Gurumaharaja recently attended the ISKCON Guru retreat in
Ujjain, and whilst we are eagerly waiting for his own
personal realizations from this experience, here is some
info on what it was all about, plus a link to an ecstatic
kirtana in which he participated.
View video in You Tube
Guru Seminar at Ujjain - Gurus Go Back to School
By Anuttama Dasa on 10 Oct 2009
On October 2-5, 2009, in the pleasant and historical holy
city of Ujjain, India, (Avanti), where Sandipani Muni once
taught Krishna and Balarama, two senior instructors led
the fourth session of "Being a Guru in ISKCON: A Spiritual
Leadership Seminar." It was hosted by ISKCON Ujjain, where
the attendees relished wonderful kirtans, classes, prasada
and Vaishnava hospitality in ISKCON's gorgeous and popular
new temple.
Why should a guru need to attend a seminar on devotee
care, spiritual health, and allegiance to Srila Prabhupada,
one may ask? Srila Prabhupada wanted hundreds and
thousands of gurus to spread Krishna consciousness all
over the world. By his mercy, many members of ISKCON are
now, or will be in the future, prepared to offer
themselves for this cause. Yet even if one has developed a
solid knowledge of sadhana and sastra, offering spiritual
guidance in this materialistic age requires extraordinary
skills, qualities and the support and mercy of the
Vaishnava community. This seminar helps prepare sincere
Vaishnavas for a most challenging service.
The Guru Seminar is designed to aid current diksa and
siksa gurus, as well as those preparing to offer diksa,
and other mature devotees especially ISKCON managers. The
four-day program included thirteen participants from all
four categories. It was facilitated by Hanuman Dasa,
Vaishnava Training and Education (VTE) instructor and BBT
Manager, and Anuttama dasa, GBC member and ISKCON's
Minister of Communications.
Topics include:
· The Role and Identity of a Guru
· Relationship with the Institution of ISKCON
· Guru-Management Dynamics
· The Guru-Disciple Relationship
· Spiritual Care Skills (Counseling, Coaching,
Empowerment)
· Personal Spiritual Health
· Peer Support
The attendees discussed that spiritual leadership means to
provide students and disciples with vision, inspiration
and facilitation. In each category, the facilitators
identified four principals and values to be pursued:
A. Vision
· Fidelity to Srila Prabhupada
· Allegiance to ISKCON
· Brahminical Leadership
· Co-operation and Unity
B. Inspiration
· Spiritual Strength
· Shastric Knowledge and Realization
· Balanced and Exemplary Lifestyle
· Concern for the Welfare of All
C. Facilitation
· Reflection & Self-Awareness
· Social Responsibility & Accountability
· Empowerment of Followers
· Peer Association and Support
Historically, a guru tends to be an autocrat within his
own institution. Srila Prabhupada's vision of thousands of
gurus working cooperatively within a single institution is
unique and bold. The attendees discussed both the
successes and failures in ISKCON's past as a means to
build a clear roadway forward to fulfilling Srila
Prabhupada's vision.
"Someone who equates being a guru with enjoying comfort
and honor has misunderstood," said one attendee. "It is a
service demanding enormous sacrifice and relentless
introspection. If one is not fixed in being the humble
servant of Srila Prabhupada, he will fail."
"After taking this seminar," he added, "I know what
specific steps I now need to take in preparation for this
service. It is humbling and empowering at the same time."
The Seminar was developed under the guidance of ISKCON's
Governing Body Commission (GBC) Guru Services Committee. A
working group that included Radhanatha Swami, Jayapataka
Swami, Bhakti Charu Swami, Prahladananda Swami, Ananda
Vrindavanesvari dasi, Rukmini dasi, Ravindra Svarupa dasa,
Braja Bihari dasa, Rasamandala dasa and others established
the aims, objectives, and principles underlying the
seminar. It took more than one year to develop the Seminar
before its launch in Ujjain in February, 2008.
The facilitators announced that the Seminar will likely be
offered twice a year to accommodate the growing interest
and demand |
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