Education Congress with ISKCON
Mallarauco, Santiago de Chile. 29, 30 and 31 February 2016
This conference was very enriching for all participants. Education luminaries were sharing their knowledge, achievements and experiences in the area.
The inaugural session was held in the temple of Santiago. SS Hanumatpresaka Swami opened the Congress as a member of the executive committee of the ISKCON Ministry of Education. He presented a touching words highlighting the importance of the event. Then Srila Virabahu, as GBC for the region, blessed and again stressed the importance of the event.
Giridhari Ram Prabhu, director of the executive committee, presented the tasks that the ISKCON Ministry of Education ISKCON, led by Sesa Prabhu, want us to make all of us who are actually involved in educational programs.
1. Establish a fluid communication with the Ministry.
2. Record the programs to the Ministry.
3. Report regularly development programs.
With this information the ministry will publish a newsletter that serves as a link between the projects to exchange information, share experiences, show different curriculum etc. With these examples, each project can be enriching. The ministry will support all efforts to make greater the efforts which themselves are already great.
The next step will be to work on qualifications, certification and training of teachers.
The sessions themselves began on Friday 29 at the retreat center Mallarauco an hour from Santiago. Sunday 31 Congress concluded.
The speakers and topics were diverse. Srimad Bhagavatam classes were also given.
SS Hanumatpresaka Swami, in his speech at sastric education, stressed the importance of the maha mantra and Panca tattva mantra as the basis of sastric study. Then the curriculum is built, and finally the system is embodied in a particular project. Always remembering us that first are persons, then plans and finally resources.
His Holiness also gave a master class in Bhakti Vaibhava where he presented the main lines of the Pada Padma, the first two Cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam. Another topic discussed was the university preaching. He stressed that thanks to some devotees like Radhika Raman Prabhu, Sadaputa and especially Tamal Krishna Maharaja, Vedic philosophy is recognized as being reliable and Srila Prabhupada is being considered more than a spiritualist, a true theologian. Therefore devotees who study or teach in universities have the great challenge to continue putting up vaisnava values.
Dhanvantari Swami, director of Jaladuta project in Brazil with his loving and concerned for the person humor, outlined the challenges posed by the study of scriptures. Should not be taken as a simple fashion, a duty prescribed. The study should motivate us to reflection, to be more authentic. This studies is to keep faith in the process. He also stressed that in the study and teaching we must always remember that we are servants. With this attitude the process is optimal. Teachers are servants of students and people in general. We appreciate people. Thus motivated to learn more. The last day presented the "Love and Trust" program. Taking as a basis the Nectar of Instruction, Maharaja highlighted text three cultivation as a basis for our action in Krishna consciousness in an atmosphere of loving exchange with devotees described in the text four.
Param padam Prabhu, director of the Vaishnava school of Argentina presented his interesting perspective as an experienced educator. He said that we must not try to cover all the knowledge, it is better to present some content, but with depth. Do not take philosophy as clichés. As "we are not the body" and remain on a superficial level. The study is hearing, speaking and remembering. Therefore reach the level of smaranan is ideal. He spoke of allowing the student to reflect, ask questions, investigate. Do not give all the conclusions, we draw them together. Strive to always have open questions. In another session he presented a very practical issue: "How to present a class."He defined a class, either Bhagavad gita or Srimad Bhagavatam, as an opportunity to share an experience, a realization or knowledge. To do this one has to be constantly reading the books of Srila Prabhupada, performing regular sadhana and belong to the discipleship of ISKCON. For a class to be optimum has to be have adequate preparation, give structure and add practical elements of speech and emotional stimulation to reach the heart of the listener. He noted the importance that of all devotees should teach. The idea with this is to keep learning, keep the missionary spirit of our movement and inspire other devotees.
Aravinda Prabhu, who runs an educational institution in Mexico, shared his concerns, experiences, techniques and more about his passion and leitmotif of his life: the distribution of the books of Srila Prabhupada. He talked about overcome congregational and personal problems for making this service more effective. New perspectives, education, creativity and commitment are essential elements so the distribution of books will continue and increase in ISKCON, as Srila Prabhupada’s desire.
Baladeva Prabhu of Argentina, collaborator of Vaisnava School, shared with us some of his vast talents. This time communication development issues, such as empathic listening. This attitude rather than technique is essential for the development of a healthy, enriching and productive relationships among devotees. He also gave a brief conflict resolution workshop. We all left excited to improve our interpersonal and group relations in ISKCON and in our lives in general.
Madana Mohan Prabhu, Chilenean expert psychologist, introduced us to some important points for devotees maintain a proper mental health. Prabhu stressed the importance of mind control according to the Vedic perspective. Situations of rejection or addiction and mental slippage can easily lead to trauma and mental disturbances that will delay our spiritual progress and ruin our relationships. On the other hand, introspection is always an elements that have to be present in our lives to make it healthier and so will make our progress optimal. In an environment of healthy habits such as yoga and sattvic nutrition make life more pleasant. Create an atmosphere without external and internal noise, without an artificial stress, avoiding risk factors is vital. Avoid customize our problems on the basis of "I" and "mine" is crucial. If we have a mental health problem we should immediately seek support and not have the misconception that psychological support is something materialistic.
Swami Candramuka Brazil showed us, among other things, two successful programs he leads.
One is addressed to devotees on how to deal with problems in the spiritual life. Displaying lots of creativity and enthusiasm he presented the AMAR (LOVE) program to overcome the problems in the spiritual life. A for self observation (Auto observación). First I have to identify my problem. Self-observation, introspection must be constant. M for meditation. One observes himself and meditate on the tools we have for spiritual development. Prabhupada's books, different advices, memories in Krishna consciousness, means that will help me out of a tricky situation. A for (AGRADECIMIENTO)be thankfull. Take responsibility for the problem, admitting the problem. One have to thank Krishna the chance to be in a problematic situation to learn, grow and advance. So you can go from discouragement to enthusiasm in a kind of spiritual alchemy. R for repeat. Sadhana has to be constant, repetitive. Reading, recitation of slokas. All this takes us out of a bad situation and we return to the path. It is a personal choice and of course with a little help from our friends. But the responsibility lies with oneself. Maharaja also presented a beautiful external program being very successful. It is called LAPIDAR in Spanish that means carving. It is based on applying the five angas of devotional service to the level that people can apply. Already has more than sixty groups exchanged Krishna consciousness in everyday life.
Also at the conference two important workshops for congregational development were performed:The workshop for children and for the youngsters.
In the workshop children, Mother Sayana as facilitator, made a productive FODA analysis. Devotees discussed the problems of children, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses to address the need of the congregation on the issue of education of children. Also which ones are the external threats and what development opportunities are there. Some devotees offered to work with commitment to improve the situation and start making concrete plans for the education of children.
Laksmana-agraja das, president of NIMSAR, addressed the issue of young people. Based on the experiences recounted by Chandramuka Swami and an enlightening survey by Jagad guru Prabhu and young devotee Nila Madhava, LAD proposed that the authorities and the congregation in general have to appreciate and support initiatives of young people. In a session where young people met with LAD only as a facilitator, they discussed their situation. The conclusion was that the temple should give them a space, not only physical but also psychological and attitudinal, so they make their programs that they themselves will direct. They immediately set the next session for their projects. The meeting was highly productive.
The congress also provided an opportunity to make a beautiful sadhu sanga in many aspect. We did together a spiritual program: Mangalartik, chanting rounds, Goura Artik, with the beautiful presence of Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladev and Subadra. We share beautiful bhajans and kirtan. We also shared arts with dance and theater. We share tasty prasadam. And above all we share tasty group and confidential conversations.
We all left the congress happy, excited, enriched, wanting to do more for the devotees and people generally, more eager to help in the mission of Srila Prabhupada, to expand the sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya, to get more aducation, to teach more this beautiful philosophy.
Special thanks to Jagad guru Prabhu and his excellent working group, Nandanandana, M. Karuna, M. Carolina and so on.
Finally some educational leaders met to evaluate the Congress. The results were very positive and there are aspects to improve in the next Congress. They’ll get together soon to organize the next congress.
I, LAD, during my return on a long trip by bus. I was meditating on all this. Long hours. Did nothing but continue savoring the experience, remembering the friends I made, everything I learned. Deeply thanked Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and my spiritual master for this undeserved nectar. When I was entering the chaotic Lima downtown I started already missing my old and new Chilenean, Argentinian, Brazilian friends. Looking forward to soon meet them again in the next ISKCON Latin American Congress of education.
