The document discusses ways to overcome challenges in facilitating the six kinds of loving exchanges between devotees. It suggests providing structured training programs to educate devotees for preaching. It recommends pairing brahmacharis and grihasthas to conduct preaching programs. It stresses the importance of regular association with senior devotees for spiritual nourishment. It advises creating policies around accepting donations and eating to maintain purity and proper utilization of contributions.
The document discusses ways to overcome challenges in facilitating the six kinds of loving exchanges between devotees. It suggests providing structured training programs to educate devotees for preaching. It recommends pairing brahmacharis and grihasthas to conduct preaching programs. It stresses the importance of regular association with senior devotees for spiritual nourishment. It advises creating policies around accepting donations and eating to maintain purity and proper utilization of contributions.
The document discusses ways to overcome challenges in facilitating the six kinds of loving exchanges between devotees. It suggests providing structured training programs to educate devotees for preaching. It recommends pairing brahmacharis and grihasthas to conduct preaching programs. It stresses the importance of regular association with senior devotees for spiritual nourishment. It advises creating policies around accepting donations and eating to maintain purity and proper utilization of contributions.
The document discusses ways to overcome challenges in facilitating the six kinds of loving exchanges between devotees. It suggests providing structured training programs to educate devotees for preaching. It recommends pairing brahmacharis and grihasthas to conduct preaching programs. It stresses the importance of regular association with senior devotees for spiritual nourishment. It advises creating policies around accepting donations and eating to maintain purity and proper utilization of contributions.
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Discuss ways in which we can overcome the challenges ISKCON faces in facilitating the six kinds of
loving exchanges between devotees. Give references to Çré Upadeçämåta Text 4 and purport in your response.
Partha Prana Dasa
Dadati “Contributing or distributing the holy name of the Lord is a sublime example of contributing or giving charity”
Outreach preaching programmes
In order to facilitate good regular preaching programs across a city or town, we need well trained, educated and strong sadhaka devotees. We might have limited centers in a city, but in order to reach a larger audience we need to have these programs in the vicinity of their homes.
The challenge of training and education can be overcome by encouraging, equipping and educating devotees with structured training programs like Bhaktishastri, Bhaktivaibhav etc. along with skill enhancing courses in Singing, cooking etc. This will help devotees in attracting a diverse population and bringing them to Krishna Consciousness.
The challenge of place, logistics etc. can be overcome by Brahmacharis and Grihastas coming together in pairs and taking care of one program. Brahmachari staying in temples, maintaining purity, good grip on shastra are ideal to give the classes, whereas Grihastas also fixed in sadhana and practicing devotional principles but living and working with people from all diversities can take up the facilitation services for the program. Grihastas can gradually take up counselling services for these Grihastas as they would have developed good relationships with the families. Grihasthas taking up services in temple management, deity worship etc. will give more time to temple residents to dedicate time for these preaching programs.
Boiling the milk
In order to give spiritual nourishment to existing members of the community they need to have regular association with senior devotees. Sometimes temple congregation devotees might get busy in outreach programs and this can get neglected. In Spite of having regular Srimad Bhagavatam classes, all may not be able to attend them(especially Grihastas) due to their offices or locations. This can be overcome by having a policy on not having any preaching programs on say Sunday till lunch time and make sure all are assembled in the temple for their nourishment. Extra care can be taken to make sure the Sunday program is structured in a way that the congregation is being nourished properly. Also inviting Sanyasis and advanced devotees from time to time for these programs has to be an integral part.
Pratigrahnati
“Unless one is very advanced, he is unable to utilize everyone’s contribution to further the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement; therefore on principle one should not accept charity from the Māyāvādīs or atheists”
Guidance of advanced devotee
A temple or a center or even a small program should always run under the guidance of an advanced devotee. General donation collection happens on Janmashtami and goes to the temple directly and since the temple is run under the guidance of advanced devotees, the funds are properly channeled and utilized from the pleasure of Krishna. Small programs or individual persons may sometimes be offered some huge donations and this can lead to different challenges. We should create open policies with awareness in not accepting cash donations beyond a certain extent. This way all the funds can be properly accounted for and make sure of the proper utilization.
Guhyam Akhyati Prachati
Trust A trusted environment and culture is mandatory to facilitate these loving exchanges. Some of these exchanges become difficult when the groups are too large or very diverse. Devotees who are via medium in these aspects have to be well trained and advanced to ensure this is happening in a seamless manner.
These can be overcome by proper training and education as discussed above, but also including the courses and discussions covering these aspects. Too large and diverse groups' problems can be overcome by dividing into smaller groups (counselor groups, Bhakti Vriksha etc.). Smaller groups lead by well trained leaders should facilitate this loving exchange wonderfully.
Bhunkte, Bhunjayate Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has also warned, viṣayīra anna khāile duṣṭa haya mana: “By eating food prepared by worldly people, one’s mind becomes wicked.”
Strict policies in place for congregation devotees to not accept food in their preaching programs, they can always accept uncut fruits, which can then be offered to the Lord and accepted. Invitations of Grishsta devotees(initiated) are acceptable, but care should be taken in training that this should be done unbiased and not for the palate of food.
