This seminar is focused on how the cultivation of Vaishnava character aids ISKCON in the achievement of its institutional goal, More Devotees, Happier Devotees, through a change of heart. As we endeavor to achieve managerial goals for ISKCON, we must also be mindful to cultivate the personal qualities which accompany organizational success. Topics include developing values which foster unity in diversity that Srila Prabhupada desired for ISKCON.
#82
INVEST IN THE FUTURE: ISKCON EDUCATION – Ramgiridhari Das
ISKCON’S future is intimately connected with an effective education system. For ISKCON centers to sustain and flourish we must develop robust systems for educating our devotees both within the temple context and beyond, with our various congregations. We will emphasize the importance of investing in quality programs of teaching and learning. The Ministry wishes to promote teaching as a valuable professional contribution to our society and the future hope of our communities. Being one of the very important & oldest ministries in our movement, Ministry of Education is ready to facilitate, integrate, collaborate and advocate various educational initiatives within ISKCON. 4 out of 7 purposes of our movement are directly related to education and hence it is imperative that all the educational initiatives are supported for its cause.
#83
DEITY WORSHIP: AN EDUCATION FOR ETERNITY – Nrsimha Kavaca Das
This seminar is to inspire the audience on the importance that deity worship is just NOT a sentimental / emotional action rather it is a systematic way to progress our consciousness and educating oneself to transform from material consciousness to spiritual consciousness. Through this seminar, the participants can get to know about various resources available for them to equip themselves in the process of Deity worship.
#84
HARVARD, OXFORD, DIPLOMAS IN DIALOG – Hanumat Presak Maharaj
Through this seminar we would like to stimulate interest and appreciation of Srila Prabhupada’s offerings in the university atmosphere as an excellent service. Srila Prabhupada gave lots of emphasis on scientific preaching and the approach to present Krishna consciousness to the scientific community is completely different from conventional preaching. This seminar helps the participants to understand and appreciate all the existing initiatives within ISKCON for higher education & scientific preaching. There is a high demand and need to have the devotees of our movement take up initiatives to counteract and even dovetail all the advancements for the pleasure of the Lord.
#85
CONSCIOUS LEADERSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY MBA BY ALFRED FORD SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT (BHAKTIVEDANTA COLLEGE, RADHADESH) – Sridama Das
Alfred Ford School of Management, a division of Bhaktivedanta College, Radhadesh (Belgium) now offers internationally recognized online MBA degree for Conscious Leadership. This will increase the value of all our ISKCON leaders and add professionalism in their respective areas of work. This will also help all our congregation members to grow in their corporate ladder. More details about this MBA degree will be explained during the presentations.
#86
SANSKRIT EDUCATION – YOU ARE RIGHT! YOU MUST LEARN SANSKRIT! – Dr. Vaishnavi Nishankar
Through this seminar, we would like to share Srila Prabhupada’s directive on Sanskrit education. Sanskrit – The Language of knowledge – why education being Sanskrit-centric is unique and to be promoted, sattvik nature of Sanskrit centric education, source of revival of humanity. Each devotee of ISKCON aspires to learn Sanskrit. Why stop at that? Motivate the aspiration to transform into action. We would like to provide resource details and extend learning support. Moreover, today our devotees interested in learning Sanskrit don’t have much option to learn within our movement. This seminar will help to give some directions toward that as well.
#87
SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMUNITIES, REDUCING THE RISK OF ABUSE – Champakalata Devi Dasi
It is a GBC resolution that every ISKCON center, project, etc. must have an active and trained Child Protection Team as well as conduct screening. Furthermore, by putting barriers in place, we will ensure that our children are safe, increase the confidence of parents in ISKCON taking precautions and allow these children to grow into adults who have happy memories of their childhood in ISKCON. No sector of society is immune from being affected by child abuse. As a responsible institution we need to identify ways of reducing the risk of abuse from happening and thereby safeguard our communities.
#88
VEGANISM AND VEGETARIANISM: A VEDIC PERSPECTIVE – Bhakti Raghav Swami
Veganism is taking the world by storm according to some sources. Various animal rights movements such as PETA and others have stepped up their propaganda against the cruelty and exploitation of all forms of life, especially animals. More and more people are becoming dedicated Vegans after seeing such documentaries as “COWSPIRACY” and more recently “MILK” depicting the horrors and atrocities of today’s dairy industry.
Our presentation, “Veganism and Vegetarianism – a Vedic Perspective”, deals with various concerns and issues touching on morality, ethics, health, ecology and spirituality.
The presentation will be done through a Power Point Presentation covering the history of Veganism, its definition and challenges to ISKCON devotees, as well as a Video documentary “What Cows Want”, leaving ample time for open discussion and reflection.
