Atlanta,
My dear Svarupa Damodara das,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your short note dated June 3, 1976, which was hand-delivered to me by Dr. Wolf. I won’t have the opportunity to visit Atlanta on this tour, however, I shall be in New York from July 9th to July 20th. You can see me in New York if it is possible for you.
I hope that this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Los Angeles
Atlanta,
My dear Svarupa Damodara das,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter with contents dated May 15, 1976, and I have noted the contents with care.The idea of lecture seminars is very good. This is required. It is a very nice idea. Concerning your immigration application, that is o.k. that you may not be able to leave Atlanta for some time, do not worry. They require some bank balance. Whatever bank balance they require, we shall supply. The health examination is there. You are employed by ISKCON, a registered association in the U.S.A.
Concerning the emblem for the Bhaktivedanta Institute, the words “athato brahma jijnasa” is alright, however instead of inside the emblem, you can put athato on top (in Devanagari) and brahma jijnasa on the bottom (in Devanagari). That will be nice. Enclosed you will find your copy with the ideas written on the appropriate place.
I hope that this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Honolulu
Atlanta,
My dear Svarupa Damodara Das,
Please accept my blessings. Now our Ph.D’s must collaborate and study the 5th Canto to make a model for building the Vedic Planetarium. My final decision is that the universe is just like a tree, with root upwards. Just as a tree has branches and leaves so the universe is also composed of planets which are fixed up in the tree like the leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. of the tree. The pivot is the pole star, and the whole tree is rotating on this pivot. Mount Sumeru is the center, trunk, and is like a steep hill, like the alps mountains which also have very high peaks. I have seen in Switzerland one mountain peak which was so high that is penetrated through the clouds. The tree is turning and therefore, all the branches and leaves turn with the tree. The planets have their fixed orbits, but still they are turning with the turning of the great tree. There are pathways leading from one planet to another made of gold, copper, etc., and these are like the branches. Distances are also described in the 5th Canto just how far one planet is from another.
We can see that at night, how the whole planetary system is turning around, the pole star being the pivot. Each planet has its orbit fixed but the sun is moving up and down, north and south. It is not that we shall accept the theory that the sun is fixed up and the others are all going around the sun. That is not correct. Even the 7th star is rotating once around the pole star in each 24 hours. The whole universe is just like a big tree, that is a fact. I do not think that the modern astronomers have any such idea that the whole universe is like a big tree. The planets which are full of living entities are one after another, one above the other. The relative positions of the planets is fixed up but the whole thing is turning. The sun is going north and south, it has its own orbit below the moon. So now you all Ph.D.’s must carefully study the details of the 5th Canto and make a working model of the universe. If we can explain the passing seasons, eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night, etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda.
I am sending this letter to you, and you can make photo copies of it and send to our other Ph.D.’s and begin serious research into the matter in detail. But one thing, I am convinced that the universe is just like a great tree as described therein.
I hope that this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Auckland
Atlanta,
My dear Svarupa Damodara,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 2, 1976. Regarding your initial points you may refer to my previous letter dated 29th January, 1976. As far as the College and University Lecture Party is concerned that is very important and it may be done very seriously. As a matter of fact Tamala Krishna Maharaja is here and he suggests that our educated gentlemen travel with his buses. So what is the use of working alone. Working conjointly is better. Therefore I have instructed him to call you when he returns to the United States. He has assured me that his college programs are very organized and he is very enthusiastic to increase.
Regarding publishing books, these books can be published by you and men in your rank. Ordinary man cannot write such books. So therefore if a book is written by one man with “Bhaktivedanta” or “Bhakti-sarvabhauma” and it is of high quality then it may be considered by me for publishing.
I hope this meets you well.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Mayapur
Atlanta,
My dear Svarupa Damodara,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter dated January 21st, 1976 and I have noted the contents carefully. If you cannot come to India there is no harm. Ordinarily, if you leave, your application will be closed. Better not to take any chances. You instruct your assistants who are coming how and what to discuss with the GBC on your behalf.
In the tentative course outlines some additions are as follows. In the philosophy section there should be a class dealing with all the Vaisnava philosophies (the four sampradayas). Music class can be based on the Sama Veda. In the Political Science class Maharaja Prthu’s life may also be studied. There should also be a discussion with the GBC regarding what titles should be awarded to students who pass.
I hope this meets you well.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Mayapur
