Recruiting members

Expressions researched:
"Members are to be recruited" |"recruit any sort of men" |"recruit life members" |"recruit many members" |"recruit members" |"recruit more members" |"recruit some members" |"recruit wealthy men as their members" |"recruited for life member" |"recruiting life members" |"recruiting members" |"recruiting some members"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

This śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam, especially, is very essential for understanding Kṛṣṇa. Our this śravaṇa-kīrtana process, hearing and chanting, is helping us, recruiting members in Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. It is practical.

Lecture on BG 7.1-2 -- Bombay, March 28, 1971:

Now, how to become āsakta, attached to Kṛṣṇa? The first beginning is śravaṇam, to hear about Kṛṣṇa. Just like you are kindly present here and trying to hear about Kṛṣṇa. This is the process. This is the process. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam. Caitanya Mahāprabhu also reco... (break) ...process was first stated by Prahlāda Mahārāja. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, we get information:

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ

smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam

arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ

sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

(SB 7.5.23)

This śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam, especially, is very essential for understanding Kṛṣṇa. Our this śravaṇa-kīrtana process, hearing and chanting, is helping us, recruiting members in Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. It is practical. So there is a formula, I have stated many times, that in order to increase our attachment, our dormant love for Kṛṣṇa... We should always remember that we have got dormant love for Kṛṣṇa, but it is now covered. We have to uncover it by cleansing the dirty things. That is the method. So for that purpose, ādau śraddhā, that with some faith, with some conviction, you have come here. This is called śraddhā.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

We are collecting, recruiting members, from all parts of the world without any distinction.

Lecture on SB 3.26.35-36 -- Bombay, January 12, 1975:

The sat-saṅga is very important, association. Therefore we have named this, "Kṛṣṇa conscious society." Anyone can join it. It doesn't matter what he is. And actually, it is... Practically we are doing. We are collecting, recruiting members, from all parts of the world without any distinction. The distinction is there in the material platform. In the spiritual platform there is no such distinction. Paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ (BG 5.18). Samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu. That is the vision of the devotees. They see only the spirit soul, part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. Their sympathy is for the spirit soul, that "Here is a spirit soul, and he is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. He is now bound up by this material bondage. Let me try to rescue him."

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

He has accepted sannyāsa order, he should travel, go and preach. And especially nowadays, I cannot go everywhere. He can go, and he can recruit members.

Meeting with Devotees -- June 9, 1969, New Vrindaban:

Hayagrīva: Well, I don't care. I'll leave it up to you then. I'll leave it up to you. You can do what you want.

Prabhupāda: No... You... My... I have explained. He is... As a sannyāsī, he should live everywhere temporarily just like I live temporarily. Aniketa. A sannyāsī should not have a permanent place. Anywhere he goes, temporary. So because you think that his service is required, then he should remain here. Otherwise, as he has accepted sannyāsa order, he should travel, go and preach. And especially nowadays, I cannot go everywhere. He can go, and he can recruit members. He can make propaganda of New Vrindaban to many persons, to the, I mean to say, foundations. As I have suggested, make pamphlet. So he can do outside work very nicely for developing Vṛndāvana.

1970 Conversations and Morning Walks

In this way we're trying to recruit members that support our movement. This movement is being supported just by literature.

Room Conversation -- December 13, 1970, Indore:

Life membership means the member is entitled to all the books that we have printed plus all the books we will print in the future, plus a lifetime subscription to our magazine, Back to Godhead. And the member is entitled to stay at any one of our branches throughout the world free and if he happens to travel abroad or in India. We will have our branches. So that life membership fee is 1,111 rupees. And then we have donor membership. The donor member is entitled to all the books that have been printed, a lifetime subscription to our magazine, but he does not get the books in the future. That is 555 rupees. And subscriber membership, lifetime subscription to our magazine, which is 222 rupees. Or there is membership, yearly subscription to our magazine. In this way we're trying to recruit members that support our movement. This movement is being supported just by literature.

1971 Conversations and Morning Walks

Whoever is initiated, he is competent to make disciples. They can make disciples and spread. They can recruit more members in this. They do, but they are being trained up.

Room Conversation -- July 18, 1971, Detroit:

Mohsin Hassan: You have ten swamis. And outside of swamis, what's the lower...

Prabhupāda: Now, they're competent. They can, not only the swamis, even the gṛhasthas, they are called dāsa adhikārī, and brahmacārīs, everyone can, whoever is initiated, he is competent to make disciples. But as a matter of etiquette they do not do so in the presence of their spiritual master. This is the etiquette. Otherwise, they are competent. They can make disciples and spread. They can recruit more members in this. They do, but they are being trained up. Just like here in this meeting, one of my disciples, he is acting as priest. It is not myself; he is acting. So some of my students, they are acting as priests, some of them are swamis, so they are competent to make disciples.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Make plan to speak in these big, big institutions. And recruit members from them.

Room Conversation -- March 26, 1977, Bombay:

Śrīdhara: I remember one example, you said we do not care who is manager of the stool room.

Prabhupāda: Daṇḍya jane rāja yena nadīte cubāya. So make plan to speak in these big, big institutions. And recruit members from them.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: :Do you think that in America there will be much receptivity at this time?

Prabhupāda: Make first of all in India.

1947 to 1965 Correspondence

Members are to be recruited from all sections of people and I am sure when actual work is begun there will be no dearth of financial help.

Letter to R. Prakash -- Allahabad 22 June, 1951:

I am confident that many self-sacrificing young men will join us as soon as we begin the work. We have to work this scheme from village to village and town to town which we will have to develop by a gradual process.

There are lacs & lacs of temples all over India and these centres have to be utilized as local preaching centres. Members are to be recruited from all sections of people and I am sure when actual work is begun there will be no dearth of financial help. To begin with we can utilize the Gandhi Memorial centres all over the country for organizing this Sankirtana movement and if we do the work properly Government may recommend the Gandhi memorial fund for helping this movement.

1967 Correspondence

Some devices like selling the publications recruiting members, inviting them to our meetings and likewise activities must be taken by the Brahmacaris and that will be nice.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- New York 13 April, 1967:

Krishna consciousness means to increase the number of persons in Krishna consciousness. Therefore it is the duty of a Brahmacari to go door to door as beggar and enlighten people in Krishna consciousness. Whenever you go to some person he will hear something from the devotee about Krishna consciousness and that will be very much beneficial for both the devotee and the person who hears the devotee. In India the Brahmacaris are meant for begging from door to door for the Spiritual Master. But in your country this activity is not allowed, therefore some devices like selling the publications recruiting members, inviting them to our meetings and likewise activities must be taken by the Brahmacaris and that will be nice. Grhasthas or the householders have responsibility of family therefore whatever contribution they can offer for the Society is welcome.

He will be going back to the States very soon; in the meantime I shall try to utilize this "white sannyasi" for recruiting some members in India, and then he will go back.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Vrindaban 29 August, 1967:

You will be glad to know the Kirtanananda is now Tridandi Swami Kirtanananda. I have made him a sannyasi yesterday on the birthday of Lord Krishna, and it was unexpectedly a very successful ceremony. The moment he was being offered sannyasa there was some ceremony of Janmastami in the temple, and hundreds of men and women congratulated the young sannyasi. Somebody remarked that he looked like Lord Caitanya. He will be going back to the States very soon; in the meantime I shall try to utilize this "white sannyasi" for recruiting some members in India, and then he will go back. He field of work is certainly there; but if he can be used here also, I will try for it.

1970 Correspondence

It is so satisfactory to understand that you are preaching from house to house recruiting members for our London center.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 27 January, 1970:

It is so satisfactory to understand that you are preaching from house to house recruiting members for our London center. This was the procedure of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda when they began preaching. I think the charity box system will be very nice success especially from the Indian store owners.

Your desire for opening a center in Copenhagen may be suspended for the time being unless we recruit some members from Europe because all the best students have already gone there, so it will be difficult to send men from America at the present moment.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 26 April, 1970:

All my best students are now in Europe, in pairs. Yourself, Mukunda, Jaya Govinda, Syamasundara., Gurudasa, Tamala, etc., you are all advanced and selected, now your program will be to recruit many sincere souls from European countries, and open branches. Your desire for opening a center in Copenhagen may be suspended for the time being unless we recruit some members from Europe because all the best students have already gone there, so it will be difficult to send men from America at the present moment. In America also we have to open so many branches, so I think you should not expect any more members from America for organizing European centers.

Try to recruit more members for our Society because we have to open many centers, and from each center we shall organize this moving Sankirtana Party.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 27 April, 1970:

I am negotiating with a gentleman in India to get the management of a very old Radha Krsna Temple, and if this negotiation is successful, we will organize a very nice preaching center in the center of India. From this part, any side extreme boundary is not more than 1000 miles. I think that will be a very nice preaching center. So try to recruit more members for our Society because we have to open many centers, and from each center we shall organize this moving Sankirtana Party. That will be nice program for executing the will of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

I have received report from Tamala that preaching in Paris is going nicely. In one day they recruited about 14 devotees simply by requesting who will join this Krsna Consciousness movement. So you all also recruit members, English boys and girls, in that way.

Letter to Lilavati -- Los Angeles 3 May, 1970:

I think each couple of our students may try to open a branch in England. Our first branch of London Yatra was opened by Mukunda, Gurudasa, and Syamasundara. and their wives. They tried very hard, and now our London Temple is nicely situated. Similarly many other Temples can be opened in places like Amsterdam, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, etc. I have received report from Tamala that preaching in Paris is going nicely. In one day they recruited about 14 devotees simply by requesting who will join this Krsna Consciousness movement. So you all also recruit members, English boys and girls, in that way. Our Movement is a declaration of war against Maya, that you can understand very well, so we have to recruit many fighting soldiers—so do it vigorously.

1971 Correspondence

Now the most important point is to recruit life members as many as possible.

Letter to Dayananda -- Calcutta 8 February, 1971:

Now the most important point is to recruit life members as many as possible. Please let me know how many you have made. The money received of the life membership fees should be divided into two: 50% for building fund and 50% for my book fund. By distributing of our books and literatures through this program of life membership, our institution can become greater and greater all over the world.

Our program of recruiting life members is also going on nicely.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Gorakhpur 19 February, 1971:

Although our philosophy is revolutionary, even in India also, it is being received favorably. In our Kumba Mela camp it was very successful. Our camp stood out first in the whole campus. Many government high officials, retired high-court judges, big police officers came to see me and invited me also for lecture and all of them were very much encouraging. Our program of recruiting life members is also going on nicely. Actually we are and meeting our expenditures very heavily on this book distribution scheme of life membership. 50% is utilized for reprinting books and 50% is being utilized for increasing the number of centers. I think the same program may be vigorously introduced in your country and that will be a great success.

We should recruit any sort of men out of the four classes; brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 28 March, 1971:

We should recruit any sort of men out of the four classes; brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. For our members we do not make any discrimination. One half of the membership fee is to go for printing of my books and one half for development of our Centers. I think we will require a huge amount of money for developing New Vrindaban scheme with seven Temples. Then it will be nice. That will be a grand success.

I suggest, since Jayapataka is engaged in temple work, that both you and Tamala find some time and recruit some members.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Brooklyn 28 July, 1971:

have received one letter from Madhudvisa Maharaja that things are going on nicely in Bombay. So you need not go there. Better if you also form a party to recruite life members. From Giriraja's letter, and Tamala's also, I understand that only Giriraja is collecting money. So why not you do something in this connection? I suggest, since Jayapataka is engaged in temple work, that both you and Tamala find some time and recruit some members.

My request to you now is that yourself and Tamala Krishna go to Delhi to organize a center there and make arrangements for printing our books and magazine in Hindi and recruit life members there also.

Letter to Gurudasa -- London 11 August, 1971:

Therefore it is not advisable that you go outside India at this time. So many matters are pending and how to get our books and BTG printed in Hindi also. I understand that sometimes you are going to Delhi with Tamala in a plane for visiting some officers but that is of no use.

So my request to you now is that yourself and Tamala Krishna go to Delhi to organize a center there and make arrangements for printing our books and magazine in Hindi and recruit life members there also.

It is better that Tamala and Gurudasa exert their energy for recruiting members in Delhi.

Letter to Giriraja -- London 12 August, 1971:

Gurudasa and Yamuna shouldn't go to Africa. I have already advised them. Rather Gurudasa and Tamala Krishna should go to Delhi and organize that center. There is much business there so I have advised them to go. The small Deity which Yamuna is receiving may be taken to Delhi in order to make the dharmasala a permanent center. Wherever we go, our Deities must be installed. So they may not go to Africa and waste time. Brahmananda has already gone there. We have got enough business in India. So it is better that Tamala and Gurudasa exert their energy for recruiting members in Delhi. That is still an open field. In Calcutta you are working very nicely so stick to Calcutta and do your best.

We should always remember that we recruit members from people in general. It is not expected that every one of our members should be immediately to the standard qualification.

Letter to Vrinda -- Nairobi 14 October, 1971:

Our ISKCON Society married couples means that both parties fully are engaged in Krishna's service. I have noted your several complaints against the devotees but it would be better to set the example rather than to criticize the defects of the devotees. We should always remember that we recruit members from people in general. It is not expected that every one of our members should be immediately to the standard qualification. The best thing for you is to set the example by your personal behavior and try to reform the others, not by criticizing but by friendly behavior. If sometimes there are any disagreements, we should try to forget such incidences and be always in friendship with each other. So I hope you will immediately return to your husband and forget all these disagreements and fully cooperate for developing our Berlin center.

Your idea to take German citizenship and organize the whole of Germany is the first class plan. If you can recruit many members there and get German language books published, that is the very best idea.

Letter to Sivananda -- Delhi 12 December, 1971:

Your idea to take German citizenship and organize the whole of Germany is the first class plan. If you can recruit many members there and get German language books published, that is the very best idea. When Mayapur place is organized you can come and see it, but your place is Germany. The German people are very intelligent and advanced in philosophy. Lately we have been discussing some of their philosophers like Kant, Hegel, Marx, and so on, so I can understand that there are many intellectual people in Germany who will appreciate our Krishna philosophy. They have got good respect for India's philosophy, so now we must take advantage and present it purely. Therefore the printing of so many books in German language is very necessary.

1972 Correspondence

Last month I sent you Rs. 4000/= in favor of Radha Press. You have already collected some money by selling Hindi BTG in Jaipur, so did you send this money to Book Fund Account? For financing this publication department of Hindi language, side by side recruiting Life Members must be done.

Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Bombay 7 February, 1972:

Last month I sent you Rs. 4000/= in favor of Radha Press. So you have already collected some money by selling Hindi BTG in Jaipur, so did you send this money to Book Fund Account? Rohininandana was ready to go to you, but you have sent news through Gurudasa that because he was not too much anxious that he is not needed. But if Rohininandan's assistance is required he can join you, I have no objection. For financing this publication department of Hindi language, side by side recruiting Life Members must be done.

1973 Correspondence

Many big big lawyers, doctors, government ministers, professional men are there in Delhi, I think more than any other city of India, and they are all intelligent men, they can be easily recruited for life member by simply showing the books and requesting them to kindly help us in this way.

Letter to Tejiyas -- Bombay 2 January, 1973:

I am including herewith one letter to the Minister of Home Affairs. You present him with a full set of our books, including Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, like that, and give him also my letter. Try to present them personally to him. Actually you may take this opportunity of being situated at Delhi to make every Parliamentary member our life member also. You can get the list of addresses and systematically approach each and every member of Parliament to become our member also. So many big big lawyers, doctors, government ministers, professional men are there in Delhi, I think more than any other city of India, and they are all intelligent men, they can be easily recruited for life member by simply showing the books and requesting them to kindly help us in this way. So make many, many life members amongst this class of men, that will be your great contribution.