Taking care of each other

[Guest guest]

> I don't mean to be picking on your Guru Maharaja. This is a

> much bigger problem in ISKCON than only one guru. We have

> countless members who are not receiving the care and guidance

> they need. Since *many* gurus have large numbers of

> disciples, we need to start figuring out how their disciples

> can receive sufficient care. Besides setting up systems

> whereby sr. disciples can help care for jr disciples, or

> disciples who need more support can take additional (informal

> or formal) siksa gurus, what other solutions can the members

> of these conferences think of?

>

> Ys,

> Madhusudani dasi

 

On caring for disciples, I have seen that H.H. Radhanatha Swami

in Chowpatty, Bombay takes very nice care of all his disciples

in a very structered way that involves seniors helping juniors.

You kinda feel Maharaja's presence through everyone you meet

there. A very caring atmosphere that is not always direct but

nevertheless personal.

 

ys

 

ada

[Guest guest]

> On caring for disciples, I have seen that H.H. Radhanatha Swami

> in Chowpatty, Bombay takes very nice care of all his disciples

> in a very structered way that involves seniors helping juniors.

> You kinda feel Maharaja's presence through everyone you meet

> there. A very caring atmosphere that is not always direct but

> nevertheless personal.

> ys

> ada

 

Another very successful Yatra in caring and sharing and understanding each

other is the Bhakti Vriksha Program in Muscat and other surrounding Yatras of

muscat. Vijaya Venu Gopal Prabhu a grand disciple has done a wonderful job

here with the help of sincere and dedicated team members of his Yatra , where

the situation is very difficult compared to a place like Mumbai which is in

Bharatha Varsha, that here one cannot even go out openly and preach.

 

Major reasons for success here have been:

 

a) Strictly following paramapara system

b) Strictly following Srila Prabhupada's teachings.

c) Putting Krishna, Guru, Sadhu and Shastra in the centre and not putting one

self in the centre. (self less pure devotional service)

which means not trying for Name, fame and glory for one self but for name,

fame and glory for Guru and previous Acaryas. Taking all the honour and

respect that is given with out any hesitation, happily, but pass it on to Guru

and parampara system. (no kneeeling down with a blade of grass between teeth

etc,.)

d) Engaging devotees in devotional service according to one's capacity, and

balancing both spiritual and material needs. Most often we see devotees take

care of only spirit soul and forget the body or only take care of the body

neglecting the spirit soul. I have heard that Vijaya Venu Gopal Prabhu

preaches that taking care of one's bodily necessaties independently is also

devotional service, rather than being a burden on other devotees, or Guru or

Krishna. but ofcourse completely depend on the mercy of Vaishnavas, Guru and

Krishna. During a bad phase for any devotee the entire Yatra will support him

until he sails through the problems, material or spiritual.

e) Understanding that Varnashrama is present at all times, at all places, in

all ages. All that we have to do is add Krishna to them and acknowledge their

Varna and Ashrama. Doctors, professors, businessmen, army men, plumbers and

fitters, bachelors, students, marrried couples, retired personnel, all fit into

some varna or Ashrama. As preachers we have to give them just Krishna then

their Varnashrama will become Daivi Varnashrama.

f) strictly no prajalpa and gramya katha. no CAKRA, no VNN

g) no talk of poison, no talk of fall downs but just talk pure Krishna Katha.

h) Only one or two devotees take care of protecting the Yatras from these

onslaughts but the rest go on with preaching and their prescribed duties.

Every devotee is responsible for him self and atleast one more devotee.

i) understanding actions speak better than words.

j) Absolutely no information gap between the members of the Yatra. This

eliminates suspicion, mistrust etc,.

 

etc,. etc

 

May be some one from these Yatras would share their reasons for their success,

for the benefit of every one.

 

Your humble servant,

Bhadra Govinda Das.

Singapore.

[Guest guest]

> > On caring for disciples, I have seen that H.H. Radhanatha

> > Swami in Chowpatty, Bombay takes very nice care of all his

> > disciples in a very structered way that involves seniors

> > helping juniors. You kinda feel Maharaja's presence through

> > everyone you meet there. A very caring atmosphere that is

> > not always direct but

> > nevertheless personal.

> > ys

> > ada

>

> Another very successful Yatra in caring and sharing and

> understanding each other is the Bhakti Vriksha Program in

> Muscat and other surrounding Yatras of muscat. Vijaya Venu

> Gopal Prabhu a grand disciple has done a wonderful job here

> with the help of sincere and dedicated team members of his

> Yatra , where the situation is very difficult compared to a

> place like Mumbai which is in Bharatha Varsha, that here one

> cannot even go out openly and preach.

 

............

 

Thank you for sharing some good news. There are so many good

things going on in ISKCON. The tendency is to only talk about

the dismal side which will always be there so long we are in

the material world. Keep the good news coming.

 

ys

 

ada