For the first time, listeners will be able to follow the ICELT Meetings (18-22 April) almost as soon as they happen.
ISKCON Communication Europe Leadership Team (ICELT) meetings are an annual sanga and think-tank that provide thoughtful analysis in a devotional atmosphere. These meetings are an opportunity to step back and consider the implications and direction of our preaching.
This year special focus is on ISKCON's relationship with Europe and Western culture. Many of us come from this culture. Do we understand it as well as we think we do? How much of it do we carry with us? How does it affect our understanding of Vaisnava philosophy? What are its guiding principles and what is our attitude towards these? How well do we need to understand these issues if we are to preach successfully here?
These questions and more are being asked with special reference to the events and history of ISKCON in Europe.
If you would like to stay tuned to these discussions audio recordings will be made available at the end of each day. Simply go to http://podserve.biggu.com/podcasts/show/icelt-2006 where you can either:
(1) Listen online
(2) Download for later listening
(3) Subscribe to the podcasts (with iPodderX, Juicer, iTunes, Odeo or other podcast client) so that they are automatically downloaded on to your computer/MP3 player as they become available.
OVERVIEW OF DISCUSSIONS
DAY ONE: ISKCON in Europe: Where am I and what am I doing here?
Europe, ISKCON and the Future (90 mins plus break)
Saunaka Rsi Dasa
What expectations does Europe have of its citizens, including ISKCON and its members? We will deal with issues of modernity, including freedom, fundamentalism, democracy, individualism, science, and secularism. How can ISKCON respond to Europe's expectations? Is there a definite strategy? What has our
response been to date? Do we integrate, assimilate or maybe isolate? How European are we or how European do we want to be?
Bhrgupada Dasa (90 mins)
With special reference to his studies of the Gaudiya Matha in Europe in the 1930s, Bhrgupada asks:
What is our relationship with European society?
What are our values?
To what extent are they the same or different? Why?
Do we understand Europe? Or do we just think we do?
Retreat: Trnad api sunicena
How do we apply respect, humility and tolerance as the basis for our preaching.
Am I a Hindu? Yes, no, when it suits me. (60 mins)
Rembert Lutjeharms
Opportunity or opportunism?(60 mins)
Akhandadhi Dasa
Our campaigns sometimes lean on values such as democracy and equal rights or our role as representatives of Hinduism. After the campaign, what is our approach to these values? Do our former allies view us as opportunists?
Overview and discussion (60 mins)
Anuttama Dasa
Where is the balance between "time, place, and circumstance" and integrity? Is there a conflict? Should there be a conflict? (External audience)
Do we use time, place, and circumstance as an excuse to avoid our duty? (Internal audience)
11.30am Meet with Rector Kevin Codd of American College at Louvain. The American College is a seminary founded in the 19th century by the American Bishops Conference to train US priests. The Rector will speak with us on their approach to issues such as secularism and how they deal with changing society.
4pm Prof. Rick Torfs at Catholic University of Louvain. Catholic church's historical response to the concerns we are dealing with now.
Clash (90 mins)
Federico Squarcini
To what extent is the difficult history due to cultural clash? Which cultures? Is it as simple as Vedic vs. Western? How Vedic is the West and how Western are we? How Vedic are we and how much of what is proposed as Western culture is actually accepted?
Preaching (90 mins)
Saunaka Rsi Dasa
Do we serve Europe or wait for Europe to serve us?
We all agree it is the essence, but what does it mean? Are we preaching effectively to our audiences? Are we even preaching to the choir?
Focus on France
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