More from H.H. B.V. Swami Maharaja on Gurukul syllabus

In a meeting held at Salem with the agenda of Farms and Gurukula- strategies to establish, following are a few points emphasized by Guru Maharaja.

1. The main reasons for failure of our society's earlier attempts to give good guidance to our kids in our Gurukula are as follows.After Srila Prabhupada's leaving this world, the focus of our leaders attention was disproportionately on the book distribution(because of some misuse of the competition spirit encouraged by Srila Prabhupada on distributing books) to the extent that supervision of Gurukulas suffered.Another reason was lack of training of the Gurukula teachers. Sometimes kids were mistreated.Yet another reason was lack of mature teachers and this resulted in child abuse.
2. As far as the curriculum is concerned, Srila Prabhupada books are the curriculum.On repeated occasions Guru Maharaja has emphasized this. Teach them from Srila Prabhupada books from very beginning.Kids have the capacity to understand philosophy if presented properly.Keep the mundane subjects' study to the minimum.Let the kids be absorbed in Krishna Consciousness from the beginning.In modern curriculum we are trained to view the world through our imperfect material senses.This brings havoc to them and the society. At the time when such a person gets the chance to come in contact with a pure devotee and pure teachings of the scriptures,due to his perverted training to view everything from his contracted vision,he tries to understand even them through his imperfect senses and as expected, gets baffled,resulting in complete misunderstanding and thus lose the great opportunity afforded by human birth.Thus in our Gurukulas we have to train our kids to see every thing(including themselves)from Sastra caksu i.e. eye of Lord Sri Krishna.A complete shift of paradigm. Then the kids can themselves appreciate how everyone except the devotees are in maya and will never get attracted to adopt their values of life.
3. The atmosphere should be spiritually very enlivening so that the children feel very happy in contrast to how the children feel burdened by the modern curriculum.
4. History can be taught from Srila Prabhupada's perspective. That is from history we can learn how great leaders because of not being Krsna conscious brought miseries to people and were frustrated in there attempts to help others- to give an example.
5. Emphasis should be also on spontaneous education and not just systematic education.Take the kids on yatras and teach them as you encounter different things and phenomenon from the perspective of Krsna Consciousness.That was the traditional system that children learn by hearing from the Guru.
6. Sanskrit helps to raise the consciousness of one who learns it,uses it for communication etc.Thus from the beginning kids should be taught sanskrit, if needed even karmi teachers can be employed.Proper pronunciation should be taught.Many languages should be taught from the early age as they have the capacity to pick up many languages simultaneously.
7. Ramayana, Mahabharat to be taught. Hitopadesh and Canakya niti can also be taught for wordly wisdom.
8. Teach them playing Mridanga and karatala. Music should be taught.
9. For physical exercises, wrestling, swimming and simple sports can be put into use with the care that sportive mentality is cultivated instead of the the competitive mentality.

Minutes of the Meetings 07 & 08/12/2010, Tue, Wed

In another meeting on 7^th & 8^th Dec-2010, following points were discussed and concluded.

Savyasachi prabhu, Nartak Gaurang prabhu, Tribhanga Anand prabhu, Vijay Krishna das, Radhanidhi mataji were present on 7^th and on 8^th Savyasachi prabhu, Nartak Gaurang prabhu, Vijay Krishna das, Radhanidhi mataji, Harini mataji and Rasamoorti mataji were present.

1.       A committee of four NGD, DCD, TAD and VKD formed.

2.       Committee will work cooperatively and in case of differences will decide by voting and even someone does not agree to conclusion of committee, can approach Savyasachi prabhu and then Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj.

3.       Fees should be around Rs.700 (Need to be finalised in committee)

4.       Concession for fees may be given to some students after discussion in committee.

5.       There has to be minimum fees for all.

6.       Morality be taught from GSEB, CBSE books and other books listed earlier, but they should be taught with proper discrimination. Prime importance be given to bhakti, since morality is mere bi-product of bhakti.

7.       26 qualities of a devotee favourable to bhakti, mentioned by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu have to be taught.

8.       Some puzzles for mental exercise be given.

9.       For bodily exercise, some inexpensive sports should be taught. (Sports may be learnt from RSS)

10.   Students are encouraged to do their best, but competition among them should not be encouraged. Those who do better in some particular activity may be praised but not to increase their ego.

11.   Those who could not do well in particular activity should not be demoralized but examples of those doing better may be given. Those who remain behind should never feel deprived of special attention. They should not be neglected.

12.   Students should know how are they different from those who are going to school and how they are better than them? They should develop better understanding about what they are doing.

13.   Even Krishna conscious animation videos have to be avoided.

Co-curricular activities like art, drama, dancing, clay modeling, house-hold traditional games/sports be taught.

Minutes of the Meetings 24/11/2010, Wed

Minute of the Meetings

Date: 24/11/2010, Wednessday

Agenda: To start school and gurukul for devotees’ children

Meeting lead by: H.G.Savyasachi das

Savyasachi prabhu explained the need of the school for devotees’ children.

He also explained what Srila Prabhupada wanted and why he wanted?

Many devotees were present and they participated in discussion and contributed their suggestions.

Later there were subsequent meetings with him and others for details.

1. Can school be started?

As many devotees were ready to send their children and to save them from bad influence of modern education, it was decided that it will be started as soon as possible, may be by April-11.

2. Who can join school?

Any devotee’s child can join who do not have television at their home.

3.  Where to start school?

Considering cost factor, it seemed wise to take permission from temple authorities to start there. Also temple atmosphere, deity darshan, goshala, play ground are additional advantages.

4. Who will send their children?

Nartak Gaurang das (Mukund)

Tribhanga Anand das (Varshita, Nitika)

Nilesh Joshi (Krishna)

Ramesh Sharma (Madhavi)
Vijay Krishna das (Vaishnav, Harilila)

5. What should be age criteria?

3-5 yrs & 5-8 yrs for all. Above 8 for girls.

6. Will school & gurukul be same or different?

School will be from 3-8 yrs then gurukul only for boys.

7. Will there be co-education?

There will be co-educatio till 8 yrs. Then boys will go to gurukul and girls will continue school (yet to be thought in detail).

8. Who will teach?

Harini dd, Jigna Bhatt, Mrigakshi dd, Bhavabhakti dd

9. Who will manage?

Dipika Joshi, Jigna Bhatt

10. Who will make syllabus?

Jigna Bhatt, Dipika Joshi, Harini dd

11. Is prasadam cooking for children needed?

Childre will bring from home.

12. How children will reach school? What will be transportation facility, if needed?

Either on their own or school can arrange at their own expenses

13. How much should be fees?

About Rs.700. Some concession up to Rs.400 may be given to those who cannot afford. It will differ from case to case.

14. Whether teachers be paid?

It should be voluntary. However, they may be paid Maximum up to Rs.1500 if they need. They need to spend minimum 3 hrs.

15. What books should be included?

All GSEB & CBSE books with proper discrimination from spiritual point of view. Objectionable chapters or teachings should be removed.

Apart from these, there will be Panchatantra, Hitopadesh, Aeshops’, Akbar-Birbal, Nyay shastra, Chanakya niti, Vaishnava stories by Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Maharaj.

Also basics of culture of different world civilizations and history.

16. Should there be someone permanent to look after children?

If someone is ready to give full time, he is welcome. Otherwise Dipika Joshi and other teachers will take care and manage among themselves.

17. Is residential school possible?

Until age up to 8 yrs, there will not be residential school. Children should stay with their parents. After 8 yrs there will be residential gurukul for boys only

18. What languages will be taught?

As many languages as possible. Eng, Sankrit, Guj, Hin, Bengali, other languages.

19. What is the need of learning languages?

Sankrit, Bengali for literature study & English for Prabhupada’s books.

English also for better communication for outside world and other local languages for better local communication.

Some rhymes from ISKCON, Pune books will not help in learning language. But to teach them, Bhakti Vikas maharaj be consulted.

All boys and teachers should speak only one language for which the period is. E.g. in English class, all should speak in English only.

 If there is any doubt or discrepancy, members are requested to write their views. Incase of any confusion or many opinions about principle, H.G. Savyasachi prabhu and H.H. Bhhakti Vikas Swami Maharaj’s authority will be final.

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Dandavat pranam ro all devotees.
Though I have chosen this name here, we can change it, once we have some appropriate name from Guru Maharaj. I don't know how is it going to work, as for the first time I am using it.

If it sends some invitation, then please join it.

Yours in the service of Hari-Guru-Vaishnav

Vijay Krishna das