CO-OPERATION AMONGST DEVOTEES
1. Unity amongst devotees gives great pleasure to the
Supreme Lord :
varaà våëédhvaà bhadraà vo yüyaà me nåpa-nandanäù
sauhärdenäpåthag-dharmäs tuñöo 'haà sauhådena vaù
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear sons of the King, I am very
much pleased by the friendly relationships among you. All of you are engaged
in one occupation—devotional service. I am so pleased with your mutual
friendship that I wish you all good fortune. Now you may ask a benediction of
Me. [SB 4.30.8]
PURPORT
Since the sons of King Präcénabarhiñat were all united in Kåñëa consciousness,
the Lord was very pleased with them. Each and every one of the sons of King
Präcénabarhiñat was an individual soul, but they were united in offering
transcendental service to the Lord. The unity of the individual souls attempting
to satisfy the Supreme Lord or rendering service to the Lord is real unity. In the
material world such unity is not possible. Even though people may officially
unite, they all have different interests. In the United Nations, for instance, all
the nations have their particular national ambitions, and consequently they
cannot be united. Disunity between individual souls is so strong within this
material world that even in a society of Kåñëa consciousness, members
sometimes appear disunited due to their having different opinions and leaning
toward material things. Actually, in Kåñëa consciousness there cannot be two
opinions. There is only one goal: to serve Kåñëa to one's best ability. If there is
some disagreement over service, such disagreement is to be taken as spiritual.
Those who are actually engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead cannot be disunited in any circumstance. This makes the Supreme
Personality of Godhead very happy and willing to award all kinds of benediction
to His devotees, as indicated in this verse. We can see that the Lord is
immediately prepared to award all benedictions to the sons of King
Präcénabarhiñat.
* * * *
Answer the following questions based on the above purport :
1. Why is unity not possible in the material world? Why is it possible in spiritual circle?
2. What is one Sanskrit word repeated by Lord Visnu twice in this verse? Considering the
worship of Pracetas, what is so special about it?
3. What are the two reasons why two devotees within ISKCON can have disunity?
4. What is the difference between conflict / disagreement on a material platform and spiritual
platform.
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5. Take the example of difference in opinion between Draupadi vs Bhima on whether to kill or
not kill Ashwattama for his heinous act . What is the basis of each of their argument and
what is the attitude of Bhima towards Draupadi and viceversa? What do we learn from this
instance in our life as members of a team?
2. Right engagement in right association
One should perform devotional service in the association of devotees and never give this up under
any circumstance. As living beings, we need engagement, and we need some form of society.
Going into perpetual seclusion or silent meditation is not recommended, and it is almost impossible
for most persons. Therefore, we should take up the right engagement, devotional service, and in the
right company, the association of devotees. Srila Prabhupada created ISKCON with the intention of
providing centers and communities for people to come and hear and chant about Krishna and live
together in devotional service.
Q : What is one thing that makes you say, “Oh! I will never leave the company of devotees.”
Q : What is one thing that makes you say, “Oh! I don’t know whether lifelong I can continue
surviving in the company of these type of devotees.”
Devotees are living in Vaikuntha
“If the members of the ISKCON, putting faith in Krishna as the center, live in harmony according to
the order and principles of Bhagavad gita, then they are living in Vaikuntha, not in this material
world.” (SB 3.15.33 purport)
Q : Give an example of a situation where you were in some association or event or service that
made you feel, “I am in Vaikuntha.”
What to do when devotee association does not feel like Vaikuntha
anymore?
ISKCON is recruiting devotees from among the conditioned souls and also as the movement exists
amidst opposing forces within the world of maya, there may be unpleasant situations even while
living in association. Yet association of devotees remains the only solace for one aspiring to serve
Krishna and go back to Godhead. We should learn to adjust ourselves and co-operate, if we want
the benefit of association of devotees.
Q : Give an example of a situation where you were in some association or event or service that
made you feel, “I am not in Vaikuntha, but I am in kuntha!”
Q : In case you mind is unhappy, still for what all reasons (give at least 3) would you consider co-
operating with other devotees?
Your love for me can be shown by how you co-operate with one
another - SP
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Srila Prabhupada’s most memorable statement spoken during his last days on earth, “Your love for
me will be shown by how much you cooperate to keep this institution together after I am gone.” SP
acknowledged that individuals would sometimes differ, but it should not cause disruption.
He asked his disciples to stick together, not our of material sentiment, but by keeping the order of
the spiritual master in the center of their lives. The devotees should address each other as ‘prabhu’
(master), and they should serve the leader of the masters, Prabhupada. If the prabhus were actually
surrendered to Prabhupada, would they break off and go away?
SP compared the fighting of disciples to the fighting of sons who ultimately cause pain to the father.
He told the story of the father who came home at night after a hard day’s work and requested his
sons to massage different parts of his body. But while the sons were massaging, they fell to
quarreling with one another and began punching the different parts of his body. “By your fighting
you are killing me!”, the father cried out. And so also did Prabhupada cry out : the inevitable
quarrelling should not become a painful situation for the spiritual master. “We must exist on
cooperation; otherwise the whole thing is doomed if we simply go on fighting over some small
thing.” (Letter to Madhumangala dasa, Nov 18, 1972).
Q : What are the possible causes (give at least 4) of conflict between two devotees?
Q : Give a practical life incident for fighting over a ‘small thing’?
Overlook the occassional quarrel among devotees
A neophyte disciple soon sees the practical realities of spiritual life, such as occasional quarreling
among devotees. But if he becomes too disappointed at seeing imperfections, that may become
cause of fall down. We should know that the devotees are in the process of purification. Because
KC is a purificatory process, all devotees are on the right path for purification, and they should not
be criticized unduly for faults.
Once an initiated disciple left the association of devotees and wrote to SP that she had done so
because of devotees’ imperfections. SP’s reply exposed her greater defect in leaving :
“Just because some body has made some mistakes, does that mean you should give up your whole
career in KC? What will that accomplish? Simply more rebirth and death. The face that you have
left our movement just on account of some minor disagreements shows that you are not actually
serious about going back home back to Godhead. I suggest that you become serious about spiritual
life and try to overlook the minor offenses of others.”
- Letter to Banutanaya dasi, March 14, 1975
Q : One devotee says, “If I live in the company of devotees, I see faults in them and criticize them. I
feel it is better for me to stay away from devotees and avoid offenses so that I can progress in KC.”
What would you tell that devotee?
Q : One devotee says, “prabhu, today morning I saw that our meeting was a total mess. Different
devotees are throwing different opinions and having disagreements. Whatever is going on in the
outside world is going on here also. Then what is use of my practicing KC? It seems that it is
better for me to pursue my studies and career peacefully, because it seems that by becoming devotee
I am not going become a great soul. After spending three years in KC, these guys are quarelling.
Then what is the use of practicing KC?
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* * * *
3. Team playing and Cooperation :
Becoming a servant Team Leader
We cannot be good LEADERS if we are not good FOLLOWERS
We cannot BUILD TEAMS unless we are ourselves STRONG TEAM PLAYERS
We cannot TEACH SELF DISCIPLINE unless we are SELF DISCIPLINED
We cannot ENJOY A HAPPY RELATIONSHIP if we are not GOOD PARTNERS
We cannot have a strong network of FRIENDS unless we are GOOD FRIENDS OURSELVES.
We cannot develop a CLOSE COMMUNITY unless we are GOOD NEIGHBOURS.
Q : Give an instance from your experience of someone whom you found as a powerful team leader.
What particular quality do you feel inspired you in him the most?
Q : Give an instance from your experience of someone (without mentioning any name) who failed
as a Team Leader. What possible reasons would you attribute to his failure?
Team spirit
A leader should have the ability to create a team spirit and the power to co-operate. A leader needs
to be able to inspire co-operation in others and he can do so only when he himself is able to co-
operate well with others. Co-operation comes from
a common purpose and
in seeing the specialty of each member of the team,
an appreciation of the distinctive contribution that each one can make.
Team spirit is a power which is able to make huge tasks easy and enjoyable as well. Creating a
team-spirit means to get people committed to take up the responsibility collectively in a team. A
true leader is attuned to people’s needs and the resolution of conflicts. This also means he skillfully
deflects misfortune. We should note how important it is for the people in modern society to feel
happy, secure, protected and loved. With globalisation of markets and the increase of technological
capacities, it is becoming more and more important for leaders, managers, and CEOs to produce
things inexpensively, quickly and with greater quality. The competition between companies is so
intense that what often determines corporate survival is a corporation’s ability to empower its
employees in “team playing”.
Empowering employees and creating healthy teams is based almost entirely on people feeling good
about
themselves (I am happy that I can offer some valuable seva for Guru and Krishna)
other colleagues (I love my fellow devotees, because they’re all working hard for Krishna),
the institution for which they work (I feel joyful & proud of being a part of ISKCON),
the leaders of those institutions (I’m proud of my superiors for whom I work) and
especially the mission and vision associated with both their leaders and the institutions for
which they work. (I’m proud of being a part of this glorious ISKCON society, which is
saving suffering souls from maya and dispatching them back to spiritual world)
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Q : What are your strengths as a team leader? Which area do you feel that you need to improve to
become a better team leader to inspire co-operation?
Q : Among the five points of ‘empowering employees and creating healthy teams’ given above,
which of them are you positive about and which of them you’re not confident about in your current
scenario?
Closer relationships, greater success
In his book ‘Coaching for Leadership’ Marshall Goldsmith explains that when someone assumes a
new leadership role today, he may be voluntarily leaving or being fired within a year or two. Not
only will we have wasted time and money in training such a person, but we also may be eliminating
our pool of potential candidates as the dissatisfied trainee complains about us to others. Why do
these people fail?
82% of them fail to build teamwork relationships with subordinates and peers;
58% are confused about what is expected of them; and
50% lack the required skills and knowledge to be able to be successful.
Thus we see how important it is that each person feels properly valued so that they can stay in the
organisation and use what they have learned for the ultimate success of the enterprise.
In the early 1990s, the American government began to study why Japanese businesses were so
much successful than American businesses, even though Americans had better schools and more
facility. Stanford University spent millions of dollars to study this phenomenon. The researchers
discovered that it had more to do with the Japanese mentality than American ingenuity. The
Japanese have more of a family culture. Even in the business world, employers and managers work
together better, communicate better, and tend to understand the inside workings of things better than
Americans. Their success was based on closer relationships. The Japanese companies were built
on team ship, relationship, and especially character. American business schools now teach that
management success is about 20% technique and 80% relationship. Relationship, of course, means
understanding people’s needs and being able to lead more from the inside out—from a platform of
strong character. ‘Inside out’ approach means, “What can I do to make the situation better?” rather
than ‘accuse blame criticise’ mode.
The best service companies have a very simple philosophy. They do whatever is necessary to
ensure that their customers (first internal customers or their own employees, then external)
have an excellent experience and
are served beyond their expectations.
One good example that could be cited is “Lateral service” where serving fellow employees
(internal customers) is given as much importance and emphasis as serving the customer. Lateral
service is the art of making good on somebody else’s mistakes. And it translates into a much better
experience for the customer.
Q : What do we mean by ‘family culture’? Explain with a positive and negative example showing
the benefits of presence and the disadvantage of lacking such culture in any institution.
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Q : What is not family culture? What is the connection of ‘Character’ to relationship and family
culture?
Q : Say you are a book distributor or a Facilitator. What would be an appropriate and
inappropriate response of other book distributiors or Facilitators, if they find that someone is
lacking in their expertise?
Q : What would happen if internal customers (devotees) are not satisfied in their KC with
something?
No expectations beyond welfare of those whom we serve, the team
members
In the Vedic times, the Kings were particularly trained
- to become saintly and
- to have no concern beyond the welfare of their citizens.
This mentality is the qualification of a divine monarch or ‘Raja rishi’.
The monarch was trained systematically to care for his citizen’s needs. Some of the duties of a
divine monarch are :
Tosana : to see that there is sufficient food to feed all of the citizens
Prinama : distributing gifts to satisfy them
Upalalana : calling meetings and speaking sweet thoughtful words to satisfy the people
Anusasana : giving instructions on how to become good citizens
In Vedic times, a king, a father, a spiritual mentor as well as any head of any project are considered
to be leaders who give shelter to people and responsible for managing them, keeping in mind their
longterm security and overall(body, mind and soul) welfare. Such gestures from the leader’s
side to his constituents brings about co-operation amongst team members, discipline and most
importantly giving their heart for the work.
Q : What two things any leader should keep in mind? How do team members respond in kind?
Explain with an incident or example where you appreciate that these were paid attention and
illustrate another example where you feel something needed more attention.
Celebrating Diversity and Interdependance for team spirit
When there is a forced conformity, there will never be true unity;
when there is simply diversity without any attempt at unity, this is anarchy.
The leader’s duty is to engage the people according their individual natures toward the central goal.
Synergy literally means that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual elements. One
plus one equals more than two. The ability to synergise a group comes from celebrating diversity
among one’s team members and then holding them accountable to fulfil both personal and the
project goals. It does not result from either dependent or independent members, but from those who
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recognise their interdependence (when two independent talented individual performers contribute
and share ideas with each other, they’re interdependent). Recognizing interdependence also results
in the formation of symbiotic relationships. That is, relationships based on mutual need.
Q : One of your team members argues that “Hanuman and squirrel were both treated by Lord
Rama as equal. So why should we appreciate ‘powerful’ book distributors or facilitators? Whether
we do anything or not, we should know we are all equally good as spirit souls.” What would you
tell him?
Q : What all are likely to happen when a team leader forces the members to accept his own opinion
against the will of many of them?
Q : One of your friends who is also a team leade like you, to inspire you to not overly bother about
your team members’ movements, smilingly tells you, “I don’t like to dominate my group members. I
give them 100% freedom in everything. Afterall we are not the Supreme controllers. Krishna is.
Why take unnecessary stress?” What would you understand and what would you tell him?
Difference between Group and Team :
GROUP TEAM
1. Everyone thinks about his own interest [Link] of them think as one unit, the goal of team
2. Members work independently, sometimes [Link] are accomplished by mutual support.
against each other also.
3. Members are told what to do. [Link] contribute knowledge and talents to
team objectives.
4. Members distrust each other and do not [Link] is a climate of trust, where people are
understand each others’ role. encouraged to express their ideas.
5. Members are seen like employees. [Link] have sense of ownership and
commitment to goals.
6. Members may or may not be involved in 7. Members are involved in decisions.
decision making.
7. Confirmity is more important than results. 8. Positive results are the goals.
Q : Identify the points from ‘Group’ column and ‘Team’ column above, which you feel are
currently adopting in your style of leadership.
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* * * * *
4. Srila Prabhupada’s solutions on how to
bring about Co-operation amongst devotees
FOR THE SAKE OF SP’s MISSION
Real business is Preaching Work
Regarding the general state of affairs at the Amsterdam temple, I can
understand there is some disturbance among you, but that is not to be taken
very seriously. The real business is preaching work, and if there is full attention
on this matter only, all other business will be automatically successful. Fighting
amongst ourselves is not at all good. If our preaching work is neglected, or if
we fall down in following the regulative principles such as rising before 4 AM,
chanting 16 rounds, like that – if these things are not strictly observed then
maya will enter and spoil everything. So my best advice to you is to strictly
observe these things yourself and be the example so that all others may follow.
- SP letter to Madhumangala, 18 November 1972
Combine together, not be aloof
It is good that you have invited the other devotees for such a program. Let them come, and combine
together in cooperation, not to be aloof. There are always some factions, everywhere in this world.
But we must, in KC, do the needful and cooperate. So, I am very glad to see your activities and you
please continue to keep up the good work.
- SP letter to Ksirodakasayi, 4 March 1973
Co-operate despite Differences
If all you leaders cannot work together, then how can you expect the others to cooperate with you?
Differences may be there, but still you have to cooperate together, otherwise where is the question
of my being relieved of so many problems and decisions?
- SP letter to Ramesvara, 15 September 1975
If you cannot work together, then my work will be stopped
Now all my disciples must work combinedly and with cooperation to spread this sankirtana
movement. If you cannot work together then my work is stopped up. Our society is like one big
family and our relationships should be based on love and trust. We must give up the fighting spirit
and use our intelligence to push ahead. You should accept help from your godbrothers.
- Letter to Upendra, 6 August 1970
DEVELOP NOBLE QUALITIES
Preliminary qualification to advance in bhakti is to become a willing
co-operator
So the preliminary qualification for entering into the devotional service of the
Lord is that one become a willing cooperator, and as such one should
voluntarily cooperate with persons who are already engaged in the
transcendental devotional service of the Lord. By cooperating with such
persons, the prospective candidate will gradually learn the techniques of
devotional service, and with the progress of such learning one becomes
proportionately free from the contamination of material association. Such a
purificatory process will establish the prospective candidate in firm faith and
gradually elevate him to the stage of transcendental taste for such devotional
service. Thus he acquires a genuine attachment for the devotional service of
the Lord, and his conviction carries him on to the point of ecstasy, just prior to
the stage of transcendental love. [SB 2.7.19]
Don’t criticize each other
We should not criticize each other, as vaisnavas, because there is fault in
everyone and we may ourselves be subject to criticism. The best thing is to be
above suspicion ourselves, then if we see discrepencies and make suggestions
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the others will automatically respect and take action to rectify matters. That is
cooperation. We must exist on such cooperation, otherwise the whole thing
will be doomed if we simply go on fighting over some small thing. So try to
organize things and preach together in this spirit and that will please me very
very much.
- SP letter to Madhumangala, 18 November 1972
Don’t carry previous grudges
I can understand that previously there must have been some quarrel amongst you and that
sometimes happens amongst godbrothers. Whatever is done is done; the main thing is we must not
carry grudges or continue to quarrel amongst one another. So I am asking you personally, to bury
the hatchet and join together to push on this movement cooperatively.
- SP letter to Gurukrpa and Yasoda nandana, 25 December 1973
Without becoming as Tolerant as the tree, we cannot be successful
Our Gaudiya Math people fought with one another after the demise of guru maharaja, but my
disciples have already begun fighting even in my presence. So I am greatly concerned about it.
tåëäd api su-nécena taror iva sahiñëunä
amäninä mäna-dena kértanéyaù sadä hariù“
TRANSLATION
“One who thinks himself lower than grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not
expect personal honor but is always prepared to give respect to others can very easily always chant
the holy name of the Lord.” [Siksastaka 3]
We must always remember this verse and be as tolerant as the tree, as we execute the KC
movement. Without this mentality we cannot be successful.
- Letter to Kirtanananda, 18 October 1973
UNITY
Maintain Unity in diversity
Material nature means dissension and disagreement, especially in this Kali yuga. But, for this KC
movement its success will depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements. In
the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world, there are
varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. The materialist without being able to adjust
the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with
varieties, but if we keep Krishna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is
called unity in diversity. I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year
during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present
we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is
simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will
make our movement successful.
- Letter to Kirtanananda, 18 October 1973
If we are bunched up, we can never be broken easily
Remember the story in Aesop’s Fables of the father of many children with the bundle of sticks.
When the father asked his children to break the bundle of sticks wrapped in a bag, none of them
could do it. But, when they removed the sticks from the bag, and tried one by one, the sticks were
easily broken. So this is the strength in unity. If we are bunched up, we can never be broken, but
when divided, then we can become broken very easily.
- Letter to Kirtanananda, 18 October 1973
Harmony means Krishna Consciousness
Anyone who voluntarily cooperates with Krishna’s desire, He responds to his call very eagerly.
Krishna descends to teach us Bhagavad gita, begging our cooperation, and anyone who cooperates
with Him becomes blessed. All you boys and girls in San Fransisco are sincerely cooperating with
Krishna and therefore you are working together harmoniously. Harmony means Krishna
Consciousness. Without Krishna Consciousness there cannot be harmony in the world.
- Letter to Jayananda, 16 September 1967
Emphasize on Co-operation, not Competition
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One thing is, too much competition between centers is not good. The emphasis should be on
cooperation and not competition.
- Letter to Amogha, 9 May 1972
LOVE
Genuine and pleasing Relationships between godbrothers necessary
Relationships between godbrothers must be very genuine and pleasing, otherwise the future of our
institution will not be very hopeful.
- Letter to Tamala Krishna, 1 October 1969
Our society is based on Love and Trust
My request to you is that you try to follow the authorities there – the temple president, the GBC etc.
Cooperate nicely with them. Our movement is based on love and trust, so if we do not cooperate
then how is that love and trust? Follow all of the rules and regulations very strictly without
deviation, chant 16 rounds, attend class and mangala arati, and then everything will be all right.
- Letter to Krishnavesa, 16 January 1975
Your love for me will be shown…..
Your love for me will be shown by how much you cooperate to keep this institution together after I
am gone.
- Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, chapter 52
* * * *
To please Srila Prabhupada, I will take following steps………..
Q : Making the BEST SUMMARY of all the above letters of Srila Prabhupada, now write down ten
statements, what you will do as a ideal team leader or as a member of ISKCON, to cooperate with
devotees and to bring about cooperation as a leader in some capacity.
1. __________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________
6. __________________________________________________________________
7. __________________________________________________________________
8. __________________________________________________________________
9. __________________________________________________________________
10. _________________________________________________________________
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* * * *
Situation Tackling Exercise
Give an example of an appropriate response and an inappropriate response to the following :
[Link] colleague feels ego problem to take your advice in preaching. So he prefers to
do his own preaching, although it practically produces no result. What will you do?
[Link] colleague and you have a tussle regarding whether to approach the top
authority (Principal) of the college or the ‘Literary association’ head to fix up a one
time program. How will you solve this issue?
[Link] that your opinion of approaching the ‘Literary association head’ was
rejected and your colleague directly approached the Principal for seeking permission
for a one-time program in a college. His request was rejected by the Principal. Thus
the whole thing ended up in a loss of preaching opportunity. Today there is a meeting
in the afternoon. How will you present the matter to your core committee of
preachers?
[Link] of the devotee preachers criticized that you spoke something out of Parampara
in your class; you assured him that you heard it from some maharaja. Your
relationship with that devotee is strained now. Both you and him are good College
preachers. What will you do in future?
[Link] feel that the core boys in your team are a bit lazy and not fired up to go for
calling boys for the program. They are dumping the services on others and prefer to
sit back and relax. You feel frustrated with them. How will you deal with them and
bring about co-operation?
6. Everyone wants to be in the limelight, because those in the limelight get abundant
glorification. The weaklings feel inferiority complex and just hide behind the screen.
How do you deal with them in your situation and make them useful contributors to
youth preaching?
[Link] will you do when you encounter a situation where a senior devotee is a poor
performer and an younger devotee is a smart performer? Will you give importance to
seniority or efficiency, when it comes to offering responsible position or services?
8. What will you do if you find an ‘enthusiasm murderer’ (a devotee who throws cold
water in everyone’s enthusiasm by going on commenting, ‘nothing will Work; its all
after all kali yuga’. How will you tackle him in a meeting and what will you do with
him at other times? Negative, pessimistic people certainly bring down the spirit of
others too.
* * * * *
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