Answer
Now, first of all, when somebody comes to a temple and says, “I want to do a specific service,” one must understand how a temple functions. A temple is organized in a particular way, and there are certain activities that must be carried out regularly, irrespective of the personal desires or expectations of visitors who wish to render some service, make inquiries, or participate in different ways.
A temple primarily exists for the worship of the deities. Therefore, devotees are mainly engaged in activities centered around the deities. Deity worship goes on regularly in the temple. At least in ISKCON temples where the deities are properly established and prana-pratishtha has been performed, there should be a minimum of six aratis and six offerings every single day without fail. Along with deity worship, there must also be kirtan and the standard temple program given by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya.
Whoever visits the temple is given certain facilities, irrespective of who they are or what expectations they may have regarding service. Because of this, a temple is constrained in many ways and may or may not be able to accommodate everyone’s particular desire for service. Therefore, comparing oneself with others — thinking that someone else is getting an opportunity while I am not — is not valid. There is no discrimination between devotees. It may simply be that out of ten people who come, two may get an opportunity for a certain service while eight may not.
So what is the solution? The first thing to understand is that we primarily come to the temple for the association of the deities — to bow down before them, participate in kirtan, attend arati, take blessings, receive charanamrita, hear discourses, or simply sit peacefully and chant. Even if no program is going on, simply sitting and chanting in the temple is thousands of times more powerful and effective than chanting elsewhere. Therefore, one should take advantage of the temple for the purpose for which it exists.
The temple is not an ordinary place. It is actually a small pocket of Vaikuntha within the material world. However, because people become very familiar with the temple by coming regularly, over time they may begin to lose appreciation for its spiritual atmosphere. Just think back to the very first time you visited an ISKCON temple. You likely felt peaceful, joyful, spiritually uplifted, and deeply satisfied. You could actually feel that the vibration inside the temple was completely different from the vibration outside.
But this appreciation gradually fades because of the conditioned nature of the mind. Anything with which we become too familiar, we begin to take for granted. This happens even in Krishna consciousness. The first time we chanted the Hare Krishna maha-mantra seriously, especially on beads, it may have felt wonderful and transformative. We may have thought, “I was missing something so valuable all my life.” But as chanting becomes routine, we often stop appreciating the immense mercy contained within it.
When we chant Hare Krishna properly and regularly, the Lord personally appears on our tongue in the form of His holy name. He appears to purify us, bless us, and prepare us to return back to Godhead. Srila Prabhupada repeatedly explains in his books, lectures, letters, and conversations the immense importance of chanting and what is actually happening spiritually when we chant sincerely.
Similarly, the temple atmosphere is spiritually surcharged because the deities are installed there and worship is constantly going on. Such a place cannot be compared to any ordinary location. Even a forest, though considered sattvic because it is free from the intense passion and distraction of city life, still remains within the three modes of material nature. But a genuine temple is transcendental to the modes. It is free from the contamination of passion and ignorance.
Therefore, one should deeply appreciate the opportunity to come to the temple, participate in devotional activities, and spend time there. Gradually, attachment to the temple develops naturally. Many devotees come every day simply because they feel spiritually nourished there, and when they are unable to come, they genuinely feel they are missing something valuable.
To become attached to the temple, however, one should not come expecting special recognition, attention, honor, or respect. We are insignificant jivas among countless living beings in creation, standing before the Supreme Personality of Godhead, before whom even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva offer their obeisances. So what is our actual position?
Therefore, one should come humbly — bow down before the Lord, pray sincerely, chant His holy names, and accept His prasadam in whatever form it is available. Then gradually one will experience a real transformation within the heart and consciousness.
