Gurudāsa: So what is the purpose for very large temples in India? Just for the...
Prabhupāda: Just to attract people to give them spiritual inspiration. That is the purpose of temple. Not that you think that "People will come and give me money and I shall eat and sleep very nicely." Then it will gradually become Rādhā-Dāmodara temple or any other temple. Bharatpur Mahārāja's house.
Gurudāsa: I'm thinking that if we're endeavoring with as much energy to preach and have a modest temple that everyone's energy will be increased, our devotees' and the outsiders'.
Prabhupāda: That is the basic principle. If you lose your energy, then it is everything is lost. And to keep the energy intact, you must be very strict in following the principles.
Gurudāsa: Subala Mahārāja was joking with me that I am wanting to preach but instead I am just thinking of steel and cement.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Gurudāsa: Subala Mahārāja was joking with me that I am wanting to preach, but instead I am thinking about steel and cement and bricks.
Prabhupāda: No. If that steel, cement, and bricks are meant for preaching, then it is all right. But if there is difficulty, then sometimes we become absorbed in steel-cement. Steel-cement is not bad, provided it is meant for preaching. That is also spiritual. Nirbandhe kṛṣṇa sambandhe yukta-vairāgya. But because we are materialistic, sometimes steel and cement attracts us more than Kṛṣṇa. So this Bombay affair is giving me a little depression. Because so highly thought of, now these people they do not want to stay there. Just like this Mahaṁsa, Dinanātha, they do not wish to return. Something has to be done.
Gurudāsa: Actually it is not only one or two isolated cases.
Prabhupāda: There are many. I have studied all of them.
Gurudāsa: If it was one or two isolated cases, one can think maybe it is personal difficulty, but it is many cases.
Prabhupāda: No, this is due to mismanagement. It is due to mismanagement. Proper leader. (end)