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The maha cakrapatis can supervise the chakrapatis. The Mahacakrapatis can give their records to the program director and so on. The idea is to ensure that this process of maintaining records is never lost so that there is never any slackening in sadhana, which may occur due to complacency or oversight over a period of.
Moreover, when you know that others are doing it, you get doubly inspired to perform your sadhana perfectly and not be left behind. To introduce them to the concept of maintaining a record of their daily sadhana, the bhakti vrksha leaders must convene a meeting of all the devotees who are at Prabhupada Asraya and above. Any devotee who they feel is serious but not on the level of Prabhupada Asraya may be included in this, provided the candidate is also willing.
Similarly, the upacakrapatis, cakrapatis, mahacakrapatis, etc. After the initial introductory meeting there has to be regular monthly meetings to submit these records and to discuss how they could improve their sadhana from whatever standard they are following. Read out first this passage from the Nectar of Devotion, Ch. Previously, it has been stated that devotional service can be divided into three categoriesnamely devotional service in practice, devotional service in ecstasy and devotional service in pure love of God.
Now Srila Rupa Gosvami proposes to describe devotional service in practice. Practice means employing our senses in some particular type of work. Therefore devotional service in practice means utilizing our different sensory organs in service to Krishna. Some of the senses are meant for acquiring knowledge and some are meant for executing the conclusions of our thinking, feeling and willing.
So, practice means employing both the mind and the senses in practical devotional service. This practice is not for developing something artificial.
For example, a child learns or practices to walk. This walking is not unnatural. The walking capacity is there originally in the child and simply by a little practice he walks very nicely.
Similarly, devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the natural instinct of every living entity. Even uncivilized men like the aborigines offer their respectful obeisances to something wonderful exhibited by natures law and they appreciate that behind some wonderful exhibition or action there is something supreme. So this consciousness, though lying dormant in those who are materially contaminated, is found in every living entity. And, when purified, this is called Krishna consciousness.
There are certain prescribed methods for employing our senses and mind in such a way that our dormant consciousness for loving Krsna will be invoked, as much as the child, with a little practice, can begin to walk. One who has no basic walking capacity cannot walk by practice. Similarly, Krsna consciousness cannot be aroused simply by practice. Actually there When we wish to develop our innate capacity for devotional service, there are certain processes, which, by our accepting and executing them, will cause that dormant capacity to be invoked.
Such practice is called sdhana-bhakti. Every living entity under the spell of material energy is held to be in an abnormal condition of madness. In Srimad Bhagavatam it is said, Generally, the conditioned soul is mad because he is always engaged in activities which are the causes of bondage and suffering.
The spirit soul in his original condition is joyful, blissful, eternal and full of knowledge. Only by his implication in material activities has he become miserable, temporary and full of ignorance. This is due to vikarma. Vikarma means actions which should not be done. Therefore, we must practice sdhana-bhaktiwhich means to offer mangala-arati Deity Worship in the morning, to refrain from certain material activities, to offer obeisances to the spiritual master and to follow many other rules and regulations which will be discussed here one after another.
These practices will help one become cured of madness. As a mans mental disease is cured by the directions of a psychiatrist, so this sadhana-bhakti cures the conditioned soul of his madness under the spell of mya, material illusion. That is called Krishna consciousness. It is the duty of the acharya, the spiritual master, to find the ways and means for his disciple to fix his mind on Krishna.
That is the beginning of sadhana-bhakti. Sri Chaitanya Mahprabhu has given us an authorized program for this purpose, one that is centered around the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. This chanting has so much power that it immediately attaches one to Krishna. Somehow or other, one has to fix his mind on Krishna. The great saint Ambarisha maharaja, although a responsible king, fixed his mind on Krishna and similarly anyone who tries to fix his mind in this way will very rapidly make progress in successfully reviving his original Krishna consciousness.
Now this sadhana-bhakti, or practice of devotional service, may also be divided into two parts. The first part is called service. According to regulative principles one has to follow these different regulative principles by the order of the spiritual master or on the strength of authoritative scriptures, and there can be no question of refusal.
That is called vaidhi, or regulated. One has to do it without argument. Another part of sadhana-bhakti is called raganuga. Raganuga refers to the point at which, by following the regulative principles, one becomes a little more attached to Krsna and executes devotional service out of natural love. For example, a person engaged in devotional service may be ordered to rise early in the morning and offer arati, which is a form of Deity worship.
In the beginning, by the order of his spiritual master, one rises early in the morning and offers When he gets this attachment he automatically tries to decorate the Deity and prepare different kinds of dresses and thinks of different plans to execute his devotional service nicely. Although it is within the category of practice, this offering of loving service is spontaneous.
So the practice of devotional service, sadhanabhakti, can be divided into two partsnamely, regulative and spontaneous. Rupa Gosvami defines the first part of devotional practice or vaidhi-bhakti as follows: When there is no attachment or no spontaneous loving service to the Lord, and one is engaged in the service of the Lord simply out of obedience to the order of the spiritual master or in pursuance of the scriptures, such obligatory service is called vaidhi-bhakti.
These principles of vaidhi-bhakti are also described in Srimad Bhagavatam, second Canto, first chapter, verse 5, where Sukhadeva Gosvami instructs the dying Mahrja Parikshit as to his course of action.
Maharaja Parikshit met Sukhadeva Gosvami just a week before his death and the king was perplexed as to what should be done before he was to pass on. Many other sages also arrived there but no one could give him the proper direction. Sukhadeva Gosvami however, gave this direction to him which is as follows: My dear king, if you want to be fearless in meeting your death next week for actually everyone is afraid at the point of death , then you must immediately begin the process of hearing and chanting and remembering God.
If one can chant and hear Hare Krsna and always remember Lord Krsna, then he is sure to become fearless of death, which may come at any moment. Proper standards of sadhana: Note: This is a minimum program for those devotees who have a busy daily schedule either as students or as those employed. Those who have more time to spare may include more items of Aratis and pujas like Tulasi Arathi, Guru Puja, sandhya arati, bhoga arati, etc.
Ideally if one were to get up by 3. This requires that we retire to bed by 9. Srila Prabhupada said, We should not sleep more than seven hours.
Six hours at night and one hour, that is sufficient. From medical point of view, they say six hours of sleeping is sufficient, six hours Japa: Chanting 16 rounds and most preferably to finish them in the early hours of the morning by 6.
This is the Brahma muhurta hour when there are spiritual vibrations in the air, the mind is calm and peaceful and none of the activities of the day have started. Srila Prabhupada said, Chanting japa should be done early in the morning with full concentration preferably during the Brahma muhurtha time.
As early morning is the period for spiritual cultivation, the beginning of evening is the period for passion. Srila Prabhupada also emphasized that everyone can be trained to do this. Practically everything depends on practice. Abhyasa-yoga means yoga practice Practice it. So this whole Krishna conscious Just like one man can run few miles. I cannot run even one mile. He has practiced.
We see some boys, they run, run, run on. They practice. Practice it. Strength of the heart is increasing by practice.
And if I run, my heart will be palpitating. Because I have no practice. So by practice, everything can be attained. Life is short and it is so much disturbed. So how is it possible to practice? Therefore this one practice chanting Hare Krsna, and hearing- that is very nice.
And praying to Krsna, Please give me strength.. Hare, O energy of Krsna, I am fallen, I have no strength. Please accept me. Thats all. I have no qualification. I am frail,. I am trying, but I am failing.
All these appeals should be made. And Krsna is all powerful, He can do anything. In case one thinks that such injunctions are only for temple residents, Srila Prabhupada also says, The house holders are required to rise early in the morning and after bathing they should offer respects to the Deities at home by prayers. One who cannot rise early in the morning he is not spiritually serious.
That is the test. Mangala Arathi: Between 5 A. M Arati should be offered to Their Lordships to the accompaniment of Guruvashtakam and the Hare Krsna Maha mantra followed by Mangala Arathithis should take about 30 minutes. Note: It should be a standard to perform Mangala Arathi at 5 A. If due to unavoidable circumstances one is delayed in waking up, then a quick Mangala Arathi should be performed after a bath.
By keeping the Arathi items ready on the previous night one can perform the Mangala Arathi very quickly. Reading Srimad Bhagavatam: Read one verse and purport for the day. Also continue reading further for whatever time you can spare before your work schedule. Srimad Bhagavad-Gita: Read in sequence daily for however long it is possible.
Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction and Isopanishad are also included. For those starting out from the level of Prabhupada Asraya, the smaller books of Srila Prabhupada can also be included in this compulsory reading.
If on certain days one is able to read only for shorter lengths of time due to some engagement, then one needs to make up for it on other days. By maintaining a record one would be able to ensure some minimum hours of reading every week. Note: If on certain days due to unavoidable circumstances one has limited time to perform ones sadhana, then the first priority should always be towards chanting and if time permits towards performing Mangala Arati.
Reading can be adjusted during other hours of the day. As a guide, one has to exercise a lot of compassion and tolerance in guiding the members to these high standards. If one insists on the perfect standards They need to bring it with them every week when they come for the study classes to be viewed by the leader. There are ratings for their levels of performance.
Their ratings have to keep improving. If there is any slow down the leader could discuss with them what problems they were facing and try to help them overcome that. Every month one could have a meeting to discuss their progress.
Befor e to to a to am am m pm After pm x 4. One may be skeptical as to why acknowledgements and incentives are necessary for our spiritual progress when it should be voluntary and unmotivated. In reality, we are social being and the encouragement from other devotees goes a long way in helping us surrender to Krishna.
If the devotees are pleased, then Krishna must be pleased and so the new devotee finds it motivating to go up the siksha levels. There are normally no small steps or milestones of achievement for a devotee to look forward to before he takes initiation and the prospect of taking initiation may seem too far off from ones immediate vision. He then becomes goal less, so to speak, for quite a long time. The siksha levels thus designed by the Congregational Development Ministry are excellent means to fill the new devotees path with exciting frontiers to reach and cross at every step.
This ensures an almost uniform rate of spiritual growth among most of the devotees. The modules have been designed with relevant topics that leads them to the next level of siksha. In spite of this there may be some who will be reluctant to commit themselves to the next level.
Hence siksha seminars are held at the end of each module. They are very interesting, interactive and easy to conduct. While giving them all the relevant knowledge on the importance of taking up the new commitments, it discusses on how the obstacles could be overcome.
Since it is addressed to everyone, none will feel that they are being forced to accept the next level of siksha. It is also advantageous because through the seminar many of them could be spoken to all at once. They are also inspired by each others initiatives. The application forms are distributed right after the siksha seminar and the names of the candidates are taken down. A special occasion or a festival creates a memorable ambience for the certificates to be distributed to the candidates.
But it is better to regularly distribute them at the weekly Sunday programs of the temple. The important thing is to speedily distribute them, otherwise the purpose of helping them in their speedy and regulated advancement will be impeded.
As the names are called up, a brief report could be announced by the leader about the spiritual advancement, services and devotional achievements of the each of the devotees.
As they receive the siksha certificate from the senior devotee and pay their obeisances, everyone can cheer them to the accompaniment of thumping mridangas, karatalas, etc. It is a big moment for the devotees who receive those certifications, of whatever levels that they have achieved, and they will certainly look forward to more of such moments. By distributing certificates as and when somebody is ready to commit, one can give and have constant news of congregational preaching achievement during the Sunday programs.
This will enable all the different groups to look forward to distributing more and more siksha certificates and in this way everybody will be charged with the mood of preaching and showing compassion. This will thus serve the bigger purpose of a rapid development in the expansion and growth of the yatra. Please find the siksha application forms and a model of the siksha certificate for the different levels, in the following few pages. To be an active devote and to attend the Bhakti Vriksha programmes regularly, participate and associate with Krishna Conscious devotees.
To chant at least one round of Hare Krishna maha-mantra every day. To read the teachings of Lord Krishna as given in the books of Srila Prabhupada. How often do you come to the programmes in a month? How many rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra do you chant everyday?
How long does it take to chant your rounds? To be dedicated to personal improvement in devotional practice and purity by gradually applying the teachings of Srila Prabhupada under the guidance of his representatives. To accept that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To engage in practical devotional service to Lord Krishna during festivals such as Sri Krishna Janmastami etc. To chant minimum of four rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra everyday. To refrain from eating non-vegetarian food meat, fish and eggs and tries to lead a moral life.
Please answer this questionnaire and attach along with the Shiksha application. How often do you come to the programs in a month? How many Gita classes do you attend in a month? Do you accept that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
Are you willing to render practical devotional service during the festivals? I have been a vegetarian, tick the correct alternative. To be dedicated to leading a devotional way of life by gradually learning and practicing Bhakti-yoga according to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada under the guidance of his representatives 2. To study the books of Srila Prabhupada and attend the classes as often as possible atleast the weekend Bhagavad-Gita class every week 3.
To worship Sri Krishna, as far as practical in the home, by setting up an altar, offering arati and foodstuffs, worshipping the sacred Tulasi plant and following basic sadhana like rising up early in the morning. To chant eight to sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra everyday. To lead a pure holy life by avoiding intoxication alcoholic drinks and smoking , meat-eating, gambling and extra-marital sex.
To observe fasting on the Ekadasi and festival days as indicated in the Vaisnava calendar. How many Friday Srimad Bhagavatam class do you attend every month? How many rounds of the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra do you chant everyday? I have been a vegetarian, tick the correct alternative a. All my life b. Radha-Krishna b. Krishna-Balaram c.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu d. Srila Prabhupada List others, if any: e. Describe the process of offering food-stuffs to the Lord. What mantras do you chant?
What are the forbidden food items on Ekadasi day? What time do you rise in the morning? When and where do you chant most of your rounds everyday? To be dedicated to taking divine shelter of Srila Prabhupada by following the principles of Krishna Consciousness. To practice Krishna Consciousness with strong conviction. To chant a minimum of sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra everyday. To strictly avoid intoxication including coffee and tea, meat eating including onion and garlic, gambling, mundane cinema, sports and illicit sex.
To do some responsible service however simple it may be , on a regular basis. To follow a strict sadhana programme at home by rising early in the morning and following a program similar to the temple as far as possible.
Do you attend Mangala Arati everyday? How many you miss in a month? How many rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra do you chant everyday? List all the books of Srila Prabhupada that you have read cover to cover. I have been vegetarian tick the correct alternative a. According to the sastras, how does one see women other than ones wife? Who is a bonafide Guru? Why do we follow the four regulative principles?
Explain the difference between the body and the self? What are the Bhagavad-Gitas instructions with regard to the proper manner of approaching a bonafide spiritual master? Do you avoid the following?
If not, then explain why not? Describe your service connected to Krishna on a regular basis. Please write the following : a.
Srila Prabhupad pranama Mantras and A. Pancha Tattva pranama mantra: A. Objectives: At the end of the lesson the participants will be able to: Give their names for taking shelter.
Conditions: They will volunteer to commit these things. Assessment: By orally asking them at the end of the class. Preparation: For the lecture session on the Guru you can have a flip chart having all the points mentioned. Have 2 two devotees practice the following skit and enact it before the audience: This is a true episode about one of our Acharyas, Narottama dasa thakura, and how he received his initiation from his Guru Lokanatha Maharaja. Narottam: Oh when will I reach Vrindavan? It's been 3 days and nights now.
With no food and water I cannot endure the journey any longer. I hope he will accept me as his disciple Feeling his feet and crying in pain, he faints. Enter 2 two guards looking for Narottam.
Spotting Narottam they exclaim: Guard1: There he is. There he is. There is our Narottam. King Krishnananda will be too happy to have his son back. He will be so pleased with us. Guard 2: He looks so exhausted Why would he want to run away from home? A prince and the only heir to his father's throne? Such loving parents. I believe he is to be married soon too. Can't understand why he would want to run away. Narottam opens his eyes Guard1: Oh prince! What foolishness is this?
Running away from all your good fortune? There are your doting parents and you are the heir to all the wealth of this kingdom. You only need a princess to make your life complete.
This is what dreams are made up of. Why do you run away from all this? What madness is this? Narottam: Oh guards, I am just being faithful like a good wife. Guards look at each other questioningly Narottam: Like a devoted wife would want to follow her husband even up to the fire of the funeral pyre and burn with his body, I am going to enter the fire of dedication to God. And when a woman wants to show her devotion to her husband in this extreme way, it is natural that well-wishers will try to stop her.
They will not allow her to enter the fire. Guards nod their heads in consent. Narottam: So I can understand that you do not want me to enter the fire of God consciousness Guard 1: Wah! What poetic sentiments! What love you have for the Lord! Guard 2: I have never heard of anyone talk with such love for God.
Surely you are a great saint! My boy, here, take some money Guard 1: Take care my boy! All the best to you! May you reach your life's goal! And please forgive these 2 two fallen souls for being an obstacle in your way.
Falls down at his feet Narottam lifts them and embraces them. Scene 2 Lokanath Gosvami and Narottam are seen sitting together and eating. Narottam: One day I had a dream. Lord Nityananda Prabhu appeared in my dream saying that, Tomorrow as the sun begins to rise you should take your bath in the Padma river.
At that time you shall receive the totality of Gaura Prema! Ever since that day, I have not been the same. I am longing to attain the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga.
Gets up.. Actually I have no right to sit with you and take this pure food I do not even have a Guru! Lokanatha Gosvami: laughs You have received the direct grace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is the original Guru Besides Him, who else do you want as a teacher? He has given you Divine love, the same love that devotees hanker for throughout their entire life time. You possess that love.
What is the value of having another Guru? Narottam: My Prabhu, I am a poor man, bereft of all good qualities. Your order is my life and soul.
But if you will permit me, I would like to say a few more words on this subject. Lokanatha Gosvami: Yes, you can speak freely. But simultaneously He has faith in you to be my Guru, and has asked me to take initiation from you. The Guru guides his disciple in practical spiritual life.
I have no spiritual insight and I am feeling separation from the Lord. For this reason, I beg for your mercy. Lokanatha Maharaja: The scriptures recommend that a prospective disciple chant the names of Krishna in a regulated way for at least a year and develop an attachment for the holy names within his heart.
Narottam: bowing down : I shall do so, my Gurudev! Scene 3 Background music: Sri Guru Carana Padma, kevala bhakati sadma Narottam is seen sweeping the floor, cleaning utensils, dusting, cleaning Lokanatha Maharaja's plate and taking the remnants. Narottam: My ears shall hear only to the lectures of my Spiritual Master and my tongue shall taste only the remnants of his food as Maha prasadam. My arms and legs shall be. My mind can think of nothing else but his lotus feet I have already accepted him as my Guru, as my most worshippable, adorable Guru.
My Gurudeva Lokanatha Maharaj has taken a vow of not accepting any disciples He is full of transcendental qualities. What hope is there for me? Nevertheless, I will serve him. Because my heart is made up.
I can think of no-one else as my Lord and master. Scene 4 Narottam is cleaning up the room. Story teller: For 3 full years now, Narottam has selflessly served his spiritual master M: Why! It is young Narottam who has been cleaning my room! My heart breaks to see such humility. He is the son of a king! And he does such menial service Such determination! He has won my heart through his devotion! But what about my vow?
I had vowed never to take any disciples. A young woman who makes up her mind in this way prays that her father will agree with her choice. I pray that our father in heaven agrees with my choice. M: Your fierce determination has exceeded my own Narottama das falls at L.
M's feet and LM blesses him. End Group Discussion: Divide the class into groups and make them discuss the following points: 1 Why do we need to take initiation from a spiritual Master? Lecture: The definition of Diksa: Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity.
A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as Diksa. Madhya The meaning of Diksa: Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination The necessity and purpose of initiation: 1 Connection with Krsna is established 2 Freedom from the contaminations of material life 3 Have to become twice born , otherwise is just an animal 4 Aids in chanting the HK Mahamantra.
Breaking the vows made at initiation. Seminar On Chanting You can cover this seminar in two sessions, or even three sessions of two hours each Lecture on the following points: Three Stages in Chanting: Nama Aparadha Chanting with offenses. Must give up the offenses.
Otherwise it is impossible to obtain love of Godhead. Nama Abhasa Chanting On the Clearing stage with a deliberate attempt to avoid offenses and to hear the holy names with full attention.
It leads to pure chanting and destroys all sins. By serving the Spiritual Master with full attention, one comes to the platform of Sudhda Nama. Suddha Nama Pure stage of chanting is where Krishna fully reveals Himself together with all His potencies. Reveals His form, qualities and pastimes. Gives us our spiritual bodies, keeps us right by Krishnas side and completely destroys everything related to this mortal frame of mind. Nama Aparadha The repeated chanting of the holy names of Krishna should bring us very quickly to the stage of pure love of Godhead; we should become free from material desires and attain perfection.
If these signs are not manifest or happen only gradually, then we are still committing offenses against the holy name of the Lord. Such envy on the part of materialistic persons is very good because that is the way they fall down. They are diminished by the dust of the feet of great personalities. Sati to her father Daksa; SB 4. Three types of Vaishnavas: 1 Uttama Adhikari: He is a pure devote who sees Krishna everywhere and knows that everything rests on Him.
His life is completely centred around the holy name. Thus he is able to take the pure nectar of the holy name. One should serve him and learn from him. A sloppy approach will not yield the desired results, nor help you take proper measures to improve your preaching. To be dedicated to personal improvement in devotional practice mannual purity by gradually applying the teachings of Srila Prabhupada under the guidance of his representatives.
You can make the programme more interactive as time goes on and slowly introduce the ice breakers. Sometimes there may not be any devotional association available in these places. It is the duty of the acharya, the spiritual master, to manul the ways and means for his disciple to fix his mind on Krishna. If the devotees are pleased, then Krishna must be pleased and so the new devotee finds it motivating to go up the siksha levels.
It takes care of the social, psychological, intellectual and emotional needs of a devotee to firmly establish himself in his spiritual need of bhakti and his eternal service to Krishna. There are certain prescribed methods for employing our senses and mind in such a way that our dormant consciousness for loving Krsna will be invoked, as much as the child, with a little practice, can begin to walk.
They get a chance to participate in the different services, festivals, samskaras and other programmes very quickly. We will be dividing the entire course into 5 modules according to the level of progress a group goes through.
In cultures unfamiliar to the Vedic culture, you could phrase it differently. Similarly, Krsna consciousness cannot be aroused simply by practice. Offenses through activitiesBegins with thinking, feeling and then willing. They are churning the ocean of milk. By orally asking them at the end of the class. Guards look at each other questioningly Narottam: Surely you are a great saint!
Here is a general description of devotional service given by Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Bhakti-rasmrta-sindhu. So this will encourage them to read as well as promote understanding them personally. What is the use of reading shastra and chanting Hare Krishna if one keeps an evil eye and a foul tongue? Student Handbook. Course Schedule. Day One — Underlying Principles.
Lesson 1 — 7. The Bhakti vriksha sevak could request the members to be seated in a circlular bhakti vriksha manual. So our Krsna consciousness movement is how to invoke that natural tendency to love Krsna.
For this purpose, this much-needed course hbakti now offered to all the devotees wanting to have a conducive, Krishna-conscious bhakti vriksha manual satisfying marriage.
For participating in online bhakti vriksha programs, please contact vaisnavanitaidas gmail. Free Icebreaker for your group. Bhakti vriksha manual following devotees act as spiritual mentors:. Ensure the recommendation sheet is filled once the member commits to the spiritual standard.
Program schedule The program schedule could be explained to all members before the program starts. The most important part bhakti vriksha manual this program is to encourage your members to commit to a spiritual standard.
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