SB 4.8.54

[Guest guest]

One has to consider the particular time, country and conveniences. What is

convenient in India may not be convenient in the Western countries. Those who

are not actually in the line of äcäryas, or who personally have no knowledge of

 

how to act in the role of äcärya, unnecessarily criticize the activities of

the ISKCON movement in countries outside of India. The fact is that such

critics

cannot do anything personally to spread Kåñëa consciousness. If someone does

go and preach, taking all risks and allowing all considerations for time and

place, it might be that there are changes in the manner of worship, but that is

 

not at all faulty according to çästra.

 

Now, we have by Krsna's Grace built up something significant in the shape of

this ISKCON and we are all one family. Sometimes there may be disagreement and

quarrel but we should not go away. These inebrieties can be adjusted by the

cooperative spirit, tolerance and maturity so I request you to kindly remain in

 

the association of our devotees and work together. The test of our actual

dedication and sincerity to serve the Spiritual Master will be in this mutual

cooperative spirit to push on this Movement and not make factions and deviate.

Try to convince Gaurasundara and Siddha-svarupa to return to ISKCON and let us

forget whatever has happened in the past.

Yes, you may return to Hawaii with Sudama Maharaja and take charge of caring

for Tulasi devi there. I cannot understand how Govinda dasi could abandon

Tulasi devi. Kindly try to induce her to return.

I hope this meets you well.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

 

Material nature means dissension and disagreement, especially in this Kali

yuga. But, for this Krsna consciousness movement its success will depend on

agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements. In the material

world

there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there

are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. The materialist

without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements makes

everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep

Krsna

in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity

in diversity.

I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during

the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior

men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight

on account of diversity, then it is simply the material platform. Please try to

 

maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement

successful. One section of men have already gone out, therefore we must be very

 

careful to maintain unity in diversity, and remember the story in Aesop's

Fables of the father of many children with the bundle of sticks. When the

father

asked his children to break the bundle of sticks wrapped in a bag, none of them

 

could do it. But, when they removed the sticks from the bag, and tried one by

one, the sticks were easily broken. So this is the strength in unity. If we

are bunched up, we can never be broken, but when divided, then we can become

broken very easily.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

 

from letter 18 october 73