731014 - Letter to Dhrstaketu written from Bombay

Letters by Date, 1973

Letter to Dhrstaketu Das (Page 1 of 2)

Letter to Dhrstaketu Das (Page 2 of 2)

Tridandi Goswami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Founder-Acharya:
International Society for Krishna Consciousness

DATE 14/10/73
CENTER Gandhi Gram Rd., Juhu, Bombay-54
ISKCON, 439 Henry St.
Brookly, New York 11231

My Dear Dhrstaketu Das:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding the money sent from New York, whatever comes to India, it is never returned. You know that India is celebrated as a poverty stricken country, so it knows how to receive, but not to repay. Anyway, I thank you for your contribution. It will be used for our Bombay temple. The balance money of your estate when you receive it, you can utilize for Krsna as you think best.
Our philosophy is that everything is Krsna's property, and everything should be used for Krsna's service. I instructed this philosophy to George Harrison, and he is trying to render service to Krsna in many ways. Recently you know he has given us our London temple, the cost being L220,000. Our devotees are very happily living there and the blessings of Krsna are going to George Harrison. So everyone of us should try to please Krsna and His devotee. Then our life is successful. Better to please His devotee first. That is a recommendation for being introduced to Krsna.
Regarding your question about instruction, spiritual life is different from material life. The instruction given in my books is supposed to be personal instruction. When we read the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, it is understood that we are receiving personal instructions of Krsna. No physical barrier is there in the case of spiritual affairs. It is stated in the Srimad Bhagwatam:

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
(Bhag. 1:2:6)

"The supreme occupation (dharma) for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendental Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to completely satisfy the self."

Regarding the morning kirtan songs, what you have given is all right. If time permits there are other songs that can be sung, such as jiva jago, udilo aruna "There is now sunrise on the Eastern horizon and Lord Caitanya accompanied by His devotees have started the morning Samkirtan party...."
It is not that the individual jiva is within every atom, but paramatma is in each atom. It is stated in the Brahma Samhita as follows: andantara-stham paramanu-cayam tarastham, "Who is situated within every atom..."

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/bs

Sriman Dhrstaketu Das Adhikari
ISKCON
439 Henry Street
Brooklyn, New York   11231
U.S.A.

Tridandi Goswami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ISKCON, Gandhi Gram Rd.
Juhu, Bombay-54, India