spiritual guidance system

8/12/2019 Spiritual Guidance System

1/48

1


2/48

PlanOverviewBenefits of the small groupsOne-to-one skills

Demonstrations of group meetings

Demonstrations of one-to-one sessionsQ&A


3/48

Educate and train devotees to live according tothe rishna conscious principles of their asrama!Provide s"stematic training to devotees in mattersof philosoph"# sadhana# $aisnava %ehaviour#eti uette# lifest"le and attitudes!

Provide a formal framework within which personal care andattention can %e e'tended to all devotees in order to make themfeel loved and wanted and part of a wonderful spiritual famil"!(oster warm personal relationships and a spirit of love and trustamongst devotees %ased on rishna conscious principles!

Provide a forum through which allocation of service# organi)ation ofma*or events# communication of important decisions# etc!# can %efacilitated!Train spiritual leaders and enthusiastic preachers.

+


4/48

,ertain e'perienced devotees from the temple and thecongregation are nominated to %e piritual .uides! omedevotees could %e appointed as assistant piritual .uides!All devotees are .uided %" more e'perienced selected

devotees! Devotees from the congregation /devotees0 areassigned to particular piritual .uides# usuall" on the %asisof geographical pro'imit" of their residences! ometimes#however# other considerations prevail /e!g!# if a devotee isalread" %eing cultivated %" a particular piritual .uide or ifa devotee has a strong personal preference for a particular

piritual .uide and so on sometimes linguistic and socio-economic considerations are taken into account to ensurethat the devotee will %e in a comforta%le situation0!

2


5/48

piritual .uides meet with the respective devotees onceever" fortnight! 3he meetings usuall" take place# turn %"turn# at the homes of devotees in the group!Besides the meetings# the piritual .uides maintainpersonal touch with their devotees to ensure their welfare!4ew devotees are encouraged# either throughannouncements at the unda" (east program or in personaldiscussions# to participate in the piritual .uide s"stem!

3hus an effort is made to %ring as man" devotees aspossi%le under the um%rella of the piritual .uide s"stem!

5


6/48

3he Board of piritual .uides and assistant piritual .uides meetfortnightl" and discuss issues of importance! 3his is an important polic"making %od" for the temple!(rom time to time# according to need# the Board of piritual .uidesrecommends the name of new candidates for the post of piritual .uide orassistant piritual .uide# and the" are finall" approved %" the local Board

of piritual .uides!everal teams could %e formed for various services and to cater to various

needs of the temple and congregational devotees! 3hese teams report tothe Board of piritual .uides! 3he Board of piritual .uides in turn reportsto the local 3emple ,ouncil!6t7s desira%le that the 3emple President also attends the monthl" meetings

of the piritual .uides! 3he purpose is two-fold86t ensures that the decisions taken %" the 3emple management are moreparticipative in nature and that the views of the congregational and templedevotees are taken into account!6t ensures a smooth serving relationship %etween 3emple %rahmacaris andcongregational grhasthas!

9


7/48

:oung# unmarried %o"s in the congregation /particularl" students0 whoare not "et showing indications of desire to enter grhastha ashram could%e looked after %" the respective %rahmacharis who are preaching tothem! ;hen the" e'press desire to enter grhastha ashram# the" could%e handed over to suita%le grhastha piritual .uides! /3here could %e#however# some "oung grhastha piritual .uides who do look after newunmarried %o"s also!04o piritual .uide is allotted more than 15 devotees or families asdevotees to ensure that he is a%le to give ade uate personal attentionto each devotee!6n some cases# when the group is large# one or more assistant piritual.uides assist the piritual .uide! 3he assistant piritual .uidesindependentl" meet with devotees allotted to them once a month! 6n thesecond meeting of the month# the" *oin the main piritual .uides groupfor a *oint meeting! 3he assistant piritual .uide takes guidance from his

piritual .uide and "et is responsi%le for devotees who are in his group!


8/48


9/48

3here are no hard and fast rules! :et# certain general guidelines ma" %e helpful!piritual .uide must8

Be a devotee who has %een in active rishna consciousness within 6 ,O4 for areasona%le length of time!

?ave good understanding of the philosoph" and practice of rishna consciousness!

Be a%le to give %alanced counsel %ased on rishna conscious principles according to

a person# time# place and circumstance!4ot %e prone to taking e'treme and controversial positions on issues!Be willing to e'tend himself@herself to help others! 6n other words# should have aspirit of sacrifice!Be compassionate and have genuine concern for the welfare of devotees!Be a good listener!

Be a mature# so%er and sta%le individual!Demonstrate good standard of sadhana# eti uette# %ehavior# service andcommitment to the mission!Be properl" situated in his@her own asrama!


10/48

A piritual .uide is a friend and .uide in rishna ,onsciousness! ?e or she is like apiritual elder %rother or sister and must take personal care of all devotees in the

group!A piritual .uide should inspire and encourage their devotees in rishna,onsciousness and monitor their progress!

A piritual .uide is e'pected to provide rishna ,onscious training to their devotees!

A piritual .uide is re uired to counsel their devotees not onl" in piritual matters%ut also in other personal or domestic matters where necessar"! 6n other words# heor she has to look into the overall welfare of the devotees!

A piritual .uide conducts fortnightl" meetings with their devotees!

A piritual .uide recommends the names of ualified candidates for first and secondinitiation!

A piritual .uide is e'pected to provide useful inputs to the Board of piritual .uidesand to activel" participate in its meetings!As a leader# a piritual .uide is e'pected to set a good standard of sadhana# serviceand %ehavior!

1


11/48

piritual .uides take care to train the devotees in the following areas8?ow to %e ideal %rahmacaris and grhasthas %" keeping rsna in the center!

?ow to maintain proper devotional standards at the temple or at home /regardingkitchen# altar# %ehavior# sadhana# etc!0!

?ow to %e proper %rahmacari or wife@hus%and@parent@child# etc!# according toscriptures!

?ow to %alance economic and social responsi%ilities with piritual vows!?ow women should deal with men# particularl" %rahmacharis and sann"asis!

?ow men should deal with women!

?ow to have proper attitude towards other asramas!

3he piritual .uides also resolve conflicts and disagreements within a famil"#%etween a devotee and his relatives or %etween two devotees and thus train themto deal with others in a rsna conscious wa"!A manual of $aisnava Eti uette and Cifest"le has %een prepared for the guidance ofdevotees and portions of this manual are discussed in ever" meeting!

11


12/48

$aisnava %ha*ansA few pages of one of rila Pra%hupada7s %ooks are discussed!One of the Devotees makes a presentation of the same and adiscussion follows!

haring of reali)ations!Discussion on service# sadhana and $aisnava eti uette!Devotees are asked if the" want to discuss an" pro%lems that arenot personal /personal pro%lems are discussed in private with the

piritual .uide0!Occasionall"8 an e'am# %ased on the pages of rila Pra%hupada7s

%ooks %eing discussed and memori)ation of slokas!irtana!

Prasadam!

1


13/48

Discussion on the hol" name and one of the following su%*ects8adhana /*apa# waking up earl"# etc!0eading /philosoph"# importance of reading Pra%hupada7s %ooks# etc!0

$aisnava Eti uette /e!g!# how to serve@honour prasadam# personal ha%its#etc!0E'emplar" Behavior /Discussion on 9 ualities of a $aisnava# etc!Different piritual .uides make presentations each time0!,aring for Devotees /reports from various teams formed to care fordevotees0!

ometimes when the discussion flows spontaneousl"# more time isre uired!

(inall"# various management@polic" matters are discussed!Prasadam!

1+


14/48

;e live life around man" people#%ut we e'perience with deep lone,rowded loneliness

Feaningful relationships6n the divine communit" Ga heart comes aliveA significant sense of %elonging,reate environments where authenticcommunit" can take place

,larit" of mission8 ;hat do we want to happen in thelives of people we influenceH

12


15/48

3o develop their lovingrelationship with rsnaDemonstrating greater faithand living in greater surrender

to the will of rsna

keptic# new aspirant# returner# growing devoteeeep making progress on their

*ourne"s# wherever the" are

Cead people into a growingrelationship with rsna

15


16/48

,urriculum approach to spiritual maturit" G a pathwa" tospiritual %urnoutEvidence of spiritual growth and maturit"8 loving rsna andloving othersDemonstrated %" continuous action

3hree relationships8.row in their intimac" with rsna.row in their intimac" with devotees?ave greater influence on the peopleoutside

Feaningfull" and regularl" ,O44E,364. with other devoteesince the human propensit" is to drift awa"# we need each

other for mutual encouragement and accounta%ilit"

19


17/48

Faturing Devotees 3hose who are growing in their communion with otherdevotees# spending time together in a rsna consciouswa"# encouraging and supporting each other

3hose who increase

their influence on thepeople outside 3hose who continue togrow in the previousthree relationships6nvest in and invite peoplefrom the outside toe'perience .od in a fresh#relevant wa"

1<


18/48

;hat is a =win7H;hat is the =end in mind7H

6nto small groups# under the care andguidance of a spiritual guide

ustained life change within intentional

relationships

3hree uestions for clarit"8%ecomeH# doH# goH

(irst step8 clarit" of mission!

econd step8 strateg" to achieve the mission ;hat one word descri%es "our centerH;hat "ou want to %e know forH

elational temple8 achieving tasks while e'periencing an authenticcommunit"

1>


19/48

elect capa%le devotees 3rain themEmpower them(ocus "our efforts

A great strateg"imple to understand

Eas" to implement

ustained growth takes place when people are personall" challenged andencouraged in their relationship with rsna and others

Fost people want to BECO4. %efore the" want to %elieve 3aste and see %efore *umping in

People are naturall" cared for %est %" those who know them %est,hoose when and where to meet

1


20/48

Provide a predicta%le group environment where participants e'perienceauthentic communit" and spiritual growthPredicta%le G who will attend,larif" e'pectations6ntimate alliesAB, /1 # 1 90

Accounta%ilit"Belonging,arePeople care for the people the" know wellPeople grow %est in the conte't of structured and intentional relationshipsFake the connection process simple

,larif" the =win7 G that all mem%ers participate in small groups 3o lead someone somewhere# not *ust to meet needs 3hink 3EP for %uilding the communit"# not programs

teps to help people connect(or a step to %e effective# it needs to %e eas"# o%vious and strategic>-week taste


21/48

piritual .uidance .roups.uests G (riends G (amil",lear e'pectations from the start G successful groupCeader .uide and ,urriculumFake it realistic

piritual .uides oleotate responsi%ilit"

for leading the discussion(acilitate and monitorthe group /1290

easona%le ualificationsealistic e'pectations

Occasional modifications

1


22/48

3rain less for moreummari)e in a few takeawa" points

(rom ac uirer of info to applier of info6mprove learning %" teaching less /15+0

eparate most important and *ust interesting4arrow the scope in order to sa" more a%out what mattersmost

i' essentials G irreduci%le minimums /152-15>05 parts of the %ook G 5 areas;e are created to live in a relationship;ithout relationships - we die

3hree uestions8 %ecomeH doH goHtrategies that work fulfill organi)ations promise

3oo much change too fast is unhealth"Before making changes consider8,ultureCeadershipProgramming philosophies


23/48

imple$isi%le$alued

esourcedFodeled

4ew initiates thank group mem%ers

mall groups a vehicle that .od uses to changelives

+


24/48

rila Pra%hupada was first and foremostsomeone who trul" cared# who completel"sacrificed his own comfort to work for thegood of others!

- Fukunda .oswami

Srila Prabhupada

2


25/48

TouchstoneSrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said that the position of aVaishnava can be tested by seeing how good atouchstone he is -- that is, by seeing how manyVaishnavas he has made during his life.

!d "#."$$
http://vedabase.net/s/srilahttp://vedabase.net/t/thakurahttp://vedabase.net/v/vaisnavahttp://vedabase.net/v/vaisnavahttp://vedabase.net/t/thakurahttp://vedabase.net/s/srila


26/48

% &oles 'f ( Spiritual )uide*. + ample". nspiration

. Support

#. )uidance/. hallenge%. (ction

0emonstration of a group discussion1elping others is a win-win-win


27/48

2uestions3hat is the glue that keeps the group memberstogether43hat is the benefit for the guide when he takes care ofall members in the group4

+ pect a lot form yourself. + pect nothing from others.ommitment to relationships)uide5s genuine care and love1ow to create an environment of love, appreciation and

challenge4)uide takes initiative, reaches out.


28/48

1! elationships matter more than pro*ects andgoals

! 3here is an inherit value in good $aisnavarelationships! 6t is not a means to an end! .oodvaisnava relationships please rsna alread" /ofcourseother things need to also %e in place0+! ?aving the si' s"mptoms of love as given inJpadesamrta intact2! Cearning to see the needs of others first andtr"ing to serve them

>


29/48

?ow to make it interestingH6nduce creativit" and innovation,reate fresh challenges;66(F =radio station7

Birthda"segular# specific personal appreciation,atch them doing things right(un activities8 games# ui))es# role pla"s#demonstrationsDo personal things for themD"namic action after the session


30/48

,aution,reating dependenc"K6 am a senior devoteeL s"ndromeCecturing during group meetings or one-to-onesE'ploiting devotees for personal purposes6nterfering to much in their personal livesBreaking confidentialit"

ForeH


31/48

+! 3o %ring the mem%ers of the ociet" together with eachother and nearer to rishna# the prime entit"# thus to developthe idea within the mem%ers# and humanit" at large# that eachsoul is part and parcel of the ualit" of .odhead / rishna0!

9! 3o %ring the mem%erscloser together for thepurpose of teaching asimpler and more naturalwa" of life!

+1


32/48

Pracete

SB 4.30.8 8 3he upreme Personalit" of.odhead said8 F" dear sons of the ing# 6 amver" much pleased %" the friendl"relationships among "ou! All of "ou areengaged in one occupation -- devotionalservice! 6 am so pleased with "our mutualfriendship that 6 wish "ou all good fortune!4ow "ou ma" ask a %enediction of Fe!

l f
http://vedabase.net/sb/4/30/8/en1http://vedabase.net/sb/4/30/8/en1


33/48

Principles of ,ommunit"Building2 Principles of eligion

,leanlinessAusterit"Ferc"

3ruthfulness

Bhakti-titha wami8

1! 3reat ever"one "ou encounter as if the success of "our spiritual lifedepends upon the ualit" of "our interactions with them!

! eflect upon the person "ou love the most# and aspire to treat ever"onewith that same ualit" of love!

+! $iew all conflicts as "our own fault first!2! eali)e that the people in "our present environment might ver" well %e

the people with whom "ou will live out "our life# and who will %e with "ouat the time of death!


34/48

O4E-3O-O4E 6CCEsta%lishing apportEffective Questions

3urning 6ssues 6nto .oals

Promoting Action

E'ercise8 5 wa"s how 6 can help "ou succeed!,hoose one!


35/48

How Your Spiritual Guide Assists You6our guide is your spiritual success partner who7Thinks of you, listens to you and speaks to you

3orks alongside you with strong faith in you and your potential (ssists you in making lasting positive changes in your lifeSupports you and encourages your spiritual and professional growth

Suggest ways to achieve your goals1elps you to discover your natural gifts and talents, so that you canuse them as a basis for your spiritual advancement and yourmaterial support3orks with you and for you, not on you8eeps strictly confidential any information about you1as high e pectations of you and wants the very best for youBelieves in your inherent potential to be a pure devotee of 9ord8rsna


36/48

What is one-to-one assistance?

t is a service that helps you to7learly identify your 8rsna conscious goals

Take *:;< responsibility for your spiritual and material life (ssess where you are now

+ plore all the available possibilities&emove both internal and e ternal obstacles to your successBuild up your faith and determination1elp you make an inspiring success plan

Take intelligent and dynamic actionStay on trackPlease 9ord 8rsna and 1is representatives


37/48

?ow "our guide assists "ouH ( guide works with you to create your best possible life7

=irst, he believes in you and demonstrates that by taking youand your thoughts, desires and feelings seriouslySecond, he encourages you to believe in your innate

goodness and in your ability to serve 8rsna and all livingbeingsThird, he defines with you a plan of action for achieving yourgoals and desires and keeps you on track towards achievingthem

6ou and your guide will together e amine any area of your lifethat you choose and look at what>s working and what isn>t, sothat you can clear the way for what you truly want to achieve.


38/48

esults f you are willing to do invest time and energy in you

will70evelop unbreakable determination and learn how toeliminate the doubts and limitations that hold you back

Become mentally strong, think like a natural optimist,be more focused and handle setbacks effectivelylarify your desires, dreams and ambitions into

precise 8rsna conscious goals

Be motivated to take dynamic 8rsna conscious action


39/48

esults

(s you work with your guide you will achieve themental strength and fle ibility, performing at yourbest, competing against yourself to surpass yourcurrent achievements and being enthusiastic anddetermined as you do so.

The more strong and determined you grow, the moreyou>ll be able to push yourself forward and make agreat spiritual advancement and contribution.


40/48

Esta%lishing apport;hat is rapportHAttentive listening?onest"

ervice attitude


41/48

Effective QuestionsPurposeCech stor"Disempowering uestions

Empowering uestions


42/48

3urning 6ssues 6nto .oals6ssue M pro%lem or result,urrent realit"Desired outcome

FA 3 goal.oal as a challenge


43/48

Promoting Actionpecific action

;ritten planDetermination8 on a scale 1-1

Accounta%ilit"


44/48

P A,36,E O4E-3O-O4EPlan A ession?ave A essionEvaluate A ession


45/48

Plan A essionJse the .63A ta%le in the handout

3ake assistanceeview skills

,larif" outcome# i!e! specific action


46/48

?ave A ession;ork in threes /coach# client# o%server0(ollow "our session planAvoid giving advice

Ensure action


47/48

Evaluate A essionAsk a devoteeAsk the o%serverAsk "ourself

hare with a facilitator


48/48

(ollow Jp 3each it within 2> hoursAppl" it dail"

eport to someone

spiritual guidance system

Documents