“Our English schools are flourishing wonderfully; we find it difficult to provide instruction to all. The effect of this education on Hindus is prodigious. No Hindu who has received an English education ever remains sincerely attached to his religion. It is my firm belief that if our plans of education are followed up, there will not be a single idolater among the respected classes 30 years hence. And this will be effected without our efforts to proselytize; I heartily rejoice in the prospect”

Lord Macaulay – from a letter to his father dated Oct. 12th, 1836

OUCH!!!! That hurt to read.

I think we have to take Srila Prabhupada seriously in his instructions to make the gurukula nice. Instead of sending the most unqualified of our recruits there to teach our kids because they are liabilities to the operation of a temple, we should send the most qualified and those with the best character and Vaisnava integrity. The old paradigm was to try to keep the best men out front for PREACHING!!!!!!! 😛 (Which often took the form of nefarious collection schemes.) My feelings are that the best men should not just be on the front line but role-modeling for our children which is certainly big preaching in itself. Our society sees preaching too much in terms of results and numbers and too little in terms of quality, authenticity and motivation. Srila Prabhupada said that a devotee is not ambitious. He simply wants to please the Lord. I think that this starts by being grateful for what has already been given to us as a society and showing Krishna that we are qualified to expand further by looking after what He’s given us. The results are up to Him aren’t they? Srila Prabhupada said that if he made one pure devotee his mission would be considered successful.

na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagad-isha kamaye
mama janmani janmanishvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki twayi

O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.

Just my thinking on this point …