770719 - Letter to Ramesvara from Tamal Krsna

Vrndavana,

July 19, 1977

From: Tamal Krishna

Los Angeles

My dear Ramesvara Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. His Divine Grace has just been read the June, 1977, BBT report. He listened to it with great concentration, reflecting on all the implications of the huge book distribution effort being pushed on in the west. When I read the section on “World Champion Sankirtana Parties in a Class by Themselves” describing the glories of Guru Krpa Maharaja’s Nama Hatta Party, His Divine Grace commented, “He is doing tremendous service. Inconceivable!” And when He heard how the German devotees under Harikesa Maharaja have left all other zones in the dust, Srila Prabhupada smiled broadly and said, “They are very enthusiastic. I have seen, wherever they go they are enthusiastic. Personally I have seen them in Sweden, how accurately they execute the order for book distribution. I have seen them.” His Divine Grace also said the other morning, “Book sales means injecting the poison of Krishna consciousness. How successful the poison is injected can be judged by the amount of books distributed.”

In a letter received from Radha Ballabha Prabhu, it was mentioned that you would be trying to get 10:1 to us by Janmastami time. I mentioned this to His Divine Grace and also mentioned that we had just sent out the 10th chapter which may be enough for a second volume (or perhaps you will need another chapter to complete the second volume). In any case at the rate that Srila Prabhupada is translating, there is every likelihood that he could complete manuscripts worth another two volumes (four in all) by Janmastami time. It seems that you are falling far behind His translation speed. You might argue that due to laying off certain devotees from the press staff, this is the result. It is a fact that Srila Prabhupada said even if the work is slowed down, we should not pay salaries to these men. But I do not think we should take this literally meaning that His Divine Grace wants to see the publishing of His books slide far behind His translation work. I know you know this better than I do as your life is dedicated to pleasing His Divine Grace in this way. I am only suggesting as a Trustee, and Srila Prabhupada’s Secretary that you do whatever is necessary (preaching rather than salaries) to get devotees to do the work required to catch up to His Divine Grace’s translation speed. Right now He is translating at double the speed that He was doing when I first joined as Secretary. He is doing about 200 points per day on tape which is about 2/3 of a tape. There is no doubt that it will greatly encourage Him to see His work come out in the form of books. Again I say that you are more aware of this than I am. I am simply reminding you and encouraging you to please get everyone going there to catch up to His Divine Grace.

Hoping this meets you in the best of health and doubling the Krishna conscious book distribution.

Your servant,

Tamal Krishna Gosvami

Secretary to Srila Prabhupada

His Holiness Ramesvara Swami

c/o ISKCON Los Angeles