760307 - Letter to Harikesa written from Mayapur

Letters by Date, 1976

Sri Mayapur Candradoya Mandir
P.O. Sridham Mayapur,
District Nadia,
W. Bengal, India

7 March, 1976

His Holiness
Harikesa Swami,
6241 Schloss Rettershof,
bei Konigstein/Taunus,
West Germany

My dear Harikesa Maharaj,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 1, 1976 and I have noted the contents with care.

I have marked how they are attracted to our kirtana and prasadam there in Hungary. If they consider our philosophy too revolutionary, there is no necessity to print books immediately. First, the heart must be cleansed by chanting Hare Krishna and taking Krishna prasadam. To take birth in such place is due to impious past so it is not easy for them to immediately accept our philosophy. Just give them chanting and prasadam. You must be very tactful to preach in such places. If you like you can print one record there as you have suggested.

If the young people become very serious, if you find it is detrimental to have them wear dhoti and shave head, that is not necessary. Simply introduce the chanting and prasadam distribution and gradually they will be elevated to being Vaisnava. A Vaisnava is aloof from all material conditions of life, so even under such circumstances a Vaisnava will not feel inconvenienced. Kirtiraja should be returning to preach in Eastern Europe so you can work together to introduce Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement in this part of the world.

I hope that this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/pks