SANGA AT HOME
just bhajan / lecture / kirtan / prasadam!GET SOME INSPIRATION BY LOOKING BELOW,
AND SCROLL DOWN TO LEARN FROM SANGA AT HOME LEADERS!
STEP 1
MAKE A PLAN
If you or a group of friends are feeling inspired to start regular sessions, you can do it weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly. The goal is cultivation, regular contact and developing relationships. If is it too much for you, don’t do it alone: ask for help or create a team and share the responsibilities of hosting alternately.
STEP 3
HOSPITALITY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Here are a few pointers: Invitation & Punctuality / Cleanliness is next to Godliness / Be Accommodating (put chairs for those who can’t sit on the ground comfortably) / Sustainable Prasadam Offerings (simple snack or light meal. Save the big feasts for more important occasions / Avoid Social-political Topics / Be Sensitive and Aware
NAMA HATTA
CONCEPT →
Nama Hatta is a big concept developed by Bhaktivinoda Thakura regarding how to share the Hare Krishna movement from home or public programs. In India it is a Big Organized Web involving every local temple. In the rest of the world, every Home Program can be called Nama Hatta.
USEFUL TOOLS →
Nectar of the Congregational Preaching Book
STEP 2
DETERMINE WHO YOUR AUDIENCE IS
if it is a group with some experience with Bhakti culture/philosophy, the program flow can look something like this: Ice Breaker / Kirtan / Bhagavad Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam verses and discussios / Prasadam / Individual heart-to-heart exchanges. If the audience is newer, instead of reading verses, you can select a topic that everyone can discuss. Have a HOST that can keep discussion going.
STEP 4
FOLLOW-UP AND SHOW CONSISTENCY
Nowadays there are so many technological tools to stay connected and to cultivate relationships. Having a closely knit group can be very powerful in itself. Maybe one of your guests will become a future host and naturally they will want to invite their circle of friends. Your small group may group organically and exponentially. Just keep at it and Krishna will do the rest.
GAIN INSPIRATION →
Video: The Legacy of Bhaktivinoda Thakura
LEARN GUIDELINES →
Super Sunday Book
STEP 1
MAKE A PLAN
If you or a group of friends are feeling inspired to start regular sessions, you can do it weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly. The goal is cultivation, regular contact and developing relationships. If is it too much for you, don’t do it alone: ask for help or create a team and share the responsibilities of hosting alternately.
STEP 2
DETERMINE WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE
if it is a group with some experience with Bhakti culture, the program can flow like this: Ice Breaker / Kirtan / BG or SB verses and discussions / Prasadam / individual heart-to- heart exchanges. If the audience is newer, instead of reading verses you can select a topic that everyone can discuss.
STEP 3
HOSPITALITY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Here are a few pointers: Invitation & Punctuality / Cleanliness is next to Godliness / Be Accommodating (put chairs for those who can’t sit on the ground comfortably) / Sustainable Prasadam Offerings (simple snack or light meal) / Avoid Social-political Topics / Be Sensitive and Aware
STEP 4
FOLLOW-UP AND SHOW CONSISTENCY
There are so many technological tools to cultivate relationships! Having a closely knit group can be very powerful. Maybe one of your guests will become a future host and invite their circle of friends. Your small group may group organically and exponentially.
NAMA HATTA
CONCEPT →
Nama Hatta is a big concept developed by Bhaktivinoda Thakura regarding how to share the Hare Krishna movement from home or public programs. In India it is a Big Organized Web involving every local temple. In the rest of the world, every Home Program can be called Nama Hatta.
GAIN INSPIRATION →
Video: The Legacy of Bhaktivinoda Thakura
USEFUL TOOLS →
Nectar of the Congregational Preaching Book
LEARN GUIDELINES →
Super Sunday Book
STEP 1 (by Krishna Kishora das)
MAKE A PLAN
Commitment can be a scary word but it is definitely necessary to harness wonderful relationships. You will need to commit to at least once a month, otherwise may lose momentum. Develop relationships with trust and kindness.
STEP 1 – MAKE A PLAN
If you or a group of friends are feeling inspired to start regular sessions to cultivate Bhakti, then it would be beneficial to make a plan and stick with it.
Even monthly programs have been shown to have a positive effect in the development of people´s Krishna Consciousness. If you or your team can manage weekly, bi-weekly or tri-weekly than that is fantastic!
ASK FOR HELP
DON´T FEEL ALONE
When starting the planning process, one may feel overwhelmed. You can make Group Hosts: a group or at least couple of people who keep in touch with the team to keep the programs going.
DON’T FEEL ALONE
Be honest with yourself and ask for help if you need it or make a team so you can follow this inspiration and make a beautiful offering to Guru and Gauranga.
You can share the responsibilities of hosting by alternating or make Group Hosts.
Group hosts means a group or at least a couple of people who keep in touch with the team to keep the programs going. It is great to make a team because sometimes spontaneous emergencies or instances happen and a host can then shift their responsibility to another host by communicating openly and clearly.
STEP 2
DETERMINE YOUR AUDIENCE
The information that will be shared and discussed in the Bhakti Home program should be tailored according to the audience that is being addressed.
STEP 2
If it is a group with practitioners that are more conversant with Bhakti culture/philosophy, the program flow can look something like this:
-Ice Breaker/Meet & Greet
-Short Kirtan
-Read BG or SB verses and discuss (with a steady group this might be done in chronological order, so the group finishes chapters and possibly Cantos together)
-Light Prasadam and an opportunity for individual heart-to-hearts.
If the audience is newer, then a similar format can be followed but instead of taking turns reading verses there can be a selection of topics that are discussed.
Of course. reading verses might also be good for a newer crowd but your team can decide that.
PREPARE THE TOPIC
HAVE A HOST THAT MONITORS
By guiding the discussion, they would make sure that it does not become a mental speculation brainstorm session. Use sastric evidence. This will give a powerful impression and leave a long-lasting effect on your audience.
HAVE A HOST THAT MONITORS
It is preferable that the host (or group of hosts) prepares the topic with sastric evidence to ensure the discussion doesn’t get side-tracked or lose its philosophical backbone at any point. This type of preparation is supported by our Acharyas.
STEP 3
HOSPITALITY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
One of the best types of preaching is being a happy devotee. Happy and relaxed people are always a pleasure to be around and this type of energy is contagious. Apart from being happy and well mannered, it is important to create a welcoming environment for your guests.
STEP 3
HOSPITALITY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Here are a few pointers:
- Invitation & Punctuality
- Cleanliness is next to Godliness
- Be Accommodating
- Sustainable Prasadam
- Avoid Social-political Topics
- Be Sensitive and Aware
GIVE CLEAR DIRECTIONS
INVITATION & PUNCTUALITY
Be ready to start receiving guests at the time you set. Some guests may want a conversation while others arrive and others are fine waiting silently.
INVITATION & PUNCTUALITY
Make sure that your invitation has clear directions and timings for your event. Also be ready to start receiving guests at the time you set. A simple gesture of offering them a seat and glass of water to wait while others arrive is enough. Maybe offer them the wi-fi code if you have one.
Some guests may want a conversation while others arrive and others are fine waiting silently on their phones because they may not be as extroverted. Be sensitive to that so your guests don’t feel either isolated or smothered.
MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE
CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS
A clean environment encourages clearer thinking. You can also create an outdoor set-up.
CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS
It is much easier to feel comfortable in a clean environment. If you can, create an uncluttered, open space as this encourages clearer thinking and is more inviting. If the weather is pleasurable, you can also create an outdoor set-up. Just make sure there is enough lighting and there aren’t bugs that will disturb.
HAVE NICE GESTURES
BE ACCOMMODATING
Prepare to receive the guests according to their needs
BE ACCOMMODATING
You will most likely know the needs of the guests you have invited so prepare to receive them according to their needs. You don’t have to go overboard but something as simple as having chairs for those who can’t sit on the ground comfortably is a really kind gesture.
Simple folding chairs could do and they are easy to store away for your next event!
SIMPLE PREPARATIONS
SUSTAINABLE PRASADAM OFFERINGS
Don’t overwhelm yourself unnecessarily so the programs can continue unhindered.
SIMPLE PREPARATIONS
It is always nice to have a simple snack or light meal to start or end a program.
We encourage you to make it sustainable so you don’t burn yourself out or burn you co-hosts out. We have seen that sometimes hosts will make a scrumptious 5 course meal which is fantastic but you don’t want to create an expectation that you can’t maintain. If you are able to offer those type of meals then please go ahead and do so but it isn’t 100% necessary to keep the program alive.
FOCUS AROUND ENHANCING ONES SPIRITUAL LIFE
AVOID SOCIAL-POLITICAL TOPICS
There are various polarizing opinions concerning politics. Even within our Vaishnava community there are different opinions on marriage, economics, spiritual organizations and so on and so forth.
AVOID SOCIAL-POLITICAL TOPICS
There are various polarizing opinions concerning politics and also many different social circles that may have different approaches to certain customs or beliefs. If the discussions are focused around enhancing one’s spiritual life and creating a supportive relationship environment, then it can be easy to stir away from controversial socio-political ideas. Even within our Vaishnava community there are different opinions on marriage, economics,...
MAKE FRIENDS
BE SENSITIVE AND AWARE
Asking questions about someone’s life is a way to make them feel comfortable. A simple light-energy dialogue can be the key to make someone feel at home.
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO CONVERT. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE FRIENDS.
When being personable it can be easy to know when someone is feeling uncomfortable and when someone is feeling at ease.
It is important to feel the pulse of your guests so you can adjust or support accordingly. That are times you may need to step in to counterbalance someone else’s energy, or times you may just need to take a step back and relish the beautiful connections that are happening.
STEP 4
FOLLOW-UP AND SHOW CONSISTENCY
We can’t force a certain realization or outcome but if we are persistent with our service then that’s when the magic happens. Use whatever tools you may think practical for your situation in order to stay in touch with your crowd.
STEP 4
Nowadays there are so many technological tools to stay connected and to cultivate relationships.
If you have the ability to expand your crowd then do so, but that also isn’t necessary. Having a close-knit group can be very powerful in itself.
Maybe one of your guests will become a future host and naturally they will want to invite their circle of friends