Beginning with one-time program, we may conduct a six-session program to consolidate a     group of youth in a particular college. Sometimes six-session course is found ineffective due to the following reasons:

1. Students attend one or two sessions and don't turn up later
2. The strength gradually diminishes as we go from the first to the last session.
3. Many students are preoccupied with other engagements and are unable to give six continuous day evenings.
4. Students come to know that ISKCON people have strong philosophy, but they do not have the opportunity to experience ISKCON temple atmosphere and life style of a Vaishnava.

Yoga Retreat Camp comes as a good alternative for overcoming these problems.

What is a Yoga Retreat Camp ?

Yoga Retreat Camp is a two-day residential youth program, held in the temple premises. About 20 to 30 boys can be accommodated for a Yoga Retreat Camp. It is held in the weekends, from Friday evening to Sunday evening. Fees (as in Pune) are

Yoga Retreat Camp for students      : Rs. 90/-

Yoga Retreat Camp for working people : Rs. 200/-

Majority of the boys have no idea about what spiritual life is all about and they carry numerous misconceptions about religion.  They think sadhus are useless lazy elements in society who just eat, sleep and while away all their time. This yoga camp gives an opportunity for students with such misconceptions to see for themselves living examples of young educated ISKCON sadhus, who are dynamic, ecstatic, ever enthusiastic in their preaching and services.

When the boys attend an ISKCON program in their college, it may not produce an everlasting impression that a yoga camp can create in his mind.

This two day camp is an exclusive activity for the boys, where they

• are completely away from materialistic association
• are able to see the lifestyle of devotees in Krishna Consciousness
• get association of devotees
• are able to completely focus on the deities and the holy name
• get systematic & scientific knowledge of Bhagavad Gita (to slash their misconceptions)

Special Features

• Presentation of topics from Bhagavad gita along with color slide show
• Mantra Meditation
• Character Build-up
• Video show
• Quiz conducted on the presentations
• Dramas & Music
• Delicious Prasadam
• Attractive Prizes
• Sloka Recitation
• And many more…..……..

Features of a Yoga Camp

1. Registration

1. On Friday evening, the students register their names at the registration table. A sample registration form is given in the appendix. If they have not already paid they can pay and register immediately and collect their copy of the course book ‘Discover Your Self’.
2. They are served with juice as soon as they come.
3. The devotee at the registration table gives them a warm welcome. As soon as registration is done, they are sent to the allotted rooms. The rooms are kept ready in advance (taking care that beds, blankets, pillows are available).
4. Once reaching their rooms they can refresh themselves and relax for some time. Later a devotee can inform them about the commencement of the orientation lecture. The schedule for the Yoga Retreat Camp should be already put up on the notice board by this time, so that the boys are aware of the various programs for the coming two days. A sample schedule of the Yoga Retreat Camp is given in the appendix.   

2. Orientation Lecture

1. We begin the camp with kirtans. Prayers can be chanted for invoking an auspicious atmosphere. Prayer sheets can be distributed to the students. A sample copy of the prayer sheet is given in the appendix.
2. Before the lecture commences, the students can be informed about the quiz to be conducted on these presentations, so that they can be attentive right from the beginning.
3. The introductory lecture is on the topic of “Can we see God?”, which is based on the book “Discovery Your Self”. This book is especially designed for the youths, keeping in mind the arguments that youths have in regards to the proof and authenticity of Bhagavad Gita. Since the youths are blinded by the scientific advancement, and are proud of it, we are using the same science systematically to build up their understanding of the Bhagavad Gita.

             ‘Discover Your Self’ is a six-session course book explaining The Fundamental Topics of Bhagavad Gita. The topics of the same are

                         Session 1: Can we see God?       

                         Session 2: Relative and Absolute Knowledge

                         Session 3: The Infallible Vedic Wisdom

                         Session 4: The Science of Soul

                         Session 5: Substance and Shadow

                         Session 6: Sanatana Dharma - The Art of Living

4. All the sessions are accompanied with color slide shows. Psychologists say that if you present something orally, a person grasps only 15% to 20% of what you speak; but if you present the same thing using visual aids, he grasps about 80% to 90% of it. Taking this into consideration we have enhanced all our lecture presentations with beautiful color slides to be presented on a slide projector. (We have all these slides for all the six sessions, available for sale. You can place an order at ISKCON Youth Forum (I Y F), Pune. There are approximately 15 to 20 slides for each session. A lot of effort has gone in preparing these slides and it is a permanent asset for any youth preacher who wants to begin preaching in colleges. Special plastic mounting has been used for maintaining long life of the slides)
5. The lecture can last for about an hour. At the end of every lecture there is an open question answer session. This is essential for the students to clear their misconceptions as well as to become more acquainted with the devotee speaker.
6. After the question answers, the students are taught how to sing Guru-astaka prayers, Narsingha arati prayers, so that the next day morning it will be easy for them to catch up with the kirtans (mangala – arati). While teaching Guru-astaka prayers, the students can be given a copy of prayers. A sample copy of mangala-arati prayers is given in the appendix.
7. Later those students who have not yet taken dinner prasadam can honor prasadam. Those who have not yet seen the schedule for the camp are requested to see the schedule to be aware of the timings. They have to be requested to take rest immediately since they do not have the habit of waking up early. Generally the students may not have the habit of sleeping early, hence after the presentation is finished, they may want to loiter around the temple complex.
8. Care should be taken that they get sufficient sleep (in terms of time) & sound sleep (make arrangements for mosquito repellents) at night, so that they are fresh in the morning ready to digest spiritual subject matters. Drinking water can be provided in their respective rooms. Remember, it is the hospitality & genuine concern that attracts the students, rather than the presentations.
9. The students should be told about the importance of early morning waking up.

It is said “ Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy & wise”.

They can be informed about the brahma muhurta, how the early morning is in the mode of goodness, afternoon time is in the mode of passion, & night is in the mode of ignorance. And as the day advances, the modes change and it becomes more difficult to control the mind.

10. The students should be informed about the necessity of a quick bath!

Generally students do not have a habit of taking a quick bath. Moreover, being a new place it takes time to adjust. Depending on the number of students and the number of bathrooms, the students can be intelligently woken up. Students may have a habit of taking a hot water bath; even if they don’t have the habit, we should provide hot water for them since early morning hours are generally chilling (especially in Pune it is chilling). They should be informed that it is more important to be present in the temple for mangala-arati than to take a bath during mangala-arati time & miss the mangala-arati. There may be some students who may be fearing to take a bath at such an early hour. They can be told to brush their teeth, wash their face and come for mangala-arati. 

If there are no facilities for geyser, or if it takes a long time to get heated, then a large quantity of water can be stored in the night, which will be heated very early morning (water can be stored in a big container which can be heated by the gas cylinder) so that it is ready when the students wake up in the morning.

11. Groups of 4 – 5 students should be made for the quizzes, which will be conducted in the next two days. Also groups of 10 – 12 students should be made for the garden program. Details of quiz & garden program will be given later in their respective sections. As far as possible try to enroll students who will not leave in between the sessions, giving different reasons such as college practicals or wanting to go back home (home sick) or various other reasons. It spoils the mood of the camp & also it becomes difficult to adjust the groups, which are made.

Saturday Morning

The students should be woken up well in time to get ready for the morning mangala-arati. Each of them can be given a mangala-arati prayer sheet. Generally lights are off in the temple hall during mangala-arati, so care should be taken that at least one light is on for the students to refer to the mangala-arati prayer sheet. After the mangala-arati the students are guided to proceed towards the garden to have a garden program.

3. Garden Program

In the garden program, students are taught about the importance of chanting Hare Krishna mahamantra, as well as some important slokas from Bhagavad Gita. Immediately after the morning mangala-arati, the garden program starts.

• The co-ordinator can inform the students to be seated in a particular group in the garden.(Groups of 10 – 12 students are made for the garden program).
• The students are requested to sit in a circle (not one behind the other, as in a lecture), so that the preacher gets to see everyone & can give personal attention to everyone.

The following necessary things should be ready before the commencement of the garden program:

 

1. A big sitting carpet (shatranjee) should be arranged for the students to sit in the garden. Number of carpets would depend on the number of groups.
2. Arrange vyasasana for the speaker (this need not be the one used for the Bhagavatam class, but a simple one which may even be made of piles of blankets).
3. Arrange water for the speaker (including a covering for the glass).
4. Arrange for the mike system. Now, again, the number of mike system depends on the number of groups. Care should be taken that the batteries (required for the mike system) are charged completely. Also, mike stand can be provided.
5. Arrange for gaslights (petromax) to be kept in the center, surrounding which all the students will be sitting. These lamps create a very wonderful atmosphere. It is a very pleasant sight to see the first rays of the sun, while hearing the lecture. The chirping of the birds is really enchanting. It has become a rare sight, especially for the students, since generally they are not early morning wakers. It is a general observation that the students appreciate the morning garden program very much.
6. Also, mosquito coils can be provided.
7. Most importantly, sloka recitation sheet and chanting beads are seperately kept in a circle for each of the students.

Once the scene is set, the students are sent in their respective groups. They are taught about the importance of chanting. Refer to the Chanting notes given in the appendix (syllabus for the first day). These notes are only for the reference of the preacher and not meant for distribution. Later, they are taught practical mantra meditation, i.e. chanting Hare Krishna maha mantra. All the students are requested to chant in chorus, with a slow pace and distinctly (since they are not accustomed to chanting Hare Krishna). The students really love chanting in a group. This is completed in about 30 to 40 min. A sample copy of the glories of chanting Hare Krishna is given in the appendix.

Later the students are taught to recite some slokas from the Bhagavad Gita. Copies of the sloka recitation sheet are distributed to the students. A sample copy of the sloka recitation sheet is given in the appendix. The preacher can teach twice or thrice the pronunciation, and later the students can be asked to recite. For each sloka three of the students can be given a chance to recite, so that he feels a sense of involvement in the camp. A brief explanation with striking examples, analogies or stories is given on each sloka for about 5 to 10 minutes. About 4 - 5 slokas are completed in the same manner in one morning session. Thus ends the Garden Program.

4. Post-Garden Program

Before shringar darshan, the students are served hot milk & some dry sweet at sharp 7:00 am. The preacher can have light talk during this 15 minutes period with the students.

The students are directed to the temple hall for shringar darshan. Then the students attend Guru-puja. Each of the students can be given a copy of guru-puja prayer sheet. A sample copy of the same is given in the appendix. Later they attend the Brahma Samhita prayers. Copies of Brahma Samhita prayers should be distributed to the students. A copy of the same is given in the appendix.

After this, the students relax for about half an hour. This is essential to ensure that the students have fresh mind to listen to the lecture presentation. It should be noted that the students are not accustomed to waking up early morning, hence it is better to let them have a brief rest. Otherwise it is observed that the students feel very sleepy in the lecture.

5. Second session

After about half an hour relaxation the students are invited for the second lecture presentation on the topic of “ Relative and Absolute Knowledge ”, alongwith the slide show. Of course before every lecture, there are kirtans. Again there are questions and answers at the end of the presentation, & then they are requested to proceed for morning breakfast.

After breakfast, they take rest immediately for about 45 min. These small naps are essential to keep them fit for the programs. Generally the students want to loiter around the temple complex during the rest time allotted to them. As a service to them, they should be put to rest. Although now, they may be very enthusiastic, as the day progresses more they will feel very tired (since the schedule is very tight) & hence not be able to take advantage of the programs.

After rest, video show is arranged for the students. We have videocassettes of “Acharya”,

“ Abhay Caran “ – many volumes, “ Hare Krishna Hare Krishna”, “Hare Krishna in Italy” ………… The video show goes on for about an hour.

6. Third session

The third lecture presentation is on the topic “Infallible Vedic Wisdom". Again there are questions and answers at the end of the presentation, & then they are requested to proceed for lunch prasadam.

After the lunch prasadam the students are requested to take rest for about an hour. It is a general observation that at this time, it is not necessary to tell the students to take rest. By this time they will feel so tired that it becomes difficult for us to wake them after an hour.

7. Revision program

After their rest, revision (on the previous lecture presentations) is conducted for the students by a few leaders to prepare them for a quiz based on what they have heard till then. This revision is done with one leader teaching a group of 5 to 8 students while all of them refer to the course book DYS. This thorough revision helps them to solidify what they heard in the color slide shows. Since they are new to Krishna Consciousness, the revision helps them very much in the quiz.

8. Individual & Group Quiz

A sample copy of the individual quiz is given in the appendix. The students should be provided with papers & pens for the individual quiz.

After the individual quiz the group quiz is conducted. This is very interesting. The students are divided into groups of 4 or 5, & some spiritual names like Krishna group, Balaram group, Gauranga group, Nityananda group can be given to the groups. All the students identify themselves with the particular group, and there is a healthy competitive spirit. A mike system, carpet will be required. A scorer as well as a blackboard & some chalks will also be required to note the marks of the groups. Whenever a student gives a proper answer beats of mridangam accompanied by kartalas can be played to enthuse him, and his particular group. By the end of the group quiz, it may get dark & gaslights (helium lamps) may be used.

As soon as individual quiz is completed, it should be corrected. A format of quiz results tabulation (see appendix) should be made in advance. Now, as soon as the papers are corrected, immediately the marks can be entered, printout can be taken. The individual quiz results for the first day should be put on the notice board before the students take rest.

This is very essential to enthuse the students so that those who got good marks will try to maintain and those who have got less marks will try to come ahead.

Students will also appreciate quick output of results.

If dramas are prepared, they can be put up after the group quiz.

In the absence of dramas we can have some kirtans (Hare Krishna tunes or Vaishnava bhajans), or one of the preacher can speak on some light topics like “The Jet age acharya -- Srila Prabhupada”, “Varnasrama dharma” etc.

After this there is an ISKCON Youth Forum (IYF) meeting. Refer to the section on “Week-end IYF meetings”.  IYF Meeting can be considered as 4th session.

After the IYF meeting they take dinner prasadam and take rest. Those who have not seen their quiz marks can see the same in the notice board.

Care should be taken that they get sufficient rest (in terms of time) & sound sleep (make arrangements for mosquito repellents) at night, so that they are fresh in the morning ready to digest spiritual subject matters. Drinking water can be provided in their respective rooms. Remember, it is the hospitality & genuine concern that attracts the students, than even the presentations

Sunday Morning

Refer to section on Saturday morning Program.

9. Garden Program

Refer to section on Garden Program except that 2nd days notes have to be refereed for teaching glories of Hare Krishna maha mantra. Also the sloka recitation should continue from where we left off.

The rest of the morning programs go on similar to Saturday morning program.

10. Fifth session

After about half an hour relaxation the students are invited for the fifth lecture presentation on the topic of “Substance and Shadow ”, along with the slide show. After breakfast, they are requested to take rest immediately for about 45 min.

After rest, video show is arranged for the students.

11. Sixth session

The sixth lecture presentation is on the topic of “Sanatana Dharma – The Art of Living“, along with slide show. Again there are questions and answers at the end of the presentation, & then they proceed for lunch prasadam.

After the lunch prasadam the students take rest for about an hour.

After their rest, revision (on the previous lecture presentations) is conducted for an hour.

Immediately after the revision they have second individual quiz & second group quiz. A sample copy of the second individual quiz is given in the appendix. The students should be provided with papers & pens for the individual quiz.

After the individual quiz the group quiz is conducted. Please refer to the previous days individual & group quiz for further information on how to organise.

If dramas are prepared, they can put up the drama after the group quiz.

Generally the last day (Sunday) is very hectic. As soon as the quiz is finished, a feedback can be taken from the students. A sample copy of the feedback form is given in the appendix.

It is essential for us to take feedback since

• We need to know the views of the students, although we may be happy that we have rendered some service in Krishna Consciousness.
• There is always room to improve, however expert we are. Generally, it is very difficult for us to find our faults or mistakes.
• By implementing the points from these feedback, we will be able to serve the forthcoming camp students in a better way.

After the feedback, the students are asked about their commitment in Krishna Consciousness, whether they will chant one round or two rounds……….

12. Concluding the Camp

Now, coming to our last & very important part of the camp:

One of the senior preachers will give a small talk about the activities of ISKCON Youth Forum (IYF).

1. This is where the students can be told about the IYF activities.
2. Stress can be laid on what IYF does for the society in general & specifically for the youths, since today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders.
3. Generally there are very less youths who are inclined to God Consciousness. Even if so, there are not enough temples which provide facilities specifically for the youths, hence request them to take to spiritual life quite seriously.
4. They can be informed about how to balance material life & spiritual life, even while living as a student in the outside world.
5. Generally the students feel “ What sort of service can I render to the temple, especially since I am a student? “. Hence they should be given lot of options according to their liking for rendering service. The formation of ISKCON Youth Forum (IYF) as an organization for the Youths is specifically for this purpose.

Currently, as far as I Y F Pune is concerned, the students can opt for (or even get trained in)

• Preaching
• Prasad Preparation
• Photography
• Drama / Skits
• Slide / Transparency

   making

• Communications
• Cassette Transcription
• Computer Typing
• Printing Know - how
• Translation
• Computer Typesetting
• Electrical Repairs
• Magazine Dispatch
• Magazine editing /

   Writing articles

• Driving Vehicles
• Drawing Cartoons &

   Pictures

• Fund Raising
• Singing & Playing

   musical instruments

• Xeroxing
• Controlling Mike 

      system

• Advertisement /

   Chart making

• Scanning pictures
• Packing prizes
• Book distribution

Need of a counselor for young boys