691224 - Conversation B - Boston
Prabhupāda: ...form a committee from education in your...
Hayagrīva: They have to be taught reading, and for this they have primers.
Prabhupāda: Primary readings.
Hayagrīva: And this is all right to use?
Prabhupāda: Because we haven't got any books yet.
Hayagrīva: What about taking the primers and changing the names of the people to people like Satyabhāmā and give them spiritual names. Would that be nice?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Pradyumna: Hari-nāmāmṛtam.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Hayagrīva: All right. Arithmetic should be taught?
Prabhupāda: Arithmetic? Yes. That is necessary.
Hayagrīva: What about any history? World history or American history or American literature or English literature?
Prabhupāda: American history. That's all. They are Americans. They should learn American history. Don't bother much.
Hayagrīva: Any Indian history?
Prabhupāda: Indian history, that... Bhāgavata is all right.
Hayagrīva: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?
Prabhupāda: That Kurukṣetra battle. That's all. And there are many other stories in the Bhāgavatam. They are all historical.
Hayagrīva: What about literatures? When they get older, of course. This would be for when they are older.
Prabhupāda: Literature, we have got so many. Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavata.
Hayagrīva: Any English literature, American literature, English literature?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Any... Some of the English literature, recognized.
Hayagrīva: Any of the sciences at all?
Prabhupāda: I don't think we require any science. What do you think?
Hayagrīva: Biology?
Kīrtanānanda: No.
Hayagrīva: Geology, zoology, astronomy.
Prabhupāda: Biology, you can teach them the evolution of the species from Padma-Purāṇa, 8,400,000's, one after another. Yes.
Hayagrīva: What about astronomy? Anything like that? No. Okay. Any animal husbandry they can learn out there. Animal husbandry they will learn...
Prabhupāda: That they will learn practically, cow keeping.
Hayagrīva: At what age should they be taught to cook prasādam?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Hayagrīva: At what age should they be taught to cook?
Prabhupāda: After twelve years.
Hayagrīva: After twelve. And you think they can be taught typing, for instance? A skill like typing and how to use typewriter?
Prabhupāda: Does it require all? Well, just this knowledge is required.
Kīrtanānanda: Whatever is practical.
Hayagrīva: And the only other... Oh, how old should they be before Deity worship, they do Deity worship?
Prabhupāda: Just after ten years.
Hayagrīva: After ten years? Then they can do Deity worship?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Hayagrīva: That's Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Deity worship.
Prabhupāda: Any Deity. Or worship Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.
Hayagrīva: Well, the boys are keeping Deities now, aren't they?
Kīrtanānanda: Yes.
Hayagrīva: He said after ten.
Prabhupāda: No, they are keeping as plaything now, not they are regularly worshiping.
Kīrtanānanda: He means in the temple they can officiate, do ārati and things...
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Hayagrīva: Oh, I see. So from just very small they can keep Deities.
Kīrtanānanda: Yes. As small as they want to.
Hayagrīva: And you suggested... I have it written down somewhere. You suggested a certain number of hours for their school, about five hours or four hours a day.
Prabhupāda: Three hours in the morning, two hours in the evening. That's all. Not at a stretch. Morning, evening. And in the noon they should take their prasādam, take little rest.
Hayagrīva: Because our literatures are a little difficult to read...
Prabhupāda: Yes. You have to make some suitable literature.
Hayagrīva: Something... When they can do that, then they can read Bhagavad-gītā. They try a little, but it's very difficult to begin.
Prabhupāda: No.
Hayagrīva: They cannot begin.
Prabhupāda: Yes. (end)