Launchpad

What is Launchpad?

For the last four years The Harmony Collective has quietly been learning to fill a need for our broader devotional community: helping young men transition from the temple ashrama to married life.

We’re now formalizing this offering as a dedicated Launchpad – A Bachelor Ashrama @The Harmony Collective. The world remains a difficult place not only because there is no higher spiritual frame – but also because even the basic tenets of human life have eroded away and we’ve seen the cost of this confusion in our bhakti community as well.

Apply for Launchpad

So if there are first class men, then the whole problem is solved

Srila Prabhupada

This program exists in the spirit of Srila Prabhupada’s words. We want to help men who have spent dedicated time in the spiritual mission settle out as capable, thoughtful, independent people who can carry integrated Krishna consciousness with them wherever they go.

Program residents will live amongst our growing community that includes a temple, a children’s school, and a 10-acre eco-sanctuary with cows in the Ann Arbor / Metro Detroit area. That means they’ll have access to a supportive spiritual environment as well as a range of economic, educational, and cultural opportunities for career and lifestyle development. We hope and intend to be sending many actually eligible bachelors back to a ‘home’ that isn’t here after they complete the program. Residents will have to get out and get on with it after either 6 months or a year – which will be determined prior to their coming depending on their expressed goals. If some feel excited about staying close by after, we welcome that too as long as they’ve shown themselves ready for responsible village life.

 

What We Offer

  • Your own room in a devotional living environment
  • Weekly personal check-ins with guides for accountability, reflection, and direction
  • Support with approaching work, finances, romance and life planning
  • A peer environment of proactive men at a similar stage of life

Our Guides

  • Vaikuntha das: Prabhu is a true gem polished by 50 years in service. He has done most things you’d want to do in bhakti and seen all the rest yet remains genuinely kind to all and excited about Krishna, providing  the reassuring vision and guidance of a genuine elder
  • Yuga Dharma das: Though only in his mid 30s Prabhu is already married 12 years with 4 children and in a strong career track (currently a programmer at Netflix). He lovingly partners with his wife Audarya Lila in their passion for creating Krishna Conscious educational environments for children and together they are pioneering our school with great success. He brings a pragmatic approach that is grounded in real world savvy and strong faith in the value of a devotional life.
  • Deva Madhava das: His 15+ years of trying to be a bhakta while also building community has provided a useful perspective for him on what challenges young men face today and what resources can help to overcome them. 

Program Details

Participants will be vetted prior to acceptance and are expected to:

  • Provide personal references
  • Establish a clear set of goals to work towards while in the program if accepted
  • Secure employment early on in their stay and meet a monthly program fee
     
  • Offer a few hours of weekly service depending on their schedule and interests
  • Commit to either a 6-month or 12-month stay in accord with their personal goals
  • Participate in a weekly check-in with one of the program guides 

This is a space for men who value what they received in the temple and want to translate it into a mature, sustainable devotional life as householders.

If you know someone (or are that someone) in this stage and feel like this might be a good opportunity for them please pass this along or encourage them to reach out to us.

It has been really satisfying to offer this kind of support the last few years and we are looking forward to helping all who come for this more intentional expression of the service.