Are you advocating that all of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples put their dhotis into storage? How do your ideas about non-essential Eastern dress affect deity worship?

I want to make clear that I deeply respect those devotees who disagree with me and wish to serve Prabhupada with sari and dhoti. Sometimes in the heat of discussion words like ‘crazy’ may come out, but such words do not reflect my genuine admiration for Srila Prabhupada’s servants. If I have offended any devotees, I sincerely apologize.

Also, the words Krishna West simply indicate, as we say in our mission statement, that our program aims to help Western people accept Srila Prabhupada’s shelter. I am aware, by Prabhupada’s mercy, that Krishna is neither Eastern nor Western.

As we know, Prabhupada often gave various views on external, non-siddhantic issues. Prabhupada’s purport to Srimad-bhagavatam 4.8.54, and other relevant statements he made, inspire and encourage me to try my best to add something to ISKCON. I have no intention of trying to change existing ISKCON temples or projects, nor of introducing bizarre informalities in Deity worship. I am simply trying my best to carry out instructions that Prabhupada personally gave to me, for his pleasure.

If in the course of doing so, I have offended any of Prabhupada’s servants, I again offer my sincere apologies.