Krishna Sevaka - bhakti

Contents

Contents

Week111

Week 128

Week 13 (Vyuha program)15

Week 1417

Week 1526

Wek 1633

Week 1740

Week 1846

Week 19(Siksha Seminar)48

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Giving them home work for the entire week between is a good way of engaging them in Krsna consciousness, so that when they do come after a week it is faster for them to relate to the things being taught in the program. As most of them would not be reading Srila Prabhupadas books yet, request them to write down the points that they have learnt in the previous weeks program. In the satsanga program too, by encouraging them to read Srila Prabhupadas books and sharing a point with everyone, you can engage them in the home-work of reading.

You should continue to call them in between the program days to check what progress they have made in their home- work. Till they have made it a regular habit, it may be required of you to give them gentle reminders, otherwise you may become discouraged of their forgetfulness, and they may feel afraid of attending the program in order not to displease you!

Satsanga : 15 minutes

Share an interesting and inspiring point that you had read from the Srila Prabhupadas

books, and your realization on that point. Ask if any one of them who had volunteered to read Srila Prabhupadas books the previous week would like to share some thing they had read. Encourage and appreciate those who share, but do not comment on those who have not read. They will soon grow to like doing it themselves.

After you have introduced any new visitor that may have come, you ask them this question: If you had to take a 12 hour flight to somewhere, whom would you like to have sitting next to you? Why?

Dont pass judgments on what people say, but encourage and be appreciative of everybodys participation. Remember that this is not a session meant for imparting knowledge to them, though that can also happen naturally, but the primary motive is to make people open up and relax, and get to know one another.

Kirtana : 15 minutes

Continue as in the previous weeks by distributing the sheet containing the pranama mantras and the Hare Krsna mantra as well as the glorifications at the end of the kirtana.

Also continue with the offering of incense by every member to the Altar Deities or Deity pictures.

Japa. 15 minutes

Read out first, the following passage from : The Nectar of the Holy Name

In this age, sankirtana-yajna, chanting of the holy name of the lord, is more important than vedic ritualistic sacrifices:.Since one may easily achieve the highest success by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one may ask why there are so many Vedic ritualistic ceremonies and why people are attracted to them. This verse answers that question. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (15.15), vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah: the real purpose of studying the Vedas is to approach the lotus feet of Lord Krsna.

. Unfortunately, unintelligent people bewildered by the grandeur of Vedic yajnas want to see gorgeous sacrifices performed. They want Vedic mantras chanted and huge amounts of money spent for such ceremonies. Sometimes we have to observe the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies to please such unintelligent men. Recently, when we established a large Krsna-Balarma temple in Vrindavana, we were obliged to have Vedic ceremonies enacted by brhmanas because the inhabitants of Vrindavana, especially the smarta-brahmanas, would not accept Europeans and Americans as bona fide brahmanas.

Thus we had to engage brahmanas to perform costly yajnas. In spite of these yajnas, the members of our Society performed sankirtana loudly with mridangas and I considered the sankirtana more important than the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. Both the ceremonies and the sankirtana were going on simultaneously. The ceremonies were meant for persons interested in Vedic rituals for elevation to heavenly planets (jati-krta-matir madhu-puspitayam), whereas the sankirtana was meant for pure devotees interested in pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We would simply have performed sakrtana, but then the inhabitants of Vrindvana would not have taken the installation ceremony seriously.

As explained here, the Vedic performances are meant for those whose intelligence has been dulled by the flowery language of the Vedas, which describe fruitive activities intended to elevate one to the higher planets.

Especially in this age of Kali, sankirtana alone is sufficient. If the members of our temples in the different parts of the world simply continue sankirtana before the Deity, especially before Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, they will remain perfect. There is no need of any other performances.

Srimad-Bhgavatam 6.3.25

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Spiritual Edification - 45 minutes

Please read out the passage and start asking the questions.(Do not explain it to them.) Let the people assembled find out the answers from the passage themselves. Please engage everyone in answering, You can ask two, three people to add to the same answer. Move from one person to the next and give them sufficient time to think.You could ask leading questions for them to go deeper and clearer in understanding the subject matter and in giving relevant replies.

The application question has to be answered by everyone.

This is the most important part of the discussion, and so you must provide sufficient time of at least 15 to 20 minutes for it.

You should at last sum up all the points and give more points that you have

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatara, appeared in India nearly five hundred years ago. It is the custom in India that when a child is born, an astrologer is called for. When Lord Krsna, the supreme personality of Godhead, appeared five thousand years ago, Gargamuni was called by His father, and he said, This child formerly incarnated in three complexions, such as red and golden, and now He has appeared in blackish color. Krsnas color is described in the scriptures as blackish, Just like the color of a cloud. Lord Caitanya is understood to be Krsna appearing in golden complexion.

There is much evidence in Vedic literature that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is an incarnation of Krsna, and this is confirmed by scholars and devotees. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is confirmed that the incarnation of Krsna, or God , in this present age, Kali-yuga, will always engage in describing Krsna, He is Krsna, but as a devotee of Krsna He describes Himself. And In this age His bodily complexion will not be blackish.

Another feature of this avatara is that He is always accompanied by His associates. Krsna, or God, comes with two missions: to give protection to the devotees and to destroy the demons. In this age Chaitanya Mahaprabhus mission is also like that: to deliver the devotees and to annihilate the nondevotees, the demons. But in this age He has a different weapon, That weapon is not a club or disc or lethal weapon- His weapon is the sankirtana movement. He killed the demonic mentality of the people by introducing the sankirtana movement.

Therefore, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said that this is the incarnation of God in this age. And who worships Him? The process is very simple. Just keep a picture of Lord Chaitanya with His associates. Lord Chaitanya is in the middle, accompanied by His principal associates- Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara, and Srivasa.

Anyone can have His picture in his home, chant this Hare krsna mantra, and thus worship Lord Chaitanya. That is the simple method. But who will capture this simple method? Those who have good brains. Without much bother, if one simply keeps a picture of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at home and chants Hare Krishna, then one will realize God.

In this age, those who have sufficient intelligence take to this sankirtana movement, and they advance very quickly.

Lord Chaitanya is called, the golden avatara. Avatara means descending, coming down. Just as one may come down from the fifth story or the onehundredth story of the building, an avatara comes down from the spiritual planets in the spiritual sky.

The avatara for this age, Lord Chaitanya, is described in Vedic literature. We cannot accept anyone as an avatara unless he has the symptoms described in the scriptures.

Krsna Himself came to teach us how to surrender. His last instruction in the Bhagavad-gita is to surrender, but people mudhas, rascals said, Why should I surrender? Therefore, although Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself, this time He teaches us practically how to execute the mission of the bhagavad-gita.Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gives us the opportunity to reach God directly When Rupa Goswami, the principal disciple of Lord Chaitanya, first saw Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, he was a minister in the government of Bengal but wanted to join Chaitanya Mahaprabhus movements. So he gave up his position as a minister, and after joining, when he surrendered, he offered a nice prayer to Lord Chaitanya. This prayer says:

Namo maha-vadanyaya

Krsna-prema-pradaya te

Krsnaya krsna-caitanya-

Namne gaura-tvise namah

My dear Lord, You are the most munificent of all the incarnations. Why? Krsna-prema-pradaya te: You are directly giving love to God. You have no other purpose. Your process is so nice that one can immediately learn to love God. Therefore You are the most munificent of all incarnations. And it is not possible for any personality other than Krishna Himself to deliver this benediction; therefore I say that You are Krsna. Krishnaya krsna-chaitanya-namne: You are Krsna, but you have assumed the name Krsna Chaitanya. I surrender unto You.

So this is the process. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself, and He is teaching how to develop love of God by a very simple method. He says simply to chant Hare Krsna.

Harer nama harer nama

Harer namaiva kevalam

Kalau nasty eva nasty eva

Nasty eva gatir anyatha

In this age, simple go on chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. There is no other alternative.

The chanting process offered by Lord Chaitanya for achieving love of God is called sankirtana. Sankirtana is a Sanskrit word. Sam means samyak-complete. And kirtana means glorifying or describing. So complete description means complete glorification of the Supreme, or the Supreme Complete Whole. It is not that one can describe anything or glorify anything and that will be kirtana. From the grammatical point of view that may be kirtana, but according to Vedic system, kirtana means describing the supreme authority, the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is called kirtana.

Science of Self realization

Discovery:

1) Compare the similarities and differences between Lord Krishna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Understanding:

1)How can one worship Lord Chaitanya at home? Why does it require good intelligence to take up this process of worship?

2)Why is Lord Chaitanya the best of all the incarnations?

3)What exactly is Sankirtan? What does it give us?

Application;

1) Discuss what you find attractive in the process given by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? How is it different from the standard processes of worshipping God?

Preaching session : 15 minutes

Please read out first the passage given below:

Preaching is the Essence

The preacher is very dear to the Lord:

"Therefore, my dear young friends ... show mercy to all living entities by enlightening them in devotional service, thus becoming their well-wishers."The Lord says in Bhagavad-gt (18.55), bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah: "One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service." Prahlada Maharaja ultimately instructed his class friends, the sons of the demons, to accept the process of devotional service by preaching the science of Krishna consciousness to everyone. Preaching is the best service to the Lord. The Lord will immediately be extremely satisfied with one who engages in this service of preaching Krishna consciousness. This is confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gt (18.69). Na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah: "There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear." If one sincerely tries his best to spread Krishna consciousness by preaching the glories of the Lord and His supremacy, even if he is imperfectly educated, he becomes the dearmost servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is bhakti. As one performs this service for humanity, without discrimination between friends and enemies, the Lord becomes satisfied, and the mission of one's life is fulfilled.Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu therefore advised everyone to become a guru-devotee and preach Krishna consciousness (yare dekha, tare kaha Krishna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]). That is the easiest way to realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

rmad-Bhgavatam 7.6.24

Share with them your experiences of preaching for the week.small details about whom you spoke to , visited, had a discussion with or encouraged in their Krsna consciousness.

If any of them have brought a new member, appreciate that. Also ask everyone to share their attempts to get new people.

You can invite the most enthusiastic among them to accompany you in your visits to some new members house, so that they see first hand how to deal with new people while inviting or introducing them to Krsna consciousness.

Set a preaching home-work however small for everyone. Discuss what is possible for each one and encourage them to do so. They must feel comfortable doing it and must enjoy the experience. So do not push very hard. But be sensitive to the limits that they would like to keep for the moment. This could include activities like book distribution, inviting friends or new contacts to the program, etc.Prasadam : 20 minutes

As you have done in the previous week, request them to chant the prasadam mantra.

You can ask for volunteers to distribute and serve prasadam to the other members. Engage them gradually in service and they will begin to taste nectar and make spiritual advancement.

While they are eating, go around and talk with them, encouraging, joking and being pleasant, and making them relax. It is the loving atmosphere which is going to draw them to the program week after week. It is a tiny glimpse of the love that they are hankering to experience with Krsna.

Gradually and spontaneously some of them will offer to help you clean up, as well. Encourage them to participate, even if you want to taste the nectar of service yourself! It is good for members to do service. So encourage it so that they will benefit spiritually. Do not do so in a mood of sharing a burden.

Immediately after the members have left the program, kindly fill in the following form please:

Please enter the details about your members attending this week:

Names Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Remarks

ASASASASAS

EFFORTS

Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week5Total

1No. of Mails

2No. of Telephone Calls

3No. of Home Visits

4No. of Service Donors

5No. of Money Donors

Abbreviations: A= Attendance, S= Siksha level

Week 12

Your visiting the members during the week in their homes will enthuse them to follow Krsna consciousness more carefully. You will also know first hand something about their home situation, obstacles if any in their pursuing Krsna consciousness etc.., so that you can guide them better to make steady progress. Also it is a good opportunity to meet their family members and befriend them, so that they may also be favorably inclined towards Krishna consciousness and may also start attending the programs. Even if you visited just one or two of them a week, you can gradually cover all of them. Start with those that need the most attention. It may be that their enthusiasm needs more nurturing , or it could be the one facing the most number of obstacles.

Also at the end of the program discuss with them about the Vyuha program which you will be conducting the following week. The details of the program are given in week- 13.

Share with them how you are going to conduct it and what services they could do for the program.

Ice breaker : 15 minutes

After you have introduced any new visitor that may have come, you ask them to draw their most precious possession.

Materials: Colors and Paper (or at least pens and paper)

Ask people to draw their most precious possession. This may be a person or an object. Then have each share with the rest of the group, sharing their most precious possession, while others listen attentively without speaking. This can be a powerful exercise and often brings up strong feelings for all participants. Particularly useful for family groups as children usually enjoy it. You can play some music in the background while people draw.

Variation: You can do this activity without drawing, by having people just speak about their most precious possession.

After this, you can share some interesting and important point that you read during the week from Srila Prabhupadas books, with them. Ask the others who have taken Srila Prabhupadas books home to read, to also share something. Have the books of srila Prabhupadas displayed prominently, so that the others will gradually be inspired to also buy/ borrow some books.

Kirtan : 15 minutes

Continue as in the previous weeks by distributing the sheet containing the pranama mantras and the Hare Krsna mantra as well as the glorifications at the end of the kirtana. Also continue with the offering of incense by every member to the Altar Deities or Deity pictures.

Japa. 15 minutes

Read out first, the following passage from :

The Nectar of the Holy Name

Devotional service begins with hearing the holy name chanted by a pure Vaishnava:

Because the living entities are minute, atomic parts and parcels of the Lord, devotional service is already present within them in a dormant condition. Devotional service begins with sravanam kirtanam [SB 7.5.23], hearing and chanting. When a man is sleeping, he can be awakened by sound vibration; therefore every conditioned soul should be given the chance to hear the Hare Krishna mantra chanted by a pure Vaishnava. One who hears the Hare Krishna mantra thus vibrated is awakened to spiritual consciousness, or Krishna consciousness. In this way one's mind gradually becomes purified, as stated by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]).

When the mind is purified, the senses are also purified. Instead of using the senses for sense gratification, the awakened devotee employs the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. This is the process by which dormant love for Krishna is awakened.

Sri Caitanya-caritmrta Madhya-lila 22.105Chant loudly together one mala on the beads after chanting the Panca tattva mantra 3 times. You can do a full round of japa with them. Please chant the Panca Tattva Mantra 3 times before chanting the japa and ask them to follow you. While relishing the holy names yourself keep eye contact with the members from time to time to encourage and enthuse them.

Discussion - 45 minutes

Please read out the passage below and start asking the questions.(Do not explain it to them.) Let the people assembled find out the answers from the passage themselves. Please engage everyone in answering, You can ask two, three people to add to the same answer. Move from one person to the next and give them sufficient time to think.You could ask leading questions for them to go deeper and get a clearer understanding of the subject matter for giving relevant replies.

The application question ideally has to be answered by everyone. This will give you a good idea about how well each one has understood the philosophy, how serious they are about spiritual life and any practical problems or obstacles that they may be facing.


You should at last sum up all the points and give more points that you have prepared..

Passage for Discussion:The laws of nature are very subtle and are very diligently administered, although people do not know it. In the Manu-samhita the concept of a life for a life is sanctioned, and it is actually observed throughout the world. Similarly, there are other laws which state that one cannot even kill an ant without being responsible. Since we cannot create, we have no right to kill any living entity, and therefore man-made laws that distinguish between killing a man and killing an animal are imperfect.

Although there are imperfections in man-made laws, there cannot be defects in the laws of God. According to the laws of God, killing an animal is as punishable as killing a man. Those who draw distinctions between the two are concocting their own laws. Even in the Ten Commandments it is prescribed, "Thou shall not kill." This is a perfect law, but by discriminating and speculating men distort it. "I shall not kill man, but I shall kill animals." In this way people cheat themselves and inflict suffering on themselves and others. In any case, however, God's laws will not excuse such behavior.

Everyone is God's creature, although in different bodies or dresses. God is considered the one supreme father. A father may have many children, and some may be intelligent and others not very intelligent, but if an intelligent son tells his father, "My brother is not very intelligent; let me kill him," will the father agree? Simply because one son is not very intelligent and the other desires to kill him to avoid the burden, the father will never agree. Similarly, if God is the supreme father, why should He sanction the killing of animals who are also His sons? In Bhagavad-gita God declares to Arjuna that all I am their seed giving father," the Lord says. just as in ordinary material procreation the father gives the seed and the mother develops the body by supplying the necessary blood to the embryo, similarly, the living entities, parts and parcels of the supreme father, are impregnated by the Lord in material nature.

The dimension of the spirit soul is very minute and is given in the scriptures as kesagraone ten thousandth the portion of the tip of a hair. We can hardly imagine a very small point divided into thousands of parts. In other words, it is so minute that it cannot be perceived even by the most powerful microscope. Thus the dimension of the spiritual spark is so minute that it is invisible to mundane vision. All of this information is given in the scriptures, but because we do not have the proper vision, we cannot see. Although our material eyes cannot perceive the dimension of the soul, the soul is nonetheless within the body, and as soon as it departs, it takes another body according to its work.

Spiritual life is not a question of vegetarianism but of understanding higher knowledge. When one comes to the platform of elevated knowledge, he naturally becomes a vegetarian. Panditah sama darsinah : one who is very highly learned, does not distinguish between a learned scholar, a brahmana, an elephant, a dog and a cow. He is sama darsi; his vision enables to see them all equally. How is this? He does not see the body but the soul, the spiritual spark (Brahman). He thinks: Here is a dog, but it is also a living entity , although by his past karma, he has become a dog. And his learned scholar is also a living spark, but he has taken good birth because of his past karma . When one comes to that position, he does not see the body , but the spiritual spark, and he does not distinguish between one living entity and another.

Actually we do not make distinctions between carnivores and vegetarians, for the grass has life just as the cows or the lamb. A guideline, however, should be the vedic instructions given in Isopanishad(mantra 1) : isavasyam idam sarvam yat kinca jagat yam jagat / tena tyaktyena bhunjitha ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam . Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one must not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.

Since everything is the property of the Supreme Lord, one can only enjoy what is allotted to him by the Lord, and cannot touch anothers property. According to vedic life and according to all vedic scriptures, a man should live on fruits and vegetables, for his teeth are made in such a way that these can be very easily eaten and digested. Although it is natures law that one has to live by eating other living entities (jivo jivasya jivanam), one must use discretion.

Fruits, flowers, vegetables, rice, grain and milk are made for human beings. Milk, for example, is an animal product, the blood of an animal transformed, but the cow delivers more milk than is needed by her calf because milk is intended by for man. Man should simply take the milk and let the cows live, and thus following natures law, man will be happy. Tena tyaktena bhunjitha: one should take whatever God allots to him and thus live comfortably.

We have to elevate our consciousness through this science of Krishna.

Krsna consciousness the Matchless Gift

Discovery:

1)How are Gods laws different from man made laws? Explain with reference to the punishment given for taking any life.

Understanding:

1) Why are Gods laws different?

2)Explain the dimensions of the spirit soul. When can we begin to understand the presence of the soul in everyone?

3)What are the reasons for us to be vegetarian?

Application

1) Discuss why people like to eat meat. What arguments or reasons will you provide for them to become vegetarian?



All devotees must preach:

When a person actually revives his consciousness with thoughts of Krsna by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he revives his spiritual life and becomes addicted to the service of the Lord. Only then can he act as an acharya. In other words, everyone should engage in preaching, following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In this way one will be very much appreciated by Lord Krsna and will quickly be recognized by Him. Actually a devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must engage in preaching in order to increase the followers of the Lord. By thus preaching actual Vedic knowledge all over the world, one will benefit all mankind.

Cc Madhya 7.153 (Madhya: 3, p. 77 )

Share with them your experiences of preaching for the week.with whom you spoke, visited, had a discussion with or encouraged, etc.



Set a preaching home-work however small for everyone. Discuss what is possible for each one and encourage them to do so. They must feel comfortable doing it and must enjoy the experience. So do not push very hard. But be sensitive to the limits that are ready to do .This could include activities like book distribution, inviting friends or new contacts to the program, etc.Prasadam : 20 minutes

As you have done in the previous week, request them to chant the mantra for honoring prasadam.



Gradually and spontaneously some of them will offer to help you clean up, as well. Encourage them to participate, even if you want to taste the nectar of service yourself! It is good for members to do service. So encourage it so that they will benefit spiritually. Do not do so in a mood of sharing a burden.

Immediately after the members have left the program, kindly fill in the following report form:Please enter the details about your members attending this week:


ASASASASAS

EFFORTS


1No. of Mails


3No. of Home Visits




Vyuha program

A vyuha program involves the participation of two or three Bhakti Vriksha groups together in a combined program. It is a break from the regular Bhakti Vriksha program and has a different format. A senior leader is invited to give a discourse/ lecture.Before we start describing to you how the Vyuha program is conducted, let us see the reasons for conducting it.

1) It is a break in format from the regular Bhakti Vriksha meetings. The members need to have something different and relaxing periodically, so that a kind of complacency or monotony does not set in, and their spirits are uplifted. This will also inspire them to be more participative and involved in the Bhakti Vriksa meetings.

2) It is a chance for them to come in touch with more senior devotees. If they have a sector leader/ circle leader /greater circle leader, then it is an opportunity to listen to their lecture and to associate closely with them.

3) It is an opportunity for the senior leaders to come and observe the progress of the Bhakti Vriksha groups and to get to know the new devotees personally.

4) The members get to associate with other Bhakti Vriksha members and their leaders, and this is very encouraging, inspiring, educative and enjoyable for them.

As they feel that they are part of a larger family and have common experiences, this reinforces their strength and commitment to Krishna consciousness.

5) The members get to help in organizing the program, and so this is a great opportunity for them to utilize their talents in serving Krishna. This also trains them in organizing programs.

6) The cultural part of the program is entertaining as well. The audience is enlivened and so are the participants. Members talents can be recognized and appreciated. The parents are very enthusiastic if their children participate in a skit/song/ dance/ sloka recitation/ etc..This can reinforce their interest in the Bhakti Vriksha program further.

7) It is a good opportunity for the members to invite their friends and acquaintances for the program, as it is not a regular one. It would be an enjoyable evening for them, as long kirtans, games, quiz, cultural programs, lecture, feast etc. would be included in the program.

8) The Bhakti Vriksha members will get a wonderful opportunity to render different services while organizing the program. This increases their service attitude, co-operation with other devotees and an opportunity to learn different skills in the service of Krsna.

Vyuha program (2 hours and 15 minutes).You can adjust the time to suit your convenience.1)Have a more elaborate Arathi and Kirtan 30 minutes.

2)When everyone is seated,introduce the guest of honour to the members , welcome him/her as well as the audience.Any of the Bhakti Vriksha leaders/ sector leader(if he is not the special guest himself) can do this.

Introduce the different Bhakti Vriksha leaders to the audience. Let the leaders introduce their members to the audience. They can invite a few of the volunteers within the group to come and speak about their experiences of attending their Bhakti Vrikshas. Just 2 or 3 from each group would suffice. The rest can be allowed to speak in future Vyuha programs.

This sets the mood for the crowd to be a little familiar with each other and thus relax..25 minutes3) Invite the senior devotee to speak to the guests 30 minutes

4) Have a quiz on the general information they have learnt in Krsna consciousness.

You can quiz them from the modules you have covered for them so far. You can divide them into different Bhakti Vriksha teams.20 minutes

5) Have a cultural presentation of a skit , vaishnava song, dance, sloka recitation etc(you can include one or more of them) 20 minutes

6) If you have any siksha certificates to be handed out, you could request the senior leader do so at this juncture.(If you have planned to distribute it else where, then skip this.)

7) Serve prasadam to the guests. ..20 minutes8) Do not forget to take the new visitors contact numbers and e-mail ids. If you have any programs for children, this could also be announced. Also invite all the guests to join any of the Bhakti Vriksha groups. If any of them are keen to do so, guide them to the suitable Bhakti Vriksha leaders.

Week 14

As the members have been coming for a few weeks

and are familiar with you, you can engage them gradually in different services to Krsna. As they come in for the program, you can request them to help you in services like probably keeping the plates ready to serve prasadam, washing utensils, or looking after new guests, etc. This takes them also to the next level in their relationship with you from one of being just a guest to that of being a close friend. Also this will inspire them to serve Krsna more and advance in their devotional service.


After you have introduced any new visitor that may have come, have a brief satsanga / ice breaker session.

Introduce Your Partner: Divide the whole group in pairs and have each pair interview each other. Give a time limit. After that have everyone introduce the partner to the whole group.

After this, you can share some interesting and important point that you read during the week from Srila Prabhupadas books, with them. Ask the others who have taken Srila Prabhupadas books home to read, to also share something. Have the books of srila Prabhupadas displayed prominently, so that the others will gradually be inspired to also buy/ borrow some books. As you progress from week to week, you will find their interest in hearing peoples realizations about Srila Prabhupadas books and also in sharing their own realization with others, growing. More and more members should be becoming active in reading due to this. Be encouraging and patient. Do not push them to do it, as that can never produce the desired results. It will naturally happen if you remain enthusiastic and patient.




Japa. 15 minutes


Lord Caitanya introduced the maha-mantra to counteract the philosophy of impersonalism:

[Lord Caitanya to Prakasananda Sarasvati]: "The Myvda philosophy is so degraded that it has taken the insignificant living entities to be the Lord, the Supreme Truth, thus covering the glory and supremacy of the Absolute Truth with monism."

Sripada Shankaracharya purposely claimed the jiva-tattva, or living entities, to be equal to the Supreme God. Therefore his entire philosophy is based on a misunderstanding, and it misguides people to become atheists whose mission in life is unfulfilled. The mission of human life, as described in Bhagavad-gita, is to surrender unto the Supreme Lord and become His devotee, but the Mayavada philosophy misleads one to defy the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and pose oneself as the Supreme Lord. Thus it has misguided hundreds and thousands of innocent men....the Mayavada philosophy, misguiding people by claiming the living entity to be the Lord, has created havoc throughout the entire world and led almost everyone to godlessness. By thus covering the glories of the Supreme Lord, the Mayavadi philosophers have done the greatest disservice to human society. It is to counteract these most abominable activities of the Mayavadi philosophers that Lord Caitanya has introduced the Hare Krishna mah-mantra.

harer nama harer nma

harer namaiva kevalam

kalau nasty eva nasty eva

nasty eva gatir anyatha

[Cc. di 17.21]

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."

People should simply engage in the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, for thus they will gradually come to understand that they are not the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as they have been taught by the Mayavadi philosophers, but are eternal servants of the Lord. As soon as one engages himself in the transcendental service of the Lord, he becomes free.

mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena

bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunan samatityaitan

brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman." (Bg. 14.26)

Therefore the Hare Krishna movement or Krishna consciousness movement is the only light for the foolish living entities who think either that there is no God or that if God exists He is formless and they themselves are also God. These misconceptions are very dangerous, and the only way to counteract them is to spread the Hare Krishna movement.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 7.120

Chant loudly together one mala on the beads after chanting the Panca tattva mantra 3 times.

Do keep a watch on how they are chanting, whether they are holding the beads properly and if they are concentrating, etc You should encourage them with smiles and instructions, if necessary, to do it rightly. At the end of the session, enquire if they enjoy chanting at home. Enquire about how many malas each one is chanting and encourage them gently to add one more mala to their chanting for the week.






Passage for Discussion:Conversation:

Srila Prabhupada is accompanied by Dr. Singh, Karandhara dasa adhikari, Brahmananda Svami and other students.

Recorded on April 19, 1973,

In Cheviot Hills Park, Los Angeles

Darwinism Extinct

Srila Prabhupda: This material world is a composition of three qualitiessattva, rajas and tamas (goodness, passion and ignorance)which are working everywhere. These three qualities are present in various proportions in all species of life. For example, some trees produce nice fruit, while others are simply meant for fuel. This is due to the association of particular qualities of nature. Among animals also, these three qualities are present. The cow is in the quality of goodness, the lion in passion, and the monkey in ignorance. According to Darwin, Darwin's father is a monkey. [Laughter.] He has theorized foolishly.

Dr. Singh. :Darwin has said that some species become extinct in the struggle for survival. Those which are capable of surviving will survive, but those which are not will become extinct. So he says survival and extinction go side by side.

Srila Prabhupda. Nothing is extinct. The monkey is not extinct. Darwin's immediate forefather, the monkey, is still existing.

Karandhara. Darwin said there must be a natural selection. But selection means choice. So who is choosing?

Srila Prabhupda. That must be a person. Who is allowing someone to survive and someone to be killed? There must be some authority with discretion to give such an order. That is our first proposition. Who that authority is, is explained in Bhagavad-gita Krishna says, mayadhyakshena prakritih: "Nature is working under My supervision." (Bg. 9.10)

Dr. Singh. Darwin also says that the different species were not created simultaneously, but evolved gradually.

Srila Prabhupda. Then what is his explanation for how the process of evolution began?

Karandhara. Modern proponents of Darwinism say that the first living organism was created chemically.

Srila Prabhupda. And I say to them, "If life originated from chemicals, and if your science is so advanced, then why can't you create life bio chemically in your laboratories?"

In the Future

Karandhara. They say they will create life in the future.

Srila Prabhupda. What future? When this crucial point is raised, they reply, "We shall do it in the future." Why in the future? That is nonsense. "Trust no future, however pleasant." If they are so advanced, they must demonstrate now how life can be created from chemicals. Otherwise what is the meaning of their advancement? They are talking nonsense.

Karandhara. They say that they are right on the verge of creating life.

Srila Prabhupda. That's only a different way of saying the same thing: "In the future." The scientists must admit that they still do not know the origin of life. Their claim that they will soon prove a chemical origin of life is something like paying someone with a postdated check. Suppose I give you a postdated check for ten thousand dollars but I actually have no money. What is the value of that check? Scientists are claiming that their science is wonderful, but when a practical example is wanted, they say they will provide it in the future. Suppose I say that I possess millions of dollars, and when you ask me for some money I say, "Yes, I will now give you a big postdated check. Is that all right?" If you are intelligent, you will reply, "At present give me at least five dollars in cash so I can see something tangible." Similarly, the scientists cannot produce even a single blade of grass in their laboratories, yet they are claiming that life is produced from chemicals. What is this nonsense? Is no one questioning this?

Karandhara. They say that life is produced by chemical laws.

Srila Prabhupda. As soon as there is a law, we must take into consideration that someone made the law. Despite all their so-called advancement, the scientists in their laboratories cannot produce even a blade of grass. What kind of scientists are they?

Dr. Singh. They say that in the ultimate analysis, everything came from matter. Living matter came from nonliving matter.

Srila Prabhupda. Then where is this living matter coming from now? Do the scientists say that life came from matter in the past but does not at the present? Where is the ant coming from nowfrom the dirt?

The Missing Link

Dr. Singh. in fact, there are several theories explaining how life originated from matter, how living matter came from the nonliving.

Srila Prabhupda. [casting Dr. Singh in the role of a materialistic scientist]. All right, scientist, why is life not coming from matter now? You rascal. Why isn't life coming from matter now? Actually such scientists are rascals. They childishly say that life came from matter, although they are not at all able to prove it. Our Krishna consciousness movement should expose all these rascals. They are only bluffing. Why don't they create life immediately? In the past, they say, life arose from matter; and they say that this will happen again in the future. They even say that they will create life from matter. What kind of theory is this? They have already commented that life began from matter. This refers to the past"began." Then why do they now speak of the future? Is it not contradictory? They are expecting the past to occur in the future. This is childish nonsense.

Karandhara. They say that life arose from matter in the past and that they will create life this way in the future.

rla Prabhupda. What is this nonsense? If they cannot prove that life arises from matter in the present, how do they know life arose this way in the past?

Dr. Singh. They are assuming...

Srila Prabhupda. Everyone can assume, but this is not science. Everyone can assume something. You can assume something, I can assume something. But there must be proof. We can prove that life arises from life. For example, a father begets a child. The father is living, and the child is living. But where is their proof that a father can be a dead stone? Where is their proof? We can easily prove that life begins from life. And the original life is Krishna. That also can be proven. But what evidence exists that a child is born of stone? They cannot actually prove that life comes from matter. They are leaving that aside for the future. [Laughter.]

Karandhara. The scientists say that they can now formulate acids, amino acids, that are almost like one-celled living organisms. They say that because these acids so closely resemble living beings, there must be just one missing link needed before they can create life.

Srila Prabhupda. Nonsense! Missing link. I'll challenge them to their face! [Laughter.] They are missing this challenge. The missing link is this challenge to their face.

Nobel Prize for an Ass

Dr. Singh. Some scientists hope that in the future they will be able to make babies in test tubes.

Srila Prabhupda. Test tubes?

Dr. Singh. Yes, they intend to combine male and female elements in biological laboratories.

Srila Prabhupda. If they begin with living entities, what is the purpose of the test tube? It is only a place for combination, but so is the womb. Where is the credit for the scientists if this is already being done in nature's test tube?

Karandhara. It is already being done by nature, but when some scientist does it, people will give him the Nobel Prize.

Srila Prabhupda. Yes, that is stated in Srimad-Bhgavatam: sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh.[4] This verse indicates that those who praise men who are like animals are no better than dogs, hogs, camels and asses. Sva means "dog," vid-varha means "stool-eating hog," ustra means "camel," and khara means "ass." If the Nobel Prize is given to a scientist who is a rascal, the men on the committee who give him that prize are no better than dogs, hogs, camels and asses. We don't accept them as human beings. One animal is praised by another animal. Where is the credit in that? If the men on the committee are no better than animals, anyone who receives the Nobel Prize in science is fool number one, because animals are praising him, not human beings.

Dr. Singh. For some scientists, the Nobel Prize is the ultimate.

Srila Prabhupda. They are rascals. They are speaking nonsense, and because they are juggling words, others are being misled.

Brahmananda Swami. Nobel is the person who invented dynamite.

Srila Prabhupda. He has created great misfortune, and he has left his money for creating further misfortune. [Laughter.]

Brahmananda Swami. The Gita says that demoniac people perform acts meant to destroy the world.

Life comes from Life

Discovery:

1)Mention the headings or topics on which Srila Prabhupada disagrees with Darwin.

Understanding:

1)Why is it wrong to assume that man has descended from the monkey?

2) What is Darwins explanation of the origin of life? Explain his survival of the fittest theory from the passage.

3) What is Srila Prabhupadas answers to these propositions?

4) How do scientists explain away their inability to create life from matter?

5) Why does Srila Prabhupada not accept these explanations?

6) Why is Srila Prabhupada unimpressed by the scientists making test tube babies?

7) What is Srila Prabhupadas opinion on Nobel prizes?

8) Why do you think Srila Prabhupada is severely criticizing the scientists? What harm have their theories done to humankind?

Application:

1) Are you convinced about the scientists limitations? Why or why not?

..

Discovery:

1)What do scientists demand in order to accept any statements of truth?

2) Why is this demand unreasonable even within science?

3) How can we begin to understand the presence of the soul?

Understanding:

1)Why is Darwin;s theory fallible?

2)What was Darwins theory about how the different species came about?

3) How did some of his critics challenge Darwins theory?

4) What is the vedic explanation of how the different species have come about?

5) With examples illustrate how Darwins theory is ridiculous.

Application:

1)Have a mock debate in the group with one group promoting Darwins theory and the scientists view point and the other group trying to refute it and give proper explanations to understanding the spiritual truths. .




One Should preach to relieve Lord Caitanyas anxiety for the fallen souls:How will these yavanas be delivered ? To My great unhappiness, I do not see any way.

Haridasa Thankura Replied, My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety. Do not be unhappy to see the condition of the yavanas in material existence.

These words of Haridas ThakuraThakura are just befitting a devotee who has dedicated his life and soul to the service of the Lord. When the Lord is unhappy because of the condition of the fallen souls, the devotee consoles Him, saying, My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety. This is service. Everyone should adopt the cause of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to try to relieve Him from the anxiety He feels. This is actually service to the Lord. One who tries to relieve Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhus anxiety for the fallen souls is certainly a most dear and confidential devotee of the Lord.

Cc. Antya 3.51-52 ( antya: 1, pp. 231-232)

Developing compassion is the main purpose of the preaching session. Without the mood of compassion, devotees will not find the need or desire to preach and bring new members, or to cultivate them. So in your reports, mention your realizations on how people are suffering and about how we need to show them mercy, how we ourselves are very fortunate to come across this valuable knowledge by the mercy of devotees, etc.

Share with them your experiences of preaching for the week, who you spoke to, visited, had a discussion with or encouraged, etc.



Set a preaching home-work however small for everyone. Discuss what is possible for each one and encourage them to do so. They must feel comfortable doing it and must enjoy the experience. So do not push very hard. But be sensitive to the limits that are ready to do .This could include activities like book distribution, inviting friends or new contacts to the program, etc.Prasadam : 20 minutes

Prasadam : 20 minutes

As you have done in the previous week, request them to chant the mantra for honouring prasadam.



Gradually and spontaneously some of them will offer to help you clean up, as well. Encourage them to participate, even if you want to taste the nectar of service yourself! It is good for members to do service. So encourage it so that they will benefit spiritually. Do not do so in a mood of sharing a burden

Immediately after the devotees have left the program, kindly fill in the following form:

Please enter the details about your members attending this week:

Immediately after the members have left the program, kindly fill in the following report:


ASASASASAS

EFFORTS


1No. of Mails


3No. of Home Visits




Week 15

As the devotees are given more responsibilities and services to do at the beginning of the program, they will start looking forward to coming ahead of time for the program. This will also enable the members to co-operate in doing services together, while having pleasant exchanges amongst themselves about the week gone by. This creates a proper setting for good devotee associations to flourish, and helps greatly in their spiritual advancement, as they will feel like following those who have gone ahead of them in Krishna consciousness.

So do encourage them to do services, like getting things ready for the altar, making arrangements for prasadam distribution, cleaning up the place or getting the spiritual edification sheets, etc for distribution, etc.


After you have introduced any new visitor that may have come, ask them this question: In which specific way have you grown in Krishna consciousness during the last 3 months?

This question is especially valuable to you as you can make a note of each persons progress in Krsna consciousness, areas which you were not yet aware of. Also it is a very rewarding experience for the members to think about and articulate about their spiritual growth. This will help them to be reflective and introspective about their spiritual life, rather than just carry on with it as a matter of ritual. Also they can learn from each others realizations.

Share an interesting and inspiring point from what you have read from Srila Prabhupadas books during the week; many more should be now willing to borrow/ buy the books to read them during the week. Encourage them to share their discoveries and realizations from Srila Prabhupadas books.

Your enthusiasm and appreciation, of their participation however small initially, is a very important factor in gradually making all of them take up reading Srila Prabhupadas books seriously.




Japa. 15 minutes

Read out first, the following passage from :

The Nectar of the Holy Name

Explanation of the "harer nma" verse in the Brihan-naradiya Purana:

After this incident the Lord ate raw rice given by Suklambara Brahmachari and explained very elaborately the import of the "harer nama" [Cc. di 17.21] sloka mentioned in the Brihan-naradiya Purana: "In this age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari."

In this age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered. This verse repeats the word eva [certainly] three times for emphasis, and it also three times repeats harer nama [the holy name of the Lord] just to make common people understand. The use of the word kevalam [only] prohibits all other processes, such as cultivation of knowledge, practice of mystic yoga, and performance of austerities and fruitive activities. This verse clearly states that anyone who accepts any other path cannot be delivered. This is the reason for the triple repetition "nothing else, nothing else, nothing else," which emphasizes the real process of self-realization.

To emphasize something to an ordinary person, one may repeat it three times, just as one might say, "You must do this! You must do this! You must do this!" Thus the Brihan-naradiya Purana repeatedly emphasizes the chanting of the holy name so that people may take it seriously and thus free themselves from the clutches of maya....

Our Krishna consciousness movement stresses the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra only, whereas those who do not know the secret of success for this age of Kali unnecessarily indulge in the cultivation of knowledge, the practice of mystic yoga or the performance of fruitive activities or useless austerities. They are simply wasting their time and misleading their followers. When we point this out very plainly to an audience, members of opposing groups become angry at us. But according to the injunctions of the shastras, we cannot make compromises with these so-called jnanis, yogis, karmis and tapasvis. When they say they are as good as we are, we must say that only we are good and that they are not good. This is not our obstinacy; it is the injunction of the shastras. We must not deviate from the injunctions of the shastras.

Sri Chaitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 17.20-25


At the end of chanting, you could ask them about their experience of chanting the maha mantra on beads at home, whether they had increased the number of malas that they chanted. Encourage those who are a little willing, to try increasing one more mala for the following week. Though nobody can or should force anyone to chant, your kind enquiries about their progress and encouragement to keep increasing in small steps will motivate them to try chanting more.






Passage for Discussion

The teachings of the Acharyas:

An acharya is a teacher of Vedic knowledge. He imparts the teachings of the shastras and himself lives by those teachings. The care of the vedic parampara (the passing down of vedic knowledge) has always been assigned to the acharyas.; therefore they are personal representatives of that knowledge.

Sankara

Sankara AD (788- 820) was a shaivite(follower of Shiva) born in an orthodox South Indian brahmana family. When still a young boy, he became an ascetic, and it appears, compiled two major works(Viveka Chintamani and Sariraka bhasya). He traveled widely in India and died in the Himalayas at age 32.

At the time Shankara appeared, Buddhism had received the patronage of the Indian emperor Ashoka and had thus spread throughout India. Shankara sought to reform and purify religious life by reasserting the authority of Vedic scriptures, which Buddha had completely rejected.

Shankaras interpretation of Vedic literature is known as advaita- Vedanta. He taught that the jivas or living entities are themselves the Absolute Truth (Parabrahman) and ultimately there is no variety, individuality, or personality in spiritual existence. He

taught that the supposed individuality of both the Supreme being and jiva, is false. Shankaras philosophy is sometimes considered a compromise between theism and atheism, since it would have been impossible to restore the Vedic literatures theistic conception just after the Buddhists complete atheism.

Ramanuja

Ramanuja AD (1017- 1137) was a south Indian brahmana who taught and traveled widely. For a time he was the chief priest of the Vaishnava temple of Sri Ranga, in southern India. He wrote 3 major commentaries: Vedanta Sangraha(on the Vedas), Sri bhasya(on Vedanta sutra), and Bhagavad-gita bhasya (on the Bhagavad gita). He is best known for his strong presentation of Vaishnavism and for his opposition to the impersonal monism of Shankara.

Ramanuja expounded Visistadvaita, or qualified non dualism. He taught that there is a difference between Parabrahman (Supreme Brahman) and the jivas, and there is a loving relationship between the Supreme and the jivas.. His qualified oneness shows that the Absolute includes both what is changing ( the material world and the jivas) and what is changeless( the transcendental Lord.) Ramanuja taught that through Gods grace the jiva can transcend the material world and attain the eternal abode of Vishnu.

Madhva

Like Ramanuja, Madhva(A.D. 1239-1319) belonged to the Vaishnava tradition and devoted himself to combating Shankaras impersonal philosophy.

Madhvacharyas Purnaprajna- bhasya establishes a type of Vedanta philosophy called suddha- dvaita (pure dualism).

In his teachings, he describes three entities- the Supreme Lord, the jiva, and the material world. Even more emphatically than Ramanuja , Madhva maintained that God and the jivas are eternally distinct. He held that the Lord is transcendental to the material world, which is a product of his inferior energy. At the same time, the jivas are also distinct from matter, for they are superior, spiritual energy of the Lord.

Madhva maintained that although the jivas are superior to matter, they are distinct from the Lord and are his servitors. Whereas the Lord is independent, the jivas are totally dependent on him. Madhva taught that the Lord creates, maintains and annihilates the cosmos, and at the same time, in His original eternal form as Bhagavan Krsna, the Lord remains superior to manifest and un manifest matter. In addition Madhva explained that each person molds his own karma. And through bhakti, one can eliminate all his karma and return to his original position of serving the Lord in the eternal spiritual world.

Chaitanya

In the late sixteenth century, with the advent of Krsna Chaitanya, in Bengal, Ramanujas and Madhvas theistic philosophy of Vaishnavism(worship of Vishnu or Bhagavan) reached its climax. Chaitanya Mahaprabhus philosophy of acintya beda abeda tattva completed the progression to devotional thiesm. Ramanuja had agreed with Shankara that the Absolute is one only, but disagreed by affirming individual variety within that oneness. Madhva had underscored the eternal duality of the Supreme and the jiva: he had maintained that this duality endures even after liberation. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in turn, specified that the Supreme and the jiva are inconceivably simultaneously one and different .(acintya bheda bheda ).They were equal in quality, but not in quantity.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (A.D. 1486 1534)_ was born in Navadvipa, Bengal. He took the renounced order at the age of twenty four. His spiritual master, Isvara Puri, was a disciple of Madhavendra Puri, who came in the line of Madhva. His immediate follwers( the six Gosvamis: Rupa, Sanatana, Jiva, Gopala Bhatta, Raghunatha Bhatta and Raghunatha Dasa) compiled extensive literatures and thus documented Lord Chaitanyas philosophical system according to Vedic evidence. Himself, Lord Chaitanya wrote only 8 verses , on the ecstacy of devotion to Krsna. His disciples understood Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to be Bhagavan Krishna Himself in the form of a devotee.

Teachings in Vedic Literature

Discovery:

1) Who is an acharya? Name the 4 Acharyas mentioned as well as the period to which they belonged.

2) Name the literary contributions of each of these Acharyas.

Understanding:

1) How is Shankaras philosophy different from the others? Why did he expound such a philosophy?

2) How did Ramanujacharya modify Shankaras theory?

3) What point did Madhava emphasize with regard to Bhagavan and the jiva?

4) How did Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu synthesize both Ramanujacharyas and Madhvas conclusions?

Application:

Which of these philosophies appeals to you most? Why?




Devotees must humbly tolerate opponents while preaching:

Vaishnavas must meet many opponents while preaching the glories of the Lord, but Sri Caitanya Mahprabhu recommends that they not become angry while preaching. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given this formula: ... "One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly." Those engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord should be humbler than grass and more tolerant than a tree; then they can preach the glories of the Lord without difficulty.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.4.5

Share with the members about what preaching you have done during the week either to new people or to the devotees themselves. Share your insights and realizations.

Let everyone also share what they have done during the week, however small. The phone calls they have made or the people they have spoken to, or invited etc, the successes or the difficulties they have encountered.

If they have experienced some success and they share it, find out how they did it . Not only will others learn from their experiences, it is also very encouraging to them and will inspire them to do more. If there are some mistakes in their approach, this too will get corrected.

Please give them assignments for preaching for the forthcoming week.


After the prasadam has been distributed and everyone is busy honoring it after reciting the prasadam mantra, go around and enquire how they like the prasadam, among other things. Hear their realizations on how they are appreciating the taste of prasadam as a spiritual experience. It is important for them to appreciate and have the right respectful attitude toward prasadam.

If any member has sponsored the prasadam, announce it and thank them for the service. If anybody has any special occasion to celebrate that day like birthdays , wedding anniversaries, announce that and sing a Krsna conscious greeting like Hare Krsna to you, and may Krsna bless you, dear etc, set to the standard tune of wishing people on birthdays.

This will make them very happy and also give them the idea to celebrate these occasions in a nice Krsna conscious way, which will also benefit them spiritually.

Immediately after the devotees have left the program, kindly fill in the following form:Please enter the details about your members attending this week:


ASASASASAS

EFFORTS


1No. of Mails


3No. of Home Visits




Week 16

Continue encouraging members to choose a service that they would like doing before the program starts.The services may be as varied as picking up someone for the program, helping in washing the arathi plates, arranging the ghee lamps, washing plates, cutting fruits/ vegetables, making copies of Nectar of the holy name , the passage for discussion , and preaching material for distribution to the group members.

Being committed to do a service will give them great spiritual progress and spiritual satisfaction.


After you have introduced any new visitor that may have come, you ask them to do as follows:

Find the Identity : Have people write 4 or 5 adjectives or phrases to describe themselves. Collect the sheets and hand them out randomly (but make sure that nobody gets their own). Each person reads the sheet he/she gets and attempts to guess who wrote it. If he/she cant guess, ask the next person or the whole group to try to find the identity.

Krsna consciousness is very personal and if the devotees also know one another well, this fosters a lot of intimate dealings with one another. It becomes easy then to overcome ones selfishness and self-centeredness, which is the main stumbling block in our advancement in Krsna consciousness.

Share an interesting and inspiring point from what you have read from Srila Prabhupadas books during the week; many more should be now willing to borrow/ buy the books to read them during the week. Encourage them to share their discoveries and realizations from Srila Prabhupadas books.

Your enthusiasm and appreciation, of their participation however small initially, is a very important factor in gradually making all of them take up reading Srila Prabhupadas books seriously.

Kirtan : 15 minutes



Japa. 15 minutes


Maharaja Parikshit saved his citizens from the clutches of Kali by propagating the holy name:

Even though all nefarious activities of the personality of Kali are present, there is a great advantage in the age of Kali. One can attain salvation simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord. Thus Maharaja Parikshit made an organized effort to propagate the chanting of the Lord's holy name, and thus he saved the citizens from the clutches of Kali. It is for this advantage only that great sages sometimes wish all good for the age of Kali.

Srimad-Bhgavatam 1.18.7

The constant chanting of the holy names will drive away the personality of Kali from the world:

The Personality of Godhead and His holy name, qualities, etc., are all identical. The personality of Kali was not able to enter the jurisdiction of the earth due to the presence of the Personality of Godhead. And similarly, if there is an arrangement for the constant chanting of the holy names, qualities, etc., of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no chance at all for the personality of Kali to enter. That is the technique of driving away the personality of Kali from the world. In modernized human society there are great advancements of material science, and they have invented the radio to distribute sound in the air. So instead of vibrating some nuisance sound for sense enjoyment, if the state arranges to distribute transcendental sound by resounding the holy name, fame and activities of the Lord, as they are authorized in the Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, then a favorable condition will be created, the principles of religion in the world will be reestablished, and thus the executive heads, who are so anxious to drive away corruption from the world, will be successful.

Srimad-Bhgavatam 1.18.6 Chant loudly together one mala on the beads after chanting the Panca tattva mantra 3 times.

At the end of chanting, you could ask them about their experience of chanting the maha mantra on beads at home. .. whether they had increased the number of malas that they chanted. Encourage those who are a little willing, to try increasing one more mala for the following week. Though nobody can or should force anyone to chant, your kind enquiries about their progress and encouragement to keep increasing in small steps will motivate them to try chanting more.






Passage for Discussion:

If no one knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead, how can He be known? He can be known when the Supreme Lord comes before you and reveals Himself to you. Then you can know. Our senses are imperfect, and they cannot realize the Supreme Truth. When you adopt a submissive attitude and chant, realization begins from the tongue. To eat and to vibrate sound is the business of the tongue. If you can control your tongue for prasadam, spiritual food, and make the sound vibration of the holy name, then by surrender of the tongue you can control all the other senses. If you cannot control your tongue, you cannot control your senses. Taste prasdam and become spiritually advanced. You can have this process at your home: offer vegetarian foods to Krishna, chant the Hare Krishna mantra and offer obeisances:

namo brahmanya-devaya

go-brhmanya-hitaya ca

jagat-hitaya krishnaya

govindaya namo namah

Everyone can offer, and then take the food with friends. And chant before the picture of Krishna, and lead a pure life. Just see the resultthe whole world will become Vaikuntha, where there is no anxiety. All is anxious with us because we have accepted this material life. Just the opposite is so in the spiritual world. No one, however, knows how to get out of the material concept. Taking an intoxicant doesn't help; the same anxieties are there when you are finished being drunk. If you want to be free and want life eternal with bliss and knowledge, take to Krishna. No one can know God, but there is this way:. the process of Krishna consciousness.

In the Srimad-Bhgavatam it is stated that no one can conquer Him or approach Him, but He becomes conquered. How? Let people remain in their own positions, but let them give up nonsense speculation through volumes of books. Thousands of books are printed and read, and after six months thrown away. This way and thathow can you know the Supreme by speculation on the information supplied by your blunt senses? Give up researchthrow it awayjust become submissive; acknowledge that you are limited and subordinate to material nature and to God. No one can be equal to or greater than God. So be submissive. Try to hear about the glories of the Supreme Lord from authorized sources. Such authority is handed over by disciplic succession. If we can understand by the same authority as Arjuna, that is real authority. God is always ready to reveal; you just become Krsna conscious. Follow the path traversed by the great acharyas, the devoted teachers, and then everything will be known. Although He is unconquerable and unknowable, He can be known in your home.

If you take to this process and follow the principles, what will be the result? As soon as you understand, you will know that the Supreme Lord is the cause of all causes, but that He is not caused by any other cause. And He is the master of all planets. This is not accepting blindly. God has given you the power of reason, the power of arguingbut don't argue falsely. If you want to know the transcendental science you must surrender. Surrender to authority and know Him by signs. Don't surrender to a fool or a rascal. Find one who is coming in disciplic succession, one who is fully convinced about the Supreme Absolute Truth. If you find such a person, surrender and try to please him, serve him and question him. Surrender unto Him is surrender to God. Question to learn, not to waste time.

The process is there, but if we waste time by intoxication we will never see Him, the unconquerable Lord. Follow the principles and slowly but surely, without doubt, you will know. "Yes, I'm making progress," you'll say. And it is very easy, and you can execute it and be in a happy mood. Study, take part with music, eat prasadam. And no one can cheat you by this process. But if you want to be cheatedgo to the cheaters.

Try to understand it from the authoritative source and apply it in your life. Amongst the dying mortals, you will become the most intelligent because you are freed from sinful actions. If you act only for Krsna, then you are freed from all reactions. You will have no anxiety over what is auspicious or inauspicious because you will be in touch with the most auspicious. This is the process. Ultimately, we can get in touch with Krishna. Life will be successful. Anyone can adopt it, because it is very simple.

Krsna Consciousness: The topmost Yoga systemDiscovery:

1) How can we know the Supreme Truth through the tongue?

Understanding:

1) Why are people in the material world anxious? How do they try to get rid of their misery? Why dont those things work for them?

2) What is the process of becoming happy?

3) Who should we be submissive to? Why should we be submissive?

4) How should we apply the principles of Krsna consciousness in our daily lives?

5) What will be the result of application of these principles in our lives?

How will this make us happy?

Application:

1) Share with everyone what different spiritual activities you are engaged in and what you are experiencing by performing them.




Lord Chaitanya personally demonstrated the importance of preaching: To deliver all fallen souls, the Lord traveled from country to country. He personally tasted the transcendental pleasure of devotional service, and He simultaneously spread the cult of devotion everywhere.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally traveled to different regions of India to spread the bhakti cult throughout the country.by His personal behavior He has given an example for devotees to follow. That is, one should broadcast the cult of devotional service.A Vaisnava is especially interested in para-upakara, doing good to others. Prahlada Maharaja was also interested in this. He did not want to be delivered alone; rather he wanted to deliver all fallen souls, who are bereft of knowledge of bhakti and who misuse their intelligence for the temporary benefit of the material body. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also wanted His mission spread all over the world.

Prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama

Sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard Following in His footsteps, we are trying to broadcast His message throughout the world. By His mercy, people are taking this movement very seriously. Indeed, our books are extensively distributed in the Western countries, especially in America and Europe. The followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu may therefore take this movement seriously and broadcast it throughout the world. From village to village and from town to town, just as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself did.

Cc. Madhya 25.264 (Madhya: 9, p.438)

Share with the members about what preaching you have done during the week either to new people or to the devotees themselves. Share your insights and realizations.

Let everyone also share what they have done during the week, however small. The phone calls they have made or the people they have spoken to, or invited etc, the successes or the difficulties they have encountered.

If they have experienced some success and they share it, find out how they did it . Not only will others learn from their experiences, it is also very encouraging to them and will inspire them to do more. If there are some mistakes in their approach, this too will get corrected.

Please give them assignments for preaching for the forthcoming week.


After the prasadam has been distributed and everyone is busy honoring it after reciting the prasadam mantra, go around and enquire how they like the prasadam, among other things. Hear their realizations on how they are appreciating the taste of prasadam as a spiritual experience. It is important for them to appreciate and have the right respectful attitude toward prasadam.

If any member has sponsored the prasadam, announce it and thank them for the service. If anybody has any special occasion to celebrate that day like birthdays , wedding anniversaries, announce that and sing a Krsna conscious greeting like Hare Krsna to you, and may Krsna bless you, dear etc, set to the standard tune of greeting people on birthdays.

This will make them very happy and also give them the idea to celebrate these occasions in a nice Krsna conscious way, which will benefit them spiritually.

Immediately after the devotees have left the program, kindly fill in the following form:Please enter the details about your members attending this week:


ASASASASAS

EFFORTS


1No. of Mails


3No. of Home Visits




Week 17

If your members have brought along any new members, make them comfortable and make pleasant enquiries about them, so you can introduce them during the Ice- breaker session to all the members.

Ice- Breaker : 15 minutes

After you have introduced any new visitor that may have come, engage in the following ice- breaker.

Save Me! : Ask them to imagine that they are all survivors of a shipwreck, swimming for their lives in the ocean. There is only one life-belt, and you have to decide who gets it. Only one survivor can receive it and be saved. Each person must give reasons why he/she should be the one who gets the life-belt. Whoever comes up with the most convincing or amusing case wins. For added effect you can stand on a chair (If possible holding a real life-belt) and have everyone stand around you.

Variation: have everyone giving reasons why the person on their left (or their right) is the most worthy of being saved. This version has the advantage of encouraging selflessness and glorification of others.

After this ask them also to share a point that they were inspired by during the week from Srila Prabhupadas books. Start the discussion by relating your own so it will set the right trend.

Kirtan : 15 minutes



Japa. 15 minutes


Haridasa Thakura could defeat Maya because he was absorbed in thoughts of Krishna by constantly chanting His holy name:

[Maya to Haridasa Thakura]: After offering obeisances to Haridasa Thakura, the woman said: "I am the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I came here to test you."

In Bhagavad-gt (7.14) Lord Krishna says:

daiv hy esa guna-mayi

mama maya duratyaya

mam eva ye prapadyante

mayam etam taranti te

"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it."

This was actually proved by the behavior of Haridasa Thakura. Maya enchants the entire world. Indeed, people have forgotten the ultimate goal of life because of the dazzling attractions of the material world. But this dazzling attraction, especially the attractive beauty of a woman, is meant for persons who are not surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord says, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te: [Bg. 7.14] "One who is surrendered unto Me cannot be conquered by the illusory energy." The illusory energy personally came to test Haridasa Thakura, but herein she admits her defeat, for she was unable to captivate him. How is this possible? It was because Haridasa Thakura, fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Krishna, was always absorbed in thoughts of Krishna by chanting the holy names of the Lord 300,000 times daily as a vow.

Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta Antya-lila 3.250


Since we are nearing the end of module 2 , most of the members should be chanting a mimnimum of 4 rounds. Ask a few of the devotees to share their realizations on chanting each time and make sure that those who have been missed out in one week are covered in the following week. This will inspire them to chant more and more.

Chant loudly together one mala on the beads after chanting the Panca tattva mantra 3 times..


Please read out the passage below an

Krishna Sevaka - bhakti

Documents

Transcript of Krishna Sevaka - bhakti