Homages from ISKCON Centers

Çré Vyäsa-püjä 2012
Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,
Trying to follow in the footsteps of your direct disciples who are preaching actively all around the
world and managing your society, over the last two years or so we have been reorganizing your New
Mäyäpur temple in France.
You were proud of your farm community in Europe and affectionate to us who lived and served
here, sentiments you expressed in a lecture on Christmas Day, 1976, in Bombay, a few months after your
visit here.
We are now a little team of about fifteen devotees engaged in the various services needed by the
community:
• Deity worship by serious and steady püjärés who have served for decades
• maintenance of the property
• reception of guests
• training new bhaktas
• agriculture with and without bulls, and cow sevä
• holding festivals throughout the year
• growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers in our garden for the Deities and the devotees.
There is not much preaching because of our isolation. We are hoping to set up a preaching center in
a nearby city frequented by many tourists; there we could hold regular classes and kértanas.
Since you left us thirty-five years ago, many things have happened that disrupted the devotees’ faith
here in France. As a result, many of your French disciples left the society. Some gurus and sannyäsés
affiliated with the Gauòéya Maöha come regularly to preach close to New Mäyäpur and in other parts of
France, trying to implement a new system of initiation. Their teachings often contradict your instructions,
and consequently it has become difficult to train new people in Kåñëa consciousness according to your
standards.
In a letter written in 1972 you said:
The standards I have already given you, now try to maintain them at all times under standard
procedure. Do not try to innovate or create anything or manufacture anything, that will ruin
everything.
We are happy that, according to your order, through these difficult years the GBC body has maintained
your standards and is acting as a real support to our isolated temple. We are determined that despite all
outside influences we will continue to maintain your ISKCON standards here in New Mäyäpur.
Çréla Prabhupäda, please continue to shower your mercy on us so that we can just maintain
what you have given us. Thank you for giving us such a wonderful tértha in the middle of
France, where we can practice genuine devotional service under your guidance and receive
many more souls who are searching for Kåñëa. Although we do not have your physical association
(vapu), we deeply appreciate your association through your instructions (väëé). We are glad to be part
of your ISKCON institution, which is so successful today around the world!
On this special day we would like to acknowledge and congratulate the few French disciples of yours
who have provided essential support for us in all the decisions we are taking to maintain ISKCON properly
here, and who are also a manifestation of your exceptional Vaiñëava qualities.
Your servants at New Mäyäpur, ISKCON’s farm community in France.
(written by Gauòamaëòala Däsa)
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