680909 - Letter to Aniruddha written from San Francisco

Letters by Date, 1968

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

September 09, 1968

My Dear Aniruddha,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 30, 1968, and noted the contents carefully. I have already written one letter to Balarama, as you gave me his address. Regarding Barry Major, I think I have already replied his letter from New York, and I am asking him to see me in San Francisco. You will be glad to know that just yesterday I have come to San Francisco, at 3:00 local time yesterday afternoon. And here the Indians are very willing to cooperate with our temple activities. Regarding minor boys who want to be trained by us; as Brahmacari. It is a very nice opportunity to train such young boys, but there legal implication. Now, our society is a registered, recognized religious society. So we can consult some lawyer whether such religious institution where we are teaching specifically how to become moral in character. We are teaching them prohibition of 4 principle sinful activities, and we are teaching them God consciousness. Whether we can teach such minor boys as Brahmacaris and training them. I am very sorry that these people do not want to see their sons develop high character and knowledge in God conciousness, but they want to push them in the stereotyped way of materialistic life. But even we are prepared to help them, if the legal implications are there, what can we do? You can however encourage the boy as he is making progress, but he may have to wait for initiation because he is not still habituated to give up meat-eating. Any person trying to serve Krishna sincerely, certainly Krishna will give him all opportunity to overcome the difficulties.

This time, Back To Godhead is very nicely printed. Perhaps they will send you copies as usual. But in San Francisco we have brought some copies.

You can inform Nandarani about her letter which she addressed me in Montreal, and I received that letter, redirected from there. And I shall reply her in detail. In the meantime, I have requested Gaurasundara and his wife to go to Florida, as suggested by Nandarani, if they are able. If not, I shall try some other boys to go there, as we must have a center at Florida. That is my great desire.

In the meantime, I have received letter from Syamasundara in London, and the prospects are very hopeful to open a center there. Similarly, we are getting good reports from Seattle where Gargamuni has gone, and my next program is to go to Seattle from San Francisco. Hope you are well,

Your ever well-wisher

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami