My Dear Devotees,

My blessings. Jaya Prabhupada!

As you know, all of us depend on association with other sincere servants of the Lord. With a sincere desire to facilitate our contact with each other, we want to compile a database of all my disciples worldwide.

Please cooperate and personally send in your information to www.krishnawestinc.com/network. Thank you!

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
July 8, 2016

Dear Devotees,

Jaya Prabhupada!

A few days ago, the ISKCON website Dandavats published the minutes and resolutions of the annual GBC meeting in Mayapura, 2016.

Item 312 describes my January meeting in Los Angeles with then GBC chairman Praghosha Prabhu and my Godbrother Vaisesika Prabhu, stating that we “came to a better mutual understanding,” which is certainly true.

Item 312 further states the following:

1. Praghosha Prabhu “strongly pointed out” to me the GBC’s concern with a) my criticism of the GBC and ISKCON; and b) my “relaxed behavior as a sannyasi.”
2. I agreed to immediately suspend my criticism of the GBC and ISKCON and adjust my behavior to better meet GBC expectations.
3. Due to health and writing needs, I will not be touring this year (2016).
4. I agreed to meet the GBC this year at Mumbai at their annual mid-year meeting “to discuss all outstanding issues.”

All these points are true, but they are not complete or balanced. In fact, our Los Angeles meeting went very well precisely because both sides were reasonable and fair, and acknowledged various ways in which both sides could improve. Since the letter posted in Dandavats presents only one side, that of the GBC, I will here present the other side.

1. Just as Praghosha Prabhu strongly pointed out the GBC’s concerns with me, I also strongly pointed out my concerns with the GBC, which include:
   1. The need to respect and implement fair process in all the GBC’s judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings. I am now completing an elaborate paper on this topic which will provide extensive evidence of this need.
   2. The need to base GBC decisions and judgements on Guru, Sadhu, and Shastra, rather than the opinions or feelings of individual GBC members. Months ago, I posted an essay which clearly demonstrated this need.
2. At our Los Angeles meeting, I was repeatedly assured that if I suspended my criticism of the GBC and avoided unnecessary controversy in ISKCON, the GBC would reciprocate by suspending their attacks on me and avoiding unnecessary controversy with me. I kept my word, but unfortunately, the GBC, especially one member, continued to attack me even after I agreed to all the requests of the GBC chairman at our LA meeting. Fortunately, subsequent discussions restored peace between us, at least until the October Mumbai meeting. I agreed to adjust my sannyasa behavior since I accept as an important duty to avoid unnecessarily disturbing ISKCON, even if I and many other devotees do not always agree with some conservative and ultra-conservative leaders regarding what constitutes actual sannyasa propriety.
3. My decision to avoid touring this year was not a diplomatic way to agree to a ban on my traveling. It is what I stated: a needed rest.
4. I agreed to meet the GBC in Mumbai because Prabhupada urged us, when we disagree, to sit down together and resolve our difference for his sake and the sake of our world mission.

I reiterate that Item 312 of the GBC’s 2016 Mayapura minutes is essentially true, but incomplete. I provided here additional information that gives a more balanced picture of the January meeting in Los Angeles. It is my intention to continue to cooperate with the GBC for the sake of Prabhupada and ISKCON, and I can only hope that the GBC will do their duty and cooperate with me. I am grateful to those GBC members who have acted with true Vaishnava etiquette and wisdom.

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
June 4, 2016

Today is Mother’s Day in many countries, a day to appreciate and express our deep gratitude to all our mothers. Krishna gave me an excellent start, arranging my birth from a very loving, intelligent mother.

I learned from infancy to respect and appreciate strong, intelligent women who are also elegant ladies. Mothers play a crucial, central role in all of our lives.

Of course, the greatness of women is not limited to their invaluable role as mothers. Every woman is originally a pure soul, part of Krishna, capable of achieving the highest enlightenment in this lifetime and enlightening the world.

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
May 8, 2016

Dear Devotees,

Jaya Prabhupada! I am happy to inform you that I have reached a fair agreement with the GBC which effectively restores peace between us.

The GBC is accepting the peace proposal made in New Dvaraka in early January, between myself, then GBC chairman Praghosha Prabhu, and Vaisesika Prabhu.

For some time now, rumors have been circulating about some members of the GBC trying to restrict my diksa privileges. I am happy to tell you that the GBC has wisely decided to reject this idea.

To reciprocate with them, I agreed at their request to come to the next full GBC meeting, to be held in October in Mumbai. There, I will meet with a balanced GBC subcommittee, hopefully to continue improving our relationship. Prabhupada often said that when devotees disagree, they should sit down together to work out their differences. Thus, I accepted the GBC request that I come to Mumbai as reflecting Prabhupada’s way of resolving problems between devotees.

I want to take advantage of my trip to India to visit holy places associated with the Maha-bharata story.

Hopefully, by Krishna’s mercy we will now begin a time of peace among devotees, and powerful preaching, especially in the West. This will fulfill the self-description that Prabhupada wrote at the conclusion of his pranama mantra: pascatya-desa-tarine, “Savior of the Western lands.”

To all my disciples, friends, and supporters who have stayed with me, my eternal gratitude for your patience, loyalty, and intelligence.

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
April 16, 2016

Dear Devotees,

Jaya Prabhupada! Greetings from the lovely little college town of Magnolia, Arkansas, where I am resting and writing.

For the last several weeks, Krishna has engaged me in traveling in a rented car to peaceful and beautiful places, far away from the big cities of the world.

The only real happiness in this world is to act as Krishna’s instrument, and by His great kindness, I am experiencing that happiness more and more.

As you know, two and a half months ago I had an excellent meeting in New Dvaraka with the then GBC chairman Praghosha Prabhu, and the saintly Vaishnava Vaisesika Prabhu. Basically, we resolved the differences between myself and the GBC. I then posted some letters explaining that I would not criticize the GBC or ISKCON, that we were embracing peace and cooperation, and that I would focus my energy on spreading Prabhupada’s movement to the world. I strictly kept my word.

At the time of this meeting, I had been working for several weeks on a major critique of the GBC itself. When I reached an agreement with the GBC chairman, I suspended that paper, because I wanted to do everything in my power to restore peace between the GBC and myself.

I want to emphasize here that Praghosha Prabhu and Vaisesika Prabhu did honor our agreement and tried to persuade other leaders to honor it. Unfortunately, the GBC has not accepted the peace agreement, despite my best efforts. Instead, they are again threatening me, even though I have done everything in my power to cooperate with them. Naturally these events led me to think deeply about what Krishna wanted me to do.

I concluded that Krishna wanted me to finish my GBC paper, and that it was necessary for ISKCON. I reread my paper and realized that it really was Krishna, who had guided me in its composition. I am now working full time to complete that paper which I am quite sure will mark a turning point for ISKCON.

I know that all these events are Krishna’s plan for the greater good of ISKCON. Had the GBC done the right thing and accepted the peaceful solution, I might never have completed this paper. I am sure you will understand these points clearly when you read the paper, which should be ready soon.

I offer my heartfelt thanks to all of you who understand and support me. You are a great comfort in my life.

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
March 28, 2016

Dear Devotees,

Jaya Prabhupada! I am happy to tell you that this evening I initiated two fine devotees from Wichita, Kansas—Mary and Andrew.

Both these sincere souls have been guided by Hladini-shakti Prabhu, a disciple of H.H. Tamala Krishna Goswami and an old friend of mine.

Hladini-shakti has cultivated many educated, respectable Americans such as Mary, now Malini devi dasi, and Andrew, now Ananda dasa, and I am sure that Prabhupada is pleased with him.

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
March 23, 2016

Dear Devotees,

Jaya Prabhupada!

This year, ISKCON leaders and centers are celebrating ISKCON’s 50th anniversary. ISKCON news sites feature constant stories about this ongoing 50-themed celebration.

A host of new films and innumerable events around the world promote ISKCON 50. The unvarying mood of these announcements, stories, films, and events is festive, self-confident, and self-congratulatory.
Just a few days ago, the GBC hosted over a thousand leaders at the ISKCON Leadership Sanga. Here too, the theme was ISKCON 50, and the mood was uniformly celebratory and optimistic.

If all one’s knowledge of ISKCON came only from these sources, one would naturally conclude that ISKCON’s mission was a wonderful success all over the world. The flood of announcements, stories, films, and events, show hardly a hint of self-criticism, or even objective self-analysis.

My purpose here is not to criticize the ISKCON 50 celebrations. A birthday party is generally not the time to critically analyze the person or institution whose birthday we are celebrating. Tough, critical analysis at a birthday celebration would seem inappropriate or offensive.

It is not by accident or innocent oversight that no one connected with the ISKCON 50 celebrations has interviewed me, asked me for a statement, or included me in any film or story about ISKCON 50. To my knowledge, not a single ISKCON 50 event, article, film, or story has spoken a word about Krishna West. Given the nature of the ISKCON 50 celebrations, and the nature of my preaching in the last several years, the reasons seem clear.

Prabhupada used to say at our annual Gaura Purnima festivals in Mayapura, that this was the time of year to make our plans for preaching and service in the upcoming Caitanya year. Tomorrow is Gaura Purnima, and even if Krishna West has been systematically excluded from official ISKCON 50 events, many of us hold a rational belief that Krishna West is ISKCON’s best chance to regain its relevance in the western world, presently the most influential region in the world.

A few years ago, we began a Krishna West program in North America, and I am happy to report that this program has made extraordinary progress and is bringing many intelligent young people to Krishna. Similar programs are succeeding around the world. Throughout North America and Latin America, in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other areas, thousands of devotees have found new inspiration and faith in Krishna consciousness through Krishna West. And many new people are attracted. Krishna West works!

I want to emphasize that the Krishna West mission is not to fight with other devotees, nor engage in endless debates with them, nor criticize ISKCON and its leaders, nor lend a sour note to the 50th anniversary celebrations. Our mission is to bring Krishna to the world in a powerful way. Krishna West focuses on bringing people to Krishna, especially in the Western and Westernized world. Therefore, I sincerely request all of my many friends around the world to take advantage of this holy time of year and, as Prabhupada ordered us, make a beautiful plan to spread Krishna consciousness in the new Caitanya year.

Of course, we must not neglect our own spiritual advancement. This is also the time of year to meditate intensely on our personal relationship with Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krishna Himself. Srila Prabhupada has mercifully made possible our relationship with the Lord. The Lord Himself explains that our devotion to Him is like a flowering creeper that grows in the garden of our heart. At this time, let us all joyfully enter our gardens, pull out some weeds, and lovingly water and nurture our bhakti.

Ultimately our external and internal purposes, preaching and personal progress, are two facets of the same Krishna consciousness. One feeds the other with perfect spiritual reciprocity.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you on this most auspicious occasion. May Lord Caitanya bless all of us!

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
March 21, 2016

Dear Devotees,

Jaya Prabhupada! Greetings from St. Francisville, Louisiana, a beautiful little historic town on the bank of the Mississippi River. I am here resting and trying to get back my strength after a very tiring 5-month preaching tour last year.

Spiritually, these are very happy times. I am fixing my mind on Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, Gaura-Nitai, Prabhupada, and all the great souls, and begging them to empower me in their service. Ultimately, we are all tiny servants of the servants of Krishna. Even in the demanding details of practical service, one may at times forget that Krishna is always in our heart.

At this stage of my life, I will be continuing to support those devotees who are helping me with Krishna West, and also focusing my attention on some important writing projects. Somehow Krishna has created a situation in which I must continue to rest and recover my strength.

In my daily walks in this lovely little town, I try to see Krishna everywhere and in everything. In Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna teaches us to do this. To mediate on Krishna in all things is real happiness.

I am in the process of very slowly driving across the United States, toward the west coast. Recently I spent time with senior disciples in Mexico and the southern United States. They took care of me with great devotion and I am eternally grateful to them.

I pray that Lord Krishna bless you and empower you in His service.

With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
March 13, 2016