Taking Care of Krishna's Devotees

[Guest guest]

Pamho. AgtSP. from: BLS asbl. / Belgium

 

There is an interesting new book by Niranjana Swami:

 

*** Taking Care of Krishna's Devotees ***

 

Niranjana Swami writes about the implementation of the Counselor System as

introduced by HH Radhanath Maharaja at Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir in

Chowpatty, Mumbai. Using quotes from Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, Srila

Prabhupada, and parts of his own lectures and presentations, including

letters and istha-gosthis with devotees in and around Russia, Maharaja shows

the importance of the Counselor System: if properly implemented, it provides

counseling, care and shelter for all members of a Krishna conscious

community - necessary for spiritual growth and mental well-being, but often

not vailable.

 

A wonderfully brilliant mix of bhakti, ethos, and praxis -- a milestone in

ISKCON transcendental sociology . . . (from review by Devamrta Swami)

 

Softbound, 185 pages, size 14.5 x 20.5 x 1 cm.

 

Order Code: P-TCKD Price: 6.95 Euro only ! Weight: 265 grams.

 

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Review:

For those who do not know HH Niranjana Swami personally, he is the

embodiment of a caring preacher. Maharaja always puts the individual devotee

first, and then sees the different structures, having full faith that if we

concentrate on giving substance, then structure will automatically follow.

 

His latest book, Taking Care of Krishna’s Devotees is one of the most

significant contributions to ISKCON worldwide within recent years. It

addresses a subject that we have been neglecting for many years. So often we

seem to make the same mistake: we concentrate on the externals like big

projects and big programs, and we forget that the real goal of Krishna

consciousness is to develop pure love for Lord Krishna. And because we focus

on externals and strive for quick and big results, we often forget to take

care of individual devotees. In his book, Maharaja introduces the concept of

the Counselor System, a system that has evolved over many years at the Sri

Sri Radha-Gopinath temple in Chowpatty, Bombay. This temple is the model of

ideal community development within ISKCON.

 

The Counselor System is not an artificial imposition; rather, it simply

facilitates and encourages the most natural and essential development within

the society of devotees: giving shelter, care and support, and accepting

shelter, care and support. Strong relationships are developed on the basis

of sravanam /kirtanam. We all need close and confidential friends and

well-wishers who can assess us a daily basis. We need inspirational

examples. Our association must be with devotees who can offer us actual

assistance in our attempts to apply the process of Krishna consciousness in

a healthy and balanced way. Devotees benefit from support in our struggle

against anarthas. Maharaja also mentions another whole network that gives

support to devotees in all different fields of worldly aspects of life:

support when changing ashram, for health problems, for problems finding a

job or a place to live, etc.

 

Care, support and shelter is something we all need in order to have our

bhakti-lata develop in a healthy and balanced way, since we can only

wholeheartedly surrender if we feel sheltered. Shelter is the most natural

and essential thing in spiritual life. In the same way, there is nothing

more natural for a mature devotee to do than to give shelter, care and

guidance to others. As we all know, serving the devotees is the only way to

please guru and Krishna. What better way of serving is there than giving

care, shelter and guidance to others in a selfless way! The Counselor System

also encourages older devotees to rise up by becoming exemplary in their

personal behavior and spiritual practice. By developing true compassion and

selflessness towards other devotees and taking responsibility not only for

their own spiritual life, but also for the spiritual life of others,

devotees satisfy Lord Krishna.

 

Throughout his book, Maharaja draws on the wisdom of Srila Bhaktivinode

Thakura to help us recognize how we can apply these essential truths in our

daily lives in order to create a healthy, supportive structure and

environment for spiritual progress. I dare say this book is an absolute must

for anyone interested in sharing Krishna consciousness with others. And I

boldly say the Counselor System gives us the formula how to turn every yatra

into Vaikuntha! Maharaja’s personal example of taking care of Krishna’s

devotees, of tirelessly preaching about the need of the counselor system

within his zone, and finally compiling this wonderful book will no doubt

gradually create a revolution within the hearts and minds of many devotees

worldwide–exactly what ISKCON needs the most at present. (Review by Devaki

Devi Dasi)

 

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