ISKCON North America Mentorship
The ISKCON North America Mentorship Initiative was formed to fulfill the expressed desire of many devotees to have a structured, well-thought out, and continuously facilitated program of mentorship so that those that come under Srila Prabhupada's shelter can be supported and encouraged in all aspects, both spiritually and practically, throughout their lives.
We believe that when all devotees work and serve in harmony and cooperation and have one-on-one mentorship, there is love and trust and each devotee is protected and sheltered; inspired and enlivened; and supported and sustained.
The goal of the North America Mentorship Initiative is to establish a framework, best practices, practicality, guidelines, content, knowledge, training, continuing education, reference materials, and resources for mentors, mentees, temples and temple management.
Every devotee in ISKCON can benefit from a mentor whether they are new to Krishna consciousness, a seasoned devotee, or themselves a mentor. In this way devotees will be sheltered and can remain in the house which Srila Prabhupada built for the rest of their lives.
The Mentorship Team is here to serve you!
Framework
The ISKCON North America Mentorship Initiative serves as a facilitator working side by side with temple and temple management and providing guidance, support, inspiration, training, and continuing education to mentors.
The success of the Mentorship program relies on a structure of four intertwined elements working harmoniously: Team, Temple Management, Mentors, and Mentees.
A True Sheltering Relationship
A sheltering relationship is a fundamental aspect of an effective mentorship program. Mentorship requires a relationship that encompasses:
• Spiritual, mental, and emotional care
• Openness and honesty
• Confidentiality and is non-judgemental
• Beneficial to mentor and mentee
• Facilitates advice, support, guidance, and help
• Supports mentee getting professional help when applicable
• Mentee feels love and support and is willing to receive advice and aid from mentor
• Compassionate, practical, and understanding
• Free of ego and power
• A humble and accepting mood
Guidelines of a Mentor include, for example:
• Strong sadhana and strong Vaishnava Etiquette
• Delineated by ashram and gender. i.e., woman to woman, man to man, Sannyasi to Sannyasi
• Background check
• Must be sheltered and have a mentor themselves
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Mood of service, good listener, empowering, committed to ISKCON
• Only interest should be the growth and development of one's mentees
• Approved and vetted by temple management based on training and North America Mentorship Initiative certification