Bhakti vriksha presentatie in het engels. Bhakti vriksha is een onderdeel van ISKCON. Titel is eenheid in verscheidenheid. Presentatie gehouden door H.H.Kratu Maharaj in Suriname.

1. The
Dream &
Challenge
of
Multiple
Local
ISKCON
Initiatives
UNITY IN DIVERSITY

2. “Every one of us is an
expansion of the
Supreme Personality of
Godhead. This accounts
for unity in diversity.”
- SB 4.7.54, purport
IT’S OUR PHILOSOPHY

3. In 1972 Srila Prabhupada wrote to a GBC:
“I have just received one letter from the
black devotees in Cleveland who wish
start their own ISKCON Center
independently of the white devotees
there.”
LET’S START WITH A QUIZ

4. A: “This is nonsense. Our movement is meant
to help people become free from the bodily
concept of life.”
B: “We should not discourage them in any way
from opening their own center.”
C: “Please inform them that it won’t be
possible to allow their request, as it is against
our philosophy.”
D: “I don’t think it’s a good idea as it will
promote division within our ranks.”
WHAT SRILA PRABHUPADA WROTE?

5. B
THE RIGHT ANSWER IS:

6. “We should not discourage them in any
way from opening their own center, but I
want you to go there and see how their
things are going on and that the standard
of Krishna consciousness is being
maintained on the highest level.”
LETTER TO SATSVARUPA, 24 AUG 1972

8. ORCHESTRA
EXAMPLES OF UNITY & DIVERSITY

10. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN A ORCHESTRA

11. CAR PARTS

12. VARIETY OF MILITARY BRANCHES

14. FLIGHT FORMATION

15. THE HAND: DIFFERENT
FINGERS, ONE ENTITY

16. SOCIAL BODY

17. “Our Gaudiya Math people fought with one
another after the demise of Guru
Maharaja but my disciples have already
begun fighting even in my presence. So I
am greatly concerned about it.
LETTER TO KIRTANANANDA, 18 OCT 1973

18. “Material nature means dissension and
disagreement, especially in this Kali yuga.
But, for this Krsna consciousness
movement its success will depend on
agreement, even though there are
varieties of engagements . . . if we keep
Krsna in the center, then there will be
agreement in varieties. This is called unity
in diversity.

19. “I am therefore suggesting that all our
men meet in Mayapur every year during
the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men
present we should discuss how to make
unity in diversity.”

20. What are the obstacles?

21. COOPERATE = WORK TOGETHER

22. COOPERATE = COMPLY

23. “INDEPENDENT”

24. “Krishna Consciousness Movement is for
training men to be independently
thoughtful.”
- Letter to Karandhara, 22 Dec 1972
“INDEPENDENTLY THOUGHTFUL”

26. “With reference to the boys holding
kirtanas independently, our propaganda
should be like that. That people may open
different centers of their own, or each and
every householder may have his own class
at home . . .
LETTER TO RAYARAM (NO DATE & PLACE)

27. “they may take the idea from the society
and introduce in their private life. And if
possible, let us sell to them the
paraphernalia of Kirtana, karatalas,
mrdanga, Deities, etc.”

28. “INDEPENDENT”

29. “It is all right if you live independently as
a grhastha provided you follow the rules
and regulations . . .
As for supporting your preaching
financially, if you are a preacher you can
take a donation from the audience . . .
Don't demand but you can ask and there
is no harm.
Yes, I did not approve of your starting you
own magazine. You can write articles for
Back to Godhead magazine. Why attempt
separately?”
LETTER TO RANCHOR, 15 MARCH 1974

30. “A person who is a householder but is
initiated by a sannyasi has the duty to
spread Krsna consciousness at home;
as far as possible, he should call his
friends and neighbors to his house and
hold classes in Krsna consciousness.”
SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM 3.21.31, PURPORT

31. “This Krsna consciousness
movement wants to see
that every house has
become a temple of Krsna.
That is our program.”
- Lecture, Ahmedabad, 13 Dec 1972
“EVERY HOUSE”

32. “It is not very difficult to open a center for
our activities. You can remain in any
apartment as husband and wife, and
invite persons there to hear your chanting
and topics, that is our center, and let it be
gradually improved.
- Letter to Anapurna, Ananda, 4 Sept 1968
“THAT IS YOUR CENTER”

33. Surapal Das and
Krishna-mayi Devi dasi

34. ISKCON LAS VEGAS

37. “We want every house to be a temple, not
that our place should be the only place for
the people to come. No, this should be the
process: that they learn at our place, then
establish the same thing at home.
So this Bajoria program should be
considered as one of our successful points
of preaching.”
- Letter to Bhavananda, 14 April 1972
MR. BAJORIA

38. NOT ONLY LETTERS & LECTURES

39. “As far as possible, every householder, by
the direction of the spiritual master, must
install the Deity of Visnu, forms like
Radha-Krsna . . . and all the members of
the household should be engaged in the
daily service of the Lord.”
SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM 2.3.22, PURPORT

40. “Everyone can execute the cult of Krsna
consciousness at home . . . It is not that we
have to open different centers all over the
world.
Whoever cares for the Krsna consciousness
movement can install Deities at home and,
under superior guidance, worship the Deity
regularly . . . especially householders . . .
can start a center at home.”
SRI CAITANYA CARITAMRITA,
MADHYA-LILA, 3.190, PURPORT

41. NO MONOPOLY

42. “We have opened about 102 centers all
over the world. But we want to open
thousands . . . Just like here we have
opened a center in Gandhigram [Juhu].
LECTURE IN BOMBAY, 30 NOV 1974

43. But in Bombay
such hundreds
and thousands
centers can be
opened. It is so
big city.
Similarly, there
are other cities.
It is required.”
100

44. “There must be always individual striving
and work and responsibility, competitive
spirit . . .
LETTER TO KARANDHARA, 22 DEC 1972

45. “COMPETITIVE SPIRIT”

46. FREE MARKET
Association
Education
Children’s
Activities
Mood
Engagement
Prasadam
quality

47. “Each centre remain independent . . . GBC
and Sannyasis will travel . . . and if they
observe anything lowering of the
standard, they must reform and advise.”

48. “STANDARD”

49. PRINCIPLES & DETAILS

50. EACH CENTER BUILDS ITS BRAND

51. Whereas ISKCON has grown into an
organization with multi-faceted
preaching programs;
Whereas it may not be possible for a
single temple or project to cover all such
preaching programs;
Whereas the GBC would like to
encourage ISKCON members’ individual
initiatives to preach;
GBC RESOLUTION (307–2008)
“JURISDICTION OF ISKCON CENTERS”

52. Resolved:
That multiple ISKCON entities can be
accommodated in a particular city or
geographical area. Such entities should work
cooperatively with existing ISKCON temples
and projects. Any concerns that arise in the
course of expanding ISKCON's preaching in
this fashion should be worked out amongst
the leaders of those projects, and/or by the
Zonal Secretary(s) for that area.

53. “Please try to maintain
the philosophy of unity
in diversity. That will
make our movement
successful.”
- Letter, 18 Oct 1973
“PLEASE”

54. THANK YOU

55. MAINTAIN THE PHILOSOPHY
OF UNITY IN DIVERSITY

56. “I am trying to live independently. That is not
possible. We are not independent. If we want to live
independently, that means we voluntarily become
dependent on the influence of material nature.”
- Lecture, New York, 5 August 1966
“To become dependent on another's maintenance is
very degrading; therefore, according to the Vedic
system, everyone should live independently. Only the
sudras are unable to live independently. They are
obliged to serve someone for maintenance.”
- Bhag. 5.13.6, purport
UNDERSTANDING ‘INDEPENDENCE’:
PHILOSOPHICALLY & SOCIALLY