ANY KIND OF MUSIC IS OKAY
From the Godruma Kalpatavi newsletter, we have gathered that Bhaktivinoda Thakura established at least five hundred Nama Hatta groups and was actively preaching amongst
grhastha devotees. By his personal guidance and preaching example, he was able to revive Lord Nityananda’s Nama Hatta preaching program. In the Godruma Kalpatavi,
Bhaktivinoda Thakura dealt with the practical circumstances encountered in the course of his preaching. Therein he gave his followers various practical instructions, most of which are still relevant today. His purpose was practical in principle—such as his authorizing any kind of music provided that the lyrics were Krsna conscious. Similarly, in ISKCON we have writers of music, art, and so on, all of which can be used in devotional service if the end result is Krsna consciousness. We see how those instructions of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s were applicable not only for his time but also for the future. It is significant to witness the direct guidance and words of one of our Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas to the devotees of that day, regarding how they should apply Krsna consciousness in the preaching field. This is the speciality of the Godruma Kalpatavi.
(Excerpt from the introduction to ‘Sri Godruma Kalpatavi’ by HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja)
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LORD SRI KRSNA CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO SPREAD HARINAM SANKIRTAN.....
Krsna said “I will come back, I will come back in Kali Yuga but I won’t come as the Lord, I will come as a devotee to distribute Harinam Sankirtan which will deliver all the fallen souls.
Lord Caitanya asked for volunteers who would like to go with Him to the material world to spread the Harinam sankirtan and deliver the fallen souls. So Radharani and some sakhis and gopis volunteered, some queens in Dwaraka volunteered and then Lord Caitanya said “I will preach in India Bharat varsha and western countries & I will send one Senapati Bhakta, commanding devotee and he will spread the Harinam sankirtan all over the world”.
HH JAYAPATAKA SWAMI
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“YOU MUST PRODUCE NICE CHILDREN”
The Vedic scriptures tell us that we should not become parents unless we can bring our children to a higher stage of spiritual life and save them from the cycle of birth and death. Prospective parents should realize their tremendous responsibility. "You must produce nice children," Srila Prabhupada said. "For that purpose, sex life is allowed. And especially in this age, at the present moment, if you can produce children to become Krsna conscious, that will be a great service to the Lord.” (Hare Krsna Festival Address—San Diego, Balboa Park Bowl, 1st July 1972)
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and his wife, Srimati Bhagavati Devi, were an ideal couple who raised ten children in late nineteenth century India. He was a great spiritual master and government official who perfectly balanced his parental, spiritual, and administrative duties. He rightly appreciated that he was but a steward for Lord Krsna’s children and property. A masterful poet and songwriter, he wrote in one song, “My life, my wife, my family—all belong to you, O Lord.”
-Krsnanandini DD.--- (Excerpt from the book ‘Our Future Hope’)
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FOR WHOM ARE WE DOING THIS & FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
Having stressed the need to be open to change, I suggest that organizers of the Sunday program ask themselves two basic questions:
1. Who is the Sunday program for?
2. What are we trying to accomplish?
Srila Prabhupada emphasized the importance of clear objectives: “There is an example: ‘Man without any aim is a ship without any rudder.’ ... An airplane is going with an aim to land in some country, but if he goes on simply without any aim, then there will be a disaster.
. . . Without a goal, practicing something, it is foolishness.”
First of all, you might want to consider the intended participants; their level of development and their needs will shape the aims of your program. The analysis of the candidate is fundamental. As Srila Prabhupada said, “First of all, we have to know where he is. Then we can give. What is his position? Then we can give him. Just like a diagnosis. You have to see what the disease is. Then we give medicine.”
(Excerpt from ‘Super Sunday’ by HG Kaunteya Das)
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SOME DEVOTEES ARE MISSING OUT
This is the Congregational Development Ministry’s first attempt to publish inspirational material. We hope that by these efforts devotees will become more inspired and will want to assist in the congregational preaching efforts. The writings of our previous acaryas, instructions, and quotations from Srila Prabhupada, interviews with our senior devotees, and statements from our preachers are the heart of this book.
I’m very grateful to the senior devotees who contributed to The Nectar of Congregational Preaching, by giving their testimonials and sharing their experiences.
In the future, there will be new editions, but we hope that this first volume serves the purpose of inspiring everyone, because, as we say in English, “Many hands make light work.” There are so many souls who need to be delivered from maya, and the more hands we have to help, the better. We can distribute more books, make more devotees, and achieve more development. Congregational preaching is a wonderful opportunity, but somehow some devotees are missing out on participating in this revolution. This book is a humble attempt to give devotees who are already preaching to the congregation even more inspiration to continue. We want to show that their service is appreciated by the leaders of our movement and is authorized by the previous acaryas.
(Excerpt from “The Nectar of Congregational Preaching’ by HH Jayapataka Swami)
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