Back To Prabhupada, Issue 21, Autumn 2008
ack To Prabhupada has, over the years, catalogued the decreasing spiritualisation and increasing commercialisation of ISKCON. We have reported on a wide variety of ISKCON projects focused on making money at the expense of ISKCON's spiritual purity - everything from bingo, to a wedding business, to selling mantra meditation courses, to a Hollywood-style cinema; with plans for an IT park and shopping mall now also in the pipeline. All these commercial activities are justified in the name of making money for ISKCON. But as we show below, Srila Prabhupada never sanctioned devotees to engage in such commercial activities in the name of making money for ISKCON. On the contrary, he warned that such activities will lead to the mission being diverted and spiritual life being compromised - which, of course, is exactly what has happened in ISKCON.
"Business must be done by the grhasthas, not by the sannyasis or brahmacaris."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 22nd, 1976)
"We cannot divert our attention for money making activities. [...] But if we direct our attention like others, then it becomes karma. And karma is very dangerous for persons who want to go back to Godhead."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 21st, 1968)
"This is the business of the devotees. They have no other business. Their business is not for making money. Money, they have got enough, and Krsna supplies all their money. So there is no such problem for a devotee of how to secure money. Their only problem is how to turn these rascals to Krsna consciousness, all rascals, vimudhan."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, December 31st, 1974)
"No, we are not marriage company. We get married our students if there is necessity, but we don't.... [...] Similar proposal was there in Montreal. Then it will become a business. They are not devotees."
(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, June 17th, 1976)
"Only thing is, we must try to avoid becoming too much overly organized like the material businessmen. Our business is to ourselves become Krishna conscious, advance in spiritual life, and to preach to others how they can also take advantage and come to the perfectional stage of life. Too much business or paperwork, vouchers, plans, these things become too much cumbersome for our spiritual growth, they take us away from our real emphasis of work, namely, to go back to Home, back to Godhead."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, May 14th, 1972)
"[...] try to avoid too much business as this distracts us from our real mission."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 15th, 1971)
"Actually we are not fond of having businesses. Although for spreading Krsna consciousness we can use millions of dollars, yet we do not like to employ many of our men at great endeavor in the competitive business world."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, July 1st, 1975)
"Our aim should not be to work for profit. You American boys and girls can make very large profit, but why you have taken to Krishna consciousness? You are not meant for profit making but for advancing in spiritual life."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, September 4th, 1975)
"Regarding Denver, why are they doing business? This creates a bad atmosphere. We shall only do one business and that is book-selling. That's all. As soon as you become karmis after business, then spiritual life becomes damaged. This business should not be encouraged any more [...] One has to engage himself in devotional service, giving up the engagement of manufacturing pounds, shilling, pence."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 20th, 1975)
"Organization of book selling is more important than incense distribution. Incense sales is clearly business only. But when we sell books that means we push forward our movement. So unless it is absolutely necessary, we should not become ordinary businessmen. Try to understand this point."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, April 21st, 1971)
"Regarding the Society's leaders emphasizing business, you should understand what is the meaning of business. Business means to help the preaching. Preaching needs financial help, otherwise, we have no need for business. So far as I understand, our book business is sufficient to support our movement."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 13th, 1974)
"I am seeing now that the business activities in our society, they are increasing [...] So this business should be discouraged, otherwise, if they do it, our men will again become karmis. Our business is simply book distribution."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 20th, 1975)
"It is good that you have stopped all business ventures. Now, stick to it. Book distribution is sufficient. You should not divert for any other business."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 28th, 1976)
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