Hare Krsna dear Gurudeva,

HpS = AGTSP. Paoho.

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!

Gurumaharaja. Here my anual report (Did you file it in the Report section here in the Kapi Dhvaja? Has to have a copy there.) and a few questions and comments about the education program. Things are going well. After 10 months in this service we almost know what to do, with whom and how to do it.

I believe education is a matter that concerns to everybody, to every devotee but in different levels according to their needs. The key is to know what those needs are.

HpS - This is like the FIRST sentence of the Preface to Srila Prabhupada's SB, no???

For some of them, education is a sophisticated, inaccessible (and unnecessary) topic, for others the panacea for every affliction in life.

• I contacted Bhakta Rupa Prabhu who has been very kind in sending us the BS/BV forms and MOE's basic requirements for establishing both examination centers. We fulfill the BS requirements but BV is a little bit more complicated. We should work in improving this program but I trust things can be done in a mid term.

ASA - We have been working with the Govardhana Eco-village (GEV), Gauranga Darsana Das, and they are going to roll-out an online program in January for BhVai. We plan on integrating with that. We can have local groups that sign in as individual students for study and evaluation. Of course, it is in English, so we will need to translate it to Spanish, and take help from Yadunandana Swami, and some regular Peruvian school. We can start with the First Two Cantos.

• We have proposed ISKCON Chosica to be the operations center and asked Karuna Krsna Prabhu if he agrees with Isvari dd as Introduction to Bhakti yoga teacher, me as BS teacher and LAD as BV (BhVai)teacher. He was ok with it, but he wants to know your opinion about LAD leading the BV program (as a teacher). I think we all know each other pretty well and basically none of us are qualified to work alone. We have to be part and parcel of the Team Gauranga!
• The BV program needs an examiner. Any suggestions? Both, teacher (LAD) and examiner should have their diplomas. I'm going to ask Atul Krsna prabhu if they can give the BV exam to get their certificate.

Include us the dialog with Atul k. D. I might suggest that we do the examinations Canto by Canto with a certificate for each one. We could do a review course and then very quickly we would have certified teachers. Then we would have to certify the Examiners. I would say that a good standard for Examiners would be that they are BhVed students. Later the program could expand.

• Other preaching centers could have their own program. For example, San Borja is asking Ramacandra prabhu to teach BS. We think is ok, he is a skilled teacher but if they want to certificate they should apply to the unique assesment. Many programs, one exam, one examiner. Is this correct Gurudeva?

It is our idea. We have a big question bank of multiple choice questions for the first canto. We can automate them. We can steal them from the English groups. Then they have a big bank of open book essay questions on the Canto. They have to stand for an oral examination. which will be like 3 out of their ten essays. The three of which will be chosen right before their oral examination. Oral exam can be a lecture before Examiners and public with Examiners then asking specific questions. Pass the computer multiple choice test, pass the oral exam on the Canto, get the certificate.

A questionair about their moral and academic character eg. do you keep daily SB class? Who are your study partners, teachers? What are their e-mail addresses?.

• The next step is to consult the National Board and the GBC representative about the appointment of Candramukhi dd as BS examiner. Step by step.
• ATD told that you are travelling to Ecuador by may next year. If you allow me I can go with you and take advantage of the trip to talk with whoever is necessary and observe the development of educational programs.

Who is ATD? Yes, we can try to go.

• Today I'm sending my report to Tapana Misra prabhu.

On a personal level. I'm manifesting moderate knee problems and while time goes by it doesn't improve. There are two main medical treatments for cartilage osteoarthritis, but both contains substances of animal origin: collagen and glucosamine. Is very hard to find veggie glucosamine so I ask you what to do. Should I continue looking after alternative treatments or should I treat my problem with glucosamine whose main component comes from shellfish?

HpS - Check in the USA for vegetarian alternatives? Contact PETA or other organizations? Become the retail agent for the veg. option in Peru?

Otherwise it may be o.K. to use animal products for medical reasons from what I have heard of Prabhupada. Thank you for this letter. We want to stay in touch with you for this BhVai development.

Is Ramacandra Das an ISKCON member? Who is his GBC authority?

Thank you in advance for your answer.

Your servant

Gandharva dasa