BHAKTIVEDANTA
BOOK TRUST

SRILA
PRABHUPADA'S DESIRE TO PRINT BOOKS 153

INSTRUCTIONS
REGARDING BOOK PRINTING 161

BBT
PRESS 178

EDITING,
PROOFING AND TRANSLATING 196

PRINTING,
COVERS, LAYOUT AND CONTENTS 213

PRINTING
OF PAMPHLETS AND BOOKLETS 220

LOANS,
MANAGEMENT, MONEY AND ACCOUNTS 221

THE
50% PRINCIPLE 231

BBT
AND ISKCON TEMPLES 236

MAILORDER 238

RECORDS
AND TAPES 241

• 
  SRILA
  PRABHUPADA'S DESIRE TO PRINT BOOKS

67-03
"Regarding publication of my books, you know that since I
have come here the work is stopped and that is a great loss for me.
My primary duty is to publish the Srimad-Bhdgavatam and finish
it in my life. But preaching in the Western countries is also my
duty as it was ordered by my spiritual master. 1 thought that I shall
be able to publish my books from America but it is very much expensive;
therefore I have to get books published from India at any
cost." (SPL to Sri Rrishanji, 25th March 1967)

67-05
"/ understand that some girls have volunteered to type and
therefore you can now get the revised Gltd Upanisad nicely and correctly
typed before it is handed over to the press. I am advising
Rayarama to send you the 6/7th chapters for editing and I shall
take with me the balance for re-editing and typing." (SPL to Haya-griva,
May, 1967)

67-06
"Although I am practically on the path of death, still I cannot
forget about my publications. I wish that if I live or die you
should take very serious care for my publications.
Immediately I want to send Gttd Upanisad
to Japan for publication. The complete fair copy of Gltd Upanisad
has to be submitted. I hope you have completed

153

 

fair
copies of at least seven chapters. The balance are typed from the dictaphone,
and there does not appear to be any possibility of their being edited
here, so I think you have to do it. After sending fair copies of what
you have done already you will have to edit the dictaphone copies. The
original verse (Sanskrit) is to be taken from Dr. Radhakrishnan's edition,
and the word-to-word English equivalent, as well as the translation
and purport is to be found already on the dietaphone copies. The only
thing you have to do is place them properly and to make the complete
fair copy." (SPL to Hayagrfva, 10th June 1967)

67-10
"We must have our books printed. We have wasted much
time in the matter of editing and finding out a suitable publisher.

When
I was alone there were 3 volumes published but during the last 2 years
I could not publish a single volume more. It is a great defeat. If I
have one or two sincere souls like you and if we can make more publications,
then our mission will be a great success. I am prepared to sit down
underneath a tree with one sincere soul and in such activity, I shall
be free from all diseases." (SPL to Brahmananda, 11th October,
1967)

67-11
"In the last paragraph of your letter of the 7th you have mentioned
very nobly that you can work with me on the project of Srimad-Bh&ga-vatam
and it will be a great success of my mission. If we jointly finish up
complete Srimad-Bhagavatam published by MacMillan Company the
chance is there. Let us carefully handle the situation and as soon as
I return to the States we shall take up the Srimad-Bhagavatam
in the same spirit as I have published first canto. The MSS of Canto
2 and 3 are ready and if we jointly work on the other 9 cantos I shall
feel very much obliged to you. If I can leave behind me
the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Gitd Up-anisad and Teachings of Lord Caitanya
and if you continue to work in the spirit of pure Krsna consciousness
surely we shall be able to do some tangible service to humanity at large.
Hope you are well." (SPL to Rayarama, November, 1967)

67-12
"I am so glad to learn that Satyavrata and yourself are trying
to i the Teachings of Lord Caitanya
published. You do not know how pleased I am to hear this news.
When one book is published I think I
have conquered an empire. So try to publish as many books
as possible and that will enhance the beauty and
prestige of our Society. The Ramakrishna Mission has nothing
to say substantial but because they have money and have published so
many rubbish literatures they have become very cheaply popular. You
can just imagine how much powerful our

 

• • • • • it Books 155

Society
will become when we have as many substantial literatures published.
We should not only publish in English but also in other important languages
such as French and German." (SPL to Brahmfinanda, 12th December,
1967)

67-12
"As soon as you finish the Gitd Vpanisad business and the
matter is handed over to the MacMiUan Company, we begin on the
Bhagavatam work without delay. Bhagavatam must be finished before my
mortal body stops to work and your help in this connection
will be very much helpful." (SPL to RayarSma, 14th December
1967)

68-02
'The Bhdgavatam printing which is taking place in India will
be almost of the same style and quality of the 3 volumes already printed.
My special mission is to complete the Srimad-Bhagavatam in
60 volumes, so the most important thing on the part of the International
Society is to organize the sales propaganda of all the books that you
are publishing. If there is less sales propaganda then the outlet of
the books will be bottle-necked and smooth printing work will stop.
You have not only to print, but you have to sell them. So please consult
Mr. Kalman how to do it. In your previous letter it was informed that
some firm, European, is going to take the sole selling responsibility
for Europe. What happened to that proposal? We must find out some selling
agent." (SPL to Brahmd-nanda, 20th February, 1968)

68-11
"Please continue to try for the printing of Back to Godhead
French edition. We work so that men of all languages and
cultures may join us in chanting Hare
Krsna and for this we need so many
literatures in so many different languages. So please try for this.
As you are His sincere servitor Krsna will provide you with the intelligence
to do this nicely."(SPL to Harhsaduta, 24th November,
1968)

69-01
"One thing that I beg to bring to your notice about the printing
of my books. In 1954,1 left my home and for 5 years I lived as
vanaprastha here and there and then in 1959 I took sannyasa.
Of

course,
even when I was a householder I was publishing Back to Godhead
since 1947. But then my spiritual master dictated that I should take
to writing books which will be a permanent affair. So after my acceptance
of mnnydsa I began working on Srimad-Bhagavatam
and when the first canto was finished, with great difficulty I published
the first volume in 1962, after leaving my home and after taking
sannySsa and spending whatever cash money I had with me during the
five years of my staying alone. Practically in 1960 I was penniless.
Therefore I had to quickly take to publication of the first volume and
after this I got some money just enough to pull on. In this way I published
the 2nd volume in 1963 and the 3rd volume in 1965. Then I began to think
of coming to your country and somehow or other I was brought here.

Now since
I have come I am unable to publish the 4th volume of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
but with your help and assistance, since 1965 this one book only has
been published and I do not know what this Dai Nippon Company is doing.
Anyway, I am very much anxious for getting my books published. The manuscripts
which I presently have may be converted into 8 different books of the
same size, which I generally publish (400 pages). But I do not know
how I will get them published. Last year when I was in India, I thought
that Acyutananda would publish them in India but this boy could not
help me in the least, and the net result is that I have lost my typewriter,
and Rs. 2,000/- are now in the dark well of Hit-saran. Acyutananda was
sent about Rs. 1,000/- plus he has collected a similar amount from the
Dalmia trust fund. All of this has been lost for nothing.

Whatever
is done is done. I am now very much serious about printing my books.
There may be 3 sources for their printing. One source is that if the
MacMillan Company is interested to publish my books that will be a great
relief. I do not mind for the profit concerned. But I want to see them
published. Another source is if MacMillan isn't interested, we can get
them printed from Dai Nippon, but the delaying procedure of this company
in Japan is not very encouraging. Therefore the next step would be to
start our own press at New Vrndavana because Hayagriva is ready to start
a press there immediately, taking responsibility for the investment.
He has told me that he could take a loan from his friend, Dr. Henderson.
In this connection of purchasing a press I sent a list to be filled
by the press men of New York telling of the prices of printing machines
but there is no response. So I ask you what to do in this connection.
Ultimately, if nothing is done, I shall be obliged to return to India
for getting them published there.

I hope
that by now you have already deposited the $1,300 in the First National
City Bank. So far as the profits from the store, you may do with them
as you like. The temple needs maintenance and improvements and also
the book fund requires much funds. I require to have 8 books published
and on the price of $6,000 which is charged by Dai Nippon, I will require
about $50,000 immediately. Selling or not selling, I want to see these
books published. That is my ambition." (SPL to Brahmananda,
9th January, 1969)

 

69-05
"When you come to New Vrndavana, we shall talk in detail
about our future preaching program. That is our first business.
Specially you and Rayarama who are advanced disciples must now
do the preaching work. We are now increasing centers and they
must be maintained now properly. But our publication department must
be considered as the most important department for preaching work."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 15th May 1969)

69-07
"I wish that all of our Krsna consciousness literatures may
be available to men of all languages throughout the world, so
whatever assistance you can give in this connection is always appreciated.
But your main business at the present moment is to propagate sankirtana
to all the people of Germany.
This is also very great service." (SPL
to Sivananda, 22nd July, 1969)

70-04
"Regarding the printing of the books,
now you are managing
these things in Boston. I just want that the books may be
printed somehow, somewhere, that is all.
So do it as
you see fit,
there is no need of checking with me. I give you full responsibility
in the matter but only if there is some critical point it may be referred
to me." (SPL to Brahmananda, 2nd April 1970)

70-05
"Please see that the French and German editions of Back to
Godhead are published as soon as possible, that is
one of my dreams.
And then we take the books and publish them in French
and German languages. My Guru Maharaja liked the publication
of books very nice. He liked publication of books more than construction
of temples." (SPL to Tamda, 15th May 1970)

71-12
"Please accept my blessings. I think you have written me two letters.
Your former letter was also received by me. So far I remember I have
replied it. In any case, very soon I shall be going to Calcutta, and
there I shall call you and you may remain with me for some time for
translating under my direction. Then 7
shall be able to see
how you are translating my books. If you
can do it very nicely, then I shall
entrust the whole matter to you. This will be a great pleasure for
me.

Kindly offer
my blessings to all your family men.

I hope this
will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami

 

N.B.
if you have desire to begin immediately translating one book, then you
may request Jayapataka or RevaBnandana or any of my disciples at Calcutta
branch to hand over to you whatever book you shall require for beginning
translating. Take 'Easy Journey to Other Planets'
first." (SPL to Sankara, December 9th, 1971)

74-04
"Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your
letter of 4/1/74, along with the new publication in Swedish of my English
work, Krsna Consciousness the Topmost Yoga System.
Of course I cannot read Swedish, but looking through this book has given
me unlimited bliss. After all, this is my prime duty, to publish books
on Krsna consciousness. The printing of the book appears excellent,
and that you are 'profusely distributing' the book all over Sweden is
the crowning success of our movement. We will conquer Europe with
these books. I can only thank you again and again in sincere gratitude
for producing this literature, and pray to Krsna to bless you with all
spiritual advancement."
(SPL to Ajita, 7th April, 1974)

74-10
"I have not received the new books. I have learned about them
from Puranjana, but I have not received them. Maybe they are held up
due to a postal delay in Calcutta, but anyway I am so pleased that you
have published. Even I have not seen them, I am pleased and obliged
to you. Continue this work. Whenever there is any publication
in any language, it enlivens me 100, times."
(SPL to Hamsaduta dasa, 19th October, 1974)

74-12
"Please print as many books as possible, this is my real pleasure.
By printing these books of our Krsna conscious philosophy in
so many different languages we can actually inject our movement
into the masses of persons all over the world, especially there in the
Western countries and we can literally turn whole nations into
Krsna conscious nations."
(SPL to HrdayOnanda Maharaja, 21st December, 1974)

75-05
"Please accept my blessings. Caitanya-caritamrta
is complete (12 parts) and only 3 parts are published, and now the 5th
Canto is almost finished, so why these books are not being published?
This is our first business. Immediately, these pending books (17 in
total) must all be published.
Why the delay? The US printer's binding is better than Dai Nippon. So,
some may be printed in US and some in Japan, but the pending books must
be finished in a very short time. When I see so many

 

books
pending, it does not encourage me to translate. When I see books printed,
I become encouraged to write more and more. We can talk this over more
in Hawaii. Now, you and Harhsaduta expedite the publishing work. That
is your business. And push on the selling. You request Tripurari Maharaja
in this connection along with the others. Now, Bhavananda Swami and
Gargamuni Swami are there. They are also expert in pushing this on.
By combined effort, publish as quickly as possible and immediately
Caitanya-caritdmrta should be done." (SPL to Rdmesvara,
15th May, 1975)

75-07
"Yes, go ahead with your translation work. This is very important
and work together with Yasomatinandana. We want very
much to publish Hindi publications and distribute throughout
India. This will be our next program, so please do it."
(SPL to Ni-ranjana ddsa, 26th July, 1975)

75-07
"I therefore suggested in my last letter that now you are in ripe
old age, so you can accept vdnaprastha
life which is your duty as you are born in a.brdhmana
family. According to our Vedic principle a brdhmana
is supposed to accept the four dsramas,
namely brahmacdri, grhastha, vdnaprastha,
and sannydsa. Others do not accept sannydsa,
but a person who is a brdhmana
must accept sannydsa at the end of his life.

So
I would suggest that you now retire from family life and accept at least
vdnaprastha order of life keeping your wife with you as assistant
and fully engaged in translating the Vedic literature as far as possible.
It appears that in the Western countries there is a great demand for
real knowledge of Vedic literature. So you are a learned scholar both
in English and Hindi, and you can do this completely devoted to the
service of Lord Ramacandra. I have opened many temples all over the
world, numbering 100. Enclosed herewith are some of the photos of some
of the Deities in some of the temples.

Very
recently we have established our temple in Vrndavana at a cost of 50
lakhs of rupees or more. The Governor of U.P., Dr. Channa Reddy was
present for two days for the opening ceremony. All the Goswamis and
sannydsfc like Akhanananda Swami all attended the ceremony. We have
got a guest house there containing about 80 rooms, and the recent report
is that not less than 500 men are coming daily to visit the temple.
Prasdda is being distributed to the poor, and others are purchasing
prasdda (pakki) to the extent of Rs. 100/- per day. We are selling
our books also.

Now
I wish to establish some temple of Ramacandra, Sita-Rama. Of course
it depends on the mercy of Lord Ramacandra. Therefore I am

 

still
requesting you to join our movement completely retired from
family life and engage yourself in translation work for the rest of
your life." (SPL to Ltinanatha, 26th July, 1975)

75-08
"The literature you have published is very nice. The Explosion
is very good. I started out with this kind of paper, only I was
the only writer, the only editor, the only publisher, and the only
distributor. So go on with your publishing. At least each month one
Hindi and Telegu magazine should be published from Hyderabad.
Arrange like that." (SPL to Mahamsa Swami, 3rd August, 1975)

75-09
"/ am in due receipt of
your letter dated September 19th, 1975 and the two copies
of the three other parts of Caitanya-caritdmrta.
Yes, I am very pleased with how you have done it. I have ordered
you in two months to do it, and you have done it.
I know you have worked very hard. The art paintings are very, very good.
Everyone likes them, and I know they have worked especially hard. You
should know that I am very pleased that you have fulfilled my request
without any hesitation. This is your success in spiritual life. The
photographs are all also wonderful. He has done nicely, the boy Bhargava.

The
translations...I am not using. There is some fault. I am doing the translations,
and Nitai will see that the synonyms are done. I have finished now the
Sixth Canto and have already started the Seventh Canto." (SPL
to Radhdballabha dasa, 26th September, 1975)

75-11
"Yes, I am doing Srimad-Bhagavatam, trying to finish, I am
trying my best." (SPL to Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, 20th November,
1975)

75-11
"/ was very happy to receive the new edition ofBhagavad-gitd.
The make up is very nice. Every time I see a new publication
of my books it gives me so much enthusiasm that my life is increased
by 100 years. Thank you for helping me so much." (SPL to
Ramesvara dasa, 27th November, 1975)

76-01
"It is very good that you have concentrated all the production
of Spanish and Portuguese literature to Los Angeles. Please thank all
the devotees of the Spanish BBT for the beautiful edition of Bhagavad-glta
As It Is. This book publishing was the most important work of my
Guru Maharaja and he ordered me to continue in the Western
world. So I am very much indebted to all of you
who are helping me

 

to
cany out the order of Snla Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvab Goswami. Please
see that all of our books are translated as nicely as this edition of
Bha-gavad-glta As It Is." (SPL to Hrdayananda Maharaja, 4th January,
1976)

76-01
"Please dedicate your life to publishing all our books. It is
our most important work."
(SPL to Badhaballahha dasa, 5th January, 1976)

76-05
"These books are the life of human society. Others may be disturbed,
but they cannot disturb this Srimad-Bhdgavatam.
Let any man come, but here they cannot touch. We are putting these books
for deliberation before the topmost thinkers of human society. Therefore,
I have to see that in all languages all of our books are published.
If we strain, and if he takes one book home, some day people will come
to understand what valuable knowledge they have received. It is transcendental
literature. Nobody can challenge it. It is done so nicely, without any
spot, the spotless Purana. Please continue like this to
print books in all the languages for the benefit of the suffering, misdirected
humanity." (SPLto Puranjana, 4th May, 1976)

76-11
"Now you have got good contact in Poland. You must immediately
supply the books for the University library. It is a very good order.
Yes, encourage them to visit other libraries. It is my earnest
desire to have my books translated and published in Russian and Polish.
Yes, the translations must be checked.
Work with Jayatlrtha in that connection. I think Easy Journey to
Other Planets will be very much appreciated because it is the scientific
basis of our Krsna consciousness movement." (SPL to Kirtiraja
dasa, 11th November, 1976)

INSTRUCTIONS
REGARDING ROOK PRINTING

67-02
"Yes please send me immediately one copy of Bhaktisutra
(with original Sanskrit text). I shall immediately begin the commentary."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 10th February, 1967)

67-02
"I have not as yet received the copy of Ndrada Bhaktisutra
which you want me to write commentaries. I hope you are duly
editing the tapes of Teachings of Lord Caitanya. While typing the
records after your editing make it in duplicate and send me one copy

to see
how you are doing it."
(SPL to Satsvarupa, 15th February 1967)

 

67-03
"I have seen the typed copies of Narada Bhaktisutra
as well as Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
Both of them are nicely made. I
think let us finish first
Teachings of Lord Caitanya and then we take again
Narada Bhaktisutra. The subject matter discussed in Narada Bhaktisutra
is already there in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
I have sent you matter for the second part of the Teachings
and please go on sending me one copy of your typewritten matter. I shall
be glad to hear from you." (SPL to Satsvarupa, 16th March, 1967)

67-11
" Thakura Bhaktivinoda's book, Sri Caitanya Mahdprabhu,
may be printed in thousands and distributed."
(SPL to Rayarama, 2nd November, 1967)

68-01
"Your eagerness to render service to the Lord is very much
appreciated by me. "Please get the copy of Sri Brahma-samhita and
begin the transliteration. 1 think you know the diacritical marks
for transliteration; please use them. Please send me full photostat
copy of the original Brahma-samhita. After you finish transliteration
of Brahma-samhita then we shall see for Srimad-Bhagavatam."
(SPL to Pradyumna, January, 1968)

68-02
"You will be glad to know also that my Gita under the title
of Gita Upanisad or Bhagavad-gita As It Is is going to be published
by Messrs. MacMillan
Company of New York."
(SPL to Hare Krsnaji, 1st February, 1968)

68-02
"Please send me the full photostat copy of the original Brahma-samhita.
I shall begin writing my own commentation after my
Guru Maharaja. Gaurasundara will be helping me prepare this
Brahma-samhita. After you finish transliteration of Brahma-samhita then
we shall see for Srimad-Bhdgavatam. Hope you are
well." (SPL to Pradyumna, February, 1968)

68-05
"And if this piece of land is turned into New Vrndavana then I
shall forget to return to Indian Vrndavana. I am getting older and older,
so actually if I get a peaceful place as described by you, the
rest of my life, will be continued in translating Srimad-Bhdgavatam
and other Goswami literature,
assisted by some of my disciples like you. So any time you take me to
your new hermitage, I shall be very glad to go there. So far your cooking
is concerned, you are my first student to learn

 

Indian
style of cooking and from you the disdplic succession has spread and
many of our students are cooking. But still your cooking surpasses everyone's
cooking. I shall be glad to participate in your nice and tasteful
■prasada." (SPL to Klrtandnanda, 23rd May, 1968)

68-05
"Yes, to make a Krsna consciousness coloring book for
children is a very good idea for serving and for
spreading Krsna consciousness
to the young children. Please do it. I will give you hints
how to do it; just let me know when you are ready to begin.
It will he a great service."
(SPL to Mdlatl, May 28th, 1968)

68-09
"I am contemplating also to publish one book, Krsna In Pictures.
One boy, his name is Mark, he is very good artist. I have
given him some ideas of drawing some pictures about Krsna
from Srimad-Bhagavatam. And if I see he is successful, which I
hope he will be, then
we shall print many books of pictures. The picture
hooks will be most appealing. We shall
give stress on this point."
(STL to Brahmdnanda, September 9th, 1968)

68-10
"Regarding Karnapura's poetry, it is not available now.
There is a book of Karnapura and that is written in Bengali
type, partly Sanskrit. When opportunity prevails, we may
translate it into English; then we shall get the
poetry; for the time being there
w no possibility
of getting the poetry of Karnapura."
(SPL to Sydtna M, 21st October, 1968)

68-12
"So far as your question about the Krsna stories, you will be glad
to know that soon we will begin working on a book called, Krsna,
which will have stories and illustrations of all of Krsna's
pastimes. These stories come from the 10th canto
of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

You
have also written that you wish to obtain some pictures of Krsna in
His childhood and such pictures can be obtained by writing to Brahma-nanda
in New York about prices and which pictures he has available."
(STLto Girish, 13th December, 1968)

68-12
"If you want I can send you theistic Veddnta interpretation
which you can edit and translate into the French language
for publication in Back to Godhead.
There are 4 chapters of Veddnta-sutra
and the first one called Janmaddsya
I have explained in my Srimad-Bhagavatam
at the very beginning. You can see it and if you think it is nice

 

len
I'll try to explain the other sutras
in the same way. I am enclosing erewith the Sanskrit transliterations
and meanings requested by you." WL to Janardana, 19th December,
1968)

9-02
"Some time before in your letters you expressed a desire that we
lould jointly present Indian cultural ideas in this country. I think
you will jmember this proposal, and I replied that if we want to present
the real idian cultural traditions, then we must present the Vaisnava
philosophy i it is. Poet Tagore became very popular in the Western countries
by resenting his Glta Anjali
which is full of Vaisnava sentiments. We have
nmense literatures, especially in the Gaudiya Sampradaya of the
aisnava sect which is enriched by the contribution of the Goswamis.
hese should all be presented to the Western world.
Similarly, edanta commentary by the Vaisnava acdryas
like Ramanuja, Madhva, aladeva, Sridhara Swami, etc. can all be presented
successfully. You are learned philosopher, and your Cultural Integration
Fellowship Institute Ivocates universal religion and cultural harmony.
I think if you will turn >ur attention to the Vaisnava literature
you will find all of these ideas in >mplete fulfillment."
(SPL to Dr. Chaudhuri, 6th February, 1969)

)-03
"Regarding Vedanta-sutra tapes, please ask Hathsaduta to
nd me copies of the transcription so that I can make another
pe. If I read the copy then it gives me impetus to write further."

PL to Himdvatl,
18th March, 1969)

)-03
"...and you will have ample opportunity to educate children
id write books for them because there is sufficient matter for pub-thing
such books from the Purdnas, Mahdbhdrata, Srimad-Bhdga-dam and many
other allied literatures. There are thousands of
eal historical events, which if we can put with suitable pictures,
will be a great idea and people will like to have such literature."
PL to Satyabhama, 30th March 1969)

)-05 "Enclosed
are a few nice poems by Srila Bhaktivinoda idkura
which you may hand over to Mandali Bhadrdfor transla-m into German
and to be submitted for publication in German
ick to Godhead." (SPL to Ananda, 14th May, 1969)

1-07
"Regarding further tapes ofVeddnta-sutra, this has been sus-ndedfor
the time being, but when I begin again I shall send the
pes to you. Recently we have finished our book, The Nectar of

 

Devotion,
and now the book, Krsna, is in the process of being written. So when
the project of Veddnta-sutra is again taken up I shall
inform you." (SPL to Jayapataka, 11th July, 1969)

69-09
"Regarding Veddnta-sutra tapes, I can send them to you
when I return to Los Angeles, because the books and reference
books are there" (SPL to Hamsaduta, 28th September,
1969)

69-10
"Regarding your question about Govinda Ganamrta,
Govinda is Krsna, and Ganamrta
means the nectar of songs. That means anything sung about the activities
of Govinda is nectar. You have mentioned that Srila Rupa Goswami has
introduced this. Srila Rupa Goswami, assisted by all the other Goswamis
have left immense literature for singing about the glories of Govinda.
Whatever literature we are presenting, following the footsteps of Rupa
Goswami and the others, they are also Govinda Ganamrta.
So the more Govinda Ganamrta
or the glories of Govinda will be spread the more the nonsense of impersonalism
and monism will be defeated. It is said, kaivalya-nistdrakau.
This means the Goswamis deliver us from the danger of being lost in
the philosophy of monism. As I wrote in my prayers to my spiritual master,
'impersonal calamity Thou hast moved.' So this impersonalism is a calamity
for the spiritualist." (SPL
to Tamala Krsna, October 13th, 1969)

69-10
"The poem sent by Acyutdnanda is nice. It is enclosed herewith
and you may publish it in Rack to Godhead. Acyutdnanda
should be encouraged to do this translating work. He is translating
poems of Rhaktivinoda Thdkura, and that is very nice."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 27th October 1969)

70-05
"I am very glad to learn that you have the Prahlada pictures
in your safe custody because I want to print up many small books with
text accompanied by illustrations, and the first one may be of Prahlada
Maharaja. Some time ago you wrote me that you wanted some new
topics for writing subjects, so I think you can begin by compiling information
from my past lectures on Prahldda Maharaja, then add the pictures
and print it. Then you can do many other such books like this.
Some other books may be about Dhruva Maharaja, Ajamila, etc. and I am
sure these stories with their very significant purports will make very
successful books, and they can be very easily sold. So if you can begin
on this project and arrange everything carefully, that will be very
nice." (SPL to Satsvarupa, 1st May 1970)

 

70-10
"I beg to thank you so much for your letter dated September 21st,
1970, along with your copy of Who is God?--A Chddrens's Introduction
to Krsna Consciousness which I see you have done with great care.

I
have gone through the book, and I think it is very nice. Devananda and
others have also seen it and have also approved your efforts. But I
think this book is meant for somewhat older children, about ten to
fifteen years. We are also immediately requiring some books for
much younger children, say five to ten years age.
Another thing you just see that every and each item and example for
discussion is made very clear in continuous context, so that it will
be easy for their understanding. As you have done this first book it
is a very good begining, so go on writing and improving and make a series
of such books and we shall see to their printing.

Also
have the pictures done very nicely and in color if possible as it is
done by our Art Department in Boston. And if you have any questions
in this regard you may correspond with them directly. That will be very
nice. In the meantime, have all your works read by the other devotees
as they may find it convenient to do so and they can give you further
suggestions. So go on writing more books; we need many such books
for distributing to the public schools as well as for our own schools
and send me draft copies as you make them up. I will be very glad to
see them." (SPL to Yogesvara, 4th October, 1970)

71-03
"So far as your suggestion for a booklet of operational principles,
you may go ahead as planned. For this book so many points have been
explained in the The Nectar of Devotion.
So why don't you refer to it? Last year's handbook was not bad. There
was sufficient stock of information there but if you can improve upon
it still further, that will be very nice. Also very soon I shall
send you one complete set of instructions on
worshiping the Deity and you can print in English and distribute.
This book shall be named Method of Worship."
(SPL to Satsvarupa, 13th March, 1971)

71-04
"For cheap circulation we can print small penguin book size
paper-backs of Krsna which can be sold at 75c, each book about
250 pages, so that Krsna book may come in three books for a combined
price of $2. What is your opinion about this? Then we can print cheaply
Krsna book for large circulation. I shall be glad to
know your opinion in this connection."
(SPL to Bhagavan dasa, April 21st, 1971)

71-09
"If you remain sincere and enthusiastic for spreading Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's message then surely He will give you all facility to do
so, you can be sure. And Krsna says in Bhagavad-gitd
that He will give you all intelligence in this connection. Everything
will become revealed to you. Just like now we are commentating on the
Western philosophers in the light of Krsna consciousness. I never studied
different philosophy or science but Krsna has given me the intelligence
how to defeat their nonsensical proposals. Soon these commentaries
on the Western philosophies will be transcribed and published in a book
entitled Thus They Talked."
(SPL to SriGalim, September 25th, 1971)

71-10
"Please try to distribute our books very, very widely in all languages.
That will push our movement very rapidly. We are now preparing book
on philosophical discussions. Syamasundara is daily discussing ith me
the views of the different Western philosophers and we are studying
them from the ISKCON point of view. This work is going on regularly
and Aravinda is typing them regularly. So very soon a book will come
out. When I go back to India I shall review
all the Indian systems of philosophy also, from this angle
of vision, so that this book I be very much interesting to the student
class in the schools and colleges.
Try to encourage all our centers to go to the schools and colleges and
introduce our philosophy, books and literatures." (SPL to
Karandhara, October 16th, 1971)

71-11
"I like your idea to publish many small books especially meant
for layman class. ISKCON Press has just printed 'Topmost Yoga'
and 'Easy Journey,' and you may order these from them. I have
written and spoken ample stock for suc]i articles and essays. Now it
is up to our editors in NY to select and publish them. Actually it
was my original idea that our press should print many smaller
books by the millions, but lat they are not doing. Instead they
talk of expanding more and more, aut they cannot produce any big books.
So you may approach Bhagavan dasa and Rupanuga with your suggestions
for books, and among yourselves you just chalk out some practical plan."
(SPL to Bahuhsva, November 30th, 1971)

71-12
"Your idea to publish a booklet of arguments against imper-sonalists
is very good proposal. Do it nicely by mutual consultation
nth your learned elder Godbrothers and God-sisters, and if you
like I can provide answers for any such questions that impersonal-ists
frequently ask." (SPL to Patita Uddharana, December
8th, 1971)

 

168 snia rnmuupaua uww.

71-12
"Your proposal to make a aeries of smaller books
is approved by me. It is very nice. That
will help in teaching the young children
also. If the press is running twenty-four hours, then everything
is all right. Something must always be produced. I am very encouraged
by the small pamphlets sent to me by Karandhara which he is printing
in Los Angeles. I wanted that our press from the very beginning should
print such leaflets, but that they have not done--simply trying for
equalling Dai Nippon, consuming money like Dai Nippon, and producing
nothing." (SPLto Bali Mardan, 28th December, 1971)

71-12
"I beg to acknowledge your letter of 17 December, 1971, along with
copies of your advertising work, slides, and Dutch Back to Godhead.
I am very pleased to see that the foreign literature is being produced
nicely under your enthusiastic supervision. Just try to increase more
and more our output of such books and magazines in many languages--otherwise
how will preaching go on in these places? Though we have been settled
in European countries for many years now, only now you are printing
the first book in French language, and there is only one book done in
German language. So the record has not been good, therefore our preaching
work in these countries has not been going very well, and I think now
things are not going too well in France and Germany centers. So if somehow
or other you can produce profuse books for these places, spend your
all time translating, organizing, printing and distributing such books
in foreign languages, then I think you will be able to improve the situation
there. If there are amply books, everything else will succeed. Practically
our Society is built on books. One book is not very impressive. Still,
a blind uncle is better than no uncle at all, so it is very nice that
one book has appeared, and that Back to Godhiead
is appearing at least several issues in other languages. But now try
to produce at least four or five new books per year in several languages,
plus regularly Back to Godhead
every month. That will be your success. You are very sincere and hard-working
boy. Now just take good direction from your senior Godbrothers and apply
yourself fully to this very great responsibility of producing numerous
books in foreign languages.

I don't
think there is need to divert your attention by producing advertising.
I have seen your advertisements as shown to me by Syamasundara, and
I think you have made the thing less important. This kind of ad is not
good, it is not grave. Our process is to show Krsna consciousness as
it is, not as others want to see it. By showing Krsna consciousness
in this way, you are making the thing less important. It is not that
we should change to accommodate the public, but that we should change
the public to ac-

 

commodate
us. Better you devote your full time to one thing only, not many things.
That way your enthusiasm and talents will have big effect by being concentrated.
Therefore, kindly concentrate for producing
boohs and magazines in European languages, as many as possible,
and make this your life work.
These books are the best advertising, they are better than advertising.
If we simply present Krsna consciousness in a serious and attractive
way, without need to resort to fashionable slogans or tricks, that is
sufficient. Our unique asset is our purity. No one any where can match
it. That will be noticed eventually and appreciated, as long as we do
not diminish or neglect the highest standard of purity in performing
our routine work, not that we require to display or announce ourselves
in very clever ways to get attention. No, our pure standard is enough.
Let us stand on that basis." (SPL to Yogesvara, 28th December,
1971)

71-12
"Krsna book should be published with the American University
students in mind. Brahmananda can not send money out of Africa,
so there is no need of printing a special African edition. Instead a
few copies may be sent to him and he can arrange to have them copied
and printed there with the book fund money that is in Africa. Then he
can adjust the size of the book according to the African book market.
So I also agree that Krsna book of sixteen colour prints plus
6 by 9 will be very nice." (SPL to Rupanuga, 30th December,
1971)

72-01
"Please take quotation for the printing of a Bengali book-page
5" x 3 1/2", with very nice paper and soft-bound, about 100
pages long. When I receive the quotation I will send you a Bengali
poem that I have written on the Bhagavad-gtta called Geetdr-gan."

(SPL to
Jayapatakd Maharaja, January 5th, 1972)

72-02
"I am always very much encouraged to hear from my disciples and
to reply them, but now I am old man and I have inclination for philosophy
and translating, and if all day and night I am reading and answering
and signing letters then I cannot utilize this, the fag-end of my life,
to give you so many nice literatures like the Vedas, Vpanisads,
Purdnas, Rdmdyana,
Mahdbhdrata, and other books in our own Qaudiya
line, like Rupa Goswami, Sandtana Goswami, Visvandtha
Cakravarti and others. So if the GBC which I have appointed
for this task
will kindly now assist me in this way, by handling very expertly and
with all good consideration all matters of managing, I
shall devote my full time to giving you further nice books."
(SPL to Kirtika ddsl, February 16th, 1972)

 

72-02
"Regarding the teacher Miss Wilson, you may engage her in translating,
if she can read Bengali type. She can tryjiva Goswami's
Sandarbhas--that will be a great contribution." (SPL to
Rudra dasa and Radhika devl dasl, February 20th, 1972)

72-02
"Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your
letter of January 28, 1972, along with the very nice book you have
compiled 'Prayers to Krsna.' Actually, this book was so much enjoyed
by me, and I think that you have done it perfectly and there
is no need to make any changes.
So today I have sent the book to Karandhara in Los Angeles and I have
instructed his New Dvaraka Press to make the layout immediately and
have the pictures painted very nicely just as you have drawn them, and
to send the finished manuscript to Dai Nippon for printing 10,000 copies
at once." (SPL to Prajapati, 25th
February, 1972)

72-02
"I am an old man now, and my interests are turning to philosophy
and translation. If you help me by relieving me from this
administrative work, that will free me to give you so many more
fine books from our Vedic literature and from our devotional line.
So kindly assist me in this way." (SPL to Mohanananda, February
27th, 1972)

72-05
"Please accept my blessings. In your last letter you informed me
that Dr. Rao (Ramananda dasa) had come to see you in Varanasi, but he
could not find you at that time. Will you immediately open correspondence
with him? His address is as follows: Dr. Ravindra Pratap Rao, Reader
in Chemistry, Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, U. P., India. Just now
I have received a report from Kslrodakasayl dasa of Vrndavana that Ramananda
is not nowadays translating our literature into Hindi. You may know
it from me that the idea of starting the Hindi paper generated when
Ramananda took charge of taking the editorship of the paper. Now he
is indirectly declining. I do not know what is the reason. Both Kslrodakasayl
and Ramananda took charge of publishing the Hindi Back to Godhead
'Bhagavata Darsana' but Ramananda has stopped translating, and Kslrodakasayl
says that he is not a perfect translator. Another boy, Radharaman Goswami,
he has left, so far I understand, so this is the position of the Hindi
Back to Godhead. I shall be glad to know if you can translate
our literature into Hindi with the help of some friends in Varanasi.
Varanasi is the learning site for the Hindi language. Can you take
charge of this translation work somehow or other?
Then it will be a

 

great
service to the Lord. I shall be glad to hear from you immediately. Treat
this letter as very urgent, and reply me by return post to our Los Angeles
address." (SPL to Niranjana, 10th May, 1972)

72-05
"Regarding Hindi literatures, 1 am very much encouraged
that yourself along with Rdmdnanda and Rsirodakasayi Prabhus

are anxious
to do some solid work.
You form a committee along with Guru dasa, Giriraja and Bhavananda and
altogether you work cooperatively both to publish and to distribute
our Hindi literatures very widely throughout India. The committee must
be also organized for distributing the books and magazines, otherwise
what is the use of publishing? First make certain that our distribution
is very nice organised. So after your exams you may plunge into this
task whole-heartedly and try to enlist the help of all the others and
make the project come out very successfully. Form the committee and
whatever is needed, you do it. It doesn't matter if the Hindi translation
is perfectly the same length as the English original, translate any
issue of Back to Godhead or any book and send the manuscript
after composing to Japan for printing, that is the best plan.

For our
English Back to Godheads they have got the original photographs
and negatives in Japan, so if you translate some issue of English
Back to Godhead you can send there for printing and the cost will
be cheaper because they have already got the photos, etc. In Benares
there are many presses and they supply very cheaply. So you take quotations
from Benares and find out the lowest quotation for soft binding, first-class
paper, and printing in the size of our present Bhagavatam
booklets, Easy Journey to Other Planets,
like that. In Delhi and Mathura also there is very good facility for
Hindi printing. So in this way cooperate with the others to find out
either some printer there in India who will print our books in good
quality and also very cheaply, or translate and compose the work there
and send to Japan. Either way the work must go on and increasingly our
literatures should be profusely distributed in India. Kindly report
to me your progress in this respect after your examinations are finished.
Meanwhile I hope this will find you in very good health." (SPL
to Niranjana, 26th May, 1972)

72-06 "I
am pleased to hear that the song books and tapes of Lalita Prasada Thakura
are in New York for being edited and distributed. To answer your questions,
the Deities in London, New York, etc. are not mentioned in Teachings
Of Lord Caitanya, the Deities mentioned there were before these
Deities were installed. In Caitanya-caritamrta
there it is mentioned that all over the world there are to be found
many Deities.

 

They
may be covered by flood, devastation, and so on. Svayam Prakasa
refers to Baladeva. So far the songs of Jayadeva are concerned, there
is one, Srita Kamala. Yes,
if you want to translate the Bhakti-Rat-nakara.
When I go to New York in a few days, namely on June 2nd, I shall be
very glad to peruse the tapes and writings you have sent there."
(SPL to Acyutananda, 28th June, 1972)

72-07
"You may develop the films of manuscripts from Birnagar
and inform me what you have done and which manuscripts are
with you, then 1 shall inform you where to send them for translating,
etc." (SPL to Yadubara, 13th July, 1972)

72-07
"Regarding the songs by Jayadeva, Srita Kamala
is not approved. Sometimes our Krsnadasa Babaji sings, but it is not
approved by Prab-hupada. Those songs are for siddha-bhaktas,
not for us who are sadha-bhaktas
or learning bhaktas. Lord Caitanya never divulged in public,
He enjoyed them in the company of His selected three or four devotees.
There is one song by Jayadeva, Worshiping the Ten Incarnations,
that song is all right. The other songs that you mention are all right.

Regarding
the manuscripts, you may photograph all of the pages, then we shall
type them later. If there is shortage of film, I have instructed
Karandhara to send you a large supply of the appropriate films for
photographing the pages. Or you may purchase there and we shall
pay from the book fund. These are important works and they must
be preserved forever, so what is that expense?"
(SPL to Acyutananda, 15th July, 1972)

72-07
"One thing is, I have got many tapes of my speaking in Bengali
language, and if you and Satcitananda can co-operatively transcribe
them for printing there? I do not want to send them to you unless I
have got assurance from you that they will be done under your supervision.
But if you are going to Vrnddvana that will be a good opportunity to
sit down and transcribe my Bengali tapes because there is Bengali typewriter
in Vrndavana. You may also translate other things as you have
mentioned, that is nice."
(SPL to Acyutananda, 29th July, 1972)

72-07
"One thing is, Sriman Lalita Prasada Thakura has not fulfilled
his promise to give us that place in Birnagara for our ISKCON temple.
So I don't want you to mix with him further. I have just got one letter
from Acarya dasa, wherein he requests to live with Lalita Prasada Thakura
for

 

taking
instruction from him. I do not like this idea, I don't know where these
ideas are coming from. No one should go there any more. Let
Yadubara take his photos as he has taken
so much trouble and they
may be valuable for the future,
but besides Yadubara no one else should go there, and Acarya dasa should
not go there either." (SPL to
Acyutananda, 29th July, 1972)

72-07
"One thing is, I have got many tapes of my speaking in Bengali
language, and if you and Satcitdnanda can co-operatively
transcribe them for printing there?
I do not want to send them to you unless I have got assurance from you
that they will be done under your supervision. But if you are going
to Vrndavana that will be a good opportunity to sit down and transcribe
my Bengali tapes because there is Bengali typewriter in Vrndavana. You
may also translate other things as you have mentioned, that is nice."
(SPL to Acyutananda, 29th July, 1972)

72-07
"Yes, that is nice, you may continue to photograph all of the manuscripts
of Bhaktivinoda Thdkura and other great deary as in our Yaisnava line,
but for now do not photograph anything of Lal-itd Prasdda's manuscripts.
When I go there J shall see. First of all
let us see Bhaktivinoda Thdkura's works, then we shall see further."
(SPL to Yadubara, 29th July, 1972)

72-08
"Regarding Bhaktivinoda Thdkura's manuscripts, immediately we
do not have any program for printing them. You keep
them carefully and when I return I shall consider the matter. The
translating work can be done both by Ramananda and Niranjana
m Benares." (SPL to Yadubara, 21st August, 1972)

72-09
"And most of all I am happy to hear that you have begun some translating
work. Now you work conjointly with Ramananda in Gorakhpur for producing
all of my books in Hindi language, that will be your great contribution.
You are a learned scholar, so is Ramananda, so
the both of you together should head up this program of
translating and publishing my books in Hindi language. If you require
to have anything sent you from this country, 1 can arrange. You should
be given all facilities to carry on this work with all expediency.
Thank you very much for helping me in this way, may Krsna bless you
more and more." (SPL to Niranjana, 18th September, 1972)

 

73-04
"I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 15,
1973 with enclosure of mis Ndrada Bhaktisutra. I have no objection to
your publishing it, however there are many, many mistakes
in the Sanskrit which have to be corrected, so 1 am returning the
mis. to you under separate cover. Regarding Prayers of King
Kulasekhara, I never said I was displeased with your publishing it
in Back to Godhead." (SPL to Satsvariipa Maharaja, 19th April,
1973)

73-10
"So now you print small books as many as possible from my
lectures past and present as New York has done, and if possible
print big books, but I dont think that big books will be suitable for
your press." (SPL to Candanacarya, 13th October, 1973)

73-12
"Just now I was reading Krsna
book. It is very interesting and entertaining and written so even a
child can follow. In our childhood days
we were reading one book, 'Folk Tales of Bengal.' It was very widely
read, especially by children. So why not introduce the Krsna
book for the same purpose?
You may get some sanction from the Minister of Education. It is a very
nice book for student study--they will get our cultural idea and learn
to read English." (SPL to Tamdla Krsna
Goswami, 13th December, 1973)

74-04
"As for Canakya Sloka, I think the best thing is if I translate
it myself and send it to you for printing, rather than wait for
Pradyumna" (SPL to Dayananda, 11th April, 1974)

74-04
"Yes, by all means you may print my morning walk speaking
about 'Life comes from Life' into a small book; this argument
should be spread, as any intelligent man will be convinced that our
discussion is thoroughly scientific and exposes the so called materialistic
scientists as
rascals. So go on printing and distributing as many books
as possible; this is your real work and your personal success."
(SPL to Hamsaduta, 21st April, 1974)

74-07
"I do not know where your address is, still I am writing this
letter to you for urgent
business matter. The philosophy discourses we had years
ago is now lying without any utility, so all your Godbrothers are very
much anxious to publish it. I therefore request you to edit it immediately
if you have time because you wanted to edit the whole thing yourself. Otherwise why not give it to some of
your Godbrothers to do the task?

 

They
think this philosophy discourse will very much help our
movement, so why it should be delayed unnecessarily? I hope you
wiU do the needful without further delay and let me know the results."
(SPL to Syamasundara Prabhu, 15th July, 1974)

74-10
"Yes, the Mahdbharata is an authoritative book. It is considered
the Fifth Veda. But, quotations must be given from the original Mahdbharata"
(SPL to Ksirodakasayi dasa, 18th October, 1974)

74-12
"Here in India we are not arranging for publishing Hindi
books and other languages for profuse distribution in India. That is
my immediate program. I blindly follow my Guru Maharaja. I do
not know what is the result. So I am stressing on this point of book
distribution. He told me this personally."
(SPL to Govinda dssa, 6th December,
1974)

74-12
"Please accept my humble obeisances. Srila Prabhupada has
requested me that you should please publish one new book of Lord
Kapiladeva's teachings. The book should consist of Prabhupdda's
purports to Chapter 25 of Srimad-Bhdgavatam Number 4, as well
as all the lectures he has given on these verses
here in the last month and a half. The title of the book should be:
KapUa's (the son ofDevahuti) Sankhya
Philosophy.

The
tapes of these lectures have been sent to LA via one devotee returning
to Washington DC (4 tapes) and Bali Mardan (3 tapes). The balance of
4 tapes is with Sruta KirtI and he will hand them over to you in Hawaii,
via Rameivara. Prabhupada suggested that Hayagriva could edit the lectures
into the purports for making this book.

I hope this
meets you in good health.

Your servant,

Brahmananda
Swami

Personal Secretary

Approved:
ACBS." (SPL to Radhaballabha dasa Prabhu, December
10th, 1974)

75-06
"It is very good that you are progressing with the book proving
scientifically that Lord Sri Krsna is the origin of life. Yes, do it
slowly but surely. It is important work for our preaching
mission."

(SPL to
Svarupa Damodara dasa, 23rdJune, 1975)

 

75-07
"Regarding your proposal for printing the condensed version
ofBhagavad-gitd, yes, do it."
(SPL to Locanananda dasa, 7th July, 1975)

75-07
"Regarding seeing your book on Lord Ramacandra partly translated
into English, I am very much eager to see it. I am returning to India
by the month of October, therefore there is no hurry. When I return
I shall be glad to see your book either in Bombay, Vrndavana, or Calcutta.
1 have to translate all the Purdnas, Rdmayana, Mahdbhdrata,
and many other theistic literatures left by the Gaudiya Vaisnavas headed
by the six Goswamis like Rupa,
Sandtana, Jlva, etc.
I have already translated about 50 big books of 400 pages each,
and my books are selling all over the world in universities, libraries,
to learned professors, and the public also is receiving my books with
great respect. Of course they are not my books, since I have simply
translated; but my purports for each and every verse from the Bhagavad-gltd
and Srimad-Bhdgavatam do very much appeal to the people in general
as well as to learned circles.

They
are very much appreciating and we are selling to the extent to 30-40
hundred thousands of rupees per month. Out of this we spend 50% for
the maintenance of our different temples all over the world and 50%
we spend for reprinting my books. I do not take any royalty or any profit
out of it. Similarly if you agree not to take any profit or royalty
then our Bhak-tivedanta Book Trust will publish your book on Lord Ramacandra.
I have a great desire to translate the Valmlki Ramayana
because that is authorized. Tulasi dasa's Caritamanas
is already translated into English by some clergyman, but I do not exactly
know his name. Therefore I wish to
translate Vdlmiki Rdmayana exactly in the way I have done
Srimad-Bhdgavatam. I am sending herewith a copy of our monthly
paper Back to Godhead in which you will find the mode of translating
of Srimad-Bhdgavatam. It begins after page fourteen. It will
give you an idea in which way we want to translate. Or you are welcome
to come to our temple along with your son at 3, Albert Road, Calcutta.
There you can see in my books the mode of translation by giving the
purport of the verse in English." (SPL to Dlnandiha, 26th July,
1975)

75-09
"Regarding your difficulty in rendering Caitanya Bhdgava-ta,
yes you are right that you are overstepping your position. Better to
stop it." (SPL to Acyutananda Swami, 3rd September,
1975)

76-01
"Enclosed please find one book written by Harikesa Prabhu
called, Spiritual Dialectism. Please first of all print it in Back to

 

Godhead
magazine and if the response is good it may be made into a book along
the lines of Svarupa Ddmodara's book, The Scientific
Basis ofKrsna Consciousness." (SPL to Rdmesvara, 10th January,
1976)

76-01
"What are those Bengali dramas that Nitdi is working on?
He should work on Arcand-Paddhati, not divert his attention here
and there. He should make Hari-bhakti-vilasa into short cut, not
more than twenty pages. He can consult Nrsimha Vallabha Goswa-mi for
help in this matter. This should be his first consideration
now." (SPL to Aksayananda Maharaja, 13th January, 1976)

76-01
"Please continue to work on the Arcand-Paddhati and finish
it. We cannot be sure that Pradyumna will come in time. Also, you
can go on translating the drama of Giris'h Ghosh. Everyone here
has appreciated it. As you translate the scenes, there should be
people rehearsing it." (SPL to Nitai, 24th January, 1976)

76-04
"Yasoddnandana Swami wants to print the Brahma-sathhitd
with color paintings. The BBT trustees can discuss amongst themselves
and if they agree then I have no objection." (SPL to
Ramesvara dasa Maharaja and Ranadhlra dasa, 23rd April, 1976)

76-07
"Continue with your program in the temple. It is a good program
and it sounds that you are doing very nice! You may begin
translations of Brhad-Bhdgavatamrfam and Laghu-Ehdgavatamrfam
as requested." (SPL to Nitai, 8th July, 1976)

76-10
"There is no need to print Sri Caitanya Mahdprabhu, His
Life and Precepts, it is already there in other books" (SPL to
Rad-haballabha Prabhu, 15th October 1976)

76-12
"I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 30,1976
accompanied by your translation of Srtla Bhaktivinoda's songs.
Thank you very much. You have done nicely." (SPL to Jayas'adinan-dana
dOsa, 23rd December 1976)

77-05
"Regarding the Arabic translation, whether it is good or bad,
something should be printed." (SPL to Harikesa Maharaja, 6th May,

1977)

 

BBT
PRESS

68-02
"Regarding the purchase of a press, I do not know what is the condition
of the press but I want a full complete press where all kinds of books
can be printed. If our men can take charge of a nice press either in
New York or in India, that will be an ideal proposition, but the press
which you propose to purchase is not equipped for printing our books.

If
Mr. Kalman can equip the press for printing our books, Bhagavatam
especially, and other books also, and if our boys and girls can efficiently
take up the printing work, that will be very nice. If
we have got a press in our control with full equipment it wUl
be a great boon. If such manipulation is not possible then I
wish to start a nice press in our Indian branch and get all our books
and printing work done there. For a nice arrangement of our Indian branch
I am already in negotiation with Indian friends and I have proposed
a big industrialist to become the president of the Indian branch.

In
India labor is very cheap in comparison with your country, and especially
if we have our Indian branch in Vrndavana we can have labor there as
our inmates of our institution. There are many Vaisnavas who will be
ready to work without any remuneration, simply in exchange for their
food and lodging. If we take American machines there and some of our
American students to see the management we can get there labor practically
without any charges, but this idea can be done as said, when we get
a nice house to accommodate everything." (SPL to Brahmananda,
24th February, 1968)

68-02
"Regarding buying a small printing shop, I am not very much optimistic.
If you can organize a regular press for printing all our magazines and
books and engage all our boys and girls in the press
work that will be a nice proposal,
but if you purchase a small printing work where I understand even
Back to Godhead cannot be published, what is the use of that press?
Better we are negotiating with Hitsaranji and if we are able to open
a nice center in India we shall purchase some machine from America and
start a press there. In India the labor is cheaper extensively than
in America. My idea is that if we are able to have a branch in India
we can do the printing works nicely under your supervision. But, if
you can start a full fledged press in NY, that will be better. A full
fledged press means we must have two typographic machines at least and
engage some of the girls for composition and the boys may be engaged
in printing and machine manipulating. That will be a great success.
If Mr. Kalman purchases a big machine for printing our books, then it

 

will be very much helpful.
I cannot advise you to purchase a small printing press because that
will not help us. The same energy can be transferred to India when we
are in possession of a bigger house. There is every possibility of Sharma's
help in our publishing power, but that is not yet settled. As soon as
I hear from him favorably I shall ask you to make direct correspondence
with him. I am just waiting his favorable next reply." (SPL
to Rayarama, 24th February, 1968)

68-06
"Regarding the press, recently I have received one letter from
Rayarama which I am enclosing herewith for your perusal. You can open
correspondence with him about the press, and give him the details of
the press materials. I think they are asking $5,000 to make a bargain;
if we can purchase a press for $1,000 as informed by Rayarama why should
we spend $5,000? Anyway, you can open correspondence with Rayarama in
this connection and certainly as we need a press for printing our books
and magazines, I think Krsna is presenting us with the opportunity to
purchase one press of our own.

Here
also in Montreal the temple space is very great, and part of it we can
very easily spare for running on a nice press. And Mr. Kalman is ready
to invest money. So far manpower is concerned, I think we shall be able
to get it. There will be no scarcity of manpower. So considering all
these different angles, if we can have our own press it will serve
the greatest purpose of our mission. Please therefore send the details
of the press to Rayarama
and if possible, send me a copy of the details.
But I guess they are demanding not very reasonably. It cannot be so
much high priced." (SPL to Gargamuni, 18th June, 1968)

68-07
"Yes, we are in need of our own press very urgently, and as
Advaita has in his view to conduct such press, and he is
laboring so hard for fulfilling this desire, certainly Krsna will be
very pleased on htm and you also for such endeavor.
It is contemplated that we may start the press here in Montreal because
there is ample space. It is not settled up, but if we decide to start,
then how Advaita can help this enterprise? Anyway, unless Advaita becomes
quite conversant with the matter of conducting a press, I shall not
try to start a press of our own. And when he is satisfied, then we shall
start a well-equipped press." (SPL
to Balai, 4th July, 1968)

68-07
"While fixing this letter I have received your second letter also.
I understand that you are purchasing a printing machine. When you have
the machine somebody must join you to work, anybody you like, and
I shall
arrange for that. If it is possible to print Srimad-Bhagavatam
you can immediately begin it and I shall pay for the paper, binding,
etc. We want to print them immediately. If you actually print
our books in your ISKCON Press then a great problem will be solved.
And if not I shall work with you provided you can give me the visa to
stay. Please let me know how far you are ahead in this proposal."
(SPL to Sub-ala, 13th July, 1968)

68-08
"So far your work is concerned, now I am serious about starting
a press as soon as possible, and because there is no other alternative,
we must have a good press. So I have already advised about these things
to Uddhava and he will inform you. And I have also advised Purusottama
that he trains somewhat in taking photographs, and some of the girl
students, especially AnnapGrna, she knows how to use typographic machine,
and her future husband, Ananda, he has also some idea of press work.
And your wife, Balai dasT, she has also some knowledge in typewriting,
so I do not think there is any difficulty for conducting a press, and
we must do it as soon as possible.

Uddhava
suggested that to start a complete press, it will require about $5,000
so I think Krsna will arrange to supply the necessary money, but you
should try to start the press as soon as possible. Of course, in Montreal
there is sufficient place, and more students are coming here, being
chased by the draft board, under the circumstances, if it would have
been possible to have a nice press here, then we could engage all the
draft-age boys in the press work. But you say that New York is the best
place, so we must start the press in the best place. That is the first
consideration, and Krsna will
give us all strength, and printing of Bhagavatam and
other Vaisnava literature is my life and soul, so the press is the
biggest mrdanga, recognized
by my Guru Maharaja,
so I shall request you to qualify yourself for such work as soon
as possible and with Krsna's name let us start it as soon as possible."
(SPL to Balai and Advai-ta, 19th August, 1968)

68-08
"Regarding your inquiry into Japan for reprinting the book, the
best thing will be to arrange for our own press. Take quotation from
the Japanese firm, but I do not think, unless we print in large quantity,
it will be very cheap. Similarly, you can also inquire from Hong Kong
as you have described, I have no objection, but our next attempt
should be to start our own press.
As such, I have already instructed Uddhava about these things and so
far photography work is concerned, you have got some experience and
you can learn about it sufficiently in the meantime.

 

As
soon as Advaita and Uddhava say the press can be started now, we must
start our own press. That I have decided. And here, Annapurna, she has
agreed and her future husband, Ananda, he has also agreed to work on
the typographic machine. Last time we inquired from IBM about the typographic
machine or vari-type machine, so I do not know whether Ra-yarama has
already purchased it, but our printing process should be on the typographic
machine and vari-type machine, and get the photos of the prints. That
will be the process of our printing. So you can inquire in the meantime."
(SPL to Gargamuni, 19th August, 1968)

68-10
"I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 3rd,
1968, and / am so pleased to learn that you are now going to be
a photographic expert also for our press. It is all Krsna's arrangement.
Please learn the art very nicely.
So far financial assistance for starting our press, I am sure Krsna
will help us. Don't worry about it. Simply just become expert in conducting
the press.

Regarding
binding: The cost of binding should not be more than 40 cents. And the
best thing will be if some of our students learn binding also. The book
size of Srimad-Bhagavatam will be exactly as it is, at present,
but it may be that the pages may be increased. Because next printing
I am thinking 3 volumes in one. And the papers may be just like Bible
paper, thin, and pages will be not less than 1,000, and we shall print
in one volume; the binding should be very first-class and similarly,
part by part, we shall have to print 12 parts, altogether. So if some
of our students becomes expert in binding, that will be very nice. I
think Devananda, who is in Boston, has some knowledge in binding. Binding
is not very difficult task. Anyone can do it, but I do not know how
it will be successfully done. But the cost of binding must not be more
than 40 cents." (SPL to Uddhava, 6th October, 1968)

68-10
"Regarding binding: Some of our students also may learn the
art, and so far I know, binding cost should not go beyond 40 cents"

(SPL to
Advaita, 6th October, 1968)

68-11
"The New York boys are very much anxious to start our own press
immediately and we must have sufficient matter to print in
the press continually."
(SPL to Hayagriva, 8th November, 1968)

68-11
"Regarding press, if the Dai Nippon Company has not come
to conclusion and the matter is prolonged so much, then we cannot
wait any more. In that case the $6,000 which I have kept aside for

 

their
payment may be invested in press work, and the book printed in our own
press. Please think over this matter seriously."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 12th November, 1968)

68-11
"Regarding opening of the press, my idea is that unless we are
fully independent, in all departmental works of the press, we should
not attempt it. Your suggestion that the papers may be sent to Holland
for binding is completely Utopian. If we print we must bind ourselves
also. This is not practical proposal that we shall print in our press,
and send for binding in other countries. Therefore, it is essential
that some of our boys may learn about binding also. When we start
our own press, we must simply print our own publications and magazines
and books. We shall not accept any outside work,
and by selling books and magazines we shall have to maintain the family
of our devotees or the brahmacatis.
That should be the ideal work. We shouldn't depend for maintaining the
workers by accepting outside job works. So for the time being, the Dai
Nippon business must be finished immediately. Then after getting
Teachings of Lord Caitanya, along with Bhagavad-gita,
we will try to start our own press by the sales proceeds." (SPL
to Brahmananda, 16th November, 1968)

68-11
"Regarding press: I have already written to Brahmananda how the
press should be started. The following principles should be followed
strictly in our press: All the works of the press, including binding,
and everything should be done by our men. We shall not accept
any outside job for maintaining of this press.
We will print simply our books and magazines, etc. And the boys and
their families should be maintained by the sales proceeds of books and
magazines. Brahmananda told me that binding in New York is very expensive,
and he is thinking of sending the papers to Holland for binding. These
proposals are not at all practical. You write to say that Purusottama
is desperate to come here and stay with me for a while, so let him come,
and if need be he will go back again." (SPL to Rayarama, 19th
November, 1968)

68-11
"I understand that the 3rd canto full and 4th canto up to date
are with you. Please keep them with you and let me know when they are
ready. Most probably we shall start our own press very soon. And
as soon as the press is started we shall immediately begin printing
of Bhdgavatam and other books.
Please let me know if Devananda has any binding experience, whether
he can teach some boys here to bind nicely. Unless I am certain that
everything in all the press department will

 

be
done by ourselves, I am not inclined to start the press. I have duly
received the copies of the prospectus sent by you." (SPL to
Satsvarupa, 22nd November, 1968)

68-11
"Regarding the press you are thinking to purchase, yes it appears
to be a very good opportunity. It may he that in the future
we shall also purchase one offset press, but in any case, this is a
good opportunity for buying this sort of press, so I think you
should purchase it." (SPL to Hayagriva, 30th November,
1968)

68-12
"So far as doing outside printing work on your printing machine,
if it is worthwhile in terms of finance, then you may do this. Thanking
you once more for your nice letter. I hope that you are
very well." (SPL to Dayala Nitai, 29th December, 1968)

69-01
"Regarding the press, it is a very good engagement provided
you can work properly on it. But if you purchase such press
and there is nobody to work it, it will lie down idle, and that is not
good. So if you are serious about working on a press, I
advise you to do it immediately. Otherwise, you
should not waste your time."
(SPL to Krsna dasa, 15th January, 1969)

69-02
"I am in correspondence with Hayagriva for renting one
tvoo-story big house near New Vpidavana for starting the
press. I think we will be able to secure the house by next April when
I will also go there, and our project of starting a school, press, etc.,
will be seriously taken at that time."
(SPL to Aniruddha, 4th February, 1969)

69-03
"I wish to go to New York by the first week of April, because after
finishing in New York I shall have to go to Boston. And when I come
back from Boston by the middle of May then we go to New Vrndavana, and
if possible we make arrangements for starting the press. In the meantime,
the press men and managers and everyone should be ready. If the
press can manage to print 20 to 25,000 of Back
to Godhead and 5,000 copies
each of my books, I think that will be sufficient engagement
for the newly started press."
(SPL to Brahmdnanda, 10th March, 1969)

69-03
"Please ask Janardana what is the difficulty in editing Back
to Godhead in French language. Of course, I received his letters
that he was so much busy in so many ways, but still, this is also one
of his responsibilities. In the absence of Back to Godhead
printing, the machine is being

 

used
for some other purposes. Of course, when I was in Montreal I thinkl
I gave permission to print some outside work to get some money A
hut that does not mean that we should stop our own work and print
I something in our press which is against our principles.
Please try to I convey that news to both Janardana and Dayala Nitai
and they may please I give attention." (SPL to Jayapataka, 11th
March, 1969)

69-03
"Regarding Srimad-Bhagavatam: no it is not possible to
delete so much of the books. We will print it ourselves. We do not
find any special facility being published by MacMillan so we shall publish
on our own press. That is the best idea. And Brahmdnanda
is organizing a special department for book selling." (SPL to Haya-griva,
18th March, 1969)

69-03
"Regarding Hawaii, certainly it is a very nice place, the climate
is milder and there is much fresh air from the ocean and sunshine, and
the sceneric position is also beautiful. I would have immediately developed
a colony for press operation but unfortunately there is no facility
for conducting a press here at present. But so far I can think, your
editorial staff must be situated where we have got our own press.
I do not know whether it is Krsna's desire that we should start our
own press immediately--but the circumstances give me to understand
that we must start our press immediately.
Because the negotiations with Dai Nippon are very much prolonging I
am thinking very seriously if we can print the 20,000 or more copies
of Back to Godhead in our own press, as well as at least 4 books
(the size of my Srimad-Bhagavatam)
in a year. That should be our future program, backed by our sanklrtana
parties moving all over the world.

So
for this proposal we have got our land already in New Vrndavana; so
I do not know whether it is feasible but I wish to concentrate there
in New Vrndavana the major portion of our activities. These Hawaiian
Islands are very beautiful but at present there is no facilities for
working out our scheme--whereas we have land in New Vrndavana. I am
encouraging Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi to try to develop in this
side another place, as New Navadvipa. So just immediately there is no
possibility of operating our press in the islands but in future we shall
see. But if there is too much difficulty to work out the Navadvipa plan
then I may call back Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi to New Vrndavana,
for working as part of the Back to Godhead
staff. In California there is also a good place for working for operating
the press but we have not got our own place there either. I have heard
it from Dlnadayala that it may be possible to get a

 

house
in San Francisco Bay area expected to be donated by a devotee lady.
So I am going there and see how that is possible." (SPL to Rayara-m,
20th March, 1969)

69-07
"I am glad that you have named your printing press the
Rddhd Press. It is very gratifying and may your
Rddhd Press be enriched in publishing all our books and
literatures in the German language. It is a very nice name.
Radhardni is the best, topmost
servitor of Krsna, and, the printing machine is the biggest
medium at the present moment for serving Krsna.
Therefore, it is really a representative of Srimati Radhardni. I like
the idea very much." (SPL to Jaya Govinda, 4th July,
1969) '

69-07
"Our first important business is to hold sanklrtana
as many times as possible. The next important business is publication
work. Recently I received one letter from Sivananda that he is also
thinking nicely to improve our press work. I hope in the future you
shall be able to start a regular press in Germany for printing our books
and literatures. I have heard
that in Germany the press machines are
very good and
cheap. So if you jointly can think of starting a press
there_y that wiU
he a great success." (SPL to Krsna dasa, 28th July, 1969)

69-08
"Regarding the press, I wish this to be in Boston because you are
now getting your own house there. In your last letter you also invited
many householders to live there. Because all the press managers are
householders, and you are also householder, so combinedly if you manage
the printing and publication of our books, that will be a great success.
If we have got our own press, we can earn some money by outside
work when there is no pressure of our own work. So this is very important
subject matter and keep me informed about the advancement of the idea."
(SPL to Satsvarupa, 19th August, 1969)

69-08
"Regarding press starting, I
have already given you the
necessary instructions and again I say that you complete
it as soon as possible. I wish to see the press is started when I go
back to USA after my European tour...."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 27th August, 1969)

69-09
"Regarding the press purchasing, it must proceed on, and
Krsna will help you. Doni worry.
I understand that you require approximately $14,000 out of which Advaita
has $4,500 and you have about $5,000. The balance may be asked from
Tamala as the house we are con-

 

templating
to purchase is untouchable by us on account of too high price. So Tamala
can spare the balance money for the press at the present moment, and
when the house will be actually purchased, Krsna will provide us with
the money. Anyway, don't be discouraged. Whatever deficiencies will
be there, Krsna will supply you, and if there is actually any deficiency,
please let me know and I shall send you a check for that amount. I think
this will be all right." (SPL to Brahmdnanda, 16th September,
1969)

69-09
"I am not very much enthusiastic to publish our books by
some publication house, including MacMillan and Co.
So far as I

know,
Ramakrishna Mission has their own publication organization; Ar-avinda
Asrama has their own publication organization; Theosophical Society
has their own arrangement; Bible Society has their own arrangement;
Ravindra Natha Thakura has their own arrangement. So why ISKCON
should fail to have its own organization?

The
thing is that publishers are interested in money. They will make a condition
that you purchase 5,000 copies, investing your money, and give some
restriction that you don't go to booksellers. That means they publish
with our money, our literature, and sometimes if somebody goes to sell
to some booksellers they take strong objection. At the same time, they
want to publish from the business point of view, without taking into
consideration the aesthetic and philosophical side of the literature.
I am enclosing herewith one copy of the letter of the MacMillan Company
sent by Brah-mananda to me, and you seriously consider the whole situation
along with Tamala and let me know your definite opinion what to do."
(SPL to Gargamuni, 22nd September, 1969)

69-11
"So far as my books are concerned, I think there are materials
for at least ten books which are ready for printing. Now all the manuscripts
are with you. So now the editorial department is under you and Hayagriva
and you combinedly please get my books printed, one after another. I
think the following management will be nice: I shall pay the book printing
price, the actual cost plus 10% maintenance charges. Then after the
books are printed you will distribute them proportionately to the different
centers, and they will remit the price directly to me. Purusottama will
keep accounts for that so that the responsibility will be lighter on
your side. Besides that, if the books are distributed immediately after
printing, without payment at first, the centers will be encouraged to
stock them and sell them.

I
have consulted on this matter with Purusottama and he says that the
idea is right. Now you can give me your own opinion also. But continually

 

all the Bhdgavatams,
Krsna, The Nectar of Devotion,
etc must be published. After printing, some of them may be made soft-bound
and some may be made hardbound, according to demand. / have already
written to Brahmdnanda that we shall not accept
outside work. That will complicate our situation as a tax-free
organization. Brahmananda wrote me that Advaita wants to purchase a
wagon, but I don't think the press department will require a wagon just
now. You have already got one bus, so money should not unnecessarily
be spent up. For the present the idea may be suspended, and when I come
to Boston I shall see if it is actually needed." (SPL to Satsvarupa,
5th November, 1969)

69-11
"I am very much anxious to hear from you. In my last letter
I was informed by you that you were going to send me some specimens
of the composed version oiThe Nectar of Devotion,
but I have not received anything till now. Besides that, you have not
called for the remaining portion of the manuscript. This means the major
portion is not yet composed. In the meantime, the press is ready. The
press has already begun to print, and without having any books ready,
they are printing other materials. But the press is specifically
meant for printing my hooks.
So far as I can understand, 12 or 13 books are ready for going
to the press. Simply they require to be composed. So please let me know
what is the exact position and why the work is going slowly. Here some
respectable friend has promised to publish my book, Krsna,
in 2 parts. The manuscript is also ready.

So
after The Nectar of Devotion
I want to take up this work immediately. Formerly the plan was that
Arundhatl and Syama dasi combinedly will compose at least 20 pages daily
under the guidance of Hayagnva and Pradyumna; Pradyumna will be responsible
for the diacritic marks and Hayagnva for correct English and grammatical
composition. This was the arrangement. The press is ready; the manuscripts
are ready but I find from your department things are not up to the standard.

So
please let me know what is the position whether it is possible for you
to take this responsibility. If you take the responsibility, what is
the difficulty that things are going so slowly? I shall await your letter
and shall thank you very much in anticipation." (SPL to Pradyumna
and Arundhatl, 14th November, 1969)

69-11
"I am very sorry to learn that our press is lying idle, and
your remark in this connection that we have purchased the
cart before the horse is appropriate.
I have immediately asked Aravinda from Los Angeles to go there for
doing layout work. I have asked also Pradyumna
why the composition work is going so slowly. I have received one letter
from Satsvarupa also in this connection, so all the composition and
layout work must now be centralized in the press. For editing, already
Satsvarupa is there, and Hayagriva will send his editorial matters without
any delay. The actual difficulty is composing and layout. Satsvarupa
informs me that there is a girl, Palika dasi, who is a good typist and
Satsvarupa also agrees to purchase another machine. So if possible immediately
purchase this composing machine and begin the composing work for
Krsna. Jayadvaita is also there and Aravinda will help in layout
work.

So far
as the press lying idle, I would advise you to immediately print the
paperback edition. Originally you were going to print this and I do
not know why this program was cancelled. After this is done, you can
reprint the first volume of Srimad-BhSgavatam,
because there is a need for more copies of this volume. So I do not
know why the press is sitting idly and why the proposal for printing
Teachings Of Lord Caitanya in soft-cover edition is put aside. Also,
you mention that there is some lack of management, but I do not know
why this should be since Brahmananda, yourself and the others are there.
Please inform me of the cost for reprinting Teachings of Lord Caitanya"
(SPL to Advaita, 19th November, 1969)

69-11
"The thing is that you have asked me so many questions, but it
is not possible for me to manage all departments of our Society. Practically
you are in charge of the press department, but it is better to form
immediately one press committee consisting of you, Satsvarupa, Brahmananda,
or whomever else you like, and do it nicely. How things should be done
I have given you suggestion, but it is not possible for me to divert
my attention. Then my real work will suffer. I have written a letter
to Pradyumna but there is no reply as yet. Anyway, from the practical
point of view it appears that we cannot depend on him for composing
work. So in consultation with the others you arrange for other means.
I have already advised Satsvarupa in this connection. If Sriman Candanacarya
is busy in some other work, then Aravinda can wholly be engaged in Boston
layout work. I have already asked him to go there.

I have
also noted down the lawyers instruction that outside work can be taken
if the profit does not go to some individual person. I think if it is
legally possible this is all right. I have no objection if you make
some profit on outside work. That is very nice. My only point
is that we have got our press
for printing our own literatures more and more.
We should not miss this point.
Otherwise, combinedly together do it nicely. I shall be very much pleased
to see things are going correctly." (SPL to
Advaita, 23rd November, 1969)

 

69-11
"Regarding press management, I have already informed Advaita that
you should immediately form a Press Committee composed of yourself,
SatsvarGpa, Advaita etc., and manage things carefully and nicely.
When we have got our press, toe must properly use it, always
praying for Krsna's grace.
I do not think Satsvarupa can be overburdened with any further work.
He is working outside, editing also, and looking after other business.
But combinedly you can do very nicely. Also, the New York center must
be entirely under your vigilance." (SPL to Brah-mananda, 25th
November, 1969)

69-11
"The next point is centralization of our publication
department in one place.
Krsna has given us now a nice press in Boston, and you are now free
from your job, so it will be very nice if you and your wife move to
Boston conveniently. As you have written that Brahmananda has almost
agreed to pay for the machine, so you have no anxiety. We have already
discussed about purchasing another machine. So far as Syama dasl is
concerned, I do not know how it will be possible for her to live alone
without her husband. I think her husband also requires her help in so
many ways. So I am not very much sure about Syama dasfs moving to Boston.
But you and Arundhati can do it immediately. I am also going there,
so we shall sit down together and call also Hayagriva and Syama dasl
to hold a nice meeting of all the editors, printers, etc. We will chalk
out a nice program so that our work may go on very smoothly without
any impediments, and surely Krsna will help us. So far as I am concerned,
I would have been very glad to stay with all the editors and press workers
in my presence, but the only consideration is the climatic influence."
(SPL toPradyumna, 27th November, 1969)

70-04
"This ISKCON Press insignia is very appropriately drawn. It
bears the real meaning of mrdanga, or press and mrdanga
are 2 parallel lines."
(SPL to Brahmknanda, 20th April, 1970)

70-06 "I
beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 16th June 1970, along
with two copies of The Nectar of Devotion.
Yes, it is made very excellent. At least I can safely say that there
is 80% perfection. This means we can hope very soon that books printed
from your press will be cent per cent successful, as we are expecting
to get from Dai Nippon. In some of the pages, the ink impression is
not sufficient, otherwise it appears everything is very nice. The paper
is first-class, the sewing is also nice, and I hope the cover binding
will be nice when it is done professionally. The pictures have also
come out very excellent. So
everything is very hopeful. You are trying your best, and Krsna will
give you proper intelligence to execute these press responsibilities.
AM of you in the press are doing
so hard work. 1 can simply pray to Krsna
for your perfect advancement in Krsna consciousness.
One thing I must inform you in this connection, that so far our activities
in Krsna consciousness are concerned, every one of us should read this
book very attentively, because all conclusive statements in the kingdom
of bhakti are contained in this transcendental valuable book.
It is the essence" of all Vedic scriptures, enlightening about
Krsna consciousness. If anyone will read this The Nectar of Devotion
very carefully, he will have all guidance in bhakti
cult. So in the temple class, some portions of this book must be regularly
discussed." (SPLto Advaita, 18th June, 1970)

70-06
"I am so happy that our ISKCON
Press is now producing several
literatures consecutively like
Srimad-Bhugavatam, chapter
by chapter. So now I am enlivened to write more and more. Thank
you very much." (SPL to Uddhava, 22nd June, 1970)

70-06
"Yes, Kulas'ekhara
is a first-class press operator. It is nice. We
also started in Boston because Advaita is a first-class press operator.
But the point is if we do not have a nice press, what is the question
of press operator? We have invested in Boston about $20,000, but still
it is not well equipped and the major portion of our printing work is
being done in Japan. Until we can open a very nice press and print our
literature up to date it will not be a good investment. If you want
at all the Back to Godhead in French and German languages published
locally, better you try to get it from a local first-class press. I
understand that in Germany and Holland there are many well equipped
presses." (SPL to Harhsaduta, June 22nd, 1970)

70-06
"Regarding the printing of Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1 have already
advised you in my last letter dated 19th June 1970 not to
make contract. We shall continue to print Srimad-Bhagavatam
chapter-wise on ISKCON Press and when all the chapters are there
we shall bind them together. The next book we shall print in Japan
will be Krsna Volume II and maybe Bhagavad-gitd As It h revised
and enlarged edition if composition is finished. Krsna
Volume II is almost ready now."
(SPL to Brahmdnanda, 2SihJune, 1970)

70-07
"Our Press owned and operated by the Society is housed
in our Boston temple buildings. Presently we are printing
books regu-

 

lady
and our monthly magazine Back to Godhead is being printed

in
English, French, German and Japanese editions with Spanish, Hindi, Bengali,
Dutch and Danish forthcoming. The English edition is understocked at
125,000 copies per month and the other editions are printed at the rate
of 10,000 per month. The public demand for our literatures is international
and so much greatly increasing that although the Printing Department
(editing, transcribing, composing, layout, photography, printing and
binding as well as sales) is full time engaged, and the press is kept
running almost 24 hours daily, we are unable to meet the demands for
literatures and so we must also go to outside printers like Japan. See
pages on ISKCON Press in the Krsna Consciousness Handbook."
(SPL to Nevatiaji,
16th July, 1970)

70-07
"The ISKCON Press teas specifically established exclusively
for printing my books. Please therefore give me an idea
how you can help me in getting all my manuscripts
printed as soon as possible.
Whenever Advaita is submitting an estimate for printing my books, I
am supplying the money immediately. So far the finance is concerned,
Krsna is supplying. Therefore, if you simply print my books in the press
incessantly, that will give me great delight. Please therefore let me
know how far you can all help me in this connection and what are the
manuscripts ready for printing. I think I shall now stop all other activities
except publishing of my books. Kindly enlighten me per return mail."
(SPLto Satsvarupa and Uddhava, 27th July, 1970)

70-12
"I know that Satsvarupa has got too much other engagement to be
able to devote the requisite time for managing the press department.
I had never considered either closing down our ISKCON Press or removing
your responsibility for managing the press affairs. You may immediately
resume your former activities and work the press according to your best
ability because I am very eager to see our own press printing
the majority of our publications.
The first thing now should be the printing of the new, enlarged edition
of Bhagavad-glta As It Is. That will be a great boon to our movement....I
have been very much encouraged and pleased to receive the two latest
chapters of Stimad-Bhagavatam,
Second Canto. So this printing must go on. ISKCON Press remains
our big mrdanga and the backbone of our movement."
(SPL to Advaita, December
19th, 1970)

70-12
'The pictures on the Srimad-Bhdgavatam
Chapters are very nice. My sincere blessings are to Jaduranl and the
art department. If our books

are
printed in this standard, that will be very, very good. I
do not aspire to any more efficiency in printing, but simply the
printing must go on regularly. Offer my blessings to all the workers
of ISKCON Press because that is my life.
Next time when I go there, I shall first go to Boston. In future, if
we get some nice place, some of the workers may come and start our own
press here also." (SPL to Satsvarupa, 19th December, 1970)

71-01
"I am so glad the press workers have become enlivened in their
work. This is required if we at all wish to be a truly world-wide organization.
World wide means world wide distribution of literatures. That is the
business of ISKCON Press. Now you are again in charge, so please see
that everything gets done with the cooperation of GBC. Everything must
be done cooperatively. Your present schedule of printing is very encouraging.
The chapters of Srimad-Bhagavatam
are very successful. They are selling good, that's nice. One dollar
the students can easily pay and if they read, immediately they will
get some sense.

If
moving the press to New York is convenient, I have no objection. You
must have all facility of work--that I want. It is good news that all
the temples are expanding. So the press must be located in another place.
The Brooklyn loft is nice and the rent is not much. Let us occupy at
once. I have got all approval of this move.

I
have already ordered a third printing of Krsna Volume 1
from Dai Nippon, but the Second Canto Srimad-Bhagavatam
should be done by you. You have already printed up most of the chapters,
so it should be printed here, not by Dai Nippon, so you do not have
to send them the layout, etc. The new printing of Isopanisad
should be not sent here. They should be distributed in the USA.
I beg to thank your good self and all the other members of the Press
Department for your sincere efforts to please your spiritual master
and Krsna by propagation of Lord Caitanya's philosophy."
(SPL to Advaita, January 21st, 1971)

71-04
"You say that Bhdgavatam
printing is going on, but what about Bhagavad-glta As It Is?
Some San Francisco Indian friends promised to pay $20,000, for this.
So somehow get this money and manage to print Bhagavad-glta
as quickly as possible, without stopping. Best thing is to
get Bhagavad-glta printed on our own press, some soft bound and
some hard bound, regularly sewn.
Now in NY we have got large space. If
required we can increase by another press, but try to get all our books printed on our own
press." (SPL to Rupanuga, April 9th, 1971)

 

71-04
"I have written as you know, to Dai Nippon regarding the printing
of Bhagavad-glta As It Is, but I do not know what is the actual
position of the manuscript. Neither I know whether you want to
print this book with Dai Nippon or on ISKCON Press.
In San Francisco the Indians wanted to pay $20,000 for the printing
cost, so what is the position now? Are the pictures ready? the index,
Sanskrit and English editing, the missing purports, lay-out, composition,
etc.??" (SPL to Advaita, April 17th, 1971)

71-05
'Wo, maintenance expenditures cannot come from the Book-Fund.
I do not understand why the press has moved and a new location fixed
up, all for the cost of $10,000. What is the benefit of it? The Bhagavad-glta
As It Is, is being attempted to be printed in ISKCON Press, but
it is taking time-years. Does it mean in this way that the book fund
will have to pay $1,500. per month and await printing? ISKCON Press
is simply meant for printing our books and there must be sufficient
work for printing; otherwise what is the use for maintenance? First
of all it was suggested that the printing place would be situated in
our NY building. Now it has gone to another building. So I shall require
the GBC members to inform me what is the actual benefit by such removal
and keeping the press in a different building. The policy of maintaining
a white elephant is not good."
(SPL, to Karandhara, May 17th, 1971)

71-06
"So if the book distribution program is going so nicely, then
we should produce books on our own press in great quantity.
I have written Rupanuga one letter, the essence of which is that
$15,000 worth of books, at our cost and not at face value, should be
printed each month and distributed. Since it was formally agreed that
the press would charge 10% of the total costs for maintenance, so if
$15,000 worth of books are printed then the $1,500 per month maintenance
cost is taken care of. Other than that, our press operation is not economically
sound proposal. But if books can be produced to the extent of $15,000
per month, then it is all right." (SPL, to Karandhara, June
16th, 1971)

71-06
"So our books will have to be produced in great numbers.
On our own press, they can do so, provided it is economically sound proposal."
(SPL to Tamdla Krsna, June 17th, 1971)

71-11
"So far ISKCON Press Europe, that was simply imagination. It
never took shape. So it is better if you amalgamate it. This matter
and similar topics should be consulted properly with you and the

 

GBC
members for the proper course of action. And for meeting
your expenditures, taking on commercial printing jobs sounds all
right. If you can maintain in this way and at the same time go on
printing our books, that is our success."
(SPL to Advaita, November 1st, 1971)

71-11
"So far the posters for temple altars, if you have got extra money
you can print the posters. But I am against the policy of our
ISKCON Press charging exorbitant prices for books and other things which
they sell to the temples. Our policy should be cost price, or
if a little more(10% above cost) is required for other expenses, that
may be added. But it is not that we are in business to make profit from
each other. With the public, that is a different thing. But our real
business is to spread Krsna consciousness, and for that our centers
require so many things like books, tapes, photos, like that--and these
should be freely exchanged between the temples to be utilized nicely
in preaching work, without profit-making.'' (SPL to Rupanuga, November
30th, 1971)

71-11
"There is no limit to expanding--you talk of expanding--we have
to invest more and more to remain modern by purchasing machines, etc.
But if the machines we have cannot even be utilized properly, then what
is the use of expanding? I want that all of these big plans should be
realized, and there will be no end to the resources Krsna will provide,
but first there must be good management. Who will manage? But I
have no objection if you can develop the
press by making outside profit with commercial work and investing--that
is all right." (SPL to
Rupanuga, November 30th, 1971)

71-12
"Regarding Krsna book paperback size I originally intended
the pocket book size for the Africans, who have not got sufficient money.
And if Brahmananda is ready with at least half of the total cost for
printing 50,000 copies each volume or 150,000 copies total, then let
him send and we shall invest for re-composing. I think the total cost
is $36,800, so he will have to supply at least $18,400 before we can
spend for re-composing. So I think the best thing is to reduce our existing
plates to 5 1/4x7 1/2 size and print Krsna
book in that way, as many as required. But I have just received a letter
from Karandhara, wherein he proposes to establish a rival ISKCON
Press in Los Angeles. This is a very good idea. It will accelerate my
work, especially when I return to LA.
So he is thinking to buy some computerized type-setter which will re-set
Krsna book type in a very short time for a pocket-book edition.
So you all GBC

 

members
discuss among yourselves what is to be done, but I have no objection
to the 5 1/4x7 1/2 size. It is still legible for everyone."
(SPL to RupSnuga, December 5th, 1971)

71-12
"Your proposal to make a series of smaller books is approved by
me. It is very nice. That will help in teaching the young children also.
If the press
is running twenty four hours, then everything is all right. Something
must always be produced. I
am very encouraged by the small pamphlets sent to me by Karandhara which
he is printing in Los Angeles. I wanted that our press from the very
beginning should print such leaflets, but that they have not done--simply
trying for equalling Dai Nippon, consuming money like Dai Nippon, and
producing nothing." (SPLto Bali Mardan, December 28th, 1971)

72-01
"I am very glad you want to start your own press, but one
thing is that you cannot close it once it is begun. When your own
press is very sound and established beyond doubt, then you may
call back Yogesvara."
(SPL to Hamsaduta, January 20th, 1972)

72-02
"I am especially pleased that you are compiling booklets for
ISKCON Press. Yes, that is their best work: small booklets and
pamphlets. Leave the big books to Dai Nippon"
(SPL to Hayagriva, February 13th, 1972)

72-05
"So far moving the press to Los Angeles, that is for you to
consult with Bali Mardan. You are a Book Trust now, you discuss with
him and do the needful, that's all."
(SPL to Karandhara, 2nd May, 1972)

72-05
"I am very glad to hear that you have got one life member there
in Melbourne. He is helping you to get that press, but I do not think
your getting another press will help. You claim that Sydney press is
not working; similarly, if you start a press and there is not sufficient
work, you will suffer. If you want literature, it will be sent.
If there are different small presses, the work will not be of good quality.
So this opening of small presses, here and there, I am not in favor.
Of course, if you utilize that store for a klrtana
hall and book store, that is another matter-- then many people will
be attracted to actually learn about our movement and join us. That
is a good proposal." (SPL to Amogha, May 9th, 1972)

75-11 "I
note that for the new printing of the abridged Gitd, Dai

 

Nippon,
there were mistakes. Why there should be mistakes? Mistakes makes the
book useless. You must be very, very careful. It will be detrimental
to the sales." (SPL to RGmesvara ddsa, 20th
November, 1975)

BOOK
EDITING, PROOFING AND TRANSLATING

67-11 "Regarding
editing of my books, it was rightly entrusted to
you from the very beginning
but Kirtanananda wanted that the editing should be done by Hayagriva.
But I understand from your version that in some places of Glta Upanisad
he has followed Swami Nikhilananda who is quite unaware of Krsna consciousness.
By their present behavior it appears that Hayagriva belongs to the same
feather and Krsna has saved His Glta Upanisad
by transferring the whole thing into your hands. Now please do your
best and hand it over to MacMillan Company for necessary action. We
have tried our best in the Glta Upanisad
to show that Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supreme
Person and His energies are acting impersonally. The devotees are primarily
concerned with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and His impersonal
expansion of energy is of secondary importance to the devotees. Less
intelligent asuras are attracted by the impersonal manifestation
because they have no chance to meet Krsna face to face." (SPL
to Bayardma, November, 1967)

67-12
"You should not waste too much time for editing as we have done
in the matter of Glta Upanisad.
If there is good English it is welcome
but we should not edit as Hayagriva has, replacing 'devotional service'
with ^knowledge of the self.'
Knowledge of the self is not complete until one is actually engaged
in devotional service. There are many citizens who have complete sense
of knowledge but out of many of them, one who is engaged in national
service like Washington or Gandhi he becomes the most prominent with
national consciousness. Similarly, when one is mature in knowledge of
the self, he must know what is the duty of the self. " (SPL
to Brahmananda, 12th December, 1967)

67-12 "I
have already written to Rayarama about Teachings of Lord Cai-tanya
that there is no need of editing the first manuscript. Better let us
prepare for its printing. Dai Nippon Company of Tokyo and our Dvaraka-dhlsa
did all the negotiation. Please contact him immediately and ask him

 

to send me the correspondence
he had with the printing company. I also do not like too much editorial
work. This too much editorial work on
Gita Upanisad has created some misunderstanding between
the editorial staffs. Anyway, in future, one man should edit it
and be sufficient for our printing. And I do not want that Lord Caitanya's
Teachings should be edited again and typed again and waste time
in that way. I have also informed Rayarama of this and you can also
inform him like this. The book should be printed immediately without
any waste of time. That is my desire." (SPL to Satsvarupa, 23rd
December, 1967)

68-01
"/ wanted Teachings of Lord Caitanya to be immediately
printed, therefore 1 said that it may not be delayed by
further editorial work,
but if you think that it needs further editorial work,
please do it through Satyavrata, and forthwith
prepare the manuscript
ready for printing."
(SPL to Rayarama, 11th January, 1968)

68-01
"Regarding the manuscript, it is very difficult for me to see it
again but I inquired from Brahmananda whether the manuscript is already
delivered to MacMillan Company or not. If it is not delivered then I
shall try to see it again. Your fear that the entire Society will be
in danger by Rayararnas editing of the Gita is
not a very suitable remark. Rayarama may not be as qualified as you
are, but his one qualification, that he is
fully surrendered to Krsna and his spiritual master, is
the first-class recommendation for his editing any one of our literatures,
because editing of Vedic literatures does not depend on academic education.
It is clearly stated in the Upanisads
that one who has implicit faith in God as well as in the spiritual master,
to him only the import of Vedic literature is revealed.

I
think Rayarama is doing work in that spirit and his recent publication
of several booklets and Back to Godhead
and a calendar are all first-class proof of his sincerity of service.
Anyway, when I started Back to Godhead,
it was my intention that your academic career and Rayarama's sincere
service would be a good combination; unfortunately, I do not know why,
you do not agree with one another. To me, English language is undoubtedly
a foreign language and I thought your combination of editorship will
help me a great deal. Anyway, whatever is done, is done. I wish that
the misunderstanding created at the present moment may be mitigated
by mutual cooperation and
we can start fresh with renewed energy for service of the Supreme Lord. I think
you will agree with me." (SPL to Hayagrtva, 15th January, 1968)

 

68-01
"Bhagavad-gitd is nearing completion--I heard this before
I started from India. The editing has been too much delayed. Now I request
you to come here for a week with the full manuscript so that I can see
it personally, along with you, and finish the editorial work, within
a week Even after signing the contract, if the manuscript is not submitted
it is regrettable. If it is not inconvenient for you somehow or other,
it will be better if you come here for one week absolutely for this
purpose so that we can finish this job without further delay. If need
be it can be re-typed also here. We have got two nice girl typists.
I wished that the editorial department should work
combinedly but it has not been successful.
You are overloaded with so many works therefore it is being delayed;
I can understand this. Therefore, I wish that you may come here for
a week, suspending all other business and finish this Bhagavad-gitd
in my presence." (SPL to Rayardma, 18th January, 1968)

68-01
"Regarding diacritical markings, you may refer to the book
First Lessons in Sanskrit Grammar and Reading by Judith Tyberg
of the East West Cultural Center published in 1964.
Each letter should be transliterated in a careful manner so that one
may be able to know the Devanagari
character corresponding. Devandgari
type characters will not be there in this new book we are preparing.
Markings are as follows. Here follows the Sanskrit alphabet and English
equivalents as are found in Bhagavad-gitd
etc." (SPL to Pradyumna, 22nd January, 1968)

68-10
"So far Srimad-Bhdgavatam is concerned, now Pradyumna
and yourself, immediately revise the 3 volumes already published.

My
next attempt will be to get them in 1 volume as I have already suggested.
And we shall now avoid the Sanskrit slokas,
but simply give the transliteration, translation and the purport. Pradyumna
is there and he will help in transliterating the verses, and translation
is there, and purport is there, there is no use of giving synonyms and
equivalent of Sanskrit word in English, simply transliteration and translation,
as it is now adopted in Dr. Radhakrishnan's Bhagavad-gitd,
and purport. In this way, we
want to print each canto, a book.
So you begin preparing immediately the present 3 volumes shall only
be revised to see the spelling mistakes or if there is any grammatical
discrepancy otherwise there is nothing to be added or subtracted."
(SPL to Hayagriva, 7th October, 1968)

68-11
"Regarding Srimad-Bhdgavatam,
please send me the chapters which you have already revised. I want to
see it, how it is being done.

 

I
am glad that you are not omitting anything, but just making
grammatical correction, and phrasing for force and clarity, and
adding Pradyumna's transliteration; that is very nice.
Yes, henceforward as I have already told you, that Srimad-Bhagavatam
will be ultimately seen by you before being printed. That will keep
consistency. I quite agree with you." (SPL to Hayagriva, 18th
November, 1968)

68-11
"I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November
12th, 1968, and I thank you very much for it. Now you are in good opportunity
to do the transliteration work and in cooperation with your professors
and Hayagriva, make the Srimad-Bhdgavatam revised edition
in such a nice way that it may be accepted in any scholarly society.
In the last editions, because the transcription was not there, some
of the universities in the Western countries refused to stock them.
Of course, the American Congress Library purchasing department in India
are pleased to purchase 18 copies of my Srimad-Bhdgavatam,
as soon as it is published and they have open order for it. Still we
want it to be done so nicely that it may not be refused by any scholarly
section. So the transliteration and divisions should be so nicely done
that it will go to your credit when they are accepted everywhere. I
think by Krsna's grace Hayagriva's attempt to revise it nicely and your
attempt to fix up transliteration perfectly, will make the next edition
as perfect as possible. Do it very sincerely and also pray to Krsna
to help you and I am sure it will come out successful." (SPL
to Pradyumna, 18th November, 1968)

69-02
"It is not surprising that it is taking a little time to begin
your actual printing work. In the beginning of everything there is always
some difficulty, but when you are accustomed to the process, there will
be no difficulty. If no better grammarian is available, the translations
of Uttama Sloka may be published. But I think that as many friends are
coming to the temple, especially some Bengali Indians, they can help
you in doing this translation work. When a person is willing to help
with our mission, he is also a devotee, so there is no question of him
being non-devotee. But they must translate as it is, they must
not deviate. Anyway, our motto should be to somehow or other express
the objectives of Krsna consciousness to the German speaking people.
There is a verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam
that a book or poetry in which the holy name of Krsna is depicted, such
language is revolutionary in the matter of purifying the material atmosphere.
Even though such literature is presented in broken language or grammatical
inconsistency or rhetorical irregularity,

 

still,
those who are saintly persons adore such literature. They hear such
literature, and chant it and adore it, simply because the Supreme Lord
is being glorified in this literature.

In
other words, we are not meant for presenting any literary masterpieces,
but we have to inform people that there is a fire ofmaya
which is burning the very vitality of all living entities, and they
should guard against the indefatigable onslaught of material existence.
That should be our motto. So even if^you do not get any assistance from
friends, get it translated by Uttama Sloka, and publish. You can at
least publish a 5-10 page edition of German Back to Godhead
magazine. That is my request." (SPL to Krsna dasa, 13th February,
1969)

69-09
"In every page the name of the book over the left page and
the subject matter on the head of the right page must be mentioned."
(SPL to Pradyumna, 28th September, 1969)

69-10 "Regarding
our books, the scholarly way should be followed.

That
means as Dr. Radhakrishnan and Bon Maharaja do it, and as Dr. Singh
recommends. In all our books and magazines henceforward the
whole process should be changed.
Whatever is done in the past forget. Now everything should be revised
and presented in the scholarly way. That means throughout Krishna should
be spelled Krsna, Visnu should be spelled Visnu and Chaitanya should
be spelled Caitanya, etc. I think this will clear the whole thing and
there will be no more mdyd impediment.

I
am sorry The Nectar of Devotion
manuscript has not yet reached. This is another ill luck that the post
office has not delivered. So whatever you have got finish it. If the
manuscript does not reach, then we will have to rewrite it again. If
there is such need, I shall send you the duplicate. If it does reach,
however, please inform me immediately.

Your
idea that our books should be read by scholars is quite appropriate.
Without following the diacritic marks, according to scholars, they will
think it inefficient.

Yes,
we want that businessmen, economists, religionists, students, etc. will
all be carrying Bhdgavatam and Gttd.
Yes, do every word of our books meticulously and perfectly accurately
transcribed so the most erudite and deep thinking men of the world can
enter into the intricacies of meaning in each verse. Your idea is nice.
Please help all our literatures in that way and Krsna will bless you.
Never mind what has been done in the past. You follow these principles
steadily, chant Hare Krsna, and everything will be all right. There
is no question of being frustrated.

Regarding
The Nectar of Devotion, although it has been a little procrastinated,
things should be done slow but sure. Your questions certainly are not
stupid. They are very intelligent questions and I am just pleased to
discuss all these matters threadbare. I quite approve of your way of
thinking. So do the work anel
Krsna will help you." (SPL to Pradyumna, 13th
October, 1969)

69-10
"I have duly made corrections on the Isopanisad glossary
you had enclosed, and I shall send it to Brahmananda as requested
by you. I want that in all of our books, magazines and other writings
the scholarly presentation be given in all instances. So for
every Sanskrit word there must be the appropriate spelling and diacritic
marks." (SPL to Satsvarupa, 26th October, 1969)

69-10
"Regarding Isopanisad, enclosed please find the glossary
that Satsvarupa has sent to me for making corrections. From now
on all of our writings should be presented in the scholarly manner,
so all spelling and diacritic marks must be done correctly. I have
already sent you the corrected page which you sent me and now
the glossary is also corrected. I do not think there is any necessity
for any dedication on Isopanisad because it is a small book." (SPL
to Brahmananda, 27th October, 1969)

69-11
"So far as Krsna book is concerned, I understand that you
did not keep any copy of the manuscript. Generally it is the custom
to make at least four copies, so how is it Unit you have neglected
this? In the absence of a second copy it is risky to send you our
copy in the mail. Therefore, I am personally glancing over and putting
the diacritic marks in the Sanskrit words. Besides that, one respectable
friend has promised to get this printed immediately." (SPL to
Satsvarupa, 14th November, 1969)

69-12
"Regarding Back to Godhead
magazine, I am so glad that you are printing 50,000 copies henceforward.
I have received also your press management report, so the only thing
to be amended there is that all books especially must be twice edited,
once by Satsvarupa and once by Hayagriva. In every publication house
all printing matters are edited at least three times. So we should be
very much careful about grammatical and printing mistakes.
That will mar the prestige of the Press and the Institution."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 10th December, 1969)

 

70-01
"In the meantime, I have engaged Devananda transcribing the tape
and a primary editing also, and the copy can be sent to you for final
editing and then printing. We have to do things now very dexterously,
simply we have to see that in our book there is no spelling or
grammatical mistake. We do not mind for any good style, our style is
Hare Krsna, but still we should not present a shabby thing.
Although Krsna literatures are so nice that, even if they are presented
in broken and irregular ways, such literatures are welcomed, read and
respected by bona fide devotees." (SPL to Satsvarupa, January
9th, 1970)

70-01
"Regarding tape transcription: many devotees are ready to help
in this matter. I want to send daily one tape, and to finish one tape
transcription and editing it takes about one week. Under the circumstances,
if there are 4 or 5 men transcribing then at least four finished manuscripts
come out per week. Many devotees are ready to transcribe; like in Detroit
there is Bhagayan dasa; in Buffalo Rupanuga; in Berkeley, Harhsaduta,
as well as here, Devananda. But how to adjust things? Do you think that
their transcribing will help you or do you want to transcribe yourself?

I
wish that all copies, before finally going to the press, must
be thoroughly revised and edited so that there may not be any mistakes,
especially of spelling and grammar, or of the Sanskrit names.
So how to finish it, I do not know. So give me your directions about
this immediately. Whether I shall send the tapes directly to you or
to the other centers who are ready to help?" (SPL to Satsvarupa,
25th January, 1970)

70-02
"If is very much encouraging to see you are a good and scrutinizing
editor. May Krsna bless you."
(SPL to Jayadvaita, 10th February, 1970)

70-02
"I have sent a few tapes to Bhagavdn dasa. He sends to you
his edited copies and they may be made final. I want two editings
only, just to see if there is any grammatical or spelling mistake.
Your present program of two editions first by yourself and then by
Jayadvaita is a nice arrangement. Jayadvaita has good knowledge."
(SPL to Satsvarupa, 15th February, 1970)

70-02
"I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 18 February,
1970, along with one sheet enclosure, and I am very much pleased with
your work. The minor mistake which you committed on the first verse
of Isopanisad I marked, but I ignore it as very insignificant.
I am very glad to

know
that you are so much repentent even for this insignificant mistake,
and that will push you forward further in Krsna consciousness. Please
be happy and work on with steady and firm determination. I have
read the transliteration of Bhagavad-gitd verses, but I think you have
to do it very carefully because there are some mistakes in some of the
verses. But I am sure in your next reading they will be all corrected."
(SPL to Pradyumna, 22nd February, 1970)

70-04
"Regarding the prayer verses, I have sent you immediately the Bengali
prayer book and you will find all the prayers of the dcdrya's
there. I have also sent you one copy of Panjikd
which will help you to find out the list of names of acdrya's
appearance and disappearance days. If you can, you can prepare conveniently
the Panjikd or ISKCON almanac
for the next year, but not now, you have got many engagements, this
is for leisure hours. Regarding the new prayer addition, 'namaste
sarasvati devau...' I think you can change the word devau
into deve to make it compatible with sarasvati. Sarasvati
is locative so you can change the word to deve
to make it fit, or it can be made devam.
Devam is the accusative singular and deve is the locative singular,
so both can be used, but I think deve will be the most fitting word.
Regarding your tenth point, the word Radhd-ramana-hari
is one word compound, therefore it is correct. Regarding your 9th point,
the exact verse is as follows:

samdsritd
ye pada-pallava-plavarh

mahat-padarh
punya-yaso murdreh

bhavdmbudhir
vatsa-padarh pararh padarh

• padarh
  padarh yat vipaddrh na tesdm
  [S.B. 10.14.58]

Meaning
a person who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Murari (Krsna),
which are the shelter of all great souls and are famous for being the
reservoir of all piety, this great ocean of material existence shortens
like the pit-hole created by the foot of a calf and for him the supreme
abode of the Lord is quite fit place for living, but not this miserable
material world where there is nothing but danger in every step. Regarding
your 11th point, the line should read: jaganndtha svdml nay ana pathagd-mi
bhavatu me. Yes, it is just a line for repetition of a great verse
prayer for Jagannatha Swami, but I do not remember immediately where
it can be found. For the present you be satisfied with this one line.

Regarding:
tipadika sabda, I consulted grammar and it is correct to mention
the first case ending or nominative case. The authorized injunction
in this connection is as follows:

 

abhideyamartre prathama
pratipadikariha langa parinama, vacana matre pratama

Translation:
The sound which indicates a particular subject or word should be the
first case ending or nominative case." (SPL to Pradyumna,
9th April, 1970)

70-(M
"In Krsna, Chapter 87, on page 4, the last line, it is said,
'known as budbuvasa which is manifested by Govinda.' I do not
know what is this editing. The correct word is bhur-bhuvah-svah
as it is in the gdyatri mantra,
and everybody knows it. This budbhuvasa
is an extraordinary word, neither it is Sanskrit nor English, so how
it has avoided the vigilance of the so many editors? So if none of the
editors knew this word, why was it pushed? There should be no such
negligences like this, nothing uncertain should be pushed. Now what
other discrepancies there may be like this? Or what is the use of such
editing? Everything must be done very carefully and attentively."
(SPL to Brahma-nanda, 17th April, 1970)

70-04
"Regarding Topmost Yoga,
in the blueprint there are many mistakes. I am pointing out some of
them as follows: Page 2 '...decided to kill his sister.' not sisters,
because only Devaki was there.

'The
Lord's compromise was that He had Vasudeva propose to the brother-in-law.'
This sentence is obscure. The actual fact is Vasudeva made a compromise
and said to his brother in law 'such and such.'

Then
everywhere there is yogins, gosvamins, sannyasins,
etc. in many places. The 'n' is not required--that I have already informed
Pradyumna.

On
page 17 there is a word 'enfuriated'; this is a spelling mistake, it
should be 'infuriated.'

Then
on page 48, 'on the bank of the Ganges near Didbee.' This is not 'Didbee,'
it is 'Delhi.'

On page 49
there are so many 'gosvamins,'
but there should be no 'N.'

In
this way I have read the book sporadically, not very minutely. I think
it should be gone through once more very carefully and all the mistakes
that are still existing there should be corrected. If the books are
printed with spelling mistakes and other mistakes, that will be a discredit for our publication. So please see
that editorial work is done very nicely." (SPL to Brahmananda,
22nd April, 1970)

70-06
"So you have gone to Japan, make perfect arrangement for
our printing work--Back to Godhead, Srimad-Bhagavatam etc.,

and
let me peacefully write books. I wanted the help of an editor.
In the present Krsna book everything is done nicely but there are
many mistakes, but on the whole the work is nice. So if our books
are regularly printed and magazines are regularly distributed and occasionally
you visit the centers, that will be very nice program."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 2nd June, 1970)

70-06
"I am also in due receipt of one letter from Pradyumna regarding
Sanskrit editing. I will study this letter scrutinizingly and then I
shall reply. But on the whole, the Sanskrit editing has been
done very nicely and the style is completely satisfactory. Answers
to the questions will follow in the next mail." (SPL to Uddhava,
18th June, 1970)

70-06
"I am in due receipt of your letter dated 14th June, 1970, and
have read it carefully. So your efforts in the matter of our Sanskrit
editing are effectively improving our books more and more with scholarly
standards. All your work and programs are approved by me
as you

have
listed them. So please continue to develop your capabilities by careful
work as you are doing. Your corrections of the discrepancies found in
the Glta Press editions of Srimad-Bhagavatam
are all right. On page 39, verse 24, the word vyajyate
is correct." (SPL to Pradyumna, 21st June,
1970)

70-06
"Regarding composing our literatures, diacritic marks will
carry weight amongst the scholars, so for the present moment you
can do this: wherever a word is required with diacritic
mark, or when a verse is needed, since you are translating from our
literatures already printed in English language, simply cut the word
or verse from the English edition and paste it on the layout in the
correct place in the text. They are already using this system in Boston
for printing Devanagari script, and the result is very good."
(SPL to Hamsaduta, 22nd June, 1970)

70-07
"Regarding your second point, all
incarnations should be proper nouns and therefore capitalized. It
does not matter whether they are Visnu-tattva or jiva-tattva, saktyavesa
avatdra or plenary expansions.
The incarnations listed however may be classified as follows: Visnu-tattva,
Kapila, Nara Narayana, Rama, Balarama, Krsna, the Purusas,
the Boar, Yajna, Rsabha, Matsya, Kurma, Dhanvantari, MohinI and Kalki.
]lva.-tattva (empowered): Narada, Vyasa, Buddha, Kumaras, Dattatreya,
Prthu and Bhrgupati." (SPL to JayOdvaita, 12th July, 1970)

 

70-07
"Regarding Bhagavad-gitd, enlarged edition, the picture approved
by me to Jadurdni is all right. I am glad to learn that it is
being serialized. Regarding Srimad-Bhagavatam, first canto, I am
glad that the manuscript is also being composed. Srimad-Bhagavatam,
second canto, improper title pages being rectified is good
news. Please keep me informed about the progress of those
manuscripts." (SPL to Satsvarupa, 31st July, 1970)

71-03
"I have dictated the missing purports from Chapter IX and
they are set enclosed herewith. So far changing the working of
verse or purport of 12:12 discussed before, it may remain as it is"

(SPL to
Jayadvaita, March 17th, 1971)

71-08
"Regarding the Bengali translation by S. Ganguli, it is almost
perfect; 90%. But 10% incorrect is not his fault. He is a new man. Therefore
there are little discrepancies with our thoughts. Besides that there
are some mistakes in spelling as Sanskrit verses. On the whole we can
immediately start the Bengali paper, and find out if there is one qualified
man who can check over the correctness of the papers. Even it is
99% all right, still that 1% must be corrected.

So
far I am concerned, I cannot give my time to this. The best thing would
have been if this Mr. Ganguli would come and be our student and learn
our philosophy carefully and then he would be a most suitable man for
becoming editor of our Bengali paper. Do you think that Amrtananda will
be able to check as the second Bengali man? Ask him if he is able to
check the papers. Then jointly, with the endeavor of Amrtananda and
Ganguli, you can start the Bengali paper as well as publish books."
(SPL to Tamala Krsna and Gurudasa, August 23rd, 1971)

71-10
"One thing is that all translations should be checked by you
and Candravali because those who are not our students, if they write
some wrong conclusion, the whole thing will be murdered."

(SPL to
Citsukhananda, 12th October, 1971)

71-10
"If you want to preach the Bible you can tell them why there will
be misinterpretation. In N.Y. there is a big press that prints 'Watchtower.'
They are forcefully criticizing Christian behavior. I read that one
Christian priest allowed a marriage between two men--homosex. So these
things are going on. So your proposal for preaching the gospel on the
basis of Bhagavad-gita will not be successful. If you want to
do that I cannot check you but I cannot allow you to do such things
from within our

Society.
You have to understand our philosophy perfectly, follow the
regulative principles, and then in fact you can edit our books and
papers. When I shall go to Mayapur then upon hearing from you of
my proposal as mentioned above, I shall arrange for your coming to India.
First of all you have to decide yourself whether you are prepared to
surrender to our principles, but if you keep your independence either
in Mayapur or N.Y., your position is the same. To associate with me
you are always welcome but not with your independence. That will not
help me or you." (SPL to Bayarama, 22nd, October, 1971)

71-12
"Diacritical marks must be maintained. These are internationally
accepted by all scholars, so I want they should remain.
If

they
are a botheration, then leave out the Sanskrit words altogether, or
wherever there is a Sanskrit word keep the English spelling or pronunciation
in brackets following it. For example: 'Krsna' (pronounced 'Krishna'),
if you are printing children's books you may avoid Sanskrit words. But
in my speeches there must be Sanskrit. This changing from one standard
to another is not good--either avoid Sanskrit, put English pronunciation
in brackets, but use the diacritical marks wherever there is Sanskrit....

I
am not much fond of the idea of changing things to accommodate the public--better
to change the public to accommodate us. Therefore I suggest wherever
there is Sanskrit used there should also be English spelling in brackets.
In this way, the public will become accustomed to Sanskrit language
so that in future we may use only Sanskrit and they will understand."
(SPL to Bali Mardan, December 28th, 1971)

71-12
"In reply to Jayddvaita's questions, henceforward the policy
for using diacritic markings is that I want them used everywhere,
on large books, small books and also Back to Godhead magazine.
If

there
is any difficulty with the pronunciation, then after the correct dia
critic spelling, in brackets the words 'pronounced as ,' may be writ
ten. So even on covers the diacritic marking should be used. We should
not have to reduce our standard on account of the ignorant masses. Dia
critic spelling is accepted internationally, and no learned person will
even
care to read our books unless this system is maintained." (SPL
tojaduranl
dasl, December 31st, 1971)

72-01
"I have noted that your translation work is going on. This I want,
that you shall from now on be the head of the translating department
in German language for all ISKCON literatures. You translate yourself
as it is comfortable, but all other translations in German language,
by other

 

translators
must be checked by you, edited and corrected very strictly for grammar
and proper use of German language. It is not our philosophy to print
errors. Of course, our spiritual subject matter is transcendental and
therefore it remains potent despite mistakes in grammar, spelling, etc..
But this type of translation may only be allowed if there is no other
way to correct it, then it is all right. But if you know the correct
order, then you must make it perfect. That is our philosophy: everything
perfect for Krsna. So far your telling me that some devotees consider
that because there may he some grammatical discrepancies in my Srimad-Bha-gavatam,
first canto, then they may also he allowed to translate
with errors accepted, that is just like imitating
Rasa-Ma. When you do all other things like Krsna, then you can
do Rasa-Ma. So if these other writers can do like me and spread
Krsna consciousness all over the world by becoming big Vedic scholars,
then they can do. if one is too big, there is no mistake. Arsapreyaya
means there may be discrepancies but it is all right. Just like Shakespeare,
sometimes there are odd usages of languages, but he is accepted as authority.
I have explained all these things in my Preface to First Canto."
(SPL to Mandali Bhadra, January 20th, 1972)

72-01
"So far translating, I have made Mandali Bhadra as Chief of translating
department. He shall translate comfortably and all other translations
must be checked and edited and approved by him, with grammatical corrections.
It is not that we may present anything crude translation and that is
acceptable. No, even though the transcendental subject matter
of Vedic literature is still spiritually potent despite the crudest
translation, still, because we have got facility to make it perfect,
that is our philosophy. When I translated Srimad-Bhdgavatam
I had not the facility so you may notice grammatical discrepancies.
But because Mandali Bhadra is now Head of the translating department
you have got all facility to translate our books in perfect German language."
(SPL to Harhsaduta, 20th January, 1972)

72-04
"Regarding Back to Godhead,
my plan is this, that you shall simply translate from our English issues
and reproduce the writing and insert it wherever there is writing in
the English version. They have already got the plates in Japan, so you
will not require to have any photos, simply translate into Hindi the
English text and lay it out in exactly the same columns on the page.
Every publication you translate should be done just like this. Now send
immediately one composed Back to Godhead
to Tokyo immediately and I shall get it begun.

I am very glad
to hear that you are all happy in Vrndavana and that our

sankirtana
party from Radha Damodara temple to our new place is being appreciated.
Please continue this. You have retired from, material life
and Krsna has given you the nicest place in this material world to
live in, so stick there and every month send one Back to Godhead
[in] Hindi composition to Tokyo.
Radha Raman Goswami is there with you so you work together and do this
job nicely." (SPL to Kslrodakasdyl, 18th April, 1972)

75-06
"I dont think that Hayagriva is at fault. He has not changed
the meaning or the philosophy in any way. But if you like to use
the original manuscript, then if it is possible, you can use it."
(SPL to Harhsaduta, 8th June, 1975)

75-07
"I therefore suggested in my last letter that now you are in ripe
old age, so you can accept vanaprastha
life which is your duty as you are born in a brdhmana
family. According to our Vedic principle a brdhmana
is supposed to accept the four dsramas,
namely brahmacdri, grhastha, vanaprastha,
and sannydsa. Others do not accept sannydsa,
but a person who is a brdhmana
must accept sannydsa at the end of his life.

So
I would suggest that you now retire from family life and accept at least
vanaprastha order of life keeping your wife with you as assistant
and fully engaged in translating the Vedic literature as far as possible.
It appears that in the Western countries there is a great demand for
real knowledge of Vedic literature. So you are a learned scholar both
in English and Hindi, and you can do this completely devoted to the
service of Lord Ramacandra. I have opened many temples all over the
world, numbering 100. Enclosed herewith are some of the photos of some
of the Deities in some of the temples.

Very
recently we have established our temple in Vrndavana at a cost of 50
lakhs of rupees or more. The Governor of U.P., Dr. Channa Reddy was
present for two days for the opening ceremony. All the Goswamis and
sannydsls like Akhanananda Swami all attended the ceremony. We have
got a guest house there containing about 80 rooms, and the recent report
is that not less than 500 men are coming daily to visit the temple.
Prasdda is being distributed to the poor, and others are purchasing
prasdda (pakki) to the extent of Rs. 100/- per day. We are selling
our books also.

Now
I wish to establish some temple of Ramacandra, Sita-Rama. Of course
it depends on the mercy of Lord Ramacandra. Therefore I am
still requesting you to join our movement completely retired from
family life and engage yourself in translation work for the rest of
your life." (SPL to Dindndtha, 26th July, 1975)

 

75-08
"Regarding the English editing discrepancies, how can I know?
Let them point out which part and on which page so I can

see."
(SPL to Radhaballabha dasa, 26th August, 197S)

75-09
"I think the translation work was done by Vegavan and Ajita Prab-hus.
So encourage them in this work. This translation work is very
important. Itis not simply a matter of ABC's, but it requires spiritual
realization to do it properly.
I understand that you are a good sanklr-tana
man and book distributor, so you all cooperate. They translate, and
you print and distribute. What more do you want? In this way you flood
Sweden with transcendental literatures. I am very glad that you are
getting so much interest from persons coming from the Eastern Europe
countries. You should give die two devotees from there all facility
in translating." (SPL to Alalanatha dasa, 1st September, 1975)

75-09
"Regarding the corrections you have sent, these kind of
changes are admissible. There is no harm."
(SPL to Radhaballabha dasa, 21st September, 1975)

75-10
"Herewith please find the copy of one letter received from Karunasindhu
in the matter of asking my permission to allow Purusotta-ma dasa
brahmacdri to scrutinize final printing. The letter has come from
Karunasindhu suggested by Kirtiraja. Did you suggest this proposal to
Kirtiraja? If not, then please inquire who suggested this proposal to
Kirtiraja. I do not like that anyone should scrutinize our publications
without my sanction. Kindly inquire into the matter and let
me know the report to Bombay address. Also, send me a general report
of Vrnda-vana affairs." (SPL to Nitai dasa, 20th October, 1975)

76-01
"I will have to see personally what are the mistakes in the
synonyms and also how you intend to correct them.
I was not satisfied with the corrections that were made before.
I saw some changes which I did not approve. Nitai may correct whatever
mistakes are there, but the corrected material must be sent to me for
the final approval. So reprinting the volumes will have to wait until
the mistakes are corrected and approved by me. In the meantime you can
supply the standing orders for whatever new volumes are published."
(SPL to Radhaballabha dasa, 5th January, 1976)

76-02
"Thank you very much for your nice translation
ofMarkine Bhagavata-dharma. It is well appreciated.
I think it can be included

in
the front of the new printing of the song book, and it can be sung in
klrtana like the other songs of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, I have included
a few corrections below which can be noted. The other prayer can be
called Prayer to the lotus feet of Krsna,
and I will be sending comments on that shortly:

Corrections

Verse 2: synonyms:
ex--in this, ugra-sthane--terrible place

translation:...to
this terrible place. Verse 3: synonyms: prasanna--is happy or
jubilant Verse 5: transliteration: bujhMe

synonyms:
bujhale nija-vasa--under your controlling power Verse 8: synonyms:
kane--by aural reception; bara bara--again and

• again

Verse 9: translation:
accumulated in the core of the heart Verse 15: synonyms: dhara--determination

• • translation:
    ...in my mind there is only great determination" (SPL to Jayasadnandana,
    8th February, 1976)

76-05
"Yes, there is no need for corrections for the First and Second
Cantos. Whatever is there is all right. Once Pradyumna comes
to join me here from India, then there will be no need for Nitdi
dasa or Jagannatha dasa to edit the Srimad-Bhdgavatam."
(SPL to Radhaballabha, 4th May 1976)

76-05
"I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 25,1976, along
with samples of the Geetar-gan
and the cover in for the Bhagavata-darsana.

No,
the printing of the Geetar-gan cover in this fashion is not at
all approved by me. You have done most nonsensically. Why
change the cover? When people look to see the Bhagavad-gitd they
expect to see Krsna
and Arjuna, not the picture of Krsna with cow.
You have done a great mistake by changing the front picture and it will
hamper the sale. In future you don't do any changes without asking me
first.

Simply
because there is no stock of books, we can do anything whimsically???
Is this logic? Glta is not spoken in Vrndavana, it is spoken
on the battlefield of Kuruksetra, but this is Vrndavana picture. That
chariot driven by four horses, that is the real Kuruksetra picture.
It is not that because there is no stock we can do whimsically as we
like and lose the idea, that is rasa-bhasa.
Because there is no bread, you take stone to eat? There is no stock
of bread so you will take stone???

The
front picture is most important thing and you have changed it. It must
remain standard, and not change. Also, the lettering is not nice on

 

the
cover. You could have taken a color picture of Krsna and Arjuna and
used it black and white (one color) on the front cover. Just as you
did with the inside back cover of the Bhdgavata darsana,
the original picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in color but you
have printed it in black and white. You could have done this on the
front cover with Krsna and Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra,
but the cover must not be changed.

Concerning
the Bhagavata-darsana cover, the Hindi on the back is not good.
Who is translating this? Also, the address on the back of our Vrnda-vana
temple is not correctly spelled. It has been spelled Chattakara Road;
but it should be Chattikara Road. Who is proof-reading?' (SPL to
Bhar-gava dasa, 29th May, 1976)

76-09
"Concerning the editing ofjayadvaita Prabhu, whatever he does is
approved by me. I have confidence in him. Your changes
which I have seen of the Sanskrit synonyms is also approved by me.
Tanmayatraya refers to the fact that the trees and the father were
absorbed in the same feelings." (SPL to Radhaballahha dasa, 7th
September, 1976)

76-09
"In general, if any translator of my books requires the original
manuscripts for his work, he should be supplied, them by you."

(SPL to
Ramesvara, 18th September, 1976)

76-09
"With reference to your letter to Harikesa dated 21st instant
regarding the purport, second paragraph to Bhdgavatam 2.2.38, it
is clear. Do not try to change anything." (SPL to Gopiparanadhana
dasa, 28th September, 1976)

77-05
"Regarding the Arabic translation, whether it is good or bad,
something should be printed. As you have suggested, let it be printed
in India. Our good friend Mr. Brij Ratan Mohatta volunteered to help
pay the printing costs of Arabic publication. So in this regard you
can send the manuscripts to Gopala Krsna, and he will arrange everything.
Regarding the translations into Russian and other East European languages,
you are the expert in the field, so however you decide to get the work
done is all right. I will simply be very glad to receive any publications
from these languages. If you think that by getting a telex hookup in
Bombay our international work would be benefited, I have no objection."
(SPL to Harikesa Maharaja,
6th May, 1977)

BOOK
PRINTING, COVERS, LAYOUT AND CONTENTS

67-12
"Regarding the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, it must be very
nice. I think Dai Nippon Printing Company agreed to print our
books 6 1/2x9 1/2 size, best paper, 400 pages, 10-12 point print
composition, with best hardback binding with gold lettering on the
backbone at $5,000 for 5,000 copies. I think you will immediately contact
the company and send the manuscript for printing without
any delay." (SPL to Brahmananda, 21st December, 1967)

67-12
"I am in due receipt of your letter dated 12/27/67 along with the
MacMillan Company agreement form. Prior to this letter I have received
your two other letters, but I was expecting this letter, so I did not
reply your prior letters earlier. I am sending herewith the agreement
duly signed by me. Regarding Mr. Alan Watt's introduction I may inform
you that if the books will sell nicely by Mr. Watts introduction, I
do not mind his nonsense. The other gentleman, Professor Edward
Di-mock of the University of Chicago who is a student of Vaisnavism
is willing to give some introduction. But you say he is not well known.
For me either Professor Dimock or Mr. Watts, both are nonsense. Now
for selling purpose if you think Mr. Watts is nice, I have no objection.
I give you full power of attorney in this connection. Whoever you like
you can accept." (SPL to Brahmananda, 29th December, 1967)

68-03
"So far the order of photos in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya is
concerned, they should go like this: My photo, Guru
Maharaja's photo, Srtla Gaurakisora, Srila Bhaktivinoda, Lord
Caitanya, and lastly, Lord Caitanya's Birthplace. For Lord Cai-tanya's
photo, you may use a photograph of one of Jadurani's recent paintings
of Panca-tattva. The other five pictures will be with the reading matter."
(SPL to Brahmananda, March 21st, 1968)

68-08
"So I have decided to print Srimad-Bhdgavatam in 12 volumes, naming
them differently. I have decided in this way; 1st volume: Creation;
2nd volume: Cosmic Manifestation; 3rd volume:
Status Quo; 4th volume: Mercy of God; 5th volume: Creative Energy; 6th
volume: The Rulers of the Universe; 7th volume: Activities
of God; 8th volume: Dissolution; 9th volume: Liberation; 10th volume:

 

Ultimate
Goal; 11th volume: General History; 12th volume: The
Age of Deterioration."
(SPL to Kirtandnanda, and Hayagriva, August 23rd,
1968)

68-10
"I have already written to Uddhava about binding and size of the book, and again I am repeating, that
all my books shall be printed in the size 61/2x9; but next printing,
I am willing to do it, canto by canto. That is
to say, the three volumes already published of Srimad-Bhagavatam
may be printed in one volume. And the paper should be that Indian thin
paper. And the pages shall not be less than 1,000. Of course, the composition
all in Roman type, we shall avoid now the Sanskrit type. Simply we shall
put transliteration, translation, and purport. In this way, volumes
1, 2, 3, 4, etc. 12 volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam will be published.
So we can do the needful. And so far Back to Godhead
magazine is concerned, it is already known to you how to do it."
(SPL to Advaita, October 6th,
1968)

68-10
"Regarding binding: The cost of binding should not be more than 40 cents. And the best
thing will be some of our students learn binding also. The book size
of Srimad-Bhagavatam will be exactly as it is at present, but
it may be that the pages may be increased. Because next printing!
am thinking three volumes in one. And the papers may be just
like Bible paper, thin, and pages will be not less than 1,000, and we
shall print in one volume; the binding should be very first-class,
and similarly, part by part, we shall have to print 12 parts, altogether.
So if some of our students becomes expert in binding, that will be very
nice. I think Devananda,
who is in Boston, he has some knowledge in binding. Binding is not a
very difficult task. Anyone can do it, but I do not know how it will be successfully
done. But the cost of binding must not be more than
40 cents." (SPL to Uddhava, October 6th, 1968)

68-11 "Yes,
get the books from Japan as soon as possible, and I
have also written them one letter which you will find enclosed
herewith. They have agreed to gold print on the cover, that is all right. So get
it as soon as possible. I think the binding is all right. So do not delay, just try to
get them as soon as possible."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 20th November, 1968)

69-05
"Regarding the MacMillan Company's printing Srimad-Bhagavatam,
we may note herewith that the MacMillan's publication of the

Bhagavad-gita
As It Is and our publication of Teachings of Lord Cattanya
is the difference between heaven and hell. If MacMillan Company can
invest their good money for publishing our Srimad-Bhagavatam
they must take the standard as we have presented. The first canto cannot
be reduced less than 200 pages. In the Bhagavad-gita As It Is
we have cut short the pages under the instruction of MacMillan Company
without explaining many important verses. We are presenting a new philosophy
to the world against all foolish impersonalists, atheist, agnostic and
all other imperfect philosophies. Therefore we must have sufficient
chance for explaining the purports of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
So if MacMillan agrees to these conditions, then we can entrust the
publication of the Bhagavatam
in their hands. Such a big company, world famous publishers, and we
are giving them the topmost transcendental knowledge in the world.
Why they should become miserly in the set-up and quality of the book?"
(SPL to Brahmananda, 6th May, 1969)

69-09
"I thank you very much for your appreciation of my book, Krsna,
and you all enjoyed it on Janmastami Day. You write to say that each
book I write is greater than anything written previously, but I must
also inform you that each book you print is nicer than the previous
printing. Two books, Bhagavad-gita As It Is
and Teachings Of Lord Cattanya,
both are practically done by you, and the Teachings Of Lord Caitanya
has come out in printing art better than Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Similarly, I hope when you will print Nectar of Devotion
and Krsna in our own press, it will come out better than Teachings
Of Lord Caitanya. So I will give you better writing and you will
produce better books. In this way there will be competition in the service
of Krsna. That is very nice. One the whole, I
am very much pleased with the getup of Teachings Of Lord Caitanya, and
I hope in the future all our books may be printed at
least to that standard."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 9th September, 1969)

70-03
"Regarding your question about the art department, for the
present we should finish the pictures for Krsna first. Then if there
is opportunity, they can print pictures for The Nectar of Devotion.
Both are required, but most important is Krsna book It is better to
have pictures in all our books, as many as possible."
(SPL to Satsvarupa, 20th March, 1970)

70-03
"Regarding printing of KRSNA on the cover and title, it
should not be 'KRSNA Book,' but it should be 'KRSNA' in large

 

type
on the first line, that is the title, and on the second line,
by way of adjective, The Supreme Personality of Godhead' should be
printed in smaller type."
(SPL to Brahmananda, 20th March, 1970)

70-03
"Regarding picture pages, sections of 8 pages together is not nice.
The pictures should be just at the appropriate place of description
in the text. There are many modern glues which will not loosen
for a very long time, so glueing is not a problem. I think that this
method of insetting the picture pages is best, and even better if they
can be each protected by a leaf of waxed paper also. That will be best.
So do whatever you think is best for getting the book ready (printed)
as soon as possible." (SPL to Brahmananda, 20th March, 1970)

70-06
"The style of Srimad-Bhdgavatam just as I had printed earlier
in the First Canto editions is very nice. Co on with this style for
all our Bhagavatam editions."
(SPL to Pradyumna, June 21st, 1970)

70-07
"It is simply to the pictures. People become attracted with
these unusual transcendental pictures at first, so even without
reading the book they become inclined to purchase it. This is one
point. Another point is that the picture gives the explanation of the
passage very quickly. So try to insert as many pictures as possible
in all our books and other publications."
(SPL tojaduranl, July 11th, 1970)

70-11
"I am pleased to hear that the paintings for Vol. I Canto II have
been finished and that more paintings for Volume II have begun.
At least from 50 to 100 paintings should appear in each volume, and
that will be the perfection of your service for Lord Krsna.
In reply to your specific question, there is no ocean of milk, rather
they are standing on a normal ocean. I am always showing your paintings
in Krsna book to respectable Indian gentlemen and ladies and
they are very much impressed that my American disciples have taken to
this process with so much love and determination." (SPL tojaduranl,
4th November, 1970)

74-05
"Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter
undated. Now you are preparing the publications of Vol. 1 and Vol. 3
of Cai-tanya-caritdmrta. As far as subtitles all the volumes
should have on the cover just as it is on the cover of Vol. 2, The Pastimes
of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.' As for the subtitle on the inside title
page which is now printed in Vol. 2 as 'Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in
the Renounced Order

of
life,' you can make a subtitle suitable according to the subject matter
of the subsequent volume. But the phrase "The Pastimes
of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu' should appear on the cover of every volume."

(SPL to
Rddhdballabha, 9th May, 1974)

74-09
"Regarding the printing, it does not matter where you print
our German books. Never mind the cost whether it is a little more
or less. Wherever it is convenient. We are not after profit. The important
thing is good printing and binding so that the people will
be impressed. A book sold, rather than a record will be a solid
sale." (SPL to Harhsaduta dasa, 7th September, 1974)

74-10
"Srila Prabhupada received an advance copy of SB 3:4, which was
printed in the USA in five weeks, with the quality practically as good
as Japan. Prabhupada was also informed that the index of the Third Canto
will be a separate volume, as well as for the Fourth Canto which will
have a separate volume index. When we mentioned to His Divine Grace
that this is the system of encyclopedias to publish separate volumes
for the index he said that we could advertise his Srimad-Bhdgavatam
as 'The Encyclopedia of Spiritual Life.'
SB 4:4 has also been given to the American printer and three remaining
volumes of S.B. 3:3, 4:2, and 4:3 have already been printed in Japan.
That makes 13 volumes of SB not including the index volumes!

Prabhupada's
translation of Caitanya-caritdmrta
is almost finished, only two more chapters left in the whole book. Then
he will resume SB starting with Canto Five. This was Srila Prabhupada's
reason for taking up CC by working on CC the press was given time to
publish all the backlog of S.B. that was piling up. By exact coincidence
Prabhupada is finishing CC just as they have finished publishing all
of SB through the Fourth Canto. Now as Srila Prabhupada resumes SB.,
they can publish the CC." Your servant, Brahmananda Swami, Personal
Secretary Seen by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami." (SPL (seen by ACBS)
to Ramesvara Prabhu, October 25th, 1974)

74-12
"...for our books the words 'Bhaktivedanta Book Trust' must
appear on the spine of the jacket. Formerly it was being done, and
now it has been stopped. These things should always be there."

(SPL to
Harhsaduta dasa, 1st December, 1974)

74-12
"I have seen on the new books printed that on the spine of
the jacket the words 'Bhaktivedanta Book Trust' have been omitted.

 

Formerly
they were there on all the books. It is understood from
Rdmesvara that you removed these words. Why did you do
this? Who authorized it? Did Bali Mardan authorize it? These things
must he there. Please see to it."
(SPL to Jayadvatta, 2nd December, 1974)

74-12
"Please accept my humble obeisances. I am in due receipt of your
letter dated November 20th, 1974 and also your telegram regarding the
SB indexes. I have discussed the points of your letter with Srila Prabhupada.
He said that yes, it was a very good idea to offer the first published
edition of CC Adi:l to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on his
disappearance day, January 1,1975.

Regarding
the SB index idea of separate volumes, Prabhupada does not like this
idea. He said that we are selling the books mostly to casual customers,
so what will be the fate of the index for them? They will never see
the index. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada prefers that each volume
have its own separate index. This system should be revived.

I hope this
meets you in good health.

Your servant

Brahmananda
Swami

Personal Secretary

Approved:
ACBS." (SPL (approved by ACBS) to Badhaballabha Prabhu,
December 3rd, 1974)

74-12
"Yes, in the future you should make sure that all the books,
no matter what size or color, have the words Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
under the logos. Whether it is clear or unclear it should be
there." (SPL to Jayadvatta, 20th December, 1974)

75-01
"1 have received one copy of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 4,
Volume 4, and Krsna Consciousness: The Matchless Gift. Thank
you very much for these books. One thing is that every volume of
Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritdmrta and any other big volumes, must
have a full index. It is not a very prestigious presentation without
the index. All volumes in the future must have the
index." (SPL to Badhaballabha dasa, 19th January, 1975)

75-02
"The sample that you sent me of the new design for the BBT
logo is approved, by me. For the sake of consistency, you can also
use it on the cover jacket. Every volume of Srimad-Bhagavatam as
well as Caitanya-caritdmrta must be fully complete with an index,
list of references, glossary, Sanskrit pronunciation guide, and index

of
Sanskrit (or Bengali) verses. This will be best."
(SPL to Badhabal-labha dasa, 6th February, 1975)

75-09
"Also on the spine of the book under the BBT logo the words
'Bhaktivedanta Book Trust' must appear. They are doing this on all
the new volumes of Caitanya-caritdmrta from Los Angeles."
(SPL to Earhsaduta dasa, 3rd September, 1975)

75-09
"I have received a letter from Jayadvaita dasa dated September
8th, regarding the UpadeiSmrta
book. The title of the book can be The
Nectar of Instruction. We already have The Nectar of Devotion
so now you will have the The Nectar of Instruction.
You can make it just like the set-up of the The Nectar of Devotion
book. The words Sri Upadesamrta
do not have to appear in the title. A
dedication is not required because it
is not a
big book. The suggestion for the picture of Rupa Goswami's
Govindaji temple is approved. Regarding the conclusion of the book,
yes, it says in the text that the most fortunate devotees execute devotional
service near Radha-fcunrfa. That is stated in the book. I am enclosing
the introduction for the book; please find." (SPL to Badhaballabha
dasa, 21st September, 1975)

75-10
"Concerning the synonyms, henceforward I am adding the
synonyms myself. From yesterday night I have begun adding the
synonyms as it doesn't save very much time to have the synonyms.
The Upadesamrta can be composed in the Bhdgavatam
format in the size of pocket The Nectar of Devotion."
(SPL to Badhaballabha dasa, 20th October, 1975)

76-01
"The new Sixth Canto Bhdgavatams are very nice. Yes, actually
they are worshipable Deities. Be careful that our books do not
appear like Bible printing. Sometimes the Christians also put gold
gilding on their books, but people are adverse to purchasing
Bibles. Neither our books should be given free, there must be some
remuneration, otherwise it will be like Bible selling."
(SPL to Rdmesvara, 3rd January, 1976)

76-01
"I wish to thank you and all the devotees serving at the BBT for
helping to produce these new volumes. Thank you very much. This type
of decoration on the books--the gold gilding and gold stamping--is generally
found on Bibles and Shakespearian texts. Whether people will now confuse
our books with these others? Our get-up is already approved, you

 

should
not unnecessarily increase the price. You say that these additions will
be especially useful for libraries, but if the price is increased they
may not accept them. Of course, it depends on the local sellers--they
can say whatever is best. You should only make these changes if
the sales will actually be increased. I doni want the BBT or the temples
to lose.⁷'
(SPLto Radhaballabha dasa, 5th January, 1976)

76-01
"Regarding the improvements of gold stamping and gold
gilding on the Bhdgavatams,
I have already advised Rddhdballab-ha Prabhu. Simply to make fashionable
and increase the price may hamper the sales. Rather decrease the price."
(SPL to Ramesvara, 12th January, 1976)

76-02
"If the gold stamping on the bindings will increase the appeal
of the books then it is OK. Yes, I have also seen that the old cover
cloths were very poor quality. It is good that you have improved them.
You can add to the Song-book the poem I wrote before arriving at the
Boston Port, when I first came to America. This
can be printed at the beginning of the books."
(SPL to Radhdballab-ha, 3rd February, 1976)

76-09
"Titling of the Ninth Canto as 'Liberation' is good, and the
Tenth Canto should be called 'The Summum Bonum.' As far as the
11th and 12th Cantos are concerned they shall be named when
they are presented. The title which you have given to the Eighth
Canto was a little hard to understand at first but if it refers to
pralaya, then it is all right. You must consult with me
on such matters. Do not manufacture anything."
(SPL to Radhaballabha dasa, 7th
September, 1976)

PRINTING
OF PAMPHLETS AND BOOKLETS

71-12
"Your proposal to make a series of smaller books is approved by
me. It is very nice. That will help in teaching the young children also.
If the press is running 24 hours, then everything is all right. Something
must always be produced. I am very encouraged by the small pamphlets
sent to me by Karandhara which he is printing in Los Angeles.
I wanted that our press from the very beginning should print such leaflets,
but that they have not done--simply trying for equalling Dai Nippon,
consuming money like Dai Nippon, and producing nothing." (SPL
to Bali Mardan, December 28th, 1971)

72-02
"I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated January
16th and January 23, 1972, and it is with great pleasure that
I remember you and your good husband by reading them and seeing the
nice work you are doing in the New Navadvipa News and other pamphlets....!

am
especially appreciating the writings of Siddhasvarupa in the New
Navadvipa News and 'Open Letter' pamphlets, like Die Hippy, Die!
and these articles should be printed in our Back to Godhead
magazine and distributed very widely." (SPL to Govinda dost,
February 12th, 1972)

72-02
"I am especially pleased that you are compiling booklets for
ISKCON Press. Yes, that is their best work: small booklets and
pamphlets. Leave the big books to Dai Nippon"
(SPL to Hayagriva, February 13th, 1972)

76-05
"I am in receipt of the Hare Krsna Souvenir printed from the
Madras center. It appears that you neglected to advertise my
books. It was a very good opportunity but why was it overlooked?"

(SPL to
Yas'oddnanda Swami, 26th May 1976)

LOANS,
MANAGEMENT, MONEY AND ACCOUNTS

68-06
"By the by, I require you to find out the duplicate copies
of Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2nd canto, and a few chapters of the 3rd
canto, which are lying in my closet in my room, and send to me immediately.
I want to prepare it for printing in Japan just after the printing of
Teachings of Lord Caitanya is finished. I have decided now definitely
that all my printing works shall be done in Japan. In America
it is too expensive and in India it is too much botheration.
Therefore in the future if there is sufficient money, I wish to print
each volume of my book, 5,000 copies. Now, very soon we shall get 5,000
copies of Teachings of Lord Caitanya
and we have to organize the sales propaganda. If there is sale, then
there is no scarcity of matter for printing. Mukunda has written that
he is acquainted with some man for selling Back to Godheads,
and you can just contact him to know further about it. I am sending
you today the balance book sheets of Teachings of Lord Caitanya
to Brahmananda. Hope you are well." (SPL to RayarSma, 12th June,
1968)

68-12
"So far as my book fund is concerned, you have said that you do
not wish to take profit from this fund so as you like you may take the
commission as Brahmananda has proposed and then you can return the profit

 

to
me in Los Angeles. That will keep the accounts clear.
But somehow or other see that our books are sold very quickly.
My book fund is now drained by $7000 and I should fill up this gap very
soon. I require to keep this fund because it is helpful in achieving
the immigration papers as well as credit for such items as temples and
books from MacMillan and Dai Nippon. This account should therefore always
be kept for an emergency. Also, I wish next to publish a new book entitled
The Nectar of Devotion. So if you can help with these funds it will
be very appreciated." (SPLto Hamsaduta, 12th December, 1968)

69-05
"Regarding the church, I think you should try for
it by all means, and if need be I shall see that the funds which you
need will be loaned to you. I
have already informed Tamala Krsna that the Los Angeles temple may be
called upon to give this loan. So try for it, because such a nice church
will be a tremendous boon to our Seattle propaganda activities."
(SPLto Upendra, Sth May, 1969)

70-06
"But Gargamuni informs me that the payments for Back to Godhead's
and book sales are not being sent. So the best thing will be to keep
daily count of your stock and how many magazines and books sold.
Then regularly, on Sunday of each week the sales proceeds may be totalled
for issuing a check to the amount owed to my book fund and
to the Back to Godhead accounts.
Then on each Monday the check may be sent to Los Angeles. So you do
this regularly and it will be very nice." (SPL to Hamsaduta,
June 29th, 1970)

70-07
"I, the undersigned, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, presently author
of the following books: Krsna; The Nectar of Devotion; Easy Journey
to Other Planets; Isopanisad; Bhagavad-gltd As It Is; Srimad-Bhagavatam;
Teachings of Lord. Caitanya; Krsna Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga
System, do hereby appoint Rupanuga dasa Adhikari, Bhagavan dasa
Adhikari, and Karandhara dasa Adhikari for the purpose of the publishing
of manuscripts and literatures made by me, distribution and collection,
and all other necessary paraphernalia in this connection. This Trust
is called the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Out of the three trustees the
majority decision will be carried.

At
the present moment, the Krsna
books are coming from Japan and they should be taken care of immediately.
The present procedure is that Sriman Karandhara dasa Adhikari is looking
after the business and collecting the fund. The same procedure should
be followed and whenever there is a collection, it should be deposited
in my bank account entitled

ISKCON INC--BHAKTIVEDANTA
BOOK TRUST, number with

the
Security Pacific National Bank. And whenever there will be a new printing,
on submission of the estimate, I shall immediately advise the bank to
remit as I am now doing. In the future, things will be done as it is
necessary. All withdrawals are to be signed by me exclusively.
The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust account will be used, to publish my books
and literature and to establish temples throughout the world, specifically
three temples are to be established, one each in Maydpur, Vptdd-vana,
and Jaganndtha Puri."
(SPL to BBT trustees, July 29th, 1970)

71-07
"The book distribution policy should be like this: Cash only.
AM books are to be sold cash on delivery, (COD).
Books can be returned for exchange of other books only for a period
of up to one year. Householders can sell books and get 15% commission
on the net income. The retail discount schedule will be as follows:
1-2 books, 33%; 3-24 books, 40%; 25-99 books 42%; and 100 books and
over, 50% (wholesale rate)." (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, July 7th,
1971)

71-10
"If you think it is wise to purchase that house you can give the
loan of $15,000 from the amount of $33,000 advanced to Back to Godhead
a/c. But one thing is that these amounts are especially kept to meet
emergency credit with Dai Nippon, because twice I paid them at the rate
of $20,000, to meet their immediate demand. So our credit is maintained
with them. So this $15,000 loan to the Dallas school scheme, must be
returned very quickly, because it is emergency fund. If it becomes blocked
on account of purchasing property, then I do not think this money should
be invested in that way. So if you consider that this money will
be returned as soon as possible, not later than six months, then I allow
you to give them the loan."
(SPL to Karandhara, 9th October, 1971)

71-12
"So far the books shipped to Africa, this will be a contribution
this time. But from now on books used in Africa and India shall be printed
in those countries, and you may send them the
plates of each book required by them for printing locally."
(SPL to Bali Mardan, December 28th, 1971)

72-01
"Distributing literatures in German language is the most important
task ahead, and it is very good, your proposal to print locally--but
why it was not done before?
Anything locally available is better, if the supply is regular. If you
can arrange for that then do it. I do not know why in Europe, nothing
has been done to print books. So many

 

years
you have been there, and still there is no literature in European languages.
Why is it that you cannot find out some formula for printing nicely?
I think there is no shortage of translators. Better if you turn your
attention to this project immediately." (SPL to KrsnadSsa, January
10th, 1972)

72-04
"Note, so far the Back to Godhead and Book Funds are concerned,
these matters shall be managed separately from the GBC,
by a body known as The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
The Book Trust shall be comprised of Srila Prabhupada, Karandhara dasa,
and Bali Mar-dan dasa. They shall combinedly collect the sales proceeds
from each center and utilize all funds for the printing of Srila Prabhupada's
books and the construction of ISKCON centers all over the world. Not
a farthing is to be spent for any other purpose.

The
Book Trust shall see to the printing and distribution to centers, of
books and magazines, and it will be the serious responsibility of each
temple president to see that the billed amounts for these are paid to
the Back to Godhead and Book Funds regularly. The billing and
collections shall come from and to Los Angeles, where Karandhara dasa
will collect and keep accounts. We request that everyone will take these
formulas to heart and execute them very conscientiously. In this way
we shall certainly be successful in pushing on this movement."
(From Karandhara dasa Ad-hikdri letter approved by Srila Prabhupada
to all temple presidents, April 22nd, 1972)

72-07
"I have recently seen a copy of a letter that Karandhara Prabhu
has sent to all centers regarding payments to the Back to Godhead
and Book Funds dated July 9th, 1972. Karandhara has informed me
that you are apparently an offender in the connection of being tardy
in payments to my Back to Godhead and book fund. This is not good.
We are trying to push on this movement on many fronts, one of the most
important being the production and distribution of our Krsna conscious
literature for the upliftment of mankind. My Guru Maharaja particularly
gave me this assignment, so please assist me to your best capacity in
this regards. Karandhara Prabhu is the treasurer of the Back to Godhead
and BKF so you may immediately clear your accounts with him and this
will be a serious responsibility upon you." (SPL to Amogha,
15th July, 1972)

72-08
"Regarding the corner property, for which you have offered $73,500,
that is a nice proposal, if the Book Trust can purchase the
whole building outright as an investment and collect the rents as
dividends." (SPL to Karandhara, 1st August, 1972)

72-09
"Regarding your questions, Seva Puja*
means only for daily worship of Deities. The building fund will
construct, the book fund will maintain, and this fund is for daily expenditure
of Seva Puja or worship of the Deities only.
So far your administrative duties as secretary of Mayapur-Vrndavana
Trust Fund are concerned, that will be informed by you. For the time
being, rents should be collected by Karandhara and sent to India. How
it will be done I shall think over and let you know." (SPL to
Atreya Rsi, 13th September, 1972)

72-12
"That policy of frying the fish in its own oil' is all right,
but doni touch the bonds. It should be kept as it is.
And now I am thinking to pay Dai Nippon for supplying books to
India because there is no money in Mayapur Fund. There is huge demand
for books in India, especially Bhagavad-glta.
So I wish to transfer the bonds for paying Dai Nippon on account of
supplying books to India. The idea is that you can supply all varieties
of books to India, whatever they order, and send them a bill in dollars,
cost-price dollars, and the cost-price dollars may be paid to Dai Nippon
by encashing the bonds. All of our books may be printed by Dai Nippon
in huge amount to the extent of $100,000 cost-price and sent to India.
I shall pay them with dollars from the bonds and everything, and here
the money will be paid in rupees into a Bhaktivedanta book fund and
M-V Trust Fund in Indian banks, at the rate of ten rupees per dollar.
So there is no difficulty. Just like TLC costs $1.50, and the temple
takes 25% or $1.50, and above that there is $3 profit. So from Jain
if we get 10 rupees per dollar, this way we will get 20 rupees."
(SPL to Karandhara, 3rd December, 1972)

74-01
"I know you are a very good cook and I can understand that you
have found the books useful for distribution. I have no objection to
your printing it with the name Revatinandana Swami's Cookbook,
but the royalty should go to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Just
as I am publishing Bhagavad-gitd As It Is with MacMillan Company but
the royalty is
going to the BBT.
I think this method is appropriate. If you yourself take the royalty
it will be personal interest money and trade, and this will deviate
your principle of sannydsa. Sannyasl
means he is in renounced order and lives by begging alms for the bare
necessities of life. It is not good to make trade to get money for personal
expenditure. If the royalty is given to the BBT, we will keep a separate
account from this royalty and necessary expenditures for your preaching
may be supplied from the BBT." (SPL to Revatinandana Swami,
9th January, 1974)

 

74-08
"Regarding money collected, do not keep this money. Immediately
spend on printing hooks. Perhaps we may require money for building purposes.
This should be strictly followed: 50% for printing and 50% for building.
No money should be invested for any business purposes. He may require
$100,000 for this purpose. Let me know if it is possible. I think it
is possible but I want to hear from you." (SPL to Ramesvara, 13th
August, 1974)

74-09
"Yes, it is good that you have understood me about not investing
any BBT monies in business." (SPL to Ramesvara dasa, 3rd
September, 1974)

74-09
"BBT management should be rigidly done very carefully,
and I think Ramesvara is a good manager. He can be appointed
BBT secretary. I approve BBT moving to New York, because of
their freehand dealing. Ramesvara may be made your assistant and,
remain with you. It is all right that no others be appointed as
trustees at present." (SPL to Bali Mardan dasa, 5th September,
1974)

74-09
"Now you publish in German language all our books and distribute.
Krsna will help you in every respect. The BBT collection should be spent
50% for publishing and 50% for construction of temples. At the present
moment the Mayapur-Vrndavana projects are going on, so as soon as there
is an excess of money it should be utilized here. Not
a single farthing should be invested in any
business enterprise. Formerly it was done so without any sanction. So
be careful. Regarding printing, you can print in USA or any other
country. UK also has big presses, I have heard that Belgium is also
good. Also Holland, and Germany is also good." (SPL to Hathsaduta
dasa, 7th September, 1974)

74-09
"Regarding BBT lending Bhaktivedanta Manor dollars
25,000 for purchasing a house in Letchmore Heath, the BBT has no
money, that is what I think. It is lending to Australia $100,000 and
prepared to lend to Paris $100,000.1 do not know that after lending
this money there will be anything more. Lending for opening a
temple is the business of BBT but not lending for residential quarters."
(SPL to Hamsaduta dasa, 29th September, 1974)

74-09
"Regarding the International Publishing House under one
roof, the principle of management is that everything will be managed

by
BBT. We have so many centers but the management is done
by the GBC and myself. So what is the difficulty? It is a question of
management, but not that all staff come together. Any big establishment
has got different works and staff in different place. Recently I met
one big manufacturer from Kannauj. He has got his factories in Orissa,
Mysore, etc., but the whole thing is being managed from Kannauj. What
is being manufactured in Orissa cannot be brought to Mysore. It is the
capacity of management, but not that we bring everyone together."
(SPL to Hamsaduta dasa, 29th September, 1974)

74-11
"So it is all right. I did not know it was a loan. In name
money comes to India in loan but it is never repaid. In name there
are so many loans, like to Spiritual Sky and now it is not being repaid.
Everyone is taking a loan from BBT. That is the only source
of our income but if everyone takes a loan, then how can it go on?"
(SPL tojayatlrtha dasa, 11th November, 1974)

74-11
"Regarding not being able to make any more loans from BBT, I think
if necessary we can borrow from the bank using the fixed deposits as
security. So long as the loans are not paid back to the bank we shall
assure that we shall not withdraw the fixed deposits. These properties
should be purchased in the name of BBT, and when the local center
repays the loan, then the name can be transferred.
Now you have loaned Madhudvisa $133,505.50. How will he repay? What
are die terms for repayment? In France they are wanting to borrow $120,000.
Can you arrange for this loan in January, 1975? I understand that Spiritual
Sky is not able to repay its loan now. This rule must be strictly followed
that 50% paid for printing and 50% paid for property and building loans."
(SPL to Ramesvara dasa, 14th November, 1974)

74-11
'Wo, we cannot loan BBT money for any other purpose than
what is mentioned in the BBT agreement. These other loans for
cows, equipment, and restaurants must all be re-paid, and no other
loans other than for publishing and temple construction can be
granted." (SPL to Ramesvara dasa, 25th November, 1974)

74-12
"Regarding the film making BBT has already financed the film, so
the film is made, so let them sell it and finance other films.
Continually it is not possible for BBT to finance. So let them sell
and finance and make films." (SPL to Hamsaduta dasa, 8th December,
1974)

 

74-12
"As far as your future films are concerned I do not think it
is possible for the BBT to continue financing these films. BBT is
strictly for construction of temples and printing books.
My idea is that you can use the original capital that BBT gave you.
You don't have to pay that back. You can somehow or another, by business
tactics increase that capital and employ it again to make a new film.
Then again use the capital from that film or use the profit from that
film to create another film, etc. In this way you can make many films.
But I do not think that BBT should finance it. These films are very
nice and they can be effectively used for our preaching work. Generally
people enjoy seeing any film. But when a film has something substantial
such as our Krsna conscious philosophy to offer then it becomes a real
pleasure. Therefore our films should be the most popular films ever
produced. Try to distribute this and your original first film as widely
as possible and in this way the finances will be easily obtained for
producing further films." (SPL to
Yadubara, 25th December, 1974)

74-12
"I have just received one letter from Tamala Krsna Goswami
which is very encouraging regarding his preaching program in the United
States. He has requested to take a loan from BBT for $30,000 to purchase
three more buses. I fully authorize this. Therefore please do the needful.
Fifty percent of BBT funds are for printing books and fifty
percent are for construction of temples. So these buses are like
temples, moving temples. Therefore you should
give him the
loan." (SPL to Harhsadu-ta, 27th December, 1974)

74-12
"I think that you should immediately try and get the church in
Toronto. Take it immediately. Church is always cheaper as there are
not many other purchasers. This way we can bargain with them and bring
the price down. The psychology behind it is that the Christians will
hesitate to tear down a church. They would rather see it still standing.
Gradually you should buy all the churches and make them into temples.
There are so many churches actually they should give us these churches
free, if they were actually God-conscious. But they are sectarian.
Anyway purchase this church immediately. It is not very costly.
$200,000 you can arrange. If it is available from BBT at this time then
I have no objection.
You can make the $150,000 loan from BBT. I do not know though if that
much is available." (SPL tojagadlsa, 28th December, 1974)

75-01
"Any householder devotee who is working full-time (with his wife)
as a sankirtana book distributor, or temple managerial duties,
artist, cook,

etc.
shall be provided food, shelter, and other bare minimum necessities
by the temple itself. They should not cook their own meals separate
from the temple meals. If they have children, then some minimal allowance
may be given according to the number of children. If they want anything
extra or over and above what the temple president sees as absolute necessity,
then they should work outside--the temple cannot pay for anything beyond
the bare necessities. And definitely, the BBT cannot pay any
salary to anybody. Our philosophy is 'simple living and high thinking'--not
sense gratification. The temple presidents and leaders
(elder students) must show this by example.
Temple or asrama means for renunciation and renounced persons.
If one is engaged in self-realization process, then his material necessities
become almost nil. Persons who do not like this can work outside."
(SPL to Kirtiraja dasa, 12th January, 1975)

75-11
"Note you are going to print the small Bhagavad-gitd As It Is.
One thing is, if the people will get the small Bhagavad-gitd at the
cheap price, then will they want to purchase the bigger one? Witt
that be good? How witt you distribute the bigger ones at the more
expensive price when there is the cheaper one also available?"
(SPL to Bhagavan dasa, 14th November, 1975)

76-01
"You are charging too much for the Krsna Conscious Movement
Is Authorized. It should not cost the temples more than 10
cents or whatever the cost price is. This is our advertisement and is
meant for mass distribution. I have already suggested to you how
to do this." (SPL to Ramesvara, 18th January, 1976)

76-01
"Another point is that the BBT cannot give a loan to Dallas
for gurukula construction. That is not possible. Jagadisa Prabhu is
expecting a loan of $150,000 from the BBT. So I have told him that
the money is already needed for construction here in India, in
Bombay, Kuruksetra, and Mdydpur. The best thing is that gurukula
should be moved to India."
(SPL to Ramesvara, 23rd January, 1976)

76-02
"In Madras we have to construct a very gorgeous temple. In Nel-lore
the owners of the land are putting so many impossible conditions that
we cannot construct. So that foundation stone can be brought to Madras
and used for the Madras temple. Now immediately find out some land and
begin the construction. Never mind what the cost will be. We are not
concerned with the amount of money, but we want a very attractive temple.
The money should come from the gentlemen of Madras.

 

The
foreign funds are reserved now for Bombay, Kuruksetra, Ja-ganndtha
Puri and Mdydpur. But if absolutely required, something
may be arranged. Go on sending funds to Hyderabad. That construction
should be completed as soon as possible. But whatever amount you have
sent there, Hyderabad will repay you after their temple is finished."
(SPL to Sravanananda and Bhavabhuti, 4th February, 1976)

76-02
"t have recently thought of a scheme to increase funds in our BBT
account. 1 would like to send Indian goods to you for sales to
the devotees and others.
In the beginning I can have cloth sent, especially saris.
So many others are doing it successfully, we can also be successful.
I will have the papers sent through Lloyd's bank as I have an account
with them in London. So you can find out the Lloyd's branch there. You
can deposit all monies received from sales of the saris
in the Lloyd's Bank. You may also keep a percentage of the sales for
yourself. Please advise me
if you are able to execute." (SPL to Bhurijana dasa, 25th February,
1976)

77-04
"Now we are forming a scientists' party and we shall try with their
help to establish Krsna consciousness as the genuine scientific movement
of die world exposing the so-called scientists as nothing but speculators.
Svarupa Damodara has received very good response here in India from
the scientific community and there is good hope that many others will
join him. He is returning to America for preparing some publications
and when these are completed I have asked him to tour vigorously throughout
the world lecturing with his other colleagues at all major institutions
and universities. He has drawn up a budget of immediate needs, a
copy of which is enclosed and I immediately sanction this amount. Whatever
expenditure he requires supply him immediately from the
BBT. I am prepared to give $10,000 or more monthly if required to
finance this most important preaching program.
So whatever money Svarupa Damodara needs must be supplied monthly and
he will send you accounts.

You
can save this money by minimizing the expenditures in the luxury departments
of Sanskrit and artists. We do not want these departments for the time
being. One or two men must suffice for Sanskrit work. There is no need
of new paintings. Whatever paintings we have, that is enough. There
is no need of constantly making new variations on the same themes. So
for the art department no more expenditure. If they want to continue
painting let them come and live here in Bombay or in any of our other
temples in India. We have got sufficient facilities now for accommodation
and in this way we can save so much money. Svarupa Damodara

has
requested that Dravida dasa may come and help him with editing work.
The scientists are publishing some booklets to be completed by their
return here on Janmastami. If possible please arrange for Dravida dasa
to join them." (SPL to RSrnesvara, 2nd April, 1977)

77-04
"Yes, try to reduce the expenditures more and more. It is
only with great difficulty upon all our book distributors that BBT gets
its funds. So those who are responsible should be very frugal
to see that not one penny is unnecessarily spent." (SPL to Radhabal-labha
dasa, 6th April, 1977)

• BBT
  AND THE 50% PRINCIPLE

69-02
"Regarding the distribution of Teachings of Lord Caitanya,
the principle will be that 60% will go to the book fund, and the rest
will go to you as the distributor. So you may offer to the temples whatever
is suitable. But you will be the sole distributor and the
book fund will get 60%." (SPL to Brahmananda, 29th February, 1969)

70-11
"Regarding your collecting is concerned, persons who donate
should not receive membership for such donation, membership is
different. 50% should go each to the temple fund and to my book
fund. For the 50% put into my book fund, yes, they may receive
credit for our book program; why not?" (SPL to Jayapataka Maharaja,
November 15th, 1970)

71-02
"Now the most important point is to recruit life members as
many as possible. Please let me know how many you have made.
The money received from the life membership fees should be divided into
two: 50% for building fund and 50% for my book fund. By
distribution of our books and literatures through this program of
life membership, our institution can become greater and greater all
over the world." (SPL to Dayananda, February 8th, 1971)

71-04
"All book sale proceeds should be immediately transferred
by mail. 50% should go to the book fund account and 50% to the
building fund account. The building fund account number is 9-381,
Central Bank, head office. The book fund account number is 14538, Central Bank, Gowalia Tank
branch, Bombay." (SPL to Ksirodakasayi, April 21st, 1971)

 

71-11
"If you simply push on this one activity of distributing my books,
your all success will be there. I have hatched this 'transcendental
plot' for getting money by selling my books, and if we stick only to
this plan, and use our brain for selling books, there will easily be
sufficient money. I have recently informed the GBC to allow each
temple to keep 25% of the money they collect from direct book and magazine
sales for temple maintenance, 75% to be sent to book fund.
Supposing you sell 800 dollars a week worth of literature (retail price).
Will not 200 dollars weekly be sufficient for food and rent? If not,
increase book sales, or, until things are adjusted in this way, supplement
in other ways, but try to avoid too much business as this distracts
us from our real mission. If Krsna sees that we are very active to spread
information about Him, He is Master of the goddess of fortune, He will
give everything." (SPL to Lalita Kumara, November 15th, 1971)

72-01
"From book sales at least 50% of the face value of the book
has to go to the book fund. And from the sales of the Back to Godhead
at least one rupee per magazine should be paid to the book
fund. So whatever remains after this can be utilized by you to do
the publishing." (SPL to Kslrodakasayi, January 3rd, 1972)

72-09
"Please accept my most humble obeisances at your feet. Prabhupa-da
just spoke with me regarding the distribution of foreign (other
than English) language literature. His direction is that 10% of the
gross income on the sales of all of our literatures, books, and magazines,
should be sent to The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
The BBT is financing many world-wide projects for the Society, and therefore
all income from literature distribution should contribute and support
it. Please therefore make the necessary arrangements. A simple way to
accomplish this would be to figure at the end of each month what your
gross (total, before subtracting production costs and overhead) income
from the sale of literature was for that month, calculate 10% of this
figure, and send this to BBT in care of myself in Los Angeles. I know
that you will understand that this subsidy will greatly facilitate the
growth of Society-wide programs and everyone will benefit. From your
local view it may appear to be an imposition, but I assure you that
overall it is in the interest of Lord Caitanya's movement. Regarding
your regular remittance, it will be left solely to your integrity and
'for the overall benefit' conscientiousness. I am sure you will do the
needful. Also, regarding the sale of translations to outside publishers
(which we hope to do with the Bhagavad-glta As It

Is
for Spanish, French, and German) 50% will go to the local center which
did the actual translating and 50% will go to the Book Trust, as per
Prabhupada's directions.

If you have
any questions or points to make, please correspond with me.

Your Servant,

Karandhara
dasa Adhikari

Approved
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada." (SPL to temple
presidents, September 16th, 1972)

74-08
"Begarding money collected, do not keep this money. Immediately
spend on printing books. Perhaps we may require money
for building purposes. This should be strictly followed: 50% for
printing and 50% for building. No money should be invested for
any business purposes. He may require $100,000 for this purpose. Let
me know if it is possible. I think it is possible but I want to hear
from you." (SPL to Ramesvara, 13th August, 1974)

74-09
"Now you publish in German language all our books and distribute,
Krsna will help you in every respect. The BBT collection should be spent
50% for publishing books and 50% for construction of temples.
At the present moment the Mayapur-Vrndavana projects are going on, so
as soon as there is an excess of money it should be utilized here. Not
a single farthing should be invested in any business enterprise. Formerly
it was so done without any sanction. So be careful. Regarding printing,
you can print in USA or any other country. UK also has big presses,
I have heard that Belgium is also good. Also Holland, and Germany is
also good." (SPL to Hamsaduta dasa, 7th September, 1974)

74-11
"Regarding not being able to make any more loans from BBT, I think
if necessary we can borrow from the bank using the fixed deposits as
security. So long as the loans are not paid back to the bank we shall
assure that we shall not withdraw the fixed deposits. These properties
should be purchased in the name of BBT, and when the local center repays
the loan, then the name can be transferred. Now you have loaned Madhudvisa
$133,505.50. How will he repay? What are the terms for repayment? In
France they are wanting to borrow $120,000. Can you arrange for this
loan in January, 1975? I understand that Spiritual Sky is not able to
repay its loan now. This rule must be strictly followed that
50% paid for printing and 50% paid for property and building
loans." (SPL to Ramesvara dasa, 14th November, 1974)

 

74-11
"Regarding the collections, the books are increasing, so 50%
should go to BBT and 50% to construction, but if needed, then that
money can be spent in other ways."
(SPL to Tejyas dasa, 15th November, 1974)

74-12
"I have just received one letter from Tamala Krsna Goswami which
is very encouraging regarding his preaching program in the United States.
He has requested to take a loan from BBT for $30,000 to purchase three
more buses. I fully authorize this. Therefore please do the needful.
Fifty percent of BBT funds are for printing books and fifty percent
are for construction of temples. So these buses are like temples, moving
temples. Therefore you should give him the loan."
(SPL to Harhsadu-ta, 27th December, 1974)

75-05
"Regarding BBT affairs, European publications are your
main business, but for the time being, you must also see to the accounts
and managing of the BBT in USA. Bhagavdn can also be another BBT trustee.
His name can be added to the list. It is approved
by me that you get the books for only 20% above the cost of printing."
(SPL to Harhsaduta dasa, 19th May, 1975)

75-06
"I am thinking that Gurukrpa's collections may be used for
book publishing only. He can print books there in Japan and send you
for selling in India. From these sales, you can spend 50% on construction
and 50% on Hindi publishing. And anyone who can manage such
an organization, he can manage the BBT.
But one must do it. It is simply a matter of organization. We can send
you unlimited number of books. You simply have to apply your brain how
to sell them. Then you will have plenty of money. This my mission, you
know it started when I came alone to your country by selling my books,
and still whatever money we are getting it is coming from the book selling.
So it is already proven how important the book-selling is."
(SPL to Gopala Krsna, 21st June, 1975)

75-07
"Regarding seeing your book on Lord Ramacandra partly translated
into English, I am very much eager to see it. I am returning to India
by the month of October, therefore there is no hurry. When I return
I shall be glad to see your book either in Bombay, Vrndavana, or Calcutta.
I have to translate all the Puranas, Ramayana, Mahdbharata,
and many other theistic literatures left by the Gaudlya Vaisnavas headed
by the six Goswamis like Rupa, Sanatana, Jiva, etc. I have already translated
about 50 big books of 400 pages each, and my books are selling all over
the

world
in universities, libraries, learned professors, and the public also
is receiving my books with great respect. Of course they are not my
books, since I have simply translated; but my purports for each and
every verse from the Bhagavad-gtta
and Srlmad-Bhagavatam do very much appeal to the people in general
as well as learned circles. They are very much appreciating and we are
selling to the extent of 30-40 hundred thousands of rupees per month.
Out of this we spend 50% for the maintenance of
our different temples all over the world and 50% we spend for
reprinting my books. I do not take any royalty or any profit
out of it. Similarly if you agree not to take any profit or royalty
then our Bhak-tivedanta Book Trust will publish your book on Lord Ramacandra."
(SPL to Dinanatha, 26th July, 1975)

75-09
"The BBT arrangement you have made is all right, but Brahma-nanda
Swami says that it may be difficult for the temples to maintain by giving
to both the book fund and the building fund. So if it is not possible
that the temples maintain themselves by giving 45% to the BBT and 45%
to the building fund, then use the building fund for maintenance. But
the BBT must get its money. That is the prime responsibility of every
temple. So let the temples pay the BBT 50% and when you require
money for construction, then we shall see."
(SPL to Cyavana Swami, 4th September, 1975)

76-01
"Regarding supplying the Radha Damodara TSKP books at
discount, there is no harm. The BBT should charge them the printing
cost only and the balance they will send to India.
It is the same as before, but instead of the money being sent to
the BBT and then to India, this is shortcut and the money will go directly
to India. As their collections depend entirely on book distribution,
whatever amount they transfer here plus the amount paid to BBT in Los
Angeles may be combined for listing in your monthly ratings as book
distribution. In this way they will be encouraged to go on increasing
the book distribution more and more and at the same time they will be
encouraged to send more and more for the construction. There is no question
of discounting them more money than is needed in India, because we require
crores and crores of unlimited funds. America has the money, so this
is cooperation between the blind men and lame men. This will be a good
name to your country, that Americans are building such nice buildings.
It will make good relations between India and America. The next chance
I have for meeting with Indira Gandhi, I shall inform her about how
much foreign exchange we are sending. After receiving your encouraging
assurance, that as book

 

distribution
increases the amount BBT sends will also increase, we are now going
to attempt the Kuruksetra project and the Jagannatha Purl project. For
the time being we are spending in India, but eventually we will spend
everywhere. This will greatly enhance the American's spiritual position."
(SPL to Rdmesvara, 26th January, 1976)

BBT
AND ISKCON TEMPLES

70-11
"My European disciples have written that there are no books
available in Europe. I want that each and every one of my centers should
be fully stocked with all of my books, never mind if they can
pay or not. The principle is that every center must pay for whatever
books they order, but if for some financial difficulty a center is
not able to pay for books, still we should supply them whatever
they need." (SPL to Satsvariipa, November 4th, 1970)

74-03 "My
dear disciples,

Please
accept my blessings. Now that our ISKCON is growing into a huge world
wide organization, it has come to my attention that sometimes centers
are printing my literature, taking collection and spending all outside
the jurisdiction of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. This must not go on.

I
specifically formed the BBT to invest in it exclusive rights for the
printing of all literature containing my teachings, writings and lectures.
In this way the collections are to be divided fifty percent for printing
new books and fifty percent for construction of temples.

The
BBT can authorize a center to print, as in the case of foreign translations,
with the agreement that when the foreign printing becomes financially
solvent they will pay royalties to the BBT.
But all printing of ISKCON literature must be by the BBT or under
their sanction and approval.

If
temples print independently it will be at the cost of the books I am
myself printing, and could eventually cause the financial ruin of the
BBT, meaning I could not order new books from the printer or have sufficient
funds for construction of temple projects.

I
trust this is now clear and you will all do the needful. If you have
any question in this matter you can write me directly or consult with
the GBC representative." (SPL to Memorandum to all ISKCON centers,
14th March, 1974)

74-10
"Now henceforward you make the following arrangement for

getting
payment from the temples for BBT.
For all book orders the BBT will present the invoice and shipping
documents to your bank a/c BBT for collection. The orders may be shipped
by rail, so the temples will pay the invoice amount in order to receive
the shipping documents from the bank, and then collect the goods. Now
that the inventory has been sent to all centers, there should be no
complaint that there are no books being made available. Let them pay
for what they order, and you fill the orders promptly, so there should
be no difficulty." (SPL to Giriraja dasa,
20th October, 1974)

74-11
"So for maintaining the gurukula, at least the cost price for
the books must be paid. Gurukula can take the profit for its maintenance.
BBT cannot pay for maintenance of the temples. BBT can
only pay for printing and temple properties and construction."

(SPL to
JagadMa, Jayatirtha, and Daydnanda dasa, 15th November, 1974)

74-12
"Regarding the BBT and the Society corporation, yes I want this
land of umbrella corporation. But if there is any difficulty, we have
got BBT already tax exempt in India. If there is difficulty in getting
BBT tax exempt in USA then we have got it here. You say that the lawyer
suggests that BBT be a satellite organ of ISKCON, but does that mean
that BBT is separate from ISKCON or not? Ramesvara gives the hint that
ISKCON may go into liquidation. I cannot think of it. But, anyway,
I cannot at any cost risk BBT if ISKCON goes into liquidation.
Why risk the BBT by amalgamating it into ISKCON? Therefore I want to
keep BBT separate.

Or
there is no need of keeping a separate BBT account. The BBT is here
in India. That BBT may or may not keep an office in Japan where the
majority of the books are printed. The printer ships the books to, say,
ISKCON LA., who can warehouse and distribute to other ISKCON centers.
BBT India issues the advice of the amount ISKCON LA has to pay the printer.
And ISKCON LA pays 50% directly to the printer for goods received and
50% may be deposited in the ISKCON Mayapur Vrndavana Fund, to be used
for temple construction or purchasing property. In this way there is
no need of keeping any separate BBT account which may be taxable. And
ISKCON LA acts as the appointed agent of BBT India. So, if ISKCON LA
goes into liquidation, BBT India will not be affected. If the agent
goes into liquidation, does it mean that the supplier must also go into
liquidation? So ISKCON LA receives goods and pays according to advice
received from BBT India."
(SPL to Hamsaduta dasa, 8th December,
1974)

 

75-02
" Srtla Prabhupdda is concerned that so many temples have
got big debts to the BBT, and he wants that the GBC takes a very
active interest in seeing that these debts are paid as soon as possible.
He is very strong on this point and went so far as to say that
temple presidents who do not keep up with their BBT payments
must be replaced." (Memo to all GBC, signed by 4 GBC men, February
2nd, 1975)

75-06
"Why did you publish this college program book independently and
unauthorized? Any literature that is to be published on
behalf of the movement, must be authorized by the BBT trustees.
You have not even mentioned my name in this book. This is not at
all good. Why have you done this?" (SPL to Bhakta, Jayananda, and
Bahulasva, 17th June, 1975)

76-01
"Regarding the suggestion for book selling, the point is that
the temples must pay the cost of printing. Then they may sell for
whatever price they like." (SPL to Ramesvara dasa, 3rd January,
1976)

76-01
"I am very glad to know that you have already purchased
the Mercedes. For such a long time this car has been required and
now you are fulfilling that desire. Thank you. But you must pay
your entire debt to the book fund in the future, otherwise you will
become that disciple who spends the money of his spiritual master."
(SPL to Pusta Krsna, 23rd January, 1976)

BBT
MAIL ORDER

70-04
"It is very encouraging that you are receiving 10-30 letters
of inquiry and they should be properly replied. Who is doing this work?
This is very important business to enlighten so many people
when there are so many inquiries.
All informative literature should be supplied to them and request them
to read our publications especially Back to Godhead
magazine. One Xerox copy of such letter was sent to me by Gurudasa and
I have replied the same, the copy of which is sent herewith. I think
this copy will help you in answering similar other letters."
(SPL to Yamuna and Gurudasa, 16th April, 1970)

71-11
"I am very pleased that you have taken over responsibility for
our ISKCON books mail-order department. I consider it one of

the
most important posts in our Society, so you must be very diligent to
perform very nicely this immense work.
I especially want that my books and literatures should be distributed
profusely, but so far I understand this is not being done very perfectly.
So I want that you all my students shall very vigorously try for this
book distribution. Do not hesitate to use your American and European
brains to increase, that is Krsna's special gift to you, now use it.
Any activity which will please Krsna should be accepted favorably, this
is our guiding principle.

Now
apply it in this way by doing everything and anything for spreading
this Krsna consciousness literature, and this is really pleasing to
Krsna, know it for certain. Especially you must always be eager to supply
our branches all over the world, with whatever literature they require;
not that they must pay and then get books like ordinary mundane business.
It is not that they shall not pay for books, but that payment must come
gradually and in regular installments. We have to be prompt and gracious
in this business of mail-order books, and I am very encouraged that
you are enthusiastic to do everything required for increasing in this
way." (SPL to Kirtiraja dasa, November 27th, 1971)

71-11
"So far the posters for temple altars, if you have got extra money
you can print the posters. But I am against the policy of our ISKCON
Press charging exorbitant prices for books and other things which they
sell to the temples. Our policy should be cost price, or if a little
more(10% above cost) is required for other expenses, that may be added.
But it is not that we are in business to make profit from each other.
With the public, that is a different thing. But our real business
is to spread Krsna consciousness, and for that our centers
require so many things like books, tapes, photos, like that--and
these should be freely exchanged between the temples to be utilized
nicely in preaching work, without profit-making." (SPL to Rupanuga,
November 30th, 1971)

72-01
"You have got a very important duty to see that all the branches
are kept with a full stock of all my books. And I know that we
are getting many mail orders daily, so you must see that
these orders are all filled promptly. If we take the publics' money,
and then delay too long in filling the orders, this will give us a bad
reputation. So be very conscientious and hard working and Krsna
will give you the ability to do everything nicely. There is no difference
between chanting Hare Krsna or sankirtana
and doing one's assigned work in Krsna consciousness. Sometimes we have
to do so much managerial or office work, but

 

Lord
Caitanya promises us that because in the Kali-yuga this is required
for carrying on our preaching mission, He gives assurance that we will
not become entangled by such work. When die work has to be done, do
it first, then chant. But you must fulfill at leasty sixteen rounds
daily. So if necessary sleep less but you have to finish your minimum
number of rounds." (SPL to Kirtiraja, January 2nd, 1972)

72-02
"1 am very much pleased to hear that our mail-order department
for books and Back to Godhead magazines is increasing
steadily. Now you have good American brain by Krsna's grace, so
the more you go on thinking of ways to increase in this way, the
more Krsna will understand that you are sincere to serve Him as
dearmost friend by preaching His message of Bhagavad-gitd and the more
He will attract you to come back to home, back to Godhead." (SPL
to Kirtiraja, February 28th, 1972)

73-10
"I also thank you for sending the copies of the letters of the
people expressing their appreciation of our books. I am glad that
these letters are being answered promptly by you. This is important."

(SPL to
Ramesvara, October 12th, 1973)

76-02
"Regarding Krsna Consciousness is Authorized,
the first thing you should do is arrange to have a few thousand sent
to India immediately. They can be sent to the Calcutta temple but addressed
to me. I am organizing an office of book distribution under my direct
supervision, and I shall post these books to officers, professors, lawyers,
etc. I think that the mass mailings of this book can
be done by the BBT Mail Order Department
and BBT can cover the whole cost. But because we will be distributing
it freely for the most part, you should try to get the cost reduced
as far as possible. You can try to get a good response from your mailings,
but regardless of the response, we should distribute this book indiscriminately
to selected persons, as I have already indicated: renowned businessmen,
medical men, government officials, scientists, etc. Your new membership
publication should be included with the Krsna Consciousness is Authorized
in any mass mailing." (SPL to Ramesvara dasa, 6th
February, 1976)

76-02
"Please advise mail-order to send one or two copies of their
new catalogues to me." (SPL to Ramesvara, February 25th, 1976)

BBT
RECORDS AND TAPES

68-09
"I can give so many verses, just like cintamani-prakara-sad-masu
... and explain them in English, so we can produce not only
pictures, but also records, in so many ways. So you should be serious
about taking a quotation for the records as soon as possible
and immediately we shall print some records." (SPL to Brahmanan-da,
September 9th, 1968)

70-02
"Regarding the small booklet, Jayadvaita from Boston has sent me
two pages writing which I am enclosing herewith. So with additional
alteration of this idea, plus your idea, if you write a suitable introduction,
then we shall print them with some pictures on nice paper as many copies
as you require for putting them within the paper covering of the records,
and that will be a good introduction. But one thing, I must warn
you in this connection that these records are distributed
amongst teenagers, therefore the language and presentation should be
suitable for their understanding.
I think you will understand me right in this connection. So, after
writing the pamphlet and if possible getting it edited amongst yourselves,
you can send the copies one to me and one to Boston for printing. So
this is my idea, now you can work upon it as you think it fit."
(SPL to Syamasundara, 21st February, 1970)

70-03
"For the present I have a plan for opening 108 centers all
over America, Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia. I have got at
present 26 centers. I have sent some of my devotees in Germany
where people are more interested in this Hare Krsna movement.
You will be pleased to know that simply in Germany alone our
Hare Krsna Mantra record has been sold to the extent of 57,000
copies."'(SPLto Sumati Morarji, 4th March, 1970)

70-03
"I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 3rd March, 1970,
along with the Govindam record. The record is so nice that I am playing
it at least once in a day and it is giving me transcendental
pleasure with tears in my eyes.
I am sure this record will be the first-class hit as already opined
by the experts. Certainly this has come out so successful because of
George's sincere effort in Krsna consciousness. I am so pleased that
he is advancing toward perfectional stage of Krsna consciousness; and
your association will greatly help. Try to convince him to avoid the
four principles of sinful life and chant Hare Krsna mantra
as much
as possible, then he will find everything is successful in his life.
I think on account of this record, many people, at least from different
parts of Europe, will come to see our temple. Many tourists also may
come there. So you do not take it as gloomy, but you should welcome
them in our temple. Regularly try to sell our books and magazines to
them." (SPL to Syamasundara, 8th March, 1970)

71-02
"Yes, you can see to making more records, certainly. The more our
movement is increased, the more the demand for these
records will be there. People here in India are also wanting these
records. So you can send one copy of every record as samples here
immediately to the above given Bombay address. Records are exempt from
our life membership program. Also the new recording described by you
meets my approval, so do it nicely. You can send the booklet here as
soon as it is ready." (SPL to Dinesh Candra, 16th February,
1971)

74-09
"Regarding the printing, it does not matter where you print our
German books. Never mind the cost whether it is a little more
or less. Wherever it is convenient. We are not after profit. The important
thing is good printing and binding so that the people will
be impressed. A book sold rather than a record will be a solid
sale." (SPL to Hamsaduta dasa, 7th September, 1974)

76-12
"The music is nice for the non-devotee class of men. However
the picture on the album cover is not nice. Why this crazy picture?
This will not help our cause. They will not be able to understand.
They will think it is change of body, not of heart. We have got so
many nice pictures ofKrsna." (SPL to Krsna Kanti dasa, 2nd December,
1976)

77-03
"Your proposal for arranging a Gitd on tapes in different
languages for distributing all over the world is very good. You may
contact my representative, His Holiness Harikesa Swami....and arrange
everything with him." (SPL to Nicholas, 30th March 1977)