770730 - Letter to Mahabuddhi and Dhira Krishna from Tamal Krsna
Vrndavana,
July 30, 1977
From: Tamal Krishna
Geneva
My dear Mahabuddhi and Dheera Krishna Prabhus,
Please accept my most humble obeisances. I have been instructed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to thank you for your report dated 11th July, 1977 about your preaching in the Communist countries of Hungary, Rumania, and Czechoslavakia.
Perhaps by now you have seen some of the letters written to Ghana Syama Prabhu, in which Srila Prabhupada has expressed His great pleasure at the preaching going on in the Eastern European Communist Countries. Now that your report has come Srila Prabhupada considers it the high point in all preaching. His Divine Grace said, “Your preaching is more successful that all other countries. Krishna is giving us all encouragement. I am very much greatful to both of you. My Guru Maharaja was so anxious for some books to be printed and distributed. Now because of your assisting me, my Guru Maharaja is so much pleased. Therefore I am very much indebted to you both.” His Divine Grace is very eager to read the reviews of these Communist professors of His books when they are published. Kindly make sure you send copies to His Divine Grace of these reviews. In a number of places in your report you have mentioned how you are stressing that Srila Prabhupada’s books are the scientific presentation of Indology and Indian Historical Culture. Prabhupada suggested, “If need be we can send our scientists of the Bhaktivedanta Institute to convince them of this.” Therefore if you think fit in the future you can arrange for a tour of Dr. Svarupa Damodar Prabhu and the other scientists at some of these major universities. He is meeting with tremendous reception in India at many universities, where all professors and heads of department are eager to have him speak.
When you described how the biggest store in Hungary jumped to take Prabhupada’s books, Srila Prabhupada smiled practically from one lotus ear to the other and exclaimed with great pleasure, “How wonderful!”
The Physicist who was so much interested to get all of Srila Prabhupada’s books should be cultivated very carefully. Prabhupada suggests, “His name should be noted and sent to the Bhaktivedanta Institute. He can participate in the Institute by corresponding with them.”
Srila Prabhupada noted that in Czechoslavakia at some libraries and universities you had to exchange our Standing Order for their books. When Ghanasyama Prabhu mentioned this in one of his letters, Srila Prabhupada advised against it, stating that no one would be very much interested to purchase their books. So what will we do with them? If it is absolutely impossible to have them pay in foreign currency, then Prabhupada recommended accepting local currency and using it for your expenses [for] traveling or better still, if it is possible, to print there in the country itself.
[missing first part of last line of page 1] … seems to be the most successful of…
[missing top line of page 2] …veloped it will produce many many devotees as well as huge numbers of books distributed. Srila Prabhupada’s health is not so good at this time, because His Divine Grace is not feeling very enthusiastic simply sitting here in Vrndavana. Now he is thinking to risk everything and travel to all His centers throughout the world to enthuse the devotees, and in so doing enthuse Himself. Just last night Srila Prabhupada said, “I still have another ambition. The populous of the world is suffering from agnosticism. You rascals are suffering but they don’t know why. I want to drive away agnosticism from this world.” So His Divine Grace is thinking of the verse in the Bhagavad-gita, 2nd chapter, 37th verse, in which Krishna advises Arjuna, either you fight and die and attain the heavenly planets or you conquer and enjoy this earthly kingdom. So let us see what His Divine Grace decides to do.* In any event your reports are giving him the greatest encouragement, so kindly send more such successful preaching descriptions.
Hoping this meets you well.
Your servant,
- Tamal Krishna Gosvami
- Secretary to Srila Prabhupada
- His Grace Mahabuddhi Das Brahmacari
- His GRace Dheera Krishna das Brahmacari
- c/o ISKCON Geneva
/tkg [handwritten]
- Srila Prabhupada had us consult 3 different astrologers. regarding His traveling. All 3 strictly advised against travel, at this time, so Prabhupada has decided to stay in Vrndavana for now.