In co-operation with the Mayapur Institute, IDVM (ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry) – India successfully conducted a course on Sat–Sandarbha (from October 22nd– 27th, 2018) in Sri Dham Mayapur. It was facilitated by HG Venu Gopal prabhu who is also the Director for Education in IDVM–India.
HG Venu Gopal prabhu is presently based in ISKCON Varanasi and is engaged in youth preaching while pursuing his PhD in Sanskrit at Banaras Hindu University.
Initially, we were planning to conduct the Sat–Sandarbha course only for two hours every day, but HG Venu Gopal prabhu said, “The subject is very vast and if we study only for two hours daily, we will get nothing.” The course was therefore designed to last for 7 hours every day in two sessions (morning and evening).
The course was attended by devotees from different countries such as Jalangi mataji from China, Archana mataji from Singapore, Ananda Manjari mataji from Germany, Vishnurata Das from Indonesia, Kamal prabhu from India, and others.
HG Venu Gopal Prabhu touched upon the basic study of Sanskrit using Harinamamrta Vyakaranaby Jiva Gosvami as the reference and elaborately discussed the six Sandarbhas namely Tattva–Sandarbha, Bhagavat-Sandarbha, Paramatma-Sandarbha, Krishna–Sandarbha, Bhakti–Sandarbha, and Priti–Sandarbha.
“This course is very intense, but I am very much relishing it especially when we are discussing the Bhakti –Sandarbha, and there are so many new things that I never heard before” Said Jalangi mataji from China. Not surprisingly, a day after the course was over, HG Jalangi mataji invited HG Venu Gopal prabhu to meet the Chinese devotees in Mayapur over lunch. Taking this opportunity, HG Venu Gopal prabhu opened a discussion with the Chinese devotees regarding Srila Prabhupada’s vision on Varnasrama–dharma based on His Divine Grace’s “Essay on Gita Nagari”. HG Venu Gopal prabhu elaborately explained the four waves of ISKCON movement. The Chinese devotees had never heard about the four waves of ISKCON Movement. Unfortunately, most of our devotees are not aware of the four waves that were very systematically and strategically planned by our beloved Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada. These four waves of ISKCON Movement are – the Sankirtan Movement, the Temple Worship Movement, Spiritual Initiation Movement and Classless Society Movement. Out of these four, the fourth one alone comprises the 50% of Srila Prabhupada’s mission and which he expected to be taken up by his followers.
The Chinese devotees were very happy and felt very much encouraged to start the Varnasrama projects. One of them even mentioned that he has 500 acres of land in China and if somebody can guide them, he is ready to dedicate his land for the Varnasrama projects, such as establishing Gurukula, Goshala, farm, Varnasrama colleges. Srila Prabhupada clearly said, “The varnasrama college has to be established immediately. Everywhere, wherever we have got our centre, a varnasrama college should be established to train four divisions: one class, brahmana; one class, ksatriya; one class, vaisya; and one class, sudra. But everyone will be elevated to the spiritual platform by the spiritual activities which we have prescribed. There is no inconvenience, even for the sudras” (Morning walk, Vrindavan, March 12, 1974).
Seeing the enthusiasm of these Chinese devotees, HG Venu Gopal prabhu plans to continue his classes online at least once in a week for the Chinese devotees headed by Jalangi mataji.
Another feedback from Archana Mataji (Singapore) read as follows: “I thank you all for organizing such a wonderful seminar on the Sat-Sandarbha. We are all very grateful to His Grace Venu Gopal prabhu for his patience and expertise with which he conducted the course. The only drawback was lack of time although we attended almost 7 hours of sessions, we still wanted more of it. It is difficult to find such a dedicated teacher as HG Venu Gopal Prabhu. We hope and pray you can organize more such courses and a lot of us will benefit from it.”
IDVM-India thanks all the devotees who were involved in making this course successful, especially HG Venu Gopal Prabhu who selflessly came and shared his knowledge. We also thank the Mayapur Institute for their co-operation with the IDVM–India for many years.
Reported by: Vishnurata Das
Edited by: Vrindavan Lila Devi Dasi
