721125 - Letter to Sudama written from Bombay

Letters by Date, 1972

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Founder-Acharya:
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
CENTER: "Hare Krishna Land,"
Gandhigram Road,
Juhu, Bombay-54, India

DATE .........November..25,..1972.......

My dear Sudama,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 14, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care. Yes, we shall base our preaching work on Lord Chaitanya's formula: sankirtan. After all, He is God, and if He recommends, what is the question of failure? That is not possible. If we simply stick to this programme as I have done it since the beginning, namely, kirtan, preaching, kirtan, distribution of prasadam--if you do like this only that will be sufficient. Of course, you may make the kirtan as nice as possible, with dancing, many kholes, kartals, conches, and if you preach sincerely, anyone will listen and become convinced. The potency of Krishna Consciousness movement does not come from some outward showing, no, it is the transcendental sound vibration of Hare Krishna Mantra and the words of Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad Bhagwatam, like that. So now go on and develop the things in this spirit, that will be nice. We are not interested to attract millions of men to see some show. Better we attract one sincere soul to join us in ecstatic chanting and hearing, that will be of real value. And distribute books, as many as possible. If anyone hears something philosophy from us, that will help him. But if he purchases one book that may turn his life. So selling books is the best preaching activity. Sell books, hold the kirtan in public places like schools and colleges, preach--if you practice these things, and try to improve them more and more simply by your practicing sincerely, that simple programme will please Krishna the most and you will see that very soon.
Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Sudama das Goswami,
ISKCON New York

ACBS/sda