Why ???International

Vaishnava Monastery in EuropeOn behalf of all project partners Your

humble servants BVG Janaka das

www.OurMonastery.wordpress.com

Why Now in Europe?

Lifetime social security for Vaishnava monk

• Legitimate and legal Vaishnava Monastery registration and management;

• Vaishnava Monk Social Insurance: food, closing, shelter, medical care;

• Government can pays the benefits for lifetime for Vaishnava monk too.

Why

in E

urop

e?

Lifetime social security for Vaishnava monk

• In Europe Union Euro-found can be achieved for Vaishnava Monks officially;

• As a testament from Hrishikesh Prabhu (Latvia TP) letter.

Why

in E

urop

e?

Now is Adjustment period for Equalizing

existing standard of

living

Why

Now

in

Euro

pe?

Now is adjustment period for Equalizer existing standard of living

• By launching now this project in perspective we envision this as Sacred Oasis for Outreach and for Sravanam Kirtanam Visnoh... for Srila Prabhupada’s Pleasure.

Why

Now

in

Euro

pe?

What will happen, if we don’t do it now

• Right now on average, as all Europe Continent ISKCON communities together, we are losing at least 5-10 possible ISKCON future leaders, who was-are in need for first 5-7-10 years special Devotee Care in order to let go old destructive experience (as broken family, child abuse, sexual abuse, broken relationship etc) and destructive lifestyle (as alcohol, drags, gambling, sexual misuse, crime etc) and regain balanced and healthy lifestyle and internal role – servant of servant of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

Why

Now

in

Euro

pe?

What will happen, if we don’t do it now

• If right now we will not create, develop and maintain special Devotee Care structure as International Vaishnava Monastery in Europe with Devote Care programs and trained staff, churning rate in ISKCON Europe will increase and we will lose more and more present devotees and recruit less and less new dedicated devotees for Srila Prabbhpada’s mission.

Why

Now

in

Euro

pe?

Why a Monaster

y?

Hundreds of Monasteries in Europe

Why

a M

onas

tery

Most of Monasteries

Christiandozens of thousands

Monks

Buddhistdozens of hundred

MonksWhy

a M

onas

tery

Why

a M

onas

tery

Why not Brahmchari and Vanaprashta Ashram ?

In contrary “Bramacharie”, “Vanaprastha” and “Ashram” concepts is still foreign, that

for ISKCON devotees them self is quite difficult to accept it, what to speak about explain it to Wester parents, relatives and

friends.

Why

a M

onas

tery

For more than 15 hundreds years of history Westerners have natural longing for self-discovery as monk or nun and then to life and serve as monk or nun.

Respecting the Western People History and MentalityW

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

There is a potential lifetime monk, who cannot practice renounced order of life side by side with women. They can be a lifetime monk in protected area.

Today Christian and Buddhist monks in West can practise whole life without speaking or even seeing women.

Today some Western Vaishnava monks have even more interactions with women in Ashram as before it, which cause growing churning rate in Vaishnava renounced order.

Monastery – Culturally acceptable to be Restricted Area for WomenW

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

Latvia have just 2 million popu.

• 7 active Christian

Monasteries

7 Monasteries in today LatviaW

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

300 Roman Catholic convents and monasteries in Germany now accept visitors

About a quarter of a million guests were counted last year. They came to meditate, to fast, or simply to live briefly alongside people who have consecrated themselves to God.

Some 5,000 men who have taken holy orders, i.e. made a lifelong commitment, make up the entire monastic community in Germany. While there are about 25,000 nuns in religious communities.

Monks and Monasterie in GermanyW

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

Government Support

special laws about

monasteries and

monks/nuns

dedicate fund for them and as part of human

rights and religious freedom

Christian, Buddhist and

Vaishnava monasteries are on the

same laws level

any westerner have freedom

to choose, which Spiritual Path to follow.

Why

a M

onas

tery

Monks or Nuns

Government

Society/NGOs

SUPPORT STRUCTURE OF MONASTERIES IN EUROPEW

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

We can be supported by Government and NGOs, When ISKCON following Western government terms

On our own terms and conditions we are deprived of Government financial and laws support

Why

a M

onas

teryGOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Why

a M

onas

tery

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT CONDITIONS

Presenting our self as social workers, which anyway we do

We can receive Government financial and law support, when we form properly documents, according to government

laws, at least in Euro Continent 34 countries including Latvia, UK,

Germany, Denmark, Sweden etc

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Lifelong support for monks can be received in forms of food, closing, shelter and medicine (including hospital expenses).

This is How so many other Monasteries are surviving and flourishing, Where ISKCON CAN learnW

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

For social programs we can receive government support in form of rent for room, food, printing materials etc.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR OUTREACH (SOCIAL PROGRAM)

Why

a M

onas

tery

Even there are grants for building and upgrading social and crises centers (with can be living and serving area for monks), guest house, mental or/and physical invalid houses (even some of present ISKCON devotee end up in this group do to mixture of events)

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR OUTREACH (SOCIAL PROGRAM)W

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

For old people facility of houses (in ISKCON language Vanaprastha ashram) and hospice.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR OUTREACH (SOCIAL PROGRAM)

Why

a

Mon

aste

ry

students hostel facilities (places where students have supporting environment for following 4 regulative principles of freedom and practice Spiritual Life),

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR OUTREACH (SOCIAL PROGRAM)

Why

a

Mon

aste

ry

Already we are doing it here, same contents ‘Devotee care’, need just other name!!!

WHAT KIND OF SOCIAL WORK GOVT EXPECTS?W

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

1.Social prevention and rehabilitation programs for children and youths

• Socially responsible life free of alcohol, drugs, sexual mis-contacts;

• Improving study and concentration skills;• Responsible and harmonious family relationship

WHAT KIND OF SOCIAL WORK GOVT EXPECTS?W

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

2. Social prevention and rehabilitation programs for middle age people

• Middle age or Identity crisis – Who I am? Where I belong to?• Loneliness – who to find our harmonious place and activities in

sociality; • Responsible and harmonious family relationship

WHAT KIND OF SOCIAL WORK GOVT EXPECTS?W

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

3.Social prevention and rehabilitation programs for old age people

• Fearlessness of death – What will happen with me during and after death?

• Hospice– facilitate people harmonious death experience and support for their relative emotional heath;

WHAT KIND OF SOCIAL WORK GOVT EXPECTS?W

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

4.Social rehabilitation programs for physical or/and mental invalids, former prisoner and unemployed people;

• Socially responsible life free of alcohol, drugs, sexual mis-contacts

WHAT KIND OF SOCIAL WORK GOVT EXPECTS?W

hy a

Mon

aste

ry

We are already

doing these activities

Need to show Govt

Need to adjust names ‘social’

We will receive grants

Why

a M

onas

tery

Why Internati

onal?

From Europe Continent 50 countries 26 are have population less that 5 million each and all 26 countries together have 43 million population.

When we from 1st day setting up English Speaking International Vaishnava Monastery, that give easy and natural way to anyone from 740 million people Visit and Practise in Monastery for short or longer time.

At present in Latvia for life can stay people from 34 Euro Union and Schengen countries - just with Passport without any special VISA. From 1 Jan 2014 Latvia will have Euro (€) as country currency.

Why

In

tern

atio

nal

Why

Patronage by in

Indians?

Cooperation with Indian Embassy and Special Country Government Care

• Land-donor as lawyer see it as needful plus for project development, that Indian trust is legal owner of land and real Patron of project, because European Countries governments giving more importance to International projects as local in order to cultivate International as India – Latvia relationships.

• Such path right now successfully walking some Cristiana and Buddhist in West. And as the results countries government give special care and intention to these Monasteries in comparison with just national Monasteries.W

hy P

atro

nage

by

Indi

ans

Cooperation with Indian Embassy give more acceptance from local people

• For local people is easier to accept that Indians leading and developing Indian culture in Latvia with local people support as just local people do it them self.

Why

Pat

rona

ge b

y In

dian

s

Wider visions, non-partial to one particular European Country or Nation

• In Europe Continent 36 countries we have more that 200 centres, where many of existing centres are lock in their own local sustenance (communal bills, food, shelter etc) and local outreach programs. When we are for 20-30 years are locked in our own short sited 2-3 million people area, it is very difficult to step back and see wider picture – 740 million people picture. What is needful and be so helpful in long run for all Europe Continents, for all Western and Eastern World including USA, Canada, Australia, India?W

hy P

atro

nage

by

Indi

ans

Have 25+ years proved capacity

• For example, such Indian communities as SSRG with their leaders and monks have 25+ years proved capacity to set up new workable Sustainable and Long-Lasting grihastha and monastic model like “International Vaishnava Monastery in Europe”, given by Srila Prabhupada and explained by Radhanath Swami Maharaj in cooperation with European Continent Governments, Embassies and NGOs. This model later can be adapted and implemented in others existing Euro Continent Vaishnava communities.W

hy P

atro

nage

by

Indi

ans

Case Study 1 – Buddhist “Forest Sangha trust” 16 Monasteries

Forest Sangha trust (www.ForestSangha.org) at 2012 unite 16 Buddhist Monasteries in West including England, France, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Italy, Canada and the United States and 4 Monasteries in Thailand with 122 Western Monks (Eldest 45 year serve as monk) and 11 Western Nuns. Now trust setting up two new Monasteries - in Brazil and Portugal.

Thee Case Studies

Amaravati Buddhist monastery (www.amaravati.org) have close cooperation with Thailand government, Embassies and local governments. Local and foreign governments and NGO’s support monk social security in terms of food, closing, shelter and medicine (including hospital expenses).

Govt Support to Monastries

The budget of the Amaravati Monastery at on 2011 was total: £348,000 (USD 525’600). Equivalent to approximately £6,700 per week or £950 per day. The figures exclude 'dana' for food and other gifts in kind on average £500-600 per day.

Average daily expenses per one Monastery resident including gifts £58 (USD 80).

35 Monastery residents = monks 19 + 8 nun + 8 long time volunteers.

Amaravati Monastery annual budget

Case Study 2 – Mount Athos with 20 Christian Monasteries

After reaching a low point of just 1,145 mainly elderly monks in 1971, the monasteries have been undergoing a steady and sustained renewal. By the year 2000, the monastic population had reached 1,610, with all 20 monasteries receiving an infusion of mainly young well-educated monks. In 2009, the population stood at nearly 2,000 monks, where many younger monks possess university education and advanced skills.

Case Study 2 – Mount Athos with 20 Christian Monasteries and about 2000 Monks

In all Mount Athos (www.WikiPedia.org and www.AthosWeBlog.com) territory (335 km2 or 130 sq mi) is a prohibition on entry for women, to make living in celibacy easier for those who have chosen to do so. Monks feel that the presence of women alters the social dynamics of the community and therefore slows their path towards spiritual enlightenment.

Mount Athos with 20 Christian Monasteries and about 2000 Monks

 Case Study 3 – Roman Catholic monks and nuns

Year 2010Total priests 412,236

Religious brothers (monks) 54,665

Religious sisters (nuns) 721,935

Total Celibates 1,188,836

 Case Study 3 – Roman Catholic monks and nuns

Intelli-gence

Organi-zation

For the Pleasure Of

Srila Prabhupad

a

By Cooperation We Can Do Wonders…

By Coopera-tion

We Can

Do Wonders

for Pleasure

of Sria

Prabhpupada

By Cooperation We Can Do Wonders…

Thank You Very MuchFor more detail please visit “International Vaishnava

Monastery and Farm Community in Europe” website www.OurMonastery.wordpress.com