770608 - Letter to Yasomatisuta from Tamal Krsna

Vrndavana,

June 8, 1977

From: Tamal Krishna

Hong Kong

My dear Yasomatisuta Prabhu,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. I beg to thank you for your letter dated May 4th, 1977.

Recently Srila Prabhupada was on a morning ride and the car turned into a forest in Vrndavana. As we were driving through the Vrndavana woods, I mentioned to Srila Prabhupada how you had gotten a job and have found a nice temple and were going on with your translation work. Srila Prabhupada commented while looking in the woods, “It is said that a fragrant tree makes the whole forest sweet. Similarly a good son can liberate an entire dynasty. And Yasomatisuta is so nice that he may bless all his fellow countrymen.” Srila Prabhupada is very much engladdened that both you and your wife are taking so nicely to Krishna consciousness. His Divine Grace is very fond to remember how nicely you are translating the Bhagavad-gita. You should always know that there is no greater service to the world than to be Krishna consciousness and to help others to become so. As such the job which you are having and the way in which you are maintaining the temple is certainly very glorious. It does not matter that many people are not coming. Your sincere effort is what counts and Lord Caitanya will certainly make your endeavor successful if you persevere with enthusiasm and determination. It is very good that once again we have a flat in Hong Kong. So many of our devotees will pass through and now there is a nice place for them to stay. You should send the address to Back to Godhead magazine so that when devotees come they can visit with you.

Have the second and third parts of the Chinese Gita been printed yet? If so it is my opinion and Buddhimanta’s also that many of them could be sold in Calcutta. Just now Buddhimanta is in Japan with Guru Krpa Maharaja, but Guru Krpa Maharaja said that he may be coming to Africa for some preaching. If Buddhimanta is free and if the second two parts of the Gita are ready then he can come to Hong Kong for distribution. Please reply me on whether or not the books are ready so that I can inform him what to do. Kindly retain the 100 copies of the first part for me. Also I would like to reserve 100 copies of the second and third part as well. I mentioned to Sevananda the possibility of not printing in the 100 copies of each new edition where the book was printed. This will help us later for distribution in mainland China.

Regarding Lomasa Rsi, he is mostly interested in the PRC. However there is no doubt that in time to come we will be able to also have a center in Taiwan. Lomasa Rsi is just now in the US and is working under my direction. He is trying to get an invitation to the PRC for studying acupuncture. So far he has not got any invitation. Srila Prabhupada’s health has deteriorated since Mayapur. In fact his health became so bad that Srila Prabhupada came to Vrndavana and said Now I will prepare for my departure. We are giving him constant massage and other treatment, and we are still hopeful that he may improve. Devotees chant all the time in front of him and read the Bhagavatam. Please pray to Krishna for Srila Prabhupada’s recovery. I hope this meets both you and your wife in the best of health and Krishna consciousness. [end of page, rest missing]

...hen you would be in a better position to determine which you would want. Eventually I think both would be very fine: A farm producing ample foodstuffs for prasadam distribution, as well as a temple in the biggest city to make people faithful to the Deity.

Srila Prabhupada is very glad to be here in Vrndavana for as he says in Vrndavana whether one lives or dies it is wonderful. Please try to write any good news as it will certainly enthuse Srila Prabhupada.

One other point is that Srila Prabhupada has appointed Bali Mardan as the GBC for South India, since you are now concentrating your activities in Ceylon. Hoping this meets you well.

Your servant,

Tamal Krishna Gosvami

Secretary to Srila Prabhupada