OUT

YO TH CAR
RE MA
ANU
UAL
L
…
…an offering
g for the ple
easure of Srila
S Prabhu
upada

Internatiional Society for Krishna Consciousness

C s
er Acharya: H.D.G.
Founde H A.C. Bh
haktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada
  [YOUTH CARE MANUAL] 
 
Acknowledgement

This manual has been compiled by the hard work of the following devotees. DC Committee members would
like to thank each one of them for being part of this Youth Care Manual.

Advisory: HG Revatiraman Das, HG Radheshyam Das, HG Gauranga Das

Editing: HG Antardvipa Das

Compiling the book: HG Amal Mahaprabhu Das

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in the manual are those of the compilers and the various authors/authorities they may
have referred during their compilation/study on the subject matter. These are not necessarily
recommendations of the GBC, the SPN or the DCC but may help one to understand some aspects or points
of view on the subject matter presented in the manual. If there appear any recommendations or suggestions,
they should be applied with due considerations of culture, time, place and persons.

If the readers are interested in knowing more about this subject or want to give any suggestions or
comments, they are invited to write to ankurvarshney84@gmail.com

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Table of Contents
1.  Srila Prabhupada’s Vision on Youth Preaching (Care) ........................................................................ 5 

1.1 Spread movement amongst college students……... ................................................................................ 5 

1.2 Recruit men from the colleges….. ........................................................................................................... 5 

1.3 Don’t compromise on the morning program in the name of preaching ................................................ 5 

1.4 Negotiate a plot of land on university campus….. .................................................................................. 6 

1.5 Avoid being a bad example ..................................................................................................................... 6 

1.6 If we go on expanding without qualified men to lead….. ....................................................................... 6 

1.7 Sixteen instructions of srila prabhupada on college preaching .............................................................. 7 

2.  CONTACT: Starting preaching – Planting the Seed ............................................................................ 8 

2.1  For College going Students: ............................................................................................................... 8 

a.  Going in hostels and presenting KC books ........................................................................................ 8 

b.  ‘ONE Time program’ in the College: .................................................................................................. 8 

c.  DEBATE competition: ........................................................................................................................ 9 

d.  Essay Competition ............................................................................................................................. 9 

e.  IQ‐SQ quizzes: .................................................................................................................................... 9 

f.  Online quiz on Bhagvad Gita: ............................................................................................................ 9 

g.  INDIRECT means ................................................................................................................................ 9 

2.2  Youths coming to Temple Campus .................................................................................................. 10 

a.  ONE time seminar: .......................................................................................................................... 10 

b.  A Course: ......................................................................................................................................... 10 

2.3  Working youths of the age group 18‐30 years ................................................................................ 10 

2.4  Devotee children not practicing KC ................................................................................................. 10 

2.5  Devotee children practicing KC ....................................................................................................... 10 

2.6  Mixed crowd approach ................................................................................................................... 11 

3.  CULTIVATE: Managing and Road map – Guarding the Plant ............................................................ 12 

4.  CARE: Training & Counseling – Nourishing the Plant .......................................................................... 14 

4.1  CARE in Contact Stage ..................................................................................................................... 14 
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4.2  CARE in Cultivation Stage ................................................................................................................ 14 

4.2.1  How a facilitator gives Care ..................................................................................................... 14 

4.3  CARE in Commitment Stage ............................................................................................................ 15 

4.3.1  Counseling System .................................................................................................................. 15 

4.4 Spiritual Care through Training ............................................................................................................. 17 

1.  Sadhana ........................................................................................................................................... 18 

2.  Siddhanta ........................................................................................................................................ 18 

3.  Sadacara .......................................................................................................................................... 18 

4.5 Youth Hostels ........................................................................................................................................ 19 

4.  References: .................................................................................................................................... 20 

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[YOUTH CA
 
1. SRILA
A PRABH
HUPADA’S VISION
N ON

YOUT
TH PREAC
CHING (C
CARE)
This sectio
on of the ma
anual conta
ains quotes
s from Srila
a
Prabhupad
da’s letters and explan
nation of th
he quotes
as being trranslated in
nto action at
a ISKCON Pune.

1.1 SPREAD MO
OVEMENT AM
MONGST COL
LLEGE
DENTS……....
STUD
Here
e in Columbus we had
d a very big
g meeting at
a the Ohio State Univ
versity and
morre than one thousand students w
were chanting and dan
ncing along
g with us. So
S
therre is very go
ood potentiial for sprea
ading our movement
m a
amongst th
he college
stud
dents, and if we simplly present tthem with the
t opportu
unity of cha
anting with
h us,
and then we le
ecture on Bhagavad-giita As It Is, then surelly many inttelligent peo
ople
will become atttracted.
- Letter to Ananda,
A 14 May 1969

1.2 RECRUIT MEN FROM TH ES…..

HE COLLEGE
Recrruit some educated
e men
m from th
he colleges, schools in Boston, tra
ain them up
for preaching
p m
mission, in this way d
develop the quality of your
y men to
o be the mo
ost
surrrendered se
ervants of Krsna.
K Thatt will please
e Krsna, an
nd you will feel also
yourrself becom
ming more and
a more h
happy in perfecting you
ur life.
- L
Letter to Trrai, 27 Dec 1972

SP did
d not wa
ant just folllowers butt disciples.. Followers
s come and
d go in gre
eat
num
mbers but they
t don’t surrenderr their live
es, they do
on’t take up
p the
mission. Disciiples are on
nes who are
e ready for our trainin
ng – they wiill serve life
e
g, they will become the
long e leaders in
n Srila Prab
bhupada’s movement.
m So for thes
se
disc
ciples we ha
ave to give training
t an
nd care also
o. And they
y offer their services,
mon
ney, etc for the movem
ment.
For mak
king disciplles and nott just follow
wers we hav
ve to go dee
eper in our
aching. It is
prea s better to preach
p in o
one college and make solid devotees than
touc
ching 10 co
olleges and not making committe
ed devotees
s.

1.3 DON’T COM

MPROMISE ON
N THE MORN
NING PROGR
RAM IN THE NAME
N OF PR
REACHING
One
e thing: You
u must be attentive
a th
hat our routtine work--such as ris
sing early,
clea
ansing, chan
nting, temp
ple worship
p, reading, sankirtana
s a, etc.--shou
uld always
main
ntained at the highestt level of Krrishna Con
nscious stan
ndard, as th
he smallestt
negllect or inatttention to these
t matte
ers of routin
ne practice
es will cause all our otther
prog
grams to fa
ail. These th
hings are th
he backbon
ne of spiritu
ual life. So it
i is natura
al
thatt in these th
hings like chanting
c re
egularly 16 rounds and
d holding daily
d arati a
and
kirta
ana are obs
served faith
hfully, then
n people willl be attractted and ourr preaching
g
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will have effect and the management of temple affairs will become very easy
matter…..
- Letter to Kulasekhara, Bombay 10 January 1972
1.4 NEGOTIATE A PLOT OF LAND ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS…..
Presently we are in Gorakhpur, one of the important cities in Northern India, and
we are guests of the Gita Press authorities. Here we are negotiating for a plot of
land on the University of Gorakhpur campus for establishing a center. If we are
successful in our attempt, it will be unique in all the world and soon more and
more college campuses will follow. We want to influence these misguided college
students so that they might take to this Krishna Consciousness Movement very
seriously.
- Letter to Tulsi, 24 February 1971

1.5 AVOID BEING A BAD EXAMPLE

The school college and university students are very receptive to this Movement, so
we must present them with an excellent example. They are very intelligent and
bad experience has taught them to be cautious, so if you keep all your programs
to the standard as I have already instructed in so many ways, then they will easily
become satisfied that this is the real way of life for any intelligent person--Krsna
Consciousness.
- Letter to Tirthapada, Bombay 1970

Bad example can be in terms of:

¾ Making college students to join immediately. College authorities become alert
and ban the program
¾ Taking harinam etc which is not allowed in the college – that leads again to
take severe action
¾ Not training students to be responsible in their college studies and thus later
on college comes to know and takes actions

1.6 IF WE GO ON EXPANDING WITHOUT QUALIFIED MEN TO LEAD…..

…...try to recruit some men from the student class of men for joining us as future
leaders of our Society. If we simply go on expanding and there are no qualified
men to lead, then everything will be spoiled eventually. So you have got the best
opportunity for this great service to Krsna, and I think that Krsna will send you
some very qualified men to take instruction from you…….. So if anyone students
are serious to learn Krsna Consciousness from you, give them all help and facility,
let them accept gradually by their intelligence. Do not force, but if gradually they
understand, they will voluntarily accept the life of tapasya or austerity of Krsna
Consciousness movement. In this way, by their voluntary agreement to join and
follow strictly, they will assist me in the leading posts to spread on Lord
Caitanya's message all over the world.
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- Letter to Ravindra swaroop prabhu, 5 January 1973

Here again SP is explaining the need of systematic training to convince the

intellect of the students about the practices of Krishna consciousness. Rather
than only imposing the authority of vedic scriptures, rational explanations of
Vedic statements will attract many intelligent students.

1.7 SIXTEEN INSTRUCTIONS OF SRILA PRABHUPADA ON COLLEGE PREACHING

(1)….try to recruit some of the intelligent class of student class to take up
this Krsna Consciousness philosophy and (2) study it carefully. Try to recruit
some of such men to become our devotees. There is need for intelligent young men
to (3) train them up as future leaders and preachers to go all over the world
for spreading the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (4) If we simply go
to the college on one night and leave immediately for another place, it will
be difficult to make very much impression upon these students. I think it is
better to stay at one place for some time, at least one week, or as long as the
students are interested, and (5) try to sell as many books as possible. After your
lecture in the college you may request if there are any interested students, that (6)
they may make further programs for you in their homes, or in some club or
hall, like that, so that you may (7) remain some time longer and concentrate
on recruiting two or three good men, whoever appears to be the most
interested, and by your diligent preaching to them you may be able to (8)
persuade some of them to become our devotees….Of course (9) we shall not
expect them immediately to come into the temple, like that, but if at least the
seed is planted and (10) they begin chanting rounds and following the
principles while continuing their studies at school, that is our great victory.
(11) And if they like, they may go and live in one of our centers, wherever
they like, and learn further. But (12) we shall not present Krsna
Consciousness as anything dry or like set of rules and regulations only, no.
Krsna Consciousness is the topmost philosophy also, the highest knowledge of
educational experience, so try to (13) impress this aspect of offering the
perfect scientific understanding of everything as it is, not the temporary and
unsatisfactory and incomplete understanding of things. Try to (14) present
everything very logically and always quoting our Sanskrit authorities in
connection with the main points, and that will impress them greatly. Yes, and (15)
if you also yourselves write something daily, that will sharpen your use of
language and you will be able to make your points very clear. And if you (16)
dress neatly and conduct yourselves properly, that will help further.
- Letter to Satsvarupa, Hrdayananda 9 January 1973

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[YOUTH CA
 
2. CONT
TACT: STARTIN CHING – PLANTIN
NG PREAC NG THE SEED
To begin prreaching to
o the youths, we have to first deffine our tarrget audienc
ce. There can
be followin
ng groups on which yo
ouths can b
be segregate
ed:

a) College going Students

S
b) Youths coming
g to Temple
e Campus
c) Worrking youth
hs of the age 18-30
d) Devo
otee childre
en not prac
cticing Kris
shna Consc
ciousness (K
KC)
e) Devo
otee Childrren practiciing KC

hoose a parrticular grou

After we ch up(s) to wh
hom we wan
nt to CONT
TACT, we ha
ave to present
our offering
g of KC to them
t in such a way w
which is attrractive to th
he mindsett of our targ
get
audience. “The
“ first im
mpression is the last iimpression
n” is the rulle which ap
pplies. We
therefore have
h to stud
dy properly
y the minds
set of our ta
arget audience and prresent KC
according to
t time, pla
ace and circ
cumstance. There is no
n general rrule. Howev
ver, offering
g
KC accordiing the NEE
ED of the audience
a is what work
ks.

Following are
a various
s approache
es we can h
have accord
ding to the different grroups:

2.1 FOR
R COLLEGE
E GOING STUDENTS:

a. Go
oing in hostels and
d presenting KC
boo
oks: The book which we presentt should
be attractive to
t minds off these youn
ng
udents. Few
stu w which worrk in differe
ent
sce
enarios are:: Coming Back, Raja V
Vidya,
Scientific basiis of KC, Sc
cience of Se
elf
alization (SSR), Discov
Rea ver Your Se
elf (DYS),
Spiiritual Scien
ntist, Reviv
val, Conque
est etc.
Boo
oks are meant to find out the gem
ms (the spiiritually intterested one
es) from
am
mong the ma
any in the hostel.
h Any
y book will do
d provided
d it makes KC relevan
nt to
the
e students.

b. ‘ONE
E Time prrogram’ in
n the
C
College: If we
w can get permission
n as ISKCO
ON,
IY
YF, BACE, VOICE,
V Pan
ndava Sena
a or IYS etc
c or
th
hrough the means of a college clu
ub then we
e
ca
an conductt ONE time program. At
A the end of
O
ONE time prrogram we w
would wan
nt to registe
er
in
nterested sttudents intto a course which wou
uld

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introduce them to KC basics.
The topic of one time program could be something relevant to students. Out of
many which works some examples are: Art of Concentration, Art of Harnessing
Mind Power, Power of Habits, ‘E.Q., I.Q, S.Q.’ etc. For the western countries a
more direct title like ‘Essence of Bhagavat Gita’ or ‘Wisdom of Gita’ may also
work. In India direct ‘Bhagvad Gita’ approach generally attracts ‘secular’ noise
from the academic machinery of the colleges and even Indian students take it
very lightly.

c. DEBATE competition: We can organize debates on topics like ‘Why do good

things happen to good people?’ or ‘Corruption or Character’ or ‘Is Technology
bane or boon’ etc. If we can good number of participants the interested ones can
be registered again for a course.

d. Essay Competition: Similar topics and we can ask the students to submit the
essay and evaluate interested ones – register them for a course.

e. IQ-SQ quizzes: If we get permissions from the college we can circulate some
sort of quiz which can find the spiritual aptitude of the person. We can announce
prize for high scorers. When we receive the data of the students we can launch a
program for spiritually interested.

f. Online quiz on Bhagvad Gita: Those interested in spirituality would want to

go for the quiz and then we register them for a course.

g. INDIRECT means: In some countries where hedonism is in its worst form,

students may not even want to try out spirituality in above ways. Then we may
have to go for very indirect means like: Cooking Classes, Instrument Classes,
Painting Classes, Yoga Classes or Drama Shows etc

Out of the above, the approach of book distribution will work the best if we have
sufficient man power and are allowed to enter the hostels. Due to lack of man power we
may go for ONE time program approach. For ONE time program approach it is essential
that the college authorities recognize the credibility of the person seeking permission. If
college authorities are favorable towards ISKCON (etc) it will work; otherwise we can
send a student with merits or working youth with credibility to seek permissions.

Other approaches are in general slow and don’t attract much crowd except in
situations in which offering is made very attractive. For example in one country devotees
organized ‘Know your modes’ (to find out which mode of nature is prominent in a person)
quiz which attracted good audience.

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[YOUTH CA
 
2.2 YOU
UTHS COMING TO TEMPLE
E CAM
MPUS

ming to tem
Youths com mple are rea
ady made c
crowd for us
s and one o
of the easie
est ways to
begin youth
h preachin
ng. We can put
p a table in a promiinent area of
o the temp
ple and regiister
youths for::

a. ONE
E time sem
minar: Topics can bee ‘Raise you
ur Spirituall Quotient’,, ‘Conflict
Reso
olution’ or ‘Relationsh
hips Manag
gement’ or more
m directtly somethin
ng related to
t
Bha
agvad Gita depending
d on the crow
wd coming..

b. A Course:
C In India generrally we offe
fer courses like ‘Funda
amentals off Spiritualitty’,
‘Disc
cover Your Self’, or more directly
y: ‘Essence of Bhagvad
d Gita’, ‘Wh
hy we chan
nt
Hare
e Krishna’, ‘Mantra Meditation’
M e
etc. Some temples
t hav
ve 6 session
n (eg. Pune
e) or
7 se
ession (eg. Chowpatty)
C ) or even 3 session (eg
g. Juhu) cou
urses.

Generally in
i a temple
e there is a mixed crow
wd which co
omes. It wiill serve the
e purpose
better if we
e keep age limits
l like 18 to 30 ye
ears for boy
ys (or girls e
etc) so as to
o specificallly
cater the needs
n of tarrget audience.

2.3 WORKING YOU

UTHS OF THE
T AGE GROUP 18-3
30 YEARS
S
For the working people specifica
ally we can start a corp
porate prog
gram in a company.
c
panies welc
Many comp come directtly celibates
s from ISKC
CON. Otherwise a con
ngregation
leader with
h credentialls can lead the compa
any project..
We can offe
fer seminars on topics like Stress
s
manageme
ent, Time Managemen
M nt, Conflict
Resolution
n, Self Mana
agement, Proactive Leadership,
Soul Curry
y to Stop Worry
W etc. If such crow
wd is
coming to temple
t then
n similar offfering can be made
arranged in
n the templle premises
s itself. 

2.4 DEV
VOTEE CHIILDREN NO CING KC
OT PRACTIC
An offering
g can be ma
ade for them
m such tha
at they are encouraged
d to come regularly.
r W
We
can engage
e the variou
us talents the
t youths may have. They may e
engaged in performing
g
drama sho
ows, singing
g kirtans, reciting
r slok
kas, deity parapherna
p alia related services etc
c
and along with
w that we
w can offerr them a se
equential se
eries of sem
minars whic
ch clarifies the
basic doub
bts which th
hey carry which
w holds
s them to practice KC.. SSR cours
se of DYS
course seem
ms basic however
h willl be ideal ev
ven for these youths. Such youth
hs have ma
any
questions owing
o to sh
hallow unde
erstanding of KC but they feel th
hat the fam
miliarity with
h
KC lingo is
s equivalentt to in deptth understa
anding of th
he philosop
phy.

2.5 DEV RACTICING KC

VOTEE CHIILDREN PR
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If these youths are already practicing KC, they can become a nice assistance in further
preaching to youths. However first they should also be solidified in their proper
understanding of KC philosophy. They should be trained in SSR or DYS (or any similar
course). They can also receive training on presentation skills, facilitation skills etc.
Investing on them makes a readymade army which can launched in youth preaching.

2.6 MIXED CROWD APPROACH

Sometimes it is not possible to segregate the crowd due to various reasons according to
the place and circumstances. In such cases also preaching can begin with a common
program. ISKCON Chowpatty organizes successfully PRERNA programs, Delhi organizes
UMANG festival and London organizes JAMMIN for example – which has a mix crowd of
more than one category of youths as discussed above. The topics covered in these MEGA
programs should be quite sensational and relevant to the place and time eg) During ICC
matches Chowpatty held seminar of title ‘Cricket of Life’. These programs are an
experience in themselves – they contain Kirtans, Dramas, Video Shows, Seminar with
PPT, Skits, Prasad, etc. Database can be collected from such programs and be put into
various offerings which we may want to offer the different types of youths coming to
attend.

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[YOUTH CA
 
3. CULT
TIVATE
E: MANAG D ROAD MAP – GUARDING
GING AND G THE

PLANT
T
The genera
al road map
p of KC progress of the
e youth willl be as follo
ows:

1. CONTACT 2. COURSSE [1‐3  3. EXPERIENCE        4. HIG

GHER COURSE  5. REEGULAR 
months] [1 day tto 5 days ] [2‐4 m
months] PRACTICE

•A me ega KC  •a ccourse of 3 or 4  •tto further  • dealing with  • inviting to 

expeerience or66 or 7 (etc)  ccommit a boost  practices,  become memb ber 
•Get database of  sesssions oof KC experience  vaisnava mood of the group
spiriitually  •claarifies basic  is required ••introducing to  •inviting to stay 
interested phhilosophy of KC •ttaking a  vaisnava  with devotees
•Regiister for  •loggical and  wweekend out to  practices like  •fixing a 
courrse thrrilling  sspiritual picnic wearing tilaka,  commitment off 
explanation of  •mmaking meet  attire 16 rounds
phhilosophy ssenior preachers ••introducing to  •assigning a 
•inttroduces to  •ttaking small  morning  caretaker or 
chanting ccommtiments  program mentor etc to b be 
•narrows down to  eeg) 4 rounds ••inviting for core  in touch with 
serious ones •ggiving gifts for KC  practices smaller group 
ccommitments (ideal max 10)
•22 days is most 
ideal

f
This is in general
g the road map. The duratiion and exttent for which course runs or the
e
number of courses pu
ut up in Sta
age 2 can v
vary. Also Step
S 2 and 3 can be re
epeated few
w
number of times. The
e essence is
s to make y
youths commitment th
hey need bo
oth experien
nce
as well as logical
l (and
d thrilling too!) explan
nation of KC
C philosoph
hy. Repetition of Step 2 to
4 can be ca
alled as Cu
ultivation.

It is also underrstood thatt only keepiing program

ms ONE tim
me type of programs
p w
will
not keep th
he youths hooked
h to us.
u They ne
eed also be given proper courses.. Different
temples ch
hoose differe
ent courses
s to be orga
anized, a fe
ew among them are:

h. SSR
R course off Radha Go
opinath tem
mple, Chowp
patty – 7 se
essions
i. Dis
scover Yourr Self cours
se of ISKCO
ON Pune – 6 sessions
j. Sec
crets of Suc
ccess cours
se of ISKCO
ON Juhu – 2 sessions
k. Gita Made Easy course of
o ISKCON Juhu – 3 sessions

These courrses have something in common; they coverr KC philos ematically. It is

sophy syste
understood
d that association of ‘s
senior devo
otees’ is nott enough fo
or the youth
hs (in generral)
but a syste
ematic courrse outline needs to be made. Th
his is becau
use youths require:

i) Logical
L explanations coming
c from
m the backg
ground of modern
m edu
ucation
ii) Ask
A many doubts
d for basic
b KC ph
hilosophy
iii) They
T requirre thrilling, punching short and sweet answ
wers to conv
vince them
m
iv) They
T requirre some goo
od experien
nce in the fo
orm of riverr bath, tem
mple darsha
an
‘g
govindam adi
a purush
ham’, boat riding,
r goin
ng to a beac
ch, going for outing etc
c
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The way CONTACT was made will decide whether youths will take the second step
of registering for the course. Usually registration may be done with a small fee which
should be quite affordable for the target audience. And most importantly the way we take
the course seminars will determine whether they will continue attending the courses.
These courses can be conducted at frequency of 1 session a week at the least.

In order that youths stay with us, apart from proper classes, we need to have
proper event management to give the good experience. Every time we call for the program
we should have following things as a part of the event to give good experience:

i. Registration or Attendance Table: Juice/Drink for all when they come

ii. Decoration of hall or class room
iii. Welcome notice / notice board
iv. Soothing kirtans or/and Dancing kirtans
v. Presentation and video
vi. Feast prasadam
vii. Announcements for next program

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4. CAR
RE: TRAIINING & COUNSE
ELING – NOURISH
HING THE PLANT

While the philosophy

p is being giv
ven and we
e are cultivating the sttudents, we
e have to also
a
build good relationships with th
he students. Without the
t persona
al relationsh
hips with th
he
devotees it becomes difficult
d for the youths
s to whole heartedly
h ac
ccept the process
p of
Krishna Co
onsciousne
ess. This as
spect of buiilding relatiionship and
d giving perrsonal
attention on
o the youths is called
d as Care. Care
C means
s care for b
body, mind and soul – all.
At differentt stages of cultivating youths, different way
ys care is giiven as exp
plained belo
ow.

• appo ointing 
• warm  a Caree 
reception COMMITT‐ Taker
CONTACT 
C CULTIVATE appointinng a 
MENT 
Stage • personal  Stage Facilitato
or • Later 
Stage
attention givingg a 
Counsselor

4.1 CAR
RE IN CON
NTACT STA
AGE
Contact sttage care means
m to giv
ve a good e
experience (explained
( a
above). Wh
hen the boys
(or girls) come
c for the
e event org
ganized by us
u they sho
ould not be spaced ou
ut. Devotees
s
should tallk to them very
v warmlly, gently and make th
hem feel co
omfortable. Rather tha
an
being prea
achy we should be frie
endly. They
y should go
o with a verry positive impression
i of
our first offering
o whiich we gave
e them.

4.2 CAR
RE IN CUL N STAGE
LTIVATION
From the time boys (or
( girls) ha
ave registerred for a cou
urse, there has to be one
o person
n
who pays personal attention
a on
n them (sam
me gender). In this doc
cument tha
at person is
s
referred to
o as a Facillitator.

acilitator is generally a devotee who

A fa w may be practicing for atleast 2 years an
nd is
stable in spiritual
s life
e. He can answer
a the basic ques
stions of the
e youth and
d for advan
nced
queries may
m take the
e boy to a senior
s devottee. Youths
s want to se
ee a living example
e th
hat
they can follow,
f take
e guidance to
t balance their materrial and spiritual life. Touched by
b
the sacrifiice of the fa
acilitator for him they reveal theiir heart to him.
h Facilittator gives
warmth in
n the relatio
onship and
d thus the boy
b become
es opened u
up to him.

4.2.1 How
w a facilitator give
es Care
a) He (or
( she) play
ys a very personal lov
ving role in the life of the
t boy (or girl – mata
aji).
He personally
p m
meets them
m either in temple
t or hostel
h etc, m
makes frequ
uent teleph
hone
calls
s and also sends
s personal mails..

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b) He clears
c the doubts
d of th
he boys and
d if he is un
nable to the
en he finds
s out from
brah
hmacaris or other sen
nior devotee
es and then
n gets back to the boy.
c) The Facilitatorr is a friend
d in whom tthey trust; so he shou
uld ask them
m whether
they
y've any pro
oblems or grievances
g tto help them
m out.
d) He takes
t the re
esponsibilitty to bring the boys to
o all the varrious progrrams we offfer
them
m.
e) He finds
f out th
he interest and
a skills o
of the boys and engag
ges them to facilitate their
KC.
f) Faciilitator also
o rememberrs the impo
ortant days in the boy
ys life like his
h birthday
y etc
and wishes him
m, gives a gift
g etc
g) He also
a helps the
t boys to slowly incrrease their commitme
ent in KC.

4.3 CAR
RE IN COM T STAGE
MMITMENT
Through th
he means of
o personal care & rela
ationship an
nd proper u
understand
ding of
philosophy
y gradually the youths
s start committing to process
p of KC.
K Usually
y when the
e
youths hav
ve come to commitme
ent of chan
nting 16 rou
unds then tthe nature of difficultiies
they face requires mo
ore maturity
y to deal wiith. Thus at
a such a co
ommitmentt level (the
threshold commitmen
c nt level can
n vary
from templles, countriies and age
e group
levels) a more senior devotee
d wh
ho was
known to the
t youths can be app
pointed
as their Ca
are-Taker or Mentor orr a
Counselor.. The facilittator still re
emains
active for his
h services
s, however, more
serious diff
fficulties an
nd more spiiritual
queries are
e handled by
b the senio
or
devotee, be
eing referre
ed in this
document as Care Ta
aker, mento
or and/or
Counselor..

4.3.1 Cou
unseling System
S

The Co
oncept – Co
ounseling System
S
Technological adva
ancements
s are makin
ng life fasterr and more
e stressful. To
maintaiinharmony
y, people ne
eed heart-to
o-heart con
nferences w
with others. Persons ne
eed
relation
nships centtered on ple
easing Krish
hna. Otherrwise we will try to ass
sume the se
elf-
centere
ed vortex po
osition and create a ciircle of matterialistic re
elationships. As
Alcohollics anonym
mous and Narcotics
N An
nonymous provide support and
encoura
agement to
o addicts try
ying to give
e up their addictions,
a entres offer
ISKCON ce
supportt for the soul endeavo
oring to relinquish ma
aterial attac
chments. Th
he important

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point in counseling upcoming devotee youths is that they feel support in attempting
to solve problems.

Purpose of the System

1) To educate and train the youths in the Krishna conscious principles of
brahmacari life and further training in the grihasta ashram.
2) To provide an opportunity to learn the practical aspects of the application of KC in
one’s life and learn where one fits in the society, gain confidence to go ahead.
3) To verify the progress of the growing youths in terms of sadhana, services, sleep,
reading, chanting, relationships with others etc besides training to solve their
problems that come in the way of advancement like career, settlement etc.
4) To allocate services, organizing major events, communication of important
decisions or policies and keep touch even if one is placed out of station.
5) To provide a formal framework within which personal care and attention can be
extended to all devotees so as to make them feel loved, wanted and a part of a
wonderful spiritual family.
6) To foster warm personal relationships and a spirit of love and trust amongst
devotees based on KC principles.

How does the Counseling system work?

• The counselors meet with their respective counselees once every fortnight or at
least every month.
• Besides the meetings, the counselors maintain personal touch with their
counselees to ensure their all round welfare.
• The board of counselors headed by youth preaching president (or temple
president etc) should meet once a month and discuss philosophy as well as
practical issues of importance. This is an important policy making body for the
preaching.
• From time to time, according to the need, the Board of Counselors recommends
the name of new candidates for the post of Counselor or Assistant Counselor.

Responsibility of Counselors
o A Counselor is a friend and guide in KC. He is a serves the counselees on behalf of
the spiritual master. The Counselor is like a spiritual elder brother and takes
personal care of all devotees in the group.
o Counselors inspire and encourage their counselees in KC and monitor their
progress both by conducting fortnightly meetings and by personal meetings.
o Counselors should also provide KC training to their counselees. Without training
given by counselor, the untrained youths don’t show good example of KC, they
talk prajalpa, dance in athletic way to break others bones, think of only
themselves first in eating or sleeping etc. Counselor thus should train the
counselee and transform him from a crude state to a flower like devotee.

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o They have to look into the overall welfare of the counselees. At the same time, the
counselors need not go too much in their counselees’ personal lives such that
they may be perceived to be “threatening” or “controlling” or “manipulating” or
“forcing”.
o They recommend the names of qualified candidates for first and second initiation.
o Counseling is a shelter giving role thus the counselor himself should exhibit
exemplary behavior in terms of sadhana, service and vaisnava etiquettes.
o They should maintain harmonious loving relation with other counselors and
devotees in the community.

Possible Counseling scenarios:

The possible counseling scenarios include:
• The boy (or girl) does not wish to discuss his difficulties, in which case the
Counselor has to instill more trust, faith and confidence in the heart of
Counselee.
• The boy may not have any problems at all.
• The boy has obligations towards parents, friends, relatives etc which are affecting
his KC practices.
• The boy has problem of work life balance: career, marriage, long term settlement.
• The boy has philosophical doubts.
• The boy has difficulties on personal management like health, sleep, prasadam,
clothing, lodging, sickness etc which is becoming obstacle for his KC
• The boy has inter-relational issues, getting along with other devotees.
• The boy may have different service preferences than what are given by managers
in temple or youth hostel etc.

4.4 SPIRITUAL CARE THROUGH TRAINING

Spiritual care which we provide to the youths is the main fuel on which they can
carry on their journey in spiritual life. This is the most important aspect and the
main offering which we want to give to people. Specially so when they have come
to a threshold commitment and we are appointing a counselor or caretaker for
them. The 3 components are briefly discussed below.

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• Japa
Sadhana • Personal Reading 
and hearing

• Philosophical 
aspects
Siddhanta
• Systematic concpet 
wise study of KC

• Vaisnava Etiquette
Sadacara
• Vaisnava Mood

1. Sadhana
Importance of reading SP books and hearing classes of SP, spiritual master and
other senior devotees should be stressed. However, just reading any book of SP
from anywhere is not very effective.
It is best that first the youths are encouraged to read small books of SP,
then the medium books, then Bhagvad Gita, NOD, then SB and CC. It ensures
that the KC concepts are grasped properly.
Also the importance of quality and attentive chanting in the association of
devotees during the morning program should be stressed.

2. Siddhanta
Attending regular classes in the temple or a youth center should also be stressed.
In the classes youths can be given a level wise training which makes them grow
in a organic way. Common classes for different level of youths may not help. Just
in a school or college or a university they follow syllabus for particular level of
students in the same way we can offer KC courses each level of youths year-wise.
Such courses are offered in ISKCON Pune. For details on these courses please
see the references given at the end of this document

3. Sadacara
Practice of Vaisnava Etiquettes is the jewel of Vaisnava’s. Youths should also be
trained on practices of Vaisnavism. A comprehensive yet brief manual has been
compiled by ISKCON Chowpatty on ‘Vaisnava Etiquettes’. For details one may
contact the ISKCON Chowpatty Temple.
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4.5 YOUTH HOSTELS

In order to give this spiritual training and to facilitate the spiritual care, a
concept of Youth Hostel for the youths is the best. Youth Hostel is a facility where
youths can stay together and practice KC while doing their worldly
responsibilities. In ISKCON Pune, they have well functioning system running
under the banner of VOICE, which are specialized youth hostels. ISKCON
Chowpatty and Delhi have a facility called BACE where youths stay. Many other
ISKCON temples are coming with a building near the temple called as Youth
Hostel for a similar purpose.

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4. REFERENCES:

1. ISKCON Chowpatty: Please contact Avatar Lila Das at ald.rnsm@gmail.com

Website: www.iysmumbai.com
2. ISKCON Pune: Please contact Antardvipa Dasa at add@voicepune.com
Website: http://www.iskconpune.in/youth_training.php
3. ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor: Please contact Sahil at
sahilagarwal62@googlemail.com; Website: http://www.psena.com/

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