Our movement is growing and it is not only growing in numbers but it is also growing in complexity! In the earlier days of Srila Prabhupada establishing the preaching mission, this movement was more simple. The membership was more homogenous – people of a similar age group and all engaged in the same activity.
Now, there is much more diversity! Diversity in different members of this movement and also diversity in different kinds programs so we need a very broad movement! We need a movement which provides various ways for all kinds of people to engage in Krsna consciousness because Krsna consciousness is possible in any condition of life therefore it is meant for all kinds of people.There is not just a particular stereotyped way of practicing Krsna consciousness. So in one way, engaging ones nature is valuable!
In recent years, a lot of focus is there on individuality, on engaging according to ones nature, in finding ones natural place in Krsna consciousness. In the earlier years of this movement, a lot of emphasis was placed on sacrifice – sacrifice for the mission and ones nature. Both elements are there where people are looking more for individual expression. We can also see more creative ways of engaging in devotional service, which opens up more avenues for more people to connect. So in that way, we established our movement in so many ways to society! That is fine and nice but the sacrificing spirit still remains very valuable. The spirit of simply putting ones own idea aside for the higher interest!
Just like Srila Prabhupada emphasized book distribution and that emphasis will not go away no matter what we do. There was a time when book distribution was the emphasis of the Hare Krsna movement as a whole and there was only a small percentage who were not part of the book distribution focus but times have changed and book distribution had at one point become a peripheral program – a side program and it lessened as a mainstream focus.
Now in recent years, we see worldwide a resurgence of book distribution. There is an increase and the focus is also increasing, as statistics shows. So as they say, the pendulum swings – it swings from one side to the other but Srila Prabhupada’s desires remain valid. Whether our community takes different forms at different historical points in time, Prabhupada’s desires still remain as an exceptional source of blessings! We can get such blessings by simply trying to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desires!
Therefore, again and again, that will come to the fore front, even if at times the focus shifts a little but remains within the boundaries of authorized vaisnava behaviour. If we miss the emphasizes which Srila Prabhupada gave or the points that he stressed, then we will dry up a little bit. So therefore our connection with Srila Prabhupada is extremely important and it must remain in the focus of our movement, then our movement will flourish!
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