Srila Prabhupada, His Movement & You

From Dhamaghosa dasa,
Seattle, Washington
20 January 1994

Dear Hansadutta Prabhu:

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

Thank you very much for your kind letter and sentiments. I would be interested in how you intend to distribute books, since I used to be a book distributor for years and years. But right now I am humbly trying to get a building for use as a temple. We had a very nice program going here for a couple of years until Gauridasa decided to fly South to sunnier skies. Now neither he nor us here have any semblance of the original program we once had. The program I do brings 5-10 or so dedicated souls weekly. But it would be much better if I had a building in a good location, which would bring in foot traffic as well as drive-bys.

Anyway, we use, you might be interested to know, those small Bhagavad-gitas you had printed years ago. I can’t stand using the “new improved versions.” Can you believe what these so-called devotees are doing to Prabhupada’s books? Even now wanting to take out all his purports about the Gaudiya Math!

If you are ever coming North this way, I would very much like you to stay with us and give us your association.

Regarding the magazine you printed, I know many people who would be interested in seeing a copy. Have you mailed them to the “Gurus?” GBC? Just like in the media, the politicians lie again and again, until finally everybody believes them—like Bush, a master of denial. Similarly, we have to continue to tell people the truth about Prabhupada, until finally they get it, after much repeating even to the same people. So this magazine you’ve done is good. I will help you distribute it here and about.

Are you and others planning a get-together this spring or summer? If so, I would like to come down for it. Remember your old friend Dharmaraj? Well, he’s now with Tripurari and Co., hook, line and sinker. You might want to drop him a line, a long one.

I really loved the “Challenge” in Vrindavan, just like the Dr. Kovoor days in Sri Lanka??? This kind of bold preaching is needed to combat all the nonsense going on everywhere. If I can be of any help, please let me know.

Sincerely yours
Dhamaghosa dasa

From Hrishikesha Prabhu
1 February 1994

Dear Hansadutta Prabhu:

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Thank you for sending your excellent book, Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You, which I had just finished reading. Sorry for taking so much time, but I had other things that needed reading and doing first. Bravo for your “Apology to the Devotees.” The test of a really great man is not his accomplishments, but whether or not he will admit his mistakes and apologize for them. Even non-devotees understand this to a great extent, as I have learned from my own experience.

Enclosed is a letter which I wrote to my god-brother Sanatana Dharma das, which contains excerpts from a recent class given by Kirtanananda in New York. You might find it interesting to hear what K is preaching now to his followers.

I saw Rahugana (Rama das now, I believe) a few weeks ago at Alachua. He appreciated your letters, but is not convinced. I think after time he will be more convinced by actions than by words.

He said he was going to New Vrindaban in mid or late February to try to “save” PK Swami. I wish Rama das good luck in this endeavor. PK is Kirtanananda’s right-hand man now, at least in the West. Devamrita Swami is leading K’s devoted disciples in the Orient, who are raising millions of dollars on the pick to increase the K’s “preaching” mission.

The last time I talked to PK (November), he was researching Prabhupada’s writings, conversations, etc. to find references supporting Kirtanananda’s new philosophy—”Guru may not be perfect, free from material desires or desire to be God, but this doesn’t matter, because what guru says is perfect. If the disciple simply follows what guru says (not necessarily what he does), the disciple will go back to Godhead.”

I am in Florida just now on business/pleasure. Will be in Southern California next week, then return to Florida. Leave for India end of February. If necessary, messages for me can be left at the above phone number. Best wishes to you.

Sincerely your servant,
Hrishikesha

From Damodara dasa,
Portland, Oregon
2 February 1994

Dear Hansadutta Prabhu:

It has recently come to my attention that you have published some literature that deals with the final instructions of Srila Prabhupada, regarding initiations and how the movement was to proceed after his departure. I have been following the rittvik controversy since 1988, when I first met and spoke with Gauridas Pandita das in Seattle. It was then that he filled me in on what Srila Prabhupada had said to him, and after hearing his personal account, and following the course of events as related in various publications, I have become what might be termed as a “pro rittvik ” supporter. It all seemed to make a lot of sense, but I still am not 100% sure. So I am writing to you to see if you have any information that will shed some more light on the subject. Is it really true that you are offering a $108,000 dollar reward for anyone that can prove that Srila Prabhupada appointed regular gurus instead of rittvik gurus? I think that was a very good idea.

As for me, I have been living in Portland for many years. I still stay in touch with devotees up here, but they are few and far between. Although things have started picking up in the last few years. There is an official ISKCON gathering place, but I don’t feel very welcome there, given my views. The other place I started going to a couple of years ago but don’t anymore, is the Gaudiya Vaishnava Society in Eugene. After associating with them, hearing their interpretation of the philosophy and rejecting offers to be “re-initiated,” I am of the opinion now that they are business as usual and not much different than ISKCON, just with a Sridhara Maharaja twist. Needless to say, I am not very welcome there either. Ideally, of course, I would like to associate with people of like mind. I am sending a small contribution to cover for the literature and your time. Thank you so much for having the courage to stand up to all the lies and hypocrisies, and helping Srila Prabhupada’s truth emerge.

Your servant,
Damodara dasa

From Kelilalita devi dasi
10 February 1994

Dear Hansadutta Prabhu:

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

You’re probably saying, “It’s about time she wrote back!” I apologize for taking so long to respond to your letters and later, your enclosures, Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You…. Since September my life has been in a pretty hectic situation.

I just wanted to write and tell you that I appreciate your desire and efforts to try and rectify the offences you made against Prabhupada and the devotees. Whatever has been done is done, and whatever you’re able to do to help re-establish Prabhupada within the community of devotees as our only leader and savior will help! I wish you well and pray that Srila Prabhupada keep you and your family—our whole devotee family—safely under the shelter, protection and guidance of his lotus feet.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Kelilalita devi dasi

P.S. Please don’t give up!