Srila Prabhupada on Temple Salaries


By Payonidhi Das | Published 09/14/2006
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Letter to: Kirtiraja in Los Angeles
From: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami in Bombay
12 January, 1975

My dear Kirtiraja das,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 31,
1974 and have noted the contents. Any householder devotee who is working
full-time (with his wife) as a sankirtana book distributer, of temple
managerial
duties, artist, cook, etc. shall be provided food, shelter, and other bare
minimum necessities by the temple itself. They should not cook their own meals
separate from the temple meals. If they have children, then some minimal
allowance may be given according to the number of children. If they want
anything
extra or over and above what the temple president sees as absolute necessity,
then
they should work outside--the temple cannot pay for anything beyond the bare
necessities. And definitely, the BBT cannot pay any salary to anybody. Our
philosophy is "simple living and high thinking"--not sense gratification. The
temple presidents and leaders (elder students) must show this by example.
Temple
or asrama means for renunciation and renounced persons. If one is engaged in
self-realization process, then his material necessities become almost nil.
Persons who do not like this can work outside.
Regarding food-stamps and welfare, if we have to fabricate some lie, that is
not good. It can be done only if it is completely honest.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Srila Prabhupada was specific, the problem is that some leaders have enriched
themselves, whereas some regular devotees dont even have healthcare. Even if
there was some "salary" or allowance for TP's don't forget the rest of the
devotees. Often TP's are a lazy bunch that does little service, only lip
service
and politics. Real TP's must be honest and hard working and not abuse other
devotees. In the Mahabharat there is a story about a person that became a dog
for abusing his power as a TP, that is a lesson for all. At the same time a
proper TP can render lots of wonderful service, but just trying to control one
and
all, lead all kirtans, give all classes and making it "his temple" are some
of the falldowns. I know of one gentle saintly bengali sannyasi that avoids one

temple because the TP has an isvara mentality and lack vaisnava etiquette. Be
a good TP or don't be one. If a TP thinks he can expel devotees based on his
sense gratification, or desire for power, he will end up as a dog in his next
life as we see in the example in Mahabharat. Gaura Govinda Maharaja was
yelling in a class "Sometimes the TP thinks: I am Krishna, I will kick out
other
devotees of the temple because I have the power. I am all powerful".
The real test is in the service attitude, not trying to be like another
Indra, chasing women and money in the name of being TP. Indra got cursed to
have
vaginas all over his body for lusting over the sage's wife and seducing her. A
TP must be nicely situated in his ashrama so he can help others. Neither does
he steal money for the temple or manipulate for more and more money to go in
his own pocket.
Your servant,

Payonidhi das