Prabhupāda's Temples and Centers - Creating Vaikuṇṭha Around the World
In this article, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the transcendental purpose behind the establishment of his global centers. He describes how these branches serve as educational institutions and spiritual refuges, designed to train sincere souls in the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and provide a direct connection to the disciplic succession.
The Purpose of Global Centers
Śrīla Prabhupāda established his centers to provide a practical way for people to connect with the Lord. He explains that these temples are authorized places where one can take shelter of the spiritual master and find relief from the difficulties of material existence.
- I have established ISKCON centers for the purpose of catching up the Lotus Feet of Krishna by intimate connection with the spiritual master; these are my authorized centers for that purpose.
- The world is becoming a more hellish place to live. Therefore one who is able to take to Krishna consciousness is considered the most fortunate of men. To help people in this regard I have established my temples all over the world.
- I am always anxious to know about the activities of my Temples so far established. I always pray to Krsna that you, all my students, may go ahead in this Krsna Consciousness Movement.
- To open a center for us is not very difficult job. Simply the devotees who volunteer their service must be very serious and sincere.
Management and Self-Sufficiency
For the movement to grow, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized that each temple must be managed competently. He encouraged his disciples to be self-sufficient and to cooperate through the GBC system, ensuring that the preaching work remains strong and independent of other branches.
- I never wanted that any of my temples shall be dependent upon the other temples; rather, our main business is to train up men to be self-sufficient and competent in many ways to carry on the preaching work.
- The system of temple presidents sending twice monthly reports to the GBC was devised by me to facilitate my receiving news of all the centers through the GBC.
- Naturally, I want to see that all of my centres are going nicely, so is it not possible to mitigate the differences of opinion and work smoothly, conjointly. So best thing is that we wait for the Mayapur meeting and decide there combinedly what to do.
- I want that each and every one of my centers should be fully stocked with all of my books, never mind if they can pay or not.
Traveling to Encourage the Devotees
Despite the physical toll of traveling at an advanced age, Śrīla Prabhupāda visited his centers worldwide. His primary goal was to encourage his students in their spiritual progress and to oversee the establishment of new branches in every city.
- I have established so many centers. So I have to go from one center to another just to encourage them. Otherwise I am old enough. I am eighty years. So traveling is not very good job for me, but still I do it just to encourage them.
- I want to travel continually to see my centers. Now there is little impediment on account of my old body. Still I am trying and will continue to try to see you again and again.
- Now you be always travelling here and there, visiting the centers in your zone, seeing how things are going on and how the students are making spiritual progress. That is our real concern, the spiritual progress of life.
- When you write to say that things are going well, it gives me immense pleasure. I am opening so many branches depending on you all my sincere students.
Turning the World into Vaikuṇṭha
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the presence of Kṛṣṇa is felt wherever His devotees gather for kīrtana. By following the principles of bhakti, any temple or apartment becomes non-different from Vṛndāvana, turning the material environment into the spiritual sky.
- I have explained tonight in the temple meeting that Krishna does not live in Vaikuntha nor does He live in the hearts of the yogi. But He lives there where His pure devotees chant His glories.
- In that sense I'm not in America; I am in Vrndavana because wherever I go in my apartment or in my temple I live with Krsna and Krsna consciousness.
- Wherever I go to my branches, you my good devotees turn it into Vaikuntha and I wish to be there where my disciples are.
- If we simply stick to these principles of kevala bhakti, even simply by hearing, sravanam . . . just like we are holding class everywhere, in every center. If somebody simply hears attentively, he'll be perfect.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda's centers are intended to be more than just places of worship; they are transcendental training grounds for the soul. By maintaining high standards of management, literature distribution, and sincere devotion, these temples create an atmosphere that is non-different from the spiritual world. Through these authorized centers, Śrīla Prabhupāda provides the necessary facilities for anyone, anywhere, to revive their eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa and transform their life into a journey back to Godhead.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Temples and Centers (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.