Perfectly Standardized
Several months ago I was speaking to a number of faith leaders one was excited about his congregational growth, “we have a wonderful Filipino congregation it’s simply wonderful to preach to a full congregation we have had to put on extra service though”
Being inquisitive I asked for more detail had the congregation grown so much the church was too small to accommodate the numbers, the extra service it turned out was simply to accommodate language although most Filipino’s I met spoke perfect English. So I asked about integration and was dismayed to hear that they met separately mainly and only came together for big services.
It made me stop and ponder, especially in the christian faith I’ve seen how groups create their own church communities based upon, language, ethnicity and social class; very few have a diversity of congregation as we see in ISKCON indeed this has been it’s strength so much diversity, but diversity brings it’s own problems hence Srila Prabhupada reminded us of the need to learn how to get on and in the most part this has been achieved.
Yes we’ve seen fall-down but then Sri Krishna perfectly explains this in the Gita, and yes over the years people have found fault; “I spoke to so and so and they couldn’t answer”, “I know so and so isn’t following this or that” and so the list goes on.
This didn’t bother me, indeed my answer is simple, Srila Prabhupada simply said you become the example, by your example than others will follow. Each person is on a journey each has strengths and weaknesses indeed I think my weaknesses defiantly out-ways my strengths however I’ve been fortunate to work along side devotees that understood this and managed to coax the best out of this puffed full of pride fool.
And this is the point it’s ISKCON’S diversity that has been it’s strength and the ability of skilful devotees who can bring the best out of the individual whilst working on improving the parts that are that individual’s weakness.
Now we have standardization and yes I’m worried, for what are we standardizing?
Often it is to make sure we are surrounded by people who are just like ourselves, it’s easy to get on with like minded people, same social class and upbringing; it’s much harder to get on with those outside of this.
But if we want to progress in Krishna Consciousness then we need to learn how to get on with all types after all Sri Krishna likes diversity and if we cannot develop love and understanding with all types of people then how can we possibly think we can develop an intimate relationship with Krishna?
I am reminded that on a number of occasions the disciples of Our Founder Acharia Srila Prabhupada didn’t quiet get what he was saying their appeared to be contradictions to which Srila Prabhupada said you will figure it out.
I wonder if down the line we would realize that ISKCON’S strength is not in standardization but that it’s strength is in it’s being UN-standardised.
Srila Prabhupada spoke about the art of self realization, for some they get it straight away, for some it may be a little longer; some love exams and courses but for others it’s simply run away; some like book distribution for others it’s not so easy; some love the discipline needed in deity worship others it’s too disciplined; some love cooking and are expert prasadam distribution others well.
Mentorship should not mean standardization, but that we look deeply at the individual get to know and understand them and then we can use the art given to us by Srila Prabhupada to help develop them along the path of bhakti.
ISKCON’S strength is it’s diversity; diversity comes because there is no standardization and that if we filter out by standardizing those we may not get on with, outside of an education or social level like most modern churches we end up lacking the diversity that makes ISKCON a home for everyone
After all Srila Prabhupada said “this is my humble request” and laid down what he required from his disciples outside of this well lets just say that’s a fantastic bonus.
So perfection in un-standardization
And as we enter this 50th year celebrations of Srila Prabhupada bringing this art of self realization and love of Sri Krishna to the west, I’m sure we can whole heatedly say it’s worked amazingly well, abait a few individuals who like me will always find fault.
And on a philosophical point if were doing it to prevent fall down, then why did Sri Krishna bother to mention it in the Gita reminding us that any progress is of great benefit.
Here Kanai is working with building blocks to make a big bridge where cars can go on top and people can walk underneath. I wish I could record his conversation.
As a group project we traced an outline of our bodies on a brown paper and marked some detailed parts in it. It was real fun.
In Math we learned about calendars and reviewed the numbers. All my enthusiastic students participated in this group project of tracing numbers and choosing glitter stars, counting and placing them according to the numbers.
