Srila Prabhupada on Temple Salaries

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Srila Prabhupada on Temple Salaries

 

 

By Payonidhi Das | Published 09/14/2006

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Letter to: Kirtiraja in Los Angeles

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami in Bombay

12 January, 1975

 

My dear Kirtiraja das,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 31,

1974 and have noted the contents. Any householder devotee who is working

full-time (with his wife) as a sankirtana book distributer, of temple

managerial

duties, artist, cook, etc. shall be provided food, shelter, and other bare

minimum necessities by the temple itself. They should not cook their own meals

separate from the temple meals. If they have children, then some minimal

allowance may be given according to the number of children. If they want

anything

extra or over and above what the temple president sees as absolute necessity,

then

they should work outside--the temple cannot pay for anything beyond the bare

necessities. And definitely, the BBT cannot pay any salary to anybody. Our

philosophy is "simple living and high thinking"--not sense gratification. The

temple presidents and leaders (elder students) must show this by example.

Temple

or asrama means for renunciation and renounced persons. If one is engaged in

self-realization process, then his material necessities become almost nil.

Persons who do not like this can work outside.

Regarding food-stamps and welfare, if we have to fabricate some lie, that is

not good. It can be done only if it is completely honest.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Srila Prabhupada was specific, the problem is that some leaders have enriched

themselves, whereas some regular devotees dont even have healthcare. Even if

there was some "salary" or allowance for TP's don't forget the rest of the

devotees. Often TP's are a lazy bunch that does little service, only lip

service

and politics. Real TP's must be honest and hard working and not abuse other

devotees. In the Mahabharat there is a story about a person that became a dog

for abusing his power as a TP, that is a lesson for all. At the same time a

proper TP can render lots of wonderful service, but just trying to control one

and

all, lead all kirtans, give all classes and making it "his temple" are some

of the falldowns. I know of one gentle saintly bengali sannyasi that avoids one

 

temple because the TP has an isvara mentality and lack vaisnava etiquette. Be

a good TP or don't be one. If a TP thinks he can expel devotees based on his

sense gratification, or desire for power, he will end up as a dog in his next

life as we see in the example in Mahabharat. Gaura Govinda Maharaja was

yelling in a class "Sometimes the TP thinks: I am Krishna, I will kick out

other

devotees of the temple because I have the power. I am all powerful".

The real test is in the service attitude, not trying to be like another

Indra, chasing women and money in the name of being TP. Indra got cursed to

have

vaginas all over his body for lusting over the sage's wife and seducing her. A

TP must be nicely situated in his ashrama so he can help others. Neither does

he steal money for the temple or manipulate for more and more money to go in

his own pocket.

Your servant,

 

Payonidhi das