View source for Our principle must be to carefully consider before opening any temple, and once opened it cannot be closed

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{{terms|"Once a temple has been opened it must never be closed"|"carefully consider before opening any temple, and once opened it cannot be closed"|"consider very carefully before opening a center, and once opened it cannot be closed"|"once a center is opened should not be closed"|"once a center is opened, it cannot be closed at any time"|"once a center opens it cannot be closed"|"once a temple is opened it cannot be closed"|"opening a temple it has to be carefully considered, and once opened it cannot be closed"|"the first thing is that the already established Temples must be maintained and the second is that once a center is opened it may not be closed down"|"very much cautious to establish a new center. And if one establishes, he cannot close it"}}
{{notes|VedaBase research query: "once open* close* temple*"@20 or "once open* close* center*"@20}}
{{compiler|Labangalatika}}
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{{first|29Dec10}}
{{last|29Dec10}}
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[[Category:Our Principles]]
[[Category:Must Be]]
[[Category:Careful]]
[[Category:Consider]]
[[Category:Before]]
[[Category:Opening]]
[[Category:Any]]
[[Category:Our Branches, Centers And Temples]]
[[Category:Once]]
[[Category:Open]]
[[Category:Cannot Be]]
[[Category:Closed]]
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<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<div id="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1975 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="MeetingwithGBCMarch311975Mayapur_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="38" link="Meeting with GBC -- March 31, 1975, Mayapur" link_text="Meeting with GBC -- March 31, 1975, Mayapur">
<div class="heading">We should be very much cautious to establish a new center. And if one establishes, he cannot close it. This should be the principle. Yes. Don't whimsically open a temple and close next day. No. Don't do that. If once established, it must be maintained, at any cost.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Meeting with GBC -- March 31, 1975, Mayapur|Meeting with GBC -- March 31, 1975, Mayapur]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Brahmānanda: You want to expand this point of moving temples, rather than permanent temples?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Moving temple means through bus, going from one place to another. That is better. From one temple, they go from village to village, town to town. That will be nice. Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally did not establish any temple. He was moving. Is it not? So that's all right. We should be very much cautious to establish a new center. And if one establishes, he cannot close it. This should be the principle. Yes. Don't whimsically open a temple and close next day. No. Don't do that. If once established, it must be maintained, at any cost.</p>
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<div id="Correspondence" class="section" sec_index="6" parent="compilation" text="Correspondence"><h2>Correspondence</h2>
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<div id="1967_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Correspondence" text="1967 Correspondence"><h3>1967 Correspondence</h3>
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<div id="LettertoKrsnaDeviSubalaCalcutta8December1967_0" class="quote" parent="1967_Correspondence" book="Let" index="230" link="Letter to Krsna Devi, Subala -- Calcutta 8 December, 1967" link_text="Letter to Krsna Devi, Subala -- Calcutta 8 December, 1967">
<div class="heading">I am glad to learn that you are going to re-open your Santa Fe temple. Please make it a point that once a center is opened it should not be closed.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Krsna Devi, Subala -- Calcutta 8 December, 1967|Letter to Krsna Devi, Subala -- Calcutta 8 December, 1967]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Please accept my blessings. I am glad to learn that you are going to re-open your Santa Fe temple. Please make it a point that once a center is opened should not be closed. I have already given charge of six temples to six boys. You and your husband must take charge of the Santa Fe center and Krishna will bestow all blessings upon you. I shall be very soon one of your guests. Hope you are all well.</p>
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<div id="LettertoSubalaSanFrancisco16December1967_1" class="quote" parent="1967_Correspondence" book="Let" index="237" link="Letter to Subala -- San Francisco 16 December, 1967" link_text="Letter to Subala -- San Francisco 16 December, 1967">
<div class="heading">I have already advised you that once a center opens it cannot be closed.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Subala -- San Francisco 16 December, 1967|Letter to Subala -- San Francisco 16 December, 1967]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of 12/14/67 and have noted the contents carefully. I hope in the meantime you have received my letter posted yesterday. I have already advised you that once a center opens it cannot be closed. Therefore my advise is that Srimati Krishna devi may look after the center for a few days during your absence for N.Y. when the things are mature and come back within 2 or 3 days. And for 2 or 3 days Srimati Krishna devi will manage and Krishna will give her all protection, don't worry. I have already given you a business suggestion namely manufacturing incense locally. Once you are successful in this attempt you will get money more than your expectation and spend it for Krishna's service. I hope you will understand me right and do the needful.</p>
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<div id="1970_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Correspondence" text="1970 Correspondence"><h3>1970 Correspondence</h3>
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<div id="LettertoJayapatakaLosAngeles2February1970_0" class="quote" parent="1970_Correspondence" book="Let" index="69" link="Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 2 February, 1970" link_text="Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 2 February, 1970">
<div class="heading">We must always remember that once a center is opened, it cannot be closed at any time.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 2 February, 1970|Letter to Jayapataka -- Los Angeles 2 February, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I am glad to learn that another branch in Toronto you are contemplating to open. This news I have received from Cidananda also. Certainly it is a good news, but we must always remember that once a center is opened, it cannot be closed at any time.</p>
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<div id="LettertoMurariSurat31December1970_1" class="quote" parent="1970_Correspondence" book="Let" index="661" link="Letter to Murari -- Surat 31 December, 1970" link_text="Letter to Murari -- Surat 31 December, 1970">
<div class="heading">Once a temple has been opened it must never be closed.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Murari -- Surat 31 December, 1970|Letter to Murari -- Surat 31 December, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So far as your plan for opening centers is concerned, that program sounds very encouraging. But one thing you should know is that we cannot have another situation like Edinburgh. Once a temple has been opened it must never be closed. So if you are confident in this regard, then continue as planned.</p>
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<div id="1971_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Correspondence" text="1971 Correspondence"><h3>1971 Correspondence</h3>
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<div id="LettertoKarandharaSurat1January1971_0" class="quote" parent="1971_Correspondence" book="Let" index="2" link="Letter to Karandhara -- Surat 1 January, 1971" link_text="Letter to Karandhara -- Surat 1 January, 1971">
<div class="heading">The first thing is that the already established Temples must be maintained and the second is that once a center is opened it may not be closed down.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Karandhara -- Surat 1 January, 1971|Letter to Karandhara -- Surat 1 January, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I am glad that you have found all our West Coast Temples to be going on nicely to the standard and I am also very enthusiastic for you to continue opening more branches as far as possible. But the first thing is that the already established Temples must be maintained and the second is that once a center is opened it may not be closed down. That is very bad. So all considerations must be done very thoughtfully and carefully.</p>
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<div id="1974_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Correspondence" text="1974 Correspondence"><h3>1974 Correspondence</h3>
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<div id="LettertoHamsadutaMayapur29September1974_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Correspondence" book="Let" index="442" link="Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 29 September, 1974" link_text="Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 29 September, 1974">
<div class="heading">Regarding the closing of the temples, no temple can be closed for any reason. You have done a great mistake. I am sending you a copy of a letter I have written in this connection. We have to consider very carefully before opening a center, and once opened it cannot be closed.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 29 September, 1974|Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 29 September, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Regarding the closing of the temples, no temple can be closed for any reason. You have done a great mistake. I am sending you a copy of a letter I have written in this connection. We have to consider very carefully before opening a center, and once opened it cannot be closed. It is disastrous. What you have done is not at all allowed. I am very disappointed that you have done this. Even you did not consult me. Why?</p>
<p>Now you want to purchase a farm, but can you manage? Why are you closing all the temples and then opening a farm? do you have sufficient men to maintain a farm? Why are you purchasing a farm?</p>
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<div id="LettertoHamsadutaMayapur1October1974_1" class="quote" parent="1974_Correspondence" book="Let" index="450" link="Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 1 October, 1974" link_text="Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 1 October, 1974">
<div class="heading">Closing a temple we cannot do. It becomes a farce and is against the bhakti cult. Our principle must be to carefully consider before opening any temple, and once opened it cannot be closed.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 1 October, 1974|Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 1 October, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Regarding Edinburgh temple, yes it should be re-opened. I have already explained that once a temple is opened it cannot be closed. Before opening we must consider very carefully, Worship in the temple means to personally call Krsna, and He personally comes, therefore the arrangement must be there for the temple worship to go on nicely before opening any temple. In Vrindaban there are many dilapidated, important temples started by the Gosvamis, but still they are not closed. They are becoming debtor and debtor and the temple building is practically falling down, but still the Deity worship is going on somehow or other. This is the principle. Closing a temple we cannot do. It becomes a farce and is against the bhakti cult. Our principle must be to carefully consider before opening any temple, and once opened it cannot be closed.</p>
<p>In Germany you have to follow this principle. Once opened it cannot be closed. Somehow or other you have to manage to continue the temple worship. That is the devotional cult. If they are closed and it is impossible to re-open, then what can be done? If there is no Deity, then it doesn't matter. If possible re-open the Hamburg temple and transfer the Deity again and worship. A center without a Deity can be closed, but a center with a Deity if closed it is a great offense. The Deity is not an idol; it is Krsna. We cannot say to Krsna personally, now go away.</p>
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<div id="LettertoHamsadutaMayapur1October1974_2" class="quote" parent="1974_Correspondence" book="Let" index="450" link="Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 1 October, 1974" link_text="Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 1 October, 1974">
<div class="heading">Strictly this principle should be followed. Before opening a temple it has to be carefully considered, and once opened it cannot be closed. Henceforward completely forget the idea that any present temple can be closed.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 1 October, 1974|Letter to Hamsaduta -- Mayapur 1 October, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I am glad to hear about the Gita sales and the publishing of the new books. Therefore I have appointed you as BBT Trustee to publish the German editions of our books as much as possible. I quite appreciate that one main center may remain there and from there the preaching may go on, but no attempt may be made to open a new center without being confident that it will go on. Strictly this principle should be followed. Before opening a temple it has to be carefully considered, and once opened it cannot be closed. Henceforward completely forget the idea that any present temple can be closed. That you should forget. Don't do it again. At least you should re-open Hamburg and Edinburgh and the Deity should be transferred there again.</p>
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<div id="LettertoBadarinarayanaMayapur8October1974_3" class="quote" parent="1974_Correspondence" book="Let" index="465" link="Letter to Badarinarayana -- Mayapur 8 October, 1974" link_text="Letter to Badarinarayana -- Mayapur 8 October, 1974">
<div class="heading">I have given order that once a temple is opened it cannot be closed under any circumstance. This is bhakti cult. In whatever condition I will depend on Krishna.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Badarinarayana -- Mayapur 8 October, 1974|Letter to Badarinarayana -- Mayapur 8 October, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 4, 1974 and am glad to read the contents. You have a nice house, six devotees and a good field. Now that you have opened the temple do not think to close it even if there is some difficulty. If there is any difficulty, you go and just depend upon Krishna. Krishna will help you, that is a fact. I have given order that once a temple is opened it cannot be closed under any circumstance. This is bhakti cult. In whatever condition I will depend on Krishna.</p>
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