Jul 02, 2017 — ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, USA (SUN) —
In reference to the article by Danavira das on June 30, 2017, it is surely sad that Indians continue to take over management of temples throughout the world, especially in America. I believe the phenomena is called 'Hinduization'? His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada wanted temples opened, managed and populated by 'natives' of that particular country (i.e., Americans in America, Africans in Africa, Russians in Russia, Japanese in Japan. Like that.) This was the real preaching mood of His Divine Grace and the parampara that He represents.
It's easy to ask members of the Indian community to come and manage a temple. They have money, and they have a social network following of other Indians who are naturally attracted to Krsna Consciousness. Temples managed by Indians may appear to flourish by dint of their finances and the built-in social network of Indian patrons who would always come to the temple and donate, but this was not the mission of Srila Prabhupada. Temples managed by Indians in America 'survive' and even expand into the Indian congregation, but they will never expand to create a next generation of 'American' devotees who will carry on Prabhupada's and Lord Caitanya's mission for the next ten thousand years.
In the early days, Srila Prabhupada ordered Brahmananda Swami to preach in Africa. Brahmananda reported back to Srila Prabhupada that preaching was very difficult there, but the Indian community living there offered to assist him in opening and managing the temples. Srila Prabhupada replied back to Brahmananda and INSISTED that he create temples populated and managed by AFRICANS, not Hindus living in Africa. Srila Prabhupada wanted ISKCON to be the INTERNATIONAL Society for Krsna Consciousness, not ISKCON... the INDIAN Society for Krsna Consciousness. This principle is not only applicable to the situation addressed by Srila Prabhupada in Africa, but it certainly applies to every country where devotees try to preach Krsna Consciousness.
Here is a reference of to this conversation, pulled from the Folio database as follows:
"… There are also many Indians living at that place, and they are also wealthy businessmen, and the African black people are poor, neglected, not very much educated. So at the beginning Brahmananda was mixing only with those Indians, and they were giving profusely money, and there were so many plans for temple and deities. In this way he was neglecting to do the real work which was preaching to the black Africans. No one Hindu who is rich and living in foreign place is very much interested to become devotee, it is show only, sentiment or custom. So I wanted that he should preach to the Africans and convert them to become devotees, that should be his real business, never mind wasting time with so many nonsense Indians. …"
(Vedabase. Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Bhurijana dasa, September 1977)
In conclusion, I don't wish to offend or demean the Vaisnava devotees in America who happen to be from India and have an 'Indian body'. No. What I am saying is, that we should follow our guru (Srila Prabhupada's) order. If there are qualified American Vaisnavas that can manage a temple in America, then these devotees should be given first opportunity to take these important positions. Full facility should be granted by the GBC to let these temples be managed by 'American Vaisnavas' who have taken birth here in this country. TheIr 'duty' is to spread this sankiRtana movement to other native born Americans and thus spread this Krsna Consciousness movement.
Every temple must have Prasadam distribution, a restaurant, book distribution, harinam, and a bhatka program to make new (American) devotees. ... like the OLD days! Srila Prabhupada has said: "purity is the force". If someone can't live in the temple, then they can't be Temple President. This was the standard of Srila Prabhupada. If Indians want to come, this is good! They can come. They are naturally pious and inclineD to Krsna Consciousness... but the focus should be on bringing in the yavana and mellecha Americans... and turning them into first class Vaisnavas! This was, and is the vision and intent of His Divine Grace.
Jaya Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement!
