Unauthorized items in Temple shops?
Sadhana · asked by user [] · 2007-09-18 · 4 answers
I have noted such items as various types of stone japa malas, items that appear to promote demi god worship, non-devotional style clothing among other things. Are these things sold just to attract outside buyers? Shouldnt the shops stick with the basics and authorized items?
Some of the items I have seen could possibly create confusion about our philosophy and Prabhupadas teachings. Example: I saw a murti of Shirdi Sai Baba in one shop.
Some of the items I have seen could possibly create confusion about our philosophy and Prabhupadas teachings. Example: I saw a murti of Shirdi Sai Baba in one shop.
user [166] · 2007-09-18
Sai Baba!!....that should not be sold in any ISKCON temple shop...as for clothing I would imagine only devotionally related items are best...my understanding of a temple shop is to facilitate and encourage Bhakti Yoga (incense, arati paraphenalia, pictures, saris...dhotis etc.)user [38] · 2007-09-19
Btw, Shirdi Sai Baba is different from the controversial Satya Sai Baba.Yeah, Ive also seen similar things in some places and am not in favor of them.
user [157] · 2007-09-19
I think this forum is good to denounce all strange things happenning in Iskcon temples:the name of the temple should be mentionned,as well as the GBC in charge!I think no other Deities than Lord Krsna,Lord Rama ,Gaura Nitai etc should be on sale;all other devotional paraphernalia are ok,including dhotis/saris.
Why not also a cooperative shop/supermarket,selling all bhoga/soaps/ayurvedic medicines required,thus making the vaisnava community more wealthy,[as long as they give 50% to spiritual purposes!],at the same time,avoiding dirty supermarkets/where meat/fish is also on sale.Why make non vaisnavas get richer and richer,when we know where and how they spend their money?
Well organized,vaisnavas would get cheaper and better quality bhoga/employments/
and thus will be able to spread the Holy Name worldwide..Such shops can also attract non vaisnavas by the top quality of the products,and eventually can become vaisnavas themselves!
user [24] · 2007-09-19
Can someone enlighten me?How does selling things that arent bonafide eventually lead people to become devotees?
How does presenting ourselves as demigod worshipers or Sai Baba lovers gradually help people become Vaisnavas? What is the progression of logic?
Personally I think its a fallacy and a lack of faith in our own culture and philosophy = kanistha.
We should try to be devotees and present ourselves as followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not sell hatha-yoga or Sai Baba murtis thinking that we are making a strategy to help people become devotees. It seems weak devotees come from such efforts because the initial allurement is weak.
There is so much to be gained in just being yourself even in the most mundane sense. If we can just do that as devotees than our preaching will be more effective than what comes from this neurotic mentality of constantly trying to appeal to what we imagine others want to see. Its so subjective anyway.