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Hare Krishna, Jay Shri Prabhupada..

I love Srila Prabhupada. I love his teachings and that's the main reason I'm so attracted to ISKCON. Since childhood my parents took me to the temple in Mumbai, every sunday. As a child I did not know who Shri Prabhupada was. For me ISKCON used to be a great looking temple, close to the beach. I then came to the UK and got this great opportunity to visit the London temple day before Janamastami. My experience was superb! I felt so great and welcomed, I got completely mesmerised in the Kirtans. Later I read a few books of Shri Prabhupada, researched videos and learnt more about Shri Prabhupada. Many times upon listening to him, I have craved for an opportunity to meet him in person. I really appreciate and I'm short of words to glorify Shri Prabhupada's contribution to society. I often refer to his preachings in my discussions with people. 

Today, I have been blessed with a little baby. I really wish to send him to the Manor school and benefit from Shri Prabhupada's teachings, especially being in the UK. But I know it will happen only if God wishes it to happen. 

This year, Im looking forward and hoping to visit the Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford for Janmastami, with my husband and baby. But to be honest, as excited I am about going there, I'm equally nervous. Mainly because of the followers I meet at the temple. Each time I visit the temple I'm bombarded with questions. It does get very embarassing because not everytime you prefer answering to someone you dont know. I have been asked questions like, do you chant, how many time you chant, have you read the Geeta. Its more like a sales pitch, people are trying to sell either books or preach as if they are gurus themselves. I believe loving and praying a very personal. You naturally dont tend to show off what you do for the Lord. The one who shows is 'mithyachaari' - Fake devotee. Just like you dont go around telling people I gave a card or gift to my mother/father etc.

I don't think Shri Prabhupada ever went around asking questions, he simply chanted and people followed. He may have 'suggested' that people chant but not 'urged' them to chant in a manner in which some followers at ISKCON do. Recently my mother visited the UK from India. I took great pride in showing her the temple as I knew she will really enjoy the kirtans and seeing the temple and spirituality in UK. But unfortunately the same thing happened. A lady approached us and started enquiring. My mother wears a tulasi mala which is given by her Guru in India. After a bit of disucssion with the lady, she said the mala worn by my mother is not the right mala. It was really sad for me to see this happening again. She was invasive, impolite and not knowledgeable.  On one hand I propogate about the temples and on the other hand I feel sorry to have met such devotees. What hurts me even more is when people I know, tell me about the perception they have for ISKCON. I being follower of Shri Prabhupada cannot here anything against something made by him, but now I have started to feel the same.

There are so many temples I have visited in India. But have always experienced complete independence. It is not so in ISKCON. If people have to progress spiritually they will by God's grace. The fact that people visit temple is a step toward progression. By constantly selling/urging to read books, chant, follow Krishna does not make it better. On the contrary it creates a repelling effect, like it is doing to me and my family.

If I were to advise someone to deal with such a situation I would ask that person to pay a deaf ear. I can and do the same, but how can I ask my family to. And how can I stop making them feel what they are made to feel by some devotees when they visit the ISKCON temple. I wish Shri Prabhupada was here, I would have told him this in person and I'm sure he would have had a solution to this problem, no one else can offer.