simple thoughts

What’s in a printing press?

Do we as devotees understand the importance of printing books?

More importantly do we understand our own personal responsibility in this printing and distributing of books?

I was online listening to a class from Soho Street the devotee was talking about the mood of book distribution and that although the targets set were not achieved because each and everyone were encouraged to take part there was a lovely ecstatic mood. It also appears that it brought the community much closer together and everyone was inspired and lifted.

However he talked about the printing of the books, he had been advised to go to Bethal (the printing press of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in the UK) and see the printing press there. It is one of the most advanced and also the hardest working press anywhere in the world.

But why the focus on books?

What is the ultimate aim?

Can we actually learn one important lesson from other organizations?

You see the Jehovah’s Witnesses not only own there own press, but also the way the books are presented and distributed worldwide (Over 14 million magazines are printed monthly in 33 languages and shipped to more than 10,000 congregations in some 70 countries; official JW figures) The aim is two fold, the high quality of printing attracts; but more that the person reading the books is given the opportunity to take up the offer of a free home bible study.

The printing is the start; great effort is taken in training with one congregational meeting each week given to training and learning how to present and use the books. The theocratic ministry school and then discourses on how to present the books and philosophy are seen as pivotal.

New congregational members are encouraged to take up the mission and are entered into this theocratic ministry school along with training by a senior member in the house to house ministry work (to be a congregational member means you distribute books).

But although there are many books distributed this is not the focus we need to hit this book target. NO! The aim is to build a friendship with the people we meet, to be invited into the home and to start a bible study.

It was a nice program I enjoyed my time going from door to door; I was a regular pioneer dedicating over 60 hours a month to this service and after a year I attended the Pioneer Ministry School, we gained a very special book not available to other congregational members.

In or training our aim was not high book scores but remained the home bible study focusing on the individual, getting to know them and even helping them practically; I see you cant get to the shops would you like me to get you anything?

Twice a week these books and magazines were studied one day in small house groups and in another as a congregation (the third meeting in a week was for the theocratic ministry school and training in presenting the books we were studying); if you get the book we see that at the bottom is a question for each verse found and these would be used in the home bible study also.

After some time visiting the home and conduction a bible study and trust is built the next step would be an invite to one of the house group; the person understood how the books were studied and so is not alien to them. The informal nature along with a cup of tea and cake (YUM YUM) helped progression and eventually onto then coming into Kingdom Hall for the Sunday meeting.

The focus is always on follow up, follow up, follow up. For with out follow up what is the point?

And this means we give of ourselves and we spend lots and lots of time with the person; yes a very personal relationship develops this means once they come to the kingdom hall they usually stay.

We see even the Mormon Faith does the same, give the book then arrange a home visit when can we visit you? Then a home study of the book of Mormon before introducing you to the congregation.

This is personal association, giving time, learning about the person, becoming a friend and someone you can trust. The books are the Key tool for without the book there could be no follow up.

For myself when I first met the devotees it was on the street and I took a book, actually the person interested me more than the book; I still remember the glow from the face and the smile (it will forever be imprinted in my mind). After reading the book which I did straight away because of the impression the person had given me then what?

If it wasn’t for the personal nature of the exchange and the personal invite given the book would have found it’s way onto a shelf may be never seeing the light of day again. It did make an impact for sure but I would have missed out on so much if it wasn’t for the follow up.

Although there was no home gita study (something that I think could be explored) there was a lovely small group held twice a week with nice chanting of the holy names of Krishna; nice informal class were we could ask many questions and lovely Prasadam (YUM, YUM; these devotees knew how to cook). But most important was the books and association of the devotees and the care they took in making sure both were done nicely.

But still I struggle the more I read the more faults I find in myself and the harder devotee life appears; this is my mind. But I cast my mind back to that day in Manchester when I first received a book and the first time I met the devotees at the preaching center. How indebted I am to them and my Guru Maharaja who sent them for there focus was to make devotees. And through everything I remember the care they took in encouraging the reading of the books assuring me that whatever we face in life the books hold the answer.

Srila Prabhupada explains thus:

To become devotee is not so easy thing. Not so easy thing. People think that devotion is a sentiment. No. It is not sentiment. It is a great science. It is a great science to become fully satisfied. Fully satisfied. And Krsna says,

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati
[Bg. 5.29]

This is the process of santi. Bhoktaram. Krsna is the enjoyer. We are after worshiping Krsna. That is our business. Wherever we go, we install this Krsna Deity and we work for Krsna, we print books for Krsna, we distribute books for Krsna, we beg everyone to become Krsna’s bhakta. Therefore it is Krsna consciousness. We have no other business than Krsna. As Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. We are doing that. We have no other business. Simply Krsna. Why? Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krsna says in the Bhagavata, mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya: [Bg. 7.7] “I am the Supreme.”

Pandal Speech and Question Session — Delhi, November 10, 1973

So lets take this printing of books very seriously, but also put as much thought into how we use the books in making devotees; print, distribute, follow up.

Help the person take to devotee life then they too can enter into this great mission of spreading this Krishna Consciousness throughout the whole world; this is the power of the books if we use them wisely and unlock the potential within them.

As the devotee at Soho Street was explaining that because everyone was involved and entering into this spirit of book distribution that the whole congregation was lifted; so this should be our business.

What’s in a dress?

Several weeks ago I was listening to a class from Soho Street and the devotee talked very briefly on the fact he has a couple of inch’s on his dhoti, were as bramacarya life doesn’t even offer you that amount of expression.

My mind had not contemplated that I had a small couple of inches to personalize my dhoti presuming it was a reference point for the weavers or something like that, but the question for me was why are we not all in Safron? Or allowed to wear the color of our choice nice multi-colored dhoti now theres a way to express your personality.

Interesting as it seems there is very little mention of this in any of Srila Prabhupada’s writings or correspondence; may be this shows more the state of my mind than anything of significances anyway heres my thoughts on what was written and said:

Householders may wear dhotis in the Temple, or as they like, but not of the saffron color. They may wear white, yellow, or whatever. Outside the Temple they may wear American gentleman’s dress, with Tilaka, flag, and beads. It is not required to wear dhotis, as this society does not understand, so outside the Temple dress suit is more socially acceptable. If they so desire, for ceremony, they can dress in dhotis for Kirtana.

Letter to: Balai — San Francisco 12 March, 1968

So I could simply quote Srila Prabhupada and wear a lovely pink dhoti sighting the term “or whatever” would I be wrong? Well I’m sure that a few words would be spoken to me, but could I claim then the moral high ground Srila Prabhupada said it’s alright and so I’m expressing myself; it would defiantly cause a disturbance which is demonstrated in his letter three years on:

I am a little concerned, however, that you are being somewhat harassed in your activities by these so-called swamis. But do not be discouraged by their foolish talkings, we have got more important business. We do not judge the man by his dress, so we are not concerned with the color of our cloth as much as we are concerned to keep our conduct on the plane of pure spiritual life. Our Krsna consciousness is practically being accepted by all kinds of persons all over the world and there is no discrimination of types of dress. Generally Grhasthas wear white for the men and colorful saris for the women. While performing sacrifices, etc. they may wear yellow cloth which is considered auspicious. But you are always engaged in such religious activity in direct service of the transcendental Lord, so yellow garments are not inappropriate. In India our householder devotee men are all wearing white cloths and they all look very, very nice. You can do also if you like.

Letter to: Upendra — Allahabad 27 January, 1971

So here we see that Srila Prabhupada was little concerned about the dress, more about the quality of the person, but for preaching and to not open up the devotees to unnecessary harassment we see the term “or whatever” no longer used; but a suggestion “Grhasthas wear white for the men and colorful saris for the women” but also points out that actually the wearing of yellow garments is not inappropriate as it is considered auspicious and as we should always be engaged in Krishna’s service quite right.

But I guess the crucial point is this as Srila Prabhupada says “We do not judge the man by his dress, so we are not concerned with the color of our cloth as much as we are concerned to keep our conduct on the plane of pure spiritual life.”

Am I more interested in a couple of inches of expression, or the color of my dhoti or getting serious in spiritual life and keeping an eye on my ever wondering mind?
But it would be fun to turn up in yellow just to see if there would be a disturbance or lack of understanding of why we could if we feel wear yellow. But in closing Srila Prabhupada explains the insignificance of cloth color and the true significance of life:

That is all right, grhastha, vanaprastha, that is a, different stages. But the real education is that you have to die. You have to accept another body. What kind of body you are going to accept? If you do not know that what is this meaning of grhastha, and vanaprastha, and sannyasa? It is all rascal. If you do not… You miss this real point, then what is the meaning of this? There’s no meaning. Simply by dressing in white cloth one becomes grhastha? And simply by dressing one, in this saffron cloth, he becomes sannyasi? By changing dress he becomes everything? He must know, that what is the aim of life. Everyone should know what is the ultimate of life.

Room Conversation with Indonesian Scholar — February 27, 1973, Jakarta

This is a very nice and thought provoking article by Sita-pati das several comments are worth pondering over:

“It is a mistake to identify with any -ism. When someone has personal difficulties in their relationships with other persons or with an organisation, sometimes they may take shelter of a pre-packaged philosophical position. All -isms are fossilized thought. Although they may identify with that, we do not help them by identifying with it ourselves.”

” “Why give an explanation when you can use organizational pressure and name-calling to silence people” is an extremely dangerous position to adopt. If someone blows a whistle and there really is nothing to see, then just explain the situation transparently. When the response appears to be a massive shutdown of all dialog, it creates the impression that actually there is something wrong.”

The full blog posting and reason for these statements can be read in full (Why give an explanation when you can use organizational pressure to silence people?)

I felt the need to add my own personal comment on what I personally see as nothing more than school boy bully tactics; by people who are unable to understand the mood of questions and answers that the founding Acharia Srila Prabhupada encouraged by making the following comments:

“Firstly thank you for your very insightful thoughts on this matter; it appears that within the organizational grouping there is some difficulty in explaining when challenged or questioned.

We see also how our founding Acharia if challenged or questioned over something was more than able to answer, even when the individual and especially his own god-brothers were highly critical; but as an organization this lesson appears lost.

Last year I was traveling with a group of devotees from Wales to London, England (for those not in the know this is a different country) I was astonished to hear his reason for no longer going to the local preaching center.

Unfortunately he had asked about the Ritvik situation as he felt to him it made sense but wished to know more. However rather than a simple answer he was confronted with an ultimatum; he had to sign several documents stating he would never question or mention or adhere to the ritvik philosophy or he will not be allowed back into the center as these questions causes a disturbance.

So I explained in detail my understanding as presented by several of Prabhupada’s disciples and he was actually very appreciative of the time taken to explain the different views. That was all he needed was to satisfy his mind and aid understanding, but as an organization silencing and high pressure tactics was applied; and get we wonder why so many leave ISKCON for other sampradias.

Or worse our inability to answer questions kills the fledgling devotee who’s mind is not still full of questions by our own foolishness and inability to answer the questions put forward; an inability to convince then that this devotional path is the right way. By showing an unsympathetic and bullying tactic not seen or demonstrated by our founder acharia who simply defeated the person by simply presenting the facts and removing all shadow of doubt that the mind throws up.

But then I too an under great pressure and my own personal thoughts written in my blog has been under attack, even the threat that I will never be initiated made for my questioning; but thats another story and won’t I feel add anything.

But what would help is as you state a simple answer to questions and a statement of facts as they are, presented sincerely; this was the example given by Srila Prabhupada isn’t it better as an organization that we follow his example; rather than school yard bully boy tactics?”

Ok, so non of us are Srila Prabhupada but we should try to develop this mood; allow questions and challenges and defeat them with knowledge showing full understanding of the person, there motive and there mood.

And YES I AM GOING TO SAY IT (I know the UK management hates me using these terms) but lets be personal not impersonal with our dealings with people; that means sitting down with them engaging them in conversation, tolerating attacks both personal and organizational and answering each and every question.

REMEMBER this we are in a fight to save the persons spirit soul and this means that until they are stable in there own Krishna Consciousness and in there mind we have to enter into the fight with them; many will be lost by the illusionary potency of maya; but we are after all meant to be FULL OF COMPASSION FOR THE FALLEN CONDITIONED SOUL; lets show it in our actions and dealings with others and leave the school yard bullying were it’s meant to be. Lets get up close and personal and get to know the real person you never know you may be surprised by what you find, and one day the stable devotee will emerge

The other day I was listening to a class by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami who was talking about fall down and difficulty in Krishna Consciousness and that it is not that we give up but take time to reflect.

As my own Guru Maharaja says it is only in Krishna Consciousness that we are actually for real with ourselves, that we reflect not on others as the course of our difficulty but we look directly at the real course ourselves. In our last talk together we were talking about how to make this a life long commitment and not just a flash in a pan. My Guru Maharaja was very positive that we adjust our situation when needed and that he felt that my own desire to remain in devotee association despite difficulty was a positive thing for a life time of chanting the holy names; but also a reminder about basics.

What he also knows is that I can also be very challenging or critical by nature, I remember listening to a class and then the following class picking him up on it and asking for an explanation. He suggested I ask one of the devotees there but this for me was not good enough; NO! You made the statement so either you can or can’t explain it, if you can’t explain it then just say so, was my reply. OK, if you put it that way I’ll tell you came the forceful reply and an explanation was given in full; and yes any of the devotees there could easily have given the answer, but he understood that I would only take this Krishna Consciousness movement serious if he personally gave the answer.

But my guru maharaja also understood this; that in order to help me if he hadn’t answered this it would have become an obstacle or even the end of any spiritual progression, understanding not only my mind but personality he took the time to explain things fully; this is the mercy of Guru but also shows that he has also learnt and following the fine example of his own Guru Maharaja HDG Prabhupada, who too took the time to answer many questions just to save the soul and at times adjusting to the personal situation just to help some progression in spiritual life.

I was reflecting on this and my own anxiety at this time the most senior devotee in a position to help me simply stated “Everything that is done is done for a reason. You may not know the reason, that’s alright, but it would be better for you to assume that the reasons are good and designed to help, not hinder, an individual spiritual progress.”

But my thinking is what is the use of this statement if you cannot explain. My own guru maharaja and Srila Prabhupada could give an explanation when asked or challenged; sometime by using what to some may appear to be hard words but often very subtle words depending on the individual they were talking to, never ever did they leave things unexplained especially if one if seeking or asking.

My guru maharaja noted that this is one of the characteristics of my personality that I can appear to be challenging when actually I’m looking for the answer, once it is given and explained in an open way he also noted that I became happy and satisfied. So he allowed me to challenge in such a way and openly gave me the answer to what appeared to be a very public challenging question just to satisfy the mind; and also to demonstrate his mercy upon me.

I was wondering if when the devotee was in hospital if he had been under my care, if I didn’t take the time to explain the procedure and after care if he would have been happy by this, if I simply said you don’t understand but anything I do I do for a good reason would he have been happy with this?

My job would certainly be much easier, you lie there do as I say don’t ask ay questions for if I ask you to do something it’s only for your good. No, this would not be acceptable and I would not expect any of my patients to act in such a manor in order to aid recovery time an explanations has to be given for the mental well-being and stability of the patient especially if the treatment is very intrusive.

If we look at medical litigation often what is sighted is the patients lack of knowledge and understanding, in fact the consent forms which have to be signed means that the surgeon has to make sure that the patient fully understands the procedure, both benefits and if there is any adverse or known problems that may occur. In fact as nurses one of the first things that is covered is that of consent, what is consent both implied and deferred we do not impose or expect compliance just because the patient is there.

And this could be seen as my problem and impediment to spiritual life, I refuse to just submit and go along with it, like the patient in the hospital I need to know why, why will this benefit me, and the need to be satisfied with the answers. I am unable to just submit to an authority no matter how grounded or elevated they may appear, if they cannot explain why they are asking such things.

My own Guru Maharaja on the second time of meeting him challenged me, Ok your a nurse you save the body, so what! It’s going to die any way right? Name me one patient whom you’ve cared for that hasn’t or will not at some point die? So why concern yourself over the body that dies, what about the soul, are you able to put as much effort if not more effort into saving the soul? This will be the utmost benefit to those you meet making sure they never take birth or have to suffer and die ever again isn’t this true nursing?

These few words I have carried with me ever since, trying my best to fulfill this desire and instruction to save the spirit soul; I cannot put this desire to do the best I can into a form or into an answer to a question I am just obliged to fulfill my Guru Maharaja’s request this is all he asks of me.

Follow the regulative principles, chant the holy names a minimum of 16 rounds but at every opportunity you should chant more and save the spirit souls I come into contact with.

Thus despite my lack of knowledge what can I do but follow this instruction; he has explained each point so nicely using many examples from his own Guru Maharaja (Srila Prabhupada); but my fault remains I cannot follow instructions from senior devotees who cannot or appear unable to explain there instructions; but looking at my nature I cannot see for now how I can overcome this hurdle for I cannot follow blindly. The instruction from my Guru Maharaja and sincere friends and ever well wishers like HH Mahavishnu Swami who stopped at my home and asked many changes to be made explaining why each one was needed is all I feel I need; for with reason I can follow but without reason how can I; this is my nature.

The nice thing is developing bringing Krishna Consciousness in the schools within my local region, this has been an effort of several years but by the mercy of Guru and Krishna it has slowly evolved to the point were it is becoming difficult to balance work and preaching due to the increasing demand.

One of the biggest drivers has not come directly from the temple or preaching centers but from the council educational departments; my personal feeling is that if we showed even an ounce of enthusiasm as these individual’s the movement could easily take over the world.

Anyways as we look at expanding further there is a call from school’s outside of my local area also wanting the provisions but I also got an interesting e-mail asking about if there is a provision for special needs schools. This raises an interesting point are we so bold as to limit our preaching work or exclude a group of individual’s.

What is of interest is that Krishna is universal even with minimal understanding Krishna can pierce the heart and everyone with a human form has the capacity to connect with Krishna and his devotees. Of note also is practical experience. My first school presentations were to special needs; I can still remember the excitement of one of the students as he looked on the picture of Srila Prabhupada he started jumping up and down and pointing and glorifying, I could have sworn he had seen him before; “he’s a nice man you must listen to him, nice man, nice man” and when I started chanting the Maha Mantra his voice could be heard above everyone else’s; now theres a devotee.

Ok so the high philosophy and understanding may be missed but the appreciation is there to appreciate and enter into the chanting of the holy names is actually of the greatest benefit to mankind.

Actually if we look at things practically we are all overcome by some form of mental disease; if we don’t believe this then look into the mirror and ask yourself why do I have this body?

Srila Prabhupada explains things nicely like this:

Psychiatrist: I just wished to meet you.
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Paramahamsa: He says he just wished to meet you. Perhaps I should read a verse. Should I read a verse?
Prabhupada: No. Our viewpoint is that in the material world, who has accepted this material body — anyone, but we specially take the human society — they require treatment, everyone. Everyone is mentally diseased, and therefore he is unhappy. Everyone. Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-guna [SB 5.18.12]. Anyone who has no sense of God consciousness, he is diseased mentally. He requires treatment. The whole human society, especially at the present moment, they have given up God consciousness. They are not interested. That is their disease. And everyone requires treatment. So the whole Krsna consciousness movement is the mass treatment of the materialistic persons who are mentally diseased. That is our proposition. It is… In India there was a case. A man committed murder, and he pleaded in the court that… His pleader, his lawyer, pleaded that he was mad at that time. We also accept unless one becomes mad, one cannot commit murder or suicide. So the civil surgeon was brought to give evidence whether this man is actually mad. The civil surgeon said that “So far my experience is concerned — I have treated so many persons — in my opinion everyone is mad. So if on account of madness one should be excused from the law, then it is Your Honor’s discretion, but so far I have studied, more or less, everyone is mad.” Similarly, our study is that unless one is mad, he cannot remain in this material world. So everyone is mentally diseased, and they are concocting their ideas, different ideas. And they are overlapping, my idea, your idea overlapping. Therefore there is clash, unhappiness, violence, individually, socially, familywise, nationwise. This is going on. Therefore everyone requires a treatment, psychiatrist’s treatment. And the best treatment is to induce a person to become Krsna conscious. Then everything will be all right. Otherwise, a person who is not Krsna conscious, or God conscious, he is basically a mad man and requires treatment. (pause) Ghostly haunted man… You have experienced ghostly haunted man?

Room Coversation with Psychiatrist and Indian Boy — May 12, 1975, Perth

Everyone and anyone should be given a chance to overcome this madness of material life for if we discount others then we run the risk of discounting ourselves; and this is a position non of us wish to be in.

I was reading a posting via http://phanisvara.com/ the other day highlighting the problems accessing Srila Prabhupada’s books by those who are visually impared.

The systems in place at the moment do not lean themselves to help, the problem is that there is a need for a text reader of which there are several that can take text and convert into mp3 format; most os systems also have a system for text reading but there are limitations.

Both rely on a system of highlighting the text you wish to listen to, this is not too bad if we can highlight a small section or purport, but when there is a larger purport or text there is a problem. If it is say a couple of pages this is not bad, but the vadabase is set up that it will highlight everything not just the purport you are looking at.

The other option is the use of vaniquotes but again this has problems as there is a need to know what you are looking for and this can be a strain on the eyes especially as the font size has to be increased so a complete overview is not available; making navigation a small problem if looking for quotes.

There is also another problem with text readers, as good as they are they do not pronounce the sanskrit words accurately. OK the updated version of the vedabase does have pronunciation for the Gita but only that. There are tapes available but again they do not give the all important purports and are usually accompanied by some music which can be distracting at times.

I did think about talking veda-books but my pronunciation is woful although it would be much appreciated and allow for a greater access to vedic knowledge not only for those who are visually impaired but for those who travel.

But for those who need to use a text reader here are the two available on the market that have a good track record, they both have limited free versions and the more sophisticated version to buy and will at the least allow some access to the purports and help increase understanding. They are as follows:

Natural Readers (reader and mp3 text converter)

Verbose (text reader and mp3 text converter)

But I am wondering why if we are concerned at translating into every language we are not also concerned about availability to those who have a visual, hearing or learning difficulty to access vedic knowledge. May be I should continue in my struggle in pronunciation and develop a talk vedic book resource?

The other day I was listening to several classes from Soho Street and ISKCON Melbourne and one thing struck me was that Srila Prabhupada adjusted to each person he met; this also is shown in his correspondence, morning walks and conversations. The message remained the same always but the approach and advice was always different; he understood the persons nature and thoughts and so adjusted accordingly.

Mother Urmila also talks about this on how we need to understand the persons personality in order to inspire and enthuse them; if we don’t take into account the persons nature we can crush them or in devotee terms fry them out. She recounts one of her students who although the class had understood her instructions one pupil just didn’t get it.

The student was becoming upset by this; but then she remembered this; that the persons personality was thus that the approach for standard approach did not help them, the solution was to present in a way that suits the person and success everything just clicked into place. (it can be found via this link)

This for me is adjustment to time, place and circumstances in order to inspire and help progression and should be applied to spiritual life rather than the regedit of set rules; this is different to standards namely the four regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds of Japa.

We see that even in Srila Prabhupadas day that although the devotees were correct taking a very hard line approach to the following of rules and regulations; Srila Prabhupada would over look or allow them to continue although vedic injunction was clear was he wrong? NO! But he understood the need to adjust to time place and circumstance with the one thought “HOW DO I ENCOURAGE AND HELP THEM PROGRESS IN SPIRITUAL LIFE”

As the bible says we can put a stumbling block in the way of spiritual progress, but what is the use? None; so the scriptures show that adjustments have to be constantly made.

But we also see that he expected a higher standard of his initiated devotees than say someone coming into the movement, whilst still keeping things very personal adjusting to the needs of the individual; again the mercy of the spiritual master at times bewildered the disciples.

We see that as the society has progressed that an impersonal one rule fits all with no movement to time place or circumstances has become the accepted “we have rules prabhu!”; we see that even when it comes to initiation that many disciples that Srila Prabhupada initiated would never have been under the present system.

Some may say that this is a good thing we only want serious devotees and we see so many fall away or not take it seriously; but Srila Prabhupada never made mistakes but he showed his mercy, he initiated to encourage and to give the soul a chance. Initiation is not an end product but a beginning a chance of spiritual progress, the four regulative principles and 16 rounds is not the end product it too is the beginning it is the minimum.

When it comes to initiation Srila Prabupada was clear on both first and second initiation, time frame before it can be considered and the standard that should be there before each one; do we need to add any thing more to the instructions of Srila Prabhupada? Are we considering ourselves better than him, or feel his instructions and mercy are now out of step to the modern times? Or as the age of Kali progresses should we be more mercyful?

We see that even in the early days of ISKCON as a society there was many hard-liners who put so much onto rules that they did not nor could not understand that there actions were in fact counter productive; but if we are honest and when you talk to many devotees about there initiation the truth is there many were not ready or under the present system worthy of being initiated. But as time has progressed the seriousness and understanding of what initiation means has grown; but they were given a chance; Srila Prabhupada explains this nicely in this letter:

Initiation should be given as a future hope, but we should be careful about the second initiation. As recommended by the president or GBC they should only do so when they are quite confident of a man. Otherwise, he should not be recommended. If you follow this principle it will be successful. Every day I am getting request for second initiation, but I do not know. The responsibility goes to the presidents who pick them. Unless they are thoroughly convinced second initiation should not be given. In the beginning we may be a little lenient. But if someone falls down after being initiated he should not be credited with second initiation.

Letter to: Rupanuga — Tirupati 28 April, 1974

A rigid rule for first initiation can be counter productive to new devotees, especially if we don’t take into account the personality of each person; there are amazingly a group of people who cannot handle forms of exam questions, by requesting such things we are not being personal we do not fully understand “time, place or circumstances” we have artificially discounted them of any future hope.

So in order to encourage we give a chance; this is the mercy of Guru, this was the mercy of Srila Prabhupada when it comes to first initiation and from this we see many wonderful devotees who although not qualified at the time were given a chance; are we so brash as to refuse others that chance? Have we not understood the mercy of the spiritual master to his disciple, and that example we see perfectly in Srila Prabhupadas example.

One size never fits all, we need to look at the personality, we need to ask how do I encourage this person how do I open up the opportunity of spiritual progress? This means we do not look at forms or answers to a few questions but we do something that takes more; we spend time with the person get to know them and we give them a chance in spiritual life adjusting to the personality of the person in order to encourage.

If we put up barriers that kills the spirit of that person because we are too rigid in rules then we have missed the lessons given by our founder Acharia; we encourage and help elevate the spirit soul; adjusting to time, place and circumstance of the individual just to encourage. We develop a personal rather than an impersonal approach.

It is always the highlight of any month spending time at The Manor, and it is nice that opportunities to serve the devotees is always sweet and each visit grows sweeter.

Also a big thanks to the Manor devotees who have found a small spot for me to rest my head even though major renovation works are underway, but the nicest thing is actually to be in the temple room during Arati and class.

I have whilst packing incense as agreed with Acharia been looking at how to describe each class that is now available via my file sharing network so it goes as follows:

HG Sachi Kishore Dasa; The mercy of Srila Prabhupada

HG Parasurama Dasa; The importance of Srila Prabhupadas books and ISKCON to spiritual progress

Gita Class: Are we happy chewing the chewed, the true taste of devotee life

I have noticed that although there was a slow take up of this file sharing facility that it is slowly being used, thank you for everyone who by doing this have inspired me to continue; and to those devotees also who have engaged me in service that I can do whilst away from the temple and the thrust of devotee association.

It’s been a hectic few days and so a small delay in posting the video from this years Gaura Purnima celebrations held in the small Welsh town of Newcastle Emily (Gaura Purnima 2010)

It was held at Punya and Davaky who up until recently had spent there time humbly protecting mother cow and have several Namahata meetings through the year.

From there it was off to Bhaktivadanta Manor for a few days always magical and special.

Also available is a very short clip of a small meeting of devotees from the Welsh Valleys as we were joined by devotees from Brazil a truly international event (available via this link)

I hope to have the classes held at The Manor uploaded via my file sharing network in the next few days including an amazing song before the start of the evening Gita Class