My Dear Sons and Daughters

I was reading some of the letters that Srila Prabhupada had written addressed to “My Dear Sons and Daughters”, and was moved by how affectionate and personal these letters are. So I put together this post of some of these letters. How fortunate are all the devotees who in Srila Prabhupada’s words; “So you have now got the golden opportunity of this human form of life, and it is not by chance that you have met your spiritual master…” We are meeting him again each day through his vani, his words.

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

…I can understand that you are all very eligible candidates for going back to Home, back to Godhead. And the process is simple. Simply follow the regulative principles with determination, and you will become free from all attachment to maya, by Krishna’s Grace. The example is when the sun is in the sky, there is no question of darkness. Similarly, when Hare Krishna Mantra is vibrating on your tongue and you are hearing attentively, then your consciousness becomes clear or Krishna Consciousness, and there is no question of maya or hazy consciousness. Just as when the light and the darkness come together, the darkness cannot stand before the light, so maya cannot remain in the presence of Krishna. Always remember therefore to chant Hare Krishna, and that will save you in all circumstances without any doubt.
Hoping this will meet you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

…Now my request to you all is that you very seriously stick to the principles of devotional service, observing strictly the four basic restrictions, and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily, and be happy.

If you practice these basic principles successfully, not forgetting your duty even for a moment, automatically your love for Krishna will come out and you will keep yourselves always enthusiastic to serve Krishna. So you have now got the golden opportunity of this human form of life, and it is not by chance that you have met your spiritual master, so if you are intelligent you will conclude that, whatever else I may do, I must accomplish the supreme goal of my life in this very lifetime and go back to home, back to Godhead…

Hoping this meets you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

…Now it is your duty that you always must keep yourselves fit in Krishna’s service. The formula is very simple and if you will follow undeviatingly then your rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness is certain. All of you must chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily and without fail. That is first and foremost. And follow all the rules and regulations of devotional life rigidly. Read all our books, attend classes and aratis, go on street Sankirtana, and always be thinking of Krishna. That is the point. Somehow or other always be thinking of Krishna. Then you will be happy and your going back to home, back to Godhead will be certain…

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Montreal
26 August, 1968
68-08-26
San Francisco

My Dear Jayananda, Karatieya, Syama dasi, Dorothy, Visnujana, Dan, Tom, Russell, Michael, Krishna devi, and all my sons and daughters in San Francisco,

Please accept my blessings. I am so grateful to you for your invitation to come to San Francisco as soon as possible, and equally I am also anxious to go there, but for certain unavoidable reasons, I cannot immediately go to San Francisco. One of the reasons is that I may have to go to Vancouver and I am expecting instructions in this connection at every moment. So if I go to Vancouver then from Vancouver I shall go to San Francisco, and if I do not go to Vancouver, then probably by the end of September I must go to San Francisco.

I am in due receipt of your letter, Jayananda, dated August 21, 1968, and I am glad to learn that one Indian gentleman, Sri Ranchhoubha Patel, is returning to India and upon returning they will send two 18″ marble Radha Krishna Murti, and certainly when you receive those Murtis, we shall have a grand festival. In the meantime, the Murti of Murli Manohar when arrives by the end of September, I must be present and do the needful nice ceremony. When I go to San Francisco, I shall deal with these Indian ladies and gentlemen, and in the meantime, keep them alive in the activities of our temple. It may be that we may open another center in San Francisco, near this Patel community. Anyway, let Murli Manohar come, then Radharani will automatically come.

Regarding the Associated Press: It is a very good opportunity to push our publicity through this sympathetic press. I have got so many things to say to such press representative, and if you can see the gentleman and arrange to send a representative here in Montreal, so it will be a nice opportunity to speak to them personally.

You wanted to send me one certificate for the police officer, and I also confirmed this, but I have not received as yet the certificate. If possible, please send it immediately.

I am so much pleased with the good reports of your Sankirtana party there, and please continue to spread our Krishna Consciousness movement in this way, and you will receive the blessings of Lord Caitanya. I am very happy to hear of the so many new boys and girls taking a sincere interest in this philosophy, and I am also very eager to meet with them when I come there to San Francisco.
In the meantime, please continue your very excellent work of spreading this Krishna Consciousness all over that part of the country, and try to attract more and more new boys and girls to this great movement.

Thanking you once more for your many kind letters of invitation, and hoping you are well and happy.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

N.B. Please send my stationery (like this sheet), which is lying with you there, if you have not yet done so, as we will be needing it very soon.

Bombay
28 April, 1971
71-04-28
Los Angeles

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. By Sriman Karandhara Prabhu’s recommendation, I am very pleased to accept you twelve as my duly initiated disciples. I have chanted on your beads, newly acquired from here, and they should be arriving soon by parcel post. Your initiated names are as follows.

1. (Robert Grant) = Ramesvara. Ramesvara is one of the important pilgrimages in India and is where Lord Ramacandra was present for going to the other side of the Indian Ocean.
2. (Bob Morrel) = Badrinarayan. Badrinarayana is another important pilgrimage where Lord Krishna was present as Badrinarayan.
3. (Bob Sandel) = Vaidyanath. Vaidyanath is another pilgrimage and is where Lord Siva is worshiping Lord Krishna.
4. (Ty Hadman) = Trilochana. Trilochana, a name for Krishna, means one who can see past, present, and future.
5. (Pat Hogan) = Paratrikananda. Paratrikananda means one who is interested in, or takes pleasure in, spiritual life.
6. (Carl Voelkner) = Kulapradip. Kulapradip means the light of the family, or a Vaisnava. One who becomes a Vaisnava becomes the light of the family.
7. (Jim Rutland) = Jayanarayana. Jayanarayana means “all glories to Narayana” who is expansion of Krishna.
8. (Irene Kent) = Iksvakurani. Iksvakurani means the queen of Iksvaku, who was the forefather of the family of Lord Ramacandra.
9. (Linda Forkash) = Lilasakti. Lilasakti is the energy which assists Lord Krishna in His pastimes.
10. (Stephani Swartz) = Santanandi. Santanandi is one who likes blissful life.
11. (Vickie Dagenhart) = Vikramini. Vikramini is the most powerful energy of Krishna.
12. (Richard Arthur) = Riktananda. Riktananda means one who takes pleasure living alone.

Now it is your duty that you always must keep yourselves fit in Krishna’s service. The formula is very simple and if you will follow undeviatingly then your rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness is certain. All of you must chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily and without fail. That is first and foremost. And follow all the rules and regulations of devotional life rigidly. Read all our books, attend classes and aratis, go on street Sankirtana, and always be thinking of Krishna. That is the point. Somehow or other always be thinking of Krishna. Then you will be happy and your going back to home, back to Godhead will be certain.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Calcutta
26 May, 1971
71-05-26
Brooklyn

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your kind letter dated 17th May, 1971 and I am appreciating it very much. So far as your joint application for my returning to U.S.A., you will be glad to know that by the middle of June I shall be returning and I am surely going to see you all then. Presently I am in Calcutta where we just held a very successful “Hare Krishna Festival” and we were drawing 35,000 people daily for hearing discourses on Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, for seeing Aratik and taking prasadam also. I will be staying here until the 31st instant and then will go to London via Bombay. From there I shall return to U.S.A.

Hoping this will meet you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/adb

Bombay
12 June, 1971
71-06-12
London

TO: Mukunda, Nara Narayana, Jeffrey Coker, Lan, Mandakini, Aditi, Tribhuvanatha, Jaya Hari, Sananda Kumara, Vivienne, Neville Carr, Nicolas, Charlie, Serena, Rancor, Pratajas, Phillip, Jill, Nigel, James Gavin Statt, Devadatta, Draupadi, Dhruvananda, Devaki, John, Jim, Greg, Jaya Jagadisa, John.

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you very much for your very kind letters post dated 2nd June, 1971. You will be glad to know that very soon I am coming to London, and will be there for participating in the Rathayatra festival also. On the 20th June I will be going to Moscow for five days. From there I will go to Paris to see their new temple and from Paris I am going directly to London, by the end of this month.
You write to say that you are expecting 50,000 people to participate in the festival this year. That is very encouraging. So all of you work very fervently to make the festival a grand success and Krishna will surely bless each and every one of you. I am going there to London and Syamasundara. and Aravinda are going with me and probably Hamsaduta and his wife will also come.
Hoping this will meet you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/adb

7, Bury Place
London, W.C.1
ENGLAND
15th August, 1971

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you very much for your kind feelings of appreciation of my humble service unto you. You are all helping me in pushing forward this mission of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu coming down by disciplic succession to my guru Maharaj. So whatever you have spoken, it is simply due to them. I am simply the via media to receive them on behalf of my Guru Maharaj, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj Prabhupada.

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/ADB

London
15 August, 1971
71-08-15
TO ISKCON TUCSON:

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you very much for your kind feelings of appreciation of my humble service unto you. You are all helping me in pushing forward this mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, coming down by disciplic succession to my Guru Maharaja. So whatever you have spoken, it is simply due to them. I am simply the via media to receive them, on behalf of my Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada.

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/adb

London
15 August, 1971
71-08-15
TO ISKCON DETROIT:

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you very much for your kind feelings of appreciation of my humble service unto you. You are all helping me in pushing forward this mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, coming down by disciplic succession to my Guru Maharaja. So whatever you have spoken, it is simply due to them. I am simply the via media to receive them, on behalf of my Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada.

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/adb

Delhi
25 November, 1971
71-11-25
Berkeley

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Locana I have gladly consented to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads have been duly chanted by me and they are sent under separate post. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Joan Cerando
Ratnesvari dasi
Larry Batcheldor
Lokanatha das
Barbara Batcheldor
Vrajasundari dasi
John Warren
Yogescandra das
Beverly Warren
Varahadeva dasi
Tom Hopke
Nalinikanta das

I am so glad to learn that all of you have been such a great help to Locana there in our Berkeley centre. I can understand that all of you are very sincere boys and girls and are very eligible candidates for going back to home, back to Godhead. And the process is simple. Follow the regulative principles, chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily, read our literatures, go for street Sankirtana, etc. In this way keep yourselves engaged in Krishna’s business 24 hours and you will be really happy in this life and in the end reach the Supreme destination.
Hoping this will meet all of you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/pdd

Bombay
17 December, 1971
71-12-17

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Sri Galim I have gladly consented to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads have been duly chanted by me and they are sent under separate post. I have given you the spiritual names as follows

Bill Walsh: MURTI DAS
Sue Walsh: MAHATI DASI
Hayden Larsen: ADHIDEVA DAS

I am so glad to learn that all of you are such a great help to Sri Galim there in our Austin center, and I have especially appreciated the murtis you are making of Pancatattva. I can understand that you are very sincere boys and girl and are very eligible candidates for going back to home, back to Godhead. And the process is simple. Follow the regulative principles, chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily, read our literatures, go for street Sankirtana, etc. In this way, keep yourself engaged in Krishna’s business 24 hours and you will be really happy in this life and in the end reach the Supreme destination.

Hoping this will meet all of you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Bombay
28 December, 1971
71-12-28
Laguna Beach

My dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Rsabhadeva I have gladly consented to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads have been duly chanted by me and they are sent under separate post. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Richard/ Saci Dulal Das
David/ Vilvamangal Das
Don La Douce/ Avhinava Das
Sally/ Novina Dasi

I am so glad to learn that all of you have been such a great help to Rsabhadeva there in our Laguna Beach center. I can understand that all of you are very sincere boys and girl and are very eligible candidates for going back to Home, back to Godhead. And the process is simple. Follow the regulative principles, chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily, read our literatures, go for street Sankirtana, etc. In this way keep yourselves engaged in Krishna’s business 24 hours and you will be really happy in this life and in the end reach the Supreme destination.

Hoping this will meet all of you in good health and cheerful mood,

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sda

Bombay
10 January, 1972
72-01-10

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Makhanlal I have gladly consented to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads have been duly chanted by me and they are sent under separate post. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Von Paul Read/SMARANANANDA DAS
Barbara Read/SAMSARAMOCHAN DASI
Bob Quirk/BHUBHRTA DAS
Jeffrey Spicher/PAVANA DAS
Royal Frank Affrisco/DEVADEVA DAS
Anthony Burt Alves/DAIVATA DAS
Laurel Alves/PARAYANA DASI

I am so glad to learn that all of you have been such a great help to Makhanlal there in our Seattle center. I can understand that all of you are very sincere boys and girls and are very eligible candidates for going back to Home, back to Godhead. And the process is simple. Follow the regulative principles, chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily, read our literatures, go for street Sankirtana, etc. In this way keep yourselves engaged in Krishna’s business 24 hours and you will be really happy in this life and in the end reach the Supreme destination.

Hoping this will meet all of you in good health and determined spirits.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sda

Bombay
16 January, 1972
72-01-16
San Diego

My dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Bhakta das, I have gladly consented to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads have been duly chanted by me and they are sent under separate post. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Harry Pettee/ PRATYAYA DAS
Dennis Weatherman/ DURADHARSA DAS
Sharon Robinson/ SARANAM DASI
Marnie Watson/ AJA DASI
Elaine Carnerie/ ATMAVANA DASI
Norah Haas/ AHAH DASI

I am so glad to learn that all of you have been such a great help to Bhakta das there in our San Diego center. I can understand that all of you are very sincere boys and girls and are very eligible candidates for going back to Home, back to Godhead. And the process is simple. Follow the regulative principles, chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily, read our literatures, go for street Sankirtana, etc. In this way keep yourselves engaged in Krishna’s business 24 hours and you will be really happy in this life and in the end reach the Supreme destination.

I hope this will meet all of you in good health and cheerful mood.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sda

Tokyo
22 April, 1972
72-04-22
San Diego

My dear sons and daughters,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter, undated, along with your offering of $100, and I thank you very much. You are all very nice, sincere boys and girls, and Krishna has been very kind to send you all to help me in this great task of trying to save all the fallen souls from such a dangerous position. At every step there is danger, but under the strong grip of maya, we forget this. So the task is very great to give real knowledge, Krishna consciousness, to everyone, and I am so much encouraged by your determined efforts. Please increase more and more, and Krishna will help you.

Hoping this will meet you in good health and happy mood.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/nkd

Los Angeles
28 May, 1972
72-05-28
Denver

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Tulasi dasa I am very glad to consent to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. I am giving him your beads duly chanted by me. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Mike Stitch/Maitreya dasa Brahmacari.
Mark Jahre/Mahasakti dasa Brahmacari.
Allen Bigil/Arijit dasa Brahmacari.
Marsha Arslansky/Mitravinda devi dasi.
Nancy Bailey/Nandita Gokula devi dasi.

I am so glad to learn that you are such good assistants for Tulasi dasa there in our Denver center. And I can understand that you are all very eligible candidates for going back to Home, back to Godhead. And the process is simple. Simply follow the regulative principles with determination, and you will become free from all attachment to maya, by Krishna’s Grace. The example is when the sun is in the sky, there is no question of darkness. Similarly, Hare Krsna-Japa 54″>when Hare Krishna Mantra is vibrating on your tongue and you are hearing attentively, then your consciousness becomes clear or Krishna Consciousness, and there is no question of maya or hazy consciousness. Just as when the light and the darkness come together, the darkness cannot stand before the light, so maya cannot remain in the presence of Krishna. Always remember therefore to chant Hare Krishna, and that will save you in all circumstances without any doubt.

Hoping this will meet you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACB/sda

Bombay
25 November, 1972
72-11-25
Denver

My dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Kurusrestha I have gladly consented to accept you as my duly initiated disciples. I have chanted on your beads and they are enclosed herewith. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Rick Knickerbocker/RAVANANTAKARA DAS B.
Martin Framson/MAKHANA TASKARA DAS B.
Lynn MacDonald/RASALUBHDA DASI
Cynthia Greene/SUDARSANI DASI
Elizabeth Hanks/MADHURYALILANANDA DASI

Now please continue to follow strictly the regulative principles and rigidly observe the four principle restrictions and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily and be happy.

If you stick to these principles with determination, you will be freed from all attachment to maya, by Krishna’s grace. The example is that when the sun is in the sky, then where is the question of darkness? Similarly, when Hare Krishna mantra is vibrating on your tongue, and you are hearing attentively, then your consciousness becomes clear or Krishna Consciousness, and there is no question of maya or hazy consciousness. Just as when the darkness and the light come together, the darkness cannot stand before the light, so maya cannot remain in the presence of Krishna. Always remember therefore to chant Hare Krishna and that will save you in all circumstances, without any doubt.

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sda

Bombay
23 December, 1972
72-12-23
New York

My dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Sudama Goswami I have gladly consented to accept all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads are chanted by me and are enclosed herewith. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Andy Wiernsz/ATENDRIYA DAS
Bill Oliverson/BAHUSIRA DAS
Judy Jones/JITAMITRA DASI
Mary St. John/MAHARHA DASI
Oksana Olenczuk/OMKARA DASI
Vicky Burt/VAJASANA DASI

Now my request to you all is that you very seriously stick to the principles of devotional service, observing strictly the four basic restrictions, and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily, and be happy.

If you practice these basic principles successfully, not forgetting your duty even for a moment, automatically your love for Krishna will come out and you will keep yourselves always enthusiastic to serve Krishna. So you have now got the golden opportunity of this human form of life, and it is not by chance that you have met your spiritual master, so if you are intelligent you will conclude that, whatever else I may do, I must accomplish the supreme goal of my life in this very lifetime and go back to home, back to Godhead. Otherwise, maya is always looking for an opportunity to drag us down, and especially she may attack those devotees who are trying to go away from here. But if you keep yourselves always engaged 24 hours in Krishna’s business, and help me spread this Krishna Consciousness movement all over the world, however you are best able to do it in your own way, then you will be freed from all attachment to maya, by Krishna’s grace. Just as when the darkness and the light come together, the darkness cannot stand before the light, so maya cannot remain in the presence of Krishna. Always remember therefore to chant Hare Krishna, and that will save you in all circumstances, without any doubt.

Hoping this meets you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sda

Bombay
5 January, 1973
73-01-05
Vancouver

My dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Bahudak I have gladly accepted all of you as my duly initiated disciples. You may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban for chanting on them on my behalf. There is no difference if I chant them or he chants them, I have authorized him in that way. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Kris Carlson/ KRSNAKATHA DAS ADHIKARI
Anna Carlson/ ANALA DEVI DASI
Roger May/ RIDDHA DAS
Morley Walkowski/ MAHARDDHI DAS
Randy Hyndeman/ ROHITA DAS
Carl Mulder/ KALA DAS

Now my request to all of you is that you very seriously and sincerely stick to the principles of devotional service, and especially observe strictly the four prohibitions, and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily. In this way you will be always happy.
You have now got the golden opportunity of this human form of life, and it is not by accident that you have met your spiritual master, so if you are actually intelligent you will take advantage of Krsna’s blessings upon you and go back to home, back to Godhead. The essential point to remember is that by your activity you will please always your spiritual master. That means following the orders and instructions of your spiritual master, and my first instruction to all of my disciples is that they become Krsna conscious devotees themselves and help others to become devotees by spreading this Krsna Consciousness movement all over the world, utilizing their energy however they are best able to do it. In this way, if you keep yourselves always engaged in Krsna’s business 24 hours, then you will be freed from all attachment to maya, by Krsna’s grace. Just as when the darkness and the light come together, the darkness cannot stand before the light, so maya cannot remain in the presence of Krsna. Always remember therefore to chant Hare Krsna, and that will save you in all circumstances, without any doubt.

Hoping this meets you all in good health,

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sda

Los Angeles
8 May, 1973

My dear Sons and daughters,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your very nice letters and daksina of $650.00.

Upon the recommendation of Govardhan I am pleased to accept you as my disciples. You new names are:

James Ferris – Yamunatatacara das
Charles Wilkoit – Carurupa das
Tina Chojnacki – Taijasatmika dasi
Donald Chojnacki – Dosavarajita das
Lynne Davis – Daksayani dasi
Christine Stein – Krodhasamani dasi
Gregory Stein – Gopalbhatta dasa

Now you must all carefully follow these four regulative principles (1) No meat eating, (2) No illicit sex life, (3) No intoxication, (4) No gambling. Always be sure to chant minimum sixteen rounds daily. Study my books carefully, go for sankirtana and engage in Deity worship in the temple. You are all very sincere boys and girls and now I request you to make your life successful for going back to home, back to Godhead.

Hoping this meets you in good health

Your ever well wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

The New Devotees
Detroit ISKCON
8311 E. Jefferson Street
Detroit, Michigan 48214
ACBS/jda

Bhaktivedanta Manor
27 July, 1973
73-07-27
New devotees,
Evanston

My dear Spiritual Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. On the recommendation of Govinda Das I have duly accepted you as my disciples.

Human life begins when there is systematic education in the science of God consciousness. Just some days ago I was discussing with Professor Alister Hardy—Head of Religious Experimental research unit Oxford, it was his opinion that the problems of human life are over-population, environmental pollution etc.. But from Bhagavad-gita we understand that God is the father of all living beings, so the father must be competent to provide for all the children, and in the case of the Supreme Father this is actually so—we get it from Vedic Literature “nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13)—Amongst all the Eternals there is one chief Eternal Being and he is engaged in supplying and fulfilling the desires of all the others.” Therefore our conclusion was that the real problem is not over-population or pollution, malnutrition etc., but the actual problem is Godlessness. So you are all intelligent boys and girls—therefore my request to you is that you study this science of Krishna Consciousness and solve all the problems of the world by systematic propaganda as far as you are able to do it.
I have already given your names in the letter to Govinda das.

I hope you are well.

Your ever well wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/hda

New Delhi
14 November, 1973
73-11-14
Atlanta

My Dear Sons and Daughters of Atlanta:

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 23, 1973 with the silk chaddar. It is very nice, and just suitable for me. Here it is getting a little cold, being the winter season, so I am wearing it. So I thank you all for giving me this gift, and I pray for your ever advancement in Krsna consciousness.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/bs

Melbourne
23 April, 1976
76-04-23
The Assembled Devotees
Australian Yatra

My dear sons and daughters,

Please accept my blessings. I am very grateful for all your offerings of daksina to your spiritual master. This is the system. Now all of you must very sincerely follow the regulative principles. Four don’ts and one do: No illicit sex-life, no intoxication, no gambling, no meat-eating . . . and always chanting Hare Krishna, minimum 16 rounds daily. If you take very seriously these principles then Krishna will bless you without any doubt.

I hope that this meets you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/pks

Bombay
14 August, 1976
76-08-14

My dear Sons and Daughters,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 9, 1976 and the enclosed daksina and pictures of the murtis in New Dvaraka which I am having framed and put on my wall here in Bombay.

If you feel at all indebted to me then you should preach vigorously like me. That is the proper way to repay me. Of course, no one can repay the debt to the spiritual master, but the spiritual master is very much pleased by such an attitude by the disciple. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru nandana [Bg. 2.41], “Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one.” Our only business is to be fixed up in devotional service by pleasing the spiritual master. Those who are not fixed up they have various lines of action (eka means ‘one’ and bahu means ‘many’).

The real ocean of mercy is Krsna and it is the duty of the spiritual master to tell his disciple to come to the ocean and be happy. The spiritual master’s duty is to lead the disciple to this ocean. I am trying my best and if you try to follow surely you will benefit.

Bhaktivinode Thakura has sung, “Krsna sei tomara, krsna dite para, tomara sakati ache. Ami ta’kangala, krsna krsna boli, dhai tava pache pache.” “Krsna is yours and you have the power to give Him to anyone you wish. I am poor and wretched and running behind you shouting Krsna, Krsna!”
Krsna is unlimited, no one can catch Him, but if someone follows the parampara, he agrees to be captured. Everyone is afraid of Krsna, but Krsna is afraid of Mother Yasoda. That is Krsna’s special mercy.

I hope this meets all of you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami