Devotee care in the Bhakti Vriksha System

Bhakti Vriksha provides care to devotees in the following stages:

Emotional, spiritual and physical Can be done for expanding communities Can be easily duplicated Based on Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mood When the community becomes large enough,

dedicated facilities for physical care can be supported

Devotee care in the Bhakti Vriksha System

Complete care and development of a devotee taken up in small personal groups

The leader has a role of both a teacher and a parent Hierarchy of parental devotees providing care to

each individual Every leader has a senior to guide and supervise him Good networking and cooperation between the

different BV groups ensure efficient care

Devotee care in the Bhakti Vriksha System

Study groups,regular leaders meetings, counseling and seminars provide continued care and education even after group multiplication

Spiritual empowerment of devotees after being trained gives them enthusiasm and engages their optimum potential

Every one has possibility for growth and position which happens automatically due to performance

Devotee care in the Bhakti Vriksha System

Unlocks the hidden leadership potential of a large number of devotees

Since leadership is based on inspiration and service and not on domination, relationships thrive even with expansion

Creates very naturally and organically loving Vaishnava communities providing complete care and protection

Mood of cooperation among all Guru's disciples and members of other Preaching groups facilitated

Aspects of devotee care: Giving love and friendship

Ice-breaker and satsanga session in Bhakti Vriksha meetings

Regular Telephone calls and periodic home visits and picnics

Developing close personal relationships Listening to material and spiritual problems from

members Counseling and spiritual guidance given through

different levels of leaders like an extended family

Instilling faith and devotion

Importance given to practical aspects of devotional service

Japa session and japa marathon Every member is engaged in some service to ensure

development of responsibility and enthusiasm Close personal contacts and relationships between

leader and members and between members Periodic Siksha seminars to inspire them to more

and more commitment

Giving knowledge in Krishna consciousness

Interactive discussions from Srila Prabhupada's books

Systematic curriculum (BV modules) to ensure basic understanding of Krishna consciousness

Interactive Study classes in Bhagavad gita and Srimad Bhagavatam

Handbooks to train members in all practical devotional services, songs, slokas and philosphical explanations, Vaishnava etiquette

Giving knowledge in Krishna consciousness (2)

Continued Study classes even after group multiplication

Higher and higher levels of study continues under the senior devotees of Bhakti Vriksha as well as Bhakti shastri, Bhakti Vaibhava, etc

Every level of leader is under the guidance of a senior leader like sector leader, circle leader, greater circle leadermand so on who encourage and supervise the continued study of every one

Training in spiritual practices

Siksha levels ensure that everyone learns and practices devotional activities in gradual steps

Taking vows and commitments before senior devotees and Srila Prabhupada makes them serious in keeping their commitments

Decentralized festival programs help all the members to be trained in all the different devotional activities

Regular visits and services at the local temple makes them further trained

Helping in application of knowledge in their day to day lives Every weekly meeting has an application question

discussed based on the passage learnt Devotees share regularly with their leaders on their

spiritual progress Spiritual solutions to material problems are regularly

discussed both at the meetings as well as in personal talks with the leaders

All family members of the devotees also befriended through home visits

Engaging them in devotional activities Everyone is engaged in some voluntary service

during the weekly meetings Supervision and guidance provided to help them

maintain a proper altar at home and render services to Deities when they reach the proper standard at minimum Guru Ashraya level

Engaged in preaching activities from the beginning Participation in all Temple as well as decentralized

programs

Providing material support

Finding marriage partners for members becomes a joint responsibility of the different levels of leaders.

Expanding Vaishnava community facilitates the finding of like- minded partners

Requirement of jobs and availability of jobs announced and all members help in this

Assistance at home and hospital, fun d raising and prayers for medical care

Training and empowering them to be preachers and leaders

Bringing new people to the program Book distribution Taking part in Hari nama Accompanying leader on home visits Attending out reach programs Assisting leader in taking care of devotees Training to conduct the different parts of the

program in the last three months

Instilling and developing Vaishnava qualities Vaishnava etiquette seminars Personal preaching develops true humility Regular leaders' meetings, reporting, consulting and

supervision results in instilling cooperative mood Every one is a senior and junior at the same time, so

can understand the proper mood Preaching purifies one's offensive mentality Empowering others removes pride and

possessiveness

Enabling them to be self reliant to take initiatives

Interactive method of study lays strong foundation in understanding philosophy

Love and trust among devotees builds their self- confidence

From the beginning leader is training and empowering the members to take up responsibilities

The whole system fosters self reliance and team- work

Ensures good quality and quantity of devotees Love and friendship awakens the spirituality quickly

in them and gives them bhakti Interactive study gives them good knowledge Services, Sadhana and practical application of the

Bhagavad-gita in their day to day lives gives them deep realizations

Training, empowerment, and support from senior leaders helps them to become good leaders and keep increasing the quantity of devotees

Ensures good quality and quantity of devotees Good quality of devotees ensures continuing growth

in quantity Very less chances of fall downs or getting deviated Gives them the capability of rendering services

throughout their lives wherever they may go Becoming leaders motivates them to be good

examples Keeps them always enthusiastic

Ensures good quality and quantity of devotees

Organic growth of a hierarchy of leaders who personally teach, inspire and take care of their juniors

Lifetime care provided Everyone learns how to provide personal spiritual

counseling

An empowered devotee community united in purpose, controlled by love Every one develops the preaching mood to give

personal care and mercy to all All decisions are taken on the basis of what is the

best for the preaching mission. So there is a common vision and unity

Seniors' example and inspiration serves to inspire the juniors to follow

No command and control approach, as every one is cared for by different levels of leaders

Regular meetings of leaders to share reports,plan, review and help one another

An empowered devotee community united in purpose, controlled by love Seniors are tolerant and forgiving and manage

everything through love and humility All sections of society covered easily through

Bhakti Vriksha Harmony between different classes and educational

backgrounds through common programs and picnics Preaching makes everyone develop the spiritual

vision more quickly Equal opportunity and freedom for all, minimizing

envy or politics

The Lord is the supreme controller

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mood of compassion is the guiding principle of the Bhakti Vriksha

Problems are solved more easily for those who are following His instructions of preaching

Preachers become more surrendered to following the idealistic path and in compromising with others

Results are achieved by depending on His mercy and doing one's best

Minimizes politics between devotees

Mood, instructions and example of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Making loving friendly relationships before

philosophy Developing service attitude through giving personal

care Making rapid spiritual advancement in Bhakti

through serving other devotees From Bhakti comes jnana and vairagya easily Preaching from the very beginning gives them the

complete mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Relationship with the Temple

Attending and rendering services during sunday programs

Attending advanced study programs Making avail of Samskaras Association of senior Temple devotees for special

periodic by- monthly programs Participation in Book distribution, Harinams,

festivals Involvement of Temple devotees in meetings

Integration with the entire Vaishnava community Different Gurus disciples can coexist in the same

group Cooperation with other autonomous groups Bhakti Vriksha for farming devotees Co-operation with devotees of all specializations

like book distribution, Hari namas, Food for life, fund raisers, etc