What was possible for Dhruva Maharaja is possible for anyone. Any five-year-old child can be trained, and within a very short time his life will become successful by realization of Krsna consciousness. Unfortunately, this training is lacking all over the world. It is necessary for the leaders of the Krsna consciousness movement to start educational institutions in different parts of the world to train children, starting at the age of five years. Thus such children will not become hippies or spoiled children of society; rather, they can all become devotees of the Lord. The face of the world will then change automatically.Due the the current interest in the ISKCON Gurukul [boarding school] system we have presented an unbiased collection of Srila Prabhupada's quotes on the Gurukul System. 108 quotes are provided below.
SB 1.12.30 P Birth of Emperor Pariksit
Srila Jiva Gosvami remarks in this connection that every child, if given an impression of the Lord from his very childhood, certainly becomes a great devotee of the Lord like Maharaja Pariksit. One may not be as fortunate as Maharaja Pariksit to have the opportunity to see the Lord in the womb of his mother, but even if he is not so fortunate, he can be made so if the parents of the child desire him to be so. There is a practical example in my personal life in this connection. My father was a pure devotee of the Lord, and when I was only four or five years old, my father gave me a couple of forms of Radha and Krsna. In a playful manner, I used to worship these Deities along with my sister, and I used to imitate the performances of a neighboring temple of Radha-Govinda. By constantly visiting this neighboring temple and copying the ceremonies in connection with my own Deities of play, I developed a natural affinity for the Lord. My father used to observe all the ceremonies befitting my position. Later on, these activities were suspended due to my association in the schools and colleges, and I became completely out of practice. But in my youthful days, when I met my spiritual master, Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, again I revived my old habit, and the same playful Deities became my worshipful Deities in proper regulation. This was followed up until I left the family connection, and I am pleased that my generous father gave the first impression which was developed later into regulative devotional service by His Divine Grace. Maharaja Prahlada also advised that such impressions of a godly relation must be impregnated from the beginning of childhood, otherwise one may miss the opportunity of the human form of life, which is very valuable although it is temporary like others.
SB 4.12.23 P Dhruva Maharaja Goes Back to Godhead
What was possible for Dhruva Maharaja is possible for anyone. Any five-year-old child can be trained, and within a very short time his life will become successful by realization of Krsna consciousness. Unfortunately, this training is lacking all over the world. It is necessary for the leaders of the Krsna consciousness movement to start educational institutions in different parts of the world to train children, starting at the age of five years. Thus such children will not become hippies or spoiled children of society; rather, they can all become devotees of the Lord. The face of the world will then change automatically.
SB 10.11.37 P The Childhood Pastimes of Krsna
As soon as Krsna and Balarama were a little grown up, They were meant for taking care of the calves. Although born of a very well-to-do family, They still had to take care of the calves. This was the system of education. Those who were not born in brahmana families were not meant for academic education. The brahmanas were trained in a literary, academic education, the ksatriyas were trained to take care of the state,
and the vaisyas learned how to cultivate the land and take care
of the cows and calves. There was no need to waste time going to school
to be falsely educated and later increase the numbers of the unemployed.
Krsna and Balarama taught us by Their personal behavior. Krsna took care
of the cows and played His flute, and Balarama took care of agricultural
activities with a plow in His hand.
JSD 1.3 The Science of Spiritual Life
If the spiritual master is bona fide and the disciple is very sincere,
then the knowledge will be there. This is the secret. Yasya deve para
bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau--Vedic knowledge is revealed unto those
who have faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master. Therefore in
Vedic society, the students are automatically sent to the gurukula [the place of the spiritual master], regardless of whether one is a king's
son or from some other background. Even Krsna had to go to gurukula.
JSD 1.3 The Science of Spiritual Life
So all of the students at the gurukula learn how to be very submissive
and how to live only for the benefit of the guru. They are trained
from the very beginning to be first-class submissive students. Then the
guru, out of affection and with an open heart, teaches the boys
all he knows. There is no question of money. It is all done on the basis
of love and education.
741128SB.BOM Lectures
Therefore our system is, Vedic system is from the very beginning, a child,
a boy is sent to gurukula to learn. Not that automatically one
learns. One must go to gurukula, brahmacari. Brahmacari goes to
guru, and he works like a menial servant. He may be a son of a big brahmana or big king, it doesn't matter. The one who goes to gurukula, he
immediately becomes the menial servant of guru. This is the system. That
means guru can order him to act any, I mean to say, low class service,
still he is prepared to do it. This is the business of brahmacari, and he takes all trouble, and childhood, he doesn't mind. Even Krsna,
he went to gurukula. To teach us. Krsna, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, what is the use of His going to gurukula? No, He is
teaching, apani acari' prabhu jiveri sikhaya. Caitanya Mahaprabhu
also accepted guru, teacher, guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasana.
750104SB.BOM Lectures
Therefore Krsna says that this kind of yoga practice is simply cheating.
The first-class yogi is he... Yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana. One who is thinking of always Krsna, "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna," he is first-class
yogi. And they are all cheaters. Some foolish people are cheated by this
yogic jugglery and he gets some position, some material position. So material
positions there are many. Even a politician, if he talks, many millions
people gather to hear him. But what is the benefit of such hearing? First
of all we have to see what is the benefit. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh. If you are interested of hearing lectures, then sastra says that "Hear of Visnu," not of any rascal. Hear from Vaisnava. Then you will
be benefited. Otherwise you will not be benefited. Avaisnavo gurur
na sa syat. This is the injunction of the sastra. One who is
avaisnava, he cannot become guru. Sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah.
A brahmana, and he is very expert in sat-karma... Sat-karma means six kinds of occupational duties. What is that? Pathana. A brahmana must be very, very learned scholar by reading Vedic
literature, and pathana, and teach others of the Vedic literature.
Therefore it was the custom of the brahmanas--they would not accept
anyone's service. They will sit down anywhere and open a school for teaching
Vedic literature. Pathana pathana. He will personally become learned,
and he will teach others. And the students, they will go from door to...,
brahmacari, door to door for begging, "Mother, give me some alms,"
and they will give because their students are there in the gurukula or catuspathi. So whatever they will bring, that will be cooked
and offered to Krsna, and the prasadam will be distributed amongst
themselves. This was the process, not twenty rupees' fee and give some
bribe to enter into the school, and that is also all rascal education,
no. First-class education, without any fee, from the realized soul--that
was educational system, varnasrama-dharma.
750119SB.BOM Lectures
And what is that? Kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha. From the very childhood this dharman bhagavatan must be given lessons to the children. Therefore, from the very beginning we have opened this
gurukula in Texas and in New Vrindaban, West Virginia. But here, practically, India, we don't get this opportunity. Before starting this movement, I approached many friends that "You have got four sons. Give me one. I will train him to become a Vaisnava brahmana." Nobody agreed. You see? But in the European countries, in America... Of course, they are all children of my devotees. I got them married. They have got now children, and they are being taught in gurukula. That is strictly according to the Vedic science, kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan
iha, from the very beginning of life. So life should be utilized properly,
and the children, not all... Some of them may become ksatriya; some of them become sudra or vaisya. But an ideal class
of brahmana must be there to guide the society. This is Krsna consciousness
movement.
760521SB.HON Lectures
A sudra, actually those who are by qualification sudra... Sudra means lamentation, simply changing. They accept something, and then they
find it useless, and they lament. The so-called scientists, philosophers,
they're all sudras because they say, "We have discovered something,"
and after few years, "Oh, it is now useless." Another theory. Sudra. So sudra cannot give you any education. That is not possible. Education
has to be taken from brahmana. That is the Vedic system. Brahmana is the teacher because they are trained up--satya sama damo titiksa
arjavam, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma-svabhava-jam. Therefore
in India still, not in the city but in the village, the brahmana is accepted as teacher, natural teacher. And there was... (aside:) You
sit down properly. Yes. Brahmana, they are teachers, natural teachers,
and there is no fees. No fees. Just like we started this Krsna consciousness
movement, teaching, but there was no fees. This is the teaching, real
teaching. So brahmana should not charge anything, but they can
take charity. So the students, they would bring charities naturally. This
was brahmana's profession. They would not charge anything, but
his disciples, students, would beg from door to door and bring. That is
gurukula. Gurukula. Gurukula means every student should go to gurukula and learn to become very simple and obedient and self-controlled and learn
how to address every woman as mother. This is guru..., from the very beginning.
They would go every home. Small children or big children, they will address,
"Mother, give us some alms." So every woman will give, and they would
bring it to guru. And that is guru's property, not because he has begged
this thing from somebody, it has become his property. No. It is guru's
property. This is called brahmacari gurukula, to gives one the
training.
750706SB.CHI Lectures
Then next business is brahmana should be a devotee, worshiping
Deity, either Visnu or sometimes other demigod. So yajana-yajana. He will personally do it, and he will teach others how to worship. Pathana-pathana
yajana. And his livelihood--by voluntary contribution; whatever people
will give, that's all right. People used to give brahmana. So pathana-pathana
yajana-yajana dana-pratigraha. A brahmana would receive...
People were very honest, that "This man is teaching our children. He does
not charge. This man is teaching me how to worship, how to become well
behaved." So they have no scarcity, enough. So he would simply use as
much as he required; balance he will give in charity. Not that keep in
stock for tomorrow. No. That is not brahmana's business. Whatever
is come today, I use it for my necessities of life, and balance, I give
to the poor or somebody else, somebody else, somebody..., or make some
festival. So pathana-pathana yajana-yajana dana-pratigraha. So
we require some income for our maintenance. So this was the brahmana's business. There is no question of doing some business or making some profession
or going to the office or going to the factory. This is not brahmana's business.
720527SB.LA Lectures
So here... Teachers are generally brahmanas. Not generally. To
become teacher is the business of the brahmanas. Brahmana means
they have got six kinds of... Everyone must have livelihood. This material
world is that you must work; otherwise you cannot get your livelihood.
That is the law, whatever you may be. So the brahmanas' means of
livelihood, six things: pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigraha.
Pathana means he must be a very learned scholar, study the Vedic literature,
and must teach others also. That is brahmana's business. And in
that way, whatever the disciples bring, that is his income. No salary,
no contract, that "If you pay me hundred dollars or five hundred dollars
weekly, then I can teach you." No. There is no such contract. Teaching
is free. It is the business of a brahmana to give free education
to everyone. Now, it is the... Just like in our institution, I am your
teacher, but there is no such contract that you have to pay me. But you
pay me more than anything. So pathana pathana, that is the means
of livelihood of brahmana. And ksatriya, they are kings.
They can levy tax of the citizens because they are giving protection from
being hurt by others. Ksatriya means one who gives protection (to)
a man being hurt by others. That is the real root meaning. Ksatriya. And vaisya means they should, krsi-goraksya-vanijyam, they should engage themselves in producing foodstuff, foodgrains, krsi, protect cows. Especially goraksya. As the king is meant for giving
protection to the man, similarly, a vaisya is supposed to give
protection to the cows, or they keep cows and produce milk products. They
are vaisya. And sudra, simply service. So these are the
different types of employment of different kinds of social order. And
a king, the king has to see that everyone is employed. Not that hundreds
of people are unemployed, and government has to give welfare, subsidy.
Not like that. The king's duty is that everyone is independently earning
his livelihood. That is king's duty.
760413SB.BOM Lectures
We have Daily we understand what is guru. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, citette
kariya aikya, ara na kariya mane asa. This is that. This is wanted.
If you have got real guru and if you follow him, then your life is successful.
There is no doubt. But if you have a so-called bogus guru, and without
any knowledge of the sastra, then your life will be spoiled. Especially
the Mayavadi guru, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has warned, mayavadi-bhasya
sunile haya sarva-nasa. Mayavadi guru means one who thinks that everyone
is God. That is Mayavadi guru. If you approach such guru, then your life
is spoiled. Mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa. Finished. Your
spiritual progress finished. So in this way, guru, arka, these
are the training. Where is that training? Where is that school? So why
they will not learn from eight years, ten years of age, smoking bidi and cigarette? When I was in America first, I saw some little boys, not
more than ten to twelve years, smoking cigarette. I was astonished that
"What kind of education is there?" But they don't mind. Even in their
classroom, the elderly young boys and girls, they smoke before the teacher.
I have seen it in New York University. So this is not training. Training
is he must be very controlled. And if you teach from the beginning, then
he will be trained up. There is a Bengali proverb, gancai noale vas,
mas korbe tans tas(?): "When the bamboo is green, you can bend it,
but when it is yellow, dried, it will crack." So education begins from
the very childhood. That is education. Therefore gurukula is required.
It doesn't require how much he has learned ABCD and grammar. No. First
of all character. That is gurukula living. Let him become danta, guru-grhe. Brahmacari guru-grhe vasan dantah. How to become sense controller, that is first education.
730128ND.CAL Lectures
It doesn't matter whether one is a grhastha or one is a sannyasi or one is a brahmana or not brahmana. It doesn't matter.
Because this is not the science of this physiological ana..., anatomical
science, or cobbler's science. Cobbler's science means cobbler knows what
kind of skin it is. It is not like that. Neither cobbler's science nor
anatomical science or physiological science. Bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam. It is another science. So anyone who is well-versed in bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam, he's, he can become guru. Not others. And in many places this is confirmed,
that sat-karma-nipuno vipro. A brahmana, very well expert
in his business... Brahmana's business means sat-karma, six kinds of karma. Pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigraha. A brahmana must be very learned scholar. Brahmana pandita. He must be scholar. Scholar means not ordinary, but in transcendental
science. Tad vijnanam. So pathana pathana. And he must be
expert teacher also. He should not... Actually in our India, formerly,
the brahmanas, they usually become teachers. In any village, a
brahmana has no other business. He sits down. He's called catuspathi, the higher scholars. But for ordinary also. A brahmana... Guru-maharsayah. We studied under guru maharsayah in our childhood. Patha sala. So anywhere a brahmana can sit down and the village boys, small
boys, children would come there. He doesn't charge anything, but their
father, mother sends everything--rice, dahl, cloth. So he has no
much demand for bodily necessities. This was pathana. This is brahmana. Brahmana should not accept any service. Formerly Sanatana Gosvami, because he accepted the service of Nawab Hussein Shah, he was rejected from the brahmana society. In the Bhagavata also it is stated
if a brahmana is in difficulty, he may accept the profession of
a ksatriya or a vaisya, but never of a sudra. Sudra has been described there as dog. A dog, without having a master, he cannot
live very nicely. Street dog is very wretched, but a dog under the care
of a good master is very healthy and very happy. Similarly a sudra cannot live without having a master. That has been described as the dog's
business. So similarly a brahmana will never accept any service.
He'll starve, but he'll never accept any service. That is against brahmana principles. Therefore sat-karma-nipu... He can accept charity if
somebody gives willfully. Dana pratigraha. But pratigraha dana. He'll take, pratigraha, accept charity, but whatever he requires, he'll spend, and the balance he'll immediately distribute. Dana. In Bengal it is said, lakteke baundiki (?). The... Why? A brahmana gets one lakh of rupees; next day, he's again beggar. Why? He'll
not keep anything. Whatever he requires for the day's expenditure, he
will take it and balance he will again distribute.
750303AR.DAL Lectures
So I am very much pleased to see the atmosphere here. Education means Krsna consciousness. That is education. If simply we understand that "Krsna
is the Supreme Person. He is great, and we are all subordinate. So our
duty is to serve Krsna," these two lines, if we understand, then our life is perfect. If we simply learn how to worship Krsna, how to please Him, how to dress Him nicely, how to give Him nice foodstuff, how to decorate Him with ornaments and flowers, how to offer our respectful obeisances unto Him, how to chant His name, in this way, if we simply think, without any so-called education we become the perfect person within the universe. This is Krsna consciousness. It doesn't require A-B-C-D education. It requires simply change of consciousness. So if these children are being taught from the very beginning of their life... We had the opportunity
of being trained up by our parents like this. So some way or other, they
have come to... (break) Many saintly persons used to visit my father's
house. My father was Vaisnava. He was Vaisnava, and he wanted me to become a Vaisnava. Whenever some saintly person would come, he would ask him,
"Please bless my son that he can become a servant of Radharani." That
was his prayer. He never prayed for anything. And he gave me education
how to play mrdanga. My mother was against. There was two teachers--one
for teaching me A-B-C-D, and one for teaching me mrdanga. So the
one teacher was waiting and the other teacher was teaching me how to play
on mrdanga. So my mother would be angry that "What is this nonsense?
You are teaching mrdanga? What he will do with this mrdanga?"
(chuckles) But perhaps my father wanted that I should be a great mrdanga player in the future. (laughter) Therefore I am very much indebted to
my father, and I have dedicated my book, Krsna book, to him. He
wanted this. He wanted me to be preacher of Bhagavata, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and player of mrdanga and to become servant of Radharani. So every
parent should think like that; otherwise one should not become father
and mother. That is the injunction in the sastra. That is stated
in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Fifth Canto, pita na sa syaj janani
na sa syad gurur na sa syat sva-jano na sa syat. In this way, the
conclusion is, na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum. If one is unable
to rescue his disciple from the imminent danger of death, he should not
become a guru. One should not become father or mother if he cannot do
so. In this way, no friend, no relatives, no father, no..., if one cannot
teach his other party how to save from the clutches of death.
750303AR.DAL Lectures
So avoid sinful life. We have given you prescription: no illicit sex,
no gambling, no intoxication, no meat-eating. Avoid the sinful life and
make your children Krsna conscious purely. Then you can produce hundreds
of children. There is no objection. ^ And so far maintaining your children,
we are taking charge. Come on. We are taking charge. We shall supply everything.
Of course, not to the whims of these material man, but as much which is
needed to maintain them, that we take, Krsna consciousness, ISKCON society
will take charge... (end)
750320AR.CAL Lectures
So by Caitanya Mahaprabhu's grace, with the cooperation of the Western youths, this movement is going on. I have traveled all over the countries,
as I reported, and everywhere I saw, I was very much pleased that sankirtana is going on. And it is improving. It is not declining. That is my greatest
encouragement, that even in my absence, things are going on very nicely,
improving. That is very hopeful. Not only that--from the Gurukula we are
training small children. There are about more than hundred children in
Dallas. They are rising early in the morning, attending mangala aratik, boys and girls not more than ten years, not more than five, six years.
So that is very hopeful. In future they will become nice Vaisnava. And
many children are taking birth. They are very nice devotees. In last,
in our Sripada Atreya-muni's small child, about six months old, as soon
as I shout out, "Hare Krsna," immediately he'll... He'll laugh. Very nice.
There are many such children. So all these children, they are Vaisnavas.
Sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrastah sanjayate. That is the... They
are given chance to take birth in the family of Vaisnava father and mother.
From the very beginning of life, they are getting encouragement. We had
such opportunity. Somehow or other, we have come to this stage. Similarly, these children, they are getting opportunity from the very beginning of
their life. So on the whole, it is very hopeful that in the Western countries...
Not only Western countries--especially Western countries--we have sown some seed, that a community, Vaisnava community, is now established. That
is very hopeful, a Vaisnava community, and they are, in America, they are now addressed, "American Hindus," these American boys and girls. So by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this much has been done, and they are improving more and more. They are serving Krsna. Pranair arthair
dhiya vaca. This, our Gurukrpa Maharaja, has contributed large sum
of money for our Vrndavana construction, and this time also, I have brought
a very large sum of money, about fifty lakhs. So this will be utilized for Krsna's business. And these people, Western people, they are serving this cause with life, pranair; arthair, by money; dhiya, by intelligence; and by words.
68-01-22 Letter: Hamsaduta
Please accept my blessings. I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated
Jan. 16, 1968, and noted the contents with pleasure. The idea of opening
an asrama in the near future is certainly a wish of Krishna's. To develop
our institution to its fullness, we require such an asrama without doubt.
Child is the father of man, so the basic principle of any type of life
is to instruct to the children from the very beginning. Krishna Consciousness.
Children grow to be the topmost leaders of the human society. In the Bhagavatam
it is said that the Brahmanas are the head of the social body, the Ksatriyas are the arms of the social body, the Vaisyas are the waist of the social body, and the Sudras are the legs of the social body. The legs may be placed in a lower position than the head ephemerally, but actually the
legs are as important as the head for maintaining the body as it is. It
is not that the legs should not be taken care of and just the head should
be cared for. But it is a fact that if there is not a head it is a dead
body. The modern civilization is a sort of a social body without a head,
or actually it is a dead body. The body is dead since the very beginning
of it's birth, and it is the spirit that keeps it moving. Therefore, spiritual
enlightenment is the basic principle of civilization. The modern civilization
is lacking in that respect and there are so many disadvantages on account
of this deficiency. So we have to grow children to become the head of
the human society and there is great need for this. I pray Krishna that
you may give a starting to such an asrama in full Krishna Consciousness.
In the asrama there must be a grand temple as the deity of the asrama.
68-05-06 Letter: Mukunda
I am so glad to learn about Haridasi, the fortunate girl in Los Angeles.
She has got nice parents, and has the opportunity of being in Krishna Consciousness from childhood. It is therefore needed that we may train some children in our Krishna Consciousness movement, and it will come out very successful. Yamuna devi is also training 2 nice boys in S.F.,
and they are getting very encouraging achievements. It is very good news
that the girl Haridasi is dreaming about Krishna, and Krishna is playing
with her; it is very much encouraging. It means she will come out a great
and successful devotee of Krishna when she is grown up and young. May Krishna bless her, and her good parents, who are training her in that
way. Please offer my thanks to Balarama and his good wife.
68-05-23 Letter: Yamuna
Please accept my blessings. I received your letter a few days ago and
I am very glad to learn that you are training the 2 boys in Krishna Consciousness.
I do not think you require an academic degree for training such boys.
We are training Krishna Consciousness, which has nothing to do with academic
education; I therefore wish that instead of wasting your time for 2 or
3 years for taking a degree, you may increase your scope of activities
for recruiting such boys and training them in Krishna Consciousness. But
if your state laws do not allow it to hold any class without such degree
then you must get such degree. On the whole you have got a very nice engagement
for training children in Krishna Consciousness. And I think you are very
fit for it. I am sure if you endeavor in this line of service, Krishna
will be very much pleased and will shower His blessing more and more.
you are very nice girl and I have got full faith in you and I wish that
you can develop this line of service to the society.
68-12-27 Letter: Satyabhama
The purport is that anyone desiring to raise the people's standard of advancement in spiritual life, will have their noble desire very soon successful by the Grace of the Lord. So I am very glad to see your enthusiasm
in the matter of starting a Krishna Consciousness primary school in New
Vrindaban and it will be just befitting that you become the head-mistress
of the school. I have shown your letter to Prof. Howard Wheeler (Hayagriva
das Adhikari)--he was just married the day before yesterday with Syama
Dasi, a very nice girl like you. I am also enclosing Hayagriva's letter
to you along with this. Now you can do the needful and make arrangements
to start the school immediately. If you take charge of the children of
our devotees and give them nice education strictly on Krishna Consciousness
principles, it will be a great help to the preachers, just like our six
students, husbands and wives, who are preaching in London. One of them
has got a child and as soon as she is at least two years old, she may
be sent under your care. New Vrindaban is just the suitable place for
keeping cows and children. It will be an ideal residential quarter, completely
for spiritual life and I hope for the future the Americans must evaluate
this enterprise as very very valuable.
68-12-27 Letter: Satyabhama
Actually, I have no desire to start the school in any city. City life,
especially in this age of kali yuga, is very much polluted. Poet Cowper
stated that the city is made by man and the village is made by God. So
in the village there is a natural tendency for Krishna Consciousness,
so we want to develop such atmosphere in New Vrindaban. Your cooperation
in this matter will very much encourage me. Thank you once more for your
letter.
69-01-25 Letter: Kirtanananda
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 18, January 1969, and I have carefully noted the contents. I am encouraged
to know that you are very enthusiastic about our projects for developing
New Vrindaban. So far as the school goes, we have many qualified teachers, and they are all enthusiastic about going there and beginning their teaching work. The only thing is that there is as of yet no place to accommodate these teachers. So as soon as these facilities are constructed we can
at once start at full force in setting up our Krishna Consciousness school program.
69-02-04 Letter: Aniruddha
You are right when you say that setting a good example for the boys is
the best precept. There is a saying that an example is better than a precept. Our exemplary character depends on strictly following the four principles, and this will conquer the whole world. Our boys and girls in London, by there exemplary character have drawn the attention of many respectable persons and even some public papers. Our movement is not only for some theoretical teaching, but it is for developing practical character and
definite understanding. I will be glad to know what is your future program.
Do you think you will be continuing as brahmacari, or in the future will
you wish to become householder? The idea is that when we open our educational institute, we will require some dedicated monks, just like Christian Fathers, who have no connection with women. In that case, we can start a theological
school also, along with a boys primary school. Our theological school
will regularly teach our published books, such as Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion,
Brahma Samhita, and Krishna.
69-08-08 Letter: Rupanuga
Regarding Krishna Devi's proposal, that is too immature now. We have to see the boy's tendencies first. This will be judged when he is at least
16 years old. Before that, up to the 15th year, he should be given all
sorts of education and training as brahmacari. We can't impose anything
from so early age, because when he is grown up he may not like the idea.
So all this contemplation is premature. For the present your duty is to
make him healthy and strong, physically and spiritually. Of course, if
our Krishna Conscious children are to marry, the marriage must be performed
within our group.
70-03-09 Letter: Hayagriva
Another important thing is our theistic school in New Vrindaban. If you
can establish a nice educational center, I know many parents of your country will be glad to send their children in New Vrindaban. But we have to create a nice atmosphere and educational system there. Satyabhama is very much enthusiastic in this connection. So you organize this institution systematically.
70-03-14 Letter: Satyabhama
Regarding the organization of our theistic school at New Vrindaban, I
am happy to know that you are now proceeding with regular classes. So
it is better late than never, and now it will develop nicely. You are
an educated and understanding devotee of Lord Krishna. Now Krishna will
see your sincere cooperative efforts and He will provide all necessary
facilities for continued growth of our educational center. I know the
atmosphere in New Vrindaban is very, very nice, and the children will
surely benefit greatly in their advancement of spiritual life. So please
do it carefully, and I am certain that when we are fixed up there, many
parents will like to send their children for education in our New Vrindaban
school.
70-03-14 Letter: Satyabhama
I am so glad to know that the boys are being taught 4 to 5 hours daily
by the combined teaching of yourself and Devakinandana. Of course their spiritual progress is natural because of the good association of devotees and their good fortune to be in the service of the Deities. I am so much encouraged to learn how they are becoming purified and elevated in Krishna
Consciousness, and are just like spiritual gopas. That is very nice. Mr.
DDD and Ekendra also are very good boys, so see that they may be trained
up well because they are our future Krishna Consciousness society.
70-03-14 Letter: Satyabhama
I am very happy to learn that your son is growing strong and blissful.
That is good news. And that you desire to raise many such souls in Krishna Consciousness is very nice proposal. We need as many Krishna Conscious men as possible, trained from the very beginning of their lives, to carry
on our mission and purify the society.
70-10-28 Letter: Bhavananda
It is very encouraging that you have got license from the Board of Education
to continue our children's school. Kindly organize it nicely and it shall
be a great achievement. We have to concentrate to give them some idea
about God--that should be our first business. In art class they should be encouraged to draw pictures of Krsna, Kuruksetra, etc. There are so many subjects for drawing as it is stated in our book Krsna. If
they are trained, they will come out nice devotees. It will depend on
the process of training. Regarding some misbehavior, that we have to check
by training peacefully. Your attitude of tolerance and kindness very nice,
so train them in this way. It is Lord Caitanya's order that we have got
to discharge welfare activities on behalf of Lord Caitanya.
71-08-15 Letter: Indira
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter.
So far your son leaving you, his parents, at 5 years, that is not necessary. Especially our Krishna Conscious children; they are already living in
a asrama. The children of our devotees may live with their parents perpetually
because you are all living in the temple and already engaged in devotional
service. Other instructions are for those not engaged in Krishna Consciousness.
Any family engaged in Krishna's service is living not in this material
world. Such a home is considered as Vaikuntha. That is the verdict of
Bhaktivinode Thakura.
71-09-26 Letter: Tamala Krsna
Yes, if we can establish such a Krishna Conscious school, certainly it
will be very much attractive. That was my first suggestion in Bombay.
The first thing is that we will have to select teachers. Whether our men
who are already there will be able to teach. Of course teaching will be
elementary. Satyabhama in New Vrindaban has written a book for children.
So you can immediately ask her. I think many of our girls can take up
this business. Lilavati, Satyabhama and I don't know who else; there are
many who may take up this work. Some of them may go to India. But factually,
so far I have studied the situation, American boys and girls are a little
restless. So it is subject matter to be decided by the GBC and I think
you should consult with all other GBC members how to do it. There are
many things to be done in our missionary activities but the GBC is not
yet very strong to take up all the things and do them nicely. There is
a big project in Mayapur also. So consult seriously the GBC whether all
these things can be taken in hand simultaneously. It requires a very cool
brain and expert management.
71-10-09 Letter: Satsvarupa
Regarding your teacher problem, I have advised Pradyumna to go there and
teach students primary Sanskrit lessons at least to learn the alphabet, so that in the future when they go to India they may learn Sanskrit very easily. The students should be taught Sanskrit both in Devanagari and Bengali alphabets. Satyabhama in New Vrindaban has written a nice book for elementary lessons in English. I think this book may be printed immediately.
If not the manuscript may be used to teach the students. The important
matter is that the children are taken care of nicely. Bhavananda was talking
with me that in New Vrindaban students were very much neglected. Therefore
they were immediately transferred to New York. Every parent wants to see
that their children are taken care of very nicely. That is the first duty.
If they are not healthy then how they can prosecute their education? If
they are undernourished it is not good for their future activities. They
must have sufficient quantity of milk and then dhal, capatis, vegetables,
and a little fruit will keep them always fit. There is no need of luxurious
fatty foods but milk is essential. A big building is also very good for
the children's health. They can move freely and run and jump.
71-11-17 Letter: Himavati
You have a natural inclination as a teacher of small children, and I think
that you should utilize it to instruct the young children of Hamburg in
Krishna Consciousness. Children especially are inclined to appreciate
Krishna's pastimes, so begin by reading to them from Krsna Book. They
are not yet covered by false prestige and will very quickly take to tapasya as if it were amusing like a game! Just see the young brahmacaris in India.
The Guru says do this, do that--immediately they do--they go out and beg
all day in the hot sun and come back with a little rice, then take rest
on the floor with no covering. And they are enjoying, it is pleasurable
to them to work very hard. So it is very important to train children to
endure all sorts of hardships and restrictions at the boyhood stage. Later,
no one will renounce what he has accepted as the standard of enjoyment,
to accept a standard of less enjoyment. So I think you should begin immediately
holding class regularly and advertising for it. I understand the German
people are very fond of kindergarten schools, so let them send their children
to us for receiving the highest education.
71-11-18 Letter: Paramananda
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of November 2, 1971, and I am pleased that you have returned to New Vrindaban to develop
it nicely. I wanted from the beginning that schoolhouse for teaching our
children Krishna Consciousness. Now it seems that Krishna has fulfilled
our desire and that Mr. Coffield may now sell it to us. Purchase it immediately
and we shall construct there a model school for molding children in the
perfect way of life. I know that you are the fit person for carrying out
his plan, so I am entrusting you to see that everything is done very nicely
and up to standard. This project of opening a school for young children
may be expanded to include inviting children of respectable families for
some tuition fee to come there for an ideal education including the basic
requirements of reading and writing, but giving them also real spiritual
knowledge of how to live perfectly--what other school of learning can
offer such wonderful educational opportunity? There has also been suggestion
of a kind of summer camp for children from crowded cities. What do you
think?
71-11-21 Letter: Satsvarupa
I am very much encouraged that the school building may be purchased in the near future. But one thing, how the $30,000 is to be paid and wherefrom
you have got so much money? I am very much anxious to open schools for
educating children of responsible leaders in our Krishna Consciousness
way of life, especially also in India. If these leaders simply become
a little convinced about the real purpose of human life, there is tremendous
potency for improving the world. Last night the topic of my lecture at
our Delhi pandal was the necessity for teaching Krishna Consciousness
in all our schools and colleges. This is a revolutionary thought. But
we have seen that the practical outcome of so much hippies, one after
another. What is the use of their skyscraper buildings if their sons will
not maintain them? The old system of gurukula should be revived
as the perfect example of a system designed to produce great men, sober
and responsible leaders, who know what is the real welfare of the citizens.
Just as in former days, all big big personalities were trained in this
way. Now you have got the responsibility to inject this idea in your country.
Please do it with a cool head, and very soon we shall see the practical
benefit for your countrymen.
71-11-25 Letter: Satsvarupa
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of November 17, 1971, and I am especially pleased that the church owners in Dallas have accepted our offer of $26,000 down payment. I have seen one copy of the contract sent to me by Karandhara. It seems all right. One thing: What are the monthly payments? Now you organize our KC school very nicely
on the basis of a kindergarten school and primary school for children up to 15 years old. That is a good proposal, that parents should not accompany
their children. Actually that is the gurukula system. The children should
take complete protection of the Spiritual Master, and serve him and learn
from him nicely. Just see how nicely your brahmacaris are working. They
will go out in early morning and beg all day on the order of the guru. At night they will come home with a little rice and sleep without cover
on the floor. And they think this work is very pleasant. If they are not
spoiled by an artificial standard of sense gratification at an early age,
children will turn out very nicely as sober citizens, because they have
learned the real meaning of life. If they are trained to accept that austerity
is very enjoyable then they will not be spoiled. So you organize everything
in such a way that we can deliver these souls back to Krishna--this is
our real work. Some of our girls may be trained in colleges and take teacher
exams, and their husbands also. As you develop our program there I shall
give you more hints.
71-12-17 Letter: Satsvarupa
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter
of December 6, 1971, and I have noted the contents with great pleasure.
I am especially pleased that your Gurukula project is going forward nicely.
I consider that this is one of our most important projects, because people
in general are only suffering due to poor fund of knowledge. So if we
have facility to give them the right knowledge of how to make an end to
suffering condition of life, then we shall be performing the highest type
of welfare work. So you can try on this point to convince rich businessmen, educators, politicians, etc. to help us push forward this gurukula system
for guiding their young children on the right path to becoming sober,
upright citizens. You can inform them that if they give me proper facilities
that I can save all the young people of your country from the worst danger.
People are always willing to give anything for educational purpose. They
think that if their children get the right knowledge then they will become
very successful in life, and that is their concern, so they sacrifice
everything for good educational cause. Now their children are all becoming
hippies, and they do not want so much technology and knowledge which gives
them no real satisfaction, so they are losing all interest in education
and only they want to enjoy life, that's all. But if such children are
given practical guidance on the transcendental platform, above the bodily
and mental conception of life, then they will develop into perfect citizens--moral,
honest, hard-working, law-abiding, clean, faithful to home and country,
like that. That is the unmatched success of our Krishna Consciousness
schooling system, so you introduce it nicely, so that your country's leaders
will see something very nice and come to our assistance.
71-12-25 Letter: Amogha
I am very glad that you are teaching KC in the schools. That is our best field for training people in Krishna Consciousness. Young children have
not yet learned an artificial standard of sense gratification, so they
accept austerity very nicely as enjoyable. Just see the young brahmacari--he
goes out and begs all day on the order of his guru, to collect a little
rice and return at night to sleep on the floor without cover--and he thinks
this life is very nice! So if children are trained-up in this way, they
will naturally grow up to be sober and responsible, the best citizens
and a credit to their state. So preach in this way, attract their young
children to Krishna by teaching in a very interesting fashion--let them
chant, dance, and take prasadam, that's all. Later, when they are old
enough to understand, a little philosophy. And always keep them engaged
one way or another in devotional service. That way they will become very
attached to Krishna and they will not go away to a life of false standard
of life. If you can get that couple from America to help you, that will
be very nice. Actually, I wanted one householder couple to come there
and teach. This I told to Bali Mardan when he was with me in India. So
now you are arranging for that, so that is the best plan.
72-01-00 Letter: Svati
Regarding your other questions: Children may be recommended for initiation
when they are twelve years old. We should avoid as far as possible any
physical punishment to train children. It is better to use sweet words
or if it is absolutely necessary to punish then you may bind with ropes
in one place or show the cane, but do not use--like that. I have recently
explained to Aniruddha in Dallas school and you may write to him for details.
The most important thing however is to see that somehow or other the children
are always engaged in some kind of Krsna conscious activity, then they
will naturally develop a taste for it and think it great fun even to work
very hard for Krsna's pleasure.
72-01-10 Letter: Aniruddha
I have read that you are "screening very carefully" the children who want
to come there. That is not a very good proposal. All children of devotees should be welcome. Even they have developed some unfavorable qualities, they are only young children, how do you expect them to behave in the best way? You have to make them very nice behavior by training them and simply giving discipline. So let everyone come to our school. That is
our policy, not to discriminate.
72-01-10 Letter: Aniruddha
The children should be trained in early rising, attending mangal arati,
some elementary education: arithmetic, alphabet, some of our books, like
that. They should go to bed by 8 p.m. and rise by 4 a.m. for mangal arati, getting 8 hours sleep. If they take 8 hours sleep, they will not fall
asleep during arati. When they get up they should wash with a little warm
water, at least three times wash face. They may sleep one hour in the
afternoon and there is no harm. Encourage them to chant as much japa as
possible, but there is no question of force or punishment. If there is
need you may shake your finger at them but never physical punishment is
allowed. Try as far as possible to discipline them with love and affection,
so that they develop a taste for austerity of life and think it great
fun to serve Krishna in many ways. Rising early and mangal arati, this
is enough austerity. Besides that, let them learn something, chant, dance,
eat as much prasadam as they like, and do not mind if they have playful
nature--let them also play and run, that is natural. It is nice if they
eat often--if children overeat it doesn't matter, that is no mistake.
Boys and girls should be educated separately.
72-02-16 Letter: Chaya
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 29, 1972, and I have noted the contents. Complete separation
from the boys is not necessary for girls at such young age, so I don't
require that they must be educated separately, only that they should live
separately. What do they know of boy or girl at such young age? There was one question by a little girl like Sarasvati to her father: "Father,
when you were young were you a boy or a girl?" So when they are grown
up, at about 10 to 12 years old, then you can make separate departments
for teaching also. But while they are so young, although they must live
in separate boys and girls quarters, they may be educated sometimes together,
there is no such restriction that little girls should not have association
with little boys, not until they are grown up.
72-02-16 Letter: Chaya
All the children should learn to read and write very nicely, and a little mathematics, so that they will be able to read our books. Cooking, sewing, things like that do not require schooling, they are learned simply by association. There is no question of academic education for either boys
or girls--simply a little mathematics and being able to read and write
well, that's all, no universities. Their higher education they will get
from our books, and other things they will get from experience, like preaching,
SKP, etc. Alongside the regular classes in reading and writing, the other
routine programs they should also participate in, like arati, kirtana,
preaching, Sankirtana, like that.
72-02-16 Letter: Chaya
You ask about marriage, yes, actually I want that every woman in the Society
should be married. But what is this training to become wives and mothers?
No school is required for that, simply association. And it is not necessary
to say that women only can instruct the girls and men only can instruct
the boys, not when they are so young. At 12 years, they may be initiated.
72-02-16 Letter: Satsvarupa
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter
of January 20, 1972, along with pictures, floor-plan, and tape, and I
am very very pleased that you have been able to secure that place for
our Gurukula school and temple. I am enclosing one letter to Chaya dasi
in this respect, to clear up a few points, namely, that we should concentrate
on training these children up in Krishna Consciousness, not so much by
formal, academic education--a little reading, writing, mathematics, that's
all--but more by giving them facility to follow the examples of the older
devotees in the regular KC program, namely, rising early, arati, chanting,
reading, street Sankirtana, preaching, distributing literature--like that.
These children can be trained in that way, by participating in all of
these activities throughout the day, and always the focus of attention
will be on Krishna. So you kindly see that these programs are carried
on nicely, that is, in the matter of our routine KC program, and let the
children learn in that way. Not much time should be wasted giving so much
academic knowledge, a little reading and writing, that's all. Let them
be able to read our books very nicely, and that will be their higher education.
Keep them always happy in Krishna Consciousness, and do not try to force
or punish or they will get the wrong idea. By and by, if they are satisfied
in this way, they will all grow up to be first-class preachers and devotees.
72-02-16 Letter: Satsvarupa
One thing, if Aniruddha is shaky in his Krishna Consciousness, how he
can teach the children? Unless one is firmly convinced about Krishna Consciousness,
I don't think the children will learn properly from such a person. Other
experienced teachers may be called from other centers if they are required,
that you should discuss with the GBC. If you are only a few persons, and
if the place is so big, how you can manage? Especially I don't think you
will be able to worship Radha-Krishna deities at the very high standard
until later time. Better reserve all your workers for managing other things
until many devotees are there. When I shall come there later on, I will
see everything, how it is going on.
72-02-28 Letter: Satsvarupa
Sanskrit should be compulsory for all our children to learn, and anyone who has elementary knowledge of alphabet and grammar can begin to teach
it. In addition, English reading and writing, a little mathematics, history and geography or we shall be thought fools if we do not know--that's all. Main thing is that by attendance of our routine programme, that is, rising early, cleansing, chanting, eating Krsna prasada, street Sankirtana, looking at books, etc., in this way, if the children associate with their elders
in the regular schedule of devotional practices, that is best way to train. Otherwise, hygienic principles must be very much practiced. The future preachers of KC Movement must learn to be suci, absolutely pure in all respects, & for this, practical cleansing is the basic teaching, e.g.,
not touching anything dirty to mouth. Mouth is dirtiest part, and infection
can spread very easily by the mouth. There is word visa-kanya, or the
policy of gradually poisoning a beautiful girl so she will adapt ad not
be affected, then she will have the potency to assassinate by passing
infection by mouth to some enemy. Water itself is most antiseptic, so
soap is not always required. The boys should be taught, and also all devotees
should also be taught to wash own dishes, hands, mouth--that means always
washing. They should be given only what they will eat, so that nothing
is left over, and while bathing they can wash their own cloth. Your country,
America, will become so much degraded that they will appreciate if we
are revolutionary clean. Our revolutionary medicine will be experimented
on these children, and it will be seen in America to be the cure. So make
your program in this way, and encourage nondevotees or outsiders to enroll
their children with us for some minimum fee, and you will do the greatest
service to your country and its citizens by introducing this.
72-02-28 Letter: Satyabhama
Your idea to start a nursery school in New Vrindaban is very good proposal
and you may immediately try for it by cooperatively consulting amongst
yourselves how to do it. But one thing, we are teaching Bhakti by practical
attendance and by decreasing playing desire or drive. If the children
simply do as their elders are doing, that is, regularly attending mangal
arati, rising early, chanting, eating prasadam, looking at books, worshiping
the __ like that, then automatically they will become trained up in right
way and there is no need for special program for education. Children will
always do as they see others doing, so if by the good association of their
parents and the other older persons, they will come out nicely fixed in
Krishna Consciousness, and because they are not spoiled by an artificial
standard of sense gratification, they will think that performing austerities
is great fun, just like in India we see the young brahmacaris are sent
out to beg for their spiritual master to teach them humility and non-attachment,
and they spend the whole day in the hot sun and come back at night, take
a handful of rice, and sleep without blankets on the hard floor--and they
take this type of life as very much enjoyable and great fun. This is how
we train our children in Krishna Consciousness, just be keeping them always
attending our regular program and associating with Krishna devotees, teaching
them in spiritual realization by giving them the idea that sacrifice and
tapasya for achieving the highest goal of life is a very nice way
of life. Not that we shall give them many games for playing, these so-called
scientific methods of learning are artificial, unnecessary, and on the
whole I do not have much trust in this Montessori system or any other such system of teaching. Your idea for having altars to train the children
in deity worship is very nice.
72-03-07 Letter: Aniruddha
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 31, 1972, and I have noted the contents. I am very glad to learn that
you are enthusiastic to teach the children. Most of your questions I have answered as above to Satsvarupa. Simply follow the program of the elders, let the children associate as much as possible with the routine KC program, and when the others go out for working and business matters, the children can be given classes as you describe. They can learn our method of Krishna
Consciousness by rising early, cleansing, plus knowledge of Sanskrit,
English, a little Mathematics, history, geography, that's all. We haven't
got to take any help from the government by getting so-called accreditation.
If outsiders want to send their children to us, it will not be for their
accreditation, but because they will get the best education for relieving them of all anxieties of material life and for this education the government has no idea. Where is such thing as transmigration of the soul being taught in classroom? If they simply learn to rise early, cleanse, all hygienic principles, their study will be greater than any government program. Whatever
the elder members are doing, the children should do if possible. But for
teaching the teachers themselves should be fixed up initiated devotees,
otherwise how the children can get the right information and example?
Thank you very much for serving Krishna in this way, and if you go on
sincerely serving like this, chanting, and following the regulative principles
strictly, all your questions will be answered by Krishna automatically.
Hope this finds you in good health, Your ever well-wisher,
72-04-12 Letter: Giriraja
As soon as possible we should open our own school and teach children KC
through English medium, that is one of our programs. Our school will not
be government recognized because we cannot follow the government syllabus.
We want to teach only Krishna Consciousness. Also, in Mayapur and Vrindaban
we must have schools, and if Srimate Morarji cooperates with this scheme
then we can do something combinedly instead of separately. We are distributing
our own prasadam free, why another business should be there? Anyone is
open to take our prasadam free. Better Smt. Morarji may contribute rice,
dahl, etc. for this prasadam distribution program. According to our Vedic
system prasada distribution should not be on the line of hotel or canteen
business. Whatever prasadam we can distribute, that should be done free
of charges. So to summarize, you should distribute free prasadam, and
try to introduce immediately KC instruction to the students through English
medium. I know many parents are eager to educate their wards through English
medium. If we can introduce this system, our girl disciples may be engaged
for teaching them: a little English grammar, reading and writing, geography,
arithmetic, history, sanskrit,, but all of them should be Krishna Conscious--that
is Bhagavata program:
72-04-12 Letter: Giriraja
kaumaram acarer prajno dharman bhagavatan iha
72-04-14 Letter: Bhavananda
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 4, 1972, and I have noted the contents with great pleasure
and relief, because my special interest is in Mayapur, that we shall make
it especially to glorify Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the best manner of programs, constructing buildings, preaching, Sankirtana, like that. Now
in Mayapur there are two much important programs, namely, first of all,
a school must be started in English medium. The children may work in the temple compound for gardening and cleansing, then they shall attend class. If they are given sufficient comfort, they will stay with us and develop nicely. Comfort means no bodily discomfort, and for this Krishna Consciousness
education, many Calcutta rich men will send their children. Actually the
Bhaktivinode Institute was started for this purpose, but they have turned
it into an ordinary school. the second important program is this distribution
of prasadam, without any discrimination, so that everyone will get equal
portion, no matter how little or how much is there.
72-04-14 Letter: Bhavananda
Our girls can be engaged for teaching as well as temple worship.
72-05-09 Letter: Bhavananda
Regarding the women teaching at Mayapur, if there is suspicion by the villagers, then stop it for the time being. But why there should be suspicion of women? Hoping this will meet you in good health.
72-05-20 Letter: Dayananda
I have seen your wife Nandarani dasi here in Los Angeles and she is doing very well. I want that she shall help me improve the conditions at our
Dallas school by going there and teaching the children. If children are
allowed to play just like Krishna was playing with his cowherd boyfriends,
then little ABC, then see the deity and have arati, then take little prasadam;
in this way if they are always diversified, they will be always jolly
and become fixed-up devotees at young age. And small children, they learn
better these things from their mother and women in general. So I thing
that some mothers of our children should go to Dallas and take charge
of teaching the children, especially how to play nicely the pastimes of
young Krishna. If you ask one child to be a tree, he will immediately
hold out his arms "Just see I am a tree." If you ask him to be a cow he
will walk on his hands and knees immediately and you can hit him with
a stick and say "hut, hut." And if they will not take prasadam you can
say "Now you are a cow and you must eat the grass" and immediately they
will stand on hands and legs and eat prasadam like cow eating grass. So
in this way our children in Dallas school should be trained because I
want that a new generation of devotees shall carry on this great mission
successfully.
73-05-21 Letter: Ekendra, Shawn, Christina, Dvarakadhisa, Kimi, Tonya, Joe, John, Candramukhi,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very
nice Isopanisad papers, with sanskrit, transliteration, translation and
purport. You are all very nice devotees. You are very, very fortunate
to have the opportunity to be going to this Gurukula. It is the only one
of its kind in the world. You are the first students and you must set
a good example for the others, always being very enthusiastic to learn
from your teachers, offering all respects to your teachers, leading the
kirtanas with exuberance. In future you will be the leaders of this Krsna
Consciousness Movement, so now you must take this training preparation
very seriously.
73-10-16 Letter: Dayananda:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1973 and have noted the contents. Regarding the older boys, they can do gardening engagement and other brahmacari engagements,
study and manual work. And, as soon as they can read Sanskrit and English,
they should read our books, such as Bhagavad-gita As It Is. By cleansing
the temple and growing flowers their attention in this way be always in
Krsna consciousness. That will save them from the clutches of maya.
73-10-16 Letter: Dayananda:
kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam (Bhag. 7.6.1)
73-10-16 Letter: Dayananda:
"From the very beginning of childhood one should learn how to behave and practice Krsna consciousness, because this human form of life is very
rare. . Although it is also perishable, it can give us the greatest boon;
therefore we shall utilize this body from the very beginning of life."
74-05-10 Letter: Jagadisa
Regarding your Gurukula report, why are the older boys being sent to New Vrindaban? What are the facilities like, what is the program there, what
is the need for them to move? As things are not fully explained in your
letter, I am inquiring regarding this very important change. As for buying
a new house and land in order that the pre-school children may go there,
what is the need of them being separate. If they cannot rise early, why
should you take care of such young ones at Gurukula. But if they are rising
early and attending arati, then why must they be separate from the other
little children? Please explain further. You are right when you say Deity
worship must be maintained. This is most important. I know Nandarani is
expert in Deity care but I think she is working with the children. Your
wife is also expert, so she can maintain the sewing and Deity worship
program. But the standard must always be kept up. Sankirtana is also a
part of Vaisnavism. All our activities are a part of Vaisnavism. So Sankirtana
should also be developed at Dallas.
74-11-12 Letter: Jagadisa
Regarding Gurukula, they are in financial difficulty, so introduce book distribution. Sankirtana and Book Distribution should be pushed side by side, and there will be no difficulties. That is our experience.
74-12-28 Letter: Jagadisa
Regarding Gurukula I am very happy to hear that the financial crisis has passed. That is very good. This is real management. As far as the children are concerned, people are accusing us sometimes that our children are undernourished, underfed and not cared for properly. So it is good that
you are seeing that they are happy and healthy. They should be given milk
at least 8 ounces a day if possible 16 ounces a day. Dahl, capati, rice, vegetable this will keep them fit. If possible a little bit of fruit also.
As for fixing up the Deity house in Dallas with marble altars, this is
not necessary for now. We shall see later on. For the time being organize
the health, education and care of the children and continue the Deity
worship as it is going nicely now. Deities are satisfied with bhakti not
marble. Therefore try to increase the bhakti.
75-01-31 Letter: Tamala Krsna
Regarding the idea of having the younger boys travel with you, the question is whether the government will object or not to our taking small boys
in a sankirtana van. If there is no objection, then you can adopt this
program immediately. It will be a very nice program.
75-02-02 Letter: Candramukhi
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil
and have noted the contents. I am very happy to see that you are learning
our philosophy so nicely. You will grow up to be a great devotee of Krishna. You are very fortunate to have the opportunity of attending Gurukula,
so don't waste this opportunity. Take full advantage of it by always rising early, attending arati, classes and chanting at least 16 rounds daily
without fail. These things will make you very strong in Krishna Consciousness. Thank you for appreciating my books. Read them carefully and you will preach very nicely.
75-02-02 Letter: Dayananda
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 17, 1975 and have noted the contents. Your study aids that you are using to help the children learn the meaning of Bhagavad-gita slokas fully seem
to be alright. The thing is, you must see that the meaning of the verse
is in no way altered or changed. Simplification is alright but do not
change anything. I have accepted Brenda and Gary Wallis for 1st initiation.
Their names are as follows: Balavati devi dasi and Gaurasarana dasa. Their
beads may be chanted on by Kirtanananda Svami. I have also accepted Kamanagari
dasi, Jyotir dasa, and Svarga devi dasi as my duly initiated brahmanas.
You can perform the fire yajna and let them hear through the right ear
the tape of myself chanting the gayatri mantra.
75-02-15 Letter: Krsna dasa
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil
and have noted the contents. You are very fortunate to be attending the Gurukula school. You please take advantage of it and become a pure devotee
of Lord Krishna. I would like to come there very much and see all of my
sons and daughters there. I will be coming sometime soon, maybe next time
I come back to USA after the Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals. Be very
careful to follow all of the regulative principles nicely and chant 16 rounds and study my books very deeply. This will make you able to go back
to Godhead at the end of your life.
75-03-14 Letter: Krsna Devi
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 4th, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for the karatala bag.
It is very beautiful. I was very happy to see all of you bright-faced
children at Gurukula. And I am already thinking of when I can come and
visit there again. You are so fortunate to have such training in Krishna
Consciousness from the very beginning of childhood. So, take full advantage
of it and follow very obediently what your older Godbrothers and Godsisters
ask you to do. Chant Hare Krishna all day and dance nicely. Eat nice Krishna Prasadam and go back to Godhead, back to home.
75-03-14 Letter: Tirthanga
Regarding sending children to Gurukula, that is also optional, not compulsory.
The most important things are that you follow very carefully all of the
rules and regulations such as rising early, and having mangala arati and
classes, etc. and that you chant at least 16 rounds daily without fail. These things are most essential for your spiritual advancement and then everything will be alright.
75-05-14 Letter: Yadunandana
Please accept my blessings. I have just been informed by my servant, Srutakirti,
that the young children, under twelve, are not allowed to use their japa
beads while chanting. This policy is not good. Why this change has been
made? I never said they should not use their beads. That is our business.
They must be taught how to respect their beads. How they can learn unless
they use them? That is the trouble with you westerners, always changing.
No changes should be made without first consulting with my GBC representative.
So, the children should immediately be allowed to chant on their japa
beads.
76-01-20 Letter: Jayatirtha
Please accept my blessings. Regarding the ISKCON Gurukula presently situated
in Dallas--The Gurukula must be based on the principle of renunciation;
vairagya vidya nija bhakti yogam. Bhakti is based on the principle
of the renunciation of material desires beginning from the earliest age;
kaumaram acaret prajna dharman bhagavatan iha. From the very beginning,
a boy must be trained to perform devotional service to the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, and not to be attached as the fruitive workers, the karmis,
to the so-called fallible soldiers; dehapatya kalatradisu atma-sainyesu
asatsv api tesam prammato nidhanam pasyanapi na pasyati. The karmis
are attached too much to their bodies, children and wives, who are like
fallible fighting soldiers who must ultimately be destroyed. Although
they are sufficiently experienced, they still cannot see this.
76-01-20 Letter: Jayatirtha
Therefore our young men must be trained at the earliest age to not be attached to so many things like the home, family, friendship, society,
and nation. To train the innocent boy to be a sense gratifier at the early
age when the child is actually happy in any circumstance is the greatest violence. Therefore; brahmacari gurukulae vasan danto guror hitam. The brahmacari lives at the place of the spiritual master and works for
the benefit of the spiritual master by begging for his maintenance, by
cleaning, learning the principles of Krsna consciousness, and engaging
in the process of bhagavata dharma, whereby his life will have a firm,
sane foundation with which he can overcome the forces of maya by strong
training in the beginning.
76-01-20 Letter: Jayatirtha
The karmis cannot accept this because they are too much attached to their bodies and cannot tolerate any austerities. Since they are too attached
to their children they are even more insistent that the child be drowned
in bodily consciousness so that he may avoid all types of austerities
and enjoy life to the fullest, thereby going to hell at the earliest age;
mahat sevam dvares ahur vimuktes tamo-dvaram yosita sangisangam.
Those who associate with the mahatmas through service to them become eligible
for liberation whereas those who are associating with woman or those who
are too attached to woman are paving their way to hell. Therefore the
school systems require so many codes and regulations so the children will
not feel any inconvenience. The training is geared to producing cats and
dogs who will feel quite at home in a society of sense gratification.
76-01-20 Letter: Jayatirtha
Therefore how can they accept our school system which teaches that the young men must undergo tapasya to become purified? Tapo divyam putraka
yena sattvam suddhyed yasmad brahma saukhyam tv anantam. They will
never accept that one must undergo austerities to break the influence
of the modes of material nature upon the living entity in order that he
may experience the transcendental bliss on the platform of pure goodness.
Therefore they see our school as a threat and a cruel punishment to the
children. If we were to run our school as it was actually to be run, they
would close it down, and factually they will place more and more codes
and restrictions as the school develops to water down the process until
it becomes unrecognizable and useless.
76-01-20 Letter: Jayatirtha
We cannot be forced to follow the standards of the mlecchas and yavanas. One may build so many buildings to follow this and that code, but the
basic principle of such codes is sense gratification which we are against.
There are so many thousands of buildings in the west which are filled
with illegalities, but how is it that we must come to a perfect standard
or be closed down? This is not the standard of law, but prosecution. If
in illusion we think that we must spend money to come to that standard
what guarantee is there that they will not simply find another standard
for us to follow which will cause so much more trouble and cost so much
more money and ultimately they will pass some law making the gurukula
illegal.
76-01-20 Letter: Jayatirtha
Therefore the school should be moved to India, specifically to our new gurukula project in Vrindaban, where the facility will be just to our
needs and the needs of the brahmacari to develop spiritually because it
is based on authentic scripture. To live in Vrindaban is the highest perfection
and to grow up in Vrindaban the greatest fortune. Who can compare Vrindaban to the nasty western culture? Even to live in Mathura-mandala for a fortnight
guarantees one liberation. In Vrindaban no one will place restrictions
on the school and it will be encouraged by the government. The people
will see such a school and the example will encourage thousands to send
their children there to be trained as human beings and devotees. The cost
for maintaining such a place is minimal and when compared with the exchange
rate in dollars, a very substantial savings. Some have objected to the
cost of transport to India for the child, but children ride at a very reduced rate and require no visa. The one way fare can be arranged at
a very small cost which will be made up in no time. For the child it costs $100 per month in the USA, but in India the cost will be a fraction of
that amount. The average Indian makes about Rs.400 per month ($50) and supports an entire family nicely. The savings will more than compensate
for the ticket and maintenance, and once in a year, during the hot season
of April, May and June, the child may return to the parents. Certainly
the government will give cheap rates on a return ticket once they find
out about the program. This is much cheaper than altering the present
building or building a new one to meet the so-called codes.
76-01-20 Letter: Jayatirtha
The atmosphere in Vrindaban is beyond compare and the teachers are far more experienced as we have many men willing to work there who are retired
and qualified professors, what to speak of our own scholars who are living
in Vrindaban and starting this gurukula project. Many people will contribute
to expand this program and the Krishna-Balarama Mandir is the finest in
the world. All the devotees in Vrindaban, especially the children are
in fine health and their needs are being guaranteed by the members. They
can even beg from door to door and collect enough to feed themselves nicely.
This is the system. This is the required training. But if this is done
in America, they will accuse us of child cruelty although this is actually
the saving grace of the child and he becomes very blissful. Therefore
in all ways it is obvious that the best place to have this gurukula is
in Vrindaban and this should be done before the US Government starts to
cause a disturbance which will harm us, and before we have to waste large
sums of money on a risky endeavor which may turn out to be a complete
failure.
76-01-22 Letter: Jagadisa
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 3rd, 1976 and I have noted the contents carefully. Jayatirtha has also written me about the future of Gurukula. He was suggesting to have a Gurukula
in Santa Cruz. I have replied his letter and am enclosing a copy for you.
It is my opinion that considering all points, we will do best to move Gurukula to India. In the letter I have explained everything fully.
76-01-22 Letter: Jagadisa
Another thing, is that you are expecting a BBT loan of $150,000. but the BBT has already taken responsibility for Bombay, Kuruksetra, Mayapur, so this money has to go to India. Therefore, I do not think the BBT can give this loan. Actually it is the responsibility of the parents to maintain Gurukula. By taxing the Temples or taking loan from the BBT the parents are being allowed to avoid their responsibility. Before having a child
the parents should see whether they shall be abler to pay for their child's education. The GBC should make an injunction that if they beget children, then whatever the expenses are for supporting Gurukula they must pay for it. In another letter to Jayatirtha I have suggested how the parents can
earn money for their children's support. So you can discuss everything
together and do the needful.
76-01-22 Letter: Jayatirtha
You have suggested that some men are best engaged in doing business. I agree. All grhasthas who are interested in doing business should do so
in full swing. Yat karosi yad asnasi, yaj juhosi dadasi yat. yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusvamad arpanam. Let this be the guiding principle. So
let all the grhasthas who wish to, execute business full-fledgedly in
the USA and in this way support Gurukula. Business must be done by the
grhasthas, not by the sannyasis or brahmacaris. Neither the sannyasis
or brahmacaris can be expected to support Gurukula. The parents must take
responsibility for their children, otherwise they should not have children.
It is the duty of the individual parents. I am not in favor of taxing
the Temples. The parents must pay for the maintenance of their children.
Neither can the BBT be expected to give any loans. Now the BBT 50% for
construction is pledged to the projects in India--Bombay, Kuruksetra,
Mayapur. The profits from the businesses should first go to support Gurukula
and balance may be given for the local Temple's maintenance. Grhasthas
can do business. It is best if the Temple Presidents are either sannyasis
or brahmacaris. If the grhasthas want to do book distribution, they should
be given a commission of 5 to 10% of which part must go to Gurukula. For
any others who are engaged in important Society projects, they must get
something for maintaining their children at Gurukula. So far as Prasadam
and residence, they are already getting that free. But sometimes, grhasthas
make their own arrangement for cooking. For that we can give no expenditure.
Just try to improve the Prasadam system so nicely that one will not want
any other arrangement. Another thing, is that the grhasthas may be encouraged
to do agriculture. In the Indian villages like in Vrindaban, they get
enough ghee for their personal use, and sufficient excess to be sold to
the merchants, who then also get some money. Cow protection means good
food and good trade. So I can give you suggestions how to manage everything,
but it is up to the GBC to practically execute all these points.
76-02-21 Letter: Maeve Davies
The best thing is to send your daughter to Gurukula, but if you cannot
do that, then somehow see that she is trained nicely in Krishna Consciousness.
76-06-24 Letter: Gopala Krsna
Gurukula education should be trained up for their character. I have already mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Simply they should be able to read our books in English and sanskrit, and explain. That is compulsory.
76-09-18 Letter: Dixit
So far our Gurukula is concerned, we require some practical assistant
who can teach the boys how to be controlled in the mind and senses, how
to rise early in the morning, chant the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, go to
the Yamuna for bathing, then study some Vedic literatures like the Bhagavad-gita
and the Srimad-Bhagavatam, remain always for the benefit of the guru,
and work for him as a menial servant. These things are recommended for
the brahmacari. You will find the statement in the Srimad-Bhagavatam,
Canto Seven, Chapter Twelve as follows, brahmacari gurukulae vasandanto
gururohitam. I want my gurukula should be in that way, we don't want
big big scholars, for doing research work; what research work they will
do? Everything is in perfect order in the Vedic scriptures summarised
so beautifully in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad-gita is the primal
study.
76-09-18 Letter: Dixit
So we shall have to teach character and spiritual understanding to the young children. To study other things as a high grade scholar is secondary for us. The first thing is to build up character and be experienced in the understanding of the conclusions of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, hari namanukirtanam, iti nirnitam--it is decided, there is no more need of research work.
76-12-07 Letter: Jayapataka, Bhavananda
The boat party must continue preaching. It is very nicely responded to.
The educated men you have mentioned, who have joined us must be kept very satisfied. These men are required. You say that everyone is working without any caste or race consideration. That is required. That is the basic standard of Krsna Consciousness.
77-01-05 Letter: Embar Sampath Kumarachar
Whether you will be able to teach our boys Sanskrit in the standard way? That is the first question. Have you ever worked as a Sanskrit teacher anywhere? To teach these young boys requires special technique. Whether you know it? We have reports from the U.S.A. about you just to the contrary.
Kindly reply this point.
77-03-16 Letter: Nityananda
So far as Gurukula is concerned, literary education is for the Brahminical class, not for all. Others should learn by seeing, like the ksatriyas,
vaisyas, and sudras. Just like driving a bullock cart; it doesn't require
education. Modern so-called education is simply a waste of time producing
hippies. Shameless! Why compulsory education? To make hippies--compulsory education to degrade. So it is very fortunate that there is no compulsory education required by the state of Mississippi.
77-04-06 Letter: Jagadisa
Our students should be taught English and Sanskrit so in the future they
can read our books. That will make them MA, PHD. That much I want. Other things are external. And their behavior and character must also be most upstanding. Now you are all senior intelligent men so yourself, Yasodanandana
Maharaja and Aksayananda Maharaja cooperatively do everything.
760714i2.ny Conversations
Prabhupada: No, there are different types of education. Just like
in the material world. There is education for medical man. There is education
for engineer. There is education for so many other departments. Similarly, there is education how to make one man spiritual. So we are going to give education how to become spiritually advanced. That is our purpose.
760731rc.par Conversations
Prabhupada: Vasan danto guror hitam. The beginning of life
is how to become cent percent obedient to guru. That is Gurukula. That training should be given. The whole process is that our life will
be successful when we strictly follow guru and Krsna. Guru means Krsna;
Krsna means guru. Not Mayavada, but guru means one who follows Krsna,
he is guru. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata
eva sadbhih. So guru is directly God, saksad-hari. Saksad means
directly. So saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas, in every
sastra it is said the guru is one, Krsna. So, it is stated in the
sastra and it is accepted by authorities. Not that it is simply
stated. Samasta-sastrair, uktas. You understand little Sanskrit?
760803r2.par Conversations
Prabhupada: Yes. This is not possible for us. We welcome. But we
must be well organized to utilize these poor souls for becoming first-class devotees. That should be done. Otherwise, sex life and the by-product, that is always troublesome, either you take this way or that way, it is troublesome. If it is not troublesome, why they are killing their own children? To avoid trouble. This is psychology. They want to avoid trouble. But our process is, if you want to avoid trouble, then don't marry, remain
brahmacari. If you cannot, then, all right, have legal wife, get
children and raise them very nicely, make them Vaisnavas, take the responsibility.
So we are organizing this society, we welcome. Some way or other we shall arrange for shelter. But to take care of the children, to educate them,
that will depend on their parents. Now our Pradyumna was complaining that
in the Gurukula, his child was not educated to count one, two,
three, four. So I have told him that "You educate your child. Let the
mother educate in English, and you educate him in Sanskrit." Who can take
care? So similarly every father, mother should take care that in future
they may not be a batch of unwanted children. We can welcome hundreds
and thousands of children. There is no question of economic problem. We
know that. But the father, mother must take care at least. Properly trained
up, they should be always engaged. That is brahmacari gurukula. Brahmacari guru-kule vasan danto guror hitam. From the very beginning they should be trained up. From the body, they should be trained up how to take bath, how to chant Hare Krsna or some Vedic mantra, go to the temple,
offer obeisances, prayer, then take their lunch... In this way, they should
be always engaged. Then they'll be trained up. Simple thing. We don't
want to train them as big grammarians. No. That is not wanted. That anyone,
if he has got some inclination, he can do it personally. There is no harm.
General training is that he must be a devotee, a pure devotee of Krsna.
That should be introduced. Otherwise, the gurukula will be... Otherwise
Jyotirmayi was suggesting the biology. What they'll do with biology? Don't
introduce unnecessary nonsense things. Simple life. Simply to understand
Krsna. Simply let them be convinced that Krsna is the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, it is our duty to serve Him, that's all. Huh? (indistinct)
What is that? mayar bose, jaccho bhese' khaccho habudubu bhai jiv krsna-das ei biswas korle to ar duhkho nai. So organize. If you have got sufficient place, sufficient scope, let them be trained up very nicely. If some four,
five centers like this there are in Europe, the whole face will be changed. Important places like Germany, France, England. Now we are getting place.
I like that place, German, on account of this. It has got scope.
770226ed.mayConversations
Prabhupada: (Bengali) (break) People have been trained up not to become sober. Sober. Childish. And Vedic civilization is to teach the youngsters from the very beginning how to become sober--under restriction,
under regulation, just to make him very sober. Brahmacari guru-grhe
vasan dantah. Danta means sober. And where is our pandita.
770428rc.bom Conversations
Giriraja: So that principle about living together and salary...
Prabhupada: That is...
Giriraja: That is meant to apply everywhere in the society.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. This is exploitation of the society.
770429rc.bom Conversations
Prabhupada: So far gurukula is concerned, that also, I have
given program. They have given the name of "girls." We are not going to
do that.
Prabhupada: Girls. Boys and girls. That is dangerous.
Prabhupada: Girls should be completely separated from the very beginning. They are very dangerous.
Prabhupada: No, no, no. No girls.
Prabhupada: Yes. They should be taught how to sweep, how to stitch...
Prabhupada: ...clean, cook, to be faithful to the husband.
Tamala Krsna: They don't require a big school.
Prabhupada: No, no. That is mistake. They should be taught how
to become obedient to the husband.
Prabhupada: Little education, they can...
Tamala Krsna: Yeah. That they can get at home also.
Prabhupada: They should be stopped, this practice of prostitution.
This is a very bad system in Europe and America. The boys and girls, they
are educated--coeducation. From the very beginning of their life they
become prostitutes. And they encourage.
Prabhupada: They distribute pills. I have seen the boys and girls
dancing together, embracing, in the school film. That ruins the career.
Both of them are ruined. That is very regrettable. Then you shall require
this sterilization, pills, another big program. They are creating animal
civilization, and when the animals are disturbing, they are trying to
find out some other means. This is their program. First of all create
animals. Then, when the animals behave like animals, then another program.
Why do you create animal? Woman brahmacarini, this is artificial.
770430rc.bom Conversations
Prabhupada: So our gurukula should be ideal. Not all these
boys... You should take care of these things from the very beginning--if
you want actually spiritual life. If you want to progress like animals,
that is different thing, as the whole world is doing. We want to maintain
an ideal institution. People may see. In Christian idea also, the nuns
were separate.
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
