Hare Krishna, dear Gurumaharaj, Pamho, AGTSP!
I am very excited about our team that are {is} building an educational project. They are very professional people, very knowledgeable in the subject. It really was a revelation.
HpS - AGTSP!!! Paoho. We are very enthused by this also!! Here in Chile there are the same class of people. Please write and article about what is happening for the next issue of Viplavah and then Jayam!!! The next revolution is about to happen. Catch the wave! YOu can probably just edit this letter a little bit. Post it here and I can edit the English and put it in the next Viplavah. Title might be, Start a Public School - Teaching the Essence?
Yesterday we had our second meeting, already talking about the plan. We are already clear in "Who we are". We brainstormed more about the character we want to give to the school. On the one hand we take some external distance from ISKCON, but the essence is there, however, we want something even more open and inclusive. Therefore, Avanti schools does not fit in what we want.
Our vision is much more inclusive, a broader curriculum. We are reviewing important documents of the Ministry of Education of Peru and the requirements to open an educational center. We are studying several currents and educational proposals such as Waldorf, Montessori, Asiris (the one we visited) and modern thinkers like Vigostky, Ausbel, Brunner, Paulo Freire and Peruvians also like Walter Peñaloza. We want to have a vision of everything good there is to see what fits our goals. Ultimately, what Prabhupa wanted
HpS - One model that Prabhupada gave was 1. Help the students investigate what is matter. This can include modern science, but also good training in Ayurveda, Jyotis-veda, etc. Vedic view of matter. The general conclusion is that matter is not enough to explain everything eg. Free will, desire for immortallity, happiness, so, 2. What is the Atma, the self, that desires these things and 3. The distinction between Atma and Paramtama. This are known by so many names by so many educators, no? Paramatma is appreciated by meditation, insight, intuition. Then Bhagavan... Prabhupada suggested that in the secular atmosphere at that time that we not deal with it, but if people got educated, woke up, to the level of Paramtama they would ask you personally about Bhagavan or find Him in their own religion. Of course, the curriculum could include mono-theism as comparative religious study, no?
The vision should lead to an appropriate, truly innovative methodology, something that makes everyone want to put their children in our school. More contact with nature, less information technology, more real experiences. There are deadlines and things to keep in mind, very technical and specific. The enthusiasm is there. I will give you reports as our proposal takes shape.
The second point is that I am concerned about the slow pace with which we are advancing in the educational area at ISKCON. I don't want to be unfair, devotees have many responsibilities. But remember that it was three years ago or a little more that a meeting was held at Wilson after NIMSAR died. There, you suggested to have meetings periodically. Even that meeting was seen as a new post-MINSAR era. You went to Argentina or Chile and suggested we meet in your absence. That meeting did not happen, nor were there ever more educational meetings with people interested in the issue.
Perhaps those in charge have another vision, other perspectives. I remember talking to P. Mathures about 10 years ago about the importance of internal communication. It may be that the authorities are doing a lot, but as there is no communication we cannot blame the devotees who say that the authorities do nothing. The only communications we have is about who the new bosses are or if someone is going to be sanctioned and those things. I believe that communication is a powerful tool to keep the enthusiasm in devotees, so they feel included, so they feel as an important part of ISKCON and therefore they feel incline to participate more.
HpS - Yes, what about Jayam? ART Das is sufering from lack of collaborators. People read it. We will post our calendar plan for The Lima on the Blog next. Lettuce meat.
I always meditate on two things that Srila Prabhupada told us, which I consider fundamental for the development of ISKCON:
COOPERATION AND UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
Those two factors combined in acintya-bhedabheda- tattva is what will keep us as a sustainable institution in space and time, I believe.
HpS - What about COOPERATION AND UNITY IN DIVERSITY FOR RADHARANI???
And this occurs when the projects are participatory, and communicate, and are put to the consideration of the devotees. But the sankirtan movement, the sankirtan army of Lord Caitanya becomes a disjointed group of people. As I say, in scattered snipers. And a war is not win with snipers, it is win with a well-assembled army.
ASA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_strategy Comments from General B. Baboon?
So, I think we lack a lot of that, and also in the educational field. Personally I work by inspiration, not by instruction and I have to draw inspiration and enthusiasm on my own. I feel like one more sniper. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe my vision is too pessimistic. That is why I put these issues to your consideration.
HpS - Not time to detailed thought. Maybe not needed. I agree with you. Like you say, everybody is very busy. The people in administration are many times people working just like you and me AND doing the EXTRA austerity of institutional managment. Of course, sometimes they are Vena Maharajas and the great Brahmana's have to ask the two change, but if they don't then destroy them with "high pitched sound". I guess that is internet in the modern age. Haw! Haw! Haw! Managing the ISKCON institution is necessary, but to me I see a complex situation. Lot of variety. Think is just what you are doing. Clarify who you are in terms of Srila Prabhupada then estabish relationships with others.
ASA Blog, Peru School, Jayam??? ??
A practical point is that I don't know what is being done about recovering ISKCON Peru as a Bhakti sastri examination center. It has been a long time. And not to mention being Bhakti Vaibhava center. I have BVB students who frequently ask me about that and I feel that I am disappointing them, I don't know what to tell them. I have thought of giving them an ASA Pada Padma diploma, at least. Hopefully something concrete will be implemented soon to take a Pada Padma exam that would make my students more enthusiastic. And have the possibility to start this program with devotees Bhakti sastris who wish to continue studying systematically.
HpS - I am struggling, the BOEX, is struggling at the global level. Have you talked with the Gandharva Das about this? Can you talk with him??? I think there has actually been work to establish this!
Thank you very much, dear Gurumaharaj for listening to me.
I hope to talk with you about these issues in Lima.
Hopefully everything will be adjusted so that Srila Prabhupada is proud that his disciples and disciples of his disciples are fulfilling their wishes in the educational area.
ASA - TB -- https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/war-strategy.html for Prabhupada!!!
Your servant,
Laksmana-agraja
HpS - ASA -- Now post Calendar for Lima...
