Calcutta, 26 January 1973
My dear Roger,
Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter of January 5, 1973, and have noted the contents.
Thank you very much for your kind sentiments. By engaging in this Krishna Consciousness Movement you will be perfecting your own life as well as helping others to also come to the platform of God-consciousness. This is the real business of human life, though unfortunately the majority of human beings are neglecting. Now it is our business to wake them up to Krishna Consciousness.
Please read my books very carefully and become convinced on this point. Chant Hare Krishna, take prasadam, and follow the regulative principles very rigidly. This will make you more and more advanced in spiritual life.
I hope this finds you in good spirits.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/bmdg
73-12-25.Letter: Gurukrpa , Yasodanandana
Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura can be learned from our books. THERE IS NO NEED WHATSOEVER FOR ANY OUTSIDE INSTRUCTION.
731208SB.LA Lectures
So if you want to understand Bhagavad-gita, then we must understand in the same way as the person who directly heard from. This is called parampara system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master, so I speak to you the same thing. So this is parampara system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. OR EVEN IF YOU READ SOME BOOKS, YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND IT FROM ME. THIS IS CALLED PARAMPARA SYSTEM. YOU CANNOT JUMP OVER TO THE SUPERIOR GURU, NEGLECTING THE NEXT ACARYA, IMMEDIATE NEXT ACARYA. Just like our, this Gau…, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s cult; we cannot understand Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly. It is not possible. We have to understand through the Gosvamis. Therefore you’ll find in the Caitanya-caritamrta and at the end of every chapter, the writer says,
sri-rupa-ragunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsna-dasa
This is the process. He does not say that “I’ve understood Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly.” No. That is not understanding. That is foolishness. You cannot understand what is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore repeatedly he says, rupa-ragunatha-pade… “I am that Krsna dasa, Kaviraja, who is always under the subordination of the Gosvamis.” This is parampara system. Similarly, Narottama dasa Thakura also says, ei chay gosai jar mui tar das, “I am servant of that person who has accepted this six Gosvamis as his master. I am not going to be servant of any other person who does not accept the way and means of…” Therefore we say or we offer our prayer to our spiritual master, rupanuga-varaya te, rupanuga-varaya te, because he follows Rupa Gosvami, therefore we accept, spiritual master. Not that one has become more than Rupa Gosvami or more than… No. Tandera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane vas. This is the parampara system.
74-11-22. Letter: Bahurupa
I am pleased to hear that you are chanting 16 rounds daily and reading my books regularly and following the four rules. IN MY BOOKS THE PHILOSOPHY OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS IS EXPLAINED FULLY SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING WHICH YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, THEN YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO READ AGAIN AND AGAIN. BY READING DAILY THE KNOWLEDGE WILL BE REVEALED TO YOU AND BY THIS PROCESS YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE WILL DEVELOP.
75-09-18. Letter: Babhru, Satyaki
PLEASE CONTINUE READING MY BOOKS SERIOUSLY AND EVERYTHING WILL BE REVEALED TO YOU.
74-11-22. Letter: Hugo Salemon
So far your worship of Lord Jagannatha in your home and your becoming initiated. It is alright provided you have the recommendation of the temple president. I am very glad to see that such a young boy as yourself you are taking serious interest in this Krishna Consciousness Movement. Please continue in this way Our process is something universal. It cannot be checked by any means. Anyone in any place, in any country can chant Hare Krishna. If it is possible to go to the temple, then take advantage of the temple. A temple is a place where by one is given the opportunity to render direct devotional service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS READ MY BOOKS DAILY AND ALL YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED AND YOU WILL HAVE A FIRM BASIS OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. IN THIS WAY YOUR LIFE WILL BE PERFECT.
75-11-15. Letter: Janajanmadhih
So, if you are strong enough to preach Krsna consciousness there, that is very good; that as long as you chant your 16 rounds and follow the four regulative principles, then you will get the strength. THE PROCESS IS THAT YOU SHOULD MEMORIZE THE PURPORTS OF MY BOOKS AND THEN SPEAK THEM IN YOUR OWN WORDS. DO NOT ADULTERATE OR CHANGE ANYTHING. THEN YOU WILL BE THE PERFECT PREACHER. You should also distribute our books as far as possible. If you do this sincerely, then you will be successful.
750807mw.tor Conversations
Prabhupada: So in my absence you read the books. What I talk, I have written in the books. That’s all.
Indian Man (2): Personally, we think more greater.
Prabhupada: That’s all right. BUT STILL, YOU CAN ASSOCIATE WITH ME BY READING MY BOOKS.
75-02-02. Letter: Puranjana
Whatever money is owed to the BBT, that should be paid. As far as record distribution is concerned, if you have no big books, you may temporarily continue, but give a book with each record. With record distribution alone, the result is temporary. They will hear it for some time and throw away. Book distribution is solid. EVEN IF THEY DO NOT READ, SIMPLY BY TOUCHING THEY ARE BENEFITED. IT IS SO MUCH POWERFUL.
72-09-30. Letter: Bali-mardana
Regarding the question you have raised about traveling sankirtana parties and selling of books, yes, we want money. So that is the real preaching, selling books. Who can speak better than the books? At least whoever buys, he will look over. If you have to sell books, do it by hook or by crook. THE REAL PREACHING IS SELLING BOOKS. YOU SHOULD KNOW THE TACTIC HOW TO SELL WITHOUT IRRITATING. WHAT YOUR LECTURE WILL DO FOR THREE MINUTES, BUT IF HE READS ONE PAGE HIS LIFE MAY BE TURNED. We don’t want to irritate anyone, however. If he goes away by your agressive tactics, then you are nonsense and it is your failure. Neither you could sell a book, neither he would remain. BUT IF HE BUYS A BOOK THAT IS THE REAL SUCCESSFUL PREACHING. That is the certificate of my Guru Maharaja, if someone, brahmacari, would sell a one paise magazine, if one of our brahmacaris would go and sell a few copies, he would be very very glad and say “Oh, you are so nice!” So distribution of literature is our real preaching. Now if you cannot handle the matter nicely, that is your fault. But the success of your preaching will be substantiated by how many books are sold. Anything you want to sell, you have to a little canvass, so he gives some money for the service of Krsna. That is his good luck and he gets the chance to read some transcendental knowledge. But if you only irritate and he goes away, that is your less intelligence.
The fact is that we have to adopt the same tactics as ordinary salesmen adopt, but the difference is we do it for the satisfaction of Krsna, they do it for sense gratification. Actually we have experienced that sometimes out of sentiment someone gives to ISKCON and then laments and wants it back, but that does not mean we should give it back. Our policy is that his money which would have been used for purchasing cigarettes, liquor, sex literature, meat, will give him the opportunity to gradually become purified. So if by tactics we save that money from being spent on cigarette packets, that is good. If we can take some money and give some literature, that is a good service. So far irritation is concerned, a child is also irritated when he is given instructions, but that does not mean that we should stop. Invite them in our feast, that is a better indication.
So if the sankirtana parties in Satsvarupa’s zone are irritating the public for selling so many books, that is one thing, but by their selling books they are doing the greatest service. What your one hour of preaching will do, they will hear and go away, but if they have one book at home, they will read, their friends will read, and something solid work is done. So the art is to sell many many books and not to irritate the public, so you may instruct all the others how to do this successfully. That is sannyasa. That is GBC. There are so many places to go, so why there should be business competition sankirtana parties in New York? This problem should be adjusted between the GBC men.
72-11-03. Letter: Brahmananda
Yes, that is a good proposal, print many many books in African language and distribute widely, that is real preaching work. If you sell a book to someone, that is better than your speaking to them–WHAT WILL YOUR THREE MINUTES’ PREACHING DO? BUT IF THEY READ A BOOK IT MAY TURN THEIR LIFE. Go on preaching, that is the highest perfection of activity, and do not worry for anything, Krishna is so much appreciative of this preaching work that He will give you every facility, as much as you have ambition
One thing is, if that printer is so cheap, why not print all our European books there? ANYWAY, PRINT BOOKS, DISTRIBUTE PROFUSELY, AND THAT WILL BE THE BEST PREACHING WORK. WHAT WILL YOUR THREE MINUTES’ PREACHING DO?–BUT IF THEY BUY ONE BOOK, IT MAY TURN THEIR LIFE. SO MAKE THIS YOUR IMPORTANT TASK, TO PRINT OUR BOOKS IN FRENCH LANGUAGE AND OTHER LANGUAGES, AND DISTRIBUTE WIDELY, AND THAT WILL PLEASE MY GURU MAHARAJA. NEVER MIND IT TAKES LITTLE TIME TO MAKE PROGRESS, OUR PROCESS IS SLOW BUT SURE, AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT IF WE CONTINUE IN THIS WAY WE SHALL GO ONE DAY BACK TO HOME, BACK TO GOD HEAD.
KB 90 Summary Description of Lord Krsna’s Pastimes
Following in the holy footsteps of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, we have tried to present this book Krsna for being read and heard by the conditioned souls of this age. BY HEARING THE PASTIMES OF LORD KRSNA, ONE IS SURE AND CERTAIN TO GET SALVATION AND BE TRANSFERRED BACK HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD. It is recommended by Sukadeva Gosvami that as we hear the transcendental pastimes and activities of the Lord, we gradually cut the knots of material contamination. Therefore, regardless of what one is, if one wants the association of Lord Krsna in the transcendental kingdom of God for eternity in blissful existence, one must hear about the pastimes of Lord Krsna and chant the maha-mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
THE TRANSCENDENTAL PASTIMES OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD KRSNA ARE SO POWERFUL THAT SIMPLY BY HEARING, READING AND MEMORIZING THIS BOOK KRSNA, ONE IS SURE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD, WHICH IS ORDINARILY VERY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE. The description of the pastimes of Lord Krsna is so attractive that automatically it gives us an impetus to study repeatedly, and THE MORE WE STUDY THE PASTIMES OF THE LORD, THE MORE WE BECOME ATTACHED TO HIM. THIS VERY ATTACHMENT TO KRSNA MAKES ONE ELIGIBLE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO HIS ABODE, GOLOKA VRNDAVANA.
750509mw.per
BOOKS
Amogha: Srila Prabhupada . When people in the street hear Krsna’s name, the chanting, or they get some literature, does that mean they will not take birth as an animal?
Prabhupada: No. They’ll get birth in a good family.sucinam srimatam gehe [Bg. 6.41]. IF THEY SIMPLY APPRECIATE “IT IS VERY NICE,” THEN IN THE NEXT LIFE, HUMAN LIFE IS GUARANTEED. In a very nice family. Simply if he appreciates, “Yes, it is very nice”—that’s all. Then he’ll get another chance.
Amogha: Many people think the pictures are very nice.
Prabhupada: Anything they say nice, that means it is guaranteed, next life. Or even in this life it will definitely help. As soon as he reads some pages, then it is guaranteed. Those who are enquiring, that means they are liking. Their life is guaranteed.
Amogha: One man who joined us about Rathayatra time last year was a solicitor. He used to buy our books but he never read them. But he would keep them on his bookshelf. And he used to always think, “Those are such beautiful books.” He used to think like that.
Prabhupada: This is appreciation.
Amogha: He never got time to read it.
Prabhupada: It doesn’t matter. If he keeps the books with appreciation, that makes his life sure, insured. He immediately becomes in touch with God. Who keeps the book with reverence and love, immediately he becomes in touch with God. Because these books are representative of God.
SO WE HAVE TO BECOME VERY STRONG PREACHER. THEN THIS MOVEMENT WILL STAY. IF YOU SIMPLY TAKE THE TEMPLE WORSHIP, IT WILL NOT STAY VERY LONG.
740709mw.la
Prabhupāda: Now if they say that the killing means murdering, that means the people amongst whom Christ was preaching, they were accustomed to kill men. So what class of men they are? What was the society? A society of murderers. So what they will understand about religion, a murderer?
(pause) So go further or return?
Jayatīrtha: We should probably turn around now, Śrīla Prabhupāda. (pause) If you’re preaching honesty to a thief, you have to be careful that he’s not stealing your watch in the meantime.
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Jayatīrtha: If you’re preaching honesty to a thief, he may steal your watch. So Jesus was trying to teach religion to murderers, so they murdered him.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) Yes. Mūrkhāyopadeśo hi prakopāya na śāntaye. (aside:) Don’t come very near. If you advise rascals, they’ll be angry. No good result. Mūrkhāyopadeśo hi prakopāya na śāntaye, payaḥ-pānaṁ bhujaṅgānāṁ kevalaṁ viṣa-vardhanam (Hitopadeśa 3.4). SO WE HAVE TO BECOME VERY STRONG PREACHER. THEN THIS MOVEMENT WILL STAY. IF YOU SIMPLY TAKE THE TEMPLE WORSHIP, IT WILL NOT STAY VERY LONG. Just like…
Hṛdayānanda: Especially the leaders must preach.
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Hṛdayānanda: Especially the leaders must preach.
Prabhupāda: And leaders means… If the leaders are good, then it will continue.
Bali-mardana: If they are not preaching, they are not leaders. They are bogus. (pause)
Prabhupāda: LEADERS MEANS THEY SHOULD BEHAVE IN SUCH A WAY SO THAT BY FOLLOWING THEM, OTHERS WILL BE BENEFITED. THAT IS LEADER.
Jayatīrtha: That’s a perfect definition, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
73-11-08. Letter: Hamsaduta:
Yes, I want that you give me the facility to write my books, but I can attend some meetings of important people and elites. You have taken the right view of the importance of my books. Books will always remain. That was the view of my Guru Maharaja, and I also have taken it. Therefore I started my movement with my books. And we shall be able to maintain everything with the sales of the books. The temples will be maintained by the book sales, AND IF THERE ARE NO MORE TEMPLES, THEN THE BOOKS SHALL REMAIN.
70-08-25. Letter: Bali-mardana
There are two verses in the Canakya Sloka how a family or an institution can be glorified or burned into ashes by one person. The Canakya Pandit says that if there is one tree in the forest producing nice aromatic flower, that one tree can glorify the whole forest by the flavor of its flower. Similarly if there is one tree in whose cavity there is a little fire, that one tree can burn into ashes the whole forest. SO THIS SIMILE IS APPLICABLE ANYWHERE. In a family if there is one good boy, he can glorify the whole family and similarly if there is bad boy he can turn the whole family into ashes. SIMILARLY IN THIS INSTITUTION IF THERE IS A BAD DISCIPLE HE CAN BURN THE WHOLE INSTITUTION INTO ASHES. The Governing Body Commission’s duty is therefore to see that every member is following the rules and regulations and chanting sixteen round regularly on the beads. I hope the GBC in cooperation with the Sannyasis in their touring program will be able to keep vigilance systematically in order to keep the Society as pure as possible.
But one who is pure devotee,
his business cannot be stopped.
It cannot be checked. There may be so many hindrances. But one who is pure devotee, his business cannot be stopped.
(S.B. Lecture 1.2.6. Calcutta. Feb 26th, 1974)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It will never stop. At least for
ten thousand years it will go on.
But you cannot expect that cent percent people will come; that is not possible. But even, even one-fourth percent people come to this, then it will be successful. Compared to the American population, what percentage we have got? Still they have made some impression, the Hare Krsna movement. Literatures are selling, they are appreciating, learned circle. Takes some time, but if we stick to our principles and do not make any compromise and push on–in this way, I have given you instruction, it will never stop; it will go on. It will never stop. At least for ten thousand years it will go on.
[S.P. Conversation in Airport and Car June 21, 1976, Toronto]
74-10-19.Rup Letter: Rupanuga:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 22, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding Sankirtana and book distribution, book distribution is also chanting. ANYONE WHO READS THE BOOKS THAT IS ALSO CHANTING AND HEARING. Why distinguish between chanting and book distribution? These books I have recorded and chanted, and they are transcribed. It is spoken kirtanas. So book distribution is also chanting. THESE ARE NOT ORDINARY BOOKS. IT IS RECORDED CHANTING. ANYONE WHO READS, HE IS HEARING. Book distribution must not be neglected. If things deteriorate that is another thing, but it is not the fault of book distribution.