Reader Response

Appreciations

From Brahmananda das
Vaishnava Scholarly Press
7 October 1993

Hansadutta Prabhu:

Your letter to Kirtanananda was profound, transcendental and true. Srila Prabhupada is guiding you on how to save him and the movement, and he is speaking through you. Gargamuni says it’s because you love Srila Prabhupada. Gargamuni also says please send money.

Yours very truly,
Brahmananda das

From Chandrashekhara das
ISKCON Prison Ministries
8 October 1993

Dear Hansadutta Prabhu:

Jai Radhe Shyama! Please accept my respects. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I was thrilled to receive your letter and package of materials, Prabhupada, His Movement and You magazine. Your sincerity and humility touched my heart.

Certainly Prabhupada is smiling upon you, his dear son, who is struggling so diligently to rectify himself and go back home.

I’m honored to be your god-brother, and I’m excited about the development of this wonderful movement, Nama Hatta. Because you’re coming closer to Krishna every day, you’re useful right now. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Your servant and friend,
Chandrashekhar das

From Brahmananda dasa
Vaishnava Scholarly Press
20 October 1993

Dear Hansadutta Maharaja:

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for your kind letter.

I was sorry to learn that Kirtanananda appears not to be able to appreciate your letter. I have received a letter from Hrishikesh dasa, who has written a letter to K Swami, expressing his disappointment in K’s flip-flopping, and on seeing that he is still accepting daily worship, expresses his intention to sever all connection.

So far you and I are concerned, I always saw you as a sincere servant of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada liked you and your service. How could I not like you? You are competitive and unconventional, but always it is on the platform of devotional service. Srila Prabhupada accepted this competitiveness in us; it greatly amused him. So, how can I not appreciate this in you? Srila Prabhupada always brought out the best in us, even though we are full of the worst. That was his greatness, and only he could do this.

When you all meet in India, you should organize some practical program for a Prabhupada-focused movement. This will be more constructive than just pointing out all the anomalies in the movement.

Now we in the Archives are introducing a program to establish 1,000 complete libraries of all books, tapes and videos in homes and temples for the 1996 Srila Prabhupada Centennial. This is what I am working for now.

I wish you all the best in your mission. All glories to your service.

Your servant,
Brahmananda dasa

From Brahmananda dasa,
Vaishnava Scholarly Press
20 October 1993

The “Reward” is brilliant marketing of an idea. The faxes of course will reach only the managers, but the devotees will be reached by book distribution. The philosophical statements in Srila Prabhupada’s books are used to justify the appointment of gurus, but this requires an assumption that we are qualified to act in the capacity stated in the philosophy. But, one becomes “qualified” when he receives the order of the spiritual master; “on my order….” For instance, in the ashram, if the spiritual master does not ask the disciple to take food, then the disciple fasts. This is the discipline. You are correct in challenging everyone to produce Srila Prabhupada’s written order. Where is the order, the mandate?

Your servant,
Brahmananda dasa

From Rasananda das
Hare Krishna Land, Hyderabad, India
25 October 1993

Dear Hansadutta Prabhu:

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

I have received Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You. Especially the sections “How to recognize the Acharya” and “ISKCON is like the Great Holy River Ganges” are very exact and to the point, clearly and lucidly written. After reading them, I felt honored to have been sent a copy.

Hoping this meets you well.

Yours in service,
Rasananda das