(Source of quote on picture: Srila Prabhupada, London's Conway Hall, November 1969)
Recently there have been some major issues with our Movement internally and while I don't want to waste time getting into them, I do not want to ignore them either. My way of doing things is to put more focus on a solution.
One solution, as I've touched on before, is to open your own little preaching center or even a temple. That way you know it's safe, accurate, and so on.
It can done on a large scale, but also on a small scale. Whatever an individual can honestly handle. But folks out there, please do it!
Anyone can start a temple, and here Prabhupada has written such an instruction to a female:
"I have heard from Govinda dasi that you are such a nice girl, and I appreciate your sincere interest in this Krishna Conscious philosophy and this Sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya. I have also heard how you typed Sri Sri Brahma Samhita and I am very pleased with your sincere service.
Recently I have come to Los Angeles where the warmer climate is better for my health than in San Francisco. I am told the Bahama Islands are very warm year round, and I am very interested to come there. If you can find an appropriate storefront, and decorate it nicely for a Temple, with altar, pictures, candles, incense, etc., and begin holding Kirtana there, then I will come there in February to the Bahama Islands, and give lectures there in the Temple. You will be doing very good service to Krishna, and it is not very difficult to do. People will come, you will see. However, if it is not possible to do this, then I will be very happy to meet you when I go to New York in April, and to Montreal afterward." ~ SP, L.A., January 13, 1968
At least start worship and devotional service within your own home, than over time maybe as you tweak it, invite a friend or two. If you want to take it further and invite more, great! If that's sufficient for you, great! You now have devotee association.
"Whether you live in temple or outside temple, the rules and regulation and the process must be followed. Then you are successful. It doesn't matter that you have to live in the temple. If he does not agree with other godbrothers, friends, he can live separately. But he must follow the rules and regulation. That is wanted." ~ Srila Prabhupada, morning walk conversation, February 3, 1975
For those who would like it, here is the Morning Program which Prabhupada has us do. A video to follow.
"Those who are spiritually advanced, their photograph and ordinary photograph is different. Just like here is statue of Krishna. He's not different from Krishna. The original person Krishna and this statue of Krishna is the same. Similarly, a spiritually perfect person and his photograph is the same. Because it is in the absolute stage. In the absolute stage there is no difference. In the material stage there is difference. Is that clear?" ~ Srila Prabhupada Lecture, New York, September 16, 1966
"There is no difference between me and my picture. Therefore we should honor and keep pictures in that spirit. If we throw pictures this way and that way, that is offence. The name and picture are as good as the person in spiritual world. In the material world either picture or person, everything is illusion." ~ Srila Prabhupada letter, September 4, 1972
Helpful posts to assist your bliss of spiritual life:
A Fun Spiritual Place - Your Home! :)
How To Create Your Home Altar, with steps, mantras, and more! :)
We go beyond vegetarianism, we are prasadam-atarians. ha That is, turning vegetarian food into spiritual foodstuffs.
