Bhakti-Vrksa Preaching Workshop

Bhakti-vrksaPreaching Workshop

Student Handbook

Bhakti-vrksa Preaching Workshop

Course Schedule

Day One - Underlying Principles

Lesson 1 - 7 Purposes of ISKCON and Congregational Development

Lesson 2 - Principles of Congregational Preaching

Lesson 3 - Training Culture

Lesson 4 - Caring Culture

Day Two - The Bhakti-vrksa Program

Lesson 5 - What Makes a Real Bhakti-vrksa Group?

Lesson 6 - Starting the Bhakti-vrksa Program; the Structure

Lesson 7 - The Broad Strategy (part 1)

Lesson 8 - The Broad Strategy (part 2)

Day Three - Facilitating the Weekly Meeting

Lesson 9 - The Bhakti-vrksa Group Servant-leader

Lesson 10 - The Six Parts of the Weekly Meeting

Lesson 11 - Facilitating the Discussion (part 1)

Lesson 12 - Facilitating the Discussion (part 2)

Day Four - Interpersonal Skills

Lesson 13 - Improving Relations

Lesson 14 - Leadership and Delegation

Lesson 15 - Listening Skills (part 1)

Lesson 16 - Listening Skills (part 2)

Day Five - Various Related Subjects

Lesson 17 - The Sunday Feast and its Potential

Lesson 18 - The Siksa Program; Financial Matters

Lesson 19 - Car Park

Lesson 20 - Course Completion

My Main Expectations

We are at the beginning of the course. Consider your objectives and expectations: why are you attending? What do you hope to get out of this course? What would you like to be able to do by the end of the course?

By the end of the course I would like to be able to:

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Principles of Congregational Preaching

Seven Purposes of the

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Srila Prabhupada enunciated these purposes of ISKCON when he incorporated the Society, in July 1966.

Please write in front of each purpose how u’ve adopted it in your life and how to achieve it practically

1.To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to the society at large and to educate all people 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.

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2.To propagate consciousness of Krishna as it is revealed in the Bhagavad-gita and in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3.To bring the members of the Society together with one another and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and thus develop the idea within the members and humanity at large that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).

4.To teach and encourage the Sankirtana movement of congregational chanting of the holy names of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

5.To erect for the members and for the society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the Personality of Krishna.

6.To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.

7.With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.

Selected Quotations

(Lord Caitanya said) “I am the only gardener. How many places can I go? How many fruits can I pick and distribute?”

Here Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu indicates that the distribution of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra should be performed by combined forces.

…All classes of devotees should combine to distribute the Hare Krsna maha-mantra without consideration of the time, place or situation.

“Therefore I order every man within this universe to accept this Krsna consciousness movement and distribute it everywhere.”

– Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 9.34 & 36

yare dekha, tare kaha `krsna'-upadesa

amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa

(Lord Caitanya told the brahmana Kurma) "Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in Bhagavad-gita and Srtmad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land."

This is the sublime mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Many people come and inquire whether they have to give up family life to join the Society, but that is not our mission. One can remain comfortably in his residence. We simply request everyone to chant the maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. If one is a little literate and can read Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Srimad- Bhagavatam, that is so much the better.

…The Krsna consciousness movement is trying to elevate human society to the perfection of life by pursuing the method described by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His advice to the brahmana Kurma. That is, one should stay at home, chant the Hare Krsna mantra and preach the instructions of Krsna as they are given in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. –Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 7.128

At whosoever’s house Sri Caitanya accepted His alms by taking prasada, He would convert the dwellers to His sankirtana movement and advise them just as He advised the brahmana named Kurma.

The cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is explained here very nicely. One who surrenders to Him and is ready to follow Him with heart and soul does not need to change his location. Nor is it necessary for one to change status. One may remain a householder, a medical practitioner, an engineer or whatever. It doesn’t matter. One only has to follow the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and instruct relatives and friends in the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

–Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 7.130

The temple center is started just to present example to the neighboring residents how they can make a small temple in each and every home. It is not necessary that hundreds and thousands of people will live in our temple, but if we can make effective propaganda, then the neighboring residents, householders, will be inclined to be initiated and follow the modes of temple life. -Srila Prabhupada’s letter, 1 June, 1969

...My request to you is that you enter into the universities and colleges wherever possible and preach there with a view to recruiting some first-class devotees for helping me manage and push on this movement all over the world.

...The secret will be to engage them as they like to be engaged, that is, supposing I have got some education, I am business student, or I have got some skill or talent, I am typist or musician or something like that, so I will like to utilize these things for Krishna only if I am encouraged in a certain way, very tactfully, and I must not be discouraged by too much forcing me at first to accept everything of shaving the head, rising very early, going for street sankirtana, like that. No, let me come gradually, let me study also Krishna Consciousness and see how it is practical and sublime.

-Srila Prabhupada's letter, 13 December, 1972

We want every house to be a temple, not that our place should be the only place for the people to come. No, this should be the process: that they learn at our place, then establish the same thing at home."

-Srila Prabhupada's letter, 14April, 1972

Immediately, a person cannot be renounced, therefore gradually, step by step. So unless there is proper training... Now just like we are selling millions copies of these books, they are reading, and how many of them coming forward? So it requires training. Training is essential to make them Krsna conscious.

-Srila Prabhupada, evening darsana, Bombay, 14 August , 1976
Training Culture Survey

Please answer the following questions according to your personal experience and understanding.

Upon joining ISKCON (if you weren’t born in a family of devotees), how much did you feel your training and education was a priority for your direct authorities? Tick what applies:

r I felt that my training was a top priority for my direct authorities.

r My authorities cared about my training, but I feel they should have

cared more.

r My training was somewhat neglected by my direct authorities.

r My authorities seriously neglected my training.

r Other (please specify) ………………………………………………

What are the two main consequences that could result from neglecting training of temple devotees?

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What are the two main consequences that could result from implementing a more systematic training of temple devotees?

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What are the two main consequences that could result from neglecting training of congregational devotees?

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What are the main two consequences that could result from implementing a more systematic training of congregational devotees?

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What are the two main obstacles in establishing a culture of systematic training in ISKCON?

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What should be done to overcome the above two obstacles?

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What can we conclude from these considerations on training?

What principle can we learn?

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“…Now we have got so many students and so many temples but I am fearful that if we expand too much in this way that we shall become weakened and gradually the whole thing will become lost. Just like milk. We may thin it more and more with water for cheating the customer, but in the end it will cease to be any longer milk. Better to boil the milk now very vigorously and make it thick and sweet, that is the best process. So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always, and in so many ways instruct them in the right propositions.”

-Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Hamsaduta, 22nd June, 1972

“Now I want that we shall concentrate on making our devotees Krishna conscious and ourselves becoming Krishna conscious, and not be so much concerned with expanding ourselves widely but without any spiritual content. Just like boiling the milk, it becomes thicker and sweeter. Now do like that, boil the milk.”

-Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Rupanuga, 9th May, 1977

Characteristics of Caring

Ways of Showing Care

DAY 1What Did I Learn Today?

We are at the end of the first day. Please reflect on the day’s experiences and write down your personal conclusions and feelings.

What did I learn today?

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How what I learned today could influence the way I think about preaching Krishna consciousness?

How what I learned today will influence the way I see congregational devotees?

Of what I heard today, what I want to practically apply in my life?

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DAY 2

Bhakti-vrksa Groups / Non Bhakti-vrksa Groups
Trained group leader, having clear duties and responsibilities / No specific leader, or spontaneous leadership. No clear duties and responsibilities
The leader is accompanied by a trainee-leader / No trainee-leader
The group multiplies into two upon reaching 15 members / The group doesn’t multiply, but grows (when it grows) indefinitely
All the members are encouraged to systematically engage in preaching / The members don’t preach or it is not an organized effort: it is left to the individual’s inspiration
In the weekly meeting the group has a ‘discussion’, and everyone participates / In the meetings there is a ‘lecture’: someone talks and everyone else listens
In the meetings there is one section dedicated to preaching reports and plans. / In the meetings there is no such section
The group is part of a structure, and is visited and supervised by a sector-servant / Supervision is lacking or is sporadic. There is no structure
The group regularly reports its activities to higher authorities / No reporting system
A personal guide is assigned for every new member / There is no such concept, everyone is more or less on his own
There is an ongoing effort to generate more leaders / Often the group functions only if a temple devotee gets involved

The Team Spirit of Flying Geese

Fact 1: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock provides 71% better flying range than alone.

Lesson: The power of the collective. People who share a common direction and a sense of community can get there quicker and easier, traveling on the thrust of each other.

Fact 2: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it immediately feels the drag and quickly gets back into the draft of the nearest goose.

Lesson: If we had as much sense as a goose, we would stay in formation with those who are heading where we want to go.

Fact 3: Sometimes the leading goose gets tired and rotates back into formation for another to take over.

Lesson: Share and delegate leadership. A leader should see as his/her duty to grow others into leaders, not be preoccupied that his/her position could be endangered.

Fact 4: Geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson: We should make sure that our honking is encouraging, not discouraging.

Fact 5: Whenever a goose gets sick, wounded or shot, two geese fall out of formation to go with this one, to protect it, help it, and stay with it until it can fly again, or until it dies.

Lesson: Every team member needs support, care, and love, especially the weaker ones. When someone is in trouble we should concentrate our efforts to help him; we should not abandon or forget him.

Different Gatherings, Different Experiences

In Krsna conscious gatherings of different sizes, the individual devotee experiences different feelings, emotions and activities. Each type of gathering has its own flavor and allows distinct experiences. In this exercise we focus on small and big gatherings, what experiences are more likely or unlikely in each?

Experiences (feelings, emotions, activities, etc.) that a devotee can have in a small group (5-15 devotees) like in a Bhakti-vrksa group meetings, etc:

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Experiences (feelings, emotions, activities, etc.) missing in small groups

(5-15 devotees):

Experiences (feelings, emotions, activities, etc.) that a devotee can have in large or very large gathering like Sunday Feasts, Summer Camps, Rathayatras, a Mayapur-Vrndavana Festivals, etc.:

Experiences (feelings, emotions, activities, etc.) unlikely in large and very large gatherings:

What conclusion can you draw from the above considerations?

4 Stages in the Life of a Group

1. Form - The Get Acquainted Stage

Perhaps someone has said to you, “you aren’t a bit like I thought you were when we first met!” This is common reaction. First impressions are often based on past relationships with other people. It can take two or three sessions before group members overcome these false conclusions about each other. This is also sometimes called the “honey-moon” stage, because people enjoy their newly found comraderie.

2. Storm - The Conflict Stage

When people get to know each other in the intimacy of a small group, they often don’t like every aspect of other’s personalities. Value systems will clash. One person may talk too much; another may be insensitive; someone else may be too sensitive. After four or five sessions together, these conflicts might surface in the discussions and other areas. A “sand-papering” effect will take place. People then begin to trust each other enough to air their differences and to work through them.

If you have never been in a small group, you may find the first experience with the conflict stage a bit scary, but don’t be afraid! Gently guide the group, letting the participants share deeply. The members will resolve these differences. The result is dramatic! The group’s identity will be established and commitment to the group will occur.

3. Conform - The Community Stage

The conflict stage is followed by a meaningful period in which the members find an identity and stability as a group. There is also risk at this point: because the group has found meaningful relationships, it may decide it wants to close itself off to remain undisturbed. If this is permitted, the group might become selfish, stop the missionary work of outreach, and become stagnant.

4. Perform- The Outreach Stage

The Bhakti-vrksa group exists to practice and share Krishna consciousness. Some however will feel more enthusiastic to preach once the group goes beyond the third stage.

Reflection on Day Two

What is the most important thing I learned today?

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What steps I am willing to take to apply the principles covered today?

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What are the main obstacles I am likely to face in trying to implement such principles?

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Any other comments or realizations?

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DAY 3

The six parts of weekly meeting:

Kirtan / Vaisnava Song : first 10 mins

Sloka recitaton / Offering prayers:5 mins

Siddhanta Topic: 60 min – 80 min

VMML Topic / Quiz Solving: 30 min – 50 min

THOUGHT on Holy Name, chanting japa or Ending Kirtans 10 mins

ANNOUNCEMENTS: upcoming events, homework, special

achievements, service allocation, B’days, preaching discuss5 mins

Sample Questions for the 3 Phases of Discussion

Below are examples of questions that could be asked in the three different phases of the discussion. Some will apply to the verse under scrutiny, others will not. One should always try to find stimulating questions directly based on the subject at hand.