I don't think any of the devotees want to go, Srila Prabhupada.
It was time to go, but none of the devotees wanted to leave the room. They were
happily basking in Srila Prabhupada's presence. Madhudvisha looked around the
room, turned to Srila Prabhupada, and grinned. "I don't think any of the
devotees want to go, Srila Prabhupada. They want to stay with you!"
Prabhupada reciprocated with a mild smile. "Then that is all right." The
devotees stayed for five minutes more, then it was over. As devotees offered
their obeisances, Prabhupada turned to Madhudvisha. "These are all residents in
the temple", he asked, with a slight gesture of his hand. "We would like them all to be residents," replied Madhudvisha, "but some of
them find it a little difficult."
Prabhupada's reply " "So, make it suitable" spoke volumes. It was quite clear
from the content of his talk that his consistent desire was for all the devotees
present & those living both inside and outside & to centre their devotional lives
around the temple. Prabhupada had stressed cleaning the temple, worshiping
the Deities, growing flowers in the temple gardens, and encouraging temple
tours.
Yet Prabhupada's final comment "So, make it suitable", was clearly to impress upon those living in the temple & especially the leaders & that they had a grave responsibility: their behavior should demonstrate such a high standard of Krishna consciousness that those coming to the temple would feel welcome and at ease, not threatened or alienated. Prabhupada had written: "Our different centres are meant for organizing a group of pure devotees so that neophyte visitors may take examples from them and thus become attached to Krishna consciousness.". If the devotees became sufficiently advanced in Krishna consciousness, then the natural decorations of a saintly person's mercy, humility, equality, mildness, peacefulness, respectfulness and freedom from false prestige would attract people to not only come to the temple, but to actually take up the process themselves. Prabhupada's use of the word "suitable" was a clear instruction to those devotees fortunate enough to already have the opportunity of full-time shelter in Krishna's temple to avoid animosity and confrontation. In short, Prabhupada was making it clear that example was far better than precept. The devotees reluctantly rose to leave the room. Prabhupada spoke out kindly: "Take prasadam!" The devotees filed past as Prabhupada calmly and happily gave without discrimination. His deft hands and elegant fingers picked up the flat peria sweets and expertly placed them into each extended palm, making no distinction between stalwart men, shy women or eager children. Prabhupada desired that prasadam be distributed widely from all his ISKCON centres. Now, Srila Prabhupada demonstrated the simple act by offering sweetmeats from his own hand.
Yet Prabhupada's final comment "So, make it suitable", was clearly to impress upon those living in the temple & especially the leaders & that they had a grave responsibility: their behavior should demonstrate such a high standard of Krishna consciousness that those coming to the temple would feel welcome and at ease, not threatened or alienated. Prabhupada had written: "Our different centres are meant for organizing a group of pure devotees so that neophyte visitors may take examples from them and thus become attached to Krishna consciousness.". If the devotees became sufficiently advanced in Krishna consciousness, then the natural decorations of a saintly person's mercy, humility, equality, mildness, peacefulness, respectfulness and freedom from false prestige would attract people to not only come to the temple, but to actually take up the process themselves. Prabhupada's use of the word "suitable" was a clear instruction to those devotees fortunate enough to already have the opportunity of full-time shelter in Krishna's temple to avoid animosity and confrontation. In short, Prabhupada was making it clear that example was far better than precept. The devotees reluctantly rose to leave the room. Prabhupada spoke out kindly: "Take prasadam!" The devotees filed past as Prabhupada calmly and happily gave without discrimination. His deft hands and elegant fingers picked up the flat peria sweets and expertly placed them into each extended palm, making no distinction between stalwart men, shy women or eager children. Prabhupada desired that prasadam be distributed widely from all his ISKCON centres. Now, Srila Prabhupada demonstrated the simple act by offering sweetmeats from his own hand.
Reference: The Great Transcendental Adventure by Kurma Dasa
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