By Sri Radhika devi dasi
Krsnanandini dasi is a true warrior! Although she has recently gone into the stage of hospice care at home after a painful battle with cancer, her service spirit remains undaunted. She will be the guest presenter at yet another webinar – this time, sharing her homeschooling experience, which has never before been documented, for Vaishnava Academy, ISKCON Chicago’s homeschool cooperative.
Her homeschooling experience is unique. Who else can boast of having successfully homeschooled ten children? Some devotees wonder how to homeschool a single child; others feel challenged by managing the needs of differently aged-learners under one roof. Krsnanandini dasi brings a voice of calm amidst this continuum. Not only did she homeschool her children in an atmosphere infused with Krishna consciousness, but she also prepared them for a lifetime of devotion and gave them the tools to achieve success in their careers. Some of her children are now initiated devotees, and represent the entire range of professions – from PhDs to engineers to health care professionals to police officers! Their characters are a true testament to her loving capacity as a mother.
Her son, Syama Vallabha das, who is initiated by Giriraj Swami and pursuing his Bachelors in Cyber Security, remembers, “My mother not only taught us what we needed to learn in this material world like math, science, reading, and writing, but she also taught us the most important thing - how to develop our spiritual life. At home, she would perpetually play a lecture of Srila Prabhupada or a kirtan. Due to this habit she inculcated in me, I still ensure that I hear Srila Prabhupada's voice every day. She taught me to read the Srimad Bhagavatam or the Bhagavad Gita as if Srila Prabhupada is narrating it to me. While doing just about anything, she would sing (we are) ‘cooking for Krishna’, ‘cleaning for Krishna’, or ‘shopping for Krishna’. At that time, I did not understand, but now, as an adult, I realize that she was teaching us how to practically do everything for Krishna. Part of our daily curriculum was to learn a verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam or the Bhagavad Gita. Because of this, I learned several important verses that I will never forget. Even if she was not my biological mother I would appreciate her for being an amazing mother, teacher, friend, guide, and loving person.”
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/homeschooling-webinar-with-krsnanandini-dasi,7393/
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