Moving Forward: The Grand Opening of the TOVP

Recently Ambarisa and Braja Vilasa prabhus wrote about the final stages of the TOVP which will be finished within the next two years: “This project belongs to all of us, and the sense of unity that will be experienced by all devotees in this achievement for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, our acharyas and Lord Caitanya will bring everyone the greatest sense of transcendental satisfaction. . . .” http://www.dandavats.com/?p=104105

They had also expressed their hopes that the opening of this international project “will herald the beginning of a new era for ISKCON.” I for one am curious to understand what the “beginning of a new era” will actually look like for the devotees and for the Movement itself. Establishing a new era must proceed with the actual opening of the new Temple. “Why?” you might ask. For one thing, the type of international media attention this event will receive will be unprecedented in the annals of ISKCON. The opening of the temple will thrust ISKCON and Mayapur onto the international stage.

Therefore, I must offer a word of caution. With my experience of the media, we should not assume that they will simply highlight the grand opening events without probing a little deeper into various aspects and dynamics of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness itself.