gurukul
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Every child, if given an impression of the Lord from his very childhood, certainly becomes a great devotee of the Lord like Mahārāja Parīkṣit. Srila Jiva Gosvami remarks in this connection that every child, if given an impression of the Lord from his very childhood, certainly becomes a great devotee of the Lord like Maharaja Pariksit. One may not be as fortunate as Maharaja Pariksit to have the opportunity to see the Lord in the womb of his mother, but even if he is not so fortunate, he can be made so if the parents of the child desire him to be so. There is a practical example in my personal life in this connection. My father was a pure devotee of the Lord, and when I was only four or five years old, my father gave me a couple of forms of Radha and Krsna. In a playful manner, I used to worship these Deities along with my sister, and I used to imitate the performances of a neighboring temple of Radha-Govinda. By constantly visiting this neighboring temple and copying the ceremonies in connection with my own Deities of play, I developed a natural affinity for the Lord. My father used to observe all the ceremonies befitting my position. Later on, these activities were suspended due to my association in the schools and colleges, and I became completely out of practice. But in my youthful days, when I met my spiritual master Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, again I revived my old habit, and the same playful Deities became my worshipful Deities in proper regulation. This was followed up until I left the family connection, and I am pleased that my generous father gave the first impression which was developed later into regulative devotional service by His Divine Grace. Maharaja Prahlada also advised that such impressions of a godly relation must be impregnated from the beginning of childhood, otherwise one may miss the opportunity of the human form of life, which is very valuable although it is temporary like others.
(More...) Imported quote 18250 Therefore our system is, Vedic system is, from the very beginning a child, a boy, is sent to gurukula to learn. Not that automatically one learns. One must go to gurukula, brahmacari. Brahmacari goes to guru, and he works like a menial servant. He may be a son of a big brahmana or big king; it doesn't matter. The one who goes to gurukula, he immediately becomes the menial servant of guru. This is the system. That means guru can order him to act any, I mean to say, low-class service, still he is prepared to do it. This is the business of brahmacari. And he takes all trouble, and childhood, he doesn't mind. Even Krsna, He went to gurukula, to teach us. Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, what is the use of His going to gurukula? No, He is teaching, apani acari' prabhu jivere sikhaya. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also accepted guru, teacher, guru more mūrkha dekhi' karila sasana .
(More...) Imported quote 19021 And what is that? Kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha [SB 7.6.1]. From the very childhood this dharman bhagavatan must be given lessons to the children. Therefore, from the very beginning we have opened this gurukula in Texas and in New Vrindavan, West Virginia. But here, practically, India, we don't get this opportunity. Before starting this movement, I approached many friends that "You have got four sons. Give me one. I will train him to become a Vaisnava brahmana." Nobody agreed. You see? But in the European countries, in America... Of course, they are all children of my devotees. I got them married. They have got now children, and they are being taught in gurukula. That is strictly according to the Vedic science, kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha, from the very beginning of life. So life should be utilized properly, and the children... Not all. Some of them may become ksatriya; some of them become sūdra or vaisya. But an ideal class of brahmana must be there to guide the society. This is Krsna consciousness movement.
(More...) Imported quote 19683 So by Caitanya Mahaprabhu's grace, with the cooperation of the Western youths, this movement is going on. I have traveled all over the countries, as I reported, and everywhere I saw, I was very much pleased that sahkirtana is going on. And it is improving. It is not declining. That is my greatest encouragement, that even in my absence, things are going on very nicely, improving. That is very hopeful. Not only that-from the gurukula we are training small children. There are about more than hundred children in Dallas. They are rising early in the morning, attending mahgala aratik, boys and girls not more than ten years, not more than five, six years. So that is very hopeful. In future they will become nice Vaisnava. And many children are taking birth. They are very nice devotees. In last, our Sripada Atreya Muni's small child, about six months old, as soon as I shout out, "Hare Krsna," immediately he'll... He'll laugh. Very nice. There are many such children.
(More...) Imported quote 20201 Please accept my blessings. I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Jan. 16, 1968, and noted the contents with pleasure. The idea of opening an asrama in the near future is certainly a wish of Krishna's. To develop our institution to its fullness, we require such an asrama without doubt. Child is the father of man, so the basic principle of any type of life is to instruct to the children from the very beginning. Krishna Consciousness. Children grow to be the topmost leaders of the human society. In the Bhagavatam it is said that the Brahmanas are the head of the social body, the Ksatriyas are the arms of the social body, the Vaisyas are the waist of the social body, and the Sudras are the legs of the social body. The legs may be placed in a lower position than the head ephemerally, but actually the legs are as important as the head for maintaining the body as it is. It is not that the legs should not be taken care of and just the head should be cared for. But it is a fact that if there is not a head it is a dead body. The modern civilization is a sort of a social body without a head, or actually it is a dead body. The body is dead since the very beginning of it's birth, and it is the spirit that keeps it moving. Therefore, spiritual enlightenment is the basic principle of civilization. The modern civilization is lacking in that respect and there are so many disadvantages on account of this deficiency. So we have to grow children to become the head of the human society and there is great need for this. I pray Krishna that you may give a starting to such an asrama in full Krishna Consciousness. In the asrama there must be a grand temple as the deity of the asrama.
(More...) Imported quote 20661 Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very nice Isopanisad papers, with sanskrit, transliteration, translation and purport. You are all very nice devotees. You are very, very fortunate to have the opportunity to be going to this Gurukula. It is the only one of its kind in the world. You are the first students and you must set a good example for the others, always being very enthusiastic to learn from your teachers, offering all respects to your teachers, leading the kirtanas with exuberance. In future you will be the leaders of this Krsna Consciousness Movement, so now you must take this training preparation very seriously. Hoping this meets you all in good health. Imported quote 20720 Regarding your Gurukula report, why are the older boys being sent to New Vrindaban? What are the facilities like, what is the program there, what is the need for them to move? As things are not fully explained in your letter, I am inquiring regarding this very important change. As for buying a new house and land in order that the pre-school children may go there, what is the need of them being separate. If they cannot rise early, why should you take care of such young ones at Gurukula. But if they are rising early and attending arati, then why must they be separate from the other little children? Please explain further. You are right when you say Deity worship must be maintained. This is most important. I know Nandarani is expert in Deity care but I think she is working with the children. Your wife is also expert, so she can maintain the sewing and Deity worship program. But the standard must always be kept up. Sankirtana is also a part of Vaisnavism. All our activities are a part of Vaisnavism. So Sankirtana should also be developed at Dallas.
(More...) Imported quote 23410 Prabhupada: Vasan danto guror hitam. [SB 7.12.1] The beginning of life is how to become cent per cent obedient to guru. That is gurukula. That training should be given. The whole process is that our life will be successful when we strictly follow guru and Krsna. Guru means Krsna; Krsna means guru. Not Mayavada, but guru means one who follows Krsna, he is guru. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhiḥ. So guru is directly God, saksad-hari. Saksad means "directly." So saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas, in every sastra it is said the guru is God, Krsna. So it is stated in the sastra and it is accepted by authorities. Not that it is simply stated. Samasta-sastrair, ukta. You understand little Sanskrit?
(More...) Imported quote 23834 Prabhupada: So our gurukula should be ideal. Not all these boys... You should take care of these things from the very beginning-if we want actually spiritual life. If we want to progress like animals, that is different thing, as the whole world is doing. We want to maintain an ideal institution. People may see. In Christian idea also, the nuns were separate.
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