691224 - Conversation B - Boston

Conversations by Date, 1969

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

691224D2-BOSTON - December 24, 1969 - 04:37 Minutes

(Discussion about New Vrindaban Gurukula)

Prabhupāda: . . . form a committee from education in your . . .

Hayagrīva: Erm, 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 such.

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.

Devotee: 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: Bhāgavata . . . 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: No. 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 a 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, or . . .

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, see they have to . . .

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. (break) (end)