Los Angeles - January 1975.
My dear Satsvarupa Maharaja,
Please accept my blessings.
I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 5th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you very much for doing your work so nicely. I was very pleased to receive the review on the 1st volume of the third canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam written by professor Mehta from the University of Windsor. If you can send more similar reviews on my books, I would very much appreciate it. I am keeping a folder on such things and we can print a small book to distribute that will contain such reviews so that people will see what a great impression our books have on the intelligentsia of the world.
Regarding your question about the controversial talks going on, this kind of talk is not befitting my advanced students. This is childish. In Krishna's service, there is no inferior and superior. Deity worship is just as important as book distribution. It is not material. As mentioned in the Bhagavatam.
sravanam kirtanam visno smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam
Sravanam kirtanam is the beginning--to chant and
hear. Book distribution is under this category of sravanam kirtanam. The
next item is smaranam. If somebody simply remembers the Supreme Lord, that
is also as good as sravanam kirtanam. Then there is arcanam. That is also
as good as the others, but one who simply becomes engaged in arcanam and
does nothing of sravanam kirtanam, his position becomes in the material
field. Any one of the nine processes is as good as the other. There is
no question of inferior or superior. But out of all of them sravanam kirtanam
is very important. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu while instructing Srila Rupa
Gosvami, has said how the seed of devotional service sprouts and increases
by watering the root by the process of sravanam kirtanam. So, these two
items are very important in devotional service, but that does not mean
that the other items are inferior. Srila Jiva Gosvami has stressed kirtanam
especially in the age of Kali. Even if there is arcanam for sanctifying
the contaminated mind, it must be accompanied by sravanam kirtanam.
So, you are all advanced students.
You should understand the importance of each and every item of devotional
service. Do not make any misunderstanding by devaluating any of the spiritual
activities. You are one of the advanced students. One who distinguishes
a particular type of service as inferior or superior, he does not know
the value of devotional service. It is all transcendental. Whatever item
is suitable, that is accepted as very elevated. Just like Maharaja Pariksit.
He simply listened to Sukadeva Gosvami. That is sravanam. And Sukadeva
Gosvami simply narrated Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is kirtanam. Prahlada Maharaja
simply contemplated--smaranam. Prthu Maharaja simply did deity worship--arcanam.
Arjuna only remained as friend of Krishna--sakhyam. Hanuman remained only
engaged in carrying out the order of Lord Ramacandra--dasyam. And Bali
Maharaja surrendered everything to Krishna--atma-nivedanam. So, any devotee
executing any one of the nine is transcendentally glorious. One devotee
may be proud that his process of service is the best. That is not inglorious.
This is called transcendental competition. Everyone should feel proud of
his particular type of devotional service, but that does not mean that
other types of service are inferior. Everyone should feel proud of becoming
sincere servant of Krishna, but the pure devotee never minimizes the importance
of other devotees. Krishna is the enjoyer of varieties of service. It is
not stuck up with any particular type of service. Krishna takes pleasure
with devotees even by fighting service. When Grandfather Bhisma was trying
to injure the body of Krishna by sharpened arrows, in full devotion in
the mellow of chivalry, Krishna was feeling the piercing of the arrows
as good as worshiping him with soft rose flowers. The conclusion is thatRemembering
Srila Prabhupada - .ems everyone should be very very sincere. There is
no more the question of inferior or superior.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami
This letter is kindly borrowed from the Prabhupad Uvacha series of nectar snippets from Srutakirti prabhu's diary. If you'd like to receive such snippets on a daily basis please send a message to mailto:krpamaya_gauranga@hotmail.com with the positive affirmative "Subscribe" in the Subject area.
Please Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare And Be Happy