BCN - Interview with Akrura dasa

09-04-2006, 06:56 AM

Bhaktivedanta Coaching Newsletter

Interview by Gaura Krsna dasa, Bhakti Sastri teacher (MIHET and ISKCON
London) with Akrura dasa (Bhaktivedanta Coaching)

Gaura Krsna dasa: What is it that coaching offers other than Krsna
consciousness? Isn't Krsna consciousness just enough for our personal
improvement or development, to just know the Gita and advance in Krsna
consciousness?

Akrura dasa: As far as I have seen, the way we train devotees sometimes
tends to make them too dependent on their superiors. Coaching helps devotees
become self-reliant, self-responsible, even self-motivated. It helps them
become strong sooner. Coaching, from the very start, tries to tap into their
own resources, potential, dormant Krsna consciousness, or spiritual
intelligence. It helps them take initiative and responsibility from the very
beginning.

GKd: Does it not develop too much independence, because we are supposed to
be taking shelter of guru, Krsna, devotees, temple president? Is there a
danger that people could become too independent?

Ad: Excellent question! Very relevant for ISKCON devotees. Yes, there is a
danger that devotees can become too independent. Therefore, Krsna conscious
coaching or Bhaktivedanta Coaching must be designed and conducted in such a
way that devotees always have a proper understanding based on the
scriptures. They should properly understand what is their position,
situation; what does it mean to be self-responsible; how they are
accountable to their authorities; how dependency on Krsna or Krsna's mercy
is the basis of success; how to effectively take help from sadhus, sastras
and gurus; and how run one's own airplane.

Bhagavad-gita says that we are not the doer, so we should understand this.
We are getting the ability to act and achieve from Krsna. We also need
Krsna's representatives to help us. We should remember this always and be
grateful for this. So we must have good grounding in the sastras. At least
in the basics, like the Bhagavad-gita. Bhaktivedanta Coaching is based on
the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

The fact that we are using coaching techniques doesn't mean that we want to
deviate. Some of those are: listening, asking relevant questions,
summarising, giving feedback, giving suggestions, turning problems into
opportunities, challenging respectfully. I think all these things are
actually already in the scriptures. It's just that we are now using them
very consciously and intentionally to spiritually advance and to help
devotees succeed.

GKd: I can also see that coaching can sometimes slip into counselling. Is
this a danger?

Ad: There is a danger. A Krsna conscious coach has to be skilled enough or
aware enough to notice when coaching is slipping into counselling.
Counselling deals more with the past, with hurt emotions, psychological
problems, or past traumas. Coaching is more focused on the present and the
future and on using devotee's intelligence and the mind to his or her
advantage. If a devotee needs serious psychological help, he or she has to
seek assistance somewhere else.

GKd: It's becoming apperent to me that there are four areas that we have to
make sure are included. Firstly, we have to be well grounded in the Krsna
conscious philosophy, so that we can apply coaching to that. Secondly, in
order to coach others, we have to be properly trained in coaching. Thirdly,
we have to actually be coached ourselves, to get an experience of it. And
fourthly, we have to implement it and coach others. In order to keep
progressing, we need to continuosly be acting on these four areas.

Ad: Exactly. Well said. Coaching is a very systematic process and it
requires a lot of self-discipline. We need to prepare for the session. We
need to be sure that we know what are our coachee's issues are and be well
prepared in order to deal with them. Pre-work and post-work is highly
important. You prepare for the session and you also make notes after the
session and think about ideas how to help a devotee in the next session. Jot
your ideas down and bring them to the session to remind yourself. Coaching
is a wonderful service. It maximizes serving a particular devotee in a
one-to-one situation. Maximizes the benefit and the value for the devotee
being coached.

GKd: What other coaching skills would you mention as important?

Ad: One of them is drawing forth, or releasing the potential of the devotee.
It's interesting that the word education comes from Latin educare, which
means to draw forth. I think this is the most important skill. This may
include various areas, like physical, emotional, intellectual, and,
ultimately, spiritual potential of a devotee.