710815 - Letter to Indira written from London

Letters by Date, 1971

Tridandi Goswami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

CAMP: ISKCON: 7, Bury Place, London, W.C. 1: ENGLAND
15th August, 1971

My Dear Indira,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter. So far your son leaving you, his parents, at 5 years, that is not necessary. Especially our Krishna Conscious children; they are already living in a ashram. The children of our devotees may live with their parents perpetually because you are all living in the temple and already engaged in devotional service. Other instructions are for those not engaged in Krishna Consciousness. Any family engaged in Krishna's service is living not in this material world. Such a home is considered as Vaikuntha. That is the verdict of Bhaktivinode Thakur.
So if you are afraid of your husband's taking sanyas, I shall not give him sanyas order at any time. Be rest assured. Your husband is already a household sanyasi because he has no other business than to serve Krishna. You can be living peacefully with husband and children and always engaged in Krishna Consciousness. One should become sanyas by action, not by dress. In Bhagavad Gita it is said that any person who doesn't work for himself but for Krishna only is a perfect sanyas and perfect yogi, never mind what order he lives in. That is the opinion of Lord Chaitanya also.
I have seen the picture clipping enclosed by you and it is very very nice. Please offer my blessings to your good husband Vamanadev. I can see that our St. Louis center is doing very nicely. Thank you very much.
Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,