Prabhupāda Guides His Disciples on the Preaching Purpose of Hare Kṛṣṇa Restaurants
Opening a restaurant is traditionally seen as a mundane business, but the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement transforms it into a powerful preaching tool. The visionary guidance of Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that these establishments exist primarily to distribute karma-free prasādam and help the public forget meat-eating. To protect the renounced order, he strictly assigns the management of these venues to the gṛhasthas while insisting that brahmacārīs and sannyāsīs stick exclusively to temple duties. By playing mild saṅkīrtana and providing reading rooms, the devotees create a profound spiritual atmosphere that effortlessly attracts the public. Ultimately, while some financial gain may naturally occur, the true profit of these vegetarian restaurants is the spiritual advancement of everyone involved.
A Preaching Mission, Not for Profit
The primary goal of any Kṛṣṇa conscious endeavor is to elevate humanity rather than accumulate material wealth. In his letters, Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly warns his disciples that they should never slacken their spiritual lives simply to make a large profit through restaurant businesses. Instead, these establishments serve as welcoming, non-sectarian reading rooms where the public can comfortably study transcendental literature, view grand exhibits, and taste delicious prasādam.
- You American boys and girls can make very large profit, but why you have taken to Krsna consciousness? You are not meant for profit making but for advancing in spiritual life. We should not take to the restaurant for profit making at the cost of slackening spiritual life.
- The brahmacaris and sannyasis must stick to the temple activities. Only the grhasthas can take part in the restaurant. Our aim should not be to work for profit.
- Along with the restaurants there can be "Bhaktivedanta Reading Room" where all my books can be kept and people can come and sit comfortably and read. The people will like these restaurants and reading rooms. They will take them as non-sectarian.
- There is a proposal to make a very grand (Doll Exhibit) exhibition in the capital of the country, Washington D.C. It is proposed to have a restaurant and bookshop attached, and everything will be held within a specially built building.
The Duty of Householders
Maintaining a commercial enterprise requires immense time and energy, making it unsuitable for those in the renounced order. To ensure the society functions properly, Śrīla Prabhupāda explicitly designates the opening and managing of restaurants as a program exclusively for the gṛhasthas. By restricting the sannyāsīs and brahmacārīs to direct temple preaching, he protects their vows and successfully engages dedicated full-time householders in glorious, practical service.
- Best idea is for Subala to go to Fiji and preach. That is the business of sannyasi, not opening restaurant. Restaurant is for grhastha.
- I want that all of our householders be engaged in managing these restaurants.
- The proposed farm project in nothern California is approved by me. Such projects as well as constructing temples, protecting cows, gathering milk, then making ghee, then opening Hare Krishna Restaurants are all good programs for grhasthas.
- They need about 8 devotees to work full-time who are dedicated and would like to assist in the opening of the restaurant.
Creating a Spiritual Atmosphere
A transcendental dining experience should engage all the senses in the remembrance of the Supreme Lord while maintaining strict standards of purity. To achieve this, Śrīla Prabhupāda directs his managers to proudly name their establishments the Hare Krishna Restaurant and to ban mundane items like decaffeinated coffee. By softly playing recorded saṅkīrtana and serving sumptuous vegetarian preparations, the devotees create an environment so pure that customers naturally forget their desire for meat-eating.
- Regarding the restaurant, you should not name it as you have suggested, but "Hare Krishna Restaurant." That should be the name.
- In each restaurant there should be the picture of Lord Caitanya, and the foods should be offered and distributed to the respected customers. There should also be a tape recorder playing the Sankirtana in mild voice.
- It is a very good idea for people to come to our vegetarian restaurant and take so many nice things, especially the panir, fried cheese, and sandesh, kachori, rasagulla, samosa and in this way they will forget their meat-eating.
- No, you may not serve decaffinated coffee in the restaurant.
Synergy With Farm Projects
Urban preaching centers and rural agricultural communities are meant to support one another in a self-sufficient loop. The brilliant strategy of Śrīla Prabhupāda connects the city restaurants directly to the society's farms, which supply abundant foodstuffs and pure ghee. This integrated system not only provides high-quality ingredients for the restaurants but also generates essential income to sustain the farming communities in places like Honolulu and New Orleans.
- From the farms we should get sufficient foodstuffs and these can be sent to be used at our restaurants.
- In Honolulu they are doing nicely, this restaurant. You can take information from Srutakirti das. And the farm will get money by selling ghee to the restaurant. And also you can sell the ghee to the Indian people in the city.
- So far increasing the New Orleans' farm, yes, if you have got more men, you can get more land. You should make a stock of ghee from the farm and if possible open a restaurant in the city for attracting people. You can prepare samosas, kacoris, rasgullas.
- We have also started a restaurant in Honolulu and it is going on very nicely and we are getting good profit. If you take details from Srutakirti das Adhikari, he is in charge of the Govinda's Restaurant and he may be able to help you.
Maintaining Proper Separation
While both serve the ultimate mission, a commercial restaurant and a sacred temple possess distinctly different moods. To maintain strict reverence, Śrīla Prabhupāda advises that the commercial activities of the restaurant must never physically mix with the daily functions of the temple. Whether established on the same property with a completely separate entrance or planned as a standalone building, the absolute sanctity of the āśrama must always be protected.
- Concerning the idea of having a restaurant with the temple, if the temple and restaurant are mixed then it is not a good idea.
- If the restaurant is completely separate entrance and the activities of the restaurant do not mix with the temple at all, then it is possible, otherwise not.
- Regarding the Prasadam restaurant, if you start this, you should do it only in the temple. Not in another place.
- Your idea to in the future build a major temple is very good. Then we can either sell the building on Soho or we can keep it for a restaurant if it is profitable.
Conclusion
The introduction of transcendental food to the modern world is a revolutionary act of compassion. The practical genius of Śrīla Prabhupāda is perfectly displayed in his strategic deployment of vegetarian restaurants as frontline preaching centers. By exclusively empowering the householders to run these operations, he perfectly balances the material and spiritual energies of his growing society. When these venues are infused with holy sound vibrations and pure devotion, they cease to be ordinary businesses and become vital gateways to spiritual life. Ultimately, this delicious approach to preaching ensures that thousands of innocent people are effortlessly introduced to the highest absolute truth.
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 Our Restaurants (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.