Who Are Kulis?
Lets discuss what Kuli means.
We have posted a position on how we’ve evolved our own thoughts on what a Kuli is/means/does etc. But I’d like to also open up this conversation and dialogue directly.
What do you think?
What is important to you?
How has your own thinking evolved?
What is changing as the older Kuli’s have children?
Are we connecting with the younger Kuli’s?
Do we connect enough outside the “born inside the movement” group, to include others who have a mood and energy associated with Kuli’s?
Is there a different cultural experience of the Bhakti/Hare Krsna/ISKCON movement for Kuli’s?
Where should we go with our identity, how can we ensure the best aspects of this identity are shared, can grow, and thrive in the modern world?
Who are Kulis?
Originally the term ‘Kuli’ related to those youth who attended a school called ‘Gurukula’ that was part of a traditional Indian Vaishnava movement started by Srila Prabhupada in Western countries. Over the years this term has grown to cover any second and third generation youth related to Srila Prabhupada’s movement although its meaning has grown somewhat ambiguous and unclear. Most of the traditional Gurukula schools have disappeared so younger Kulis don’t have the Gurukula background, whilst many of those ‘original’ Kulis are no longer ‘youth’.
To some extent, this ambiguity has also reflected the uncertainty many Kulis have felt in their relationship with each other and perhaps to a greater extent, the spiritual movement that is behind it all. The Kulimela concept is at heart therefore, an attempt to discover who Kulis are and what we stand for (if anything at all).
In the first Kulimela event held in New Vrindavan, it was proposed that Kuli refers to ‘servant’, following its literal Hindi meaning but in the mood of service and support for one another closer to the Vaishnava tradition. In the Alachua Kulimela, the term Kuli expanded to become an acronym for some of the ideals and goals that might tie us together:
Krishna (Consciousness)
Unity
(Balanced) Lifestyle
Inspiration
Whilst embracing the ideas of both New Vrindavan and Alachua, the exploration continues with the Radhadesh Kulimela, which has a strong emphasis on the inclusion of friends, family and other persons that are related, feel connected or somehow attracted to the Kuli community. The Kuli community must be inclusive, not exclusive. This exploration already began with Moscow Kulimela in 2007, which as well as strongly involving the support and participation of the wider Nama Hatta Vaishnava communities has also created a closer link between Eastern Europe/Russia and the Western Kuli groups.
Los Angeles, Kulimela, on the other hand, which is set for the summer of 2009, intends to explore the roots of Kuli history, the founders of the first Kuli reunions and original Kuli pioneers by celebrating 20 years since the first official Kuli reunion, which was held in LA in 1989.
Our hope is to find a unified purpose, which can respect and promote diversity within unity; one that crosses all political, sectarian and religious divisions, being based on principles of love, service and the search for inner spiritual understanding; and exemplified in our lives through practical and positive actions which benefit our families, friends, communities and society at large. Our strength and thus our success lies in our ability to work with and serve each other, whilst respecting our individual choices and paths.
Hello Friends,
I just read the “Who are Kulis” page and it struck me as odd that there was no mention about any of the abuses and horrors endured by the ISKCON “Gurukul Veterans”. It seems alot of us originally started meeting to find some kind of solace in each other’s company after being so deeply disturbed by our experiences in Gurukul. It seems that these are still unresolved issues which, as a group, we have still not assimilated, mastered or made peace with. I think this is a very important issue to be made as public as any other and I feel that resolving this issue stands to yield a great deal of realization into our identity as a group – our common values and aspirations.
Bhima-Karma
My impression is that we are trying to move away from negative ways of defining ourselves, and into more positive territory, such as working on projects together, sharing knowledge with each other, etc. We originally started meeting, I think, not because we wanted to speak to others who had been abused, but so that we could be ourselves with others who were raised in Krsna consciousness. Many of us don’t tell our karmi friends about our background, so we are never truly accepted by them, because they don’t truly know who we are. This problem doesn’t exist when we’re with each other. We all share the same stigma. Of course, some people may have come specifically to talk about abuse, but many don’t. Many come just because it’s a great time, to meet new people, etc. I also thought much of the abuse issue had been resolved, with Dhanurdhara out, and the lawsuit having been settled. As for how much realization the abuse thing will yield, it seems that we just find out that we were abused and that we are angry about it, and that’s about it. There’s a statement in the F.A.Q. section that really says it best, “The intent of Kulimela is to look forward, not backwards.”
Dhananjaya.
I would like to hear from some of the kulis of their feelings about their spiritual experience of krsna consciousness and also the balance of professional life or parenthood. I feel that a proper school within Iskcon may be possible. How would this be idealy? Would any Kulis like to be part of a school?
Sincerely,
Acharyavan das
New gurukulas would be an interesting topic.
On the one hand we’ve learnt so many lessons.
On the other, some of these issues are huge hurdles to overcome that require a society that actually has cohesion, balance, and economic stability. It doesn’t have to be wealthy, but it does have to be pulling together.
Some interesting developments are the “hybrids” such as the Charter School in Alachua, the new school openning soon in London near the Manor, and the government school at Saranagati.
All of these schools are government funded, some of them are built with mostly government money. They are government monitored, and the curriculum is mostly government sponsored.
On the other hand, a good proportion of the children (if not all) are devotee children. And the teachers are all well trained, professionals, and a good proportion (thought not all) are devotees.
This is, in some ways, the best of both worlds, in other ways it’s a sacrifice.
I prefer a secular environment in which to be spiritual. We are a society of free people, training our brains to be intelligent, not just robotic, so anything that makes our society more insular and non-secular simply brings us closer to militant abusive indoctrination. We are not the only religious society to face this challenge.
Of course, the positive and encouraging signs are that we have many properly and professionally trained teachers, we have a wealth of policies, and we have prime experience.
Personally, I want my children to grow up with other devotee children, as I did, in an environment free of smoking and meat, and learning about Krsna alongside the knowledge of the material world. I want nothing less than this, and any compromise on that will be painful.
So yes, there are many of us who want to be part of a school. But it must be run by trained professionals and with proper funding and policies in place to teach to a high level material knowledge, alongside the spiritual values and love for Krsna.
A friend of mine may open a boys boardings school at Saranagati. The children would go to the small local government school (which is all devotee kids). He would teach them spiritually at other times. It would be a small class. He’s a trained teacher, and has a masters in community development. He’s married to an assistant teacher who is studying at university for more teaching credits. He’s been through the gurukula system and values some of the best aspects, but has learnt from the worst.
I want my children in his school… but I also probably want to be close, so they don’t feel abandoned.
It’s certainly interesting.
Hare Krsna,
Kapila
“The intent of Kulimela is to look forward, not backwards.”
it seems as though in order to move forward there must be acceptance, understanding and growth from past experiences. Therefor it seems one must look back at unresolved issues and experiences, look at how it has affected their perception and become aware of how it has conditioned and influenced their present situations and/or choices along the way. in order to move forward with awareness, consciousness and an open heart i feel that it is so important to find some sort of understanding in order to accept, move through and grow from experiences. From what im reading, it looks as though some kuli’s would like this to be addressed.