ViplavahRevolution Through Education

A Journal of the ISKCON Ministry of EducationFounder-Acharya His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

2019 No. 2/4Summer - Pannihati

(Editors Draft Copy 19 06 18)

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ContentsMISSION STATEMENT...............................................................................................................................................1

MASTHEAD..................................................................................................................................................................1

MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING-EDITOR.................................................................................................................1

MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHETYPICAL EDITOR..................................................................................................1

QUOTES ON SRILA PRABHUPADA'S INSTRUCTIONS ON BTG.........................................................................1

REPORTS FROM REGIONAL REPS...........................................................................................................................1

THE W.R.I.T.E. SERVICE: Five Reasons To Write In Devotional Service...............................................................1

KOLLEGE AND KRSNA..............................................................................................................................................1

LITTLE KRSNA KIDS..................................................................................................................................................1

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD......................................................................................................................1

CALENDAR OF EVENTS............................................................................................................................................1

NEXT ISSUE..................................................................................................................................................................1

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MISSION STATEMENTVision statementTo provide Krishna conscious education of high quality to everyone through temples, educational institutions and various global initiatives.

Mission statementTo develop comprehensive educational systems globally, that foster higher spiritual values, fulfil the needs of ISKCON members and the larger society bringing about excellence in all areas of human life. We aim to fulfil this mission by

1. Empowering and supporting educational initiatives and collaborations among educators, educational institutions and professionals

2. Establishing and monitoring high standards of Vaisnava education3. Supervising the development and execution of educational plans and ensuring they are delivered to high

standards and 4. Understanding and fulfilling the educational needs of the Krsna conscious families5. Making every temple as an educational centre and a centre of excellence.

MASTHEADViplavah is a Journal of the Ministry of Education of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Founder Acharya His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Minister of Education: H. G. Sesa DasExecutive Director: Tapana-misra DasCore Committee: Hanumatpresaka Swami, Sesa Das, Atul-krsna Das, Rama-giri-dhari Das, Tapan-misra Das, Champaka-lata Devi Dasi, Indira-sakhi Devi Dasi,Acting Editor: H. H. Hanumatpresaka SwamiEditorial Board:

H. G. Indira-sakhi Devi Dasi H. G. Rama-giridhari Das

The first issue of the Journal was published Janmastami 2017 with plans to publish four issues each year. It is driven out of North American and the Western Hemisphere but is aimed at serving the educational needs of ISKCON globally. We hope it inspires many regional and topical journals, such as Jayam which is now being published in Spanish.

Ministry Web Site: iskconeducation.org

For Correspondences: Secretary, viplavah.iskcon@gmail.com

MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING-EDITORBy Hanumatpresaka Swami

Prof. Hector Behar, who is sung as a star in the history of physical and cultural revolution in South America and now on the faculty of six universities and the United Nation’s committee against world poverty, advised us that a journal takes off after six issues. Viplavah certainly seems to have done that and now we need to take stock of the goal and character of this journal again. In this issue we have tried to include a lot of contemplation of this concern.

In Gopika Radhika Devi Dasi’s excellent review of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on Back to Godhead magazine we find chastising instructions that give us great motivation to find our humble place in the production of Viplavah.

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From a tactical and strategic perspective, so far there is a general consensus among the Members of the Ministries Executive Committee that we, Hanumatpresaka Swami, might continue during the year 2020 as the General Editor and each issue be produced by an Acting Editor. There are advantages and disadvantages to this. What do you think? What regular columns would you want to see in the issues eg. Reports from the Minister, Executive Secretary and Executive Council members and Zonal Representatives; Projects and Calendar Events from around the world. Can you become an Acting Editor for one issue or General Editor in 2021?

We hope to see a report on:

ISKCON MINISTRY OF EDUCATION’S TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM by Indira-sakhi Devi Dasi. ISKCON SASTRIC DEGREES SYMPOSIUM by Atul Krsna Das – BOEX Chairman CALL FOR PAPERS – ISKCON PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION BOOK and PROJECT SCHEDULE

by Tapan-misra Das Et al.

MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHETYPICAL EDITORDear Hanumat Presaka Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I wish you well in your maintenance of the journal for the Ministry of Education, “Viplava”.

You ask me if Prabhupada gave me an instruction about BTG when I was the editor. Yes, Prabhupada did so, in letters he wrote to me in the 1970s and late 1960s. I do not maintain any memories of those instructions. But I heard the editors of BTG have compiled a “BTG Handbook” which is filled with Prabhupada instructions for the magazine. I advise you to get in touch with the current editor, Nagaraja Prabhu, and ask him how you can obtain a copy of the BTG Handbook. That will answer all your questions. I am sorry but I don't have more to contribute.

Yours in the service of Prabhupada,

Satsvarupa das Goswami

QUOTES ON SRILA PRABHUPADA'S INSTRUCTIONS ON BTGBy Gopika Radhika Devi Dasi

Editor’s Note: Indira-sakhi Mataji asked Gopika Radhika Devi Dasi to write the following article for Viplavah. Mataji had asked her to look for quotes on Srila Prabhupada's instructions on BTG, concluding with the concept that the Viplavah journal aspires to follow those same guidelines/instructions. She took advice and inspiration from Tapan Misra Prabhu also.

We first met Gopika Radhika Devi Dasi during the Education Symposium in Mayapura last year and she has impressed us very much with her great contributions to Srila Prabhupada’s Ministry. We need more of her mercy.

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Srotavyādini rājendra nåëāà santi sahasrasaù (SB 2.1.2)—Sukadeva Gosvāmi states that the materially engrossed “have many subject matters for hearing in human society” (SB 2.1.2 translation).

A cursory glance at the daily newspaper provides more than ample evidence of this truth. Yes, human beings have cultivated countless topics to occupy their mental, auditory and verbal faculties, and devised equally numberless, creative and diverse means to express, record and disseminate them. Therefore, when a politician expressed wonder that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura could produce a daily newspaper on God consciousness, Srila Prabhupada recounts that Sri Sarasvati Thakura pointed out:

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“"Why you are thinking of only one small newspaper?…This material world is one-fourth portion of the whole creation of the Lord…And in this one-fourth portion there are innumerable universes. And in each universe there are millions of planets. And this planet, earthly planets, is only a small planet in that universe. And on this earthly planet, there are so many cities. And in each city, there are so many newspapers. And each newspaper has got so many editions. This is the position of the material world. Now, think over the spiritual world…three times bigger than this material...So we can produce not one newspaper daily, but every minute a newspaper…You are thinking of one newspaper daily. We could issue every second a newspaper about spiritual news."” (Srila Prabhupada lecture: SB 1.15.47-48—December 25, 1973, Los Angeles)

And in stark contrast to mundane news, this spiritual news is nitya-nava-navyamana—ever-fresh, eternally.

“A human being is inclined to hear good narrations and stories, and therefore there are so many books, magazines and newspapers on the market to satisfy the interests of the developed soul. But after being read once, such literatures become stale, and people do not take any interest in reading such literatures repeatedly. In fact, newspapers are read for less than an hour and then thrown in the dustbins as rubbish. The case is similar with all other mundane literatures. But the beauty of transcendental literatures like the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam is that they never become old. They have been read in the world by civilized man for the last five thousand years, and they have never become old. They are ever fresh to the learned scholars and devotees, and even by daily repetition of the verses of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, there is no satiation for devotees…” (SB 3.5.7 purport)

Indeed, any literature devoid of the Lord’s glories, however decoratively composed, is likened to tad vayasam tirtham—a place for pilgrimage for crows, whereas literature describing the Lord’s glories, however imperfectly composed, is described as tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo—“a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution (viplavah) in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilization”, and which is “heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest”. (SB 1.5.10-11)

Perpetuating his own spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thākura’s mood and mission, Srila Prabhupāda started the Back to Godhead magazine, as early as 1944.

“From his front room at 6 Sita Kanta Banerjee, Abhay conceived, wrote, edited, and typed the manuscript for a magazine. He designed a logo, a long rectangle across the top of the page. In the upper left-hand corner was a figure of Lord Caitanya, effulgent with rays of light like rays from the sun. In the lower right were silhouettes of a crowd of people, in darkness but groping to receive light from Lord Caitanya. And between Lord Caitanya and the people, the title unfurled like a banner-BACK TO GODHEAD. In the lower right corner was a picture of Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati seated at his writing, looking up thoughtfully as he composed. Above the logo ran the motto "Godhead is Light, Nescience is Darkness. Where there is Godhead there is no Nescience." Below the logo were the following lines:

EDITED & FOUNDED

(Under the direct order of His Divine Grace

Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada)

By Mr. ABHAY CHARAN DE.” (Srila Prabhupāda Lilamrita, Volume 1)

As repeatedly emphasized in Srila Prabhupada’s letters through the years, the subject matter and mission of the Back to Godhead magazine was clear—pure, uncompromising presentation of Krsna consciousness meant for bringing about exactly the kind of revolution (viplavah) that SB 1.5.11 speaks of.

“Unfortunately, the present day human civilization is very much attracted with the beauty of Apara Prakrti the illusory material Nature and as such they are overpowered by a demoniac form of propensity in the atheistic set up of civilization manifested in the matter of sense gratification. This tendency is dangerously

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harmful to the real progress of life. The aim of life should be to make a sincere effort to go "Back to Godhead'' but contrary to this, the tendency is to go back to hell or in the cycle of evolutionary animal life as it is described in the 16th chapter of Bhagavad-gita…Believe me or not, I have got the clue of going "Back to Godhead'' just after leaving my present material body and in order to take along with me all my contemporary men and women of the world, I have started my paper "Back to Godhead'' as one of the means to the way.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of Indian Union—Delhi, 21 November, 1956)

“Now the policy should be straight that this Back to Godhead is completely different from all other magazines. As there are different magazines for different subject matters, this magazine will be simply devoted for Vaisnava philosophy, or Krishna Consciousness movement. That should be our policy.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Rayarama—Los Angeles, 22 February, 1969)

“Keep them simple and Krishna Conscious, avoiding too much bending to the public taste, but if they are appropriate to current problems, then it is nice proposal…Actually, people are seeking after transcendental reading matter more and more, so if we stick to our standard, as I have given you, then there is no doubt they will come to read our magazines in great numbers. Now make it very attractive, with our KC subject matter as you have outlined, and our BTG will be very much in demand, without further changes. I have seen one Christian newspaper which is trying to attract the readers by resort to fashionable phrases and materialistic themes of mass public interest—simply because they have not got any real substance for attracting, they offer what they think the public might like, such as sex, crimes, amusements, like that. That is not our method. We have got such stock of real substance that alone it is sufficient to capture the readers, without such ordinary tricks and commercial formulas.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Satsvarupa—Bombay, 17 December, 1971)

And since the Back to Godhead was thus meant to deal with the topmost subject matter in existence, Srila Prabhupada desired it to be of sterling quality in every respect—from content to presentation to aesthetics.

“I thank you very much for your letter…along with the two magazines. These are very excellent both in appearance and in reading matter. This should be the standard of our Back To Godhead.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Rayarama—San Francisco, 2 April, 1969)

“I wish to express to you how pleased I am with the layout and design of the magazine. I have been especially admiring the pictures in the story of our Los Angeles center, and the way the pictures are placed and the use of the color throughout the magazine is very pleasing to me…Try to keep up this present standard and think of new ways to make it always fresh and attractive. Krsna is all attractive and evergreen, and you must use your talent to layout the magazine so that Krsna appears in print as He is.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Indra-pramada—Rome, 25 May, 1974)

Thus Srila Prabhupada established the Back to Godhead magazine as one of his foremost instruments in facilitating his viplavah, the Krsna consciousness revolution that Srila Prabhupāda spread all over the world, following the mood and mission of his own spiritual master. Often referring to it as “the backbone” of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada desired it to be published and distributed in countless numbers throughout the world and rival the world’s leading magazines in quality, status and popularity.

“This Back to Godhead will always remain the backbone of the society because more the magazine is popular the more society becomes popular. So your ambition should always be how to improve the quality of the paper so that it may be read by all respectable persons.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Rayarama—San Francisco, 30 January, 1967)

“The recent editions of BTG is very much encouraging to me. The standard should be maintained and improved so that one day it may come on the level of such magazines as Life, Time etc.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Brahmananda—Calcutta, 18 November, 1967)

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“BTG is my life and soul. Please therefore try to distribute BTG as many as it is possible…I wish to see that this magazine is published and distributed in the American way like "Readers Digest'', "Life'' etc., published in millions and distributed all over the world. Actually the position of BTG should be more important than any mundane magazine because it contains the quintessence of human necessities.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Gurudasa—Los Angeles, 16 April, 1970)

“I still remember the hardship for pushing on this BTG. In the beginning, when I was householder, I did not care if somebody paid or not paid; I used to distribute liberally. But when I left my household life and I was living alone sometimes in Vrndavana and sometimes in Delhi or sometimes travelling for pushing on BTG, they were very hard days. Therefore, when BTG will be published not in hundreds of thousands, but in millions, that will give me great solace.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Madhudvisa—Los Angeles, 14 April, 1970)

“Actually we want that BTG be printed in every major language and distributed all over the world so that there is no language barrier in taking to our movement.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Citsukhananda—Bombay, 25 March, 1971)

Of the purposes of ISKCON formulated by Srila Prabhupāda, the seventh and concluding purpose states:

(G) With a view towards achieving the aforementioned Purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.

This concluding purpose thus contains the means to achieve all the preceding purposes. In a humble attempt to participate in serving this concluding purpose of ISKCON, the ISKCON Education Ministry started the Viplavah journal in 2017, focusing on education in ISKCON—which, significantly, forms the very first purpose of ISKCON:

(A) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

Carrying the title “Viplavah” or revolution, signifying the spiritual revolution that SB 1.5.11 speaks of and which Srila Prabhupada spread throughout the world with his Krsna consciousness movement, this journal aspires to follow the same guidelines, instructions and vision that Srila Prabhupāda gave for the Back to Godhead magazine, and thus attempt to produce journals on this most important aspect of ISKCON—education. We humbly seek the blessings of all the Vaisnavas that these journals might be a pleasing offering to Srila Prabhupada and his mission.

REPORTS FROM REGIONAL REPSReport from Zonal Secretary – North America.

I am pleased to report on the various of activities of educational initiatives in North America including shastric education and kids’ education. Ministry of Education leadership team in North America are meeting regularly by conference call and adopting the principles of growth and standardization for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. The annual conference planned in June in Alachua got cancelled at the last minute due to some unavoidable circumstances and the next conference is planned in the Fall 2019. However, Gopi Gita DD of Houston spearheaded a meeting of the organizers of Sunday School curriculum in Orlando during this planned time and the Orlando temple is facilitating the Prasdam. The main objective is to build a standard curriculum for the Sunday school across ISKCON.

Balimardana Das has taken several steps for organizing shastric study in North America such as the course curriculum of Bhakti Shastri, Bhakti Vaibhava etc. He has analyzed three dimensional aspects of the educational platform such as the Mayapur Institute portal, Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha portal and Radhadesh curriculum. We are trying to integrate the options so upcoming students may avail of them for sharpening their understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s Siddhanta.

He is also developing a dashboard and process framework for the approval by the teacher’s community in the North America zone, and integrated several more teachers into the fold of the Ministry structure.

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Hanumatpreshaka Maharaj has been supportive in all the initiatives and especially working on integrating American shastic studies with the Vidyapitha program in India, and the testing systems being developed by the Board of Examinations. For those who are interested we are looking at a Shastric studies symposium in Houston or Nashville in August or September.

Ram Giridhari Prabhu has supplied the North American shastric studies certificate holder info, however the contact info is needed to integrate them in supporting the Ministry.

Ys

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Report from Zonal Secretary – Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador

Four months ago we started the ISKCON Ministry of Education representation service for Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. This responsibility entails a great challenge, not only geographical. It is necessary and important to make known the Ministry's interest in regional education, its perspectives, procedures, tools and materials. On the other hand, many of the local programs carried out in recent decades, have been developed in isolation, meeting the demand of the different congregations without articulation or feedback. With the purpose of promoting this interconnection, there have been organized in Lima, Peru, meetings, talks and seminars that generate a dialogue and offer efficient channels of communication.

As we write we in the first of several days of symposia on education in Chosika, Peru, near Lima. Their Holinesses Hanumatpresaka Swami and Purusotraya Swami as well as about fifty prominent educators from the region have joined. The result has been incredible:

Philosophy of education, Childhood education, Education in the ancient Orient, Rural, varna-ashrama, development, Learning to chant.

In a few days, we will travel to Cochabamba, Bolivia, to replicate the Peruvian model. In December, we will do the same in Ecuador. This is the first step: connect and interconnect, with the idea of learning from each other. The work is abundant and, at the same time, stimulating, so we pray the blessings of Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda and the Vaisnavas to develop this work.

Your servant

Gandharva das

THE W.R.I.T.E. SERVICE: Five Reasons To Write In Devotional ServiceBy Chaitanya Charan das

Recently, I was asked by the editor of Viplavah, H. H. Hanumatpreshaka Swami, to write on the topic of why disciples should write when Srila Prabhupada has already written so much. I responded to him that I can only present this topic descriptively, explaining why I write – not normatively, why it is right for Srila Prabhupada’s followers write, and certainly not prescriptively, how such writing should be done. He kindly agreed. Accordingly, I share here a condensed version of an article I had written about how writing can be a devotional service.

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"Realization means you should write. Every one of you. What is your realization? What for this BACK TO

GODHEAD is? You write your realization—what you have realized about Krishna. That is required.”(Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Sri Brahma-samhita, Los Angeles, 14 August 1972)

For nearly two decade, my most important service to Krishna has been writing. Over these years, by Krishna’s mercy, I have written 25 books, some 500 articles, and many personal journal entries. Also, for nearly a decade, I have been writing a daily 300-word meditation on the Bhagavad-gita at www.gitadaily.com.

Why do I write?

I can summarize it through a five word acronym – WRITE: Worship, Realization, Introspection, Therapy, and Explanation.

Worship

Sva-karmana tam abhyarca: “By your prescribed work, worship Him.” (Bhagavad-gita 18.46)

For me, writing is first and foremost a way of worshiping Krishna. We may normally associate worship with the service of the Deity of Krishna in the Temple, but the Bhagavad-gita broadens our understanding of worship, thereby showing how a broad spectrum of activities can become forms of worship.

Writers live in words. So naturally words are the means by which devotee writers strive to worship Krishna. Just as pujaris (priests) worship Krishna in Deity form, devotee writers try to worship Krishna in the form of His message. Just as the pujaris beautify the Deity with choice arrangements of flowers and various other decorations, devotee writers try to beautify Krishna’s message with choice arrangements of words and various figures of speech.

Realization

“Never mind two lines, four lines, but you write your realization.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Shri Brahma-samhita, Los Angeles, 14 August 1972)

Practically realizing the knowledge given in the scriptures is a challenge for all aspiring devotees. Realization essentially means accepting in one’s heart the reality of that which the scriptures declare to be true. All realizations come due to Krishna’s mercy and many of them come as epiphanies, so their arrival may not seem to be in our hands. But we can certainly prepare our inner ground for their arrival by thinking deeply about the scriptural truths that we wish to realize. And writing is one of the most compelling ways to force ourselves to think seriously.

Introspection

“A pure devotee can distinguish between the bhakti creeper and a mundane creeper, and he is very alert to distinguish them and keep them separate.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 19.159, purport)

In this section of the Caitanya-caritamrita Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu equates the growth of devotion in the heart with the growth of a creeper in a garden. Just as weeds may grow in the garden and choke the growth of a creeper, non-devotional desires may grow in the heart and choke the growth of devotional desires. We need to watchfully nourish our devotional desires and uproot non-devotional ones.

In trying to be “very alert to distinguish them,” as Srila Prabhupada instructs, I have found writing a personal diary an invaluable, even indispensable, tool. It has helped me repeatedly in locating, isolating, and extirpating unwanted desires. Soberingly enough, it has also helped me discover how many more non-devotional desires I still have to get rid of.

Therapy

“Constant thought of the Lord is the antiseptic method for keeping oneself free from the infectious contamination of the material qualities.” (Bhagavatam 3.1.32, purport)

In our inner war against our weaknesses, if we note down the ideas, insights, and inspirations that worked in the past – and the emotions we went through while deploying them – then those notes become our readymade weapons for

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future inner battles. Of course, when I mention things that have worked, I refer not to things we have concocted through writing, but to things we have taken from the scriptural tradition, the potency of which we have discovered and preserved through our writing.

This kind of writing is therapeutic in the sense that it helps us standardize, at least partially, the therapies we can use when the maladies of non-devotional emotions afflict us. All these therapies gravitate around helping us to find a way of remembering Krishna that is practically and potently transformational. By helping to thus transform our consciousness, this form of writing assists our inner healing.

Explanation

“They [the students of Krishna consciousness] must present their assimilation in their own words.” (Srila Prabhupada, in a letter to Brahmananda, 1 July 1969)

We now return to another external reason to write, that for many is the only reason to write: sharing our faith through written explanation. The written word has no equal as a tool for structured, reasoned, and refined communication of thoughts. The message of Krishna consciousness encompasses the richest revelations of the highest manifestation of God and the sweetest ruminations of His greatest devotees. Writing is a precious and pivotal way of making this divine legacy available to the whole world. No wonder then that the acaryas of our tradition – Srila Prabhupada especially – have toiled tirelessly to make that legacy accessible through their profound and profuse writings.

At the same time, every generation has its own ethos (way of thinking or valuing things), paradigm (way of looking at the world), and idiom (way of speaking). For a tradition to stay alive and vibrant in any particular generation, it needs to re-present itself in ways that are sensitive, relevant, and appealing to that generation. Making that re-.presentation through the written word is the responsibility of devotee writers of each generation. Srila Prabhupada points to this need in the quote that began this section.

Writing for their generation, devotee writers strive to explain the eternal message of Krishna consciousness in contextual terms and to address the prevalent preconceptions that impede their audience from understanding it. Thus they try to remove the obstacles that block their generation’s vision of the beauty of Krishna. Nothing gives such writers greater fulfillment than the knowledge that their intellectual sweat has softened the way for even one soul to return to Krishna.

To conclude, Krishna deserves the best of everything at all times. So He deserves the best writers in our generation too. The opportunity to become a part of my generation’s literary offering to Krishna has been my life’s greatest privilege. I pray, dream, and strive to cherish and relish this honor till the last day of my life.

KOLLEGE AND KRSNABy Sugopi-radha Devi Dasi

śrī-prahrāda uvācakaumāra ācaret prājño

dharmān bhāgavatān ihadurlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janmatad apy adhruvam arthadam

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life — in other words, from the tender age of childhood — to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements. The human body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful because in human life one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give one complete perfection.

Janaki’s parents were in a dilemma. Was her mother supposed to continue working at Intel as an Electrical Engineer, or resign and tend to her one-year old?

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Janaki was born to devotee parents residing in the United States. Her parents worked at the local division Intel. However, both of them wanted to raise Janaki to become a genuine devotee. For the first year of her life, her grandparents took care of her, but once they left, it was time for her parents to decide on what their parenting strategy would be.

Janaki’s mother had to choose between her career ambitions, and raising Janaki as a devotee. She knew she couldn’t do both. Ultimately she arrived at the conclusion that bringing out the dormant Krishna Consciousness in her daughter was not only a greater service but also her duty as a mother. In-spite of many offers at her workplace, Janaki’s mother quit her job.

Janaki was homeschooled starting at age three. Worshipping her Gaura-Nitai deities, chanting the Holy Names, dressing her Krishna Balarama dolls, meditating on upcoming festivals and distributing books constituted most of her day. Studying and playing with her friends filled the rest. Primary importance was always placed on instilling devotion into her, not materialism. Socializing occurred through preaching and participating in Sunday and Temple Festivals.

Like many other Indian-American born kids, by the time Janaki was ten, her test scores revealed that she could study in college. College was a better option than high-school because she could present herself freely as a devotee, not conform to societies teenage norms. Janaki started attending a local university part time. It was quite an eye-opener, adults in the same class. She noticed how people took continuous shelter of caffeine, coffee and bottled drinks, to keep themselves alert. Tama-guna was so prominent. It was a different world.

The only way she could go out and not get influenced was by preaching in some way or other. Whenever there was any chance, she used to share Prasada with classmates and professors. Inviting them to Temple festivals, some attended often. Though Janaki experienced considerable joy when she met with success in her Prasadam distribution, she also understood that some people may not have been ready for it. Some professors were extremely doubtful of Prasadam and even gave her a hard time in her coursework. She passed through those tough times by simply taking shelter of the all attractive Sri Krishna.

One of her courses was titled “Moral Problems in Society.” Various issues were discussed including abortion. Janaki was the only one in the class of thirty who opposed the idea of killing babies in-utero. She produced solid arguments and alternatives. Through this experience, she realized how textbooks can shape the brains of students into the ideas that authors want to promulgate. She was amazed at how people do not know that life exists from day-one in the womb. Fighting for Dharma, she was encouraged to do it again.

Another discussion was compassion for furry people. The professor and some others were inclined to vegetarianism. As a part of her promotion of nonviolence she took some crispy Pakoras to class. Everyone enjoyed them regardless of their beliefs about animal rights.

As with the issue of abortion, most students did not realize that animals were also people. She walked them through the thought process. It made a positive impact on many.

In addition to verbally advocacy of good moral conduct, Janaki also interjected her perspective in written assignments. Once, she wrote a paper on chastity: A wife must not blindly obey the husband but help him to walk on the path of righteousness. Though the quality of her writing was excellent, the professor was not impressed with the content, and gave her a “C.” His defense was that chastity only means not having extramarital relations. Janaki felt there was a limit in how far she could convey Vedic ideas. She was learning to communicate them in a less confrontational manner to slowly influence her circle.

One of her writing teachers was extremely impressed by her sincerity and work ethic, and commented that she had a strong positive influence on the class - always keep in mind that we give our association to others, but don’t take dangerous association. This was only possible by strong Sadhana.

A commitment to daily Japa, helped her to stay tough in the modern American atmosphere where there is continuous bombardment from various philosophies and allurements to violate regulative principles. The little strength she had

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accumulated over the years, serving Gaura Nitai at home, associating with devotees, weighed in. The Krishna conscious upbringing makes for focus, attention and excellence.

Will sweet Janaki walk in the big procession to take her diploma from the hand of the President of the University. Will she go down in history as an excellent historian, writer, wife, mother? Watch for future articles and be amazed.

LITTLE KRSNA KIDS

Lil’ Krishna Kidz – Annual Festival

San Francisco Bay AreaLil’ Krishna Kidz is a spiritual enrichment program that offers Krishna Conscious teaching and activities to kids in a fun-filled atmosphere. Lil’ Krishna Kidz was started in the San Franciso Bay Area, California, USA in May 2011 under the able guidance of H. H. Hanumatpreshaka Maharaja and H.G. Vaisesika Prabhu. These children are in 3-11 year age group. In the past year, total number individual enrollments exceeded hundreds of kids and this unique program designed to present rich Vedic cultural & moral values to children is being very much appreciated by Bay Area parents. Classes are conducted every weekend at several locations – Milpitas, San Jose, Fremont, Pleasanton, Dublin and Cupertino, California.

The anniual program was conducted at the Centreville High school, Fremont and many contests were conducted on May 19th 2019 to inspire devotion in the heart of the kids. Coloring contents, Art, Lego and drama, Bhajans and Fancy dress as well as quiz contests. Many kids love to come and participate in the contests with the mood of serving Lord Krishna. The delicious Prasadam was amazing and both parents and grand-parents love it and the fanfare of the event. INDTV US covered the entire program and published the same in their TV program.

The vision of the organizing committee and the dedicated efforts of the teachers made the annual festival Lil’ Krishna Kidz Festival a grand success. We would like to offer the results from this program to Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohana, to Sriman Mahaprabhu, to Sr Sri Laxmi Narasimha-deva (presiding deities at ISKCON Silicon Valley temple) & to Srila Prabhupada. We always humbly pray to all the Vaisnavas (especially to H.H. Hanumatpreshaka Maharaj & H.G. Vaisesika Prabhu) and all our leaders in ISKCON, so that by their mercy we may be able to conduct such programs throughout the year and also expand it rapidly all over the Bay Area.

Readers can email their comments, suggestions or questions to info@bc4he.org. Please also visit our website at www.bc4he.org for more details. Hare Krishna.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/186857134704890/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/186857134704890/photos/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/indtvusa/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2207510809286580

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLDSpanish Language Journal

Jayam, the Spanish language journal of the Ministry is coming out with three issues a year with excellent articles. It is available at;

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https://www.niosnimbus.org/p/jayam.html

https://www.niosnimbus.org/p/archives-resources.html

GBC College

Latin America

The second residential of the Zonal Supervisor Course in Latin America was recently concluded in Campina Grande, Brazil.  The students who attended are active in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Mexico, Puerto Rico, etc.  

Special gratitude to HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja, one of the GBC College’s trustees, who traveled to Brazil to present courses and intimate remembrances of Srila Prabhupada. 

Many thanks to HH Hridayananda Maharaja who taught, online and live, ISKCON Sociology. Special thanks to HH Jayapataka Maharaja who come online for some 30 minutes and who donated 4,000

US dollars to make this program a reality. There are many others to whom we are very grateful: HH Dhanvantari Maharaja, who hosted the residential and also taught.  HH Purusatraya Maharaja, who presented a four-lesson course on preaching Krishna consciounsness. HG Bal Govinda Prabhu, who traveled from India to teach several courses.  The main organizers of the event: HG Devakinandanda Prabhu, HG Mitravinda Devi, Ekanath Gaura

Prabhu, HG Yugala Lila, the main organizers of the event.

As the participants complete their online courses and graduate, some of them are expected to be nominated to become Zonal Supervisors, perhaps as early as the October GBC meetings.

Central Asia.  

In Almaty, Kazakhstan, the GBC College for Leadership Development conducted the first residential session of the Zonal Supervisor Course for the ISKCON leaders of Central Asia. 

Devotees from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan attended the seven-day event – May 6-12 – organized by HG Dayavan Prabhu and HG Mahendra Prabhu, both graduates of the Russian edition of the GBC College.

Many thanks to the local GBCs HH BB Govinda Maharaja and HG Caitanya Candra Caran Prabhu for encouraging and supporting the training, and for giving their association to the devotees.

As usual, the GBC College’s President, HG Rupanuga Prabhu has been active in the background to define curriculums and standards. 

ISKCON Central Asia has experienced and is experiencing its share of persecutions and restrictions from various governments. In the region three temples have been demolished and a number of other limitations on practicing and spreading Krishna consciousness are in place. It’s therefore a special honor and privilege to be of service to these stalwart, determined Vaisnavas. 

 HG Gaura Krishna Prabhu, member of the GBC Organizational Development Committee and BBT manager for Russia opened the session with a two-day course on the challenges of the first four generations of leadership in a religious movement, which was an eye-opener for the devotees. 

I then presented a number of lessons on strategic planning, system thinking, samanvaya (harmonizing apparently contradicting statements), stages of organizational development, seven levels of leadership, key leadership principles manifested by Srila Prabhupada, etc.

We also had the special participation of HG Mandakini Devi, the first Srila Prabhupada’s disciple to move to Russia from the West (France). 

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Part of the course will be the participation of the Central Asia devotees in the ILS 2020, to imbue their educational experience with a richer global flavor and direct association with more GBC members and other leaders. (Special gratitude to HG Gopal Bhatta Prabhu who offered to pay the ILS fee for up to twenty devotees from Central Asia, in case they can't afford it.)

Your servant, Kaunteya das

CALENDAR OF EVENTSJune 27–30 th 2019 - 6th Annual ISKCON North America Education Conference, New Raman Ret-dhama – Alachua, Florida. This year’s conference is being rescheduled but individual Sunday School teachers and organizers are still meeting.

July 13-14 th 2019 – Krishna Home School Convention, ISKCON Chicago. http://iskconchicago.com/krishna-homeschool-convention/.

October 15 th – December 15 th 2019 - Education and the Sacred in Peru and Chile. Organized by NIOS. Watch their web-page for more details. www.niosnimbus.org.

Jan 17-20 th 2020 - Bhaktivedanta Medical Association 6th Annual Conference, ISKCON Houston, Texas. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/ISKCONBMA/ for updates.

Feb 7-11 th 2020 – MOE Annual Meeting Mayapura, Tentative Date pending much planning.

NEXT ISSUEDear Educators,

The next issue of Viplavah always focuses on higher education in its relationship with ISKCON. Our aim is to report on higher education broadly conceived—secular university education, colleges within ISKCON, advanced research projects, career and vocational training, aspects of secondary education that relate to higher education, academic conferences, book publishing, and more. We invite articles on all these topics as they relate to ISKCON.

Please send us short academic articles, book announcements, recent conference reports, project updates, and position papers on interesting ideas related to higher education. For the next issue, we already have a commitment from Krishna Kshetra Swami (Dr. Kenneth Valpey) for an overview of his soon-to-be-published academic study of cow care within Hinduism. We already see in this issue an exemplary article from Sugopi Radha dd about a devotee’s experience studying at a public university. We will also share an update from Dina Dayal Dasa on the Alfred Ford School of Management in Belgium.

Please send all submissions to me at ravigupta108@yahoo.com . Thank you!

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