741019 - Letter to Hansadutta written from Mayapur

Letters by Date, 1974

Sri Mayapur Chandradoya Mandir
P.0. Sree Mayapur
Dist. Nadia, West Bengal
19/10/74
Sriman Hansadutta das Adhikari
ISKCON
6241 Schloss Rettershof
bei Konigstein / Taunus
West Germany

My Dear Hansadutta das:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated October 9, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding your statement that your success is due to your dependence on serving my lotus feet, yes, that is the instruction of the Bhagavad-gita. Krishna advises Arjuna to work to his bet capacity but not to think that he is the best capable. We should work to our best capacity and depend for the result on Krishna. After all, our life is dedicated to Krishna's service, and Krishna will give us intelligence, capability, and all kinds of success. I know you are doing your best capacity. Depend for the result on Krishna. When I point out some discrepancy of my disciples, it is always with good will so you can become a the best servant of Krishna. There is nothing of material grudge. Kindly remember this.
I am very much satisfied that you are increasing the publishing program. I have received a nice report from Puranjan that the Book Fair was fairly successful. My request is that you print as much as possible and distribute profusely. That is the great success of our movement.
If the Hamburg Deity is moved but worshipped, it is all right. You do not have to reopen if it is inconvenient. What you have said about considering a thousand times before opening a temple, that I want. Not that you should open a temple whimsically, and then close whimsically.
Regarding the farm, farm opening is not very essential, but if you can do it conveniently, then do it. The varna-ashrama system is for convenience sake in the material world. It has nothing to do with spiritual life. Acceptance of varna-ashrama means a little easy progress to spiritual life, otherwise it has no importance to us. For example, all my European and American disciples have no varana-ashrama position, but spiritually because they have followed the rules and regulations and also my instructions, their advancement spiritually is being appreciated by everyone. Always remember that varna-ashrama life is a good program for material life, and it helps one in spiritual life; but spiritual life is not dependent upon it. After all the system of varna-ashrama has to be realized before accepting spiritual life; and the renounced order of sannyas is the last stage of varana-ashrama.
Regarding starting a travelling Samkirtan party with yourself at the head, yes it is approved. It is good.

.............2

19/10/74
.............2 Hansadutta

Regarding the London affair, what can be done. This is the American and European habit of diplomacy. Unless there is spiritual advancement they will do by their nature like this. The whole thing should be corrected by diverting their attention to chanting and the regulative principles. We have to tackle these problems very carefully. In Bengali it is said wherever there is the goddess of fourtune, there are varieties of responsibility. When I was alone there were not so many letters of so many problems.
Regarding your dancing in the middle of the kirtan, it is not wrong. It is completely right. If in your kirtan everone dances in ecstasy it is perfectly all right. That is spiritual enthusiasm.
I have not received the new books. I have learned about them from Puranja, but I have not received them. Maybe they are held up due to a postal delay in Calcutta, but anyway I am so pleased that you have published. Even I have not seen them, I am pleased and obliged to you. Continue this work. Whenever there is any publication in any language, it enlivens me 100 times.
I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/bs