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August 7, 1975 : Toronto

Satsvarupa: The Toronto temple was a small, run-down building, and Prabhupada was interested in helping the devotees relocate. All the real estate brokers they had approached had told them about a fabulous church for sale downtown. The temple president, Visvakarma, had looked at the building, but the owners were asking almost half a million dollars, with a large down payment. When Prabhupada went to see the church, he decided that somehow they must get it. If necessary he could send the total BBT collections for two months as a loan to the Toronto temple. Prabhupada told them to offer $300,000 cash, but when Uttamasloka went, the church directors rejected the offer, saying they had already rejected an offer for much more.

Srila Prabhupada did not give up the idea of getting the church, however, and he mentioned it before a meeting of Indians. Near the end of the program, when the host begged Prabhupada to return again to bless them, Prabhupada took the opportunity to request all present to please help the devotees raise money to purchase the church. Once they had actually purchased it, he said, he would return to Toronto. Many of the gentlemen present promised to help.


Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 6 - Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami