720519 - Letter to David Shapiro written from Los Angeles

Letters by Date, 1972

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

May 19, 1972

CENTER: Los Angeles, Calif. David Shapiro 505 Lake Shore Dr. Apt. 1810 Chicago, Ill. 60611

My dear David prabhu,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 14, 1972 and I have noted the contents carefully. I am very sorry to learn that you are not in a healthy state of life so far your material body is concerned. In this connection I may simply refer to the version of the Lord that material miseries are all incoming and outgoing as seasonal changes of winter and summer. A devotee’s business is therefore to tolerate all of them just as in our practical life we tolerate excessive heat and pinching cold, sometimes. But in spite of pinching cold, a brahmachary does not stop taking bath twice and in spite of excessive heat, a good house-wife does not stop working in kitchen. Ultimately, Krishna is the cause of everything and the cause of all causes. So the best remedy for all sorts of diseases is the glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

So I request you to chant the Maha Mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, and if you are bed-ridden then you may take it as an opportunity to chant the Maha Mantra without being interrupted by any other business. I therefore request you to chant the Maha as often as possible and you will very soon be cured of all ailments. As you desire engagement in Krishna Consciousness, this is the best engagement. We should always remember that Krishna is the owner of this material body. Therefore, it is my service to Krishna to maintain this body in good working condition. I should not blame others if I allow this body to deteriorate and succumb to disease from weakness of too much working. But never mind; whatever is done is done. Now let us go forward with full enthusiasm. I shall request you to chant Hare Krishna as much as possible and in the mean time I shall request members of the Chicago center to visit you as often as possible.

So far initiation is concerned, I shall request Rupanuga to send me recommendation and I shall send your beads and your new name as quickly as possible. But if you are able to travel, now I am in Los Angeles and you may come here and take part in the film activities which are now going on.

Your ever well-wisher

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami