Question : It is not possible to register any kind of religious organisation in ______ as the law restricts any group other than Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It is better to hold devotional activities in a devotee's house privately where devotees can get together. Regarding the ______ project, the devotee donor has requested the Maṭh to be the Maṭh of Pūjyapād Puri Goswāmī Mahārāj. Hence I suggest that your donation be used in some other projects.

Śrīla Gurudev : You are aware that I was awfully busy in the more than month-long Vrajamaṇḍal parikrama. It is my vow that I should participate in all sittings of Dāmodar vratā and also if possible not to miss participating in nagar sankīrtan. I had to speak in 3 languages— Bengali, Hindi and English. There were so many devotees for initiation that I had to do this duty for 2 days. After Vrajamaṇḍal parikrama, I went to Chandigarh, Una (Himachal Pradesh), Rajpura (Punjab), and Bhatinda (Punjab). I participated in the Annual Functions in Una, Rajpura and Bhatinda Maṭh, delivered speeches and also for some time, participated in nagar sankīrtans.

Perhaps due to this heavy program, I felt some sort of heart trouble. Śrī Swarup Dāmodar Das engaged one heart specialist doctor of New Delhi to examine me. In fact, I was admitted in the renowned Batra hospital and by angiography examination, it was found that out of 3 vessels, one vessel is completely blocked and other 2 vessels are blocked 70% and 50%. I have been advised to take complete rest. Dr. Kaul, heart specialist, has prescribed medicines to be taken daily. In spite of this heart trouble, I did not stop speaking in the evening meetings. I had to return to Calcutta from New Delhi to do some urgent works after taking permission from Dr. Kaul and also I participated in the 5-day spiritual sittings of the Calcutta Maṭh Annual Function.

I also participated in the nagar sankīrtan for some time. High court Justices of Calcutta and many dignitaries came to Calcutta Maṭh and requested me with folded hands to take complete rest and to speak as little as possible. Their idea is that I should not go for bypass surgery but taking rest and medicines regularly for several months and lifestyle regulations would be more advisable. Their advice is 'Prevention is better than cure'. At this age, bypass surgery will not help to increase the span of life. In spite of this difficulty, I had to come to Assam to attend the Annual Functions of 3 Maṭhs at Tezpur, Goalpara and Guwahati. I also participated in nagar sankīrtans at Tezpur and Goalpara, which I should not have done.

I felt some angina pain in Goalpara. I did not participate in the nagar sankīrtan of Guwahati Maṭh but regularly delivered speeches in the evening functions. I was engaged awfully at Tezpur, Goalpara and Guwahati with the duty of giving initiation to so many devotees. I have been receiving so many telephone calls to return to Calcutta immediately without participating in any other function, but as I have already announced about the Vyāsa Pūjā ceremony at Puri Maṭh on the occasion of the advent anniversary of Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Saraswatī Goswāmī Ṭhākur in his advent place, it is impossible for me to cancel that program. Some foreign devotees already reached Puri and many others will go there to attend the function. I am leaving by flight with 5 others from Guwahati to Bhubaneswar on 18th February. Vyāsa pūjā will be celebrated on 21st February but meetings will be continued till 22nd February. We shall return to Calcutta on 24th February.

I have gone through the contents of your letter. It is my desire that there should be some permanent place for the devotees of Russia, Belarus and Minsk to meet, in whatever way possible in any convenient place. My humble donation can be used for the purpose wherever you want to spend that.------------- expressed his desire to spend some of my donation in the proposed place of Minsk. You can have a direct talk with him in regard to this. I was told by him that the proposed Maṭh would be materialised within 2-3 months. I am anxious to know what progress has been done in regard to this.

You are also aware that some women leaders of the 'women devotees association' of about 300 devotees, on being informed of our arrival at _______, came to participate in the function and I was intimated that 2 or 3 of them have taken initiation and later on by their inspiration, 50 other women devotees have taken Harinām initiation at __________. They were very enthusiastic.

I received a letter from one woman devotee leader who has taken Harinām, explaining that something has happened by which they are disheartened. She has written, “We want to learn all religions and all religious movements but not to belong to any of them and not to look for a guru from any part of the Mondial religion. This is a decision of all the learners. I am bound to obey. We want to communicate freely with representatives of different movements but not to be much linked to any religion in any way. This is our way and our free will.”

We belong to Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu's school of thought, which practices and preaches pure devotion, one pointed devotion to the Supreme Lord Śrī Krishna, by serving Whom we serve all. The main qualification of getting Harinām initiation in our school of thought is that firm faith should be there, without any doubt in it. By serving Śrī Krishna we serve all. If we pour water on the root of the tree, the whole tree will be nourished; if we give food to the stomach, all parts of the body will be nourished. Similarly, if we serve the Supreme Lord, Who is the All-unifying Spiritual Principle, we serve all. Without this qualification, nobody is entitled to take Harinām. To give Harinām to anybody without this belief is a kind of offence. We should be very careful in regard to this. Our school of thought is not an institution to increase disciples. My request to you is - you should try to meet the group of women or the woman devotee and personally talk to them or talk to her and discover the actual fact

Our devotees should be taught about this. Giving initiation to a sincere soul is a kind of service to Supreme Lord. If there be any ulterior motive of increasing number, without seeing the qualification, our devotional spiritual life will be spoiled. To increase the number of disciples by any means is totally anti-devotional. We should not do this.

Hope this will find you all in good health and spirit.