Week 14
As the members have been coming for a few weeks
and are familiar with you, you can engage them gradually in different services to Krsna.
As they come in for the program, you can request them to help you in services like
probably keeping the plates ready to serve prasadam, washing utensils, or looking after
new guests, etc. This takes them also to the next level in their relationship with you…
from one of being just a guest to that of being a close friend. Also this will inspire them
to serve Krsna more and advance in their devotional service.
Ice breaker : 15 minutes
After you have introduced any new visitor that may have come, have a brief satsanga /
ice – breaker session.
Introduce Your Partner: Divide the whole group in pairs and have each pair interview
each other. Give a time limit. After that have everyone introduce the partner to the whole
group.
After this, you can share some interesting and important point that you read during the
week from Srila Prabhupada’s books, with them. Ask the others who have taken Srila
Prabhupada’s books home to read, to also share something. Have the books of srila
Prabhupada’s displayed prominently, so that the others will gradually be inspired to also
buy/ borrow some books. As you progress from week to week, you will find their interest
in hearing people’s realizations about Srila Prabhupada’s books and also in sharing their
own realization with others, growing. More and more members should be becoming
active in reading due to this. Be encouraging and patient. Do not push them to do it, as
that can never produce the desired results. It will naturally happen if you remain
enthusiastic and patient.
Kirtana : 15 minutes
Continue as in the previous weeks by distributing the sheet containing the pranama
mantras and the Hare Krsna mantra as well as the glorifications at the end of the kirtana.
Also continue with the offering of incense by every member to the Altar Deities or Deity
pictures.
Japa…. 15 minutes
Read out first, the following passage from :
The Nectar of the Holy Name
Lord Caitanya introduced the maha-mantra to counteract the
philosophy of impersonalism:
[Lord Caitanya to Prakasananda Sarasvati]: "The Mäyäväda philosophy is so degraded
that it has taken the insignificant living entities to be the Lord, the Supreme Truth, thus
covering the glory and supremacy of the Absolute Truth with monism."
Sripada Shankaracharya purposely claimed the jiva-tattva, or living entities, to be equal
to the Supreme God. Therefore his entire philosophy is based on a misunderstanding, and
it misguides people to become atheists whose mission in life is unfulfilled. The mission
of human life, as described in Bhagavad-gita, is to surrender unto the Supreme Lord and
become His devotee, but the Mayavada philosophy misleads one to defy the existence of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead and pose oneself as the Supreme Lord. Thus it has
misguided hundreds and thousands of innocent men....the Mayavada philosophy,
misguiding people by claiming the living entity to be the Lord, has created havoc
throughout the entire world and led almost everyone to godlessness. By thus covering the
glories of the Supreme Lord, the Mayavadi philosophers have done the greatest
disservice to human society. It is to counteract these most abominable activities of the
Mayavadi philosophers that Lord Caitanya has introduced the Hare Krishna mahä-
mantra.
harer nama harer näma
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
[Cc. Ädi 17.21]
"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy
name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."
People should simply engage in the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, for thus
they will gradually come to understand that they are not the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, as they have been taught by the Mayavadi philosophers, but are eternal
servants of the Lord. As soon as one engages himself in the transcendental service of the
Lord, he becomes free.
mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any
circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the
level of Brahman." (Bg. 14.26)
Therefore the Hare Krishna movement or Krishna consciousness movement is the only
light for the foolish living entities who think either that there is no God or that if God
exists He is formless and they themselves are also God. These misconceptions are very
dangerous, and the only way to counteract them is to spread the Hare Krishna movement.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 7.120
Chant loudly together one mala on the beads after chanting the Panca tattva mantra 3
times.
Do keep a watch on how they are chanting, whether they are holding the beads properly
and if they are concentrating, etc You should encourage them with smiles and
instructions, if necessary, to do it rightly. At the end of the session, enquire if they enjoy
chanting at home. Enquire about how many malas each one is chanting and encourage
them gently to add one more mala to their chanting for the week.
Discussion - 45 minutes
Please read out the passage below and start asking the questions.(Do not explain it to
them.) Let the people assembled find out the answers from the passage themselves.
Please engage everyone in answering, You can ask two, three people to add to the same
answer. Move from one person to the next and give them sufficient time to think.You
could ask leading questions for them to go deeper and get a clearer understanding of the
subject matter for giving relevant replies.
The application question ideally has to be answered by everyone. This will give you a
good idea about how well each one has understood the philosophy, how serious they are
about spiritual life and any practical problems or obstacles that they may be facing.
This is the most important part of the discussion, and so you must provide sufficient time
of at least 15 to 20 minutes for it.
You should at last sum up all the points and give more points that you have prepared..
Passage for Discussion:
Conversation:
Srila Prabhupada is accompanied by Dr. Singh, Karandhara dasa adhikari,
Brahmananda Svami and other students.
Recorded on April 19, 1973,
In Cheviot Hills Park, Los Angeles
Darwinism Extinct
Srila Prabhupäda: This material world is a composition of three qualities—sattva, rajas
and tamas (goodness, passion and ignorance)—which are working everywhere. These
three qualities are present in various proportions in all species of life. For example, some
trees produce nice fruit, while others are simply meant for fuel. This is due to the
association of particular qualities of nature. Among animals also, these three qualities are
present. The cow is in the quality of goodness, the lion in passion, and the monkey in
ignorance. According to Darwin, Darwin's father is a monkey. [Laughter.] He has
theorized foolishly.
Dr. Singh. :Darwin has said that some species become extinct in the struggle for
survival. Those which are capable of surviving will survive, but those which are not will
become extinct. So he says survival and extinction go side by side.
Srila Prabhupäda. Nothing is extinct. The monkey is not extinct. Darwin's immediate
forefather, the monkey, is still existing.
Karandhara. Darwin said there must be a natural selection. But selection means choice.
So who is choosing?
Srila Prabhupäda. That must be a person. Who is allowing someone to survive and
someone to be killed? There must be some authority with discretion to give such an
order. That is our first proposition. Who that authority is, is explained in Bhagavad-gita
Krishna says, mayadhyakshena prakritih: "Nature is working under My supervision."
(Bg. 9.10)
Dr. Singh. Darwin also says that the different species were not created simultaneously,
but evolved gradually.
Srila Prabhupäda. Then what is his explanation for how the process of evolution began?
Karandhara. Modern proponents of Darwinism say that the first living organism was
created chemically.
Srila Prabhupäda. And I say to them, "If life originated from chemicals, and if your
science is so advanced, then why can't you create life bio chemically in your
laboratories?"
In the Future
Karandhara. They say they will create life in the future.
Srila Prabhupäda. What future? When this crucial point is raised, they reply, "We shall
do it in the future." Why in the future? That is nonsense. "Trust no future, however
pleasant." If they are so advanced, they must demonstrate now how life can be created
from chemicals. Otherwise what is the meaning of their advancement? They are talking
nonsense.
Karandhara. They say that they are right on the verge of creating life.
Srila Prabhupäda. That's only a different way of saying the same thing: "In the future."
The scientists must admit that they still do not know the origin of life. Their claim that
they will soon prove a chemical origin of life is something like paying someone with a
postdated check. Suppose I give you a postdated check for ten thousand dollars but I
actually have no money. What is the value of that check? Scientists are claiming that their
science is wonderful, but when a practical example is wanted, they say they will provide
it in the future. Suppose I say that I possess millions of dollars, and when you ask me for
some money I say, "Yes, I will now give you a big postdated check. Is that all right?" If
you are intelligent, you will reply, "At present give me at least five dollars in cash so I
can see something tangible." Similarly, the scientists cannot produce even a single blade
of grass in their laboratories, yet they are claiming that life is produced from chemicals.
What is this nonsense? Is no one questioning this?
Karandhara. They say that life is produced by chemical laws.
Srila Prabhupäda. As soon as there is a law, we must take into consideration that
someone made the law. Despite all their so-called advancement, the scientists in their
laboratories cannot produce even a blade of grass. What kind of scientists are they?
Dr. Singh. They say that in the ultimate analysis, everything came from matter. Living
matter came from nonliving matter.
Srila Prabhupäda. Then where is this living matter coming from now? Do the scientists
say that life came from matter in the past but does not at the present? Where is the ant
coming from now—from the dirt?
The Missing Link
Dr. Singh. in fact, there are several theories explaining how life originated from matter,
how living matter came from the nonliving.
Srila Prabhupäda. [casting Dr. Singh in the role of a materialistic scientist]. All right,
scientist, why is life not coming from matter now? You rascal. Why isn't life coming
from matter now? Actually such scientists are rascals. They childishly say that life came
from matter, although they are not at all able to prove it. Our Krishna consciousness
movement should expose all these rascals. They are only bluffing. Why don't they create
life immediately? In the past, they say, life arose from matter; and they say that this will
happen again in the future. They even say that they will create life from matter. What
kind of theory is this? They have already commented that life began from matter. This
refers to the past—"began." Then why do they now speak of the future? Is it not
contradictory? They are expecting the past to occur in the future. This is childish
nonsense.
Karandhara. They say that life arose from matter in the past and that they will create life
this way in the future.
Çréla Prabhupäda. What is this nonsense? If they cannot prove that life arises from
matter in the present, how do they know life arose this way in the past?
Dr. Singh. They are assuming...
Srila Prabhupäda. Everyone can assume, but this is not science. Everyone can assume
something. You can assume something, I can assume something. But there must be proof.
We can prove that life arises from life. For example, a father begets a child. The father is
living, and the child is living. But where is their proof that a father can be a dead stone?
Where is their proof? We can easily prove that life begins from life. And the original life
is Krishna. That also can be proven. But what evidence exists that a child is born of
stone? They cannot actually prove that life comes from matter. They are leaving that
aside for the future. [Laughter.]
Karandhara. The scientists say that they can now formulate acids, amino acids, that are
almost like one-celled living organisms. They say that because these acids so closely
resemble living beings, there must be just one missing link needed before they can create
life.
Srila Prabhupäda. Nonsense! Missing link. I'll challenge them to their face! [Laughter.]
They are missing this challenge. The missing link is this challenge to their face.
Nobel Prize for an Ass
Dr. Singh. Some scientists hope that in the future they will be able to make babies in test
tubes.
Srila Prabhupäda. Test tubes?
Dr. Singh. Yes, they intend to combine male and female elements in biological
laboratories.
Srila Prabhupäda. If they begin with living entities, what is the purpose of the test tube?
It is only a place for combination, but so is the womb. Where is the credit for the
scientists if this is already being done in nature's test tube?
Karandhara. It is already being done by nature, but when some scientist does it, people
will give him the Nobel Prize.
Srila Prabhupäda. Yes, that is stated in Srimad-Bhägavatam: sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih
samstutah purusah pasuh.[4] This verse indicates that those who praise men who are like
animals are no better than dogs, hogs, camels and asses. Sva means "dog," vid-varäha
means "stool-eating hog," ustra means "camel," and khara means "ass." If the Nobel Prize
is given to a scientist who is a rascal, the men on the committee who give him that prize
are no better than dogs, hogs, camels and asses. We don't accept them as human beings.
One animal is praised by another animal. Where is the credit in that? If the men on the
committee are no better than animals, anyone who receives the Nobel Prize in science is
fool number one, because animals are praising him, not human beings.
Dr. Singh. For some scientists, the Nobel Prize is the ultimate.
Srila Prabhupäda. They are rascals. They are speaking nonsense, and because they are
juggling words, others are being misled.
Brahmananda Swami. Nobel is the person who invented dynamite.
Srila Prabhupäda. He has created great misfortune, and he has left his money for
creating further misfortune. [Laughter.]
Brahmananda Swami. The Gita says that demoniac people perform acts meant to destroy
the world.
Life comes from Life
Discovery:
1)Mention the headings or topics on which Srila Prabhupada disagrees with Darwin.
Understanding:
1)Why is it wrong to assume that man has descended from the monkey?
2) What is Darwin’s explanation of the origin of life? Explain his “survival of the fittest”
theory from the passage.
3) What is Srila Prabhupada’s answers to these propositions?
4) How do scientists explain away their inability to create life from matter?
5) Why does Srila Prabhupada not accept these explanations?
6) Why is Srila Prabhupada unimpressed by the scientists making test tube babies?
7) What is Srila Prabhupada’s opinion on Nobel prizes?
8) Why do you think Srila Prabhupada is severely criticizing the scientists? What harm
have their theories done to humankind?
Application:
1) Are you convinced about the scientists’ limitations? Why or why not?
Preaching session : 15 minutes
Please read out first the passage given below:
Preaching is the Essence
One Should preach to relieve Lord Caitanya’s anxiety for the fallen
souls:
“How will these yavanas be delivered ? To My great unhappiness, I do not see any
way.”
Haridasa Thankura Replied, “My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety. Do not be
unhappy to see the condition of the yavanas in material existence.”
These words of Haridas ThakuraThakura are just befitting a devotee who has dedicated
his life and soul to the service of the Lord. When the Lord is unhappy because of the
condition of the fallen souls, the devotee consoles Him, saying, “ My dear Lord, do not
be in anxiety.” This is service. Everyone should adopt the cause of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu to try to relieve Him from the anxiety He feels. This is actually service to
the Lord. One who tries to relieve Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s anxiety for the fallen souls
is certainly a most dear and confidential devotee of the Lord.
Cc. Antya 3.51-52 ( antya: 1, pp. 231-232)
Developing compassion is the main purpose of the preaching session. Without the mood
of compassion, devotees will not find the need or desire to preach and bring new
members, or to cultivate them. So in your reports, mention your realizations on how
people are suffering and about how we need to show them mercy, how we ourselves are
very fortunate to come across this valuable knowledge by the mercy of devotees, etc.
Share with them your experiences of preaching for the week, who you spoke to, visited,
had a discussion with or encouraged, etc.
If any of them have brought a new member, appreciate that. Also ask everyone to share
their attempts to get new people.
You can invite the most enthusiastic among them to accompany you in your visits to
some new member’s house, so that they see first hand how to deal with new people while
inviting or introducing them to Krsna consciousness.
Set a preaching home-work however small for everyone. Discuss what is possible for
each one and encourage them to do so. They must feel comfortable doing it and must
enjoy the experience. So do not push very hard. But be sensitive to the limits that are
ready to do .This could include activities like book distribution, inviting friends or new
contacts to the program, etc.
Prasadam : 20 minutes
Prasadam : 20 minutes
As you have done in the previous week, request them to chant the mantra for honouring
prasadam.
You can ask for volunteers to distribute and serve prasadam to the other members.
Engage them gradually in service and they will begin to taste nectar and make spiritual
advancement.
While they are eating, go around and talk with them, encouraging, joking and being
pleasant, and making them relax. It is the loving atmosphere which is going to draw them
to the program week after week. It is a tiny glimpse of the love that they are hankering to
experience with Krsna.
Gradually and spontaneously some of them will offer to help you clean up, as well.
Encourage them to participate, even if you want to taste the nectar of service yourself! It
is good for members to do service. So encourage it so that they will benefit spiritually.
Do not do so in a mood of sharing a burden
Immediately after the devotees have left the program, kindly fill in the following form:
Please enter the details about your members attending this week:
Immediately after the members have left the program, kindly fill in the following report:
Names Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Remarks
A S A S A S A S A S
EFFORTS
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week5 Total
1 No. of Mails
2 No. of Telephone Calls
3 No. of Home Visits
4 No. of Service Donors
5 No. of Money Donors
Abbreviations: A= Attendance, S= Siksha level
