Our Right To Preach The Holy Names

July 8, 2003

ISKCON TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO INC. 1998

02/04/02

His Grace Kratu Dasa

Hare Krsna

Please accept our humble obeisances. Ah glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Dear Prabhuji.

It has been brought to our attention that you or others are here in Trinidad Yatra and are proposing to start propagation of some kind of a preaching nature based on His Holiness Govinda Maharaj's teachings. If this information is factual, then we (ISKCON Trinidad and Tobago Executive) sternly disapprove such a development by you or others, which potentially has a disastrous implication to the humble efforts of the Members of our Society. That in Case of yon or others attempt to start some kind of preaching propaganda which is not in conformation with ISKCON approval, thenc we (ISKCON) shall seek legal action against such an attempt. Please be advised accordingly. Hari Bol.

We remain yours in the eternal.

Service of Srila Prabhupada

Purusottama Dasa

Secretary.

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Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

We members of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math - Rio red with a great pity the e-mail sent to our Godbrother Kratu Dasa Prabhu by Purusottama Dasa dated of 02/04/02.

Is this letter representing Srila Prabhupada's desire?

As far we are concerned one of the main teachings of His Divine Grace Swami Prabhupada is to avoid vaishnava aparadha (to get away from Srimati Radharani). In this case its writer failed absolutly forgetting the first offense to be avoided. It seems to us that he might try to study again all the vedic scriptures which deal with the offenses to the vaishnavas in order not to fall in mistake again. We should not fear the darkest and deepest hell, however we should fear the mere offensively thought to a vaishnava.

He says "we (ISKCON) shall seek legal action against such an attempt. Please be advised accordingly." which demonstrates that our friend not just neglected one of the main teachings of Swami Prabhupada as the first offense, as also one of the principal rights of any developed society that is the religious freedom, when he tries to threat to submit a natural desire of a sincere practioner (preaching) to the court.

In the Gita, chapter 18, verse 65, Lord Krsna says: "Allways think on Me and become My devotee. Offer your homages to Me. Thus you shall come to me inevitably. I promise this to you because you are My dearest friend." And in the verse 66: "Abandon all kinds of religion and just surrender to Me. I will free you of all sinful reactions. Do not fear."

1) As it is written above based in what can he take us to the Court?

2) Which country would start a judicial strugle to suffocate the sound of the voices of the seekers of The Supreme Personality of Godhead?

3) If he was practicing his spritual life: chanting his japa, gayatri, studying, etc, he would not led the vaisnava community to assist such written lamentable episode, I would not be wasting my time having to answer to such a letter instead of getting absorbed in Krsna pastimes.

My dandavats pranams

Govardhana Dasa

Member and founder of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math - Rio and disciple of His Divine Grace Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj