a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1965 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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19 Sept 2009 [From a room conversation, Vrndavana, September 9, 1976.] Prabhupada: ...because as soon as the ship stopped, Commonwealth Pier, Boston, the immigration department came and took their papers. So I entered America in Boston. There was no checking in New York. The ship stopped in Boston. The official entrance was done there. Then when I came to New York, it is just like one day's travel. Guest1: And then you went directly to Pennsylvania? By bus? Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. Then one agent, appointed by my host, Gopal Agarwal...He was in Butler. So he arranged with some professional, what is called, host. Guest1: Travel agent? Prabhupada: Maybe travel agent. He came to see me, that "I am sent by Gopal Agarwal, so I'll arrange for your dispatch. You come with me." Guest2: Dr. Agarwal was your sponsor? Prabhupada: Yes. His father came to see me some time in Agra. Agra. His father, mother came. Guest2: And then they suggested that he be your sponsor. Prabhupada: It was all by chance. I was for a few days guest at his father's place in Agra. I did not know that his son is in America. So he was talking about his family. He was little sorry that his eldest son went to America to study electric engineering, and he was entrapped by an English girl, and he married and settled there and did not come back. In this way...So I took the opportunity, that "Why don't you ask your son to sponsor me?" I wanted to go to America. So I did not know how seriously he took it. But I simply told him that "Why don't you ask your son to sponsor me at least for one month? So I am thinking of going to America." Then that was talking, beginning and end, that's all. I did not know that he took it very seriously. Then after two, three months, some documents came. I was receiving my letters in a postbox. So when I left Delhi I used to keep my key of postbox with some nice bookseller, Atmaram, he was manager. So he opened that, he got that documents. That is No Objection Certificate, Sponsor, and everything. I was out of Delhi. Then when I came back I took it. So everything was there, that sheet (indistinct) from the Indian Consulate, No Objection Certificate. Then I applied for a passport. In this way I had to go. So Gopal was unknown to me, but his father was, his father was known to me. His father was...Then his agent got me on the bus. So on the bus (I) went to Pennsylvania. Guest2: That's a long drive. Prabhupada: Yes, nine hours on the bus. And I took a little chipped rice, and whatever I had with me. So I got down from the ship about one o'clock. Then I had to wait for the bus till five o'clock. Then at five o'clock the bus started. About two o'clock, three o'clock in the morning, I went to Pennsylvania, and just in front of the bus Gopal was standing with his car, that...What is called? Van car? Guest1: Station wagon. Prabhupada: Station wagon. So he took my luggage, and from there thirty miles off, the Butler County. So I went there. Then at night he took my (indistinct). The next day, he had no many rooms in his apartment, he arranged for my stay in the YMCA nearby them. Guest2: You never actually stayed with him, then. Prabhupada: I was going. I was taking my meals there. Guest2: Oh. And just keeping a room at the YMCA. Prabhupada: Because he had no room, so I was staying there. Guest2: And then he arranged programs, speaking programs? Prabhupada: His wife, Sally. His wife, Sally, she was arranging. A very intelligent girl. They were of the same age, about thirty. Gopal was more than thirty and she was (indistinct). I saw that she was feeding her child, one boy, meat powder. Guest1: Beef bouillon? Prabhupada: I do not know what is the name. But I asked. She said, "It is meat powder." That is the system? Guest2: When they're very young and they can't eat solids. Prabhupada: With hot water. Guest2: Yes, they have instant meals for children. All different kinds of things. Prabhupada: So Gopal was very much pleased that he could get some Indian capatis, like this. Guest2: So he had you cook for him. You took your cooker with you? Is that the same one? Prabhupada: No. So I lived with him for twenty-one days. Then I came to New York. Guest2: Yes, that picture in the Butler Eagle. It's in the Vyasa-Puja book this year. Prabhupada: Yes, yes. Butler County, it is good (indistinct), there were many churches, (indistinct) people have got so many churches (indistinct) (break) ...some time, that one piece of wire Iying in one place, one piece of bamboo was Iying in another place, and one dry shell of a squash was Iying. So one intelligent man collected. So this dry shell became the tambura's what is called... Guest2: I don't know. Like sound chamber. What do you call it? Prabhupada: Sound chamber may be called. So with that dry squash he made the sound chamber. The bamboo he fixed up and the wire upon it, and then it became a "tin, tin, tin, tin..." (laughs) Our organization is like that. I was loitering in the street. Somebody was over there, somebody was there. Not combined together. International Society String Band. Yes. Separately we are all useless. Eh? [From a room conversation, Vrndavana, September 9, 1976.] letters | 03:06 | JOURNAL: Sunday, September 19 Today is the 38th day of our journey and we reached New York Port at 12/30 p.m. about three hours later than the scheduled time. letters | 01:02 | "So after publishing three parts of [Bhagavatam], then automatically, Guru Maharaja gave me indication that, "Now you can start for America." So some way or other, in 1965 I went to America, with great difficulty. "But I took about two hundred sets of books. The customs clearance was done. I told them that "Oh, I am taking these books for distribution. Not for sale." Anyway, they passed, and with these books I reached America." [From an address, Gorakhpur, February, 1971] letters | 01:00 | 18 Sept 2009 JOURNAL: Saturday, September 18 To-day is the 37th day of our journey & at 4 p.m. we left Boston Port for New York. In the morning I had telephonic talks with Gopal P. Agarwal in Butler and he said that his man will receive me at New York & dispatch me to Butler by Bus or train as convenient. I tried to contact Dr. Misra but he was not available both yesterday and to-day. I do not know if he is coming to receive me. To-day I met two American nice gentlemen Mr. Gardiner & Fryer. We passed a beautiful canal and crossed underneath two overbridges. But at midnight there was considerable fog disturbance and the ship moved very slowly. The fog persisted till we reached late at New York Port at 12/30 on 19/9/65. On board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. dated 18th of September, 1965 Markine Bhagavata-dharma  [Translation] My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. ache kichu karja taba ei anumane nahe keno aniben ei ugra-sthane [Translation] But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place? rajas tamo gune era sabai acchanna basudeb-katha ruci nahe se prasanna [Translation] Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Vasudeva. I do not know how they will be able to understand it. tabe jadi taba krpa hoy ahaituki sakal-i sambhava hoy tumi se kautuki [Translation] But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible because You are the most expert mystic. ki bhave bujhale tara bujhe sei rasa eta krpa koro prabhu kori nija-basa [Translation] How will they understand the mellows of devotional service? O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message. tomara icchaya saba hoy maya-basa tomara icchaya nasa mayar parasa [Translation] All living entities have become under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion. taba iccha hoy jadi tadera uddhar bujhibe niscai tabe katha se tomar [Translation] I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore if You so desire their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message. bhagavater katha se taba avatar dhira haiya sune jadi kane bar bar [Translation] The words of Srimad-Bhagavatam are Your incarnation, and if a sober person repeatedly receives it with submissive aural reception, then he will be able to understand Your message. It is said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.17-21): srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti suhrt satam "Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted. nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki "By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. tada rajas-tamo-bhavah kama-lobhadayas ca ye ceta etair anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati "As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature's modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy. evam prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogatah bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam mukta-sangasya jayate "Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material association. bhidyate hrdaya-granthis chidyante sarva-samsayah ksiyante casya karmani drsta evatmanisvare "Thus the knot in the heart is pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions is terminated when one sees the self as master." Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.17-21) rajas tamo hate tabe paibe nistar hrdayer abhadra sate ghucibe tahar [Translation] He will become liberated from the influence of the modes of ignorance and passion and thus all inauspicious things accumulated in the core of the heart will disappear. ki ko're bujhabo katha baro sei cahi khudra ami dina hina kono sakti nahi [Translation] How will I make them understand this message of Krsna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and the most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own. athaca enecho prabhu katha bolibare je tomar iccha prabhu koro ei bare [Translation] Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought me here to speak about You. Now, my Lord, it is up to You to make me a success or failure as You like. akhila jagat-guru! bacana se amar alankrta koribar khamata tomar [Translation] O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message, so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding. taba krpa ha'le mor katha suddha habe suniya sabara soka duhkha je ghucibe [Translation] Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts they will certainly feel engladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life. aniyacho jadi prabhu amare nacate nacao nacao prabhu nacao se-mate kasthera puttali jatha nacao se-mate [Translation] O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like. bhakti nai beda nai name khub daro "bhaktivedanta" nam ebe sarthak kor [Translation] I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krsna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now, if You like, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta. Signed--the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, on board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. dated 18th of September, 1965 letters | 03:56 | [From a room conversation, Los Angeles, June 8, 1976.] Prabhupada: So I did not say anything seriously, but perhaps he took it very seriously, Gopal's father. So he might have written to Gopal that "Swami Bhaktivedanta wants to go to America. If you sponsor, then he can go." So whatever the correspondence was there between the father and son, I did not know. I simply asked him, "Why don't you ask your son Gopal to sponsor so that I can go there? I want to preach there." So after some months, three, four months, the No Objection Certificate from the Indian embassy in New York. Gopal sent to me, yes, that he had already sponsored my arrival there for one month. So all of a sudden I got the paper, No Objection Certificate, by the Indian embassy. After so much inquiry, I learned that so much inquiry was done and so on, so on. Then I tried to take a passport and paper process. So I got the passport. Then I approached that Sumati Morarji. She once gave me five hundred rupees in exchange of my Bhagavata book, so I approached her, that "Give me one ticket." They have got their shipping company, Scindia Navigation. So she said, "Swamiji, you are so old, you are taking this so responsibility. Do you think it is right?" "No, it is all right." (laughs) At that time, I was seventy years old. So all the secretary, they thought that "Swamiji is going to die there." Anyway, they gave me the ticket, one return free ticket by their ship. Then arrangement was going on. So there is another process to get a P-form. You know. Guest1: P-form. Prabhupada: P-form sanctioned by the state government, yes, state government. So it was applied for. It was...No sanction was coming. Then I went to the State Bank of India, the officer Mr. Bhattacari. So he told me: "Swamiji, you are sponsored by private man. So we cannot accept it. If you are invited by some institution, then we could consider, but you are invited by a private man for one month, and, after one month, if you are in difficulty, and there will be so much obstacles and so on." "Well, I have already prepared everything to go." So I said that "You, what you have done?" "No, I have decided not to sanction your P-form." "No, no, don't do this. You better send to your superior. It should not be done like that." So he took my request and he sent the file to Chief Officer of Foreign Exchange, something like that. Anyway, he is the supreme man in the State Bank of India. So I went to see him. So I asked his secretary that "You have got such file? You kindly put to Mr...."--his name was Mr. Rao--"I want to see him." So the secretary agreed, and he put the file and put my slip that I wanted to see him. I was waiting. So Mr. Rao came personally. He said, "Swamiji, I have passed your case. Don't worry." (laughs) In this way. Guest2: He knew you from before, or...? Prabhupada: No. He did not know me. So somebody saw him in Bombay, so he reminded that "I know Swamiji when he went to U.S.A." Somebody was telling me. Guest2: He remembered. Prabhupada: Hmm. The name is there, he remembered. After all, he is officer. He knows so many things. So it is a great history. (laughs) There was two days I was attacked in heart on the ship. So hardship. Guest1: Then you had a dream? Prabhupada: Hmm. Guest1: What was that, Srila Prabhupada? Prabhupada: That is...(laughs) The dream was I must come here. Guest2: It was some instruction that you got? Prabhupada: The dream was that Krsna in His many forms was bowing the row. What is called? Guest2: Rowing the boat. Prabhupada: Yes. Prabhupada: And when I arrived in Boston I wrote that poetry. Guest1: If you were only sponsored for one month, how is it that you were able to extend your visa all the time? Prabhupada: I was extending. The immigration officer came in Boston in my boat. He inquired about this. So he asked me, "Sir, Swamiji, how long you want to stay?" So I thought that I have no shelter, I have no money, but I have got the return ticket. So I did not know how long I...(laughs) He asked me, "How long you want to stay?" So I thought, "In these circumstances, I can stay at most two months, because I have no means where to stay, how to eat, and where shall I go? So I may struggle for two months." So I told him: "I may stay at most two months." He immediately, two months, sanctioned immediately. I could not think that I shall be able to...(laughs) That one month were there, sponsoring. So I thought, "Another one month, that's all," that "This gentleman has sponsored for one month. So that is guaranteed. Then I can stay another one month. That's all." So after that, so I was staying here and there without any fixity. So I was extending the visa. Each time, I was paying ten dollars. Another three months, another three months, like that. And when one year was finished, they refused: "No extension." [From a room conversation, Los Angeles, June 8, 1976.] letters | 03:45 | 17 Sept 2009 JOURNAL: Friday, September 17 We are now on the dockyard of Boston and at 10 a.m. the custom officers and others came on the ship. They have now issued the admittance permission after due checking etc. I saw the Boston Town with captain It is very nice and I shall describe it in a separate note. 36th day from starting from Calcutta Port To-day we are expected to reach Boston Port U.S.A. in the morning ACB --/9/65 We stayed the whole day & night at Boston till 4.p.m. next day  Srila Prabhupada at Commonwealth Pier, Boston, 1968. letters | 03:55 | 16 Sept 2009 JOURNAL: Thursday, September 16 Today is the 35th day of our journey and yesterday night at about 10/30 p.m. we have turned one wheel towards north eastern corner from the Bermuda latitude towards Boston port. In the morning the atmosphere was fairly cleared and the ship was plying very smoothly. The first officer told me that they never had such experience of the At lantic ocean and he ascribed the good luck to me. I said yes it is all Lord Krishna's Grace because due to my severe type of sea-sickness, He has Himself taken charge of the ship. In expansion the Lord is rowing the oars. We shall certainly reach to America port safely. The whole day was clear sun-shine but at 4 p.m. the sky all of a sudden became foggy. The sun became dim covered by foggy weather. The horizon is still visible. Let us see what is still ahead. The ship is stopped completely at about 6 p.m. on account of dense fog. Be Lord Krishna pleased to get out this fog. By the Grace of Lord Krishna the fog was cleared after 2-3 hours and the ship started. The whole night was non-disturbing and today on the 36th day of our journey we reached safely at Boston Port at 5/30 a.m. 
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14 Sept 2009 JOURNAL: Tuesday, September 14 Today is the 33rd day of our journey and at 3 o'clock in the morning I saw the sky cloudy with dim moon-light. From morning till 1 o'clock the sky remained cloudy and at 1/30 p.m. there was a shower of rain. The sky is still cloudy and the wind is blowing from south-east corner and raining at intervals. The whole day passed in that way and the wind assumed a para-cyclonic face with dense cloud resulting in rain till 9/30 p.m. with regular lightening etc. At ten o'clock when I was talking in the captain's room the chief engineer Mr. Travers told me that he had never such experience of calm & quietness of the Atlantic Ocean. There was always typhoon, cyclone, fog, etc. at least for days in every trip in the past. I said it is Lord Krishna's Grace. If such things as usual in Atlantic would have taken place, I would die.  "never such experience of calm & quietness of the Atlantic Ocean." letters | 03:48 | 13 Sept 2009 JOURNAL: Monday, September 13 Today is the 32nd day of our journey from Calcutta. After midnight yesterday the lurching decreased and I felt relief. In the morning also I could not take my breakfast properly. Then I cooked 'Bati-chachari.' It appeared to be delicious and I was able to take some food. At about eleven there is a little lurching. The captain tells that they had never such calmness of the Atlantic. I said it is Lord Krishna's mercy. His wife asked me to come back again with them so that they may have again a calm Atlantic Ocean. If Atlantic would have shown its usual face perhaps I would have died. But Lord Krishna has taken charge of the ship. Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion Lord Sri Krishna. There is a Bengali poem made by me today in this connection. Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krsna krsna taba punya habe bhai e-punya koribe jabe radharani khusi habe dhruva ati boli toma tai [Translation] I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krsna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you. sri-siddhanta saraswati saci-suta priya ati krsna-sebaya jara tula nai sei se mohanta-guru jagater madhe uru krsna-bhakti dey thai thai [Translation] Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who is very dear to Lord Gauranga, the son of mother Saci, is unparalleled in his service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna. He is that great saintly spiritual master who bestows intense devotion to Krsna at different places throughout the world. tara iccha balavan pascatyete than than hoy jate gauranger nam prthivite nagaradi asamudra nada nadi sakalei loy krsna nam [Translation] By his strong desire, the holy name of Lord Gauranga will spread throughout all the countries of the Western world. In all the cities, towns, and villages on the earth, from all the oceans, seas, rivers, and streams, everyone will chant the holy name of Krsna. tahale ananda hoy tabe hoy digvijay caitanyer krpa atisay maya dusta jata duhkhi jagate sabai sukhi vaisnaver iccha purna hoy [Translation] As the vast mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu conquers all directions, a flood of transcendental ecstasy will certainly cover the land. When all the sinful, miserable living entities become happy, the Vaisnavas' desire is then fulfilled. se karja je koribare ajna jadi dilo more jogya nahi an dina hina tai se tomara krpa magitechi anurupa aji numi sabar pravina [Translation] Although my Guru Maharaja ordered me to accomplish this mission, I am not worthy or fit to do it. I am very fallen and insignificant. Therefore, O Lord, now I am begging for Your mercy so that I may become worthy, for You are the wisest and most experienced of all. tomara se sakti pele guru-sebaya bastu mile jibana sarthak jadi hoy sei se seva paile tahale sukhi hale taba sanga bhagyate miloy [Translation] If You bestow Your power, by serving the spiritual master one attains the Absolute Truth--one's life becomes successful. If that service is obtained, then one becomes happy and gets Your association due to good fortune. evam janam nipatitam prabhavahikupe kamabhikamam anu yah prapatan prasangat krtvatmasat surarsina bhagavan grhitah so 'ham katham nu visrje tava bhrtya-sevam [Translation] My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But Your servant Narada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service? (Prahlada Maharaja to Lord Nrsimhadeva, Bhag. 7.9.28) tumi mor cira sathi bhuliya mayar lathi khaiyachi janma-janmantare aji punah e sujoga jadi hoy jogayoga tabe pari tuhe milibare [Translation] O Lord Krsna, You are my eternal companion. Forgetting You, I have suffered the kicks of maya birth after birth. If today the chance to meet You occurs again, then I will surely be able to rejoin You. tomara milane bhai abar se sukha pai gocarane ghuri din bhor kata bane chutachuti bane khai lutaputi sei din kabe habe mor [Translation] O dear friend, in Your company I will experience great joy once again. In the early morning I will wander about the cowherd pastures and fields. Running and frolicking in the many forests of Vraja, I will roll on the ground in spiritual ecstasy. Oh when will that day be mine? aji se subidhane tomara smarana bhela baro asa dakilam tai ami tomara nitya-dasa tai kori eta asa tumi bina anya gati nai [Translation] Today that remembrance of You came to me in a very nice way. Because I have a great longing I called to You. I am Your eternal servant and therefore I desire Your association so much. O Lord Krsna, except for You there is no other means of success. On board the ship Jaladuta, September 13, 1965 A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
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