680307 - Letter to Mahapurusa written from Los Angeles

Letters by Date, 1968

Tridandi Goswami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Acharya:International Society For Krishna Consciousness

CAMP: ISKCON Radha Krishna Temple
5364 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, Cal. 90019

DATED ..March...7,...............196.8.

My Dear Mahapurusha,

Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated March 6, 1968, and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding the observance of Lord Chaitanya's Advent Day: No, there is no need for any other devotional songs or chants; simply chant Hare Krishna, with Kirtan or beads, and sing the prayer "Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu Nityannanda, Sri Adwaita Gadadhar, SriVasadi, Gour Bhaktavrinda." You can also chant the prayer you asked about. This was spoken by Lord Nityananda while He was preaching in the town. He was addressing the people: "My dear brothers, you simply worship Lord Chaitanya; talk of Lord Chaitanya; speak Lord Chaitanya's Name, so anyone who does so, he is my life and soul." Thus spoke Lord Nityananda. So far the reading is concerned, you may read any one of the books you have mentioned—Introduction to Srimad Bhagwatam, Professor Sanyal's book, Srila Bhaktivinode's book Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Life and Precepts, or English translation of Sri Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Best thing is to take any one of the above mentioned books and finish it, from beginning to end. You can do that with Srila Bhaktivinode's book, that would be very nice.

At the meeting everyone should try to speak something on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's life, teachings, and philosophy. You can take quotations from the above mentioned books, and have discussions.

Fasting should be continued up to evening, then you may have food like on Ikadasee, fruits, milk, etc. On the next day you may observe festival. Janardan consulted me and said he thinks Sunday feasting would be best, so you may do that if you like. Or you may do both days, as you feel best.

It is very good news that you are holding kirtanas at universities; I very much appreciate your endeavors for holding Kirtans. Krishna has given you good opportunity for serving and you are doing it sincerely, so there is no doubt about your being promoted to the transcendental platform, of eternal life, bliss, and knowledge. I thank you very much for your good energy in the matter of executing Krishna Consciousness. I thank you once more, and I shall always pray to Krishna for your more and more advancement in Krishna Consciousness. Hope you are well.

Your ever well-wisher,

P.S. I am leaving for San Francisco tomorrow. So you can write me there until I go to New York in April. [handwritten]