![“[A]ccording to the opinion of the Lord, there are
as many mahatmas in the midst of the householders
as there are in the midst of the renounced order
of life.”
(Essay: Perfection at Home – A Novel
Contribution to the Fallen Humanity)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lessonone-congregationaldevelopmentdependsonvision-151018091951-lva1-app6891/85/Lesson-one-_congregational_development_depends_on_vision-11-320.jpg)
![“[W]e are very much in need of intelligent
preachers for expanding this movement all over
the world.”
(Letter to Sukadeva, 16 August 1972)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lessonone-congregationaldevelopmentdependsonvision-151018091951-lva1-app6891/85/Lesson-one-_congregational_development_depends_on_vision-37-320.jpg)
Lesson one -_congregational_development_depends_on_vision
- 1. Lesson One Congregational Development Depends on Vision
- 2. From the Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja offering from the ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry “One cultural obstruction to seeing your vision fulfilled is the notion that home-based devotees are a kind of ‘second-class citizens’ of your Society. Although you never introduced terms such as ‘part-time devotee’ (as if adherence to bhakti- yoga were a job) or ‘external devotee’ (as if one's place of residence determines one's devotional status), this language still plagues your Society.”
- 5. “Actually there is no difference between devotees living inside the temple and devotees living outside the temple.” (Letter to Susan Beckman, 29 September 1972)
- 8. “Householder life is also the perfect platform for rendering devotional service to Krsna. Any station of life, whether you are unmarried, married, or in any occupation of life, you can achieve the highest goal by adopting and practicing the principles of devotional service.” (Letter to Susan Beckman, 29 September 1972)
- 9. Bhagavad-gita 8.7 tasmat sarvesu kalesu mam anusmara yudhya ca mayy arpita-mano-buddhir mam evaisyasy asamsayah “Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krsna and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.”
- 10. Srila Prabhupada’s purport: “This instruction to Arjuna is very important for all men engaged in material activities. The Lord does not say that one should give up his prescribed duties or engagements. One can continue them and at the same time think of Krsna by chanting Hare Krsna. This will free one from material contamination and engage the mind and intelligence in Krsna. By chanting Krsna's names, one will be transferred to the supreme planet, Krsnaloka, without a doubt.”
- 11. “[A]ccording to the opinion of the Lord, there are as many mahatmas in the midst of the householders as there are in the midst of the renounced order of life.” (Essay: Perfection at Home – A Novel Contribution to the Fallen Humanity)
- 18. “You have got the potential . . . Just like a child has got the potency to pass the M.A. examination. So he has to be educated. If you don't educate him, he'll remain a foolish child. So we are educating to develop that potentiality.” (Morning Walk, Los Angeles, 6 December 1973)
- 19. “Preaching means that you have to turn the rascals and unfortunate to become intelligent and fortunate.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 16.6, South Africa, October 18, 1975)
- 22. “Vedic culture means everyone is given the chance to become first-class brahmana.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.13, Los Angeles, 18 September 1972)
- 24. “Preaching means to make Jagai-Madhai a devotee. That is preaching.” (Morning Talk, Bombay, 25 April 1977)
- 27. nitya-siddha krsna-prema ‘sadhya' kabhu naya sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya “Pure love for Krsna is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens.” (Lord Caitanya to Sananata Gosvami, Cc Madhya 22.107)
- 30. “We recruit a person to join us after spending gallons of blood. Everyone comes for reformation, you cannot expect everyone to be perfect, rather it is our duty to make everyone perfect as far as possible. So we shall be very much cautious and careful in this connection.” (Letter to Tamala Krsna, 23 August 1973)
- 32. “It is not compulsory that one live in the temple, but in order to make spiritual advancement, one must follow all the rule and regulations of Krishna Consciousness, just as the devotees in the temples do. One must rise early, hold mangala arati, have class and chant at least 16 rounds daily as well as follow the four regulative principles.” (Letter to Augusto and Romeo, 14 March 1975)
- 33. “Ritvik”
- 34. “Yes-man”
- 36. One more obstacle: Fear of Competition
- 37. “[W]e are very much in need of intelligent preachers for expanding this movement all over the world.” (Letter to Sukadeva, 16 August 1972)
- 39. “So our request is that every one of you become a guru. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s order. He wants that everyone must become a guru. How? That He says: yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa This is guru. Suppose you are family member. So many living entities, you sons, your daughters, your daughter-in-law, or children, you can become their guru . . . We do not want to become alone guru, but we want to preach in such a way that every, the chief man, or any man, he can become guru in his surroundings.
- 40. “Anyone can do that. Even a coolie, he can also, he has got family, he has got friends, so even though he is illiterate, he can hear the instruction of Krishna, and he can preach the same. This we want.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 7.1, Bombay, 20 December 1975)
- 41. “Instead of being oppressive to a less qualified man, one should be compassionate toward him just to raise him to the proper standard.” (SB 4.8.34, purport)
- 42. “It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wish that everyone should become a Vaisnava and guru.” (Cc Madhya 24.277, purport)
- 46. Lesson’s Summary: 1. Congregational Development depends on Vision – on the ability to see the devotional potential of new people and home-based devotes, avoiding considering them “second-class citizens.” 2. The “carving” is done by hearing, chanting, engaging people in outreach, etc. – that requires clarity of purpose, determination, patience and skills. 3. We need to free ourselves from the fear of competition – we should welcome and promote people’s growth, unafraid that they may become better than us.