Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Emphasis should be on cooperation - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree

Emphasis should be on cooperation

The small offset press at Sydney Temple was turning out a variety of pamphlets and small booklets for street distribution on a fairly large scale. Standard, small booklets like Krsna, The Reservoir of Pleasure and On Chanting Hare Krsna were popular. Other, "home-grown" pamphlets like What Colour is God? and Who's Feeding this Fellow? were a novelty. Consequently, in the same spirit of "transcendental competition" that had inspired inter-temple refurbishment, the managers of the Melbourne temple had decided to purchase a press. Srila Prabhupada, however, was not in favour of the move. He wrote to Amogha on 9 May 1972:

I am very much pleased to hear from you that all the programs in Melbourne are increasing enthusiastically under your supervision. I like Melbourne very much. One thing is, too much competition between centres is not good, the emphasis should be on co-operation, not competition. I do not think it is necessary to have two presses. We should not misuse time and money, better to convince Mohanananda to increase his press work and supply you with all materials, and in return you supply him with something; that is mutual co-operation.

And if you divert your attention to a lot of business, then spiritual advancement will be hampered. Our main business is to become Krishna conscious and to convince others through preaching work. Therefore, we do not want to strive for making big business and lots of money. Of course, money is required, but better to sell many, many books and collect in that way.

I am very glad to hear that you have got one life member there in Melbourne. He is helping you get that press, but I do not think your getting another press will help. You claim that Sydney press is not working; similarly, if you start a press and there is not sufficient work, you will suffer. If you want literature, it will be sent. If there are different small presses, the work will not be of good quality. So this opening of small presses here and there, I am not in favour.

- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu

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