670608 - Letter to Prabhus from Rayarama
New York,
June 8, 1967
From: Rayarama - SL_670608_A1
Dear Prabhus,
Swamiji asked me to write in reply to your letter, which he received yesterday in the hospital. Today he’s leaving there, and will be living in a little cottage we’ve rented on the New Jersey coast. It’s right on the sea, which is what he wanted, and we have high hopes that his full strength will return to him very quickly. Even at the moment, he’s far stronger and more restful than before. He’s sleeping and eating well, and he no longer has any pain. He will, in any case, require a long rest and it’s doubtful whether he can ever take on the strain of a public appearance, or of lecturing again. The responsibility for furthering the Samkirtan movement now rests almost wholly upon our shoulders, and I think it must be Krishna’s grace that we’re being given this opportunity to serve Swamiji while he’s still with us on this planet, and able to advise us when things get rough. Now we have to increase our efforts, or at least our sincerity, in order to bring this most needed gift to the people of the world.
As for increasing service to Krishna, Swami has asked me to say that this process of chanting, discussing the glories of the Lord, and the distribution of Prasadam is standard, and that this threefold method is the best means for spiritual progress, and the best service that you can offer to Krishna. The basic principle of our movement is to have people come, and chant, and eat, and discuss Krishna consciousness. Swami was very happy to hear of your big, successful Prasadam program.
The secret of spiritual success, is to have firm faith in Krishna and in His representative, the spiritual master. This faith is enough to carry you from the clutches of Maya. No high education, nor any other material assessment can help, but faith in Krishna is enough. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that if we go to Him, even with a minimum of faith (because, as fallen souls, our faith is bound to be minimal), nevertheless He says that He Himself will make that faith firm and unflinching, and He will reveal Himself to the man who holds to such faith.
So, to sum it up, Swamiji seems to be quite happy with what you’re now doing there, and wants you to continue, always with faith in the Lord, and in our spiritual master.
The house that Swami is now staying at is only available for a limited period of time, and so I don’t know if it would be worth your while to write him there after next week. But if you write before then, he’ll probably get your letter and be happy. Unfortunately I just noticed that I don’t have his address, and so you’ll have to forward your mail through us for some the time being.
That’s all for now. Please stay in touch, and let me know what activities you’re planning, so that I can put this new in Back To Godhead. If Haimavati and Hansadutta have a chance, they might draw up the first page of that story I gave you, and wait till I get up there one of these weeks (probably in July) so that we can discuss it, and iron out any problems. There are a number of things that will come up, to be sure.
To you all–Jai and Hare Krishna.
Your Servant,
Rayarama Das
SL-670809-A