Dallas
DALLAS
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhū-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sūnyavadi-pasatya-desa-tarine
nirvisesa-sūnyavadi-pasatya-desa-tarine
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Ever since the big Gurukula left Dallas, accompanied by many of its teachers, administrators and sahkirtana soldiers, the servants of Sri Sri Radha-Kalacandaji have been living in the wake of the Gurukula's fame and productivity without developing anything glorious ourselves. It is the sincere desire of all the devotees here, however, that we can one day put Dallas ISKCON on the map again. This is your temple, Srila Prabhupada. You personally selected these Deities in India and named and installed Them yourself. They and you deserve to be glorified much more than is being done.
We have tried to increase book distribution here in many different ways: we have preached like anything, worked long hours, organized sahkirtana marathons, formed a women's sahkirtana party, traveled to other areas, utilized all available spots in the airport, heard expert distributors give pointers in sahkirtana classes, etc. We have also tried to decrease our physical needs and expenses in order to increase book distribution. Somehow or other, though, our level of book distribution and remittance to the BBT is still abominably low.
Therefore, we have decided to accept the conclusion of the scriptures as passed on to us by you: that everything is contained in the holy name. Despite the temporary appearance of failure, the holy name will bring ultimate success. If we sincerely and enthusiastically take up your instructions to follow the four regulative principles, associate with devotees, take prasada, avoid offenses, chant Hare Krsna and preach, then how will there not be success?
"Wherever there is Krsna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion." (Bg. 18.78)
We are thinking that Krsna is simply testing our sincerity, patience and dependence on Him. You have told us that purity is the force. We thus conclude that if we are not meeting the standard of Krsna conscious productivity, this is an indication of our impurity. You have told us that a thing is judged by its result, as you have proven in your own prolific writing of books and creation of big temples united together in a worldwide movement consisting of thousands of devotees. How did you start this movement? Simply by sitting down in Tompkins Square Park and chanting Hare Krsna and by holding discourses on Bhagavad-gita As It Is and distributing prasada. So this method has been proven successful. Without resorting to a big jewelry business, or wearing coat-pants-hat, or compromising the principles, you have magnificently displayed your purity in depending on the holy name.
So we are thinking that if we can just follow in your footsteps, desiring to become pure like and to go back home, back to Godhead to be with you, that Krsna will make all the arrangements necessary. After all, the material nature is working under Krsna's direction. What is there that He cannot do? Especially, there is no reason to think that He will not give your disciples full facility. It is not that we are thinking we need not endeavor … simply sitting down, chanting, and reading your books. Rather, we must endeavor with enthusiasm and determination, but tempered with patience. Without patience, our endeavors will be only passion, and the result will be lamentation. Thinking like this, we are trying to surrender, inspired by your example and the example set by your pure representative, our resident GBC, His Holiness Satsvarūpa dasa Goswami.
The spiritual master is expert, and thus you have taught us how to do everything. More than anything else, though, you have attempted to teach us how to surrender to Krsna and depend entirely on Him. Some of us have become expert cooks, pūjaris, managers, writers, book distributors, etc. But the ability to surrender is the desirable quality that you have most emphasized, although it is the most difficult for us to acquire. In spite of our difficulties, Srila Prabhupada, we would like you to feel assured that we are trying. We are trying, and by your mercy we will succeed. All glories to you.
Your servants,
Kanupriya dasa brahmacari / Gopala dasa brahmacari / Jyotirmaya dasa brahmacari / Yamunapati dasa brahmacari / Kalahka dasa brahmacari / Haridasa dasa brahmacari / Sriman Panḍita dasa brahmacari / Rasaprada dasa brahmacari / Kunjavihari dasa brahmacari / Bhakta Harry / Bhakta Glen / Bhakta Larry / Bhakta Swanson / Bhakta Kim / Vallabha Sena dasa adhikari / Isa dasa adhikari / Divyajnanada dasa adhikari / Mahadyuti dasa adhikari / Subandhu dasa adhikari / Lilananda dasa adhikari / Janajanmadi dasa adhikari / Mahavaraha dasa adhikari / Bhakta Mike / Raghu-nandini-devi dasi / Divyasakti-devi dasi / Svarga-devi dasi / Devi-devi dasi / Dyuti-devi dasi / Daksinavari-devi dasi / Vajasana-devi dasi / Sasvatapavana-devi dasi / Bhaktin Marcia / Bhaktin Alina / Bhaktin Grace / Bhaktin Nancy / Nimai Panḍita / Vasudeva datta / Bhaktivedanta / Govinda / Ananda / Sandipani-muni
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