at the end when Prabhupada wanted his disciples to come to hin in Vrndavana and

GBC ( TKG, Ramesvara and co} lied to us saying he did not want us to come-they also did NOT want these letters to be printed)

Jan 30 1970 letter Cidananda

Herewith, I am returning back the new beads duly chanted. The former beads may be kept with you and if some new boy comes and wants to chant, you may lend him the beads—not to be taken away by him, but to be used for chanting while he is in the Temple. Otherwise, you can keep them carefully and they may be used in some emergency.

April 7 1970 letter Giriraj

I do not know just what has happened to your old beads, but you should keep your beads always very, very carefully, they are your direct link with Krsna.

April 22 1970 letter Minoru and Kanji

I am very glad to learn also that you are feeling joy while chanting the mantra Hare Krishna. Yes, it is exactly like this. If anyone chants this mantra in good faith and in simple understanding, then surely this transcendental vibration will act immediately in spiritual bliss. Please therefore continue to chant this mantra as many times as possible throughout the day and night. I do not think there is any inconvenience or loss on your part if you do so all the time. Even when you are walking, you can softly chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, or even when you are on the bus going to somewhere you can also chant. When you are working with your hands you can also chant and when you are resting or going to take rest you can also chant. Even in your toilet room while taking bath you can also chant. In this way there is no limitation or restriction for chanting this Holy Name of God, Krishna, and His Energy, Hara. In doing this business there is no loss, but there is very great gain which is transcendental realization.

Jan 21 1971 letter Sri govinda

I am so glad to hear how you are strictly following the regulative principles of devotional service and chanting regularly 16 rounds daily, mostly before Lord Jagannatha. That is our strength in spiritual life and will make for your rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness. There are three stages of chanting: offensively; free of offense, or in the liberated stage; and in full love of Godhead. Simply continue chanting and any offenses you may be committing, because they are not intentional, will soon vanish by the grace of Lord Jagannatha.

March 30 1971 letter Anandini

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 14th January, 1971 as well as the $50.00 gift sent by you also. Thank you very much. I am so glad to accept you as my disciple. Your spiritual name is Anandini Devi Dasi; Anandini means “pleasure.” Your beads are also duly enclosed and to keep them strong they should be soaked in oil; mustard oil will do. Also they should be restrung properly.

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Iskcon Mayapur-Vrindaban Tirthayatras:

A Waste of Time for Sincere Devotees?

By Narasimha das

“Narottama Das Thakura, a great acharya of the Vaishnava sect, has, for the present, forbidden us to go to such places of pilgrimage because in this age, the times have so changed, a sincere person may have a different impression on seeing the behavior of the present residents of the pilgrimage sites. He has recommended that instead of taking the trouble to travel to such places, on should concentrate his mind on Govinda, and that will help him.” (SB.3.20.4, Purport)

In this purport Srila Prabhupada goes on to explain that ordinary persons may still derive benefit from going to holy places like Vrindaban but only if they go there to find a person who knows the science of God, or a tattva-vit. Tattva-vit means “one who knows the Absolute Truth.” Srila Prabhupada warns, “There are many pseudo-transcendentalists, even at places of pilgrimage. Such men are always present, and one has to be intelligent enough to find the actual person to be consulted; then one’s attempt to progress by traveling to different holy places will be successful. One has to be freed from all contamination, and at the same time he has to find a person who knows the science of Krishna.”

Srila Prabhupada created temples and ashrams in Mayapur and Vrindaban where sincere pilgrims could come and get trained in Krishna consciousness. Unfortunately, these places have become severely commercialized in recent years and are now full of pretenders who pose as advanced devotees and spiritual masters. The yearly festivals that Srila Prabhupada ordained at these places for the purpose of revitalizing and inspiring our devotional service are now dominated by various deviants. Some deviants are looking for a new iskuru, others are trying to become voted-in iskurus, others are looking for new disciples to replace the one’s that left, others are doing business as tour guides, others are simply eager to hear the latest iskcon gossip while eating lassis and samosas at iskcon restaurants. Others go there for shopping. Such kind of festivities, even in Vrindaban, are useless, or even offensive.

All these visitors–as well as many or most of the locals–act in ways that create many misleading distractions and impressions. “…a sincere person may have a different impression on seeing the behavior of the present residents of the pilgrimage sites.”

Srila Prabhupada mentions that one first must be “freed from all contamination,” and then one must find a person who “knows the science of Krishna consciousness.” To become freed from contamination means one should shave his head, fast, eat only Krishna prasada, attend temple programs, bath in the Ganges or Yamuna, constantly chant, and avoid social and political clubs of sahajiyas, mayavadis, other deviants, or even prakrita-bhaktas, who believe in Krishna but have no real interest in pure devotional service or going back home back to Godhead.

“If one sincerely searches for spiritual salvation, then Krishna, being situated in everyone’s heart, gives him the intelligence to find a suitable spiritual master. By the grace of a spiritual master like Maitreya, one gets the proper instruction and advances in his spiritual life.” (SB. 3.20.4, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada has often mentioned that devotees can make their own homes holy places by performing devotional service and Deity worship under His directions. He has made this easy for those who accept Him as the real acharya for this age. His books and instructions are abundantly available for everyone. In these present degraded times, travel to India and within India is expensive, difficult, dangerous, and dirty. Real sadhus are not easy to find but cheaters are prominent everywhere. Thus, it may be best for most devotees to stay at home, worship the Deity, distribute prasadam, participate in samkirtana, and chant without offense while hearing and following Srila Prabhupada. Then one can easily meditate on Sri Vrindaban Dhama and Sri Dhama Mayapur without disturbance or offense.

Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day

I feel the desire to write something for Srila Prabhupada on his anniversary of his disappearance day. Wow it was 44 years ago, and I was only 14 years old. Devotees had been giving us news that Prabhupada was very sick and bedridden for months. Every day I would pray with the devotees for his health and recovery. I would see him being carried in his rocking chair wearing big sunglasses to take Darshan of Gaura Nitai, Krsna Balaram and Radha Shayam Sundar.

Then that afternoon on November 14th during lunch time I heard the news that Prabhupada may leave his body within hours. I left my lunch half eaten and ran to his quarters. Many devotees surrounded his bed singing kirtan with much grief and sadness. I didn’t believe he would leave us in his physical form. Of course, he would tell us all the time that he may pass away anytime, and that we all needed to take guidance from his books and instructions. I thought he would tell me what my service would be when I grew up.

I stayed in the kirtan until I had to leave to offer aratik in the temple. After aratik I got distracted while eating maha prasadam and talking instead of going back to his room. Then the news came out that he had just passed away. I knew all was going to change in ISKCON. I felt I had lost our eternal guide and master. I felt a real darkness and emptiness. Despite of all the changes and severe hardships I suffered in ISKCON and outside I try to remain his disciple by following his instructions with the best of my abilities. I beg to remain at his lotus feet eternally.

Hare Krsna- below we have some letters from Prabhupada to his disciples where he is teaching how to do japa, string beads, oil them up, and much more.

This is part one of two series.

damaghosa das

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May 7 1957

My dear Sri Padampat Ji,

In continuation of my yesterday’s letter, which I hope you have duly received by this time, and with reference to your request of submitting the way of powerful Mantra for broadcasting all over the world, I beg to inform you further that in every Mantra the prefix of Namah is generally added. Just for example you said the other day Namah Sivaya. Now this Mantra is practically indicating the holy name of Lord Siva. Na means negation and Ma means false ego or Ahamkara. Therefore Namah means surrendering to the name Siva. In other words to accept the supremacy of Lord Siva means Namah Sivaya. Therefore the conclusion is that in Mantra the name of the deity is unavoidably amalgamated. And in the Mantra the spiritual power, by the Rsis like Narada etc. is surcharged like the copper is electrified by magnetic force. The etymological alphabets are so surcharged with spiritual potency and as such all Mantra indicating the transcendental holy name of God or Godhead is to be understood in that way. When we chant the Mantra as were presented by the authorities—the process helps communication with the personality of Godhead by the sound waves as we have now experienced in the material world of physical waves vibrations. The powerful Mantras have such potency if they are sounded in the right direction. And by chanting the Mantras only one can spiritualise the whole existence as heat can expand on the spherical objects. Mantra Siddhi means complete liberation. Therefore, there is no difference between the holy name and Mantra. Man means mind and tra deliverance. That which delivers one from mental speculation is called “Mantra”. “Mantra Siddhi” is to transcend the gross and subtle mental plane.

Nov 23 1967 letter Umapati

Hare Krishna is so nice that it clears the dirty things from the mind of the devotee and the more one is used to chant the Holy Name offenselessly, the more one develops love of God, forgetting the whole material nonsense. (It is my duty to deliver you the right thing in right earnestness and it is the duty of the receiver to act in the standard spiritual regulation. When you left us I simply prayed to Krishna for your return to Krishna Consciousness because that was my duty. Any good soul who approaches me once for spiritual enlightenment is supposed to be depending on my responsibility to get him back to Krishna, back to home. The disciple may misunderstand a bona fide spiritual master being obliged to do so under pressure of Maya’s influence. But a bona fide spiritual master never lets go a devotee once accepted. When a disciple misunderstands a bona fide spiritual master, the master regrets for his inability to protect the disciple and sometimes he cries with tears in the eyes. We had an experience while my Guru Maharaja was alive. One of His disciples who accepted sannyasa was one day forcibly dragged by his wife. My Guru Maharaja lamented with tears in His eyes saying that He could not save the soul.) We should always, therefore, be careful in the matter of being attacked by Maya’s influence and the only means of guarantee is to chant Hare Krishna offenselessly. The greatest offense is to defy the spiritual master and to act sinfully, thinking in the strength of chanting. If a man thinks that chanting will save him from all kinds of sinful reaction deliberately committee. by him, then he becomes the greatest offender. By chanting Hare Krishna certainly we become free from all sinful reactions, but that does not mean that we shall deliberately commit sins and counteract it by chanting.

Dec 17 1967 letter Indira and Ekayani

I am very glad to learn you are chanting 48 rounds. Actually it is all right that one should chant 64 rounds, even 16 rounds, so if one is able to chant more than 16 rounds up to 64, it is very good. You fix up your rounds. Try to increase it but never decrease it.

Jan 26 1968 letter Krsna devi

So, at any circumstances you must not forget Krsna. I love you at my heart and therefore I gave you the name Krsna devi” . Don’t forget Krsna even for a single moment; chant Hare Krsna loudly or slowly as it my be convenient. But don’t forget to chant the Holy Name. I hope everything will be all right as soon as you come here with Danny, and I am awaiting your arrival with great interest. Hope you are well.

Feb 12 1968 letter Bhakti jana

Please accept my blessings. I am so glad to receive your letter dated Feb. 10, 1968, and have noted the contents. The strong hand of Maya is insurmountable as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. But if one sticks to Krishna Consciousness with firmness, then he can easily surmount. My instructions I have already given to you, how to chant the beads, and how to protect yourself from the offenses. I shall advise you again to chant always, increasing the counting, namely, 16 rounds is generally prescribed, but for the time being you can stop all other activities and increase the chanting to 64 rounds. Follow the rules and regulations strictly. If you want sex life, you are at liberty to get yourself married. But don’t have illicit sex with some Maya’s representative. That won’t help you in your spiritual advancement. We don’t forbid sex life, but we cannot allow illicit sex. For a young man it is very difficult to check sex desire, therefore best thing is for him to get himself married, and live like a responsible gentleman. Irresponsible man cannot make progress materially, or spiritually

May 10 1968 letter Dhanajaya

Your ambition for chanting Hare Krishna exclusively is very good. But sacrificing the results of action is as good. A concrete example is Arjuna. He fought very chivalrously under the instructions of the Lord, and the Lord certified him to be the best devotee and friend of the Lord. So there is no distinction between chanting and offering the results of one’s activity. Sometimes under the garb of chanting people take to the habit of laziness, which is not required at all. Execution of devotional service is prescribed first with enthusiasm and patience. One can execute this transcendental activities staying as he is, but he must follow and try to apply in practical life the instructions as they are given in the Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, received through the proper channel.

Nov 11 1968 letter Sivananda

Persons who want to take advantage of cheap reputation they imitate great personalities like Haridasa Thakura, who was alone chanting 300,000 of Holy Names daily. By such chanting, lonely chanting he got so much spiritual power that he could convert even a harlot to become a great devotee whereas an ordinary person falls easily a victim to such allurement. So one should not imitate such great personalities but one should try to see how much taste he has developed for chanting, so that one can remain alone simply being engaged in chanting. If one can remain alone simply being engaged in chanting, that is very good, but it is difficult also. A conditioned soul in conditioned life it is very difficult to concentrate our mind in chanting absolutely. Better to be engaged in preaching work, that will make one gradually successful. Besides that, when we are actually engaged in with the preaching work, we gradually acquire our spiritual strength without failure.

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