770327 - Letter to Ramesvara from Tamal Krsna

27th March, 1977

From: Tamal Krishna

Hare Krishna Land,

Gandhi Gram Road,

Juhu, Bombay 400054

My dear Ramesvar Maharaj,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at your feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada’s health is gradually improving. Though He was actually not physically fit, He has travelled to Bombay and here everyday He is delivering the most powerful lectures at the Pandal that I have ever heard Him give. The only comparison to His speaking is the explosion of an atom bomb. The subject matter is centered on the failure of what Prabhupada describes as the ‘anthill’ civilization (anthill=skyscrapers), and dog-race society (dog-race-fast moving automobiles). In His lectures He is dissecting the fallen condition dog-hog-camel-and-ass people of this age and finally delivering to them the only hope, Krsna consciousness. Last evening Dr. Swarup Damodar gave a most scientific explanation of Krishna Consciousness which so much pleased Srila Prabhupada who said that never before in history has this philosophy been presented in this way. There were a number of leading doctors as chief guests and they immediately requested Swarup Damodar to deliver lectures at their major hospitals. Srila Prabhupada states that now we will get many scientists in India to take up this cause. He wants to develop Bombay in all aspects of preaching – scientifically, culturally, artistically, philosophically, etc. and thus conquer in all directions. No one will be able to resist if they are intelligent. Srila Prabhupada will shift to His new quarters in the Towers on the 30th of March.

Srila Prabhupada has suggested that rather than opening any more temples in the US that we open combinations of Reading Rooms and Restaurants. After the local people frequent these, then we can open temples. These reading rooms and restaurants will be appreciated by the public as not being sectarian. Our farms can supply the foodstuffs. And those who work in the restaurants should be able to eat as much as they like “Let them try to stop our brainwash movement”, Prabhupada challenged.

Prabhupada stressed that the Prasadam in our temples must be prepared so nicely that devotees will not be tempted to eat in restaurants or to eat bhoga. Especially in India they know how to prepare chicken and meat in such a way that if devotees do not get good prasadam then they may eat these things in the restaurants.

Srila Prabhupada stated that the GBC should see that no one whimsically change the name “Founder-acharya”. Prabhupada said that He first got His immigration in the US as an ‘ordained minister’, not as an ordinary man. So if the term founder acharya has to be explained it should be defined as ordained minister, not as ‘director’, which is ordinary.

Prabhupada said, following our New York court victory, that we should promote ourselves as American Krishnas just as they say American Christians. We should be recognized. All the Sannyasis should act as ordained ministers. We should act with equal respect as the Christians do. We are now in a genuine position. Srila Prabhupada said that it has taken 11 years to gain the recognition of being bonafide. He began by struggling and now 11 years later this Court case has been won. Prabhupada said that America should take Krishna Consciousness as their religion as Japan has taken Buddhism which also came from India, as theirs.

We should not take part in movies which are sentimental, then our prestige will be lost. “When you conquer by books, that is real conquering!” The Russians are especially captivated because of the Sanskrit quotes. They have just paid for 28 volumes of our books including 18 S.B. “Now the poison has entered.”

So many devotees are receiving first and second initiation, but none of them are sending Guru dakshine. You should send out a newsletter in which this is mentioned. I think any devotees who were initiated at Mayapur and from now on should send some dakshine to Prabhupada.

Bali Mardan is no longer in Australia. Prabhupada wants you to be the trustee for Fiji, and you might as well be the GBC there also, since there is no official GBC for Australia, simply Hari Sauri acting as Prabhupada’s ad-hoc representative.

Prabhupada has approved printing 3 part Chinese Bhagavad Gita. You can five them a loan on the same basis as before. Sevananda will send you the printer’s quotation against which you can issue the loan. Buddhimanta Prabhu has taken responsibility for distribution. 5000 each volume.

Please have Mahendra continue to send me the detailed English BBT monthly a/c Receivable, comparative analysis, and other reports. No need of ending the weekly warehouse shipping report. Also I am interested to see a list of the personal employed by the BBT in Los Angeles stating their job and their salary. I am thinking to keep the files of Prabhupada’s correspondence here in Bombay since this will be Srila Prabhupada’s headquarters. This seems more practical than sending everything to LA. Sometimes when Prabhupada needs something it is very difficult to get it. Hari Sauri mentioned that Srila Prabhupada had advised that this be done.

Please give me an idea from your view on how the book distribution is going on and generally how things are going on.

I hope this finds you well.

Your servant,

Tamal Krishna Goswami

N.B. Please send the general topic of the letter to the other GBC.