Testimonials

The Bhakti Vriksha program awakens and refines the dormant preaching
abilities of those who have been in Krsna consciousness for a long time as well
as in those who are beginners.

I was not a trained preacher. There were lots of doubts in my mind. Will I be able
to reach out to people and convince them of Krsna Consciousness? Will I be able
to motivate them to take up chanting? Will I be able to speak philosophy to an
audience? Will I be able to inspire them to participate in a discussion? But the
Bhakti Vriksa modules have helped smash all my fears and have helped me to
reach out confidently and successfully to my audience who became hooked to
the program. I couldn't believe myself!

The Bhakti Vriksa modules are very structured. I love every aspect of it. Not
only do the members of the Bhakti Vriksha make rapid advancement but the
facilitator also does as well. It is a well thought out wonderful curriculum to train
preachers on the job!

Radha Pada Dhuli dd

Pune

We have had a very good rate of expansion in our Bhakti Vriksa preaching, and
very good standards of devotees’ commitments, thanks to these Bhakti Vriksa
modules.
 The Bhakti Vriksa modules constantly guide the group servant leaders on
what they have to do and when. This makes the process easier for them as
they know whether they are on the right track or not.

 Monitoring and identification of interest groups has become easier. All the
members attending the Bhakti Vriksha program know for example that if
they complete the first module they are eligible for level one which is
Shraddavan. This makes the servant leader’s life simple as he precisely
knows with whom he has to spend more time with in order to motivate them.

 Service allocation also becomes easier. The Bhakti Vriksa group leader can
judge who could take what responsibility and to what extent.

 I regularly get the feed back from the servant leaders that disseminating
Krsna Consciousness through this method is far more practical as we know
what we need to achieve at the end of the day. All the members also know
their road map and their current standing in Krsna consciousness. This
enhances the commitment of the Bhakti Vriksha leader, as he dedicates
more time in taking care of the members’ needs.
 There is a great upward mobility in the siksha levels from the time we
introduced these modules. This is something phenomenal! Every week there
are requests for siksha and higher commitments from different groups. This
generates great enthusiasm in the new members to take a right step forward
by quickly accepting the first level within just a few weeks of starting to
attend the Bhakti Vriksa programs.

 We could identify lot of enthusiastic devotees who have potential to take up

leadership responsibilities in a short span of time.

Considering the urgency in spreading Krsna consciousness and the need to

give love and care to the people as per Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s desire ,
we are sure that Bhakti Vriksa preaching and these modules in particular will go
a long way in pleasing Srila Prabhupada by expanding this glorious sankirtana
movement.

Your servant,
Chaitanya Avatari das
Bangalore

I would like to place special emphasis upon the usage of the Bhakti Vrksa
modules that have been developed by HG Vijaya Venugopal das and Prema
Padmini dd of Mathuradesh. These modules provide a standard format across
the different groups. One can easily track the progress of the group members
and also provide them with a standard support format. These modules were
developed using Srila Prabhupada’s books and I would highly recommend them
to every yatra so that they can adopt them and empower their management and
training areas. These modules have been extremely helpful on a personal level
for my sadhana and that for the group. They cater to the following: how a yatra
can effectively multiply within a year; how the servant leaders can be provided
with effective training and also how to track the sadhana and reading of the
members. I would recommend her to write an article to explain the benefits of
using this standard curriculum across all BV programs.

With all the members showing sincere interest and enthusiasm, many have
increased their number of rounds, have been able to overcome the partaking of
intoxicants like tea or coffee that were difficult to curb since many years and have
also started one study group. With the blessings and support of the Vaishnavas,
we hope to grow rapidly and multiply before the end of 2005.

Nara Hari dev dasa

Northern Virginia

The Bhakti Vriksa Module is helping in the substantial growth, expansion and
development of Shyamadesh devotees, Middle east. We have 47 Bhakti Vriksa
groups at present and are rapidly increasing both quantitativeluy and
qualitatively. :

[Link] Ice Breakers guidelines – have helped many new devotees to be attracted
in to the Bhakti Vriksa programmes and participate freely without shyness.

[Link] Kirtan and dhoop arti suggestions have helped to identify and motivate
good singers and bring devotees close to our movement.

[Link] & Chanting insights have helped devotees to increase the taste of
chanting.

[Link] - This is the best part of the Bhakti Vriksa [Link] all
members of Bhakti Vriksa start participating in discussions and clarify their
doubts by very good interaction.

[Link] plan- The module has helped every member to share in the
preaching responsibility with a desire among members to bring more
relatives/friends as [Link] responsibility to ensure that the guests become
real members of the Bhakti Vriksa group.

The seminars on chanting which have been included in the module have helped
so many devotees to improve their chanting by trying to avoid the offenses to the
holy names and in chanting with greater concentration and thus a develop a taste
in chaniting japa.
The seminar on Vaishnava etiquette have helped devotees develop more
qualities in the mode of goodness and following the Vaishnava etiquettes and in
cultivating a humble attitude. Some devotees who were showing inclinations of
drifting off have become more committed and serious once again through these
seminars.
I strongly recommend these seminars to be conducted regularly for
congregational members to keep them in the right track of Krsna consciousness.

Sukhakar Krsna das

Shayamadesh

The Bhakti Vriksa program grew to such a large

extent that within a few months we had to expand as more & more people were
interested to join this program.

Right now we have about five sectors, each having four Bhakti Vriksa groups.
Almost 250
devotees are getting trained in Krsna conscious principles. Almost 150 devotees
are
chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna maha mantra.
We have been following the modules prepared by Vijay Venugopla prabhu
and Prema Padmini mataji from Mathuradesh for the last few months. This
makes the job of servant leader much easier and everyone is focused.

Vedanta Chaitanya das, Temple President, Hyderabad

From S. Africa

I started Bhakti Vriksa preaching in a small way by first visiting Laxmi Narayan &
Sanatan Ved Dharma Sabha temples. These temples conduct Sunday classes
for children, adults and have kirtans. I introduced myself to the chief priests of
these temples and told them about activities of ISKCON as well as about
chanting of the holy names.

I requested the priests of this temple, permission to participate in their

programs. Once I started attending these programs I slowly introduced the
chanting ofHare Krsna Maha mantra.. Soon children and their parents started
discussing with me about why Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I
gave them the references from scriptures and told them that they can come to
my house for informal discussion any time. Slowly people started coming to my
house. I did Arathi for the Lord with them i and then did a round of chanting
before the discussions.

Once the discussion became serious I started a Bhakti Vriksa program in the
house. We started the Bhakti Vriksa with the modules sent by mathuradesh. The
modules were so structured and had sense of direction and very appealing that
all the members participated. Soon about 15 members started coming regularly
including staff members from my office. They started chanting and slowly
following the regulative principles.. The Bhakti Vriksa program has given me the
opportunity to serve ISKCON, as many Johannesburg temples started inviting
me for their programs where I represented ISKCON.

. I had the opportunity to visit neighboring countries like Botswana, Zambia,

Mozambique, Mauratius, Kenya where I had the opportunity to introduce Bhakti
Vriksa preaching and these modules to them. To-day there are several centers
conducting Bhakti Vriksa in South Africa even in my absence as they are also
following these modules . Your servant,

Sanatana Sevak das,

S. Africa
With the help of these modules 3 Bhakti Vrikshas was started in different
locations of Toronto after having a start up group with some of the senior
devotees of the yatra.. Within a year we have expanded to having 5 bhakti Vriksa
groups.

Bhakti Vriksa members soon started improving their chanting .Members are now
involved in book distribution programs, cooking prasadam for Sunday feasts and
preaching. All this was possible with blessings of senior devotees and the temple
board.

Kamala gopi

Toronto

[Link] the cell leader to give knowledge in systematic way to the members in a
gradual and phased manner as it was desired by Srila Prabhupada
[Link] are designed in such a way it helps the cell leader to keep the
discussion more focused on one subject not vaguely or randomly discussing
many subject matters.
[Link] it controls the discussions to a specific topic it helps the Bhakti Vriksa
leader to guide the discussion along proper lines.
4. Any devotee who is sincere, can with one year of this association be able to
conduct a Bhakthi Vriksha group himself because all the guidelines are given in
great detail.

[Link] following these Modules the Bahkti Vriksa leaders gain a lot of confidence
in preaching because he sees the members are receptive and progressing
[Link] confidence encourages the Bhakti Vriksa leader to be more
determined in [Link] also gives him the confidence and expertise to deliver
lectures in bigger programmes like Sunday feasts and festivals festivals.
[Link] ice breaker or sat sanga guidelines giivesn in the module help the leaders
to know their group members members, especially mood, background,
hobbies [Link] to build a good relationship with them.
[Link] Siksha seminars which are part of modules helps the cell leader to
monitor closely
and keep track of members’ spirutual progress
[Link] application questions of these modules help the Bhakti Vriksa leader to
find out the members’ difficulties in applying Krsna consciousness in their day to
day lives and are thus able to guide them accordingly.
9Since the group leaders have to listen attentively to the members’ views, his
listening capability improves thus helping him to become become a good
preacher.
[Link] session which is a part of modules reminds the cell leader to be
more focused on preaching and follow up with members preaching.
[Link] his preaching is more systematic and dedicated, the group leader
advances very quickly in Krsna consciousness himself..
12. The modules make the group leader’s job very easy and systematic as it
reminds him to do some essential things to inspire the members like visiting the
members’homes, conducting Vyuha programmes, spirutual picnics, personal
caring etc.

Vedavit Nimai das,

Maha chakrapati, Mathuradesh