Personal Excellence

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Personal Excellence
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Story Eagle (guest)
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Excellence in sadhana
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THE BASIS OF EXCELLENCE

• Chanting minimum 16 rounds of the Hare Krsna Maha
  Mantra
• Following the 4 regulative principles (no meat
  eating, no intoxications, no gambling, no illicit
  sex)

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RESIDENTIAL SADHANA - morning

• Getting up early (4 a.m.)
• Taking shower
• Attending Mangala arotik
• Chanting japa (preferably 16 rounds in one go)
• Darshan, Guru Puja, Jay Radha Madhava
• Class
• Breakfast
• Service

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RESIDENTIAL SADHANA - evening

• Gaura arati
• Preaching programs or reading

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CONGREGATIONAL SADHANA - morning

• Getting up (between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.)
• Shower
• Chanting all the morning program mantras in one
  go
• Chanting japa (preferably 16 rounds in one go)
• Reading or listening to class
• Breakfast
• Going to work

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CONGREGATIONAL SADHANA - evening

• Gaura arati or reading
• Attending a nama hatta program or sanga

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FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF EXCELLENCE IN SADHANA

• Studying and applying ch. 8 (Offenses to Be
  Avoided) and ch. 9 (Further Considerations of
  Devotional Principles) from the Nectar of
  Devotion

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Excellence in relationships
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SHARING LOVE BETWEEN DEVOTEES

• Offering gifts in charity
• Accepting charitable gifts
• Revealing ones mind in confidence
• Inquiring confidentially
• Accepting prasadam
• Offering prasadam
• Srila Rupa Goswami, Upadesamrita 4

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RESPECTING THE DEVOTEES

• One should mentally honor the devotee who chants
  the holy name of Lord Krsna
• One should offer humble obeisances to the devotee
  who has undergone spiritual initiation (diksha)
  and is engaged in worshiping the Deity
• One should associate with and faithfully serve
  that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated
  devotional service and whose heart is completely
  devoid of the propensity to criticize others
• Srila Rupa Goswami, Upadesamrita 5

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PERSONAL ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHERS

• Every man should act like this
• When he meets a person more quallified than
  himself, he should be very pleased
• When he meets someone less quallified than
  himself, he should be compassionate toward him
• When he meets someone equal to himself, he should
  make friendship with him
• In this way one is never affected by the
  threefold miseries of this material world
• SB 4.8.34 (Naradas Instruction to Dhruva
  Maharaja)

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BASIS FOR MATURE RELATIONSHIPS

• One who works in devotion, who is a pure soul,
  and who controls his mind and senses is dear to
  everyone, and everyone is dear to him. Though
  always working, such a man is never entangled.
  
• BG 5.7

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BASIS FOR MATURE RELATIONSHIPS

• Great devotees see Krsna as the reservoir of all
  relationships. In the scriptures there are twelve
  basic kinds of relationships mentioned, and all
  of them are present in Krsna. It is said that He
  is the ocean of all the relationships exchanged
  between two living entities, between the gods, or
  between the Supreme Lord and His devotees.
• BG 11.14 Purport

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BASIS FOR MATURE RELATIONSHIPS

• Bhismadeva advised for all human beings nine
  qualifications
• (1) not to become angry, (2) not to lie, (3) to
  equally distribute wealth, (4) to forgive, (5) to
  beget children only by ones legitimate wife, (6)
  to be pure in mind and hygienic in body, (7) not
  to be inimical toward anyone, (8) to be simple,
  and (9) to support servants or subordinates.
• SB 1.9.26 Purport

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QUALITIES OF A DEVOTEE

• He is always kind to everyone, and he does not
  pick quarrels.
• He is equal to everyone, and no one can find
  fault in him.
• His magnanimous mind is always fresh and clean
  and devoid of material obsessions.
• He is a benefactor to all living entities and is
  peaceful and always surrendered to Krsna.
• He has no material desires.

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QUALITIES OF A DEVOTEE

• He is very humble and is fixed in his purpose.
• He is victorious over the six material qualities
  such as lust and anger
• He is always sane and is respectful to others,
  but he does not require respect for himself.
• He is grave, merciful, friendly, poetic, expert
  and silent.
• TLC 12 The devotee

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Excellence in devotional service
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GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
Perfection in self-realization cannot be attained
by any kind of yogi unless he engages in
devotional service to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, for that is the only auspicious path.
SB 3.25.19

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9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE

• Hearing and chanting about the transcendental
  holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and
  pastimes of Lord Visnu
• remembering them
• serving the lotus feet of the Lord
• offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen
  types of paraphernalia
• offering prayers to the Lord
• becoming His servant
• considering the Lord ones best friend
• surrendering everything unto Him (in other words,
  serving Him with the body, mind and words)
• SB 7.5.23-24

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9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE

• Among the ways of executing devotional service,
  the nine prescribed methods are the best, for
  these processes have great potency to deliver
  Krsna and ecstatic love for Him.
• CC Antya 4.70

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9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE

• One may be able to perform one item or many
  items, according to ones capacity, but it is the
  principal factor of complete attachment to
  devotional service that makes one advance on the
  path.
• There are many devotees in history who have
  attained perfection in devotional service simply
  by discharging the duties of one item, and there
  are many other devotees, like Maharaja Ambarisa,
  who executed all the items.
• TLC 12 The devotee

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9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE

• Some individual devotees who attained perfection
  in devotional service by executing only one item
  are
• Maharaja Pariksit, who was liberated and fully
  perfected simply by hearing
• Sukadeva Gosvami, who became liberated and
  attained perfection in devotional service simply
  by chanting
• Prahlada Maharaja, who attained perfection by
  remembering
• Laksmi, who attained perfection by serving the
  lotus feet of the Lord

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9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE

• King Prithu, who attained perfection simply by
  worshiping
• Akrura, who attained perfection simply by
  praying
• Hanuman, who attained perfection simply by
  becoming the servant of Lord Rama
• Arjuna, who attained perfection simply by being a
  friend of Krsnas
• Bali Maharaja who attained perfection simply by
  offering whatever he had in his possession.
• TLC 12 The devotee

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EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
Govinda massaged the Lords legs as usual. He
pressed the Lords waist and back very softly,
and thus all the Lords fatigue went away. As
Govinda stroked His body, the Lord slept very
nicely for about forty-five minutes, and then His
sleep broke. CC Antya 10.82-100
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EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE

• When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Govinda sitting
  by His side, He was somewhat angry. Why have you
  been sitting here for so long today? the Lord
  asked. Why didnt you go to take your meal after
  I fell asleep?
• CC Antya 10.82-100

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EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE

• Govinda mentally replied, My duty is to serve,
  even if I have to commit offenses or go to hell.
  I would not mind committing hundreds and
  thousands of offenses for the service of the
  Lord, but I greatly fear committing even a
  glimpse of an offense for my own self.
• CC Antya 10.82-100

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SERVICE EXCELLENCE

• To preach / approach dealings with devotees,
  clients, friends and others with a deep desire to
  really help and solve their problems
• Successful devotees have an external focus of how
  they can serve and not an internal focus of what
  they can get.

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SERVICE EXCELLENCE

• Customer A person who purchases a commodity or
  service
• Client A person who is under the protection of
  another

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SERVICE EXCELLENCE

• Become a trusted friend or advisor
• Talk in the way which shows your care and concern
  
• Focus on giving value and advice instead of
  manipulating
• Dont fall in love with your ideas or effort
  fall in love with the people you serve take
  responsibility for their well-being

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THINK BIG

• Everything is possible by the grace of the Lord.
  SB 3.31.18 P
• By the blessings of a Vaisnava, everything is
  possible. SB 5.1.10 P
• By Krsna's supreme will, everything is possible.
  Krsna Book 50
• For advanced devotee, everything is possible.
  Lecture 1975

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Excellence in leadership
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Story Butterfly (undeveloped muscles)
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• The words nyasino tyartha-lolupah indicate that
  charismatic religious leaders, and even those who
  are not charismatic, will proclaim themselves
  prophets, saints and incarnations to cheat the
  innocent public and fatten their bank accounts.
  Therefore the International Society for Krishna
  Consciousness is working arduously to establish
  bona fide celibate student life, religious
  householder life, dignified and progressive
  retirement, and genuine spiritual leadership for
  the entire world.
• SB 12.3.33 Purport

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Story Mango (guest)
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Excellence in self-care
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BASIS OF PERSONAL WELL-BEING

• Body
• Mind (thinking, feeling, willing)
• Intelligence
• Soul

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BODY SADHANA SARIRA

• Our body is sadhana sarira or vehicle for
  performing devotional service
• Your body is My principal instrument for
  executing many necessary functions. By your body
  I shall carry out many tasks.
• CC Antya 4.78
• An expert horseman, desiring to tame a headstrong
  horse, first lets the horse have his way for a
  moment and then, pulling the reins, gradually
  places the horse on the desired path. Similarly,
  the supreme yoga process is that by which one
  carefully observes the movements and desires of
  the mind and gradually brings them under full
  control
• SB 11.20.21

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PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

• A weak body means a weak mind accept everything
  that is favorable for your service like
• Healthy diet
• Regular sleep
• Exercise (e.g. 20-30 minutes of walking,
  swimming, etc most of the days)
• Learn to relax e.g. Use pranayama or other
  breathing techniques, meditation, yoga exercises,
  massages, etc.

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EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

• Be positive dont put yourself down, challenge
  negative thoughts that pop into your mind (Im no
  good, I cant do this) with positive ones, remind
  yourself of past success.
• Practice gratitude everyday (beginning from small
  things)
• Dont identify with the 6 enemies (lust, greed,
  illusion, envy, anger and pride)

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EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

• Accept the given situation as it is - Your
  external situation is as it is. You have to say
  "yes" to what Krsna has given you. You have to
  also say "yes" to the weakness which you feel.
  And then you have to go forward. Forward in a
  gratitude which comes from acceptance.
• Have fun schedule some time out for yourself,
  pursue your hobbies or interests, spend time with
  friends focussing too intensely on something
  can lead to burnout.

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SOCIAL WELL BEING

• Cultivate devotee friendships - invest time in
  those relationships you care about the most. Take
  time for confidential talks. Share gifts. Avoid
  criticism
• Monitor your stress recognise your own signs of
  stress and identify situations you find
  difficult, so you can be more pro-active about
  managing stress at these times.

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SOCIAL WELL BEING

• Set goals and priorities be realistic, focus on
  how you want to contribute rather than comparison
  with others, accept that circumstances are
  outside your control.
• Manage your time avoid procrastination, plan
  ahead, make a schedule and follow it, evaluate
  how you are spending your time.

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YUKTA VAIRAGYA

• anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah
• nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam
  ucyate prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastu
  nah mumuksubhih parityago vairagyam phalgu
  kathyate
• When one is not attached to anything but at the
  same time accepts everything in relation to
  Krsna, one is rightly situated above
  possessiveness. On the other hand, one who
  rejects everything without knowledge of its
  relationship to Krsna is not as complete in his
  renunciation.
• BRS 1.2.255-256

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Anyone can have this picture in his home, chant
this Hare Krsna mantra, and thus worship Lord
Caitanya. That is the simple method. But who will
capture this simple method? Those who have good
brains. Srila Prabhupada November 1969,
London's Conway Hall
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To prosecute Krishna Consciousness there is no
limitation, no material impediment can stop
progress of Krishna Consciousness. That is the
symptom of spiritual life. Spiritual life doesnt
depend on material conditions. So it is only
the question of understanding the process how to
execute Krishna Consciousness.(Srila Prabhupada
letter, February 13, 1969)
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Workshop Personal Excellence Plan
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ISKCON Croatia ki jaya!