196 Systematic outreach for sustainable community development – The Monk’s Podcast with Aniruddha P
Disclaimer: This transcript was generated using AI and may contain occasional errors or inaccuracies.
You know, it is, I just try to please summarize, we started by discussing about your journey and how you took up the leadership in Melbourne and broadly speaking, with the food distribution as a starting point, we were able to attract a lot of people. And of course, Prabhupada wanted it exactly how to replicate it in various places will vary. But with that, we are able to, especially when you are in a good location, you can attract quality people and then we take them on the journey systematically.
So two, three important points to discuss was about how both, there was this historical shift when focused on contacting with Indian people in the eighties and the nineties, and then they became a prominent part of the congregation. At the same time is also endeavors to connect with the local, local people. And those are also over a period of time, bearing fruit.
And once both are trained, then bringing the two streams together, it works out naturally and without much conflicts. And he also discussed about Hinduism and how we need to, we have to understand the context in which Prabhupada has made statements, otherwise we end up alienating people who could be our allies and within the multicultural ethos, we get a place on the table very relatively easily. And we, in the government support, like you talked about the support provided by the government for various food, the food outreach initiatives, but at the same time, the critical approach, if we criticize too much, then we may, we may end up alienating people.
Prabhupada could do it at his, because of his spiritual teacher, because of the kind of times he was in, in today's world. The point is not so much quoting Prabhupada or using quote, quoting Prabhupada's critical statements as fulfilling Prabhupada's purpose. And that means we need maturity.
We also need a Shastric study and education like Bhakti Shastri and others, which will help us appreciate that our position is not one or zero. It is more of a Chint Bheda Bheda and which aspect of which aspect to emphasize when Bheda or Abhed, that requires maturity to understand. And the last one, and that idea that Prasada distribution is actually an extension of deity worship.
That's such a beautiful devotional meditation. We see that in Chaitanya Charita Amrit, constantly after deity worship, Jagannath is worshipped and the Bhoga is distributed. So that is, that gives, it's not just humanity and outreach, although the world may appreciate it from that perspective, for us, it is an integral part of Bhakti culture.
And then ultimately the Prasada that we are offering is not just the food, the food is a very important way of offering love and care, but then the books, the message, everything in one sense is the mercy of the Lord. And we are meant to be channels in sharing that mercy with as many people as we possibly can. Thank you very much, Prabhu.
Would you like to add any more things? I know we discussed many more points, but just as a quick summary. Yeah. And you know, if you perfect that and that becomes your sadhana, then that also is, we're in a unique situation where we establish our relationship with Lord Chaitanya.
But at the same time, within the Sankirtan mission, we're establishing our relationship with Radha and Krishna as well. And, you know, it's in that mood of service. And of course, the mood of service in the Sankirtan movement is holy name and, you know, distribution of prasadam, but that also qualifies us and purifies us to the point where we can also then have our relationship with Radha and Krishna revealed.
This is what Prabhupada taught. And so, you know, there's a tendency sometimes to think of these activities as just, you know, mandap, book distribution. Even people criticize the Hare Krishnas, you know, you Hare Krishnas, you know, you only just sell books.
And that's, you know, that's the external platform. But actually, we're not selling books, we're establishing our relationship with Radha and Krishna. If we enter into the mood, you know, the mood of service.
So this is the unique offering of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, is we connect with Krishna in his manifestation as the Pancha Tattva, and, you know, the engagement of the Sankirtan movement. And at the same time, while we're doing that, we're also purifying and developing our understanding of our relationship with Radha and Krishna. That's pretty amazing when you think about it, that we get that connection simultaneously.
So we serve the Guru, serving the Guru, we develop our relationship with Lord Chaitanya. At the same time, we also develop our relationship with Radha and Krishna. So you know, Prabhupada's really giving us a pretty amazing opportunity.
All we have to do is take advantage of it. Yes, sure. Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to having more of your association soon in the future, whenever I visit Australia or when you come to go to the Nico village or in India in general.
Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Chaitanya Charan Prabhu, Hare Krishna, Goes to Prabhupada.
Jai Shila Prabhupada, Hare Krishna.