How to start a community? With a small group of 10 to 15 people and regular association. Every member of the small group has to have some responsibility for others. Responsibility means that they have some responsibility towards others. Just like in the Chowpatty temple’s Mentor Program, every person is responsible for someone else. Each one teach one. We are actually responsible for one another. Personal relationships are based on feeling for others and being responsible for them. This is how to start a community. We do not need the temples to expand. Temples are places where communities meet and worship together, but a building will not make devotees. The greatest treasure that we have in our movement is its people. There is no stability without community.
A community is mainly formed by grihasthas since they are the stomach of the society. Brahmacaris are the legs, grihasthas are the stomach, sannyasis are the head. In varnasrama culture if the stomach does not function properly, everything else becomes disturbed. Ninety-nine percent of the devotees become grihasthas, and this is an ashram where we need to concentrate on with regard to developing communities. Householders are stable. Brahmacaris and sannyasis are not stable. They may be stable spiritually, but not materially.
I see my position as a facilitator, someone who helps the devotees to help themselves. This is what a facilitator does.
My function is to help the devotees. Prabhupada said that the function of a GBC is to help the devotees. Outside preaching can be done by others. Prabhupada said that the business of a GBC is to concentrate on internal preaching,on helping the Vaisnavas.
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