Social: What do you think of courses or seminars [all paid] to improve Maha Mantra chanting?

please provide details to see the whole picture.

Are you talking about the retreat given by Bhurijana prabhu?

Hare Krishna and Hari Bol
I fully agree with the OBJECTIVES as stated by Prabhu Govindas108 for the seminar/workshop for Japa Mantra. We have highly skilled and experienced devotees among us, who can be the tutors for the workshop. Let the duration initially be only two hours and the workshop can be on a very modest payment. Can we organize this on Sunday feast days? We can have a good no of participants on this day as mostly members come and attend Sunday pravachans. But before this the concerned Brahmacharies shall have to be trained for the itinerary of the workshop.

govindas108:Some devotees are making a business out of the Maha Mantra,which imho is not bonafide!

Seems to me they are paying for the facility of the retreat centre. Crazy world. In regards to having a japa retreat, great idea. Get away from responsibilities and simply focus for a weekend, and try and improve your chanting. Nothing wrong with that.

This statement may come accross as a bit heavy but, it is my honest opinion. I hope it is not taken in the wrong way. Many times I devotees prefer to have things free. It takes money, time and effort conduct a seminar. In my opinion some form of payment should be given whether agreed upon or voluntarily. It is part of our culture to give reward to the brahmanas for giving us knowledge. Not that it is our business, but I am seeing that, that part of our culture is being lost. Everyone else regards what other devotees do as, "They should do it as a service." But isn't it part of our service to give something back in return.

If there is some genuine inablility to pay something on the part of a devotee a concession should be made.

Of course there should be no charge for vedic knowledge, but another point is that everything cost money.

I have been teaching a bhagavad Gita course at out temple for over the last one year and a half and I asked for a donation of at least $30TT per month ($4.50 USD). This would help to cover the of a little prasad, printed materials and other incremental expenses. The result was that on several occasions I had to put out money of my own pocket to get material for the devotees.

if devotees feel it is something valuable, why should they hesitate to give some contribution. So much money we pay for mundane education and mundane pleasures, why should we hesitate for giving some contribution for spiritual knowledge.

I hope I have not made any offense by these statements..............that was not my intention..................if so please please forgive me.

What you say is true Mishra, and your point is also good santa.

The hen has two halves - brahmanas should not charge is one half. You should give charity to brahmanas is the other half. So I think to have credibility in saying: "They should not charge!', one should also put their money where their mouth is and give donations to brahmanas. Maybe if everyone did that, then there would be no need to charge for any of these things?

At the same time the facilities angle is also there. We charge for our programs at Atma Yoga, but no-one makes a profit or even a living from it. We are all donating our time and energy, and our money in many cases to make up the shortfall, but at the end of the day the rent and utilities must be paid. So the guests pay as much as they would for either dinner or a yoga class anywhere else, and get both, plus association of devotees and the opportunity to come for kirtan, Bhagavad-gita study group or philosophy nights.

You have to be practical. If you have something else that works then please share the success story.

I agree with mishra....donations from congregation etc. to support these types of fundamental programs supplied by temples.

Probably it is not as light and normal as some want to be and not as dramatic as others explain.
Just that the mode of goodness platform has some characteristics and the mode of passion other.
And mode of goodness is the absolute minimum wherefrom one can advance in KC.
Passion tinged programs will bear passion effects. Like I was hearing about the japa retreats that people do "well" in the retreat and then return to their life to the same, wanting more retreats... clearly mode of passion motivated and no substantial advancement.