Never one to be balked by outer hindrances, the Guru undertook to materialize his plans for a temple in Hollywood during the dark years of World War II. In the course of several talks, Paramahansaji recounted part of the story:

Overcoming Obstacles

Some money had been given, and I wanted to use it to build a church here in Hollywood. But I saw that it would be very difficult to build one during these hard times. I prayed: “Lord, You have to show me to some church that I can move to this property on Sunset Boulevard.

Soon after, I was sitting on the sunporch of the headquarters at Mt. Washington, when I saw a little plaster fall off the building. I said to myself, “I shall fix it up,” but suddenly I saw in my mind’s eye termites everywhere. I couldn’t believe it; and I said, “Lord, how cruel! All the money I have saved for a church in Hollywood will have to be spent to rid Mt. Washington of termites!” The Lord made no reply.

But later, who calls me up on the phone but one of my friends who is a lawyer. “Have you any use for a church?” he asked. “One of my clients has bought an estate and there is a small church on it.” So it was the lord who saw to it that we got a temple here in Hollywood. I had no money to build it with; it was used in repairing Mt. Washington. But we were able to get this little church for very little money, and now you see how beautiful it is.