I wanted to make some sannyasis to do what I am doing

The sankirtan boom is overtaking ISKCON America. Although most temples now have van parties, there are also several bus parties that have been inspired by the example of Vishnujana Maharaja. Rupanuga Goswami is now preaching up and down the east coast in his bus doing college programs. He is invited to do a TV show interview and writes Srila Prabhupada full of enthusiasm about the event. Prabhupada saw Rupanuga's bus when he was in New Vrindavan and approved his program of setting up teaching engagements at colleges and universities. Through his letters Prabhupada instructs his disciples on every aspect of the preaching movement. All programs must go on but it is a fact that this book distribution program is very very important. It is real preaching work but I think this program for TV and radio is not so important. There are so many TV programs. Someone will see us on TV and then right after they will see some other nonsense and they will forget. Therefore it is better for them to read my books, but I think your proposal for seriously organizing the college programs is first class. If this program is conducted in the proper fashion it can be our biggest book distribution outlet, I am convinced of this. Regarding your question about taking Gaura-Nitai Deities with you on traveling kirtan, this is not so important. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was touring India He did not bring His Deity with Him. But if you can make proper arrangement then you may take Them. [Letter to Rupanuga, February 14, 1973]

Rupanuga Goswami: My idea for getting a bus was strictly to go to the universities to distribute prasadam, have classes, and distribute books. I didn't have a lot of kirtan. Seeing the success of Vishnujana's program, Sudama Maharaja decides that he should also have a traveling bus party. He writes Prabhupada to ask permission to do this service as the other sannyasis are doing. He is feeling a little down after the Road Show debacle and is looking for a service to get him back on track. He asks Prabhupada for advice on how to stay fixed on the preaching mission. Prabhupada's reply is direct and to the point: simply stick to the standards that he has given. I wanted to make some sannyasis to do what I am doing, and if you keep the standard, always chanting Hare Krishna, then it will go on continuously without impediment. That is your duty as sannyasa, to keep yourself always above suspicion in Krishna consciousness program, and to teach others to become like you, that's all. And if you simply keep to our standard program ' don't try to invent anything "Road Show" or "Yoga Village"' that means chanting daily 16 rounds, rising early, attending mangala-arati, like that. If this program is strictly maintained amongst all the devotees, they will remain pure, and if preaching is pure, automatically leaders, managers, funds, everything will be given profusely by Krishna, without any doubt. [Letter to Sudama, December 23, 1972]

Lord Chaitanya, the original propagator of the Sankirtan Movement, is naturally pleased when devotees dedicate their lives to spread Krishna consciousness. In this mood, Sudama Maharaja is trying to duplicate the program of Vishnujana Swami. He wants to take Radha-Krishna Deities with him on the road. Srila Prabhupada, however, does not think it's a good idea. He wants to encourage his disciples to spread Lord Chaitanya's mercy, yet at the same time, he wants to protect them from possible offenses. Sudama has acquired the old school bus that was the original Radha-Damodara temple bus after the Road Show broke up. He also has a few devotees who are excited to travel with him. In addition, he has acquired two vans donated by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. He is ready to take his bus party on the road. Prabhupada writes Sudama Maharaja to not take Radha-Krishna Deities traveling. The instructions to Sudama are clear. "You have my sanction to take with you Gaura- Nitai Deities. Carefully worship Them, attending to Them with regular aratis and bhoga offerings. Be very careful to maintain a strict standard of worship, and whenever you arrive at a temple you can place the Deity on the altar." [Letter to Sudama, January 26, 1973]

Vishnujana has the only traveling program with Radha-Krishna Deities. You mentioned about your Temple bus, and that is very nice. When I saw Rupanuga's bus in New Vrindavan I wanted that there be a whole fleet. But you should not take Radha-Krishna traveling, better you take Gaura-Nitai. For serving Gaura-Nitai there is no offense, but if Radha-Krishna is there and there is some discrepancy, then there is great offense and this should be avoided. Therefore, I gave the same advice to Vishnujana when I was in Pittsburgh. The idea of the Temple bus is to attract them aboard, back to Krishna[Letter to Sudama, March 23, 1973] It is winter when Sudama's party finally leaves New York to begin traveling. In the cold northern states the program is much more austere than in the warmer southern climes. But these devotees have been infected with the sankirtan fever and nothing can stop them or slow them down.