I S K C O N - L O N D O N
SPIRITUAL COUNSELLOR SYSTEM
BRINGING DEVOTEES TO KRISHNA AND KEEPING THEM THERE !
Why a Spiritual Counsellor System? The Spiritual Counsellor System is
3) Provide a formal framework
trust amongst devotees based on
meant to:
within which personal care and
Krishna Conscious principles.
1) Educate and train devotees to
attention can be extended to all
5) Provide a forum through which
live according to the Krishna
devotees so as to make them feel
conscious principles of their asrama. loved and wanted and part of a wonderful spiritual family. 2) Provide systematic training to 4) Foster warm personal devotees in matters of philosophy, sadhana, Vaisnava behaviour,
allocation of service, organization of major events, communication of important decisions, etc., can be facilitated.
relationships and a spirit of love and
etiquette, lifestyle and attitudes.
MAHA COUNSELLOR SANGAS
REGULAR GROUP MEETINGS
MONTHLY 121 MEETINGS
What does a Spiritual Counsellor do? 1. A Counsellor is a friend and guide in Krishna Consciousness. The Counsellor is like a spiritual elder brother or sister and must take personal care of all devotees in the group. 2. A Counsellor should inspire and encourage their counsellees in Krishna Consciousness and monitor their progress. 3. A Counsellor is expected to provide Krishna Conscious training to their counsellees. 4. A Counsellor is required to counsel their counsellees not only in spiritual matters but also in other personal or domestic matters where necessary. In other words, he or she has to look into the overall welfare of the counsellees. 5. A Counsellor conducts fortnightly meetings with their counsellees. 6. A Counsellor recommends the names of qualified candidates for first and second initiation. 7. A Counsellor is expected to provide useful inputs to the Board of Counsellors and to actively participate in its meetings. 8. As a leader, a Counsellor is expected to set a good standard of sadhana, service and behaviour.
What training do Counsellees receive? 1. Counsellors take care to train their counsellees in the following areas: 2. How to be ideal brahmacaris and grhasthas by keeping Krsna in the centre. 3. How to maintain proper devotional standards at the temple or at home (regarding kitchen, altar, behaviour, sadhana, etc.). 4. How to balance economic and social responsibilities with spiritual vows. 5. How men & women should interact with each other & maintain etiquette. 6. How to have a proper attitude towards all asramas. 7. The counsellors also resolve conflicts and disagreements within a family, between a devotee and his relatives or between two devotees and thus train them to deal with others in a Krsna conscious way.
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JAI NITAI DASA & BHAVA BHAKTI DD CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE COORDINATORS OF THE SYSTEM. THEY HAVE TWO SEPARATE GROUPS WHICH HAVE MARRIED COUPLES AS WELL AS SINGLE MEN & WOMEN. Luctus augue amet quis aenean maecenas THEIR LONDON BASED sit, donec velit iusto, morbiGROUP felis elitMEETS et nibh. EVERY MONTH ON dui WEDNESDAY AT Vestibulum volutpat lacus consectetuer, 7PM TOat9.30PM AT THEIR IN eget mauris suspendisse, eu wisiFLAT rhoncus CENTRAL LONDON & THEIR CRAWLEY nibh velit, eget posuere sem in a sit. BASED GROUP MEETS EVERY MONTH Sociosqu netus semper aenean suspendisse ON A SATURDAY AT 10.30AM TO 1.30PM dictum, arcu enim conubia leo nulla ac nibh, IN DIFFERENT COUNSELLEE HOMES IN purus hendrerit ut mattis nec maecenas, CRAWLEY & ROCHESTER. quo ac, vivamus praesent metus eget viverra ante.
JAI NITAI DASA ALSO HAS A SINGLE MENS GROUP WHICH MEETS EVERY 2 WEEKS ON A WEDNESDAY AT 5.30PM TO 8PM IN CENTRAL LONDON.
BHAVA BHAKTI DD ALSO HAS A SINGLE LADIES GROUP WHICH MEETS EVERY 2 WEEKS ON A FRIDAY AT 6PM TO 8.30PM IN CENTRAL LONDON.
ALL COUNSELLORS MEET TWICE A MONTH WITH THEIR GROUPS
COUNSELLEE GROUP MEETING FORMAT: 1)Kirtan 2) Systematic study and group discussion on one of Srila Prabhupada’s books
GAURA KISHORE DASA & SAUMYA RADHIKA DD HAVE A MARRIED COUPLES GROUP WHICH HAS SINGLE MEN & WOMEN TOO. THEY MEET EVERY 2 WEEKS ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT 7PM TO 9PM IN THE TEMPLE SEMINAR ROOM.
3)Discussion on Vaisnava Etiquette 4)Group japa - all chant one round together 5)Prasadam
NB:The Counsellor also meets the Counsellee monthly for a 121 meeting to discuss services, sadhana and any private matters.
MAHA NRSIMHA DASA & PARAM SUNDARI DD HAVE A MARRIED COUPLES GROUP WHICH HAS SINGLE MEN & WOMEN TOO. THEY MEET EVERY 2 WEEKS ON FRIDAY EVENINGS AT 7PM TO 9PM IN THE TEMPLE SEMINAR ROOM.
WHAT DO THE BOARD OF COUNSELLORS DO?
1. The Board of Counsellors all meet once a month. 2. The format of these meetings are discussion on Krsna Katha (for 1 hour) & Management issues (also for 1 hour). 3. It is in these meetings that a counsellor will put forward his/her counsellee for either officially aspiring approval or initiation approval . All counsellors will then vote on the candidate. It has to be an unanimous approval to be passed.
SINGLE MEN COUNS ELLO RS
R AD H A L O NDO NI SVARA DASA
4. Each counsellor is also responsible for arranging one of the x2 social events for all counsellees in the system. We have a yearly picnic in Regents Park and a house programme. 5. Counsellors also help cook the Sunday Feast with their counsellee group once every 6 weeks at the Temple. SUNDAR NITAI DASA
S ACHI KIS HORE DA SA
SINGLE WOMEN CO U N SELLOR
MADHURYA GAURANGI DD
1st Initiation Standards 1) Sadhana a) Sixteen rounds and four regulative principles b) Rising early (4 – 6.30am) c) c) Morning Programme: Performing simple arati at home altar Chanting four rounds minimum before leaving for work (Srila Prabhupada asked his disciples to chant eight before ten o’ clock, but not to chant while driving) d) Study Srila Prabhupada’s books daily – at least thirty minutes e) Maintain devotional dress and tilaka during worship at home and visiting the temple 2) Service Regular service to the temple (minimum two hours once a week) Menial service once a month (for instance cleaning, kitchen, shop, gardens) 3) Sanga Group You are required to be a member of a local Sanga group. Each person must have a counsellor and be in regular communication with that person. 4) Sankirtan Required to perform two hours local door-to-door preaching or home visits or outreach programme at least once every two weeks. 5) Morning Programme Minimum is to take part in a full morning programme at the temple once a month 6) 13 Questions Give satisfactory answers to ISKCON GBC 13 questions. Checked by the counsellor. 7) Sadhana Chart Weekly submit Sadhana Chart to their counsellor via email or printed copy. 8) Spiritual Master and Disciple Course Complete full course.
2nd Initiation Standards 1. For at least one year after first initiation, continues fulfilling all requirements for first initiation. 2. Continually develops good relationships with other devotees. 3. Demonstrates the qualities of a brahmana (Bg 18.42) and a tendency to continually improve in those qualities. 4. Practices the threefold austerity of the mode of goodness, as described in Bg 17.14-16 5. Exemplifies religious principles to the public, representing ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada. 6. Fits into and represents ISKCON’s organisational structure; i.e., GBC to Regional Governing Bodies (and similar local councils), Temple Presidents, etc. 7. Has read the following of Srila Prabhupada’s books: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrta, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction and Isopanisad. 8. Has a Bhakti Sastri qualification. 9. One should actively assist in some preaching or outreach activity. 10.One should perform some service for the Deities through the Deity Department on a regular basis (e.g., transfers, dressing Srila Prabhupada)
“I personally believe that this project is one of the most important projects in all of creation – this simple little Counselor system, because it can create a very strong and attractive foundation within the Hare Krishna movement.” HH Radhanath Swami
“If you take care of Krsna's devotees, Krsna will take care of you” Srila Prabhupada
What is expected of a Counsellee? BASIC REQUIREMENTS
1)To attend twice monthly group meetings.
TO JOIN THE SYSTEM:
2) To attend 121 monthly meetings.
1. CHANTING 16 ROUNDS
3) To submit monthly sadhana charts to their counsellor.
2. FOLLOWING THE 4 REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES
4)Where possible to regularly take part in extra curriculum activities ie: Maha Counsellee Sanga events &
3. ATTEND ‘THE ESSENCE OF BHAGAVAD GITA’ COURSE
Sunday Feast cooking.
4. FILL IN THE BASIC INFORMATION FORM PROVIDED BY THE COORDINATORS.
Got any Questions? Any questions on how to join or further information should be directed to Bhava Bhakti dd on bhava.bhakti@gmail.com