Discussion about New Vrindavan Gurukula
American history. That's all. They are Americans. They should learn American history. Don't bother much.
Prabhupāda:
…form a committee from education in your…
Hayagrīva:
Erm, they have to be taught reading, and for this they have primers.
Prabhupāda:
Primary readings.
Hayagrīva:
And this is all right to use?
Prabhupāda:
Because we haven’t got any books such.
Hayagrīva:
What about taking the primers and changing the names of the people to people like Satyabhāmā and give them spiritual names. Would that be nice?
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Devotee:
Hari-nāmāmṛtam.
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Hayagrīva:
All right. Arithmetic should be taught?
Prabhupāda:
Arithmetic? Yes. That is necessary.
Hayagrīva:
What about any history? World history or American history, or American literature or English literature?
Prabhupāda:
American history. That’s all. They are Americans. They should learn American history. Don’t bother much.
Hayagrīva:
Any Indian history?
Prabhupāda:
Indian history, that… Bhāgavata is all right.
Hayagrīva:
Bhāgavata… Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?
Prabhupāda:
That Kurukṣetra battle. That’s all. And there are many other stories in the Bhāgavatam. They are all historical.
Hayagrīva:
What about literatures? When they get older, of course. This would be for when they are older.
Prabhupāda:
Literature, we have got so many. Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavata.
Hayagrīva:
Any English literature, American literature, English literature?
Prabhupāda:
Yes. Any… Some of the English literature, recognized.
Hayagrīva:
Any of the sciences at all?
Prabhupāda:
I don’t think we require any science. What do you think?
Hayagrīva:
Biology?
Kīrtanānanda:
No.
Hayagrīva:
No. Geology, zoology, astronomy.
Prabhupāda:
Biology, you can teach them the evolution of the species from Padma-Purāṇa, 8,400,000’s, one after another. Yes.
Hayagrīva:
What about astronomy? Anything like that? No. Okay. Any animal husbandry they can learn out there. Animal husbandry they will learn…
Prabhupāda:
That they will learn practically, cow-keeping.
Hayagrīva:
At what age should they be taught to cook prasādam?
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Hayagrīva:
At what age should they be taught to cook?
Prabhupāda:
After twelve years.
Hayagrīva:
After twelve. And you think they can be taught typing, for instance? A skill like typing and how to use a typewriter?
Prabhupāda:
Does it require all? Well, just this knowledge is required.
Kīrtanānanda:
Whatever is practical.
Hayagrīva:
And the only other… Oh, how old should they be before Deity worship, they do Deity worship?
Prabhupāda:
Just after ten years.
Hayagrīva:
After ten years? Then they can do Deity worship?
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Hayagrīva:
That’s Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Deity worship.
Prabhupāda:
Any Deity. Or worship Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.
Hayagrīva:
Well, the boys are keeping Deities now, aren’t they?
Kīrtanānanda:
Yes.
Hayagrīva:
He said after ten.
Prabhupāda:
No, they are keeping as plaything now, not they are regularly worshiping.
Kīrtanānanda:
He means in the temple they can officiate, do ārati and things…
Prabhupāda:
Yes.
Hayagrīva:
Oh, I see. So from just very small they can keep Deities.
Kīrtanānanda:
Yes. As small as they want to.
Hayagrīva:
And you suggested… I have it written down somewhere. You suggested a certain number of hours for their school, about five hours or four hours a day, or…
Prabhupāda:
Three hours in the morning, two hours in the evening. That’s all. Not at a stretch. Morning, evening. And in the noon they should take their prasādam, take little rest.
Hayagrīva:
Because our literatures are a little difficult to read, see they have to…
Prabhupāda:
Yes. You have to make some suitable literature.
Hayagrīva:
Something… When they can do that, then they can read Bhagavad-gītā. They try a little, but it’s very difficult to begin.
Prabhupāda:
No.
Hayagrīva:
They cannot begin.
Prabhupāda:
Yes. [end]