Revolution Through Education

Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

PANIHATI 2019 Summer Issue No. 2/4 CONTENTS

VISION STATEMENT ...... 3

MISSION STATEMENT ...... 3

MASTHEAD ...... 3

MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING-EDITOR ...... 4

MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHETYPICAL EDITOR ...... 4

QUOTES ON SRILA PRABHUPADA'S INSTRUCTIONS ON BTG ...... 5

REPORTS FROM REGIONAL REPS ...... 10

THE W.R.I.T.E. SERVICE: Five Reasons To Write In Devotional Service ...... 12

KOLLEGE AND KRSNA ...... 15

LITTLE KRSNA KIDS ...... 17

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD: ...... 20

CALENDAR OF EVENTS ...... 23

NEXT ISSUE ...... 23

- March 2019 2 VISION STATEMENT

To provide conscious education of high quality to everyone through temples, educational institutions and various global initiatives. MISSION STATEMENT

To develop comprehensive educational systems globally, that foster higher spiritual values, full the needs of ISKCON members and the larger society bringing about excellence in all areas of human life. We aim to full 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 education 3. Supervising the development and execution of educational plans and ensuring that they are delivered to high standards 4. Understanding and fullling the educational needs of Krsna conscious families 5. Making every temple as an educational centre and a centre of excellence.

MASTHEAD

Viplavah 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: Sesa Das Executive Director: Tapana Mishra Das Core Committee: Hanumatpresaka Swami, Sesa Das, Atul-krsna Das, -giridhari Das, Tapana Mishra Das, Champaka-lata Devi Dasi, Indira-sakhi Devi Dasi, Acting Editor: Hanumatpresaka Swami Editorial Board: • Indira-sakhi Devi Dasi • Gopika Radhika Devi Dasi The rst 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: https://iskconeducation.org/ For Correspondence: [email protected]

23 - June 2019 MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING-EDITOR

By Hanumatpresaka Swami -

MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHETYPICAL EDITOR

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- June 2019 4 QUOTES ON SRILA PRABHUPADA'S INSTRUCTIONS ON BTG

By 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 rst 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.

Srotavyādini rājendra nåëāà santi sahasrasaù And this planet, earthly planets, is only a (SB 2.1.2 (SB 2.1.2)—Sukadeva Gosvāmi states small planet in that universe. And on this that the materially engrossed “have many earthly planet, there are so many cities. subject matters for hearing in human society” And in each city, there are so many (SB 2.1.2 translation). newspapers. And each newspaper has got so many editions. This is the position of the A cursory glance at the daily newspaper provides material world. Now, think over the more than ample evidence of this truth. Yes, spiritual world…three times bigger than human beings have cultivated countless topics to this material...So we can produce not one occupy their mental, auditory and verbal newspaper daily, but every minute a faculties, and devised equally numberless, newspaper…You are thinking of one creative and diverse means to express, record and newspaper daily. We could issue every disseminate them. Therefore, when a politician second a newspaper about spiritual expressed wonder that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta news."” (Srila Prabhupada lecture: SB 1.15.47- Sarasvati Thakura could produce a daily 48—December 25, 1973, Los Angeles) newspaper on God consciousness, Srila Prabhupada recounts that Sri Sarasvati Thakura And in stark contrast to mundane news, this pointed out: spiritual news is nitya-nava-navyamana—ever- “"Why you are thinking of only one small fresh, eternally. newspaper?…This material world is one- “A human being is inclined to hear good fourth portion of the whole creation of the narrations and stories, and therefore there are so Lord…And in this one-fourth portion many books, magazines and newspapers on the there are innumerable universes. And in market to satisfy the interests of the developed each universe there are millions of planets. soul. But after being read once, such literatures

25 - June 2019 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 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 . gure of Lord Caitanya, effulgent with rays of light like rays from the sun. In the lower right were silhouettes become stale, and people do not take any interest of a crowd of people, in darkness but in reading such literatures repeatedly. In fact, groping to receive light from Lord newspapers are read for less than an hour and Caitanya. And between Lord Caitanya and then thrown in the dustbins as rubbish. The case the people, the title unfurled like a banner- is similar with all other mundane literatures. But BACK TO GODHEAD. In the lower right the beauty of transcendental literatures like the corner was a picture of Srila Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam is that Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati seated at his they never become old. They have been read in writing, looking up thoughtfully as he the world by civilized man for the last ve Ā composed. Above the logo ran the motto thousand years, and they have never become old. "Godhead is Light, Nescience is Darkness. They are ever fresh to the learned scholars and Where there is Godhead there is no devotees, and even by daily repetition of the Nescience." Below the logo were the verses of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad- following lines: Bhagavatam, there is no satiation for devotees…” (SB 3.5.7 purport) EDITED & FOUNDED (Under the direct order of His Divine Indeed, any literature devoid of the Lord's Grace Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta glories, however decoratively composed, is Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada) likened to tad vayasam tirtham—a place for pilgrimage for crows, whereas literature By Mr. ABHAY CHARAN DE.” (Srila describing the Lord's glories, however Prabhupāda Lilamrita, Volume 1) imperfectly composed, is described as tad-vag- visargo janatagha-viplavo—“a different creation, As repeatedly emphasized in Srila Prabhupada's full of transcendental words directed toward letters through the years, the subject matter and bringing about a revolution (viplavah) in the mission of the Back to Godhead magazine was impious lives of this world's misdirected clear—pure, uncompromising presentation of civilization”, and which is “heard, sung and Krsna consciousness meant for bringing about accepted by puried men who are thoroughly exactly the kind of revolution (viplavah) that SB honest”. (SB 1.5.10-11) 1.5.11 speaks of.

- June 2019 6 “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 gratication. This tendency is dangerously 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 have given you, then there is no doubt they will come to read our magazines in great means to the way.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of Indian numbers. Now make it very attractive, with Union—Delhi, 21 November, 1956) our KC subject matter as you have outlined, and our BTG will be very much in demand, “Now the policy should be straight that this without further changes. I have seen one Back to Godhead is completely different Christian newspaper which is trying to from all other magazines. As there are attract the readers by resort to fashionable different magazines for different subject phrases and materialistic themes of mass matters, this magazine will be simply public interest—simply because they have devoted for Vaisnava philosophy, or not got any real substance for attracting, Krishna Consciousness movement. That they offer what they think the public might should be our policy.” (Srila Prabhupada letter like, such as sex, crimes, amusements, like to: Rayarama—Los Angeles, 22 February, 1969) that. That is not our method. We have got such stock of real substance that alone it is “Keep them simple and Krishna sufficient to capture the readers, without Conscious, avoiding too much bending to such ordinary tricks and commercial the public taste, but if they are appropriate formulas.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: to current problems, then it is nice Satsvarupa—Bombay, 17 December, 1971) proposal…Actually, people are seeking And since the Back to Godhead was thus meant after transcendental reading matter more to deal with the topmost subject matter in and more, so if we stick to our standard, as I existence, Srila Prabhupada desired it to be of

27 - June 2019 sterling quality in every respect—from content becomes popular. So your ambition should to presentation to aesthetics. always be how to improve the quality of the paper so that it may be read by all “I thank you very much for your respectable persons.” (Srila Prabhupada letter letter…along with the two magazines. to: Rayarama—San Francisco, 30 January, 1967) These are very excellent both in appearance and in reading matter. This should be the “The recent editions of BTG is very much standard of our Back To Godhead.” (Srila encouraging to me. The standard should be Prabhupada letter to: Rayarama—San Francisco, 2 maintained and improved so that one day it April, 1969) may come on the level of such magazines as “I wish to express to you how pleased I am Life, Time etc.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Brahmananda—Calcutta, 18 November, 1967) with the layout and design of the magazine. I have been especially admiring the “BTG is my life and soul. Please therefore pictures in the story of our Los Angeles try to distribute BTG as many as it is center, and the way the pictures are placed possible…I wish to see that this magazine and the use of the color throughout the is published and distributed in the magazine is very pleasing to me…Try to American way like "Readers Digest'', "Life'' keep up this present standard and think of etc., published in millions and distributed new ways to make it always fresh and all over the world. Actually the position of attractive. Krsna is all attractive and BTG should be more important than any evergreen, and you must use your talent to mundane magazine because it contains the layout the magazine so that Krsna appears quintessence of human necessities.” (Srila in print as He is.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Prabhupada letter to: Gurudasa—Los Angeles, 16 Indra-pramada—Rome, 25 May, 1974) April, 1970)

Thus Srila Prabhupada established the Back to “I still remember the hardship for pushing Godhead magazine as one of his foremost on this BTG. In the beginning, when I was instruments in facilitating his viplavah, the householder, I did not care if somebody Krsna consciousness revolution that Srila paid or not paid; I used to distribute Prabhupāda spread all over the world, following liberally. But when I left my household life the mood and mission of his own spiritual and I was living alone sometimes in master. Often referring to it as “the backbone” of Vrndavana and sometimes in Delhi or ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada desired it to be sometimes travelling for pushing on BTG, published and distributed in countless numbers they were very hard days. Therefore, when throughout the world and rival the world's BTG will be published not in hundreds of leading magazines in quality, status and thousands, but in millions, that will give popularity. me great solace.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to: Madhudvisa—Los Angeles, 14 April, 1970) “This Back to Godhead will always remain the backbone of the society because more “Actually we want that BTG be printed in the magazine is popular the more society every major language and distributed all

- June 2019 8 over the world so that there is no language (A) To systematically propagate spiritual barrier in taking to our movement.” (Srila knowledge to society at large and to educate all Prabhupada letter to: Citsukhananda—Bombay, 25 peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to March, 1971) check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve Of the purposes of ISKCON formulated by Srila real unity and peace in the world. Prabhupāda, the seventh and concluding purpose states: Carrying the title “Viplavah” or revolution, signifying the spiritual revolution that SB 1.5.11 (G) With a view towards achieving the speaks of and which Srila Prabhupada spread aforementioned Purposes, to publish and throughout the world with his Krsna distribute periodicals, magazines, books and consciousness movement, this journal aspires to other writings. follow the same guidelines, instructions and vision that Srila Prabhupāda gave for the Back to This concluding purpose thus contains the Godhead magazine, and thus attempt to produce means to achieve all the preceding purposes. In a journals on this most important aspect of humble attempt to participate in serving this ISKCON—education. We humbly seek the concluding purpose of ISKCON, the ISKCON blessings of all the Vaisnavas that these journals Education Ministry started the Viplavah journal might be a pleasing offering to Srila Prabhupada in 2017, focusing on education in and his mission. ISKCON—which, signicantly, forms the very rst purpose of ISKCON:

29 - June 2019 REPORTS FROM REGIONAL REPS

Report from Zonal Secretary North America.

I am pleased to report on the various of activities integrate the options so upcoming students of educational initiatives in North America may avail of them for sharpening their including shastric education and kids' understanding of Srila Prabhupada's education. Ministry of Education leadership Siddhanta. team in North America are meeting regularly by conference call and adopting the principles of He is also developing a dashboard and process growth and standardization for the pleasure of framework for the approval by the teacher's Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. The annual community in the North America zone, and conference planned in June in Alachua got integrated several more teachers into the fold cancelled at the last minute due to some of the Ministry structure. unavoidable circumstances and the next conference is planned in the Fall 2019. However, Hanumatpreshaka Maharaj has been Gopi Gita DD of spearheaded a supportive in all the initiatives and especially meeting of the organizers of Sunday School working on integrating American shastic curriculum in Orlando during this planned time studies with the Vidyapitha program in India, and the Orlando temple is facilitating the and the testing systems being developed by the Prasdam. The main objective is to build a Board of Examinations. For those who are standard curriculum for the Sunday school interested we are looking at a Shastric studies across ISKCON. symposium in Houston or Nashville in August or September. Balimardana Das has taken several steps for organizing shastric study in North America such Ram Giridhari Prabhu has supplied the North as the course curriculum of Bhakti Shastri, American shastric studies certicate holder Bhakti Vaibhava etc. He has analyzed three info, however the contact info is needed to dimensional aspects of the educational platform integrate them in supporting the Ministry. such as the Mayapur Institute portal, Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha portal and Your servant, Radhadesh curriculum. We are trying to Bali Das

- June 2019 10 Report from Zonal Secretary Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador

Four months ago we started the ISKCON prominent educators from the region have Ministry of Education representation service for joined. The result has been incredible: Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. This responsibility entails a great challenge, not only geographical. • Philosophy of education, It is necessary and important to make known the • Childhood education, Ministry's interest in regional education, its • Education in the ancient Orient, perspectives, procedures, tools and materials. • Rural, varna-ashrama, development, On the other hand, many of the local programs • Learning to chant. carried out in recent decades, have been developed in isolation, meeting the demand of In a few days, we will travel to Cochabamba, the different congregations without articulation Bolivia, to replicate the Peruvian model. In or feedback. With the purpose of promoting this December, we will do the same in Ecuador. This interconnection, there have been organized in is the rst step: connect and interconnect, with , Peru, meetings, talks and seminars that the idea of learning from each other. The work is generate a dialogue and offer efficient channels abundant and, at the same time, stimulating, so of communication. we pray the blessings of Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda and the Vaisnavas to develop this work. As we write we in the rst of several days of symposia on education in Chosika, Peru, near Your servant, Lima. Their Holinesses Hanumatpresaka Swami Gandharva das and Purusotraya Swami as well as about y

https://iskconeducation.org/

112 - June 2019 THE W.R.I.T.E. SERVICE: Five Reasons To Write In Devotional Service

By Chaitanya Charan das -

Recently, I was asked by the editor of WORSHIP Viplavah, H. H. Hanumatpreshaka Swami, to write on the topic of why disciples Sva-karmana tam abhyarca: “By your prescribed work, worship Him.” (Bhagavad-gita 18.46) should write when Srila Prabhupada has already written so much. I responded to For me, writing is rst and foremost a way of him that I can only present this topic worshiping Krishna. We may normally associate descriptively, explaining why I write – not worship with the service of the Deity of Krishna in the Temple, but the Bhagavad-gita broadens normatively, why it is right for Srila our understanding of worship, thereby showing Prabhupada's followers write, and how a broad spectrum of activities can become certainly not prescriptively, how such forms of worship. writing should be done. He kindly agreed. Writers live in words. So naturally words are the Accordingly, I share here a condensed means by which devotee writers strive to version of an article I had written about worship Krishna. Just as pujaris (priests) how writing can be a devotional service. worship Krishna in Deity form, devotee writers try to worship Krishna in the form of His "Realization means you should write. Every one message. Just as the pujaris beautify the Deity of you. What is your realization? What for this with choice arrangements of owers and various BACK TO GODHEAD is? You write your other decorations, devotee writers try to beautify realization—what you have realized about Krishna's message with choice arrangements of Krishna. That is required.” words and various gures of speech. (Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Sri Brahma- samhita, Los Angeles, 14 August 1972) REALIZATION

For nearly two decade, my most important “Never mind two lines, four lines, but you write service to Krishna has been writing. Over these your realization.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture on years, by Krishna's mercy, I have written 25 Shri Brahma-samhita, Los Angeles, 14 August books, some 500 articles, and many personal 1972) journal entries. Also, for nearly a decade, I have been writing a daily 300-word meditation on the Practically realizing the knowledge given in the Bhagavad-gita at www.gitadaily.com. scriptures is a challenge for all aspiring devotees. Realization essentially means accepting in one's Why do I write? heart the reality of that which the scriptures declare to be true. All realizations come due to I can summarize it through a ve word acronym Krishna's mercy and many of them come as – WRITE: Worship, Realization, Introspection, epiphanies, so their arrival may not seem to be in Therapy, and Explanation. our hands. But we can certainly prepare our

- June 2019 12 inner ground for their arrival by thinking deeply need to watchfully nourish our devotional about the scriptural truths that we wish to desires and uproot non-devotional ones. realize. And writing is one of the most compelling ways to force ourselves to think In trying to be “very alert to distinguish them,” as seriously. Srila Prabhupada instructs, I have found writing a personal diary an invaluable, even INTROSPECTION indispensable, tool. It has helped me repeatedly in locating, isolating, and extirpating unwanted “A pure devotee can distinguish between the desires. Soberingly enough, it has also helped me bhakti creeper and a mundane creeper, and he is discover how many more non-devotional very alert to distinguish them and keep them desires I still have to get rid of. separate.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya- lila 19.159, purport) THERAPY

In this section of the Caitanya-caritamrita Lord “Constant thought of the Lord is the antiseptic Caitanya Mahaprabhu equates the growth of method for keeping oneself free from the devotion in the heart with the growth of a infectious contamination of the material creeper in a garden. Just as weeds may grow in qualities.” (Bhagavatam 3.1.32, purport) the garden and choke the growth of a creeper, non-devotional desires may grow in the heart In our inner war against our weaknesses, if we and choke the growth of devotional desires. We note down the ideas, insights, and inspirations

132 - June 2019 that worked in the past – and the emotions we The written word has no equal as a tool for went through while deploying them – then those structured, reasoned, and re n e d notes become our readymade weapons for communication of thoughts. The message of future inner battles. Of course, when I mention Krishna consciousness encompasses the richest things that have worked, I refer not to things we revelations of the highest manifestation of God have concocted through writing, but to things and the sweetest ruminations of His greatest we have taken from the scriptural tradition, the devotees. Writing is a precious and pivotal way of potency of which we have discovered and making this divine legacy available to the whole preserved through our writing. world. No wonder then that the acaryas of our tradition – Srila Prabhupada especially – have This kind of writing is therapeutic in the sense toiled tirelessly to make that legacy accessible that it helps us standardize, at least partially, the through their profound and profuse writings. therapies we can use when the maladies of non- devotional emotions afflict us. All these At the same time, every generation has its own therapies gravitate around helping us to nd a ethos (way of thinking or valuing things), way of remembering Krishna that is practically paradigm (way of looking at the world), and and potently transformational. By helping to idiom (way of speaking). For a tradition to stay thus transform our consciousness, this form of alive and vibrant in any particular generation, it writing assists our inner healing. 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 fulllment than the knowledge that their EXPLANATION intellectual sweat has softened the way for even one soul to return to Krishna. “They [the students of Krishna consciousness] must present their assimilation in their own To conclude, Krishna deserves the best of words.” (Srila Prabhupada, in a letter to everything at all times. So He deserves the best Brahmananda, 1 July 1969) writers in our generation too. The opportunity to become a part of my generation's literary We now return to another external reason to offering to Krishna has been my life's greatest write, that for many is the only reason to write: privilege. I pray, dream, and strive to cherish and sharing our faith through written explanation. relish this honor till the last day of my life.

- June 2019 14 KOLLEGE AND KRSNA

By Sugopi- Devi Dasi -

śrī-prahrāda uvāca her duty as a mother. In-spite of many offers at kaumāra ācaret prājño her workplace, Janaki's mother quit her job. dharmān bhāgavatān iha Janaki was homeschooled starting at age three. durlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janma Worshipping her Gaura- deities, chanting tad apy adhruvam arthadam the Holy Names, dressing her Krishna dolls, meditating on upcoming festivals and Prahlāda Mahārāja said: One who is distributing books constituted most of her day. sufficiently intelligent should use the human Studying and playing with her friends lled the form of body from the very beginning of life — rest. Primary importance was always placed on in other words, from the tender age of instilling devotion into her, not materialism. childhood — to practice the activities of Socializing occurred through preaching and devotional service, giving up all other participating in Sunday and Temple Festivals. engagements. The human body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other Like many other Indian-American born kids, by bodies, it is meaningful because in human life the time Janaki was ten, her test scores revealed one can perform devotional service. Even a that she could study in college. College was a slight amount of sincere devotional service better option than high-school because she can give one complete perfection. could present herself freely as a devotee, not conform to societies teenage norms. Janaki Janaki's parents were in a dilemma. Was her started attending a local university part time. It mother supposed to continue working at Intel as was quite an eye-opener, adults in the same class. an Electrical Engineer, or resign and tend to her She noticed how people took continuous shelter one-year old? of caffeine, coffee and bottled drinks, to keep themselves alert. Tama-guna was so prominent. Janaki was born to devotee parents residing in It was a different world. the United States. Her parents worked at the local division Intel. However, both of them The only way she could go out and not get wanted to raise Janaki to become a genuine inuenced was by preaching in some way or devotee. For the rst year of her life, her other. Whenever there was any chance, she used grandparents took care of her, but once they left, to share Prasada with classmates and professors. it was time for her parents to decide on what Inviting them to Temple festivals, some attended their parenting strategy would be. often. Though Janaki experienced considerable joy when she met with success in her Prasadam Janaki's mother had to choose between her distribution, she also understood that some career ambitions, and raising Janaki as a devotee. people may not have been ready for it. Some She knew she couldn't do both. Ultimately she professors were extremely doubtful of Prasadam arrived at the conclusion that bringing out the and even gave her a hard time in her coursework. dormant Krishna Consciousness in her She passed through those tough times by simply daughter was not only a greater service but also taking shelter of the all attractive Sri Krishna.

152 - June 2019 One of her courses was titled “Moral Problems in with the content, and gave her a “C.” His Society.” Various issues were discussed including defense was that chastity only means not abortion. Janaki was the only one in the class of having extramarital relations. Janaki felt there thirty who opposed the idea of killing babies in- was a limit in how far she could convey Vedic utero. She produced solid arguments and ideas. She was learning to communicate them alternatives. Through this experience, she in a less confrontational manner to slowly realized how textbooks can shape the brains of inuence her circle. students into the ideas that authors want to promulgate. She was amazed at how people do One of her writing teachers was extremely not know that life exists from day-one in the impressed by her sincerity and work ethic, and womb. Fighting for Dharma, she was commented that she had a strong positive encouraged to do it again. inuence on the class - always keep in mind that we give our association to others, but don't Another discussion was compassion for furry take dangerous association. This was only people. The professor and some others were possible by strong Sadhana. inclined to vegetarianism. As a part of her promotion of nonviolence she took some crispy A commitment to daily Japa, helped her to stay Pakoras to class. Everyone enjoyed them tough in the modern American atmosphere regardless of their beliefs about animal rights. where there is continuous bombardment from As with the issue of abortion, most students did various philosophies and allurements to violate not realize that animals were also people. She regulative principles. The little strength she had walked them through the thought process. It accumulated over the years, serving Gaura made a positive impact on many. Nitai at home, associating with devotees, weighed in. The Krishna conscious upbringing In addition to verbally advocacy of good moral makes for focus, attention and excellence. conduct, Janaki also interjected her perspective in written assignments. Once, she wrote a paper Will sweet Janaki walk in the big procession to on chastity: A wife must not blindly obey the take her diploma from the hand of the President husband but help him to walk on the path of of the University. Will she go down in history as righteousness. Though the quality of her writing an excellent historian, writer, wife, mother? was excellent, the professor was not impressed Watch for future articles and be amazed.

- June 2019 16 LITTLE KRSNA KIDS Lil' Krishna Kidz – Annual Festival San Francisco Bay Area

Lil' Krishna Kidz is a spiritual enrichment festival Lil' Krishna Kidz Festival a grand program that offers Krishna Conscious teaching success. We would like to offer the results from and activities to kids in a fun-lled atmosphere. this program to Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Lil' Krishna Kidz was started in the San Franciso Madana Mohana, to Sriman Mahaprabhu, to Sr Bay Area, California, USA in May 2011 under the able guidance of H. H. Hanumatpreshaka Sri Laxmi -deva (presiding deities at Maharaja and H.G. Vaisesika Prabhu. These ISKCON Silicon Valley temple) & to Srila children are in 3-11 year age group. In the past Prabhupada. We always humbly pray to all the year, total number individual enrollments Vaisnavas (especially to H.H. Hanumatpreshaka exceeded hundreds of kids and this unique Maharaj & H.G. Vaisesika Prabhu) and all our program designed to present rich Vedic cultural leaders in ISKCON, so that by their mercy we & moral values to children is being very much may be able to conduct such programs appreciated by Bay Area parents. Classes are throughout the year and also expand it rapidly conducted every weekend at several locations – Milpitas, San Jose, Fremont, Pleasanton, Dublin all over the Bay Area. and Cupertino, California. Readers can email their comments, suggestions [email protected] The anniual program was conducted at the or questions to . Please also visit Centreville High school, Fremont and many our website at www.bc4he.org for more details. contests were conducted on May 19th 2019 to Hare Krishna. inspire devotion in the heart of the kids. Coloring contents, Art, Lego and drama, https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/186857134704890 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. https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/186857134704890 The delicious Prasadam was amazing and both /photos/ parents and grand-parents love it and the fanfare of the event. INDTV US covered the entire https://www.facebook.com/pg/indtvusa/photos/?tab=alb program and published the same in their TV um&album_id=2207510809286580 program.

The vision of the organizing committee and the dedicated efforts of the teachers made the annual

172 - June 2019 - June 2019 18 192 - June 2019 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

MAURITIUS Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Mexico, Puerto Rico, SCHOOLS etc. It will make you proud. • Special gratitude to HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja, one of the GBC College's trustees, The Cambridge body of examination based in who traveled to Brazil to present courses and UK through which Mauritius gets their Higher intimate remembrances of Srila Prabhupada. School Certicate has included ISKCON as a topic to be studied as from next year in • Many thanks to HH Hridayananda . Maharaja who taught, online and live, The examinations will be held by 2021. Students ISKCON Sociology. aged 17, 18, 19 will be studying ISKCON movements in high school. • Special thanks to HH Jayapataka Maharaja who come online for some 30 minutes and This is truly an achievement and a step ahead to who donated 4,000 US dollars to make this make students Krishna Conscious. program a reality. Your servant, • There are many others to whom we are very grateful:

SPANISH LANGUAGE • HH Maharaja, who hosted the JOURNAL residential and also taught. Jayam, the Spanish language journal of the Ministry is coming out with three issues a year • HH Purusatraya Maharaja, who presented a with excellent articles. It is available at; four-lesson course on preaching Krishna consciounsness. https://www.niosnimbus.org/p/jayam.html https://www.niosnimbus.org/p/archives- • HG Bal Govinda Prabhu, who traveled from resources.html India to teach several courses.

• The main organizers of the event: HG GBC COLLEGE LATIN Devakinandanda Prabhu, HG Mitravinda AMERICA Devi, Ekanath Gaura Prabhu, HG Yugala The second residential of the Zonal Supervisor Lila, the main organizers of the event. Course in Latin America was recently concluded in Campina Grande, Brazil. The students who As the participants complete their online attended are active in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, courses and graduate, some of them are expected

- June 2019 20 to be nominated to become Zonal Supervisors, BBT manager for Russia opened the session with perhaps as early as the October GBC meetings. a two-day course on the challenges of the rst four generations of leadership in a religious movement, which was an eye-opener for the CENTRAL ASIA devotees. In Almaty, Kazakhstan, the GBC College for Leadership Development conducted the rst I then presented a number of lessons on strategic residential session of the Zonal Supervisor planning, system thinking, samanvaya Course for the ISKCON leaders of Central Asia. (harmonizing apparently contradicting statements), stages of organizational Devotees from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and development, seven levels of leadership, key Kyrgyzstan attended the seven-day event – May leadership principles manifested by Srila 6-12 – organized by HG Dayavan Prabhu and Prabhupada, etc. HG Mahendra Prabhu, both graduates of the Russian edition of the GBC College. We also had the special participation of HG Mandakini Devi, the rst Srila Prabhupada's Many thanks to the local GBCs HH BB Govinda disciple to move to Russia from the West Maharaja and HG Caitanya Candra Caran (France). Prabhu for encouraging and supporting the training, and for giving their association to the Part of the course will be the participation of the devotees. Central Asia devotees in the ILS 2020, to imbue their educational experience with a richer global a As usual, the GBC College's President, HG vor and direct association with more GBC Rupanuga Prabhu has been active in the members and other leaders. (Special gratitude to background to dene curriculums and HG Gopal Bhatta Prabhu who offered to pay the standards. ILS fee for up to twenty devotees from Central Asia, in case they can't afford it.) ISKCON Central Asia has experienced and is experiencing its share of persecutions and Your servant, Kaunteya das restrictions from various governments. In the region three temples have been demolished and a number of other limitations on practicing and HARE KRISHNA spreading Krishna consciousness are in place. SCHOOL - BHAKTIVEDANTA It's therefore a special honor and privilege to be SWAMI GURUKULA of service to these stalwart, determined Vaisnavas. We received a wonderful letter of thanks from Ron Bossink, President of the Murwillumbah HG Gaura Krishna Prabhu, member of the GBC RSL sub-Branch President. We are very grateful Organizational Development Committee and for the opportunity to be involved in this event.

212 - June 2019 THE RETURNED AND SERVICES LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA “The price of liberty es eternal vigilance” Murwillumbha sub-Beranch President: R. Bossink PO Box 4 Hon Treasurer: P. J. Hallen MURWILLUMBHA NSW 2484 Hon Secretary: P. J. Bashford Phone 0266721388 Fax 00266723906 ABN: 91574662030 25th April 2019

Dear Victor, I am writing, while the memory is still fresh in my mind, to thank you and your staff and students for the wonderful ANZAC Commemoration Service you delivered today. I have already received many, many compliments about the poise, respect and dignity your students demonstrated in their conduct of the service, and more importantly, the message they conveyed to the wider Murwillumbah community through their interpretation of the ‘ANZAC Spirit’. Kalindi was an excellent, attentive and exible Master of Ceremonies, and the speech composed and delivered by Karuna and Abhay was, as I had expected, a very insightful examination of the “ANZAC Spirit’ – I hope that their exhortation to the community bears fruit! Dhara told me, when Dee and I visited you two weeks ago, that they were all excellent public speakers, and they certainly were today, as many people have already told me, and many more will, I’m sure, n the coming weeks. I am well aware that the conduct of students at these services is almost always a direct result of the enthusiasm, encouragement and guidance they are provided with by their mentors, and I wish to compliment you, and Dhara, and anyone I’ve missed, on the results you have achieved. Of course that includes the guidance you have given these ne young adults over the last 12 years. I am very grateful that you accepted our invitation to participate in our service, and I think that your students’ commendable efforts today have done a great deal to raise the prole of your part of out Murwillumbah community. I look forward to having your school conduct the service again in the future – I think that if was a very positive experience for our wider community and the Murwillumbah RSL sub- Branch, which I’m sure we can repeat.

With best wishes and many thanks to you all,

Ron Bossink

- June 2019 22 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 27–30th 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 13-14th 2019 – Krishna Home School Convention, ISKCON . http://iskconchicago.com/krishna-homeschool-convention/. October 15th – December 15th 2019 - Education and the Sacred in Peru and Chile. Organized by NIOS. Watch their web-page for more details. www.niosnimbus.org.

Jan 17-20th 2020 – Bhaktivedanta Medical Association 6th Annual Conference, ISKCON Houston, Texas. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/ISKCONBMA/ for updates. Feb 7-11th 2020 – MOE Annual Meeting Mayapura, Tentative Date pending much planning.

NEXT ISSUE

Dear 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 School of Management in Belgium. Please send all submissions to me at [email protected] . Thank you!

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