Murwillumbah, Australia; Feb. 18, 2002
Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
[During his evening class on Feb.18, 2002, in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Srila Narayana Maharaja spoke these words to the over 300 Australian devotees who were present:]
I have told so many things in these seven short days, and I want to tell you something more. In New Vraja, Badger, California, the managers have started a school for children of the devotees. Why not here? I want that the children of devotees be educated in Vaisnavism here also, from the beginning. The devotees in Badger are running a very good school. There is no harm if the teachers are not qualified by government standards, and I know that some teachers may be more qualified than the authorized government school teachers.
You should start, and we will also help you. Make an education board here. My Vraja Vallabha Prabhu, Dina Bandhu Prabhu, and all other senior devotees are very qualified, and my daughters are also very qualified. Make a school for children. Don't delay. I think that after some time teachers qualified by government standard will come and teach, just as they have come to Badger. All children should be well educated, and in that way this community will rise.
Don't criticize each other, don't quarrel, and thus make a very beautiful and ideal community here, where all Vaisnavas can come. Don't lock the door on anyone, as the Iskcon institution does nowadays. Always open your doors, and also open the door of your hearts.
I thank all of you who have managed this festival. Try to do as I have told you. A good center should be here, where all can come. If any Vaisnava comes, try to respect him, whether he is in 'this and that or what,' as long as he is a Vaisnava.
We have come to tell you that our religion is prema. It is said about Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Krsna prema pradayate. He came to give krsna-prema." If you profess to be in His line but you are quarrelling, then where is that prema? Charity begins from home. So first be trained for prema. If you have no prema for all living beings, how can you have prema for Lord Caitanya and Nityananda and Radha-Krsna Conjugal? You should also have prema for trees, creepers, worms and animals. Be careful, and always follow the instructions of Srila Rupa Gosvami.
Transcribers: Sripad Raghunatha dasa Adhikari and Srimati Jagad Mohini devi dasi
Editor: Srimati Syamarani devi dasi
Typist: Srimati Radhika devi dasi