771008 - Letter to Visvakarma from Satsvarupa

Vrndavana,

October 8, 1977

From: Satsvarupa

Toronto

Dear Visvakarma,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have been instructed by Srila Prabhupada to reply to your letter of October 4.

Your sentiments were well expressed. As you wrote, Srila Prabhupada has taught us EVERYTHING, and before him we knew NOTHING. So our lamentation if he departs from this world is very real. You have well expressed all our feelings—that we will be lost without him. But because he is our true savior, as you mentioned, therefore he has saved us by such instructions that we can go on even in his absence. That you know as well as I. There is mention in the Krishna book that the great souls cross over the ocean of nescience but leave behind a boat for others to use in crossing. That boat is the Hare Krishna mantra and the mission of ISKCON. Actually it is not a mere boat but a super ark, capable of holding all the living entities in the universe. Either in his physical presence, or eventually without it, let us push on this movement of becoming devotees and making devotees.

Yesterday a letter came from Subhavilas. We are awaiting pictures of the Toronto Rathayatra. Everything there sounds like it is booming and very auspicious. Krishna must be cooperating with you because you are so sincere and hard working. if Srila Prabhupada recovers a little we can read him the recent news from Toronto. Your servant,

Satsvarupa das Gosvami

visiting secretary to Srila Prabhupada

Visvakarma das A.

ISKCON

243 Avenue Road

Toronto, Ontario,

Canada M5R 2J6