By Ramlakshman Das
Vallab Vidyanagar – Gujarat
March 16 to 18, 2015
As part of the on-going ISKCON LEADS educational program, the ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry (IDVM-India) presented three days of Varnasrama Seminars to a group of 30 students who had been selected from various ISKCON centers in India.
ISKCON LEADS was established by the GBC some years back to provide systematic training for future leaders within our ISKCON society. The word LEADS is an acronym for “Leadership Education And Development System” whose chairman is HH Bhakti Brihat Mrdanga Maharaja from South Africa and Secretary Vamsi Vadan prabhu located at ISKCON Puna.
This year IDVM-India invited five Facilitators to cover the following courses, all of which will soon be shared on the IDVM-India websites, www..iskconvarnasrama.com and wwwsrisurabhi.org.
FACILITATORS TOPICS
HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami Understanding the Varnasrama Mission
IDVM-India Minister OM Sri Surabhi Campaign
Traditional Education
Best Practices – Global/Continental
HG Hari Kirtan das
IDVM-India Director for Adopt a Village Program
Rural Development Varnasrama: 50% Unfulfilled Mission
HG Damoadar Dulal das Holistic Cow Care
ISKCON India Minister for
Cow Protection and Agriculture
HG Sanat Kumar das Perfect… yet Rejected
From Govardhan Eco Village Holistic Agriculture
HG Dr. Sreekumar Mother Surabhi
From Gokul Dham Project The Science of Grazing
Among the various documentaries presented was the one on the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign that explained to the participants the unique opportunity our ISKCON city temples have in being part of the 12 years campaign to commemorate a series of unprecedented Golden Jubilees culminating on November 2, 2027, that will commemorate Srila Prabhupada’s Golden Jubilee departure after his astounding spreading of Krishna consciousness all over the world.
All the sessions were well attended and participants expressed their appreciation of the courses as follows:
Amshu Das:
“It was very inspiring and an eye opening session. Previously I was aware of Srila Prabhupada’s desire and necessity but now by such wonderful and emphatic presentation by HH Maharaja and others I was very touched and want to look forward to do something in this regard….”
Arjunapriya das (ISKCON Goa)
“Have understood the importance of setting up varnasrama institute in our ISKCON community. This program will take the preaching of Holy Name to the next level which was desired by Srila Prabhupada and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.”
“ The statement where it is said that “Srila Prabhupada has made a house where the whole world can stay together”, will be accomplished by the 4th wave of establishing Varnasrama…..”
Parasurama das (ISKCON Pune)
“Before attending this seminar, I was not at all clear about this concept but after this, it is like an eye opener for me, specially the cow care aspect of it…”
Sarvamangal Gram das
“Videos/presentation were very touching, inspiring…”
Arjuna Krsna das (IDVM-India)
“The most impressive amongst the Varnasrama Presentation was Dr. Sriikumar, who opened our eyes with his stunning honesty and clarity…”
Visvambala Gopala das (ISKCON Tirupati)
“This course should reach all India students and villages and devotees of ISKCON…”
Sonar Gauranga das
I’m deeply indebted and grateful for taking out your valuable time and energy (especially HH Bhakti Raghava Swami and other devotees also) to come all the way to give us awareness about this Varnasrama….”
Anadi Krishna das (ISKCON Pune)
“This course is very important to all ISKCON devotees to understand what Srila Prabhupada wants to do and how his disciples are working hard to fulfill his desire….”
Ravi Locana das (ISKCON Punjabi Bagh – Delhi)
“The course was really an eye opener…our prime duty towards cows and mother nature was nicely presented… specifically regarding the cow care seminar taken by Dr. Sreekumar must be given to all temples….”
Nimai Ananda das
“I feel that Book Distribution was past of ISKCON, Youth preaching emphasis is present of ISKCON and Varnasrama emphasis is future of ISKCON….These two mothers, land and cow, cannot be separated… all the problems we face today is because we have separated them…”
Lalitmadhava das (ISKCON Pune)
“I am very grateful to His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami for taking up such important but neglected mission of Srila Prabhupada…This seminar is really an eye opener and actually completes our preaching, i.e. the last wave. I felt as Kali Yuga goes ahead, varnasrama will play a major role… I am very, very, very grateful…”
Vallabha Caitanya das (ISKCON Chowpatty)
“Thank you. Did not know the concept of varnasrama dharma in such an essential, urgent situation which the whole world is going to suffer….”
Dauji Nitai das
“By attending the seminar, I felt that if whole world follows varnasrama dharma then the whole world will go back home, back to Godhead…”
Maha Rasa das (ISKCON Kolkata)
“Presentations were awesome. It opened a new dimension for us as preachers and practitioners of Krishna consciousness….”
For more information on the IDVM-India/ISKCON LEADS seminars, in particular to obtain copies of the presentations, please write to IDVM-India Secretariat located in Sri Dham Mayapur at info@iskconvarnasrama.com