Salary for Sudras
BY: MATSYA DAS
Oct 08, INDIA (SUN) — So Here There is No Question of Salary.
Hmmm -- Rati Manjari has touched on a sensitive issue in ISCKON, they ignore Srila Prabhupada's statements regarding salaries. It is obvious temples are not a means for paying salaries to the GBC's and Temple Presidents. We have read letters where Srila Prabhupada writes that the GBC's should travel with the book distribution party as much as possible. So obviously he wanted them to also distribute his books. That fact remains.
Srila Prabhupada said it again and again, there are no salaries to be paid and salaries are for sudras. In one discussion, on April 15, 1977, Srila Prabhupada said:
"So here there is no question of salary. Here the institution must be maintained, strictly following the principles of Bhagavad-gita. It is open. It is not difficult at all."
Traditionally temples are meant for brahmacaries and sannyasis. But in ISKCON there is a push to kick out brahmacaries and sannyasis, and stop book distribution. And give the Temple President and GBC a fat salary. Srila Prabhupada would never approve of this in a million years.
Temples are really monasteries. If we refuse to see that, we have misunderstood. They are not monasteries where the monks and nuns get paid. Since when have we heard of a Christian monastery with salaries? Our principle is the same, we work for Krsna only when living in the temple, no one else. And grhasthas are really like monks and nuns too, if they follow strictly (sex is only for procreation of Krsna conscious children). We have to understand these things.
But making a fat business out of being a lazy Temple President, GBC and Guru was never Srila Prabhupada's vision. To all you Temple Presidents, GBC and Gurus out there -- all Laxmi belongs to Krsna. It is not for your sense gratification and 1st class flights. Srila Prabhupada said if you misuse one farthing you go to hell.
Let all four categories -- Temple Presidents, GBC's ,Gurus and Sannyasis -- start following Srila Prabhupada strictly, then we will have an ISKCON Srila Prabhupada envisioned. Any sannyasis with fat bank balances, close it down and give the laxmi for preaching and the kids that suffered abuse in ISKCON.
your servant in service to Srila Prabhupada,
Matsya das
