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WELCOME. Bhakti-Sadäcära (Krishna Conscious Behaviour ) Course. INTRODUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION. ‘Bhakti-Sadacara’ Study Guide Self-assessment, no test Register, Certification Classroom clean-up / Set-up Prasadam Class Timings Dramas and Group presentations Other….

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  1. WELCOME Bhakti-Sadäcära (Krishna Conscious Behaviour) Course

  2. INTRODUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION • ‘Bhakti-Sadacara’ Study Guide • Self-assessment, no test • Register, Certification • Classroom clean-up / Set-up • Prasadam • Class Timings • Dramas and Group presentations • Other…

  3. ETIQUETTE IN CLASS FOR STUDENTS AND FACILITATORS • We will be punctual for classes. • We will be present for the entire duration of the class except for emergencies. • We will value all contributions whether or not we agree with them. • We will not borrow strength from status or position. • We will discuss issues or behaviour, not people. • We will maintain confidentiality. Dissatisfaction can be discussed in this forum only. • We will appreciate others’ strengths and successes. We will be sensitive to others’ weaknesses and failures. • We will co-operate fully even at the expense of individual interests for the higher purpose of purification resulting in spiritual advancement.

  4. STUDENT SELF ASSESSMENT Grading : A = 81-100%, B = 61-80%, C = 41-60%, D = 21-40%, E = 0-20%

  5. STUDENT SELF ASSESSMENT Grading : A = 81-100%, B = 61-80%, C = 41-60%, D = 21-40%, E = 0-20%

  6. …it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and protect the Vaisnava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaisnava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee.

  7. For spiritual advancement, one should be materially satisfied with bare necessities • Members of the Krsna consciousness movement chant a minimum of sixteen rounds a day, which can be done without difficulty. • (CC Antya-lila 4.103) • What is the difficulty? • For spiritual advancement, one should be materially satisfied, for if one is not materially satisfied, his greed for material development will result in the frustration of his spiritual advancement. There are two things that nullify all good qualities. One is poverty. Daridra-doso guna-rasi-nasi. If one is poverty-stricken, all his good qualities become null and void. Similarly, if one becomes too greedy, his good qualifications are lost. Therefore the adjustment is that one should not be poverty-stricken, but one must try to be fully satisfied with the bare necessities of life and not be greedy. For a devotee to be satisfied with the bare necessities is therefore the best advice for spiritual advancement. [SB 1-15.21 pp]

  8. Summary of LESSON TWO • 2.1 THE GOAL: ETERNAL IDENTITY • "Who am I?" pure living entity; a spirit soul, eternal part and parcel of the Supreme Soul, Krsna, His eternal servant. • Servant of the Lord’s servants • The service attitude is the svarupa, or real form, of the living entity. • 2.2 FOUNDATION OF BHAKTI-SADACARA is to chant a minimum of 16 rounds of ‘Hare Krishna’ Maha Mantra japa daily

  9. Group Presentations Guidelines and Topics • 1. The group presentation should be between 10 to 15 minutes, including questions and answers. • 2. The group may change/adjust the suggested topic/s in consultation with the course facilitator. • 3. Presentations should include a short drama. • 4. Presentations may include use of charts, pictorial drawings, diagrams, visual aids, power-point, debates, etc. • 5. Presentations should practically apply to situations in ISKCON. Examples from sastra should be illustrated in a manner that devotees can apply in advancing in Krishna consciousness. • 6. A group may include members from other groups for part of their presentation, eg. for drama or debate participation. • 7. Wherever applicable, the following should be covered in the presentations: Philosophical points, difficult concepts(if appropriate), relevance to the modern world, Srila Prabhupäda's mood and mission, practical challenges for devotees, suggested solutions to challenges and other points the group may feel are of importance.

  10. GROUP A • Refer to LESSON THREE from pages 10 to 12 • Explain ‘niyamägraha’ in relation to ‘eagerness to accept rules and regulations’ and ‘failure to accept rules and regulations’. • GROUP B • Refer to LESSON THREE from pages 10 to 12 • Illustrate ‘breaking a lesser rule for a higher rule’ in relation to ‘all women should be addressed as “Mother”’. • GROUP C • Refer to LESSON FIVE on pages 23 and 24 • Illustrate the differences between ‘imitation’ and ‘following’ in Krishna consciousness. • GROUP D • Refer to LESSON SIX on pages 25 and 26 • Illustrate examples of : • - Blasphemy to a Vaisnava for previous sinful activities prior to one’s surrender to Lord Krishna. • - Blasphemy to a Vaisnava for the last traces of his/her previous sins or faults that are almost rectified. • GROUP E • Refer to LESSON SIX on pages 25 and 26 • What should you do(or not do) if you are not forgiven, although you sincerely begged for forgiveness.

  11. GROUP F • Refer to LESSON SEVEN on page 27 • Illustrate two examples of wrongly correcting others. • And then illustrate two examples of properly correcting others. • GROUP G • Refer to LESSON SEVEN on page 27 • Why is it difficult for a devotee to accept correction or criticism from another devotee? • GROUP H • Refer to LESSON EIGHT on pages 28 and 29 • Is it always possible to only eat Krishna prasadam? • GROUP I • Refer to LESSON EIGHT on pages 28 and 29 • Make ten common mistakes while serving and honoring prasadam. • GROUP J • Refer to LESSON ELEVEN on pages 36 to 38 • Illustrate ways to overcome Mayavadi philosophy in relation to impersonalism amongst devotees.

  12. niyama – rules and regulations • āgraha – eagerness to accept • agraha – failure to accept • niyamāgraha REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES: • No meat-eating • No intoxication • No gambling • No illicit-sex

  13. Always remember KRISHNA And never forget HIM

  14. Breaking a lesser rule for a higher rule Understanding the fatigue of the devotees, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stopped the congregational chanting. Then He bathed in the sea, accompanied by them all. Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took prasadam with all of them and then asked them to return to their dwellings and take rest. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lay down at the door of the Gambhira, and Govinda came there to massage His legs. It was a steady, long-standing rule that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would lie down to rest after lunch and Govinda would come to massage His legs. Then Govinda would honor the remnants of food left by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This time when the Lord lay down, He occupied the entire doorway. Govinda could not enter the room, and therefore he made the following request. Govinda said, "Kindly turn on one side. Let me pass to enter the room." However, the Lord replied, "I don't have the strength to move My body." Govinda made his request again and again, but the Lord replied, "I cannot move My body." Govinda repeatedly requested, "I want to massage Your legs." But the Lord said, "Do it or don't do it. It depends upon your mind." Then Govinda spread the Lord's wrapper over His body and in this way entered the room by crossing over the Lord.

  15. Breaking a lesser rule for a higher rule (Cont’d.) Govinda massaged the Lord's legs as usual. He pressed the Lord's waist and back very softly, and thus all the Lord's fatigue went away. As Govinda stroked His body, the Lord slept very nicely for about forty-five minutes, and then His sleep broke. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Govinda sitting by His side, He was somewhat angry. "Why have you been sitting here for so long today?" the Lord asked. "Why didn't you go to take your meal after I fell asleep?" the Lord asked. Govinda replied, "You were lying down, blocking the door, and there was no way to go." The Lord asked, "How did you enter the room? Why didn't you go out to take your lunch in the same way?" Govinda mentally replied, "My duty is to serve, even if I have to commit offenses or go to hell. "I would not mind committing hundreds and thousands of offenses for the service of the Lord, but I greatly fear committing even a glimpse of an offense for my own self." Thinking in this way, Govinda kept silent. He did not reply to the Lord's inquiry. It was Govinda's practice to go take lunch when the Lord was asleep. On that day, however, seeing the Lord's weariness, Govinda continued massaging His body. There was no way to go. How could he leave? When he thought of crossing over the Lord's body, he considered it a great offense. These are some of the finer points of etiquette in devotional service. Only one who has received the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu can understand these principles. The Lord is very interested in manifesting the exalted qualities of His devotees, and that is why He engineered this incident. Thus I have briefly described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing in the hall of the Jagannatha temple. The servants of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sing about this dancing even now. [CC, Antya Lila, Ch 10, Text 80-102]

  16. Transgressing a lesser rule for a higher rule From the character of Govinda it is to be learned that we may sometimes commit offenses for the service of the Lord, but not for sense gratification – Srila Prabhupada CC,Antya Lila, Ch 10, excerpt from chapter summary: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Accepts Prasadam from His Devotees

  17. Ripened or Unripened – Mango is always good • Sometimes unripened stage also, it is very palatable. So many are charged(?). (laughter) You see? It is so nice, mango is so nice, either ripened or unripened, it is always good. And that goodness may be tasted by different types of men. But mango is always good. Mango is mango, phala ka raja, "King of all fruits." So devotional service is king of all processes of God realization. That is its position always, either ripened or unripe. It doesn't matter. • Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.16-17 -- Gorakhpur, February 10, 1971

  18. By devotional service only is one elevated to the transcendental planet Goloka Vrndavana, and there also there is only devotional service, for the activities of devotional service both in this world and in the spiritual world are one and the same. Devotional service does not change. The example of a mango can be given here. If one gets an unripe mango, it is still a mango, and when it is ripe it remains the same mango, but it has become more tasteful and relishable. Similarly, there is devotional service performed according to the direction of the spiritual master and the injunctions and regulative principles of sastra, and there is devotional service in the spiritual world, rendered directly in association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But they are both the same. There is no change. The difference is that one stage is unripe and the other is ripe and more relishable. It is possible to mature in devotional service only in the association of devotees. SB. 4.9.11 Purport

  19. Condensed Sweetness Sweet Sour-Sweet Sour Bitter-Sour Bitter Mango

  20. 100% T O L ERA NC E HUMILITY 0% TRUTHFULNESS (HONESTY)

  21. 4.2 NOR DOES A DEVOTEE BECOME HIS ENEMY’S ENEMY • A pure devotee is never disturbed in any circumstances. Nor is he envious of anyone. Nor does a devotee become his enemy's enemy; he thinks, "This person is acting as my enemy due to my own past misdeeds. So it is better to suffer than to protest.“… Whenever a devotee is in distress or has fallen into difficulty, he thinks that it is the Lord's mercy upon him. He thinks, "Thanks to my past misdeeds I should suffer far, far greater than I am suffering now. So it is by the mercy of the Supreme Lord that I am not getting all the punishment I am due. I am just getting a little, by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." • (Bg 12.13-14 purport)

  22. DRESS OF A DEVOTEE • Queen Draupadi had a beautiful bunch of hair which was sanctified in the ceremonial function of Rajasuya-yajna. But when she was lost in a bet, Duhsasana touched her glorified hair to insult her. Draupadi then fell down at the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, and Lord Krsna decided that all the wives of Duhsasana and company should have their hair loosened as a result of the Battle of Kuruksetra. Thus after the Battle of Kuruksetra, after all the sons and grandsons of Dhrtarastra died in battle, all the wives of the family were obliged to loosen their hair as widows. In other words, all the wives of the Kuru family became widows because of Duhsasana's insulting a great devotee of the Lord. The Lord can tolerate insults upon Himself by any miscreant because the father tolerates even insults from the son. But He never tolerates insults upon His devotees. By insulting a great soul, one has to forego all the results of pious acts and benedictions also. (SB 1.15.10 purport)

  23. LESSON FIVE5.1 DECORATIONS AND DRESS OF A VAISNAVA • You are how you dress • Without speaking, one can preach simply by one’s decorations and dress • People are easily attracted and repulsed by externals • Decorate and dress oneself for the pleasure of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga • Decorate and dress oneself for bringing others to practice Krishna consciousness

  24. 5.2 IMITATION AND FOLLOWING • However, one should not imitate the behavior of an advanced devotee or maha-bhagavata without being self-realized, for by such imitation one will eventually become degraded. (NOI, text 5 purport) • The devotee should also know his own position and should not try to imitate a devotee situated on a higher platform. (NOI, text 5 purport)

  25. Imitation of a good thing is desired • In some areas, people begin to imitate the devotees by shaving their heads and chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, only a few days after hearing the mantra. This may be imitative, but imitation of a good thing is desired. Some imitators gradually become interested in being initiated by the spiritual master and offer themselves for initiation. • (NOI, text 5 purport)

  26. Devotees, but not pure Devotees • O best among the Bharatas, four kinds of pious men begin to render devotional service unto Me -- the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute. • … These persons come to the Supreme Lord for devotional service under different conditions. These are not pure devotees, because they have some aspiration to fulfill in exchange for devotional service. Pure devotional service is without aspiration and without desire for material profit. The Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.11) defines pure devotion thus: • anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam • anukulyena krsnanu- silanam bhaktir uttama [Cc. Madhya 19.167] • "One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krsna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.“ [ Bg 7.16 translation and purport]

  27. Neophyte devotee disturbs the Lord • A neophyte devotee, of course, approaches the Supreme Lord for relief from distress or poverty, or for speculative knowledge of the Lord. Bhagavad-gita (7.16) mentions four kinds of pious men who begin devotional service to the Lord -- one who is distressed (arta), one in need of money (artharthi), one who is inquisitive (jijnasu) and one who is searching for the Absolute Truth (jnani). A pure devotee, however, knows that since the Lord is omnipresent and omniscient, there is no need to offer prayers or worship Him for one's personal benefit. A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord without demanding anything. The Lord is present everywhere and knows the necessities of His devotees; consequently there is no need to disturb Him by asking Him for material benefits. • [SB 6.9.42 pp]

  28. Not actually devotees • Initiation into bhakti begins when one is in a distressed condition or in want of money, or when one is inquisitive to understand the Absolute Truth. Nonetheless, people who approach the Supreme Lord in this way are not actually devotees. They are accepted as pious (sukrtinah) due to their inquiring about the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not knowing the various activities and engagements of the Lord, such people unnecessarily disturb the Lord for material gain. However, the Lord is so kind that even though disturbed, He fulfills the desires of such beggars. The pure devotee is anyabhilasita-sunya; he has no motive behind his worship. He is not conducted by the influence of maya in the form of karma or jnana. The pure devotee is always prepared to execute the order of the Lord without personal consideration. [SB 5.3.15 pp]

  29. Everyone is encouraged to engage in devotional service • Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.10) therefore recommends: • akamah sarva-kamo va • moksa-kama udara-dhih • tivrena bhakti-yogena • yajeta purusam param • Everyone-whether akama (a devotee), sarva-kama (a karmi) or moksa-kama (a jnani or yogi) -- is encouraged to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the direct method of devotional service. In this way one can get both material and spiritual profit simultaneously. [SB 4.21.34 pp]

  30. Chaste Devotee • Kunti is described herein as sati, or chaste, due to her unalloyed devotion to Lord Sri Krsna. Her mind will now be expressed in the following prayers for Lord Krsna. A chaste devotee of the Lord does not look to others, namely any other living being or demigod, even for deliverance from danger. That was all along the characteristic of the whole family of the Pandavas. They knew nothing except Krsna, and therefore the Lord was also always ready to help them in all respects and in all circumstances. That is the transcendental nature of the Lord. He reciprocates the dependence of the devotee. One should not, therefore, look for help from imperfect living beings or demigods, but one should look for all help from Lord Krsna, who is competent to save His devotees. Such a chaste devotee also never asks the Lord for help, but the Lord, out of His own accord, is always anxious to render it. [SB 1.8.17 pp]

  31. We should not strain Krishna • Yes, I agree the construction of a temple in Calcutta should wait until we finish our present projects which we have undertaken. We should not accept projects which will strain us. Bombay was a great strain, but Krsna has now given it to us. Henceforth we should not accept too much strain. It was a very bitter experience for me in Bombay. As Nair's party was determined not to let us have the land I was more determined to take it at any cost. Krsna has helped us, but we should not strain Krsna by such action. • ( SP Letter to: Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1974)

  32. Vaisnava Apa radha deviate internal potency same difference

  33. Is vaisnava-aparadha more sinful than material sins? • The conclusion is that if Krsna consciousness is covered by material sins, one can eliminate the sins simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, but if one pollutes his Krsna consciousness by offending a brahmana or a Vaisnava, one cannot revive it until one properly atones for the sin by pleasing the offended Vaisnava or brahmana. This was the course that Durvasa Muni had to follow, for he surrendered unto Maharaja Ambarisa. A vaisnava-aparadha cannot be atoned for by any means other than by begging the pardon of the offended Vaisnava. • (SB 4.26.24 purport)

  34. 6.1.2 Four Kinds of Blasphemy to a Vaisnava • a) To blaspheme a Vaisnava for his/her apparent low birth or caste. • b) To blaspheme a Vaisnava for previous sinful activities prior to one’s surrender to Lord Krishna. • c) To blaspheme a Vaisnava for some unpremeditated accidental falldown. • d) To blaspheme a Vaisnava for the last traces of his/her previous sins or faults that are almost rectified.

  35. What should you do if you realized that you have offended a devotee?

  36. What should you do if you realized that you have offended a devotee, but you do not have the courage or potency or needed-strength to approach the devotee for forgiveness?

  37. What should you do if you begged for forgiveness, but the offended devotee superficially forgives you?

  38. What should you do if you begged for forgiveness, but the offended devotee does not forgive you?

  39. What should you do if a devotee approaches you to beg for forgiveness?

  40. The devotee approaches you to beg for forgiveness. But you have been so deeply hurt that you cannot forgive the offender. What should you do?

  41. 6.2 FORGIVENESS • It is said that forgiveness is a quality of those who are advancing in spiritual knowledge.” (SB 4.20.3 purport) • To get freedom from anger, one should learn how to forgive.(SB 1.9.27 purport)

  42. Cooperative Behavior Between Vaisnavas • TRANSLATION • As King Indra was standing by, he became ashamed of his own activities and fell down before King Prthu to touch his lotus feet. But Prthu Maharaja immediately embraced him in great ecstasy and gave up all envy against him for his having stolen the horse meant for the sacrifice. • PURPORT • There are many cases in which a person becomes an offender to the lotus feet of a Vaisnava and later becomes repentant. Here also we find that although the King of heaven, Indra, was so powerful that he accompanied Lord Visnu, he felt himself a great offender for stealing Prthu Maharaja's horse that was meant for sacrifice. An offender at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava is never excused by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. … Indra decided to fall down at the lotus feet of King Prthu, but the King was so magnanimous a Vaisnava that he did not want Maharaja Indra to fall down at his feet. Instead, King Prthu immediately picked him up and embraced him, and both of them forgot all the past incidents. Both King Indra and Maharaja Prthu were envious and angry with each other, but since both of them were Vaisnavas, or servants of Lord Visnu, it was their duty to adjust the cause of their envy. This is also a first-class example of cooperative behavior between Vaisnavas. In the present days, however, because people are not Vaisnavas, they fight perpetually among one another and are vanquished without finishing the mission of human life. There is a great need to propagate the Krsna consciousness movement in the world so that even though people sometimes become angry and malicious toward one another, because of their being Krsna conscious such rivalry, competition and envy can be adjusted without difficulty. [ SB 4.20.18 ]

  43. Why co-operate? • Your love for me will be shown by how much you co-operate to keep this institution together after I am gone.' (Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta) • Srila Prabhupada emphasised, ‘Your love for me will be tested how after my departure you maintain this institution. We have glamour, and people are feeling our weight. This should be maintained. Not like Gaudiya Math. After Guru Maharaja's departure so many acaryas came up.' (TKG's Diary)

  44. SENIOR by : • Age • Time of Initiation • Managerial Position • Administrative Position • Spiritual Position ADVANCED by one’s Krishna consciousness

  45. 8.1 HONORING PRASADAM or FOOD? TRANSLATION"When one eats food offered by a materialistic man, one's mind becomes contaminated, and when the mind is contaminated, one is unable to think of Krsna properly. PURPORT Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura suggests that people who are materialistically inclined and sahajiyas, or so-called Vaisnavas who take everything very casually, are both visayis, or materialists. Eating food offered by them causes contamination, and as a result of such contamination, even a serious devotee becomes like a materialistic man. …One should very carefully avoid associating with both the sahajiyas, who are sometimes known as Vaisnavas, and the non-Vaisnavas, or avaisnavas. Their association changes the transcendental devotional service of Lord Krsna into sense gratification, and when sense gratification enters the mind of a devotee, he is contaminated. The materialistic person who aspires after sense gratification cannot properly think of Krsna. [CC Antya 6.278]

  46. 8.2 SERVING(OFFERING) PRASADAM • bhunkte bhojayate caiva • We should also invite pure devotees to our home, offer them prasada and be prepared to please them in all respects. • [NOI,Text Four purport, p39]

  47. ASSOCIATION WITH THOSE DEVOID OF DEVOTION TO THE LORD • Mayavadis • Pretenders • Atheists One who does not believe in .

  48. The Missionary’s Family Spirit

  49. Our Mission: Spreading Krsna consciousness • prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama • sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama • "In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard." (Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126 or CC, Madhya 25.264 purport) • Spreading Krsna consciousness is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission; therefore His sincere devotees must carry out His desire. • The devotees of Lord Caitanya must preach Krsna consciousness in every village and town in the world. That will satisfy the Lord. • It is the duty of every disciple to carry out the order of the bona fide spiritual master and spread Lord Caitanya's message all over the world. • (CC, Madhya 16.64 purport)

  50. Our Mood: Care for Devotees • The Lord and Devotees Care for each other • The devotees, therefore, are under the direct care of the Lord. And the Lord also voluntarily puts Himself under the care of His devotees only. (SB 1.9.47 purport) • Spiritual Master's Care • The Lord, being full and free from problems, can wholeheartedly care for His devotees. His concern is how to elevate and protect all those who have taken shelter at His feet. The same responsibility is also entrusted to the spiritual master. The bona fide spiritual master's concern is how the devotees who have surrendered to him as a representative of the Lord may make progress in devotional service. (CC,Adi 1.62 purport) • Temple President’s Care • I am also glad to hear that in your temple no one misses mangala arati and that everyone is becoming steady and peaceful in their service. It sounds as if you are taking care of your men very nicely. This is first class management. Please continue in this kind of management. (SP Letter to: Kurusrestha -- Bombay 28 December, 1974)

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