Firstly I am ready for a bit of (R in DS) my monthly fix or rest in devotional service; ok my work colleges don’t quite grasp the concept of how what appears to be work can be restful after all kicking off your shoes in front of the tv with a bottle of wine is the way to go right?
One thing I don’t say because this would add even more to there confusion as to how work can be fun and relaxing would be the simple fact that over the past few months on my visit I’ve been sleeping on an office floor at The Manor (they still think I sleep in a bed whilst there). It is the kind mercy of the devotees that they have found a way of accommodating me and after all without service this life would be very difficult for our desire should be to serve the mission and the orders of our Guru Maharaja’s as best as possible given the limitations of the human body.
So I was e-mailed about West Africa, a country I’ve been to and worked in on a voluntary basis; one day may be by Krishna’s mercy I could return to preach the glories of Sri Caitanya in loving devotional service. There was however a request for my thought’s.
Firstly they noted that Srila Prabhupada said that books should be free when preaching in Africa; I have looked for this quote and to date not found it but Srila Prabhupada did say that he could see no difference between India and Africa as they present the same problems with similar typography (this is a summery not a direct quote).
I am reminded that HH Devamrita Swami often correctly quotes his spiritual master who said “if any one says Srila Prabhupada said I haven’t” and that Srila Prabhupada often quoted his own spiritual master as this is the system we all should follow.
Any way if free books or not free books there is few direct quotes from Srila Prabhupada on Africa most relate not to West Africa but South/East Africa but as we know Srila Prabhupada also guided us saying the answer could be found in his books and if we take a more wider view in his correspondence, lectures, conversations one such is a letter in regards to the preaching in Nairobi which is as follows:
We must keep at least one nice temple of large size in that part of Africa. If we reduce in that way, that will not be good. Rather increase in all ways, that is our program. The moving and preaching work will be your most important business in Africa. There is not much population and the distances are great, so there is, no doubt, great need for several traveling parties to be working simultaneously. But if you keep that place in Nairobi as your base, sending all of the new recruits as you are able to convert them back to the Nairobi temple for getting themselves trained up, what is wrong with that? I think we need at least one big place for training up the new devotees just to the proper highest standard, just as we are doing in Los Angeles, New York, London, and other places. So also in Africa you require one such model center. If you remain only traveling parties, that will be nice for distributing many many books, and for having the sankirtana, but for new devotees that will be too much rigorous and they will not be able to adjust to the constant moving and changing about. That will spoil their chance for developing in their Krsna consciousness from neophyte stage. So keep the Nairobi center always very active, nicely decorated, worship the deities just to the highest standard, making sure that all of the students are rising to attend the mangala aratrika, chanting regularly sixteen rounds, reading books — in this way utilize what Krsna has given us there and develop it for the headquarters building for Africa.
Letter to: Cyavana — Bombay 29 December, 1972
Practically ISKCON has a unique structure with minimal central intervention which although makes for a vibrant community each one being the same but unique (if that makes sense) for preaching and missionary work it poses a problem especially on new continents or setting up new centers but we also see how this has been achieved throughout the world so not impossible (just ask one of the early Prabhupada disciples if you don’t believe me there love of there guru maharaja showed in the sacrifice and austerity they endured just to make him happy and expand the mission).
I worked in West Africa for a number of Christian organizations who funded the preaching work there paying for missionaries and establishing centers; some from small congregations of no more than 20 to 40 individuals motivated and focused on supporting a missionary service.
As I have previously written my back ground was one of being a Jehovah’s Witness as a regular pioneer living locally and serving nicely; but there was as opportunity to be recommended to be a special pioneer (missionary) they would be funded from central funds and sent out to areas in the world to expand the mission of telling the word about Jehovah and the message of the bible. But before they went out they spent time at the headquarters in the USA to be trained over a six month period.
We see how Srila Prbahupada accelerated this by giving direct instruction and personal guidance then as was the famous train journey in India when he asked one of his disciples to get out and help build a temple (that includes making devotees don’t forget) whilst also visiting and revisiting along with guidance in correspondence when difficulties arose; again everything can be found if we look.
Other religious organizations take a similar view, whilst out in West Africa the impact of a white face taking the lead made a huge impact and gave great standing in the community. But amazingly all followed the same guiding principles as set out by Srila Prabhupada; one central church/kingdom hall of a modest size but one that allowed for expansion and training and a team of traveling preachers.
Much like India if some one goes to there village they will come out in droves to see, listen and indeed ask lots of questions. It’s not for everyone the weather is hot the roads are dusty and each journey fraught with difficulty the high risk of malaria and there was always a reluctance to write back asking for even more money but at times it was necessary.
The problems in West Africa are of a poor economy, huge corruption but the people are so open to listen and I am sure with a few highly motivated devotees with the support from richer centers/temples there could eventually be a self supporting community over time; this too has happened with some of the church organizations I’ve gone out with. But once established support to expand is needed it is a life time commitment not a cursory well I’ll send out a few $ or books.
But ISKCON has a structure that in some ways promotes what is in some ways is a Welsh perspective insular looking in on itself not out ward. Each center/temple looking how to promote and expand in it’s own little part of this planet we call earth. And in many ways it’s not a bad thing for there are so many wonderful places to go so many wonderful devotees to meet and if we struggle in one place we can sure find a home within the devotee community we can settle right into.
OK I’ve not forgotten the GBC; but do they have a central fund for missionary expansion? To be truthful I don’t know all I know is that they are dedicated in expanding the mission and fulfilling the directions of Srila Prabhupada.
So the fact is that there has to be some missionary work in West Africa, and I would say practically that there has to be some white elephants there trumpeting the glories of Krishna this may mean that the GBC looks closely at how to fund:
1)A small but humble central preaching center
2)subsidized or free books
3)prasadam distribution (or regular sunday feasts)
4)travailing sankirtana parties (with a regular visit to each village and community)
5)possible missionary training with identified steady devotees
Ultimately everything happens by Krishna’s mercy and grace my thought simply is that if we wish to start and expand our preaching and fulfill the simple request made by Srila Prabhupada then some thought has to be given in how to achieve this in a practical manor taking into account the unique problems and challenges of each country.
And as I travel for my R in DS just grateful for a small piece of office floor to rest on at night and some simple prasadam to fill the demands of the material body so that I can have a huge feast for the spirit soul; we should stop being introspective but each center/temple should ask as many small church congregations also have “can we sponsor and help expand pure love of god to the parts of the world that are less fortunate materially and in some ways spiritually than us?”
For as these churches and spiritual communities will testify there is nothing sweeter than having one of your own missionaries returning home and telling amazing stories of the various people touched by the word of god, who’s lives have been turned around and yes it does inspire and encourage.
May be that’s the solution an ISKCON lead sponsor a missionary today for only ($xx a month) we can expand the mission and make the whole world Krishna Consciousness; now isn’t that the greatest gift we as devotees can give the world? And relive the suffering of mankind through high thinking and simple living.
And as Srila Prabhupada points out he has some amazing white elephants to help such nice boys and girls.
