I was simply loitering, and you were loitering, but now we are joined together and making nice music,

Harikesa Maharaja entered Srila Prabhupada's bedroom during his massage to read out the day's mail. Radhaballabha dasa in Los Angeles had sent two separate letters containing questions about the production of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The BBT is planning to reprint the First Canto for Christmas distribution. Jayadvaita dasa has re-edited it and Radhaballabha sought approval for the corrections. He said Hayagriva's original editing was mostly good except for the first two chapters, where he had omitted or changed many of Srila Prabhupada's original words. Srila Prabhupada gave his unequivocal approval. "Concerning the editing of Jayadvaita Prabhu, whatever he does is approved by me. I have confidence in him." Radhaballabha also suggested titles for the Cantos yet to be published. "After consulting Srimad-Bhagavatam and Caitanya-caritamrita, we decided to give the Eighth Canto the title 'Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations.' It is a little uncomfortable to make these titles without your prior approval, so I would like to present to you our suggestions for the titles for the Ninth and Tenth Cantos: Ninth Canto?Liberation,' Tenth Canto?'The Summum Bonum' or 'The Ultimate Shelter' or 'The Supreme Personality of Godhead' or 'The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Ultimate Shelter.' The Bhagavatam doesn't give any titles for the Eleventh and Twelfth Cantos, so I humbly request Your Divine Grace to name these Cantos." He also enclosed some sketches for Srila Prabhupada's approval. At the end of his letter Radhaballabha added a personal note. "I have been following the Caturmasya austerities, and by your grace have found it very effective in controlling sex desire." Srila Prabhupada approved "Liberation" as the title of the Ninth Canto and picked out "The Summum Bonum" for the Tenth. He said that he would decide on names for the Eleventh and Twelfth Cantos when he presented them. As far as the Eighth was concerned, he said, "[it] was a little hard to understand at first but if it refers to pralaya, then it is all right. You must consult with me on such matters. Do not manufacture anything." He also approved the sketches, adding a few small changes. "The picture of the Mohini Murti capturing the demons should take place outside on grass, there is no floor or walls. Prahlada Maharaja does not have a beard. Always avoid beards. It is not true that there are no shoes in Krishna lila, rather there are shoes except for the Vrindavana pastimes. But the shoes are of another quality, they are beautiful with jewels etc. On the battlefield they must wear shoes. The severed head of Rahu should look like the head of a demon, not round like a planet." Finally he added a short comment on Radhaballabha's personal sadhana. "By controlling sex desire one becomes the most perfect sober person, kandutivan manasa-jivam vishaheta dhirah." Tamal Krishna Maharaja sent an enthusiastic letter. He and Tripurari Swami are traveling from temple to temple, offering their services in the areas of management and book distribution. Temple presidents are cooperating, and everyone seems happy with the arrangement. The New York temple devotees, combined with the RDTSKP, collected $240,000 gross in July, the month of the Ratha-yatra. But the Radha-Damodara overhead is $50,000 per month and New York's $110,000, so he said that they in tend to increase the gross collection to $320,000 per month. Prabhupada was very pleased to hear that New York is flourishing, and he smilingly recalled how he first went there on a two-month sponsorship from Gopal Agarwal. He stayed at the YMCA in Butler, and Sally Agarwal had arranged various speaking engagements for him. After twenty-one days he traveled by bus to New York City, alone and with practically no money. Each day he would get a bus to Central Station and walk up and down Madison Avenue, 42nd Street, or go to the Public Library and other places of note. Occasionally he would sell a few books to the Paragon book store, Double Day, Orient and others. He laughed. "I was simply loitering, and you were loitering, but now we are joined together and making nice music," he said, repeating the story of the man who made a musical instrument from some discarded wire, bamboo and a squash gourd. Tamal Krishna's letter also mentioned that Rishi Kumara is still doing nicely in the New York temple. Prabhupada smiled at this news. "Yes, maya can capture for sometime, but she cannot hold." He quoted the verse tyaktva sva-dharmah caranambhujam harer, patet tato yadi bhajann apakvo 'tha. "Anything we do in Krishna's service is a permanent asset, but any material activity even if perfectly done, there is no real gain. Once something is done for Krishna, he will not allow us to go away." Then, with look of deep self-reflection, he added very soberly, "I am simply bringing them to Krishna's lotus feet and praying to Him to save them." Two men from Germany, Prithu dasa and Vedavyasa dasa, arrived this morning. They have come to plead their case that Hansaduta Maharaja should not return there. Three telegrams were also delivered today, bearing the same request. It seems that many devotees have left Germany and gone to England rather than face the prospect of working under Hansaduta. The two men arrived just as Prabhupada was taking his massage, so rather than see him directly they conveyed their message through Harikesa Swami. They had brought with them a letter from Jayatirtha, which was counter-signed by all the German devotees, which said, "The German devotees regard Hansaduta like the plague." When Prabhupada heard Harikesa read that, his eyebrows arched and his eyes opened wide. "The plague!" he repeated. "They said that, the plague?" He gave a little chuckle and shook his head, not in disapproval, but in surprise at the strength of their reaction. Prabhupada later talked with Hansaduta, who sheepishly concurred that he was no longer popular there. So Prabhupada reconsidered his original decision and acceded to the devotees' request. Hansaduta will remain in India.