YOUR DUTY IS VERY CLEAR
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Dear Windle Turley
law firm,
Please find below more letters written in 1972 by Srila Prabhupada. It
is very clear that he was always anxious about the welfare of his
disciples, and he was taking steps to rectify the unfortunate
situation. There was no question of him concealing anything as
offensively said by your plaintiffs.
Please note in
particular the first letter to Rupa Vilasa Prabhu who was one of
the principle teachers at that time at the Dallas gurukula.
In the last letter
Srila Prabhupada tells Arundhati that he is simply surprised that she
wants to give up her child to some other persons, even they are also
devotees. He tells her that her duty is VERY CLEAR. For her,
child-worship is more important than deity-worship and that she should
not be confused and neglect it.
He further says to
her:
"These
children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be
very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they
are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them
chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness."
This point was
many many times raised by Srila Prabhupada in his lectures and books.
It was a fact understood by any member of the society. Now if rascals
and demons dressed as devotees or irresponsible parents do not follow
Srila Prabhupada's clear instructions who's fault is that ?
I hope you and
your plantiffs are now very clear in regards to the actual situation.
Please do the needful by withdrawing complaint 35 from your court
filing document and make a public apology for this very offensive
statement about His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Again respectfully
submitted,
Mukunda dasa.
Srila
Prabhupada Letter to: Rupa Vilasa Hyderabad,18 November, 1972
Dallas
My dear Rupa
Vilas,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 28, 1972, and I have noted the contents with care. I am very glad to learn that the children at Gurukula school are making good progress in their Krishna Consciousness education, that is very good news. Yes, if we simply train them properly they will come out just to the highest standard of Vaisnava devotee. And what is that training? Simply they should be engaged in such a way that they are somehow or other remembering Krishna at every moment, that's all. It is not something mechanical process, if we force in such a way they will come out like this, no. We are persons, and Krishna is a Person, and our relationship with Krishna He leaves open as a voluntary agreement always, and that voluntary attitude--Yes, Krishna, I shall gladly co-operate whatever you say--that ready willingness to obey is only possible if there is love. Forcing will not make me agree. But if there is love, oh, I shall gladly do it. That is bhakti, that is Krishna Consciousness. So similarly, if we train children by developing and encouraging their propensity to love Krishna, then we shall be successful in educating them to the topmost standard. Then they shall always very happily agree to do whatever you ask them. So I have heard that there as been some beating with sticks on the children. Of course I do not know, but that should not be. You may show the stick, threaten, but better art is to somehow or other, even by tricking them, avoid this matter of force and induce them to obey out of loving spirit. That is success of disciplinary method. Hoping this meets you in good health.
Your ever
well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Srila
Prabhupada Letter to : Brahmanya Tirtha, Ahmedabad, 10 December, 1972
New Orleans
[To Brahmanya Tirtha] Regarding your question should force be used on children, no, there shall be no forcing the children to do anything. Child should not be forced. This is all nonsense. Who has devised these things? If we want them to become great devotees, then we must educate the children with love, not in a negative way. Of course, if they become naughty we may show the stick but we should never use it. Child is nonsense, so you can trick him to obey you by making some little story and the child will become cheated in the proper behavior. But never apply force, especially to his chanting and other matters of spiritual training. That will spoil him and in the future he will not like to do it if he forced.
Your ever
well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
My dear
Arundhati,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 19, 1972, and I am simply surprised that you want to give up your child to some other persons, even they are also devotees. For you, child-worship is more important than deity-worship. If you cannot spend time with him, then stop the duties of pujari. At least you must take good care of your son until he is four years old, and if after that time you are unable any more to take care of him then I shall take care. These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear. Hoping this will meet you in good health.
Your ever
well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
(S.P.
Letter to: Arundhati 30 July, 1972)
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