Name / Initiated name
My legal birth name is Mark Ventimiglia, and my spiritual name is Ahimsasankirtanananda dasa Brahmacharya; but you can call me Ahimsananda. I answer to most anything though.
Daily number of rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra.
64
When, where and how did you come into contact with the Hare Krishna Movement?
1995; St. Louis Missouri; friend of Gargamuni dasa Brahmacharya.
Name the nearest or most frequently Visited ISKCON temple/ centre and name few of the devotees whom you know.
Sri Krishna-Balaram Mandir; St.Louis, Missouri. Bhima dasa; Sura dasa; Devananda dasa; Surapal dasa; Phalguna dasa; Prema dasa; Gargamuni dasa; Chakri dasa; Gaura dasa; Navayogendra Swami; Satsvarupa dasa Goswami; Danavir Goswami; Ramapada Swami; Bhakta Manabu; Bhakta Adam; and Bhakti Dallas. I hope I didn't leave anyone out.
Please describe yourself so that other like minded devotees can find you.
All glories to Lord Sri Krishna & Radharani. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my humble obeisances! I practice Bhakti-yoga, Hatha-yoga, and Dhyana-yoga. I have studied under many masters, both in and out of ISKCON. Thank you for allowing me to join your humble web community.
Your unworthy servant,
Ahimsananda
What are your expectations from this community?
Currently, I teach yoga at Club Fitness in the greater St. Louis area, but I'll be turning 50 next year and with the grace of Lord Krishna, I hope to accept Sannyasa... or at least be allowed to retire from the material world and reside in an ISKCON temple. Hopefully this community can help me achieve this goal. I have practiced Brahmacharya since 2002.
Describe any specific service you would love to offer to Lord Krishna & His devotees?
I have created a new style of Yoga (I call it Krishna-yoga) that incorporates all three disciplines: Bhakti, Hatha, and Dhyana. I would love to teach this yoga to many ISKCON devotees. I realize that Srila Prabhupada looked unfavorably on Hatha-yoga because many of the so-called Hatha-yoga yogis were nothing more than gymnasts and acrobats trying to earn fame and gain from their efforts. However, in the tradition of the ancient Vedic yogis, I teach not out of a desire for wealth and fame, but to spread the sweet nectar of Krishna-prema. Also, I understand the difficulties with Dhyana-yoga (as outlined in Bhagavad-Gita). However, with the mood of submissive love, it is possible to combine all three disciplines into one sweet practice. We may not be these bodies, but these bodies are the Temple of the Lord. It is wise to keep them healthy and strong. Krishna-yoga is the perfect way to do this. Aside from teaching yoga to devotees, I can also do many other services such as work in the ashram kitchen, organize harinama and sankirtana. I have gone on many book distributions, but I am not good at selling books.
Comments
Dear Ahimsananda Prabhuji, Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am very happy to accept your friends request, please let me know if I can be of any service to you in your Krishna consciousness, Gauranga, Radhe Radhe, Hari Bol! Hare Krishna.
Hare Krishna dandvats, Prabhuji. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I do hereby wish you all the best in Krishna consciousness, Gauranga, Radhe Radhe, Hari Bol! Hare Krishna.