741114 - Letter to Jayatirtha and Ramesvara from Bhagavan

14 Nov. 1974

Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road,

Juhu, Bombay 400 054 – phone 579373

Date: 14 Nov. 1974

From: Bhagavan

Their Graces Sriman Jayatirtha das Adhikari

and Rameswara das Brahmachary

c/o ISKCON

3764 Watseka Avenue,

Los Angeles, California 90034 USA

Dear Jayatirtha and Rameswara prabhus:

Please accept my humble obeisances.

For the past two days we have been going over the problem of the tax status of the BBT. Needless to say, the thought of merging BBT with ISKCON even for a limited period was not acceptable at all to Srila Prabhupada. He is always very sensitive that ISKCON might do something whimsical and all BBTs money would be drained and book publication stopped. So there are several possibilities for consideration. The best possibility is that BBT immediately become a tax exempt trust as it is in India. The thing is, if the lawyer says that there will not be any difficulty in making the BBT tax exempt then temporarily there may be a combination between ISKCON and BBT in order to avoid paying taxes on past income up until this point. If, however, this is going to be a drawn-out affair to make BBT tax exempt then we may try to make BBT a tax exempt trust in any other city where we are located in America.

Another solution which Srila Prabhupada approved of is that we may use His present bank account in Switzerland. Los Angeles would continue to do all the secretarial work for the BBT, simply temples would send their money into the Swiss account and send you a copy of the transfer. Then from Los Angeles (after adding the names of the BBT personnel to the account) you could telex or send written instruction to the Swiss bank to pay Dai Nippon, etc. Switzerland affords us a tax free status. Again this is only if we cannot gain tax exempt status for the BBT in America. So, if the Swiss alternative goes into effect, we can combine BBT and ISKCON on paper in order to avoid paying tax on the past income and BBT for all practical purposes would be functional only on paper in America.

Another thing is why is it so difficult for you lawyer to tell us clearly whether BBT can become immediately tax exempt or not? Please immediately reply to these questions and if you want you may telephone. Our new number in Bombay is 579373.

Another point to Jayatirtha prabhu is if there is any money in the GBC account from Spiritual Sky please forward this to me in Bombay to my karmi name, William Ehrlichman. Money should be sent to American Express Bombay. I have brought with me much paraphernalia for the Indian temples which I need to be reimbursed for as well as travelling expenses.

One Last point is that Prabhupada wants that instead of the BBT advancing money for the Mayapur/Vrindaban Festival as suggested by Gargamuni Swami, that Jayatirtha prabhu may organize temples to send their festival money directly into the Mayapur/Vrindaban account – L.A. and then he may transfer this money in one lump sum to India.

So I think at this time Jayatirtha prabhu can send a newsletter to each temple inviting them to the festival and explaining that each temple will be responsible to pay $50 for each devotee. I think Gargamuni Maharaja has discussed with you that the best way to organize transportation for the festival will be if you charter planes from America and Europe because to make connecting flights from Delhi to Calcutta is a very difficult job. So please check into these details and keep in close correspondence with me.

I am anxiously awaiting your reply to all these points.

I hope you are all in cheerful Krishna consciousness.

Your servant,

Bhagavan das Adhikary

GBC India

GdA:add