770804 - Letter to Bhagavan from Tamal Krsna

Vrndavana,

August 4, 1977

From: Tamal Krishna

New Mayapur, France

My dear Bhagavan Prabhu,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada has instructed me to thank you for your letter dated 27th July, 1977 along with the enclosed BBT Trustees report.

Srila Prabhupada was very pleased to hear from you. When He heard how serious your illness was, even that you were thinking that you might die, He commented, “Same thing as I am thinking. Typhoid is a very serious disease. I am an old man and I may die at any moment, but you are a young man.” And then Srila Prabhupada was thinking how you must have been feeling and He felt very compassionate. When you describe how you were always thinking of His Divine Grace, Srila Prabhupada with His eyes closed simply shook His head and said, “Thank you very much.”

His Divine Grace was especially pleased to know how you are increasing the book printing and distribution: “Book printing and distribution is our life. You are all giving life to your spiritual master by this activity. I am very glad to know how you are increasing the book distribution so much in Europe. Yes, you can print the unabridged edition of Bhagavad-gita in three parts. Whatever is easier to distribute then do that. Somehow people must receive it. We want to hand over this knowledge to the people. Do it. It is a very nice idea. You have already gained some success by introducing the Krishna Trilogy, so there is precedent. You have got a very good field and now so many devotees are joining. The people of France and Italy and Holland are very receptive. I have been to Rome. Italy is very cultured. The most cultured centers in Europe are France and Italy. And now Haya Haya is preaching in Spain. Let him stick there. It is the correct field for him.”

As Srila Prabhupada heard your report, His Divine Grace remembered New Mayapur very fondly: “Is the New Mayapur palace maintained nicely? I like to live there. Especially my wonderful room. I like to live there. I like that New Mayapur facility. Nice vegetables, flowers, grains. This is very encouraging to have such a farm, where all problems are solved. You say that there is so much rain. That is very good. There is enough rain and people will be happy due to the sankirtana yajna. Repair all the old buildings and give all the new people who come ample accommodations. Yes, you can change to a suitable new place in Paris. We have got our real place at New Mayapur. So you can move to wherever you can find a suitable place in Paris. The present building is not good but the location is very prominent.”

In this way His Divine Grace remembered with great pleasure your goodself and all of the nice devotees of New Mayapur.

Srila Prabhupada’s health has taken a slight turn for the worse. He has not eaten practically in one month, except for taking milk. So now He has become very very weak. He has not translated for the past week. The swelling has gone away due to the treatment of Kaviraj who is now going to attempt to revive Srila Prabhupada’s taste or appetite, which is the actual problem. Please have all the devotees there pray for Prabhupada’s recovery. Srila Prabhupada said that in our daily routine we can pray to Lord Krishna, “My dear Lord Krishna, if You desire, please cure Srila Prabhupada.”

Your servant,

Tamal Krishna Gosvami

Secretary to Srila Prabhupada

His Grace Bhagavan das Adhikari

c/o ISKCON New Mayapur

/tkd