Mangala Aarti 2

[Guest guest]

13 June, 1972

 

72-06-13

 

New York

 

My Dear Bhargava,

 

Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated May 31, 1972,

and I have noted the contents. Our advancement in Krishna Consciousness is

made possible in two ways, by Knowledge and renunciation, jnana and tyaga or

tapasya. The more we become renounced from this material world, the more we

advance in Krishna Consciousness. But we are only able to make such sacrifices

and perform tapasya if we have got knowledge. So first thing is to become

knowledgeable in Krishna Consciousness, then the tapasya or voluntary life of

austerity will result automatically. So I am requesting all of my students to

read my books very seriously every day without fail. In this way, if your mind

becomes absorbed at least one or two hours daily in the transcendental subject

matter of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and other books then very easily

you will make your advancement in Krishna Consciousness. It is not a matter of

changing our engagement, adjusting this or that material condition, in order

to find our real happiness. Krishna Consciousness is not like that. It is able

to be performed under any variety of material conditions or with any type of

engagement. Therefore if your duty as a photographer is very much helpful to

our propanganda work and for improving our BTG then there is very much need

for your remaining in that occupation and doing it to your best capacity. It

is a fallacy to say that my present engagement with the press is not the best

for my spiritual advancement, and if we think in this way we may go on trying

out one engagement after another and always say the same excuse. This

restlessness or agitation of the mind cannot be rectified by altering the

material circumstances. If we are Krishna Conscious, any type of occupation

will suit me and we shall always be satisfied. Therefore, I recommend you to

read books more and more and try to understand the subject matter from

different angles of vision and be always discussing it with your godbrothers

even while you are working at the press, and when you are working and you

cannot read, then listen to the tapes of my lectures and hear in that way. And

never neglect to chant your 16 rounds of beads daily, rise early without fail,

attend mangal arati, take bath, and follow the other regulative principles,

and everything will come out very successfully, you can rest assured of that.

 

I am feeling the tendency more and more to retire behind the scenes for

translating work, and I want to turn over the management of everything to the

GBC and other senior leaders amongst my disciples, so if you have in future

any more matters for discussing you may assist me in training these leaders

and managers by placing your questions before them. I think Rupanuga will be

able to answer all of your questions satisfactorily, so you can be confident

that he is giving you all good advice.

 

Hoping this will meet you in good health,

 

Your ever well-wisher,

 

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami