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Volume 8 | January-June 2018

ISKCON Sannyasa Ministry Newsletter

“In regards to your question about


how the relationship between a
sannyasi and the temple president
should be, my hope is that you will all
be able to cooperate together. The
temple president is in charge and the
sannyasi should not contradict the
instructions. Although if he does see
something wrong or if he sees a fault
or defect he should bring it out directly
to the temple president. And then work it out in a Krishna
conscious way. Not that he will try to over-ride the temple
president's authority. I want that you all work together
cooperatively. Please continue your programs there with
great enthusiasm and try to strictly follow all of my
regulations without any deviation. Keep yourself always fixed
in Krishna's service. Don't let even a split moment go by being
engaged in the service of maya" (SPL to Sukadeva, 28th
December, 1974)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE


From the Sannyasa Minister:
• Sannyasis &
Management
This is Issue Number Eight of the Sannyasa Newsletter. • 2018 Sannyasa
Revealing one’s mind in confidence is one of the six loving Waiting List
exchanges between devotees that nurture the creeper of bhakti. I • Sannyasi Training
hope that this sannyasa katha inspires in you a deeper sense of Seminar
commitment to the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu under
the guidance and example of Srila Prabhupada and his sincere • Sannyasi Profile:
followers. Krishna Kshetra
Swami

Your servant, Website:


Prahladananda Swami www.sannyasacandidates.com
Email (Secretary):
[email protected]

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PROFILE: KRISHNA KSHETRA SWAMI

Krishna Kshetra Swami was initiated by His Divine Grace A. C.


Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1972. From 1973 to 1975 he
distributed Srila Prabhupada's books around western Europe and
served as a pujari in Amsterdam and Schloss Rettershof, Germany.
Between 1977 and 1979 he traveled and preached with Bhakti Tirtha
Swami, Harikesha Swami, Bhakti Sudhir Goswami, Dvarakesha
Prabhu and Devamrita Swami throughout Eastern Europe. From
1982 to 1985 he oversaw Lord Nrisimhadeva's worship in
Simhacalam, Germany.

While he continued serving the mission in Europe as a brahmacari, in


1987 ISKCON's GBC body appointed him as an initiating guru. Then,
up to 1995, he helped compile and publish Pancaratra-pradipa,
ISKCON's manual for temple worship. He also served ISKCON's GBC
as the minister for Deity worship until 2005.

In 1995, being encouraged by senior ISKCON leaders, Krishna Kshetra Swami resumed formal
academic study which he had interrupted in 1972. He completed a B.A. in Religious Studies
(University of California, Santa Barbara), an M.A. in the Study of Religion (Graduate Theological
Union, Berkeley), an M.St. (Master of Studies) in the Study of Religion (University of Oxford,
U.K.), and a D.Phil. (Ph.D., University of Oxford, U.K.). Based on his doctoral dissertation he then
published "Attending Krishna's Image: Chaitanya Vaishnava Murti-seva as Devotional Truth" with
Routledge Hindu Studies Series (now available through Bhaktivedanta Library Services, Belgium).
He has co-edited and co-authored, with Radhikaramana Dasa, two books on the Bhagavatam,
published by Columbia University Press. Krishna Kshetra Swami is a Research Fellow of the
Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and a Research Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics.
He also acts as the dean of studies at Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesh, Belgium, where he has
been teaching since 2002. He is currently writing an academic book on cow protection, to be
published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Krishna Kshetra Swami accepted the order of sannyasa on Janmastami 2014, and continues to
travel extensively for teaching, counseling, and to support ISKCON's spiritual communities across
the globe.

SANNYASA TRAINING SEMINAR 2018

The Ministry for Sannyasa Services began formal Sannyasa Candidates Training (SCT) in 2012. A
similar program was conducted in 2017. This year, from February 14th-16th, the third Sannyasa
Candidates Training took place at ISKCON Mayapur. Twenty out of the current twenty-seven
candidates participated this year.

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Sannyasa Training Seminar 2018
The SCT program aims to increase the knowledge of the candidates and equip them with
skills and values to enable them to practice sannyasa within the unique cultural
situations they will face. A further objective is to give them an opportunity to associate
with senior sannyasis and inquire from them on the topics of renunciation. A third
objective is to provide a forum for the candidates to associate together and develop
deeper relationships, understanding and trust amongst each other.

When asked about the benefits of the training, His Holiness Prahladanada Swami,
Minister of the Sannyasa Ministry, expressed,

"ISKCON sannyasis should be respected as learned and renounced preachers who


serve selflessly in Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. In the Bhagavad Gita (Bg
16.1), Lord Krishna mentions three essential qualities that enable a sannyasi to
advance spiritually and distribute Krishna consciousness to others—fearlessness,
purity and transcendental knowledge. Sannyasa candidate seminars are important
because they help train the sannyasa candidates in transcendental discrimination and
expertise so that while they perform practical devotional service they will develop such
spiritual qualities. Empowered with such transcendental qualities, they will make
rapid spiritual advancement and with great spiritual potency will distribute Krishna
consciousness to others."

The GBC meetings were simultaneously in session. Being in the holy dhama in the
association of so many senior devotees made this program exceptionally potent. The
morning program in Sri Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir was filled with devotees.
The darshan of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Sri Panchatattva, and Sri Sri Prahlad
Nrsimhadeva enlivened everyone.

On the first day of the seminars His Holiness Vedavyasa Priya


Swami addressed the candidates on the topic of Srila Rupa
Goswami’s Upadesamrta. He focused on the first verse, which
emphasises the importance of sense control.

On February 15th the program began with a special Srimad


Bhagavatam class on the Song of the Avanti Brahmana: “I shall
cross over the insurmountable ocean of nescience by being firmly
fixed in the service of the lotus feet of Krishna” (11.23.57). This was
given by His Holiness Lokanath Swami.
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His Holiness Bhakti Gauravani Swami presented two topics:


“Using Sannyasa for Service”, and “Becoming Alive through Civil
Death.”

On February 16th, His Holiness Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami


presented the 6th chapter of Manu Samhita which offers clear
instruction on the duties, lifestyle and desired consciousness of one
in the sannyasa ashram.
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Sannyasa Training Seminar 2018
On February 18th, His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Swami presented “Proper Dealings
with Women” and “Abandoning False Designations and Accepting Real Designations.”

All the candidates offered positive feedback and expressed their anticipation to attend the
training seminars in 2019, hoping the training will deepen their understanding even
further.

Our senior most candidate, His Grace Premadatta Prabhu (75 years old), originally from
Italy, and now serving in Agartala, India, said: “Sannyasa is the last part of the life. It is
to dedicate ourselves cent percent to Krishna. It will enable us to follow the instruction
of Srila Prabhupada and encourage all living entities to give total priority to Lord
Krishna. The Sannyasa Candidates Training is a wonderful initiative and very much
necessary. Now it is up to us to put into practice what we have learnt from Srimad
Bhagavatam and from the senior devotees.”

His Grace Vanamali Das, based in Mira Road, Mumbai, shared a realization he gained
from the exemplary behavior of one of the teachers: “On the first day, the first speaker
had to unexpectedly cancel. Instead, we got the benefit and darshan of His Holiness
Vedavyasa Priya Maharaja. Maharaja was not scheduled, and he was only given 15
minutes notice. Yet, seeing the urgency, he immediately got ready to do the needful. A
sannyasi is always ready to do the needful for Srila Prabhupada, and the mission.
Wherever there is the need, immediately, he will reach.”

His Grace Vrindavan Chandra Das, based in Sri Vrndavana Dham expressed: “ We learnt
of the potential difficulties we may face. In this way, the mind is being prepared to
achieve the goal of sannyasa life.”

His Grace Puspashila Shyama Dasa from Bangladesh expressed his appreciation: “I was
greatly benefited by participating in the seminar. It was inspiring and instructive.”

His Grace Sankarshan Nitai Das from Sri Dham Mayapur, offered his realization, “Srila
Prabhupada always stressed training and education, saying we should continue
learning till our last breath. If we stop learning, it means we are dead. Sannyasa is a
very serious commitment for this movement, and for the individuals as well. Thus,
candidates need the guidance of the sannyasis and senior members of the society. We
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pray that the sannyasa candidate training continues so that we can all benefit from this
wonderful arrangement by the Sannyasa Ministry.”

His Grace Ekalavya Das, a candidate from USA, said: “The importance of simplicity for
Sannyasis was stressed again and again in the seminars. A Sannyasi is getting ready to
wind up his activities in the material world and does not plan to come back again.
Simplicity will helps him avoid giving trouble to others by making unnecessary
demands on them, and thus minimizes his karmic accruement."

His Grace Sundara Lala Das from Mauritius shared a realization from the etam sa asthaya

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Sannyasa Training Seminar 2018 paratma-nistham verse: “This sannyasa verse gives me lots of inspiration and hope.
Although we are not fully qualified candidates, there is hope. The Avanti brahmana
says “I shall cross over the insurmountable ocean of nescience by being firmly fixed
in the service of the lotus feet of Krishna.” One who works devotedly for the
satisfaction of Krishna is a sannyasi. The dress is not sannyasa, but the attitude of
service to Krishna is. By following the footsteps of previous acaryas one can surely
cross. Just like sometimes we see some footpath in the forest. The footpath means
some people have gone through it before and if we take to this path we shall also
reach the other side. This is humility. By following in the footsteps of our acharyas
we shall crossover this material world.”

The Ministry for Sannyasa Services would like to express their deepest gratitude to the
Sanyasis who presented seminars, the management of ISKCON Mayapur for
providingwonderful facilities, and the candidates who took time from their busy
schedules to come and participate in the training.

The training was organized by Ministry for Sannyasa Services Secretaries Brajsunder
Dasa, Dharmatma Dasa, and Ekalavya Dasa under the guidance of His Holiness
Krishna Kshetra Swami and His Holiness Prahladananda Swami.

Audio and Video recordings from the seminars are still being compiled. Audio and
Video from previous seminars can be found here:

https://sannyasacandidates.com/?page_id=717
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2018 Sannyasa Waiting List

As of the GBC Meetings 2018, the following are the candidates for sannyasa along with their
respective waiting periods:

Adi Purusa Dasa Sannyasa this year


(Bhubaneswar, India)
Adhokshaja Dasa (Russia) 4 years
Ananda Vardhana Dasa Sannyasa this year
(Baltics/Finland/Europe)

Asim Krishna Dasa (India) 2 years


Bhaktipada Dasa (New 1 year
Vraja Dhama, Hungary)
Deva Deva Dasa 1 year
(South America)
Eklavya Dasa 1 year
(India/Middle East/North America)

Gaura Chandra Das Sannyasa this year


(Mayapur)
Gopendra Dasa (Vrindavan, India) 4 years
Govindananada Dasa (West Bengal, India) 5 years
Kamalalochan Dasa (Mumbai, India) 3 years
Madhu Sevita Das Sannyasa this year
(Italy/France/Benelux)
Mahaprabhu Dasa Sannyasa this year
(Hungary/Romania)
Navadvip Dvija 1 years
Gouranga Dasa (Bangladesh)
Premadata Dasa (Italy/India) 2 years
Pritivardhana Dasa 1 years
(Mayapur, India)
Puspashila Shyama 1 year
Dasa (Bangladesh)
Radhashyamsunder 3 years
Dasa (Vrindavan, India)
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2018 Sannyasa Waiting List

Raghava Pandit Dasa 1 years


(Delhi, India)

Santa Nrisimha Dasa 1 years


(Jaipur, India)

Sankarsana Nitai Dasa 4 years


(Mayapur, India)
Sundarlala Dasa (Mauritius) 2 years

Sutapa Dasa (United Kingdom) 4 years

Vanamali Dasa (Mumbai, India) 3 years

Venudhari Dasa (Mayapur, 2 years


India)

Vishvavasu Dasa 3 years


(Germany/Baltics/Russia)

Vrindavanchandra 1 years
Dasa(Vrindavan India)

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