Simple Steps for a Simple Temple

8/10/2019 Simple Steps for a Simple Temple

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S i m p l e S t e p s

f o r a S i m p l e T e m p l e

D e d i c a t e d t o :

H i s D i v i n e G r a c e A . C . B h a k t i v e d a n t a S w a m i P r a b h u p a d a

F o u n d e r -

A c h a r y a

o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S o c i e t y f o r K r i s h n a C o n s c i o u s n e s s


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T h e B a s i c P r i n c i p l e s o f t h e S r i S r i R a d h a G o p i n a t h a T e m p l e . . . . . . . . O r g a n i z a t i o n A c c o r d i n g t o A s h r a m s -L o r d C a i t a n y a s T e a c h i n g s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B r a h m a c a r i A s h r a m - H i s t o r y a n d D e s c r i p t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T h e G r h a s t h a A s h r a m - C o u n s e l o r S y s t e m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C o m m i t t e e s f o r t h e C a r e o f D e v o t e e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

T w o S t o r i e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C o n c l u s i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C o n t e n t s :

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y d e a r G o d b r o t h e r , D h a n a n j a y a P r a b h u , told me a story

from the first Gaura Purnima festival in Mayapur. The building the

devotees stayed in was still a construction site. Srila Prabhupada was

very concerned the devotees received proper prasadam and that they

did not fall sick. If they were sick, he was concerned that they got

proper medication. While they rested at night, Prabhupada walkedaround and looked in each room to make sure that all the devotees

were all right. He was very concerned that each devotee had a mos-

quito net so their bodies were not bitten.

To serve a Vaisnava means to serve his body, mind, and soul.

Every devotees body is a temple of God; it is worshipable. We

should see the bodies of the Vaisnavas as sacred, and we should try

to help them so that their bodies are fit to engage in devotional serv-ice. We can show our love for that devotee by helping his bodily

condition. We serve the mind of the devotee through encourage-

ment, appreciation, and being a well-wisher that can be trusted.

Inspiring others to take shelter of hearing and chanting, through

our words and example, is the best service we can offer to the devo-

tees soul. If the leaders come together and decide that this is what is

most important, we can develop programs that will fulfill that pur-pose according to the particular time, place, and situation. If we live

T h e B a s i c P r i n c i p l e s o f t h e

S r i S r i R a d h a - G o p i n a t h T e m p l e

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according to the principles that Prabhupada taught, the devotees will

be satisfied and protected in Krishna consciousness.

Throughout the world, many devotees have very little faith in

resolutions, proposals, and position papers; they want to see some-

thing that works. So it is our humble attempt to serve the society ofdevotees throughout the world by trying to create a model that actu-

ally works.

At one time, the leaders of our brahmacari ashram and the

leaders of our congregation thought that every member of our com-

munity was well cared for. Then we actually undertook an investiga-

tion, asking individual devotees to be completely honest, and we

found that so many people were thinking, Nobody cares about mein this movement. The leaders were shocked.

We felt it was important to develop a system to make sure that

each devotee is educated, trained, and feels the support of the

Vaisnavas. This basic principle is simple but powerful. If a sincere

person feels cared for, he will reciprocate. He will want to serve and

make sacrifices for other devotees and for Krishna. When devotees

are inspired, they surrender joyfully. Through such surrender one

makes great spiritual progress.

8 S i m p l e S t e p s8 S i m p l e S t e p s


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People are nourished by love. We have to teach devotees how

to love and serve each other with spiritual purity. For devotees to

continue chanting the holy names throughout their lives, we must

give them the support of a strong spiritual family. This will help sus-tain their enthusiasm to purify their hearts through hearing, chanti-

ng, and preaching Srila Prabhupadas message. It is very important

to feel the loving reciprocation of devotees, especially until we

become so pure that we can directly experience a loving reciproca-

tion with Krishna.

Sometimes we see older devotees who after many years are not

enthusiastic in devotional service. We should create a society inwhich devotees are sup-

porting, encouraging, and

inspiring one another in a

way that they will be

enthused through every

stage of their life.

The strategy ourpreachers and managers try

to follow is to set as the

foremost priority the future

of each devotees Krishna

consciousness. It is our

responsibility to make sure that devotees remain within our move-

ment for the rest of their lives. This should take priority over whathas to be done today. What has to be done today is a serious con-

cern, but even more serious is to think, What do I have to do to

keep this devotee inspired, enlivened, and spiritually strong for the

next thirty years?

At our temple we tax our brains to ensure that devotees who

come here never feel neglected. Every man, woman, and child

should feel protected and thoroughly cared for, and they should

get more and more education, knowledge, and inspiration in

S i m p l e T e m p l e 9

It is very important to

feel the loving reciproca-

tion of devotees, especially

until we become so purethat we can directly expe-

rience a loving reciproca-

tion with Krishna.


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Krishna consciousness year after year. When devotees are happy,

enlivened, and cooperative, they can do anything.

We have seen much dissatisfaction in our society because of

impersonal relationships. Actually, the common reason many leavethis movement is that they feel uncared for. They do not have spiri-

tually satisfying relationships with devotees. Any devotee in the

world who is nicely cared for and protected, who feels loving rela-

tionships will likely never leave our movement. This is the principle

of our efforts in Bombayto help devotees find happiness in

Krishna consciousness throughout their entire lives with Vaisnava

relationships based on the nine processes of devotional service.

1 0 S i m p l e S t e p s


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h o t a h a r i d a s w a s i n t h e r e n o u n c e d o r d e r o f l i f e , but he

did not practice his duties carefully. He acted improperly with a

woman, and therefore Lord Caitanya chastised and rejected him.

Yet, Lord Caitanya was happy when He heard that His grhastha

couples had children. When Sivananda Senas good wife gave birth

to Puri dasa, she and her husband brought the baby to LordCaitanya. The Lord placed the toe of His lotus foot in Puri dasas

mouth, and the little baby had the good fortune of sucking on the

Lords toe. Lord Caitanya loved Sivananda Sena and his family

because of their sincere Krishna consciousness. The Lord taught us

to carefully follow our prescribed duties according to our particular

position in society. By properly performing our prescribed duties,

we make the best spiritual progress.Vaisnava etiquette is the science of serving devotees by deal-

ing with them according to their particular status in relation to ones

own. Lord Caitanya told Sanatana Goswami that the observance of

Vaisnava etiquette is the ornament that makes a devotee beautiful in

the eyes of Krishna. It is the observance of Vaisnava etiquette that

gives a loving, sweet mood to the society of devotees. But Vaisnava

etiquette is not something that we automatically understand. It issomething we must be taught. It requires education on how to live

O r g a n i z a t i o n A c c o r d i n g t o A s h r a m s

L o r d C a i t a n y a s T e a c h i n g s

C

S i m p l e T e m p l e 1 1


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in our particular position in society and how to relate to others in a

spirit of service to Krishna.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu has explained that the essence of

Vaisnava etiquette is in the simple verse,gopi padakamalayor, dasadasa anudasa. I am not a brahmana, ksatriya, vaishya, or sudra. I

am not a brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprasta, or sannyasi. Who am I?

What is my eternal identity? I am the servant of the servant of the

servant of the servant of the Lord of the gopis, Sri Krishna, and that

is my only true aspiration.

R e l a t i o n s B e t w e e n B r a h m a c a r i s a n d G r h a s t a s

u n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t h a s b e e n n o t e d within our society that grihas-

tas, sannyasis and brahmacaris do not respect each other. At times

brahmacaris think of the grhasthas, Sense enjoyers! Addicted to sex

life! Living in a deep, dark well! But I am a brahmacari, I am

advanced! Grhastas may look at the brahmacaris and think, They

are just useless parasites! They do not know how to do anything, so

they are living in the ashram. I am successful. I am making money.

They are depending on me, because I am giving money! This is not

Krishna consciousnessthis is ego consciousness. We should all feel

ourselves the servant of the servant, and we should learn to respect

and honor one anothers service.

It is very importantindeed, essentialfor the progress of

our movement that the grhasthas genuinely honor and respect the

renounced orders and that the renounced orders honor and respect

the grhasthas. That respect becomes natural when both the brah-

macaris and grhasthas are exemplary. We strive to train our brah-

macaris to think, How difficult it must be to have a wife and chil-

dren and remain Krishna conscious. I am so fallen. I offer my love

and respect to those grhasthas who are striving on the path of bhak-ti. And we train the grhasthas to think, I am so attached to this

husband or wife and to the children and home, but these brahmacaris



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are so simple and renounced. I should offer all loving respect to them

and serve them nicely.

By Srila Prabhupadas mercy there is respect and cooperation

between grhasthas and brahmacaris in our community. The grhasthaswant to come to the temple mainly to get the association of the saint-

ly brahmacaris, and the brahmacaris feel indebted to the service of

the grhasthaseveryone strives to be a humble servant of all

Vaisnavas.

B o o k D i s t r i b u t i o n

A P r a c t i c a l E x a m p l e o f C o o p e r a t i o n A m o n g A s h r a m s

f o r t h e p a s t f e w y e a r s during the December book marathon, the

grhasthas have taken charge of the entire temple. They do all the

cooking, Deity worship, cleaning, and management. Half of the

brahmacaris go on traveling sankirtana, and the other half go out to

distribute books immediately after the morning program.

Hundreds of the members of the congregation distribute

books as well. One year we distributed 60,000 books during the

December marathon. The biggest distributor was a lady who has two

children and a husband. She was going house to house for several

hours every day distributing thousands of Gitas. Other congrega-

tional ladies sit at book tables in groups of four or five. They take

shifts babysitting and cooking for each other so that they can all dis-

tribute books. Some of the young unmarried girls of the congrega-

tion go out the whole day and distribute books. The grhastha men

are also immersed in book distribution. The congregation is so happy

doing this that they are disappointed when the first of January comes.

All the success we have had in distributing books has been due to

the cooperation between the grhasthas and the brahmacaris. When

the congregation and the temple devotees work together, it has

tremendous power.



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A b o u t V a r n a s a n d A s h r a m s

o u r t e m p l e s e f f o r t s t o p r a c t i c a l l y i m p l e m e n t

the daivi var-

nashram system has been to try to teach people to become first-class

Vaisnavas. It is very important that devotees be properly trained intheir respective ashrams. Often devotees do not understand the

responsibilities and spiritual qualities they should be cultivating.

Brahmacari doesnt just mean not having a wife and wearing saffron.

It is a state of consciousness applied to ones lifestyle. Grhasta doesnt

just mean being a devotee and having a wife or husband. It is a sci-

ence of how to live with Krishna in the center. If devotees never learn

the real meanings of the ashrams, after some years they will feel frus-trated. The family is falling apart, or the brahmacari is getting old

and he doesnt know what hes doing as a brahmacari. So there is a

great need for training and education.



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n i t i a l l y , o u r b r a h m a c a r i a s h r a m c o n s i s t e d of five brah-

macaris who fought like cats and dogs. If you asked a brahmacari,

Prabhu, can you do this? he would say, Do it yourself! They

were always arguing. Sometimes they fought with fists. We even

caught brahmacaris stealing from the temple in the middle of the

nightthey would send the stolen articles home to their families,who would sell the items and send the brahmacaris the money.

We gradually raised the standard of the ashram so that only

serious and surrendered people could stay. Anyone who wants to be

a devotee can live in the congregation, but those who want to live in

the temple have to be very serious and submissive. The brahmacaris

should be true sadhus, not lazy people; they should be more hard-

working than anyone.At the Sri Sri Radha-Gopinath temple, the standard is that a

person has to chant sixteen rounds, follow the principles, and serious-

ly dedicate himself to the process of Krishna consciousness for at least

one year before he can apply to enter the brahmacari ashram. For the

next year they are placed in the temples Vaisnava Training Academy.

After the training, if the leaders see that a candidate is strict in sad-

hana, submissive, and sincerely willing to be educated in the princi-ples of Gaudiya Vaisnavism, he may enter the brahmacari ashram.

B r a h m a c a r i A s h r a m

H i s t o r y a n d D e s c r i p t i o n

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Before the successful applicants move in, we tell them that if

there is ever a day when they are asked to do a service and they say

no, that is the day they must leave the ashram. And if they ever gos-

sip or get involved in any level of politics, they must leave the ashram.Each brahmacari is given one cupboard for all of his belong-

ings. There are no private rooms for the brahmacaristhey all sleep

on the temple room floor. It is a simple life. They must really want

to be there to continue. If so, they are very happy.

They all do menial service. Everyone from the temple presi-

dent down to the new bhaktas has to clean the toilets and do other

such menial services. Every brahmacari has his shift to sweep andwash the temple room floor before mangal-arotik. However big or

small we may be in position, ultimately, we are all menial servants.

One brahmacari in our temple gives bhagavat-kathas, in which he

speaks from Prabhupadas books to thousands of people. He is hon-

ored and worshiped at these engagements, but when he comes back

to the temple: Clean the toilet, Prabhu. Clean the floor, Prabhu.

All brahmacaris are taught to be as enthusiastic to do that as to speakfrom the Bhagavatam.

The brahmacaris must attend the entire morning program every

single day. From before mangal-arotik until after class, they are not to

leave the temple room. During japa, no one is allowed to speak to each

other, this rule is enforced quite strictly.

Only japa is allowed at that time. If any-

one starts to fall asleep, immediatelypeople will say, Prabhu! The brah-

macaris chant japa in small groups and

make sure that everyone is attentive.

Each brahmacari is taught to

strive for deeper sadhana, preach

enthusiastically to the public, and

serve the congregation. Therefore, we have another rule in the

ashram: If a brahmacari ever disrespects a woman or a grhastha, he


However big or

small we may be

in position, ulti-

mately, we are all

menial servants.


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must leave the ashram immedi-

ately. The purpose of life is to be

the servant of the servant. We

teach our brahmacaris to respectevery woman as their mother.

They shouldnt think, This is

Maya-devi. She is a Vaisnavi. If

you disrespect a woman devo-

tee, you are making Vaisnava

aparadha and you will fall down, whoever you are. Brahmacaris may

not mix freely with women, but they should honor and respectthemworship their feet from a distance. This is Vaisnavism.You

may think, who would want to join such an ashram? Actually, there

are many serious people looking for a genuine devotional experi-

ence. If they see low standards in the ashrams, they will think, I

dont want that. We now have about seventy brahmacaris who are

all very happy, and there is a line of people wanting to join.

If someone is going to make the sacrifice to be a brahmacari,it is very important that he feels he is getting something special by

being part of the ashram. He should receive very serious education

and training in every aspect of Krishna consciousness. This can be

used for the rest of his life. He must feel that he is well cared for.

Year after year he

feels he is getting

more and more. Heshould feel that

through his detach-

ment and renuncia-

tion, he is receiving

the matchless gift of

our parampara.


[A brahmacari]

should feel through his

detachment andrenunciation, he is

receiving the matchless

gift of our parampara.


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P r i n c i p l e s o f t h e B r a h m a c a r i A s h r a m

Brahmacaris should be trained to deeply value the impor-

tance of strict sadhana.They should be humble, menial servants at heart, expecting

nothing but ready to offer their lives in the service of the

Vaisnavas.

They should learn the essential virtue of chastity and loyalty

to our guru parampara, never searching elsewhere.

They should scrutinizingly learn and comprehend Srila

Prabhupadas books and be enthusiastic to distribute them.

They should be trained to fearlessly preach the Krishna con-

scious philosophy to the people in general and to defend the

principles of pure bhakti.

They must learn the brahminical standards of cleanliness and

always keep the ashram clean.

They should be trained to offer puja to the Deities and tocook for Them with punctuality, cleanliness, and care accord-

ing to the authorized process.

Kirtanas should be performed with great feeling, enthusiasm,

and much grace for the pleasure of the Deities. All should

learn to nicely play instruments.

Brahmacaris should be eager to humbly serve the grhastha

community and have great respect for the services the

grhasthas render. They should respect all women as honored

mothers. However, they may associate with women only for

essential service and not for sense gratification.

Most important is that brahmacaris develop great love, trust,

and personal friendships with one anotherthat they

become the servant of the servant of the servant.



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B r a h m a c a r i C o u n s e l o r S y s t e m

t h e r e i s a c o u n s e l o r s y s t e m f o r t h e b r a h m a c a r i s ,

in which sen-

ior brahmacaris serve as counselors for junior brahmacaris. In this sys-

tem, each counselor brahmacari has about six brahmacaris under hiscare. The counseling system is designed to create a kind, loving mood

in which older brothers provide help and encouragement. The goal is

to enable each brahmacari to be completely satisfied in his service, to

feel completely cared for, and to never feel lonely or isolated.

Every day counselors speak individually with their counselees

to understand their state of consciousness and their needs. Once a

week the counselors and counselees meet as a group to reveal theirminds to each other and discuss various subjects. These group meet-

ings are not authoritarian in structure. Rather they are characterized

by a friendly willingness on the part of the counselors to help their

counselees spiritually. Each brahmacari should develop deep, loving

Krishna conscious relations with other brahmacaris. This helps cre-

ate a unified spiritual atmosphere amongst the brahmacaris and it

helps them remain satisfied and strictly follow the regulative princi-

ples. They are enthusiastic to serve one another, to distribute books,

and to preach. When problems arise and cause anxieties or when

maya attacks, devotees feel there is an easy way to communicate and

seek help to overcome the problems.

This system creates a wonderful atmosphere that attracts the

congregation to the temple. The congregation of grhasthas greatlyappreciate coming to the temple just to experience the atmosphere

of such spiritual association. In addition, management becomes very

simple when devotees are happy.

S p e c i a l C l a s s e s f o r B r a h m a c a r i s

a l l t h e b r a h m a c a r i s a t t e n d a d a i l y b r a h m a c a r i c l a s s .

The aim of this class is to train them to scrutinizingly study Srila



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regular debates on such topics as Mayavada philosophy, demigod

worship, the sahajiya mentality, and atheistic science. Every two

weeks there is an istha-gosthi during the second half of the class,

where the brahmcaris discuss subjects concerning the ashram andvarious practical concerns.

As a result of this program, some of even the newest brah-

macaris are able to deliver very authorized lectures with great con-

viction, quoting from sastra. They learn to defend the principles of

bhakti against various deviations.

C o l l e g e P r e a c h i n g

t h e r e s u l t s o f o r g a n i z i n g t h e b r a h m a c a r i a s h r a m in such

a structured way can be seen in the preaching. There are several brah-

macaris whose full-time service is college preaching. From after lunch

prasad until night, these devotees go to college programs. We have

regular weekly programs at thirty colleges and universities, and there

are many more colleges where preaching programs are held on a less

regular basis. The majority of our brahmacaris came to Krishna con-

sciousness through these college programs. They remained in college

to help with the preaching, and after they graduated many of them

joined the ashram.

College preaching is so important; the future of the nations

leadership is in the hands of these people. Before a brahmacari is

allowed to take part in college preaching, he first must prove himself

to be well versed in our philosophy. We have created a series of out-

lines of lectures on the basic topics of Krishna consciousness. A

potential college preacher is tested on those outlines; then he is

required to assist a senior college preacher. When he becomes expe-

rienced, he can start leading his own programs, first in small groups,

then graduating to larger ones.



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the temple for a period longer than the current presidents three-

month term of service, all four temple presidents decide on the poli-

cy together. For other matters, the acting temple president has

authority to make all decisions.As far as I know, we are the only temple that uses this system.

I do not necessarily recommend this system for other temples, but in

our situation this system works smoothly, and no one person is

crushed by overburdening managerial responsibility.

In the traditional form of temple management, in which there

is one temple president, the best president is the person who is able

to develop a team of serious, responsible managers. The temple pres-ident oversees them, coordinates them, and makes major overall deci-

sions. A good manager is not necessarily one who does everything

himself. A good manager is one who inspires others to take serious

responsibility, helps develop new projects, and has free time to make

sure everything is going well.

C h a n g i n g A s h r a m s

i f a b r a h m a c a r i i s h a v i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s or has a strong tendency

for the grhastha ashram, he should not be discouraged. Rather, he

should be encouraged to be a wonderful, strong grhastha. Whatever

time he spent in the brahmacari ashram was of great value. He has

gained precious training that will be of immense help for the rest of

his life. Only devotees who really want to be brahmacaris should

remain in the ashram. Those who are by nature determined and

happy in the renounced order are encouraged to continue.

If a brahmacari desires to enter the grhastha ashram, we avoid

putting undue pressure on him to remain a brahmacari. When a

brahmacari decides to marry, there is a special function in the ashram

to express gratitude to that devotee for his years of sincere service to

the ashram. The brahmacaris all offer their prayers for his continuedsuccess in Srila Prabhupadas service.



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Everyone sincere to follow the acaryas teachings is a devotee.

To live in the congregation is a special, honorable privilege. Anyone

willing to strictly follow the standards is welcome to live in the brah-

macari ashram. All others should live as respectable devotees in thecongregation. The heart of this ideal is to encourage, enliven, and

inspire devotees in Krishna consciousness. Devotees should be given

the opportunity to use their free will for making the best possible

spiritual progress.



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h e n t h e m a n a n d w o m a n f i r s t m e e t b e f o r e m a r r i a g e , they

often feel that their marriage is made in heaven. The man may think,

Lord Brahma, with his own personal hands, created this woman

just for me. And the woman may think, Maha Visnu has cast the

glance of this spirit soul in this particular body just for me. We will

live happily together forever. Once we are in the same house togeth-er, how much joy we will experience. We will worship the Deities

together. The husband thinks, She will cook me prasad and serve

it to me nicely. We will read Krishna book together while drinking

hot milk before taking rest. The wife thinks, My husband will be

like Narayana, and I will be like His consort Laksmi. Together we

will make our home Vaikuntha. There will be so much love and

affection. All the other devotees will think, Oh, how wonderful thisgrhastha couple is.

Then they get married, and at first they each think, Yes, what

I was dreaming is coming true. But after some time, they start see-

ing faults in each other. They come to realize that their partner has

a false ego. They think, His (or her) false ego is different from mine,

and I am right and he (or she) is wrong. The faults they see in each

other become unbearable, intolerable. They start getting angry witheach other. The husband starts criticizing the wife, and the wife

T h e G r h a s t h a A s h r a m C o u n s e l o r S y s t e m

W



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starts arguing with the husband. Vaikuntha turns into a hellish plan-

et. Then they hear rumors floating around our society. I heard that wives

are like drums and should be beaten. Then so many aparadhas take place.

R e a s o n s f o r t h e C o u n s e l o r P r o g r a m

m o s t d i v o r c e s t a k e p l a c e i n o u r m o v e m e n t simply because the hus-

bands and wives dont know what to do. They do all the wrong things

because of misconceptions. Gradually their relationships become worse

and worse. There is no one to guide them on how to respect one another

and live together in Krishna consciousness.

A senior grhastha should be there who can help them grow spiri-tually through dealing with their problems. It is very important that mar-

ried couples receive training and guidance from experienced devotees.

Most everyone goes through similar problems in the grhastha ashram.

An experienced, senior grhastha couple that has stayed together and over-

come those problems through Krishna conscious understandings can

counsel a younger couple. There is no reason for divorce. When a hus-

band and wife learn how to deal with those problems under proper

Krishna conscious guidance, they grow in their spiritual lives together

and come to a much higher spiritual relationship with each other. If we

know how to deal with obstacles and conflicts in a Krishna conscious

way, those obstacles will aid in development of higher unity and realiza-

tion.

Couples should not be confused about how to honor their hus-

band or wife in any situation. They should learn how to adjust with one

another in a spirit of selfless service to Krishna. When people take an

interest in helping devotees in this way, their marriages become so satisfy-

ing and spiritually strong that marriages that would otherwise have ended

in divorce actually flourish.

At the Radha-Gopinath temple, we established a system in which

senior grhasthas serve not only as spiritual guides but as guides on variouslevels of life. They help educate younger grhasthas on how to live proper-

ly in the grhastha ashram, and how to balance sadhana and service with



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As time passed several counselees became assistant counselors.

As these couples became more educated, highly realized, and willingto care for others, they became counselors. At this time there are

about fifty counselors and assistant counselors amongst the

grhasthas. All the counselees and the counselors meet on a regular

basis. They rotate by having a program at a different counselees

home every two weeks. There are about 750 families being educated

and trained in Krishna consciousness under them.

B e n e f i t s o f B e c o m i n g a C o u n s e l o r

i f w e u n d e r s t a n d t h e i m p o r t a n c e of sacrificing time for the

welfare of others, we can find time to do so. One doesnt have to be an

erudite preacher or a great kirtan

leader. One simply has to be exem-

plary, understand our philosophy,

and be willing to personally help

others.

To be a counselor for oth-

ers, one should be an example in

ones own life. A good example is

necessary for our preaching to be

effective. If you say, Please respect

your wife. Please honor your hus-

band, you have to do these things

as well. Otherwise, people will not

be inspired by what you say.

We have seen that one of the greatest ways for grhasthas to taste the

nectar of Krishna consciousness is to take responsibility for helping others.Often grhasthas are so concerned with the affairs of their family and their per-

sonal finances that more and more of their time is spent in material pursuits.


If you say, Pleaserespect your wife.

Please honor your

husband, you have to

do these things as well.

Otherwise, people willnot be inspired by

what you say.


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They start drying up spiritually. When a grhastha counselor is able to inspire

the counselees, he also feels the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga. Much unity

and enthusiasm is generated through such Vaisnava relationships.

C o u n s e l o r a s P e r s o n a l F r i e n d

t h e c o u n s e l o r s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e c o u n s e l e e is not mana-

gerial. It is on a personal level. The counselor should not interfere

with the management of the temple. He and the temple manage-

ment should work together cooperatively to help the devotees. If the

counselors and managers are united in the spirit of helping devotees,

faith is increased for all.The counselor does not enforce any rules upon his counse-

lees; he is simply the loving friend and guide for people who want

to make the best possible spiritual progress. Rules are presented to

sincere souls who want to do their best in Krishna consciousness.

The spirit of the counselor system is not to get people to do things

on a managerial level but to nourish the counselees spiritual life,

and to give personal care for this person and his or her familys

Krishna consciousness.

D e a l i n g w i t h C o u n s e l e e s P e r s o n a l P r o b l e m s

a c o u n s e l o r i s n o t a g a r b a g e c a n . Nor is he a psychiatrist to

whom the counselee tells every sad thing that ever happened in hislife. When seeking spiritual guidance, we should reveal our minds

honestly, but we should be sensitive to not overburden the counselor

with our material problems.

T h e B o a r d o f C o u n s e l o r s

o n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p a r t s o f o u r s y s t e m is the board of

counselors and assistant counselors, which meets once a month in



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the temple. The temple presidents and leaders of the brahmacaris

also attend, in turn creating a congenial spirit in which devotees in

both ashrams can work together to serve the rest of the community.

After starting with a kirtan, five subjects are discussed for 10

minutes each. One counselor is assigned for each of the subjects, and

that counselor has a month to research the topic. The results of that

research are shared with the other counselors, who in turn present

the information to their counselees. Each counselor takes notes,

because every month he has two meetings with his counselees where

he presents the subjects from this board meeting.Counselors go deeply into the subject of sadhana. They may

discuss at length the finer points of japa, worshiping the Deities at

home, serving Vaisnavas prasad, waking up early, and reading

Prabhupadas books properly. Then there is a ten-minute discussion

on exemplary behavior, during which the twenty six qualities of a

devotee are discussed in detail. Next is a discussion on caring for

devotees. If any counselor or counselee is having a serious problemand needs the help of the other counselors, they discuss it together.

Finally, any concerns about managerial policies are discussed. The

meeting ends with another kirtan, and then devotees take prasad

together.

C o u n s e l o r s f o r C o u n s e l o r s

t h e r e a r e t h r e e d i f f e r e n t w a y s in which the counselors themselves are

counseled. The first is by electing a head counselor who acts as coordina-

tor for the whole system. This very senior grhastha acts as the counselors

counselor. The coordinator could be the temple president or the regional

secretary. He could be a very senior devotee who is greatly respected by

everyone for his Krishna consciousness and seniority. The other coun-selors accept his efforts to coordinate all of them. The second way coun-

selors are counseled is by accepting one of their peer counselors as their



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counselor, out of natural humility. The third way is through the board of

counselors meeting itself, which provides counseling for all of the partici-

pants. The counselors receive the most counseling. Then they share it with

their counselees. In this system no one is king. Everyone is servant.

C o u n s e l e e M e e t i n g F o r m a t

t h e c o u n s e l o r s m e e t w i t h t h e i r c o u n s e l e e s every two weeks

for a joint meeting. They sing Vaisnava bhajans, and read and dis-

cuss several pages of Prabhupadas books. One of the counselees gives

a presentation that he or she has prepared over the past week or two,

and they discuss that subject together. They share realizations of whatthey are going through in their family lives in a Krishna conscious

spirit. There are discussions on Vaisnava etiquette and improving

sadhana within the family environment. There is also a general dis-

cussion on problems people may have that are not private. Regular

exams are given for those who wish to take them.

C h o o s i n g C o u n s e l o r s

o n s u n d a y s w e a n n o u n c e that new devotees interested in accepting a

counselor can enter this program. Devotees sign up for whomever they

wish to be their counselor. Sometimes we ask people to sign up for two

or three counselors, so that in the event that everyone wants to be coun-

seled by a particular person, we can then delegate people to their secondor third choice. This is necessary because there is a limit to the number

of people that one counselor can care for. Generally a counselor does

not have more than twenty families as counselees. When a devotee is

serving as counselor for more than ten families, an assistant counselor

helps to take care of the devotees.

If at any time someone wants to choose a different counselor, that

is all right. At the beginning, it is a good idea for devotees to keep theircounselors for at least six months unless there is a serious problem.

S t a r t i n g a C o u n s e l o r P r o g r a m



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i n i t i a l l y , t h e c o u n s e l o r p r o g r a m m a y b e g i n in a small way, but

one should not give up, for in time it will grow. There will be trou-

bles at the start of the program. Krishna always tests any good

endeavor to see if we are serious about it. He will make it very diffi-cult, and one may think, What is the use? But if you do not give

up, Krishna will bestow His mercy. Once the counselor program is

begun, it should continue, no matter what the result. Gradually,

devotees will be very satisfied, and it will expand. In our case, we

had no model to followit took a couple of years for the program

to become strong.

Even if only one or two members of the congregation agree toparticipate, they will in time tell others that being a counselor is very

spiritually enlivening. Gradually, people who initially did not trust

the program will see how very happy in Krishna consciousness the

counselors are. They may also want to participate.

I would not suggest that participation in the counselor pro-

gram be mandatory. The opportunity should be available for those

who want the best care and training in Krishna consciousness.



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I m p o r t a n t Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s f o r C o u n s e l o r s

Counselors should have a nice understanding of the

philosophy and practice of Krishna consciousness.

They should be able to give balanced advice according

to time, place, and circumstance.

They should not be prone to taking extreme and con-

troversial positions on issues.

They should be willing to extend themselves to help

others and have a spirit of sacrifice.

Counselors should be compassionate and have a gen-

uine concern for the welfare of devotees.

Counselors should be good listeners. They should be

able to listen to the people they are trying to serve.

Counselors should be mature and sober.

They should have been active within ISKCON for a

reasonable length of time.

Counselors should demonstrate a good standard of sad-hana, etiquette, behavior, and commitment to serving

the mission of Srila Prabhupada.

Counselors should be stably situated within their

own ashram.



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R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e C o u n s e l o r s

Counselors should be a Krishna conscious friend

and guide.

They should be an elder spiritual brother or sister

and should take personal care of the devotees in

their group.

They should encourage and inspire their counse-lees in Krishna consciousness and monitor their

progress.

They should provide Krishna conscious training to

their counselees.

They should not only counsel their counselees in

spiritual matters but also in personal and domesticmatters whenever necessary.

They should look into the overall welfare of their

counselees.



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B a s i c T r a i n i n g P r i n c i p l e s G i v e n t o C o u n s e l e e s

Counselees should be ideal grhasthas by keeping

Krishna in the center.

They should maintain proper devotional standards

while at home, in the kitchen, and on the altar.

They should be a proper wife, husband, or parent.

Children receiving counseling should behave in

accordance with the teachings of our scriptures.

Counselees should balance economic and social

responsibilities with spiritual vows.

Men should know how to deal with their wives,

the wives of other men, and unmarried women.Women should know how to deal with brah-

macaris, sannyasis, their husbands, and the hus-

bands of other women.

Counselees should have a proper attitude toward

the other ashrams and understand the proper way

for grhasthas to deal with brahmacaris, sannyasis,

and vanaprasthas.

Counselees should understand how to deal with

family members who are not devotees.

Counselees should know how to relate with mate-

rialistic people.



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f t e r t h e c a r i n g f o r d e v o t e e s became a priority at the Radha-

Gopinath temple, the counselors developed newer ways to serve

devotees in different aspects of their lives. They established commit-tees that concentrate on a particular type of care that devotees

require. The more one serves devotees in this way, the more one

wants to serve them and thinks of striving to help in every aspect of

their lives.

M a r r i a g e B o a r d

t h e m a r r i a g e b o a r d i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t f o r u s . In the West, peoplewho wish to get married go about it like hunters entering the forest with

various weapons, which include glances, sweet words, and the way they

dress. In Vedic culture, marriages are made with the help of senior, expe-

rienced people. The marriage committee never arranges a marriage;

rather, they simply help young men and women find a proper partner in

a respectable way. There are many wonderful benefits of this. Even before

marriage begins, the couple is trained in how to respect and honor each

other in a Krishna conscious way. This system also protects the brah-

macaris who want to remain brahmacaris.

Those who want to marry give their names to the committee,

which then meets to determine which candidates would be most com-

patible. The committee members must be very sensitive and intelligent

as to what makes a marriage work. They consider commitment to devo-tional service, personalities, backgrounds, professions, and astrology. If

they feel they have found a good match, they ask the boy and girl if they


A

C o m m i t t e e s f o r t h e C a r e o f D e v o t e e s


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are interested in each other. If they are both favorable, the committee

arranges for them to meet in a setting where a member of the marriage

board is also present. Members of the board suggest important questions

the couple should ask each other, and they also suggest important thingsto discuss. They arrange as many meetings as necessary to decide if the

couple is compatible. If either one of them says no, the marriage board

then tries to find someone else. If the two devotees agree, then the board

goes to the parents to speak with them. If everyone is favorable, the board

may help (if requested to do so) to arrange for the ceremony.

W o m e n s C o m m i t t e e

a w o m a n i n o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n o n c e t o l d m e that she felt the

women of the congregation were disagreeing too much. So we

arranged for three of our

senior Krishna conscious

ladies to conduct a meeting

for other women once every

two weeks. They discuss the

lives and exalted character-

istics of saintly women such

as Kunti, Jahnava, Drau-

padi, and Gandhari. They

have created wonderful ways

to help women overcome

difficulties in Krishna con-

sciousness. They share real-

izations about being a

mother, a wife, and a daugh-

ter, and they become good

friends. There are women inthe congregation who previously had no friends, but because of this

program they now have wonderful relationships.



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We have no matajis ashram at the Radha-Gopinath temple.

Srila Prabhupada approved of unmarried women living in temples

outside of India, but often discouraged them from living in temples

in India. Still, we have a team of single women who do a greatamount of service and hold very dynamic preaching programs, and

they are getting tremendous results.

C h i l d r e n s C o m m i t t t e e

o n t h e f i r s t s a t u r d a y o f e v e r y m o n t h , we hold a popular childrens

festival in the temple. The children between the ages of 4 and 16 doeverything. Children lead Gaura-arotik and play the mrdanga and

karatalas. They sit on an asana to tell Krishnas and Lord Caitanyas pas-

times. They perform dramas that are written, produced, and directed

by children. They give Bhagavad-gita class. They put on puppet shows

with puppets theyve made. The adults cook the prasadam.

This festival program has created so much Krishna conscious-

ness in the children and helped them feel that they are making a serious

contribution to Lord Caitanyas movement. They get the chance to

develop the spirit of being a preacher. When parents see that their chil-

dren are Krishna conscious, their own Krishna consciousness grows.

Children tell their relatives who are unfavorable to Krishna conscious-

ness, Come and see me tonight. I am speaking a story. And they

come. Children can be excellent preachers; they can reach some people

that adults cannot.



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E c o n o m i c A i d

w e s h o u l d t r y t o d o w h a t e v e r i s w i t h i n o u r m e a n s

to help

people advance in Krishna consciousness and feel cared for. Once

that spirit is there, gradually the whole society comes together tohelp devotees. That may include economic aid. People should not

join our movement because they want material benefit. There

should not be any expectations of economic help between coun-

selors and counselees. Otherwise, people will come for material aid.

That is not our mission. We may offer economic aid to those who

we see are sincerely trying to become Krishna conscious and are fac-

ing serious difficulty

B h a k t i v e d a n t a H o s p i t a l , a n d B u s i n e s s a n d E m p l o y m e n t

C o m m i t t e e s

m a n y g r h a s t h a h a v e e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m s , so they have come

together to discuss how to help one another. Its unbelievable howmany ways they are trying to generate laksmi for the temple and for

their families. They also try to find people employment if they need it.

The congregation started the Bhaktivedanta hospital, where

one hundred fifty of our devotees are employed. About twenty five

initiated devotees are specialist doctors there. Devotees who previ-

ously worked at their own jobs now work full time with other devo-

tees. They have taken many occupations within the hospital: cooks,plumbers, electricians, managers, accountants, carpenters, cleaners,

and nurses.

The atmosphere of the hospital is very Krishna conscious. In

the entrance is a beautiful vyasasana with a full-size murti of Srila

Prabhupada. Many doctors, nurses, and staff workers wear tilak. All

the patients food is cooked by devotees and offered to the Deities in thehospitals temple room. There is an audio speaker in every room, and



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patients have access to two channels: one with Prabhupada singing bha-

jans and the other with him giving lectures. These lectures and bhajans

go on twenty four hours a day in every room, in every hallway, in the ele-

vator, and even in the operating room. Everyone listens to Prabhupada.Prabhupadas Bhagavad-gita is next to every bed, and in every room there

are pictures of Krishna.

There is also a spiritual care department dedicated to cultivating

the seed of bhakti in each of the patients. Each day a devotee brings a

small chariot with Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra to each room to

give darshan, caranamrita, and prasad.

By nature when people are sick, they are very submissive to theirdoctors. Our doctors often tell their patients, I am giving you the medi-

cine, but it cannot work without the grace of God. If you want the grace

of God, you should chant this maha-mantra. Through this preaching,

many patients have become devotees. Some are initiated and have become

counselors. Many staff members we hired have also become devotees.

F i n a n c i a l A s s i s t a n c e a n d H o u s i n g C o m m i t t e e s

s o m e o f o u r b r a h m a c a r i s w h o e n t e r e d t h e g r h a s t h a a s h r a m h a v e

b e e n a s s i s t e d by the congregation in their housing and occupational needs.

If some tragedy or financial crisis comes to any member of the congregation,

all the other members of the community help.

Devotees should see that if they dedicate their lives to this movement,

this movement will flourish. They should not think, I will give the best years

of my life in serving, and when I get older I will have nothing. If a brah-

macari wants to get married, the society should help that person establish a

family. In this way, devotees help and serve each other on every level possible.



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n e d e v o t e e i n o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n , who is about sixty years old,found out that he had a heart problem. The doctors said if he did not

undergo heart surgery within one week, he would either die or suffer

serious health problems for the rest of his life. But all the operating

rooms in Bombay were full and the devotee would have to wait at least

one month to receive heart surgery. In addition, this man had no

money for the surgery. He is just a simple, hardworking person who

lives in an apartment outside of our temple. For a middle-class Indian,

it would take years to raise enough money for such an operation.

The devotees came together and decided to help this person.

Every devotee with any connection whatsoever approached hospital

administrative authorities, and somehow or other got the devotee

into an operating room in three days. Within one day the devotees

donated enough money for the operation, without any considera-tion that he had to pay them back.

The operation was dangerous, and his wife was in great anxiety.

Devotees came to their house and cooked, cleaned, and held kirtan

with his wife day and night. They were at the hospital at all times,

reading, chanting, and trying to encourage him. They made schedules

to care for him and his whole family. No one in his family had to do

anything throughout this troubled period except to hear and chant.I was in America when this happened. I got a letter from his

son, who was a twenty-year-old college student. He wrote pages and


T w o S t o r i e s

O


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pages of appreciation for the devotees, saying, I have never seen

such love among people anywhere on the planet. Devotees were giv-

ing money, spending all night with us, cooking for us, cleaning for

us, buying things for us. I dont think this family will ever, ever con-sider leaving the Krishna consciousness movement. Every other fam-

ily in the congregation saw that if the community did this for him

and his family, they would do the same for them if they were ever in

an emergency.

t h e f a t h e r o f o n e o f o u r d e v o t e e s i s a j a i n . He hated devotees

of Krishna. When his son became a devotee, he was outraged. He

was so angry that he would do nothing but blaspheme. He thought

his son was uselessly disgracing his family and wasting his life. He

thought the Krishna consciousness movement was a terrible, dan-

gerous cult.

One day he had a heart attack. Because he was a devotees

father, devotees stayed at the hospital with him twenty four hours a

day, helping him in every possible way. When he left the hospital, he

said, The devotees are the greatest people in the world. None of my

family members or relatives would ever care about me as much as

these devotees do. He said, I respect devotees more than any other

people in the world.

Soon after he got out of the hospital, he invited all of his business asso-

ciates, friends, and relatives to gather on the roof of his house to hear me giveclass and perform kirtan. At that time he told everyone, When I was in need,

none of you helped me! Not like these people did! There were people at my

bedside all night long who I had never met in my entire life. Just because my

son is a devotee, they did all this for me. Such love and care is nowhere to be

found in the world. His heart completely changed. Now he is very happy

his son is a devotee.

These types of activities encourage devotees. Krishna consciousness isnot just a philosophyits a way of life. We have to express the compassion

and love that we learn from the philosophy in our dealings with one another.



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h a t w e h a v e s h a r e d w i t h y o u is how our temple has been try-ing to establish an ideal according to our time, place, and people.

The ideal is essential, and it may be applied in different ways accord-

ing to the circumstances.

If devotees are interested in these ideas, please contemplate

how to move in this direction. Education, training, and caring sys-

tems can begin in a simple way practically anywhere. Once you

begin, there is no end to how many wonderful opportunities there

are to create a stable and happy community of Vaisnavas.

If the leaders are inspired by this idea and make it a priority,

it will certainly be a successbut not without hard work. Good

things do not happen automatically; they come through sacrifice.

Even in our temple, when we started the counselor program, devo-

tees gave up on it twice. Brahmacaris were thinking, I have so muchservice, and grhasthas were thinking, I have so many economic

and family responsibilities plus my sadhana and my service for the

temple. We dont even know if it will work. Now they will never

give it up for anything.

The only way such a system could be really successful is if the

leaders of the temple are committed to caring for devotees as the top

priority. This is the primary concern of the whole project. We shouldstrive to take care of the devotees and to cultivate in their hearts a

deep attachment to hearing and chanting the names and glories of


C o n c l u s i o n

W


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the Lord. If this is the first priority, then book distribution, temple

building, fund raising, Food for Life, Deity worship everything

will flourish.

Devotees have to be inspired; they have to be satisfied. Theyhave to be willing to stay and perform their service to Srila

Prabhupadas mission. To keep devotees in that mood, we should

invest energy into each devotees life. We should make this the top

priority of our whole society. Hearing and chanting the names and

glories of Sri Radha-Madhava in the association of devotees is our

only hope. It is our very life and soul. Let us create such a wonderful

sat-sanga of devotees that we will never give up preaching the gloriesof the holy name.

When devotees of all different categories can share love and

trust, striving for purity, we will have a spiritually satisfied society.

Few will want to leave. When we come together to chant the holy

names in such a spirit of devotion, the spiritual world will descend.

That kirtan will attract the whole world. That will be a wonderful

offering at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.



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A u d i o :

A s K i n d r e d S p i r i t s

- N e c t a r o f D e v o t i o n

R a m y a D e v i D a s i

- B e l o v e d o f K r i s h n a

D i v i n e C l a s s i c s I I

- C u l t u r a l C o n q u e s t

V i d e o :

T h e S i m p l e T e m p l e -

C h o w p a t t y

B u r n t L a d h u -

L i f e A f t e r G u r u k u l a

I n n e r t a i n . T V : T e l e v i s i o n f o r t h e S o u l

- H a p p i e s t P l a c e o n E a r t h

- 2 1 s t C e n t u r y H a r e K r i s h n a M a n

H a r e K r i s h n a T o d a y :

S p i r i t u a l P e r s p e c t i v e s

- J e s u s w a s a V e g e t a r i a n

- D e v a D a s i : D a n c e i n D e v o t i o n

- G l o r y o f I n d i a

- N a t i o n a l C a t h e d r a l I n t e r f a i t h C o n c e r t

- P o l i s h W o o d s t o c k F e s t i v a l

N e w R e l e a s e s :

L i t t l e V a i s h a n v a S o n g s - V o l . 1 ( a u d i o )

T h e I n a c t i v i s t -

A D o c u m e n t a r y ( v i d e o )

G a r u d a s Q u e s t

w w w . a v a t a r s t u d i o s . o r g

A l s o A v a i l a b l e F r o m A v a t a r S t u d i o s


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Documents

Simple Steps for a Simple Temple