770724 - Letter to Harikesa from Tamal Krsna

Vrndavana,

July 24, 1977

From: Tamal Krishna

Schloss Rettershof

My dear Harikesa Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at your feet. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada has received your ecstatic BBT Trustee Report dated July 13th, 1977, and has instructed me to reply you.

I could not get very far, only the first two paragraphs, before Srila Prabhupada stopped me by saying, “All the blessings of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja upon you. You are the most important grandson of Bhaktisiddhanta. Go on doing like this.” When His Divine Grace began to hear the huge quantity of books which you are in the midst of printing, covering thirteen languages, he said, “This is tremendous. Do it very nicely. And scholarly, that will attract more attention. Now the preaching in Germany will be complete. When the case comes up, present all of these books, and say to the judge: First read all these books and then present you judgement.” Srila Prabhupada wanted to know which Gita is being translated into all of the East European languages, the abridged or the detailed one? His Divine Grace completely agreed with you that the printing is super first-class in Germany. Bending the book backwards, Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes it is a fact. This is the special advantage of this binding, it is so nice. Dai Nippon, America, cannot do this.” Prabhupada was pleased to know that you were moving the German BBT back to Germany to handle thirteen different languages. He said, “Very good. And the devotees are very enthusiastic. They are first-class devotees in Germany. So sincere. The German nation is wonderful. I have seen it. Just one German, Hitler, had topsy-turvied the whole European scene. I have got very much appreciation for the German ability. In my business days the German chemical firms were all first class. All of the best drugs in the medical market came from Germany. And now they are excelling in book distribution. Just see this financial report. There is no scarcity of money.”

His Divine Grace concluded His ecstatic appreciation of your efforts by saying, “He is surpassing all BBT's. I want to go to Germany immediately but I am physically unfit. I like that place–the Schloss. It is a very nice place. Thank you very much.”

Hoping this meets you in the best of Krishna consciousness.

Your servant,

Tamal Krishna Gosvami

Secretary to Srial Prabhupada

(handwritten note) Confidential:

P.S. Despite Ghyanashyam's ecstatic reports, Gurudas Swami wrote me a personal letter saying he feels “very restless.” What actually does Gurudas do while Ghanashyam distributes all day? Does Gurudas also distribute?

His Holiness Harikesa Swami

c/o ISKCON Schloss