730802 - Letter to Srila Prabhupada from Satsvarupa das Goswami written from Dallas

Dallas,

August 2, 1973

Bhaktivedanta Manor

All Glories to Guru and Gouranga

Krsnas tu bhagavan swayam

Dear Srila Prabhupada:

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Here humbly submitted is my regular zonal report for the period ending July 31st, for the Central United States. GURUKULA: On my return to Gurukula (after about 45 days) I found many improvements, and the parampara standard is being upheld nicely. Eleven new adult devotees joined since I left, bringing it up to a total of fifty adult devotees. There are about 65 children. The financial condition has improved and therefore improvements were made in the building, new high water pressure plumbing, new room-size refrigerator for the kitchen, new crowns and jewels for the deities, and all the devotees were fully engaged. Wherever you turn at Gurukula somebody is working on a large new house for Tulasi, someone else is building a shelf for a classroom, cleaning, painting, everywhere at Gurukula there is activity. And partly this is possible, because the finances have improved and thus they are able to make such repairs. Also they are inspired by the importance of the project.

Of course, they still have a long way to go: the park remains undeveloped and also the large sanctuary.

Income sources: They are trying to convince parents to send in the required $100 per month (about 50% don’t send in tuition). In addition to that, sankirtan funds have gone up due to two separate traveling parties of brahmacaris: they are sending $2,000 monthly to the BBT. Spiritual Sky Incense last month brought in $4,500 profit to the temple.

Headmaster Mohanananda seems more dedicated than ever and he is more assured in his position with the devotees. There were no factions of devotees finding fault with him, as in the past, and he especially has gained the confidence of Dayananda and they are working together in love and trust. This was very encouraging to me. As you know, Mohanananda published one children’s coloring book which he completely sold out, 10, 000 copies, at a profit to Gurukula of $1,900, and now he is shortly coming out with another book about Prahlad Maharaja. I have also encouraged him to try to approach influential men in the Dallas community and he seems inclined to do it.

Gurukula has a lawyer who is working on several important items, one: they are trying to establish status where all the medical expenses for the children in the school will be handled free, and also getting status from the state so that we can easily bring in children from foreign countries on what is called a student’s visa so they can stay. The latter problem appears difficult, but the lawyer is working on it and we do not have final results on what we have to do to get this status. We are very desirous to get students from all countries outside the United States. Although there is talk of Gurukula in London and Calcutta and other places, Gurukula in Dallas is already a highly developed, highly successful educational institution, even by a karmi’s standard. Yesterday, a social worker was here and said to me, “They all look very happy and healthy.” The rascals have to admit our children are healthy and happy.

The curriculum is going on as you ordered, Sanskrit and English; they have one children’s Krishna Book written in simple language with exercises on how to learn grammar, which I think you have seen. A staff of writers is also preparing other books in that fashion for the different age levels. The teachers, Dayananda, and about four others are more and more gaining the trust and friendship of the children and not having to resort to any extreme forms of discipline.

Temple worship is going on nicely. See enclosed pictures of the deities. Nandarani is the pujari and is steadily improving things. Overall cleanliness is good, and attendance at mongala aratik, etc. is good.

I think you would be very pleased to see Gurukula and we humbly invite you to visit if you can, even for a day or two, when you come back to the United States.*

* (“Yes, I shall go.” Handwritten here in the handwriting of Srila Prabhupada)

Improvements: improved recognition by State, development of park, sanctuary and temple, improved relations with parents of children.

HOUSTON: They have a new president, Sahadev das Brahmacari. The former president, Giridhari das Adhikari, found the responsibilities too great and said he could no longer be president; he is now working with Spiritual Sky in Dallas. There are now only four brahmacaris in Houston. They are, however, all feeling happy as they go out all day on book distribution sankirtan. They are distributing hundreds of books daily, and doing quite well in that respect for a small temple. Twenty to thirty people come to the weekly feasts.

Deity worship has been reduced somewhat since the former president and his wife left, but sankirtan has improved. Sahadev is very determined and very steady.

Improvements: more sankirtan, college program, deity worship.

AUSTIN: The president is Prahladananda. Among small temples this temple is always among the leaders in book distribution. And they do this with only three brahmacaris, led by Prahladananda. They go daily dressed in karmi clothes and hats or wigs to the shopping centers and sometimes they travel also and sell books. They go out 10:30 and come back at 8:30 at night. They are a tightknit group and are always trying to save time to spend it on sankirtan. Twice a week they go to the university and distribute flyers and give out free prasadam to the college students. They finally now have a nice location, a house only ten minutes from the University of Texas which has 40, 000 students.

Improvements: more manpower, need householder couple.

NEW ORLEANS: twelve devotees, stable financially by many incense accounts and stable management of Nityananda das. He recently sent you photographs of their building which they have purchased. Only one or two men go out daily on sankirtan, other devotees are not inclined to spend long hours on sankirtan. Main emphasis is on deity worship of Lord Jagganath. They need improvement in increased sankirtan.

ST. LOUIS: Thirty devotees, usually always place in the top ten of big centers for distribution. They are looking for a new more suitable temple as present one is not very suitable. President is Mukunlal. Panca Tattva worship, but they are striving for the day they can worship Radha-Krishna.

CHICAGO: Thirty devotees. Very big city, therefore, very big sankirtan. They even sell books at the airport. Always in the top ten for book distribution. Now they have installed large, Radha-Krishna deities in one of the largest, best deity rooms in the movement. They worship with profuse offerings of flowers and fruits. Financially stable due to expert business management of president, Govinda das. I am going to request them to have Chicago Rathayatra next year.*

* (“That nice.” Handwritten here in the handwriting of Srila Prabhupada)

DETROIT: Very nice Radha-Krishna temple with fully opulent deity worship. Placed number ten last month in book distribution world wide. Govardhan das Adhikari, President is very personable and well respected by devotees there.

CLEVELAND: Completely redone temple room is now completed. They are worshipping Lord Jagganath very seriously. They do considerable traveling to colleges for festivals.

OVERALL: Central United States temples are good on book distribution. They are well established and financially sound due to Spiritual Sky and sankirtan. There is sometimes a complaint, however, and devotees leave one temple and go to another because they find the president doesn’t handle them personally enough. For instance, sometimes the presidents tend to stay too long in their offices and not preach to devotees. Often devotees in Chicago and New Orleans complain and sometimes leave and go to other temples for that reason. … not inspired by leadership. I try to encourage presidents not to be simply financial managers, but first and formost devotees, and taking all care of those placed under their guidance. Mostly there is no difficulty, as leaders are responsible and maintain daily devotional routine. *

* Being away for so long I have not visited these temples and therefore these reports are a little sketchy, I intend to visit all temples soon.

For myself, Dallas has just given me wonderful facility in the form of a large bus which I am taking out with twelve brahmacaris for traveling sankirtan party. We plan to go to all the cities in the zone and with colorful signs and pennants and all instruments. AND WE WILL CHANT HARE KRSNA ALL DAY IN THE STREETS. In addition, we will of course, do book distribution in the streets and also we will have a special party that wears karmi clothes and will do book distribution in shopping centers. This is a wonderful opportunity for me in my fallen sannyas, fallen GBC life. By Krishna’s grace, we will travel from city to city all over the zone and spread the glories of the Holy Name by chanting and book distribution, and if we can, we will also put on prasadam distribution festivals. We have built a nice altar on the bus as well as stove and water. May I order GourNitai deities for this traveling bus? We intend to split profits between BBT and Gurukula. I thank you a million times for forcing me into the ocean of nectar, sankirtan.

While traveling I will also keep up my BTG editing responsibilities. Gradually more and more disciples are taking a little interest in writing for the magazine, and I am able to encourage more different devotees by printing their articles. For taste and expertise in layout and articles, I think our American BTG is by far the best, and starting with BTG 57 we will use full color. I have already written you about switching printers from Dai nippon to the American printer Donnely, and I await your advise on that.

I am treasuring remembrance of my great fortune in personally serving as your secretary and I hope my service was not too much inconvenience to you, as I am a dull headed fool, looking only for sense gratification even in devotional service. Praying to improve, I remain

Your eternal servant, Satsvarupa das Goswami

SdG:add

Enclosed: 1) map showing U.S. Central Zone

2) photos