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So far the children are concerned they should know simply four things: 1.

Simply think of Krishna always, 2. become Krishna's devotee, 3. offer Krishna


worship, 4. offer Krishna obeisances. These four things should be taught and
everything else will follow nicely and they will be learned persons. Give them nice
food, let them play. Some can be cowherd boys, some can be cows, like that. Play
and take food and be Krishna Conscious. As soon as they begin playing they will
be inspired, only one has to direct how to play, that's all. They should attend the
regular aratis and dance before the Deities, just like the children are doing in Los
Angeles, and there should not be separate special aratis for the children, although
they may also learn how to do arati in the class before one picture. They must all
go to bed by nine pm and arise at four am for mangala arati, and in day-time a
little rest.

As for the GBC members, if we study one sloka daily in our classes it will take you
more than 50 years to finish Srimad-Bhagavatam alone, so at least 50 years
matter is already there minimum. So we can finish Bhagavatam once in our
lifetime and the next generation can begin again, like that. From a practical point
of view, as I have not yet finished Srimad-Bhagavatam and we have got now 100
branches, so by the time I am finished with Bhagavatam there must be at least
1000 branches. I have worked alone, now you are so many. Our scope is
unlimited, resources unlimited, so we must be exceptionally enthusiastic and
sober-minded and responsible for working in that spirit.( Letter to Satswarup 17
june 1972)

All the children should learn to read and write very nicely, and a little
mathematics, so that they will be able to read our books. Cooking, sewing, things
like that do not require schooling, they are learned simply by association. There is
no question of academic education for either boys or girls—simply a little
mathematics and being able to read and write well, that's all, no universities.
Their higher education they will get from our books, and other things they will get
from experience, like preaching, SKP, etc. Alongside the regular classes in reading
and writing, the other routine programs they should also participate in, like arati,
kirtana, preaching, Sankirtana, like that.
You ask about marriage, yes, actually I want that every woman in the Society
should be married. But what is this training to become wives and mothers? No
school is required for that, simply association. And it is not necessary to say that
women only can instruct the girls and men only can instruct the boys, not when
they are so young. At 12 years, they may be initiated.

A woman's real business is to look after household affairs, keep everything neat
and clean, and if there is sufficient milk supply available, she should always be
engaged in churning butter, making yogurt, curd, so many nice varieties, simply
from milk. The woman should be cleaning, sewing, like that. So if you simply
practice these things yourselves and show examples, they will learn automatically,
one doesn't have to give formal instruction in these matters.

They can learn our method of Krishna Consciousness by rising early,


cleansing, plus knowledge of Sanskrit, English, a little Mathematics, history,
geography, that's all. We haven't got to take any help from the government by
getting so-called accreditation. If outsiders want to send their children to us, it
will not be for their accreditation, but because they will get the best education for
relieving them of all anxieties of material life and for this education the
government has no idea. Where is such thing as transmigration of the soul being
taught in classroom? If they simply learn to rise early, cleanse, all hygienic
principles, their study will be greater than any government program. Whatever
the elder members are doing, the children should do if possible. But for teaching
the teachers themselves should be fixed up initiated devotees, otherwise how the
children can get the right information and example? (letter to Anirudha 7 march
1972)

So far geography and history are concerned, you may teach geography as
it is, there is no harm to getting knowledge about our material earth planet, even
up to learning all of the countries and places, names, landscape, production,
natural resources, climates, oceans, deserts, everything should be there. Krsna
Consciousness devotees shall not be known as fools. All of you nice boys and girls
have had that kind of education, and you are preaching now Krsna consciousness
in its pure form, so there is no hindrance for learning such things, just as you have
also learned them as child. So teach them in this way, exactly as you have also
been taught geography, history and other things. So far history is concerned, we
shall not teach the history as Darwin has given, but there is no harm to learn what
is the history of your country, just like Washington was the first president, and
after him came so-and-so, like that. If the modern historians have altered the
story of history to fit their own view of things, that can be avoided, anything like
opinion and speculation, but the bare facts as much as we know them may be
learned by the young children, there is no harm. ( Letter to dinatarini 4 Jan 1973)

In teaching the children, you should refer very carefully to my books.


The qualities of a brahman as mentioned in BG chapter 18: sama dama
tapasocam [Bg. 18.42]. You must teach these qualities. These qualities will
naturally come out, if you just give the process purely. The information is there in
my books so if you strictly adhere to them then your program of teaching will be
successful. First of all you must teach by your personal example. This is the
principle of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu (apani acari bhakti pracaram). So you
yourself must chant 16 rounds and follow the regulative principles and
automatically they will do as you are doing. Then they will become strong
Vaisnavas. ( Letter to Hirnyagarbha 19 August 1974)

Perth, Australia

14 May, 1975

75-05-14

Dallas

My dear Yadunandan,

Please accept my blessings. I have just been informed by my servant, Srutakirti,


that the young children, under twelve, are not allowed to use their japa beads
while chanting. This policy is not good. Why this change has been made? I never
said they should not use their beads. That is our business. They must be taught
how to respect their beads. How they can learn unless they use them? That is the
trouble with you westerners, always changing. No changes should be made
without first consulting with my GBC representative. So, the children should
immediately be allowed to chant on their japa beads.

I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

You have suggested that some men are best engaged in doing
business. I agree. All grhasthas who are interested in doing business should do so
in full swing. Yat karosi yad asnasi, yaj juhosi dadasi yat/ yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusvamad arpanam [Bg. 9.27]. Let this be the guiding principle. So let all the
grhasthas who wish to, execute business full-fledgedly in the USA and in this way
support Gurukula. Business must be done by the grhasthas, not by the sannyasis
or brahmacaris. Neither the sannyasis or brahmacaris can be expected to support
Gurukula. The parents must take responsibility for their children, otherwise they
should not have children. It is the duty of the individual parents. I am not in favor
of taxing the Temples. The parents must pay for the maintenance of their
children. Neither can the BBT be expected to give any loans. Now the BBT 50% for
construction is pledged to the projects in India—Bombay, Kuruksetra, Mayapur.
The profits from the businesses should first go to support Gurukula and balance
may be given for the local Temple's maintenance. Grhasthas can do business. It is
best if the Temple Presidents are either sannyasis or brahmacaris. If the grhasthas
want to do book distribution, they should be given a commission of 5 to 10% of
which part must go to Gurukula. For any others who are engaged in important
Society projects, they must get something for maintaining their children at
Gurukula. So far as Prasadam and residence, they are already getting that free.
But sometimes, grhasthas make their own arrangement for cooking. For that we
can give no expenditure. Just try to improve the Prasadam system so nicely that
one will not want any other arrangement. Another thing, is that the grhasthas
may be encouraged to do agriculture. In the Indian villages like in Vrindaban, they
get enough ghee for their personal use, and sufficient excess to be sold to the
merchants, who then also get some money. Cow protection means good food and
good trade. So I can give you suggestions how to manage everything, but it is up
to the GBC to practically execute all these points.

You cannot survive without my mercy and I cannot survive without your
mercy. It is reciprocal. This mutual dependence is based on love—Krishna
Consciousness.

I hope this meets you well.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (Letter to Jayatirth Mayapur 22 Jan 1976 )

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