741207 - Letter to Hansadutta from Paramahamsa

Bombay,

December 7, 1974

From: Paramahamsa

Los Angeles

Dear Hansadutta Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada has requested me to write you concerning the enclosed article which was printed in at least two well-read Bombay newspapers. This article stirred up some negative conversations amongst the neighbors here in Juhu and one of them brought the article to Srila Prabhupada to find out the real story. Of course, he was not upset but he wanted to know why it had happened, what were the circumstances. He said that it sounds like their is some counter-propaganda in Germany. He also said that if their are any dishonest methods being used on the streets, they should be stopped. We are not so expert that we can do it without getting caught. “Our movement should be pushed on honestly”, he said, “sadhu is never dishonest”. The problem is that if these types of articles are printed, then it will hamper our credit everywhere. We should not have a reputation as a movement of dishonest persons. Anyway he also said, “It is not possible to close the mouth of all of our enemies” and in another few minutes he said that at least people will know that we are in Frankfurt and are living in a castle. That is good advertisement. So, please send Srila Prabhupada the details of what happened. (We lost 20,000 dollars?)

I hope this letter finds you in good health and blissful serving mood.

your servant,

Paramahamsa Swami

(secretary)

[Text of newspaper article:]

[headline:] Hare Krishna devotees held for kidnapping

FRANKFURT, (West Germany), Dec. 16: The police yesterday arrested two leaders of the Hare Krishna religious sect at Rettershof Castle near here on charges of kidnapping and fraud.

The two, Stefan Kasz and 24-year-old Peter Kaufman, were picked up in one of the two raids yesterday on sect centers in the nearby Taunus Mountains and in Berlin.

Another 70 Hare Krishna believers were detained briefly and then released, although 11 foreigners among them were expected to be expelled from the country. A police spokesman said, the two leaders had allegedly held a 14-year-old-boy in the community against his will for several months. The raids also netted about 20,000 dollars, reportedly collected on German streets by Hare Krishna “monks”. Two hunting rifles and two pistols were also discovered.