This document outlines a course on embedding devotee care in Krishna conscious communities. The course aims to help students collaboratively implement a culture of devotee care in their yatra, project, or local community. Over the course, students will learn about what devotee care is, why it is important, who is responsible, and how to better implement it. The course was designed based on research, including input from over 40 devotees. It will cover topics like the principles and values of devotee care, reasons for its inadequate implementation historically, and how leaders can demonstrate caring values. The goal is for students to develop a strategic plan and report on embedding devotee care.

1. DEVOTEE CARE COURSE

2. “EMBEDDING CARE IN KRISHNA
CONSCIOUS COMMUNITIES”

3. A Very Warm
Welcome!

4. Invocation
“May there be good fortune
throughout the universe,
and may all envious persons
be pacified. May all living
entities become calm by
practicing bhakti-yoga, for by
accepting devotional service
they will think of each
other's welfare.”
(SB 5.18.9)

5. 1. Course Aims:
To help students collaboratively embed the culture of
Devotee Care within their yatra, project or local
community.
Course Specifications

6. Aims: We will answer four questions
1. What is Devotee Care?
2. Why is DC important?
3. Who is responsible?
4. How do we better implement DC?
Please note:
1. Most attention is given to #2 + #4
2. We need to answer #1 before #2
3. We need to answer #3 before #4
4. There are four corresponding outcomes.

7. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Define Devotee Care, its scope and
purposes.
Course Specifications
Course Outcomes:

8. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
2. Evaluate the proposal: “DC should be more
widely implemented throughout ISKCON.”
Course Specifications
Course Outcomes:

9. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
3. Analyse and explain the reasons underlying
the historical lack of Devotee Care;
propose and justify corresponding solutions.
Course Specifications
Course Outcomes:

10. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
4. Describe and model the knowledge, skills and
values required of caring leaders.
Course Specifications
Course Outcomes:

11. Course Specifications
Course Aim:
To Embed
Devotee Care
In Krishna
Conscious
Communities

12. Course Specifications
Course Outcomes: Four Questions
1. What is Devotee Care?
2. Why is DC important?
3. Who is responsible?
4. How do we better implement DC?

13. After the principles are done in 6 classes then this
need to be addressed in the last 3 classes
1. Write a Strategic Plan (Lessons 11 + 12)
2. Write a Report (Lesson 13)
3. Present that Report (Lessons 14 + 15)
4. Answer Questions (Lessons 14 + 15)
Course Specifications
3. Assessment Exercise

14. • Students assessed in teams
• Based on the 4 outcomes
• Also on 8 Criteria (discussed later); focus on using evidence
• Students may also be assessed individually, especially on the
questions they ask
• Students receive an attendance certificate.
Course Specifications
4. Assessment Criteria:

15. 1. Responsibly looking after ourselves
2. Seeking appropriate help when needed
3. Duly extending our care to others
We have adopted the following strategy
for teaching Devotee Care:
Framework for Studying DC
A. Framework for Delivering:

16. • This course was designed according to feedback from research
• It combined shastric evidence and empirical evidence
• Shastric research was mainly concerned for careful classification of
quotes (please make a note of p.46 onwards and p.59)
• Empiric research: over forty devotees took part (see page 68)
Framework for Studying DC
B. Research

17. • Empirical research was based on three areas and corresponding
questions, namely “what are…
(a) the specific and concrete care needs and challenges?
(b) the reasons underpinning lack of DC?
(c) the principles & values underpinning DC?
• This DCC2 was based on analysis and evaluation of this data ,
and we will refer to results during the course.
• Shastric research was mainly to find and classify quotes, stories,
etc. as support or qualify DC and the 3 questions about.
Research Questions
Framework for Studying DC
B. Research

18. The research data contributed to this course and to our materials
(aims, objectives, detailed content)
There are two further publications available electronically and by
request:
1. Revised ‘Mandate for Devotee Care’ document
2. Research Report (6th Edition), entitled ‘Devotee Care
Education: Report on ISKCON’s Current Needs’
Research Deliverables
Framework for Studying DC
B. Research

19. 1. Significant impact (of poor DC)
2. Shastra endorses DC
3. Reasons for inadequate DC are diverse
4. Many are linked to leadership
5. Discern care-givers from caring-administrators
6. Need for more expertise/professionalism
7. Listening a much-needed skill
8. Clear need for strategic planning (virtues-led)
9. Historical confusion over poor definition of DC
Research Results
Framework for Studying DC
B. Research

20. 1. Justify the importance of responsibility (esp. self-care)
2. Explain theory: needs, emotions, making requests
3. Apply introspective skills
4. Evaluate inspection in terms of developing:
(a) self-awareness, self-image, inner-steadiness
(b) awareness of inner life and inner dialogue
(c) enhanced communications/relationships
5. Formulate a personal plan.
Five outcomes:
Framework for Studying DC
C. Summary of the DCC

21. Three Learning Phases:
Part 1: Motivate (raise awareness)]
Part 2: Equip (Knowledge, skills, values)
Part 3. Empower (to apply our learning)
Structure of Course

22. Lesson 1: Welcomes, Introductions and Defining
Devotee Care
Lesson 2: Principles & Values Underpinning DC
Lesson 3: Mandate for the Devotee Care
Lesson 4: Twelve recipients and Twelve areas of
Devotee Care
Structure of Course

23. Lesson 5: Reasons Behind Inadequate Devote Care
Lesson 6: How Leaders Embed and Demonstrate
Values
Lesson 7: Skills for Caring Leaders
Lesson 8: Core Skills for Care-givers
Structure of Course

24. Lesson 9: Pitfalls in Caring
Lesson 10: Checklist for a Caring Administrator
Lesson 11: Who is Responsible for Delivering Care
Lesson 12: Basis of research for Devotee Care
Course
Structure of Course

25. “However, I have heard that there was a study by some
outsiders, where they said that…ISKCON has the best
philosophy, but when they talk about taking care of
devotees, ISKCON is way down the list.”
(Jayapataka Swami, “Carry on the Care Legacy, p.6)
Quote