770630 - Letter to Ghanasyama and Gurudasa from Tamal Krsna

Vrndavana,

June 30, 1977

From: Tamal Krishna

My dear Ghanasyama and Gurudas Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. I have been instructed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to thank you for your letters dated the 23rd June, 1977. The report on Yugoslavia had given Srila Prabhupada the greatest enthusiasm, encouragement and ecstasy. Srila Prabhupada has had me read the first part of your report to no less than ten important gentlemen at different times who have come to visit His Divine Grace in the last week. In every case they are all wonderstruck at your exploits in penetrating the iron curtain. This latest report I am sure will again be read to many persons who come to visit Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada commented after hearing your report as follows: “Just see how downtrodden the people are. They have to go to work at 4:30 in the morning. This is their civilization. It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that one has to work like an ass to live. If you weigh the load on the back of an ass it is ten times the weight of the animal’s body. Such a heavy burden. And the man who is loading him will have to take the body of an ass in his next life. This is known as karma-bandhana. While hearing how the people were all taking Standing Orders, Prabhupada commented: “These are wonderful things. People are staring at him as if something is wrong but buying both Standing Orders in the end. In spite of all obstacles Srimad-Bhagavatam is going strong. How much he is subjected to. He has a strange body, they do not speak his language, it is a tough subject - still the Bhagavatam is going through!

Again, “Our books are not for philosophical speculation but for practical solution of problems. Philosophy classes are now being closed. The philosophy professors are starving. No students are interested in philosophy. Rather they take courses in technology.” Prabhupada quite agreed with the professor who said that all intellectuals should read His books: “That is a fact. Every person who is supposed to be an intellectual or scholar who does not read my books, his learning is imperfect–asanpurna.” Srila Prabhupada was very glad to know that one bookstore will arrange for publishing some of our books. Prabhupada said, “You can make arrangement immediately. We shall allow them to translate and publish our books. Do it at once!”

When Srila Prabhupada heard that Gurudasa Maharaja had joined you, he said, “Try to engage Gurudasa as your cooperator. If you work cooperatively you will get more strength.” Your work is glorious and it is giving life to our spiritual master. I fall at your feet praying that you send more and more and more such engladenning reports. You will be glad to know that Srila Prabhupada is translating regularly now, sometimes even twice a day. This does not mean that His health is improving very much, rather as He puts it, “This swelling only affects my skin, not my soul.”

Hoping this meets you well.

Your servant,

Tamal Krishna Gosvami

Secretary to Srila Prabhupada

[handwritten:] copy