ISKCON DAIVA VARNASRAMA MINISTRY (IDVM)
Promoting Rural Development in India
IDVM Secretariat: Room 137, Cakra Bldg, Sri Mayapur, W. Bengal, India
Hare Krishna dear Maharaj, prabhu, mataji,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Let me first introduce myself before I begin. I am Ramlaxman Das, Director for the ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry (IDVM-India) Secretariat located in Sri Dham Mayapur.
In the upcoming Iskcon Leadership Sangha (ILS) Convention planned between February 16-23, 2014 in Sri Dham Mayapur, the Global Village Initiative Committee (GVIC) plans to present a seminar on “Best Practices” relating to the promotion and application of the principles connected with “Simple Living and High Thinking”, namely self-sufficiency, sustainability,eco-friendly practices and practicality in different farm projects and temples across the globe.
His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami, Minister for IDVM-India, will present this seminar. Maharaja is also Convener for GVIC (Global Village Initiative Committee), one of several global initiative committees serving under theGBC/Strategic Planning Team (SPT).
I am sending this mail on the request of His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami. In case of further information or any queries you may have, please contact Maharaja or me.
The proposed seminar called “Best Practices” will bring together examples of outstanding and inspiring practices from selected global ISKCON Rural Communities and ISKCON Temples as they relate to the concepts and practices of self-sufficiency and sustainability.
This will surely take Srila Prabhupada’s vision related to Varnasrama many steps ahead. Besides, the seminar will encourage other temples and farm communities to do something similar thus building up efficiencies on every front. Your response will not only draw attention to your temple or farm but will also serve to make ISKCON a better place to practice bhakti or devotion to the Supreme Lord.
In order to make the concept of “Best Practices” more comprehensive to you, i am giving few examples of “Best Practices” taken from other projects. To make your response more impactful and authentic, I request you to supplement your text with a few relevant pictures having good resolution, a possible Power Point Presentation, documents or audios/videos etc. You can also give references to already published articles on iskcon.news or dandavats.com connected with all of this.
Since the convention is just around the corner, I request you to kindly treat this request with utmost urgency. I do understand your commitment to other calls of duty, but I assure you that your response in this direction is worth the effort that you make.
I look forward to your kind support and prompt response.
A few examples of “Best Practices”
1. Bhaktivedanta College Budapest and NVD cooperation:
The college sends ALL students for 1-1 week to New Vraja Dhama to see and practice living on the Farm. This means that every year twice there is a group from the college consisting of 30-40 people who spend a week studying and participating in gardening and other areas.
2. Eco Valley Foundation – NVD cooperation:
Involving 9 Universities and other respected institutions of academia to study sustainable rural life. There have been 40+ diploma work made on New Vraja Dhama and 50+ is being written at the moment. There is an annual conference consisting around 15-20 speakers and 300 in the audience. There is scientific recognition of New Vraja Dhama in a broad way.
3. New Vraja Dhama Goshala:
Research on breeds, cross breeding experiments, special milk production (milk giving cows who have not had calves before), 5000+ oxen working hours, equipment research and development.
4. Gardening:
90+ % self-sufficient vegetable and fruit production
5. Tourism:
20.000+ tourists and 10.000+ pilgrims annually
6. Mother’s plate:
When a mataji gives birth then there are 4-7 other matajis, who cook for her for 6 weeks (one mataji one day a week). In this way she has more time with her newborn and with her family. This is a really good practice and makes strong bond in the community and relieves a lot of stress in the family of the newborn.
Yours in service to Srila Prabhupada,
Ramlakshman das
ramlakshman.brs@gmail.com
+918370840557
Skype ID ramlakshman.das