09/09/1998 - 2179

Major Preaching Reform in Colombia's Capital

Grananda, Colombia (VNN) - by Vamana Swami

Since Krishna Consciousness has spread well in Santa Fe de Bogota and thatthere are now four temples, two farms and many Nama Hatta centers in andaround the city, the national Vaisnava Samaj of Colombia met to improve theservices. The new dimensions and the recently started Vaisnava Academygave rise to a new structure to serve the people. The evolution of acommunity implies that more room has to be created to facilitate thedelegations of authority and the training of new leaders.

Colombia now has the great fortune of having 10 Sannyasis traveling amongthe 30 Centers in Colombia. It is nice to see that more and more devoteeswant to take up responsibility. New projects are requiring devotees withtraining and capacity. Thus the Vaisnava Academy started a special coursefor training new temple presidents in the principal Vaisnava Community ofColombia. Situated at the height of 2600 meters above sea level on top ofthe Andes, the great facility and beautiful deities are inviting alldevotees to study Vaisnava life from top to bottom. In this way the newdevotees are given the chance of passing at least six months of theirdevotional beginning in this project with intensive study.

The higher Institute of Vedic Studies, the Educational branch of theVaisnava Church of Colombia is publishing many new books and study guidesfor the Academy. Over 120 publications have come out over the last 7years. Now the Academy is getting support from all the centers of thecountry. Swami Hrishikesh is helping to pioneer this educational programwhich is new to the Krishna world of South America.

The Vaisnava Samaj also expanded to include more members of each programinto their meetings to assure a better representation of each center and keepleaders more on the ground of Vaisnava Seva, sometimes forgotten inadministrative turmoil. Very happily, all embraced the new reform to beable to guide the movement into a further bright future with many capableself-conscious and selfless leaders.