After forty years of managing temples or Mandirs in many different ways, as well as traveling all over India and seeing how others utilize successful plans, Stephen Knapp has put together a book that explains the most important programs that any temple can use for more effectively protecting and perpetuating the Vedic traditions. In a non-sectarian way, he lists and describes how the Dharmic temples of all kinds can increase their congregations as well as engage their members in service to help in maintaining the temples and traditions, and expanding their influence. Some of what is included are:
* The primary mission of the temple.
* Services the guests can easily offer in seva to the temple or deity.
* Giving Vedic culture to the next generation.
* Temple classes, the Sunday program and children’s schools and youth camps.
* Vedic temples as centers of sacred knowledge.
* The power of adult study groups, cultural and outreach programs, and festivals.
* Utilizing temple restaurants, gift shops, exhibits, and support groups.
* Ways of reaching more people, both in India and the USA.
* The need and ways for promotion, and radio, television, and newspapers.
* An action plan on how to cultivate Vedic culture and Krishna consciousness in America.
* Attracting and welcoming non-Indians and Western seekers for more support.
* Starting a spiritual revolution in India and elsewhere.
* Working with priests, rituals, and teaching the culture and traditions.
* Unifying and organizing the Vedic/devotee community.
This book is especially good for temple managers and those who work with and support temples. This book covers many more methods that are not merely ideas, but are already being used in practical and successful ways to help preserve, promote and spread what is the last bastion of deep spiritual truth, Krishna consciousness. As more temples are built in Western countries and around the world, these strategies will become increasingly important. Using these techniques as the basis of your ideas, your temple cannot help but be successful.
Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK
CHAPTER ONE: 6
GIVING INSPIRATION: THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE VEDIC TEMPLE
Additional Ways to do This * Basic Services that Guests can Offer for the Temple
CHAPTER TWO: 14
VEDIC MANDIRS: LIVING EXAMPLES OF SANATANA-DHARMA
CHAPTER THREE: 19
DARSHAN AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DEITY WORSHIP
CHAPTER FOUR: 23
VEDIC TEMPLES: MAKING THEM MORE EFFECTIVE
It is all in the Presentation * Using the Universal Language * Temple Classes * Temple Priests * Educating the Youth * The Sunday School * Basic Sunday School Itinerary * For Older Youth and Adults * Youth Camps * The Sunday Temple Program * Mentoring Programs * Adult Study Groups * Training Temple Members in Service * Temple Ashrams * Outside Temple Ashrams * Temples Must be Well Kept * Festivals & Programs for the Local Community * Kirtan Festivals * Harinam Sankirtana * Book Distribution * Brochures and Handouts * Cultural Presentations * Outreach Programs * Temple Tours and Cultural Exhibits for Local Students * Temple Exhibits * Welcoming Non-Indians into the Vedic Fold * Temple Gifts Shops * Spiritual Libraries * Temple Restaurants * Support Groups * Pilgrimages to the Holy Places of India * Promotion * Working with the Local Newspaper * Starting a Radio Show * Starting Television Shows * Sustainability of Projects * Fund Raising * Starting New Temples or Expansions * Temples Must Share Methods that Work * Temples Must Help Unify People
CHAPTER FIVE: 92
GIVING VEDIC CULTURE TO THE NEXT GENERATION
What the Youth can Start Doing
CHAPTER SIX: 102
VEDIC TEMPLES AS CENTERS OF SACRED KNOWLEDGE
Handing Over Temples to the Younger Generations * Why go to the Temple?
CHAPTER SEVEN: 108
AMERICAN DHARMISTS: HOW TO CULTIVATE YOUR CULTURE IN AMERICA
An Eight Point Action Plan
CHAPTER EIGHT: 119 WITHOUT PROMOTION VEDIC CULTURE CANNOT BE PROTECTED
A Few Ways of Promotion
CHAPTER NINE: 126
CREATING A SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION IN INDIA
FOR PROTECTING INDIA’S VEDIC HERITAGE
Focusing on the Villages and Towns * Ways of Reaching out to the Villages Doing Padayatras by Swamis and Acharyas * Organizing and Teaching Villages * Building Little Temples in Each Village * Establishing an Open-Door Policy of Sharing Culture and Traditions * Villages and Conversions * Providing Spiritual Education and Practice * Additional Points * Book Distribution * Retraining for Temple Priests in the Villages * Providing Assistance for Medical Concerns * Providing Free Food Distribution for Children and the Poor * Free Education for the Children * Vedic Schools Outside India * Additional Programs to Arrange * Cultivating the Women in India * Rallies to Protest Government’s Ill Actions * Follow-Up Actions and Organizing Villages
CHAPTER TEN: 157
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT VEDIC CULTURE IS THE LAST BASTION OF DEEP SPIRITUAL TRUTH
The Freedom in Vedic Culture
GLOSSARY 162
REFERENCES 171
INDEX 172
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 175
Ordering information can be found at www.stephen-knapp.com. This book is available as both paperback and as Kindle Ebook through Amazon.com.
