Mean Mothers

(found on the Internet long ago. Author unknown)

Was your mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world!
While other kids had candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, juice and toast.
When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches.
And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You’d think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them.
She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds. Then, life was really tough!

Mother wouldn’t let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them. While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 17.

Because of our mother we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing others’ property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault. We never got drunk, took up smoking, stayed out all night, or a million other things other kids did. Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults.

We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was. That must be what’s wrong with the world today. It just doesn’t have enough mean mothers anymore.

Memory Work Suggestions

BHAGAVAD GITA SLOKAS
48 key slokas plus personal favorites
Recommended slokas for younger students:
7.7- 7.11; 9.16-9.19; 10.20- 10.42; 15.12-15.20
(Especially the English should be memorized)
Also groups of slokas by topic to memorize together. For example, the Gita's catur sloki.

NUMBER NECTAR
These are found throughout Prabhupada's books. For example:
the 5 most important items of devotional service
The 10 Offenses (namaparadha)
64 Do's and Don'ts (from the Nectar of Devotion)
See list for more

MORE USEFUL BHAGAVAD GITA MEMORY WORK
The Table of contents
The introductory prayers to Bhagavad gita.
Our disciplic succession. One can sing these.
Names of Krishna or Arjuna in Bhagavad gita and their meanings
The glossary words in the back

VOCABULARY
English vocabulary - important words and phrases frequently used by devotees (transcendental, duality, conditioned soul, fruitive work,..)

PRAYERS, SONGS, AND MORE
Tilak mantras
Standard morning and evening Vaisnava prayers
Other Vaisnava prayer favorites
Krishna conscious songs for children (lyrics by Mrgaski, Baimini, etc)
Lord Caitanya’s prayer: Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna he,
Lord Caitanya's Siksastaka prayer,
The "dhaya bhak" verse
Pranams and Prema dvani
Prayers for offering prasadam.
Divisions of the Vedas

IMPORTANT DATES
Important Vedic historical dates- for example, Prabhupada's arrival in New York... (Sept. 19, 1965)
Lord Chaitanya's appearance date (1486)
Prabhupada Timeline click here

THE VEDIC MONTHS, DAYS AND SEASONS

MORE SUGGESTIONS
Select verses from all Prabhupada's translations. Collect favorites.
Slokas by Canakya Pandita

COOL QUOTES Collect favorites. For example:
"Preaching is the essence, books the basis, utility the principle, purity the force." - Srila Prabhupada
"Preaching is life." - Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Memorizing Help

BHAGAVAD GITA SLOKAS
1. Choose key slokas for memory work
2. Type and print in large print a chosen verse with its translation. Write in small letters the word-for-word translations underneath the printed Sanskrit words. Here's a sample
3.Post the verse on the fridge or somewhere for easy review, such as before meals. Work on one verse each week. Review all verses learned once a week.
4. Punch holes in each completed sloka and file it in a notebook for the weekly review. These can be sorted by chapters.
5. When studying a verse together, you can also drill some of the most important word- for- word translations of the Sanskrit. These can be used as hooks to provoke memory of a certain verse. For example, knowing that "sukha dukha" means "happiness and distress" can invoke the memory of the English translation that matches this Gita verse (Bg 2.14). More advanced means knowing all the words and knowing which chapter a verse is found in also.
6. It is really fun and helpful to turn some of the verses, Sanskrit and especially the English into a song to aid memory. This isn't too hard to do. Look for rhyming syllables, whenever possible, for natural and nice sounding breaks in singing the verse.
7. Another way is to cover one word from the verse- beginning from the last word- after each repeated reading. By the time the whole verse is covered they should know the verse pretty well from memory.
8. One of the best ways to really learn a verse is to write it. Over and over and then from memory.rite Writing is a very important way to fix a verse in the mind. Illustrations are helpful too (see the post "Nature Study").
9. Discuss each new verse learned. Reading a little each day of the week from the chosen verse's purport helps.
10. At the end of a week, test each family member to see how they are doing.

FOCUS ON LEARNING THE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS.
Say the Sanskrit during reviews and tests but most important is that everyone learn as many slokas as possible in English, rather than be slowed down if there is difficulty with Sanskrit. So, once the English is mastered, it's ok to move on to another verse.

MORE IDEAS
One may wish to memorize Gita by meaningful sections, a string of verses at a time. For example, what qualities are dear to the Lord, Gita verses 12.13-20.

UTILIZE
Practice backing your words with sastric evidence. Or if you are reading a purport and a point from Gita is brought up, see who can say what verse is synonymous and where it is located.

OTHER SASTRA VERSES
Who said it? Along with a verse, know the speaker and the context the verse came from.

SUGGESTION FOR LEARNING NEW PRAYERS/SONGS-
1.  Print lyrics from Internet,
2. Hear the song first to get the melody right. (Check Youtube.com._
3. Sing often until able to sing from memory.
4. It is very helpful to memorize the word-for-word translations for meditation
5. Individuals may wish to create a their own personalized collection of Vaisnava prayers.

Sloka Suggestions

UPDATE: Now at several places online can be found most quoted verses by Srila Prabhupada from Bhagavad gita. Here's a sample: 30 Top Quotes Verses

Here's 48 key Bhagavad gita slokas recommended by experienced Vaisnava teachers, plus other favorites:

CHAPTER ONE
MORE: 1.39-43

CHAPTER TWO
2.13, 2.14, 2.20
MORE: 2.12, 2.16,  2.40, 2.41, 2.59, 2.62, 2.63

CHAPTER THREE
3.9, 3.13
MORE: 3.4-8, 3.16-30, 3.31-32, 3.36-41, 3.42-43

CHAPTER FOUR
4.2, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.13, 4.34
MORE: 4.1, 4.3, 4.11, 4.15, 4.17-23, 4.36, 4.42

CHAPTER FIVE
5.18, 5.29,
MORE: 5.16, 5.20, 5.22, 5.24

CHAPTER SIX
6.47
MORE: 6.1, 6.5, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 6.16-17, 6.19, 6.20-23, 6.24, 6.26, 6.29-30, 6.32-6.35, 6.40, 6.46

CHAPTER SEVEN
7.3, 7.7, 7.14, 7.15, 7.19
MORE: 7.4-6, 7.7-11, 7.16-18, 7.20, 7.24-25, 7.26, 7.28-30

CHAPTER EIGHT
8.6, 8.15, 8.16
MORE: 8.5, 8.7-8.9, 8.21

CHAPTER NINE
9.2, 9.4, 9.10, 9.11, 9.14, 9.26, 9.27, 9.34
MORE: 9.13, 9.16-19, 9.22, 9.23, 9.29, 9.30-33

CHAPTER TEN
10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11
10.12-14; 10.20-42

CHAPTER ELEVEN
11.54

CHAPTER TWELVE
12.5
MORE: 12.6-7; 12.13-20

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
13.3
13.34

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
14.4, 14.26, 14.27

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
15.7, 15.15
MORE: 15.1-15.6, 15.12-20

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
16.21
16.24

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
17.28

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
18.54, 18.55, 18.61, 18.66
MORE: 18.47, 18.73

ADDENDUM:
Just found these 30 key slokas recommended by Srila Prabhupada according to HH Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. Some are not listed above:
Chapter 2, Verses - 12,13,14
Chapter 3, Verses - 13,19,27,37
Chapter 4, Verses - 2,7,9,34
Chapter 5, Verse - 18
Chapter 7, Verses - 1,8,14,19,23
Chapter 9, Verses - 10,11,13,14,22
Chapter 10, Verses - 8,9,10,11
Chapter 12, Verse 5
Chapter 15, Verse 6
Chapter 18, Verses 55,56

Homeschool- a Gurukula Alternative?

So what to do when there is no local gurukula? Can school at home work?

PROS FOR HOMESCHOOLING

• What is repeated over and over during precious childhood years in public school can be easily studied for a year or two as a mature student, like modern science or modern history if needed.
• Education in the early years can focus on building character, relationships, practical skills, sastra study...not the academic overload the western government mandates even for homeschoolers. (Mandatory school subjects and testing is demanded in the U.S. to keep the state happy, but a student would have to score super low to be in any real trouble).
• Older children can do a lot of schooling on their own. There is a book called "Schoolproof" by Mary Pride, that streamlines the whole process.
• One's children are more than worth all the trouble to homeschool if it means saving them from the bad association, meat eating and the pop culture of public schooling. Kids identify with who they are around the most. Public school teaching sense gratification as the aim of life has no sense of urgency for self realization in this human form of life.
• The children soon discover much more freedom in their day. If they work hard each morning, they can get their school done in half the time regular schools take. Which leaves plenty of time for personal interests. That's because the teacher isn't wasting time with school protocols, disciplining other children, etc.
• Homeschool students have the advantage of learning early on to be self-starting, independent learners, and to see the whole world is their classroom.
• Learning stuff can be fun and therefore a great way to spend time as a family.

CONS FOR HOMESCHOOLING

• Dealing with bad association within ISKCON itself, due to most childhood peers meanwhile going to public school can defeat efforts to homeschool if children feel odd or isolated from the majority of ISKCON children In the U.S., there are no successful Vedic communities for homeschooled children to move on to in the grhastha asrama. Instead, many are forced to suddenly deal with non devotee workplaces and association (Unless, perhaps, you have a lot of money and can buy your children places in ISKCON) 
• Schools daily supply things like competition and thus a motivation to excel.  
• "It's difficult to lead while (you, the teacher are) still in training." 
• Not only do we generally start out with no teaching experience, but we are part of a generation that is caught in between a generation that did not prepare us properly for our own life's duties and a generation that expects us to pass on to them what we haven't quite learned ourselves. But especially we may feel incomplete in our understanding of Krsna consciousness. It may take many years of purification from various misconceptions. One can easily feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Sure, gradually the big picture emerges of what needs to be taught, how everything fits together and how to communicate it to the children, but by that time its too late. Children grow up fast. 
• Traditionally gurukula training was meant for sons to leave home and live with a qualified guru for a life of austerity. A mother or a woman at home by nature tends to create the illusion of comfort and peace, thus allowing one to forget the miseries of material existence. The womanly tendency is to pamper and spoil the children, which is incompatible with brahmacarya or training in tapasya. It may be painful, for example, for a mother to wake her children very early, yet it is a very important part of their training. Peer pressure and impartial teachers seem more effective to avoid such spiritual complacency. 
• Fathers have a tendency to spoil the sons also. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote: "No parent is entitled to undertake the charge of the spiritual training of his own boy. He is unfitted for the task by his mundane relationship. Once such a relationship is grasped to be an obstacle in the way of juvenile training, the necessity of sending the boy at the earliest opportunity to the proper teacher becomes self-evident. If the parent continues to retain his paternal interest in the boy after he has been put to school for the above purpose, he will only be standing in the way of his boy's progress. The training is not for the boy only, but it is a training for his parents as well." 

A BEST CASE HOMESCHOOL SCENARIO

• Living in or near a vibrant devotee community is especially advantageous for devotee association. Programs at the temple and special events, devotee get-togethers and home programs, and outside experiences with devotees are all opportunities and are important, since in essence, life is made of relationships. 

  "So far your son leaving you, his parents, at 5 years, that is not necessary. Especially our Krishna Conscious children; they are already living in a asrama. The children of our devotees may live with their parents perpetually because you are all living in the temple and already engaged in devotional service. Other instructions are for those not engaged in Krishna Consciousness. Any family engaged in Krishna's service is living not in this material world. Such a home is considered as Vaikuntha. That is the verdict of Bhaktivinode Thakura... " Srila Prabhupada, letter to Indira, London 8/15/71

• Being what Srila Prabhupada called a "renounced householder", strictly practicing Krsna consciousness along with the children. But realistically, the“grhastha asramas”, particularly in America, will always have lower standards than a live-in gurukula with a first class brahminical teacher.
• Being able to hire a cook, housekeeper, driver, errand boy, tutor and a nanny. Seriously. That way you can spend your time taking children to preaching engagements and the temple programs and reading and talking about the sastras with them as a family, while you only have to manage the above. If you have that much facility, and still want to home school, you might as well start a gurukula. Househusbands are becoming the norm as women take over more than 52% of the job market with higher salaries than ever before. That way, a husband can run a neighboring school or gurukula and manage the extra help while mother brings in the salary to keep things going.

THE SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES OF GURUKULA FOR BOYS

• Teaching duties and brahmacarya training, especially in regards to sons, are meant for qualified brahmanas, not a housewife. Teaching her children is natural for a woman, yes, but it's important to consider that being a mother for one's children, grandchildren and so on is a full time job all on it's own. An intelligent person will prefer a lot simpler life with more calm and time to just be and to be available for their children and others, instead of in a rage or tears every time something goes wrong because of living on only 4 hours of sleep each nigh.
• Boys need male teachers. They need to see and associate with examples of brahmincial and educated men, who often make the best disciplinarians, too.
• Boys need to be taught separately, so that there will be no undue competition with girls, who are known to have an educational advantage in the early years of schooling. For one thing, girls can submissively sit longer, and they develop communication skills earlier. And especially in their older years without the distraction of female students, young men can focus on their studies which is one of the primary values of separation of the sexes.
• Young men trained in gurukula learn that they themselves have value, value that is not defined by having a woman by one's side. You'll save a young man a lot of trouble if he learns early on to make Krishna his foremost life companion, regardless of whether he marries later on or not.

HOMESCHOOL IS BEST TEMPORARILY OR FOR DAUGHTERS
Considering all the above, homeschooling works as an emergency duty, until a gurukula is available. -SB 1.17.16p
A woman's role in life, ideally, should be a supporter, comforter, a place for men and their children to go to for encouragement as well as nourishment and restoration- a shelter from the storms of life. 

Of course, you're going to need a lot of likeminded support for training a daughter to be a good wife and homemaker nowadays, but if one values Srila Prabhupada's standards and has read his books, heard his lectures, one will do the needful. And homeschooling may be helpful in this regard, training young women in the duties of managing a home, cooking, caring for children, etc. Srila Prabhupada made it clear that gurukula is meant for boys only. If we take good care of our boys, our girls will naturally be cared for. Our whole society will progress. 

Bhagavad Gita Analogies

Here's a list of analogies from Bhagavad Gita As It Is:
(this post is still under construction.)

BHAGAVAD GITA INTRODUCTION
1. physician :: directions for taking medicine; Krishna or guru :: Gita as it is
2. wife::husband; prakrti :: Lord
3. child :: automobile; ignorant person :: universe
4. gold :: goldmine; jiva :: Lord
5. drop :: ocean; jiva :: Lord
6. cloud :: rainy season or dry season; material manifestation :: manifest or unmanifest
7. body parts :: stomach; living entities :: Lord or machine parts :: machine;living entities :: Lord
8. water :: tree root; devotional service :: Lord
9. servant :: master; living entities :: Lord
10. liquidity :: water; sanatana dharma :: soul or heat :: fire; sanatana dharma :: soul
11. water :: desert; happiness :: material world
12. mirage :: water; material world :: spiritual world
13. wife:: paramour; devotee:: Krishna, supreme Beloved

CHAPTER ONE
1. farmer :: unwanted plants in a paddy field; Krona :: the opposing army (1.1)
2. Arjuna :: fighting his kinsmen; person not hungry:: cooking
3. sunshine, sun surface, sun planet :: sun; brahman, paramatma, bhagavan :: AT (2.2)

CHAPTER TWO
1. rain cloud :: forest fire; guru :: material existence (2.7)
2. gold:: miser; krpana :: human life (2.7)
3. person :: closed jar of honey; nondevotee :: Gita (2.12)
4. living entities :: stars; Krishna :: moon or sun (2.13)
5. sun :: illumination; soul :: consciousness (2.20)
6. sun :: universe; soul :: body (2.18)
7. capital punishment :: murderer; surgery :: patient (2.21)
8. person :: garments; soul:: bodies (2.22)
9. soul and Supersoul :: body; two birds :: tree (2.22)
10. sparks :: fire; atomic souls :: Supreme Soul ( 2.23)
11. mother :: knowledge of one’s father; Vedas :: knowledge of Lord (2.25)
12. person:: dream; soul:: material body (2.28)
13. water :: tree roots; worship :: Krishna (2.41, 5.7)
14. fools:: poisonous flowers; karmi :: heaven (2.43)
15. pond :: reservoir; purpose of the Vedas:: the Vedas (2.46)
16. boat :: ocean; Krishna’s lotus feet:: water in calf’s footprint (2.51)
17. tortoise :: limbs; yogi :: senses (2.58)
18. hungry man :: food; soul :: Krishna consciousness (2.60)
19. blazing fire :: everything in a room; meditation on Vishnu :: impurities in the heart (2.61)
20. wind ::boat; senses::intelligence (2.67)
21. rivers :: ocean; material desires :: self realized soul (2.70)

CHAPTER THREE
1. vaccine :: epidemic; prasadam :: material affection (3.14)
2. cashier::money; devotee :: Lord’s property (3.30)
3. accident :: royal road; falldown :: regulated sense gratification (3.34)
4. defanged teeth :: snake ; senses engaged in KC:: yogi/devotee (3.42)
5. milk :: yogurt ; love :: lust (3.37)
6. sense gratification :: lust; fuel :: fire (3.39)

CHAPTER FOUR
1. king :: law; Lord :: nature’s law (4.14) (7.12)
2. devotee :: Lord; hand :: body; part :: machine; animal :: master (4.21)
3. yogurt:: overindulgence in milk products; KC activity :: material activity (4.24)
4. Krishna consciousness :: material world; boat :: ocean (4.36)
5. fire :: firewood; transcendental knowledge :: karma (4.37)

CHAPTER FIVE
1. lotus :: water; devotee :: material world (5.11)
2. Supersoul :: desires; smelling :: flowers (5.14)
3. fish, tortoise and birds :: offspring; devotee :: Krishna and His abode (5.26)

CHAPTER SIX
1. limbs :: body; living entity :: Lord (6.1)
2. hungry man :: food; devotee :: Krishna consciousness(6.35)
3. sense gratification :: Krishna consciousness ; water :: fire (6.36)

CHAPTER SEVEN
1. soul :: developing body; Krishna :: developing universe (7.6)
2. everything :: Krishna ; pearls :: thread (7.7)
3. rescuer :: bound man ; Krishna :: conditioned soul (7.14)
4. beloved son :: father ; living entity :: Krishna (7.14)
5. material nature :: Lord; shadow :: object (7.15)
6. worship :: demigod; food :: ear or eyes (7.23)
7. cloud :: sky; maya :: Lord (7.26)

CHAPTER EIGHT
1. swan :: lotus; mind :: KC (8.2)
2. caterpillar :: butterfly; devotee :: Krishna (8.8)
3. leaves :: tree; Krishna’s expansions :: Krishna (8.22)

CHAPTER NINE
1. wind :: sky; living entities :: Lord (9.6) (everything rests in Lord)
2. seed :: fruit; sin :: reactions (9.2)
3. king :: state; Lord :: manifestation (9.4)
4. sunshine :: universe; Lord’s energy :: creation (9.4)
5. judge :: judgements; Lord :: material activities (9.9) (He is neutral)
6. fragrance :: smelling power; material world :: Krishna( 9.10) (He is detached from it)
7. demigod worship :: Krishna worship; steps :: elevator (9.18)
8. rain cloud :: rock, land, water; Krishna :: all varieties of living entities (9.29)
9. diamond :: gold; Lord :: living entity (9.29)(they enhance one another)

CHAPTER TEN
1. fish :: water; jiva :: spiritual world (10.10)
2. knowledge of Krishna :: heart ; shining lamp :: ignorance (10.11)

CHAPTER ELEVEN
1. river waves::ocean; warriors :: mouths of universal form

CHAPTER TWELVE
1. deity :: Krishna ; mailbox :: post office (12.5)
2. devotee:: Krishna ; child :: parents (12.7) (complete care)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
1. Supersoul :: body; king :: patch of land (13.3)
2. soul/Supersoul :: body; knower of a field:: field
3. sun :: universe; soul :: body (13.34) (lights up body with consciousness)
4. air :: all other matter; soul :: body (13.33)
5. soul does not mix with body (13.34)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
1. living entity :: Krishna; gold :: gold mine (14.26) (one in quality)
2. living entity:: Krishna; assistant or servant :: king(`14.26) (enjoy cooperatively)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
1. living entity :: different conception of life; air :: aromas (15.8)
2. pure water::coloring; pure consciousness:: material contamination (15.9)
3. soul:: body; Lord :: planets (15.13)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
1. devotee :: Lord; soldier :: superior officer (18.17) (protected by authority)
2. fault::every endeavor; smoke :: fire (18.48) (every work has some fault)
3. servant :: master; devotee :: Lord (18.57)

Web searches may reveal more analogies in Srila Prabhupada's books.

Lessons From Nature

Srila Prabhupada said, “Simply by chanting, one can have self-realization, God realization, and when there is God realization, then nature realization is included also.“

There are many analogies and teachings from nature given by Srila Prabhupada and sastra. (More are appearing online since this writing: Click here) Some of these are listed below. Becoming familiar with many of these may spark interesting discussions with children at opportune moments. And many of these can be used as subjects for art projects. Another idea is that children may work on nature study notebooks containing select analogies that they copy along with making an illustration for each.

"Moths are captivated by the glaring brightness of light, and thus they become prey to the fire. Similarly, the deluding energy is always captivating the conditioned souls." --SB 1.17.24p

Photos may also be taken and posted with the typed analogy as a caption on a web page.

"The manifestation of the world is not accepted as false; it is accepted as real, but temporary. It is likened unto a cloud which moves across the sky, or the coming of the rainy season, which nourishes grains. As soon as the rainy season is over and as soon as the cloud goes away, all the crops which were nourished by the rain dry up. Similarly, this material manifestation takes place at a certain interval, stays for a while and then disappears."(Bg Intro) It is a reflection of reality. 

Prabhupada spoke about nature study: "Now, for us, those who are materially attached, we cannot think twenty-four hours of Krishna. It is very pleasing, but because we are materially attached, we cannot do that. Therefore Krishna is prescribing that 'You see the varieties of this material world and try to remember Me.'... You drink water—you remember Krishna. You see the light—remember Krishna. You see the flavor, aroma of very nice flower...immediately remember Krishna. Practice this. It is not difficult." --Bg 7.9 lecture, 8/15/74, Vrndavana

So here's a few analogies to get started. Soon you'll be collecting your own, as an awareness increases of their presence throughout Prabhupada's books:

A BEE
"The difference between a devotee and a nondevotee is this, just like the bee and the fly: the bee always is attracted by the honey and flies go to the open sores. So the devotee is only attracted by the good qualities in other people and does not see their faults."-a letter excerpt by Srila Prabhupada

A CAT
"A cat carries a rat in its mouth and also carries a kitten in its mouth. Both the rat and the kitten are carried in the same mouth, but the perception of the rat is different from that of the kitten. Similarly, when death comes and a devotee gives up his body, he is unafraid, whereas a nondevotee, having no engagement in the service of the Lord, is very much afraid." SB 9.13.9p

OR
"The devotees die, and the nondevotees also die. What is the difference?” It is like this: The mother cat may catch a rat and carry it in her mouth, and she also carries her kittens in her mouth. It is the same mouth, but the kittens are comfortable and safe, whereas the rat is feeling the jaws of death.” -Srila Prabhupada

A CHILD
"Artificially stopping a mischievous child is not the real remedy. The child must be given some better engagement so that he will automatically stop causing mischief. In he same way, the mischievous activities of the senses can be stopped only by beter engagement in relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead." -SB 3.7.13

AN ELEPHANT
"The process of repeated sinning and atoning to be useless. It is like the bathing of an elephant, for an elephant cleanses itself by taking a full bath, but then throws dust over its head and body as soon as it returns to the land." --SB 6.1.10

A FISH
“If you take a fish out of water, you can give it a very comfortable velvet bedstead, but still the fish cannot be happy; it will die. Because the fish is an animal of the water, it cannot be happy without water. Similarly, we are all spirit soul; unless we are in spiritual life or in the spiritual world, we cannot be happy. That is our position”.---SB 7.5.30 lecture, 9/9/71, London

ANIMALS IN GENERAL “One should be satisfied like the animals. They are satisfied with their position. They are not agitated. Similarly, we should be satisfied whatever is available automatically by the gift of nature or by God. Nature has given us the opportunity now to inquire about the Absolute Truth.”---SB 1.1.1 lecture

ELECTRICITY
"The Lord is everywhere, in both the material and spiritual domains, and He appears for the sake of His devotees when there is friction between His devotee and nondevotee. As electricity is generated by friction of matter anywhere and everywhere, the Lord, being all-pervading, appears because of the friction of devotees and nondevotees." -SB 3.2.18p

CONDUCTION
"If you place an iron within fire, the iron becomes so hot that it also becomes fiery. When the iron is red hot, it acquires all the qualities of fire. If you touch something with that iron, that iron will act as fire. Similarly, although this body is material, it can become spiritualized through Krishna consciousness and act as spirit."-Srila Prabhupada

A RAINBOW
“In addition to the roaring thunder of the clouds, there is an appearance of a rainbow, which stands as a bow without a string. Actually, a bow is in the curved position, being tied at its two ends by the bowstring; but in the rainbow there is no such string, and yet it rests in the sky so beautifully. Similarly, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends to this material world, He appears just like an ordinary human being, but He is not resting on any material condition.”--SB 10.20.18p

A RIVER FLOWING TOWARD THE OCEAN- “A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still—can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.”--Bg 2.70

SUGAR CANDY
The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Kåñëa are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidyä [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root." NOI 7

A TREE NEAR A BODY OF WATER-”If one stands on the bank of a river or any reservoir of water, he can see that the trees reflected in the water are upside down. The branches go downward and the roots upward. Similarly, this material world is a reflection of the spiritual world. The material world is but a shadow of reality. In the shadow there is no reality or substantiality, but from the shadow we can understand that there are substance and reality. “--Bg Intro

A MOTION PICTURE- “The many, many frames on a reel of movie film, when seen consecutively, appear as one picture on the screen, although there are actually many different pictures. Similiarly, we see a man as localized, but actually his body is changing at every second. All this is happening without the notice of the viewer. However the soul within the heart does not change; he remains eternally the same.” -a caption from Bhagavad gita As It

A CAMEL

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After a while you'll come up with your own observations. For example, I noticed one snowy day out with the children that all by itself a snowflake is a very fragile thing, but a powerful force when all the snowflakes stick together.

(above art work and photo are my own property)

More:

Pseudo Scorpion

Phonics List

After choosing a phonics course, it's a good idea to collect the most important or helpful rules and phonic spellings into a list for quick and easy reference. A sample list is given below. Others are available online for experienced teachers. Besides teaching systematically, this also provides an overview of what is being taught or what can be reinforced during reading practice or when correcting spelling errors. Many related printable worksheets may be found on the Internet also, for extra practice or teaching purposes, as needed.

LONG SOUND SPELLINGS
Long a spellings: a-e (date), ai- (maid), ay (say), eigh (eight)
ai is used within a word and ay is used at the end of a word

Long e spellings: ee (bee), ea (heat), -e (we), -y (baby), ey (monkey), ie (brownie)
ee can be in the beginning, middle or end

Long i spellings- i-e, ie, -y, igh
When gh comes after i, gh is silent

Long o spellings- o-e (stone), oa (roap), -oe (hoe), ow (mow), -o (so)
oe is at the end of a word; oa is not at the end

Long u spellings- u-e (glue), ew (few)

SOME RULES FOR LONG VOWEL SPELLINGS
1. We see an e at the end (cake)
2. We see two vowels together (eat)
3. We see one vowel. It is at the end. (go)
4. We see a special ending such as: ild (wild), ind (kind, an exception is wind), old (cold), oll (roll), ost (most, more exceptions: doll, cost), olt (colt)
These rules work for a syllable as well as for a whole word.

CONSONANT BLENDS
When two consonants come together and we hear both sounds we have a consonant blend
sc, sk, sm, st,
sn, sp, sl, sw
bl, br, cl, cr,
fl, fr, gl, gr,
pl, pr, tw, tr, dr

A triple blend has three letters-
scr, str, spr, spl, squ, shr, thr

FINAL BLENDS come at the end of some words
lt, lk, lp, lf
xt, sp, st, sk
nt, ft, pt, ct
mp, nd, nk, ng
nch,

DOUBLE CONSONANT ENDINGS-
Use ss, ll, ff, zz, ck at the end of words with the short vowel sound.

MORE SPECIAL ENDINGS
ture (pasture), tion (question), ough (enough, rough, tough, one exception is cough)

RULES FOR C AND K
k comes before i and e; c comes before the other three- a, o, u
c comes before a consonant such as the consonant blend cl and cr
k comes after long vowels and oo
ck comes after short vowels
c says /s/ when it comes before e,i, or y

ENDING SOUND V- (love, give, have...)
We must not end words with v. Add a silent e to spell them correctly.

ENDINGS: such as gle, dle, kle, ckle
We do not put kle in the second syllable when the k is beside a c because we must not separate the digraph ck. Ck sticks together. So ck goes on the end of the first syllable; le has to go alone.

DIGRAPHS -
When two letters together make one sound we call it a digraph.

Consonant digraphs:
ck, sh, th, hard th, wh (hw), ch, tch, ch (school)
ph=f, gh=f
The digraph gh says /f/ in words like laugh, tough, cough, enough, rough

Vowel digraphs:
oo, long oo (cook, smooth)
ea= short e (bread)
ea= long a (break)
ou= long oo (soup)
ey = long a (they);

OTHER SPELLINGS FOR OO AND LONG OO
ew (new), ue (blue), u (push), ui (fruit)

DIPHTHONGS
A diphthong is two vowel sounds in one syllable
oi (oil), oy (toy), ou (out), ow (cow)
Use oi within words and oy at the end of words
Use ou within words and ow at the end of words and before l (growl) and n (brown).

MODIFIED VOWELS A modified vowel is changed by r
er, ir, ur, ar, or
WORDS WITH ear (earth), eer (seer), air (fair), are (mare), oar (soar), wor (worm)

VARIANT VOWEL O (AW): aw (saw), au (August), al (always)
aw is at the end of a word, au is not at the end,

SOMETIMES
sometimes s buzzes like a bee: s=z (please), s= zh (pleasure)
sometimes g says j when it comes before e,i or y
also dge says j (but it is still helpful to barely say the /d/ for correct spelling purposes)
sometimes letters ci, ti, and si say sh: tion, sion, cious, tient, tience, cient, tial, cial,

Y IS SOMETIMES A VOWEL
y= long e (at the end of multisyllable words, candy),
y=long i (at the end of one syllable words, sky)
y is a vowel in the digraph ay and the dipthong oy

SUFFIXES- are letters added to the end of root words
-s, -es, -ed, -ing,
-y, -ly, -ful, -less, -er, -est,
ed has three sounds- t (backed), d (copied), ed (lasted)

RULES FOR ADDING SUFFIXES
DOUBLING THE CONSONANT
Vowel suffixes need a double consonant if the root word has a short vowel and ends with one consonant.
Consonant suffixes never need a double consonant
In two-syllable words, follow the rule for doubling the consonant if the accent is on the last syllable.

DROPPING THE E
If a word ends with e, drop the e before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel.

CHANGING Y
When a word ends with y after a consonant, we usually change the y to i before adding a suffix
We do not change the y on the end of a root word to i when we add a suffix that begins with i
If a vowel comes before the y on the end of a root word, do not change the y to i before adding a suffix.

PREFIXES- are added to the beginning of words
a-, be-, un-, de-, in-, ex-, re-, dis-, pre-

SYLLABICATION
To divide words into syllables, divide between prefixes, root words, and suffixes.
Also to divide words into syllables:
divide between double consonants.
divide between two consonants
divide between the two smaller words in compound words
When a word ends with le, the last syllable is usually the last three letters
The letters ck make a consonant digraph. We must not divide a digraph when we are dividing syllables.
We put just two letter in the last syllable so the c and k can stay together.
When a word has just one consonant in the middle, divide the word before the consonant if the first syllable has a long vowel. (formula v/cv)
When a world has just one consonant in the middle, divide the word after the consonant if the first syllable has a short vowel (formula vc/v)

Do not divide the letter of a digraph. Think of a digraph as one letter.
When two vowels come together and both vowels sound, divide between the vowels. (create, giant, lion, poem, quiet, science, fuel, cruel, riot, fluid, diet....)

ACCENT MARKS
We usally say one syllable of a word with more force than the other syllable. When we say a syllable with more force, we accent that syllable.
An accent mark can be used to show which syllable to acent. The accent mark is places right after the accent syllable

THE SCHWA
The schwa represents an indistinct vowel sound in an unaccented syllable
The schwa is a vowel symbol. It is used for the short vowel sound in a syllable that is not accented.
The schwa symbol may be used for a modified vowel in a syllable that is not accented.
The schwa symbol is also used for the vowel sound in the last syllable of words that end with le.
We do not used the schwa sound in an accented syllable.

THE BREVE AND THE MACRON
Sometimes short vowels are marked with a breve.
The breve may be used to mark the short sound of oo
The macron marks long vowel sounds.

PLURAL
When we want to show that there is more than one, we add s or es
When a word ends with s, x, ch or sh, add es to make it mean more than one

THE APOSTOPHE
When we want to show that something belongs to someone we add ‘s at the end of the word (Bala's book).

CONTRACTIONS
A contraction is two words put together with an apostrophe in place of some letters.
(aren’t, couldn’t, doesn’t, hasn’t, weren’t, isn’t, shouldn’t, haven’t, wouldn’t, wasn’t, he’d, I’d, they’d, he’s, we’ve, you’ve, he’s, she’s, you’re, they’re, we’re, I’m, she’ll, I’ll, we’d, she’d)

TWO SYLLABLE AND COMPOUND WORDS
A compound word is made from two words put together (today, stepmother).

HOMONYMS
Honomyns are different words that sound like the same word but have different spellings.
ate- eight; week-weak; blew-blue; hole-whole; write-right; wood-would; hear-here, know-no, their-there; rode-road; plane-plain; deer-dear; see-sea; pair-pear; red-read; meat-meet; to-too-two;

SILENT LETTERS
At the beginning of words- kn, wr, gn, gu, bu,
When k comes before n, the k is usually silent (knock).
When w comes before r, the w is usually silent (write).
When g comes before n, the g is usually silent (gnat).
If a word begins with bu or gu, look at the next letter. If the next letter is a vowel, the vowel u is silent (build, guild).
At the end of words- mb (comb), gn (sign), bt (doubt), tch (catch, it is still helpful to barely pronounce /t/ for correct spelling purposes), alk (walk),
When two vowels come together the second vowel is usually silent. (exception: poet, lion are two syllable words)

SILENT E
1) time: The silent e lets the vowel say its name.
2) have: In English we cannot end a word with a v, so the silent e follows the v.
3) chance, change: The silent e follows the c and g so that they can say /s/ and /j/.
4) lit tle: Every syllable in English must contain at least one vowel. The -ble, -cle, -dle, -fle, -gle, -kle, -ple, -sle, -tle, and -zle endings are the only syllables that would not contain a vowel without the silent e.
5) please: The silent e comes after a single s or z at the end of a root which is preceeded by another consonant or vowel team. The silent e shows that the s or z belongs to the root and is not a part of a suffix. Compare “pleas” (more than one plea) to “please,” and “dens” (more than one den) to “dense.”
6) are: The silent e gives length and importance to very short words, so that they can be used as main-idea words, as in come, ewe, awe.

MORE RULES TO REMEMBER
Q is always followed by u in normal English
I comes before c except after c or when sounding like (long) a as in weigh or vein.

A FEW SIGHT WORDS (rule breakers or those words that are easier to learn by memory rather than spelling rules or word families)
do, his, her, from, to, they, are, you, for, was, there, where, of, one, two, some, come, were, what, said, does, want, off, on, obey, when, should, could, would, mother, to, father, though, cough, laugh

Devotional Service

Discussions regarding devotional service are unlimited. Therefore just a few points brought up here, taken from various sources, neatly grouped under the headings from "The Nectar of Devotion" Chapter 1 regarding pure devotional service and so on:

BRINGS IMMEDIATE RELIEF FROM ALL KINDS OF MATERIAL DISTRESS

• Gives freedom from both good and bad karma, the transcendental position of servant cooperator neither renounces nor enjoys separate from Krishna
• Repentance and atonement are not enough; Sinful desires can be removed from the root and their seeds fried, only by devotional service. Otherwise, one is forced to repeat sinful activities again and again. 
• Real atonement for accidental fall down is to get back on the path. Keep going. Just stay in the boat. Krishna is interested in devotion.
• Lord Chaitanya is extremely merciful and Krishna promises personal protection. 
• Devotee offers all results to Krishna the Supreme Controller and Well Wisher. In happiness or distress, we are ultimately but instruments of the supreme will, which always works for good.
• The safest position; put Krishna first, we never know when we must leave these bodies
• Sin is unavoidable. Every moment some germ or insect may be harmed or other accidental sins. We are also indebted to the demigods, forefathers, teachers, well wishers, etc for taking so much help. Thus we must mold our lives to be always engaging our every moment in devotional service to Lord or we will remain bound by karmic debt.

IS THE BEGINNING OF ALL AUSPICIOUSNESS

• Auspiciousness means welfare activities for all the people of the world. Just seeing the devotional atmosphere in the temple, hearing kirtana, seeing devotees and festivals, etc., conditioned souls advance in their Krsna consciousness. Like sand in an oyster, it works inside them until the pearl of devotion is born.
• It is open to everyone, requires neither big ability or facility, can be performed any time, anywhere and in any condition
• Renders the highest benefit to all living beings, not just humans.
• Awakens all the good qualities generally found in the demigods, spiritual health
• Detachment happens naturally via attachment for Krishna
• Detachment from material activities saves valuable time, snowballs into spiritual development

TRANSCENDENTAL PLEASURE

• Puts one immediately on the spiritual platform
• the nature of spirit is supremely joyful, ever expanding, unfathomable, eternal, ever fresh, ever increasing, perpetual and unlimited
•  will continue from the point left off, bears permanent results (eternal, cannot be used up like good karma)
• enlivens the self, does not depend on anyone or anything external for happiness (not relative), independent
• Better than fruitive activity or liberation, increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, fruitive results are temporary, impersonal liberation gets dry
• Freedom from mental speculation, the platform for real peace
• All other perfections follow devotional service like maidservants waiting to serve, but devotee only wants unflinching faith and devotion to Lord Krishna's lotus feet
• Even if he should have another desire, the Lord fulfills this without the devotee's asking.
• Even one drop of happiness in Kṛṣṇa consciousness stands beyond comparison with an ocean of happiness derived from any other activity

IS RARELY ACHIEVED

• countless living entities comprise brahman, Bg 7.19 "after many many births", the gift of human life is attained
• Krishna rarely agrees to offer a soul devotional service because by devotional service the Lord Himself becomes purchased by the devotee.
• js the most confidential subject matter, the most secret of all secrets, revelatory 
• matam yasya na veda sah
• avijñātam vijānatām
• vijñātam avijānatām
• "Whoever denies having any opinion of his own about the Supreme Truth is correct in his opinion, whereas one who has his own opinion about the Supreme does not know Him. He is unknown to those who claim to know Him, and can only be known by those who do not claim to know Him." (Kena Upanishad 2.3)
• understood only with the help of a devotee of the Lord, a bona fide spiritual master; requires submission inquiry and service 
• rarely achieved but not impossible, the mercy of Lord Chaitanya, His rare appearance, Krishna's desire/Krishna wants us, the bhakti birthright, give just one lifetime in Kali yuga, 
• the bhakti lata bhija- how to grow and protect, taking shelter of guru gauranga

DERIDES EVEN THE CONCEPTION OF LIBERATION

• "(This sankirtana) increases the ocean of transcendental bliss."  
• Brahmānanda multiplied by one trillion fold still cannot compare to an atomic fraction of the happiness derived from the ocean of devotional service.

IS THE ONLY MEANS TO ATTRACT KRISHNA

• The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Rādhārāṇī.
• She is called Madana-mohana-mohinī — the attractor of the attractor of Cupid (Krishna). Lord attracted by love, His internal potency (Radha).
• To perform devotional service means to follow in the footsteps of Rādhārāṇī (our Gaudiya line)
• devotees in Vṛndāvana put themselves under the care of Rādhārāṇī (bhakti personified) in order to achieve perfection in their devotional service
• She is Lord's internal energy, therefore devotional service is not an activity of the material world.
• God is great, but devotional service is greater than God because it attracts Him.
• Devotional service must be executed favorably for Krishna's satisfaction rather than personal gain 

AKA BHAKTI YOGA

• The means and the end are the same. Yoga in practice (control of senses/sadhana bhakti or fixing mind upon Lord via devotional service, a higher taste) results in pure yoga (a transcendental loving relationship with Krishna/ raganuga bhakti). Perpetual worship, eternal (Bg 9.3). When no more material desire is there, no more business exchange, all that's left is love,  pure devotional service
• Bhakti is the perfection of karma and jnana and is the highest yoga -a relationship with Krishna (Bg 6.47)
• It is a hands-on yoga, easy to perform
• The eightfold yoga mysticism is automatically practiced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness -yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi- because the ultimate purpose is served. For example, the natural desire that arises to regulate the senses and simplify = focus/concentration of mind (pratyahara) and (ahimsa) freedom from karmic reactions
• Yoga means to link up with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in nine ways or processes. The word "yoke" is derived from the Sanskrit root for "yoga".

NINE WAYS
There are nine processes of bhakti yoga to allow us constant transcendental connection with Krsna-

• sravanam, hearing about Krishna
• kirtanam, chanting about Krishna
• vishnoh smaranam, remembering Vishnu (Krishna) 
• pada sevanam, serving His lotus feet
• arcanam, offering Him respectful worship
• vandanam, offering Him prayers
• dasyam, becoming His servant
• sakhyam, considering Him one's best friend
• atma nivedanam surrendering everything to Him- body, mind and words

Each of the nine processes is related to all the other processes

THE NINE STAGES OF DEVOTION
1. sraddha: faith
2. sadhu-sanga: association with devotees
3. bhajana-kriya: performance of devotional service
4. anartha nivrtti: decreasing of unwanted attachments
5. nistha: steadiness
6. ruci: taste
7. asakti: attachment
8. bhava: love
9. prema: pure love for Krsna

 SRAVANAM:

• Hearing About Krishna; Hearing Regularly, Submissive Reception; 
• From Bona Fide Sources; In Association of Devotees; 
• Developing A Taste;  
• Hearing is Humbling; 
• Jnana and Vijnana (Applied Knowledge Gives Realization); 
• Verifies and Clarifies Realizations;  
• Transcendental Association (Purifies Intelligence, Think Like a Pure Devotee); 
• Seeing Reality; A Sense of Urgency; Approaching Radha Krsna via Pleasing Gaura Nitai (Preaching KC);  
• Lord's All-Attractive Pastimes; 
• Awakens Dormant Love for Lord (KB 6)

KIRTANAM- Repeating what was heard

• Chanting is the religion for this age,
•  an immersion process that advented with Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who freely gives Krishna bhakti
• "Sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed." Bg 3.9
• "Be thou happy by performance of this sacrifice..." Bg 3.10
• May continuously chant in a variety of ways- japa (external or internal), kirtana or harinama sankirtana, bhajan, krsna katha and serving the holy name via the sankirtana movement
• Krishna katha includes reading aloud, speaking, writing and sharing realizations, preaching...
• Every person is a potential source for krsna katha. 
• Input affects output. By absorbing oneself in Krsna consciousness, naturally that is what one will talk about.
• Two Krsna kathas- one is spoken by Krishna; the other is spoken about Krishna
• Any subject becomes interesting to a devotee if related to Krsna. For example, the topic of creation in Srimad Bhagavatam is always related to the activities of the Lord. Or the syllable Om has interest when understood as a sound representation of Krishna.
• the example of Sukadeva Goswami, krsna katha is made sweeter by personal realization and expands unlimitedly in continuous discussion and thus it is eternal; it is spiritual activity.

VISHNOH SMARANAM Remembering Him

• is the Lord's mercy, is non different than being with Lord, his holy abode, his associates, etc. 
• the more we remember Krishna, the more we forget maya
• gives spiritual vision
• Rules and regulations are for remembrance of Krsna; they become acts of love.
• We must remember Krsna at the end of life (Bg 8.6)
• the example of Prahlad Maharaja, never forgot Krishna

PADA SEVANAM Serving the Lotus Feet of the Lord
What's included:

• taking darshan
• viewing or thinking of the Lord's lotus feet,
• drinking carnamrta which washed His holy feet
• touching the forms of the Lord (or imprints of Their holy feet)
• parikrama, circumambulating the lord, His temple, Tulsi, and holy places. Usually a path is created for this purpose
• visiting holy places traversed by the Lord's lotus feet, to see the Lord's form. Further notes concerning holy places: Attracts saintly persons, thus holy places and temples are major sources of godly association. As the Ganges may be covered by impurities which may be pushed aside to receive the real benefit, a devotee is not affected by maya's superficial coverings at holy places. Seeing only Krishna instead of maya, he seeks only the spiritual nectar ever present there.  One can also visit particular holy places by hearing about and remembering them. Wherever the holy name is chanted by pure devotees is considered a holy place.
•  bathing in Ganga and Yamuna, both touched by the lotus feet of the Lord
• serving Tulsi devi, tulsi is always found on His lotus feet and offerings of food and water to the Lord
• serving the Vaisnavas, bee-like devotees hover for the honey of Lord's lotus feet

ARCANAM Offering Him respectful worship, worshiping the transcendental form of the Lord

• Viewing or remembering the deity is the same as yogic meditation
• Watching artik performed is as good as personal worship.
• Service performed in meditation is also accepted, manasa puja
• the significance of the arati paraphernalia.
• Ringing the bell draws the attention of the deity. 
• Also if there are no instruments, the Lord finds the ringing of the bell very pleasing.
• As a lamp may shine outside a house to welcome guests, similarly offering a lamp is a way to welcome the Lord

VANDANAM Offering Him prayers and obeisances

• There are both standard and personal prayers. Standard prayers are given by the Vaisnava acaryas
•  They are wholesome models to collect, recite, study and meditate upon
•  They are bona fide outlets for expressing our feelings to the Lord.
• There are many nice prayers in the sastras also, the gopis speaking to Krsna or Akrura approaching Vrndavana
• Personal prayers 
• may include loving addresses as imbibed from reciting standard prayers
• are the real talk therapy,  revealing the mind, asking questions and for guidance
• may include giving thanks 
• may conclude with unconditional acceptance of Krishna's will
• sometimes require patience in receiving a response "God is sometimes silent, but He is never idle."
• includes bedtime prayers (or one may recite standard prayers such as "Prayers for Forgiveness of Offenses" found in the Arcana Paddhati handbook)
• includes writing and hearing vyasa puja offerings
• A prayer study may include:
• Outlining
• Collecting favorites, bound together for a personalized prayer and Vaishnava song book
• Offering obeisances 
• What Krishna wants (Bg 9.34 and 9.14)
• Again and again, the example of Raghunatha Goswami
• Offer to: the deity, tulsi, respectable superiors, initiated devotees, sannyasis...
• Every body is a temple, carrying the deity of Krsna as the Supersoul within.
• Prema dvani is recited every morning and evening.

DASYAM Becoming His servant

• perfection means perfectly situated, our constitutional position is to serve
• Krishna
• everybody is a servant, no exceptions
• the service attitude: a change of heart in which service is happiness, not sense gratification or false renunciation. It never slackens, never tires or retires; it is the ever- increasing spiritual nature. It is the transcendental position and gives entrance into the spiritual world. Desire is not given up but purified, focused on Krishna's happiness
• We are servant of the servant or assistant, cooperator
• A servant is an order carrier, the Lord's instrument, like a cashier, handles money but keeps not a cent for himself. Otherwise we must suffer or enjoy the result.
• Loving service is the way to the heart of Lord, His devotee and their blessings.
• The example of Govinda, Lord Chaitanya's personal servant

SAKHYAM Considering Him one's best friend

• advanced devotion beyond awe and reverence
• one believes Krishna to be the only friend
• engages in six loving exchanges with the Lord
• the example of Arjuna, temporarily experienced awe and reverence

ATMA NIVEDANAM and Surrendering everything unto Him

• means full self surrender of mind, body, and words
• All we require is desire or full faith that this is Krishna's desire; He has made all these arrangements because He wants us. A devotee feels no personal qualification other than the mercy of the spiritual master and a growing eagerness to satisfy the Lord's desire.
• the example of Maharaja Ambarisha
• Radha and Krishna is the highest exchange of love .

"Mahäräja Ambarisha always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Krishna, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord's temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Krishna or about Krishna. He engaged his eyes in seeing the Deity of Krishna, Krishna's temples and Krishna's places like Mathurä and Vrndavana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of the Lord's devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the fragrance of tulasi offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in tasting the Lord's prasäda. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Indeed, Mahäräja Ambarisha never desired anything for his own sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service, in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all material desires."-- SB 9.4.18-20

"Prahläda Mahäräja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, 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 one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)—these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krishna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge." SB 7.5.23-24

Number Nectar

from Srila Prabhupada's books:

2 energies of Lord Krsna - material and spiritual
2 kinds of living entities- the divine and the demoniac
2 kinds of transcendentalists- the personalist and impersonalist
2 kinds of consciousness- conditioned and liberated
2 functions of the mind- accepting, rejecting (also hankering, lamenting)
2 powers of maya- to cover (avaranatimika), to throw or "pulling down" (prakepätmikä) (CC Adi 7.144p)
2 spiritual masters- diksha and siksha
2 kinds of activity- pavrtti and nrvrtti, favorable and unfavorable

3 kinds of devotees- kanistha, madyama, uttama
3 stages of chanting- nama aparadha (with offenses), nama abhasa (clearing), suddha nama (pure chanting)
3 purusas- Karanadakasayi, Garbhodakasayi, Ksirodakasayi
3 modes of material nature
3 guides for decision making- guru, sastra, sadhu
3 activities of the mind- thinking, feeling and willing
3 fold miseries of life- adhyatmika(body and mind), adhibhautika (other living entities), adhidaivika (material nature)
3 features of the Absolute Truth- brahman, paramatma, bhagavan
3 worlds- upper, middle, lower (heaven, earth, hellish regions)
Also Goloka, Vaikuntha, and the material World
3 kinds of transcendentalists- karmi, jnani, yogi
3 principal forms of Krishna (rüpas) (CC Madhya 20.165)
3 divisions of incarnations - the potency, qualities and authority of the Lord (CC Adi 1)
3 principal potency manifestations - consorts of Vaikuntha, the queens of Dvaraka, the gopis of Vraja
3 purposes of the Vedas- sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana
4 main problems of material life- birth, death, old age and disease
4 defects of the conditioned soul- tendency to cheat, imperfect senses, subject to illusion, subject to make mistakes
4 kinds of men/varnas- brahmanas, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra
4 men who surrender to Krishna; 4 men who don’t (Bg 7.15-16)
4 kinds of devotion- goodness, passion, ignorance, pure goodness
4 kinds of association- serve those more advanced, friendship with equals, mercy to innocent, avoid the envious
4 kinds of foodstuffs- licked, chewed, drunk, sucked
4 animal propensities- eat, sleep, mate, defend
4 symbols of Narayana- club, disc, conch, lotus
4 principles of material advancement- beauty, education, good family, wealth
4 regulative principles
4 methods of family worship- chanting HK morning and evening, discussion books, offering prasadam, deity worship
4 yugas -Satya, Dvarapa, Treta, Kali
4 Kumaras- Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana, and Sanat Kumara

5 main subjects of Bhagavad gita- Isvara, jiva, prakrti, karma and kala
5 factors of action (Bg 18.14)
5 knowledge gathering senses
5 working senses (Bg 13.6-7p)
5 most important items for executing devotional service (NOD 6)
5 primary rasas
5 pancha tattva
5 stages of consciousness- anna maya, prana maya, jnana maya, vijnana maya and ananda maya

6 aggressors (Bg 1.36p)
6 items in the process of surrender (NOD 39)
6 characteristics of pure devotional service (NOD 1)
6 favorable principles for executing devotional service (NOI 3)
6 unfavorable principles for executing devotional service (NOI 4)
6 Goswamis and their temples
6 stages of the body- birth, growth, staying for some time, producting by products, dwindling, death
6 urges of the body- (NOI 1)
6 opulences of Bhagavan- wealth, fame, beauty, renunciation, wisdom, strength,
6 loving exchanges - (NOI 4)
6 different transcendental expansions of the Lord (from CC Adi 1.1)
6 symptoms or whips of material consciousness (hunger, thirst, lamentation, bewilderment, old age and death.)
6 enemies of the mind - lust, anger, greed, illusion, envy, madness
6 philosophical sytems

7 mothers- our own mother, the wife of our teacher or spiritual master, the wife of a brähmana, the wife of the king, the nurse, the cow, and the earth.
7 risis

8 aspects of brahmacarya (SB 6.1.13-14p)
8 material elements- earth water fire air ether mind intelligence and false ego
8 principle gopis
8 divisions of yoga - yama, niyama, äsana, präëäyäma, pratyähära, dhäranä, dhyäna, samadhi ((1) control of the senses, (2) strict following of the rules and regulations, (3) practice of the different sitting postures, (4) control of the breath, (5) withdrawing the senses from sense objects, (6) concentration of the mind, (7) meditation and (8) self-realization [SB 3.21.4p])
8 Vasus

9 processes of devotional service (SB 7.5.23-24)
9 stages of bhakti or faith -sraddha, sadhu sanga, bhajana kriya, anartha nivrttih, nistha, ruci, asakti, bhava, prema (CC Madhya 23.14-15)
9 gates of the body - eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth, anus, genitals

10 incarnations or dasavataras (see Dasavatara by Jayadeva Goswami)
10 offenses to holy name (NOD 8)
10 divisions of Srimad Bhagavatam Cantos 1-10 (also see SB 2.10.1) and their correlation with the Lord's transcendental body

12 mahajanas (SB 6.3.20-21)
13 instructions for civilized beings (SB 7.15.22-25)
18 chapter titles of Bhagavad gita
20 major instructions for accepting DS (NOD ch. 6)
20 items of knowledge in Bhagavad gita (Bg 13.8.12)
24 material elements (SB 3.26.11)
24 natural gurus (SB 11 ch7-9)
25 qualities of Srimati Radharani (Madya 23.87-91)
26 qualities of a devotee (Madhya 22.78-80)
26 divine qualities from Bg 16.1-3
30 principles for civilized life (SB 7.11.8-12)
64 qualites of Krsna
64 items for discharging sadhana bhakti
64 arts and sciences
108 gopis
16,108 queens married by Krsna

LORD BRAHMA’S LIFETIME
One day’s duration of the life of Brahmä - is calculated by our solar year as 4,300,000,000 years

SPECIES OF LIFE
Universe consists of 8,400,000 species of plants, animals and humans.

* There are 900,000 species living in the water.
* There are also 2,000,000 non-moving living entities (sthavara)
such as trees and plants.
* There are also 1,100,000 species of insects and reptiles.
* There are 1,000,000 species of birds.
* As far as quadrupeds are concerned there are 3,000,000 varieties.
* There are 400,000 human species. (Padma Purana)

Loving Listening

This article applies to all loving relationships. An outline of a page called
Active Listening

I. Why Important

• A vital part of communication in a loving relationship
• Has a therapeutic effect
• A doorway to self awareness

II. Three Levels of Listening

• Hearing 
• Listening to the meaning 
• Listening to the meaning and other non-verbal messages 

III. Benefits of Active Listening

• The other persons feels that you really care
• Genuine communication is established
• You become more effective with your family, your work or career
• You can resolve conflicts more easily
• You enhance your own self-awareness and spirituality

IV. How to Actively Listen

• Look at the person, and suspend other things you are doing.
• Listen not merely to the words, but the feeling content.
• Be sincerely interested in what the other person is talking about.                                                1) you can always learn something from anyone, including small children;                               2) you are doing service by really listening.
• Restate what the person said.
• Ask clarificatory questions once in a while.
• Be aware of your own feelings and strong opinions.
• If you have to state your views, say them only after you have listened .

V. The Art of Inner Listening, Genuine listening opens the door to self-awareness

High School and Beyond

So a student has finished 8th grade, now what? That depends on the student, but until they have a clear idea what path they wish to follow, the following suggestions can give them continued structure and guidance:

SUGGESTIONS FOR A HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM adapted from the Elijah Company:
Reading (a book a week from an approved list and give an oral or written report);
Handwriting (copying from sastra and also dictation)
Composition (mostly keeping a journal, but also working in a writing program and producing various kinds of composition)
Grammar (including proofreading)
Vocabulary and Spelling
Math (such as consumer math)
Logic
Sastra (reading several pages a day and discussing w/parent stories and philosophy, as well as the personal application of chanting japa and Krishna conscious program attendance)
Literature- (some reading mode of goodness stories and poems for a basic understanding of terms, literary techniques and literary criticism, if desired)
History and Cultural Literacy (mostly reading books for basic information including current events and the Vedic view)
Science (mostly nature study and reading anything useful for daily life)
Personal interests (such as mrdunga lessons; art, drama, music...)

“The way we planned what we would do that year was to jot down areas of interest as well as areas we felt need strengthening in relationships, life skills, and academics. Once we knew the areas we wanted to cover we thought of projects that might teach the skills (like perhaps preparing a family meal once a week, or opening a checking account, or landscaping an area of the yards, or taking 4-H public speaking). We also thought of books, tapes, computer programs, or views that might cover the different areas in way she that would interest this boy. For record keeping, whenever an activity could be counted as a traditional high school course, we credited it as that course (like counting building a barn as "Shop" or kung fu as "PE" or developing a computer program as “Typing" or "computer Science") A lot of the teaching occurred as we spent time together discussing things rather than through using textbooks and other teaching materials....This way of homeschooling gives you an idea of the possibilities.”-the Elijah Company

DRIVER'S ED
If unable to enroll in a driving school, youth who desire to drive must be taught driver safety. One way is by giving them instructions whenever you are driving. These four things should be stressed:
1. Alertness- talk about what helps such as a straight back, seat belt on, and pulling over at any sign of sleepiness or to take a break.
2. Courtesy - talk about good manners even on the road.
3. Defensive driving- talk about the importance of constant surveillance of the driving situation. Who is behind you? at the side of you? and in front? Keeping a safe distance of two cars between you and the car in front.
4. "Speed kills"- talk about the importance of not speeding. The higher the speed, the greater the risk.

FINDING MEANINGFUL SERVICE
Foremost, accepting guidance from a bona fide guru or other spiritual authorities is recommended. Helping children by putting themselves into various situations, prompts thinking about what they would like to do in life. So does listing a student's interests and abilities. Astrology can be useful for discovering these natural propensities, as is looking toward which qualities one is attracted toward- a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra.

FINDING AN OCCUPATION
Traditionally sons took up the occupations of their fathers and could be naturally apprenticed, but since now this is not always the case, here are some suggestions what a young person can do:
Read about various interests in the US Occupational Handbook Online and or other sources.
Ask friends and relatives for job information. Interview people who have jobs you are interested in:
What is your job title?
What types of tasks do you perform?
Where do you spend your time working (outside, indoors, at a desk, on an assembly line,etc)?
Are you required to wear any special clothing? If yes, describe the clothing.
What special tools or equipment do you use?
Do you usually work with other people or alone?
What are your normal working hours?
What special knowledge or training does your job require?
What do you like about your job?
What do you wish you could change about your job?
Is there anything else someone should know about your job?

THOUGHTS ABOUT A MUNDANE COLLEGE EDUCATION
First of all, real education is about the heart- cultivating Krishna conscious to become a decent human. Then it doesn't matter whether one becomes a simple maintenance man or a big administrator. What's more important is how to treat others right by cultivating a rich inner spiritual life, a transcendental service attitude. Then everything else will follow. Then one will find true happiness which draws everything else together like a magnet. When a person is kind, hard working, sense controlled, magnanimous and above all- happy, people are drawn to him, they want him to work for them or work for him. And if they are non devotees, he feels compassion for them. There should be no lack in finding the necessities of life.
 Secondly, it is about knowing practical skills like how to grow food or sew clothes, work that is needed everywhere. It's about learning how to be self sufficient instead of just another corporate slave in Kali yuga's condemned technological society.

Furthermore, money saved for a college tuition may be better used as a dowry for a young lady or to help a young man to establish a business or purchase income generating property.

As for attending college, bad association, an inflated false ego (contrast with  how simple Gopa Kumar was in the Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrata), hearing blasphemy of God or Krsna, and wasting valuable time while jumping through hoops of prerequisites are some of the things to consider. Also, if we examine many Kali Yuga jobs a college prepares one for, we will find an abundance of unsavory or unnecessary practices. Medical schools, for example, still maintain that meat eating is healthy!

So why not encourage a child to learn Ayurveda instead of western medicine? Why not encourage one to work alongside a dedicated gurukula teacher instead of working in the public school system? And what happened to encouraging a son to become absorbed in temple services and visualizing his life dedicated to that? Usually its all about money. The more material desires one has (or the parents' have) the more important college degrees become. Yet, thankfully, the value of a college degree is now becoming debatable by non devotees themselves, and history shows that some of the most successful people in the world disdained or never stepped foot into institutionalized education.

Srila Prabhupada rejected his degree. Jesus never went to college. Ben Franklin and Lincoln were mostly self taught. Thoreau rejected his diploma and stated: “Every man should have a college education in order to show him how little the thing is really worth.”

Personally, I did not attend college and with absolutely no regrets. By Krsna's grace, it didn't stop me from living a very full and happy life. Besides, after reaching the age of sixteen, a young person should be free to make the final decision which way to go. Whats more, there is no stopping an intelligent person from entering college late in life. I remember reading about a 52 year of woman, for example, who wrote to Dear Abby her experience. She had married young and successfully raised a family. Then she took a few correspondence courses and landed a job as a public school teacher. She taught school for fifteen years before retiring. Seems to me, the majority of women got that turned around. When their child bearing years are about over, they end their career and then try to have children. Seems they've been pressured to reject their natural impulses throughout their lives. It's when you are approaching your late 40's that you want to become more involved in community, teaching and sharing your experiences, not sitting at home listening to the wailing of your first baby! (Of course, that's why there are so many messed up children today- Mom just hires someone else to listen to the wailing for her, thanks to her degrees)

THE NEED FOR VA COMMUNITIES AND COLLEGE ALTERNATIVES
Until there are rural varnasrama communities and colleges, we can start where we are and use what we have. Srila Prabhupada has already given one training ground for our children- his temples and their communities. One can learn to interact with a wide variety of people and to perform a wide variety of services and activities as well as gain advanced devotee association while learning about and practicing Krishna consciousness.

Furthermore, boys can apprentice with their fathers, other relative, close family friends or qualified devotees for learning practical skills, business and so on. Girls can apprentice with their mothers and grandmothers or other qualified women in the arts of cooking, housekeeping, hospitality, childcare, sewing, and other useful know-how. Historically, this is the most natural and simple method for acquiring the needed qualifications for our occupational duties and various services.

Considering all the above, it is far better to put Krishna first in one's life and depend on him for direction instead of blindly getting onto the college bandwagon out of fear. A student should most of all be encouraged to find and take shelter of a competent spiritual master(s)- diksa and siksa- to give further guidance in this regard.

Motivating Students

CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Collect books on various subjects, educational toys, art supplies, odds and ends for crafting, sewing supplies, tools, simple science equipment, etc,. Try to keep it neat and organized and accessible (except for items such as tools that need parental guidance).

INVITE PEERS
Whether they are on vacation or freetime, young visitors are great for doing art projects with, spelling bees, presenting speeches to, sharing read alouds, acting out skits, doing science demonstrations with and so on.

COMPETITION
Kids like and sometimes need competition. One may wish to enter a student's writing and art work into contests or submit to children's periodicals.

SET A TIMER
Perhaps 10 min for doing one page of work. This helps a student to get started. Or do just thirty minutes per day on a long term writing assignment. Thirty minutes first day brainstorming a topic. Thirty minutes next day freewriting. Thirty minutes next day making an outline, and so on. That way, students don't feel overwhelmed.

TREATS
Plan little treats for a job well done. For example:
Homemade popsicles- Fill an icetray with juice, sweetened yogurt or sweetened herbal tea, and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Poke each compartment in the center of the foil with a toothpick or popsicle stick and freeze until solid.
A spoonful of honey, a cookie, a maha sweet....
A special outing or event...
A small toy or gift, (water balloons, a small top)
A head or foot massage
Read a story,
Play a favorite game together.
Keep an open ear for children's special requests that may be added to this list.

ACTIVITIES
Activities motivate and make lessons memorable. For example, while studying bacteria, grow them on a petri dish. When studying butterflies, hatch some real ones.

All these make ordinary lessons more interesting and help cement learning, but make sure they are worth the effort; do what you have time for. Collect and record favorites.

And although it's nice to correlate a project with a lesson, it is not always necessary. In other words, you do not have to wait to do a cherished science demo or art project because memories are being made to be drawn upon later when there is an actual lesson related to the project. Or a lesson may be reviewed if a project is done at another time afterwards.

GAMES
One suggestion is to make a class drill like a game show. If a child reads a word in ten seconds, for example, he gets a point. Otherwise a “buzzer” goes off, and you will read it for him, giving you the point instead.

Do math problems together, whoever figures out the answer first gets a point.

Ditto for diagramming sentences together in English class.

Set a timer. See if child can read a short story in 5 min and beat the clock. Test his comprehension afterwards.

CHARTS
Japa Chart suggestion- Glue on a big heart. Add stars for every day of japa. When filled up, a picture of Radha and Krsna can be glued onto the center with a caption like, “Bright and Pure I’ll Make my Heart So From the Lord I’ll Never Part”. or "Here is my chart, toward a pure heart!"

Many devotee mothers also create a bhakti lata creeper to add leaves to after japa sessions.

CERTIFICATES
Use for recognition of books read, perfect attendance, "good student of the month", completing a unit of study, grade completion...

MORE MOTIVATORS:
One may wish to use grades, tests and quizzes.
Daily reports to father and showing their work to friends and relatives. A blog can be kept to show off work also. Video recordings are especially useful to record and share presentations.
Send child a little card or note expressing approval.
Sometimes merits and demerits work. Five demerits in one day calls for a pep talk with their father. Merit points go toward a special reward. One does not cancel the other.
Learning styles. Study what motivates an individual student.
Setting Goals - Goals give meaning to life and help us resist any nonsense that gets in the way. Help kids, esp teens, to set short and long term goals and list them. They’ll serve as a checklist and standard to strive for to measure how much self directed learning is actually taking place.

HOW TO FIGURE OUT A PERCENTAGE OR LETTER GRADE
I rarely used this, but just in case.

Here's How:
1. Correct the paper.
2. Determine the number of total questions.
3. Count number of correct questions.
4. Take the number of correct questions and divide by the total number of questions.
5. Multiply this number by 100 to turn it into a percentage.
6. Typical grade scale: 90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; 59% and below = F
Tips: Use a calculator to make the calculations.

WHICH GRADE SCALE IS COMMONLY USED?
The grade scale which seems to be most common is this one:
A+ 97-100
A 93-96
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F Below 60


STUDENT HEALTH
Feed children a healthy diet. Milk and milk products and ghee are brain food.
The best time to study is in the morning when intelligence is fresh.
Set aside time for plenty of exercise with frequent breaks to help stay alert.
Also important is sufficient rest each night which enables the intelligence to function properly.

PERSONAL EXAMPLE
Regardless of the curriculum, the teacher's personal enthusiasm for learning is contagious and therefore one of the most important teaching elements.
Get involved in a project yourself and watch as kids desire to get involved along with you. Invite them along in crafts, nature study, trying a new recipe, drawing...

CONSCIOUS OF KRISHNA
Above all, relating it to Krishna makes any lesson interesting, and homeschooling for Krishna's service and pleasure creates enthusiasm for all subjects.

GOOD QUOTES
“The fundamental principle in education is that the teacher must plant seeds, not plants.” - author unknown

“Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” WB Yeats

“Bad teachers fixate on the deficiencies of a student, but an expert teacher knows how to make the student soar with his strengths.” - author unknown

"Be animated, interested in your material, patient with questions, aware of distractions, and simple in your presentation." - author unknown

MORE TEACHING SUGGESTIONS - from the Internet
Don’t forget that teaching and governing a school is a difficult art, which requires study and painstaking effort
Don’t suppose the children like to have their own way. They like to be governed. Don’t repeat a question for the inattentive.
Don’t be satisfied with partial answers
Don’t think when you have told your pupils something you have taught them something.
Don’t forget that it is your business to teach as well as to hear pupils recite lessons
Don’t fail to encourage students to do their best.
Don’t forget that the best way to govern is to give pupils plenty of interesting and profitable work to do. The teacher who succeeds in working up an abiding interest in study will have little trouble with discipline.