Pilgrimage to India and Bhakti Shastri (Sabbatical Course)
For those who are proficient in their understanding of Krishna Consciousness, the 6 month sabbatical course is an ideal opportunity to explore it further.
The first half of the Sabbatical takes place in India, where we discover the roots of the Vedic culture. There are seminars, practical workshops and training courses at ISKCON Chowpatty, a world-famous flagship centre of training and education. Living amongst 150 resident monks is certainly enlivening! There are also pilgrimages to holy places like Vrindavana, Mayapur and Jagannatha Puri. These unique trips offer us a glimpse into the spiritual world.
The second half of the course is based at Bhaktivedanta Manor focusing around completion of the Bhakti Shastri degree. Quality time is spent in studying the Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, Sri Isopanisad and Bhagavad-gita. You will also gain an exposure to the variety of outreach activities at the Manor, and learn practical skills like public speaking, team leadership and project management.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Qs2lFE 

At Easter, many people go on holidays and our temples are usually quite busy receiving guests from all walks of life.

New Gokula, even though in a little remote area of the country, welcomed 100-200 visitors every day at the Easter Holidays.

Source: http://www.ramaiswami.com/easter-crowds/ ;

The Sacred Sound Kirtan retreat was held at the beautiful New Govardhana farm in Murwillumbah during the Easter long weekend.

It was a huge gathering with more than 500 people registered. The atmosphere was incredibly vibrant, thanks to the line-up of world class kirtaneers such as Madhava, Bada Hari and our own Sri Prahlada.

Each festival day started with inspirational classes by HH Indradyumna Swami Maharaj, who also lead some incredible kirtans!

The organizer and volunteers huge efforts also helped making this retreat an unforgettable experience. The retreat has now be promoted to an annual event and everyone who was there has already booked for next year! Sacred Sound Kirtan retreat 2017 cannot come soon enough!

Check out the beautiful video below to get a glimpse of this incredible event! 

Source: http://www.sriprahlada.com/latest-news/sacred-sound-kirtan-retreat-2016-impressions ;

St. Augustine Festival of Chariots April 9. 
11th Annual Festival of the Chariots
and Ratha Yatra Parade
Saint Augustine, FL Saturday, April 9, 2016
MEDIA RELEASE
Contacts: Bhadra das at 352 316-4560 or Bhadradas@gmail.com, 
WHAT: An Indian multi-cultural parade and festival will be celebrated with entertainment for the whole family. There will be live music, theatre, classical dance, books, and lots of free delicious vegetarian food. The Ratha Yatra Parade is the oldest known parade in the world.
WHEN: Saturday, April 9, 2016. Mayor Nancy Shaver inaugurates the procession at 10:15 AM. The Parade begins at 10:30 AM. at the Plaza and returns there by noon. At 1 PM there will be an hour long procession down St. George Street without the Chariot. Then at 2 PM cultural program begins. The free food will be served out all day from 11 AM onwards. The festival continues until 3 PM
WHERE: The Plaza de la Constitucion at St. George Street and Cathedral Place.
WHO: All are welcome. Free admission. Wholesome fun for the entire family.
SPECIAL: VERY VISUAL event with colorful traditional costumes and flower decorations. Photography is permitted. 
If you’ve ever dreamt of visiting colorful, exotic India, we have a treat for you. Get a taste of India without leaving Florida.. Saturday, April 9, 2016. The 11thAnnual Festival of the Chariots & Ratha Yatra Parade, an Indian multi-cultural extravaganza, will take place at the main plaza in St. Augustine from 10:30 AM to 3 PM. This year St. Augustine Mayor, Nancy Shaver, will inaugurate the procession at 10:15 AM
There will be lots of family-friendly activities and entertainment: live music, a play, classical Indian dance, books. But the big draw is the delicious vegetarian food. There will be a sumptuous feast served free of charge to all, starting at 11 AM.
The procession route is about 2 miles long and can be easily walked by all age groups. It begins at 10:30 AM at the Plaza and returns to the same location. The parade will move in a leisurely fashion, stopping here and there along the route, giving way to song and dance. The procession’s unique feature is a huge chariot with a blue, red and yellow canopy decorated with swans, lotus flowers, flags, Hanuman and a brass chakra on top. This chariot has two very thick ropes attached to it that are over one hundred feet long. These ropes are pulled by the parade-goers, propelling the chariot along the parade route. Riding on the Chariot are the beautiful Deities of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra, decorated with stunning silk outfits & real flowers. It’s a vision from another world. Accompanying the procession is lively Indian music and dancing, backed by double-headed mrdanga drums & karatala hand cymbals. It’s an ecstatic, exciting event.
The festival is sponsored by ISKCON Alachua, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness whose Founder/Acharya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, came to America from India 50 years ago and introduced the timeless tradition of the Festival of the Chariot (called Ratha Yatra in India). Since the 60’s this festival has been held yearly in over 50 major cities in the United States, Canada, and all over the world. Eight Ratha Yatras are held yearly in the state of Florida: Clearwater, Jacksonville Beach, Tallahassee, UCF Orlando, Tampa, UF Gainesville, Daytona Beach & St. Augustine.
All are warmly invited to attend this joyous, colorful festival, free of charge. Take advantage of a rare chance to experience the vibrancy of India, right here in Florida. Questions? Call: Bhadra das at 352 316-4560 or Bhadradas@gmail.com.
Please check out our website and our facebook page:
http://festivalofchariots.org
http://facebook.com/rathayatras 

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20283

Dear Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga! With Devahuti attaining Vaikuntha, we conclude the third canto with this issue. We thank our readers for their overwhelming response to the previous issues covering the appearance, life and teachings of Lord Kapila. The next issues will commence with topics from Fourth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. We pray that this issue brings some pleasure to the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. NBS # 34 Features: 1) Further Instructions To Mother Devahuti Lord Kapila 2) Devahuti attains the Supreme Perfection Sri Maitreya Rishi 3) Devahuti attains Kapila Vaikuntha His Divine Grace A .C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 4) The Glories of Vaikuntha Loka Srila Sanatana Goswami 5) Spiritual World Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura 6) How Can We Go Back to Godhead? Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarawati Thakura This issue can be viewed through these links: ISSUU:http://issuu.com/nbsmag/docs/nbs_34 Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/doc/306877905/NBS-34 

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20289

Around 10,000 college students from all over U.P., India’s largest state, are expected for the mega youth event Xpression: The Festival of Gratitude on April 9th in Kanpur.

As its name suggests, the festival, held in celebration of ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, will be to express gratitude for Srila Prabhupada and all ISKCON devotees. It will also aim to educate youth about Srila Prabhupada’s contribution to society and inform them about ISKCON’s current activities.

It will be held inside Kanpur’s majestic Sri Sri Radha Madhav Mandir, which at 160,000 square feet is the second-largest ISKCON temple in the world after the society’s headquarters in Mayapur.

Youth new to Krishna consciousness will be attending from major U.P. cities such as Allahabad, Varanasi, Lucknow, and of course Kanpur. Most will have been invited through presentations by devotees at their colleges.

“We are holding the festival inside the temple so that they can all come and take darshan of Sri Sri Radha Madhav and Srila Prabhupada,” says co-organizer Priya Govinda Das.

At the event, Krishna conscious philosophy will be presented through several performances and talks.

Students from IIT BHU, a college in Varanasi, will perform a musical drama on how Srila Prabhupada established ISKCON in the Western World, helping many people to transform their lives for the positive and leave their destructive habits behind.

Meanwhile, devotee students from IIT Kharagpur will enact a shadow dance on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. There will be a video presentation about Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON’s contributions to the world. An international group will perform Mantra Rock, getting the audience to chant along. And there will be a talk by zonal secretary Devakinandana Das  about the Westernization of India.

“The youth of India are very much looking forward to Westernization, but when it comes they are getting frustrated,” Priya Govinda says. “So we are saying that the youth of India should take up their own culture, based on the Bhagavad-gita. And that will make them happy and satisfied, rather than going towards Westernization too much.”

There will also be competitions related to spiritual topics, followed by kirtan, and prasadam (sanctified vegetarian food) for everyone.

Upon leaving, every youth will be gifted with a small booklet biography of Srila Prabhupada. They’ll also fill out a questionnaire to let devotees know which of ISKCON Kanpur’s ongoing courses on the Bhagavad-gita and personal development they would like to take in the future.

“We hope that the unique ambience they experience at the temple, and our down-to-earth presentation of spirituality, will inspire them to chant Hare Krishna and read Prabhupada’s books along with their studies,” says Priya Govinda.

While Xpression is the first festival of its kind, Kanpur devotees hope to hold it annually from now on, with increasingly large numbers of youth attending. 

Source: http://iskconnews.org/10000-kanpur-youth-expected-for-gratitude-festival,5490/

The Krishna Institute (KI) launches its service to the Vaishnava Community on May 21, 2016, at ISKCON of Alachua with Sacinandana Swami and Madhava Dasa facilitating the two-day interactive Dharma Workshop: Discover Your Mission in Life.

Recognizing the significant contribution the KI will make to Srila Prabhupada’s mission in the USA, the International Coordinating Committee for ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations has scheduled KI’s inauguration as a National Event.

Offered in a newly developed retreat facility surrounded by nature’s beauty in a secluded area of the temple property, the Dharma Workshop will benefit attendees of all ages regardless of how many years they have been ISKCON members. Even a senior devotee can “get a new lease on life” or a renewed and revitalized outlook, as well as potentially discover a deeply satisfying “second career (service to Krishna)” by participating in this workshop and accessing the wealth of knowledge and realization coming in our Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. This workshop is the ripened fruit of Sacinandana Swami’s fourteen years of research into the best way to discover one’s mission in life.

After the Dharma Workshop the KI will offer many other workshops, along with retreats, seminars, and courses, that will systematically equip each participant with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to fulfill their unique mission. On May 23 Madhava Dasa and Radhika-devi Dasi will offer The Qualities and Mood of a Kirtaniya: Realizations from Six Years of Kirtan with Aindra Prabhu, and from May 24 to 26 Sacinandana Swami and Madhava Dasa will lead The Holy Name Retreat.

Both events will offer deeply satisfying experiences, and they are included in Kirtan – From Your Heart to the World(May 23 to June 27), a traveling kirtan experience that will go from Alachua via the Youth Ministry bus to the Sadhu Sanga Retreat, NY Ratha-yatra, and New Vrindavan’s Kulimela and 24-hour Kirtan.

Based upon the association and facilitation of devotees such as Amala Harinama Dasa, Bada Haridas Dasa, BB Govinda Swami, Bhakti Charu Swami, Gauravani Dasa, Giriraja Swami, Indradyumna Swami, Madhava Dasa, Manorama Dasa, Nadia Mani-devi Dasi, Radhanatha Swami, Sacinandana Swami, and Vaisesika Dasa, Kirtan – From Your Heart to the World will inspire chanting from the heart and provide the skills and mood to share the pure name with the world.

Here’s the KI’s schedule subsequent to these initial offerings:

July 2 – 4 | Temple Worship Workshop, with Jayananda Dasa and Raghunatha Dasa

Jayananda Dasa and Caturatma Dasa worshipping Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara in Alachua.

September 18 | Start of a two-year Bhakti-sastri Course. Workshops (English & Spanish) will be held just before the Sunday program. Part-time English-medium facilitators include Dhruva Maharaja Dasa, Hari Parayana Dasa, Janmastami Dasa, Nagaraja Dasa, Nanda-devi Dasi, Nitai-lila-devi Dasi, Prana Govinda Dasa, Rucira-devi Dasi, Sukhada-devi Dasi, and Svaha-devi Dasi. Part-time Spanish-medium facilitators include Bhakti Prabhupada-vrata Damodara Swami, Nanda-devi Dasi, and Krisodari-devi Dasi.

November 4 – 6 | ISKCON Leadership and Management Workshop, with Anuttama Dasa and Tamohara Dasa

November 20 | Start of the Grihastha Training Workshops(twelve 3-hour sessions one Sunday a month for a year), with Tamohara Dasa and Mantrini-devi Dasi

KI’s educational offerings evoke the mood of Srila Prabhupada’s Seven Purposes of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (please review these purposes at the end of the article) when he incorporated ISKCON fifty years ago. ISKCON temples that have imbibed Prabhupada’s mood of education and training, such as ISKCON of Chowpatty and ISKCON of Pune, have become vibrant success stories, with many full-time devotees and enthusiastic congregations to inspire Vaishnavas for generations to come. With this vision the GBC asked the KI team to start the Krishna Institute. 

* 

Please go to the KI’s website http://krishnainstitute.org/ for more information, or write info@krishnainstitute.org. 

* *

Seven Purposes of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness:

1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

2. To propagate a consciousness of Krsna, as it is revealed in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.

3. To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krsna, the prime entity, and thus to develop the idea within the members and humanity at large that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krsna).

4. To teach and encourage the sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

5. To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the Personality of Krsna.

6. To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.

7. With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books, and other writings. 

Source: http://iskconnews.org/the-krishna-institutes-launch-in-alachua-florida,5491/

By Parampara Vani Das

Artha Forum (the non-profit initiative for bringing ancient wisdom to modern business) held its third event in Bangalore on Friday 18th March 2016 at the Taj Vivanta Hotel, M.G. Road. The event was attended by over 100 invited guests, including many members of the event partner, the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce – Karnataka Chapter.

The keynote speaker was His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, a Gaudiya Vaishnava sannyasi and renowned Vedic scholar and spiritual master.

The evening’s proceedings began with an introduction by Sanjiv Maheshwari, Co-Founder and Director, Artha Forum. Sanjiv spoke about the increasing inequality in the world today, and the necessity for creating awareness amongst entrepreneurs to do business in a more socially and spiritually responsible way. Sanjiv further mentioned that Vedic philosophy, which is a guide to humanity for purposeful living, instructs that one should earn with integrity and spend with compassion. Sanjiv added that Artha Forum has held dozens of events at key global locations, and the impact is being seen in entrepreneurs and corporate leaders successfully incorporating this philosophy into their business practices.

The panel discussion included Madan Padaki, Co-Founder and CEO, Head Held High; Sanjay Dhawan, Partner, PwC; Srinivasan PV, former Senior Vice President, Corporate Taxation, Wipro; and Vishal Gupta, Managing Director, Bessemer Venture Partners. The panel was moderated by Artha Forum’s Bangalore coordinator Sanjay Sharma, Director – Asia Operations, Microsoft. Mr Padaki explained that a business enterprise with good consciousness or intent is generally successful, whereas one whose only agenda is to make money will eventually fail. Mr Dhawan explained that the soul of a business is not profit but rather purpose and every entrepreneur and employee should consider how to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots and how to society can be improved. Mr Srinivasan explained that conscious entrepreneurship must exert responsible capital, instil responsible consumerism and spread spiritual thoughts. Mr Gupta explained that most high quality businesses start with an intent to solve a particular problem or social issue, and a conscious entrepreneur will continue to take care of all stakeholders; the real challenge for businesses is not about whether their intent is proper but rather about how to spend money responsibly.

Then followed the keynote speech by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami. Maharaj gave an intriguing explanation of the Vedic injunction for entrepreneurship and business, explaining that entrepreneurs should work for the benefit of others, and focus on deriving happiness and satisfaction – then money will naturally follow. Vedic wisdom offers specific instructions on how to achieve that by gradually elevating one’s consciousness through the stages of philosophy until one reaches the perfection of yoga: bhakti, or developing a loving relationship with the Supreme. Maharaj further explained that by adjusting one’s consciousness in this way one will achieve superior results in material life – if we act properly, we get the right results.

A lively questions and answers session witnessed Maharaj and the panellists respond to challenging questions on the topic.

The speakers were each presented with gifts of The Journey Home, the intriguing autobiography of His Holiness Radhanath Swami (the inspiration behind Artha Forum, and spiritual god-brother of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami) and stunning Odissi-style paintings of Radha-Krishna and the Gopis on silk scrolls.

Finally, Mahatma Das, Brajamohan Das and Atma Krishna, who are professional executive coaches and also Artha Forum volunteers, introduced their seminar on enlightened leadership and entrepreneurship. The seminar will help business leaders and employees to do business in a more conscious way and provide practical tools and strategies to dramatically improve performance.

The evening’s programme ended with a delicious vegetarian banquet dinner, and each attendee departed with a gift of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is.

Picture Gallery - http://www.arthaforum.com/project/artha-forum-holds-third-bangalore-event-on-conscious-entrepreneurship/

Source - http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20245

Topic: Earn with Integrity, 

On 19th March, Artha Forum (a Not for Profit initiative dedicated to bringing relevance of Ancient Wisdom in Modern business) organized its 6th and largest ever event in Singapore at RELC International Hotel on the heels of successful event in January of this year. The event titled “Earn with Integrity, Spend with Compassion” was very well attended with over 400 attendees from all walks of life joining the event, which was partnered with TiE Singapore and IIMPACT. The attendees, many of whom have attended multiple Artha events in past, included entrepreneurs, industrialists, corporate leaders and professionals. World renowned spiritual teacher, author and motivational speaker His Holiness Radhanath Swami was invited to be the keynote speaker for the event. Esteem panelist Rajiv Vij – Life and Executive Coach, Author and Speaker; Srinivasan Venkita Padmanabhan – President & Global Head Finance at Olam Group, Madhabi Buch – Director at Agora Advisory and Sanjiv Aiyar – President of PAN IIM Alumni and a longtime supporter of Artha Forum shared the dais.

The panel discussion brought out very practical and important points. Answering the question on how to define “Earning with Integrity”, Venkat said that earning goes beyond just earning money. It includes the relationships that we build, the lives we meaningfully change and long term impact that we create. Rajiv brought out an important point that compassion is a very high order need and does not just mean empathy. Compassion in his own words “is not just the empathy in seeing the suffering and difficulty of someone else but what it brings within us. What arises out of it? The deep desire to do something about it”

Madhabi gave her practical perspective on giving to charity saying that “At different stages of our life we are in different gears and at that different stages of life we have different bandwidth in terms of money, emotion that we are willing and able to allocate to different roles that we perform. And while it will be really wonderful if underpinning principle of all that is compassion, but if on day to day basis – if it’s hard or difficult, I personally see very little harm in saying that at this stage of my life that part of compassion find its manifestation in just writing a cheque for charity“

Radhanath Swami started his keynote by mentioning a famous quote “If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can’t buy.” Reflecting on the current state of the society he said that earlier people used to love people and use things to express it. But now people are loving things and using people to get them and keep them. He said that “Things can give some flickering pleasure to the body, senses and to the mind but the things can never give fulfillment to the heart” He recalled his discussion with Mother Teresa where she mentioned that the true hunger of today’s world is not the hunger of stomach but it’s the hunger of heart.

Making reference to a particular verse from Bhagvad Gita, which describes that true wisdom is to see everyone with equal vision, Radhanath Swami said “once we understand the sacredness of our own life, we can appreciate the sacredness of life of everyone, everywhere. And we understand the sacredness of environment, which is the divine gift, and that we are all responsible to share with one another”

Radhanath Swami cited the example of New York Yankees baseball Manager Joe Torre who lead one of the most successful baseball team and went on to become top five manager in the history of baseball in US. Having gone through a very difficult childhood filled of abuse and violence, after he retired Joe started working with ghettos school to give counselling, guidance and therapy to the children from abusive families. In his own words Joe said that the true happiness was not from the awards, money and fame that he has earned but rather the smile which he sees in the faces of these children.

Radhanath Swami narrated the story Easy Eddie who worked as a lawyer for Al Capone, an American gangster who attained fame during the Prohibition era. Easy Eddie had all the opulence and wealth but he realized that it had not brought any happiness to his son. Coming to the realization that he had failed to give his son true values – and all the wealth he had was stained with exploitation and murder, he decided to go against Al Capone. He was able to convict Al Capone for tax evasion – for which he paid a heavy price of being shot to death in his car. Inspired by Easy Eddie’s sacrifice, his son Butch O’ Hare went on to became the first naval recipient of the Medal of Honor in World War II who single-handedly attacked a formation of nine heavy Japanese bombers approaching his aircraft carrier and saved it and later on went on to give up his life fighting for his nation during the war.

The event ended with thoughtful and intriguing lineup of questions which were posted in real-time during the sessions via newly launched mobile site. Both Radhanath Swami and panelists fielded the questions and gave very practical responses on how to take back topic of the event to one’s day to day life.

Picture Gallery - http://www.arthaforum.com/project/artha-forum-organizes-historical-event-in-singapore-on-19-march-2016/

Source - http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20243

Hare Krishna Festivals UK - Colchester Festival - 31st March 2016 (Album with photos) 
Srila Prabhupada: O my Lord! Persons who chant the holy names of your Lordship are far, far advanced in spiritual life, even if born in families of dog-eaters. Such chanters have undoubtedly performed all kinds of austerities and sacrifices, bathed in all sacred places, and finished all scriptural studies. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.33.7)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mVnj0N

Source - http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20241

Nyastadanda Jayanti 2016 - videos of our recent Annual Festival at Dandabhanga.
Srila Prabhupada: We should take any lila of Krishna as Supreme. The Vrindavan lila, Krishna’s lila with the gopis, is the most confidential lila. We should not entertain this confidential lila unless we are liberated. It is very difficult subject. And because they cannot understand what is Krishna’s lila, they imitate, they fall down. Vrindavan, August 11, 1974.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/sPbHDv 

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20216 ;

Sannyasa initiation for Ambarish prabhu (Bhakti Ratnakar Ambarish) (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We are not afraid of maya because Krishna is there. Krishna says, “My devotee will never be vanquished by maya.” Maya cannot do anything if we become strong. And what is that strength? Chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare loudly. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 3.6.10, Los Angeles 1968).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aPWs1d

Source - http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20239

Walk Acros Detroit. 
Next month we will once again be lead across the once of the most fascinating cities in the country - Detroit, MI. This year we are heading through the Del Ray neighborhood. As Jambavan Das leads us across the city to Belle Isle he shares fascinating historical information city, bringing into a completely new light. As the walk grows in numbers devotees have the opportunity to have undivided association and share amazing realizations they have gained throughout the day. If you are willing to step out of the day to day routine (leave behind your cell phone, camera and money) then we strongly encourage you to join us on this Walk Across Detroit! We will meet at the parking lot of La Casa De Mi Padre on the corner of Fort and Outer Drive Saturday May 16th 2016 at 8:00am sharp. For more information please contact Jambavan Das @ sixgoswamis@gmail.com

Source - http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20248

The new ‘Hare Krishna Training Centre’ in Nairobi, Kenya, has become a popular accommodation destination for local students, who are chanting, studying Srila Prabhupada’s books, and following the four regulative principles of Krishna consciousness. 

The idea germinated when manager Govinda Prema Das and others began trying to follow Prabhupada’s instructions to reach out to local Africans, rather than Hindus. 

“It is an African country,” the ISKCON founder told Brahmananda Das, who was preaching in Nairobi in 1971. “They are the proprietors. We should be preaching to them.” Later that same year, he wrote to Chyavana, “I am very pleased to hear that the African boys are becoming serious devotees.”

As for the specific method of outreach, he wrote to Sudama, “Go on vigorously preaching in the university campuses,” and himself spoke at a University of Nairobi event in October 1971 that drew 2,000 people.

Preaching to local Africans in this way had varying amounts of success over the years in Nairobi, and was often a struggle. Devotees who tried to start Bhakti Yoga clubs at universities had trouble even getting appointments with the largely Christian management.

But in 2011, Govinda Prema made a breakthrough when he instead approached the deans of the hostels where students are accommodated.

“We made friends with them, gave them prasad, and they let us put up posters to advertise our twice weekly Simple Living, High Thinking Seminars,” he says.

These programs, held every Wednesday and Saturday at ISKCON Nairobi’s Bhaktivedanta Hall, started out with an audience of twenty. Today around 120 students from the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Mount Kenya University, and Zetech University attend.

“We teach from Prabhupada’s books The Science of Self Realization, Journey of Self-Discovery, and Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, showing them that his words and Vedic culture can be relevant in the modern world and improve their everyday lives,” Govinda Prema says.

After every four or five classes, students are given an exam, and at the end of the year, they ‘graduate’ and receive a certificate on ethics and morality.

“That way, when they go into the working world, employers can see that they took a character training program,” says Govinda Prema.

In 2015, after four years of offering these seminars to the residents of student hostels, devotees decided to establish their own hostel, called “The Hare Krishna Training Centre.”

“The idea is that students who have learned ‘Krishna conscious theory’ at our Simple Living, High Thinking Seminars can experience practical application at the Training Centre,” says Govinda Prema.

The Centre began with six students one year ago, and now has forty residents – all male, although there are also plans for a women’s Training Centre underway.

Every weekday, all the students attend a morning program of japa, an inspirational class and breakfast from 5:30am to 8:00am, then attend university until around 5pm.  Back at the center for a shower and prasadam in the evening, they also have an evening japa session, a small kirtan and another class. 

“The class syllabus begins with the qualities of a devotee, then moves on to Bhagavad-gita, Nectar of Instruction, Nectar of Devotion and Srimad-Bhagavatam,” Govinda Prema says. “The students are also given topics to give classes on themselves. For instance, recently one student who had been here for three months spoke on overcoming anger, telling the story of Durvasa Muni and Ambarisa Maharaja fom the Bhagavatam as an example.” 

On Sundays, students attend the full morning program at the ISKCON Nairobi temple, do service throughout the day, and dance with abandon in a rocking kirtan in the evening.

“Students are attracted to stay at the Hare Krishna Training Centre by the cleanliness, the prasadam, the safety, the brotherly unity and association, and the philosophy,” Govinda Prema explains. “Sometimes parents visit, and are delighted to see their children living a clean, healthy lifestyle in a good place.”

Students usually stay at the Training Centre throughout their time at university, and afterwards remain congregation devotees in the greater ISKCON Nairobi community, introducing their wives to Krishna consciousness and coming to the temple regularly with their families.

“They feel that it gives them practical answers to the daily challenges in life,” says Govinda Prema. “We’ve had law students who are now working in court or in the parliament as assistants, and they really feel that the training they received with us has changed their lives for the better.” 

Source: http://iskconnews.org/students-join-nairobi-hare-krishna-training-centre,5489/

Please Remember - 5 min. hip-hop musical video based on Sri Isopanisad Mantra 17.
vayur anilam amritam athedam bhasmantam sariram om krato smara kritam smara krato smara kritam smara 
TRANSLATION: Let this temporary body be burnt to ashes, and let the air of life be merged with the totality of air. Now, O my Lord, please remember all my sacrifices, and because You are the ultimate beneficiary, please remember all that I have done for You. 
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/QS3J4R  

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20212 ;

Amazing Harinam in Hong Kong, China Island (Album with photos) 
Srila Prabhupada: All glories to the chanting of Hare Krishna mantra or Krishna sankirtana movement. All glories. All victory. How it is victory, all victory? If you chant this Hare Krishna mantra, then the dirty things which have accumulated in your heart due to material contamination will be cleared off. (Purport to Siksastakam).
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Source - http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20252

This morning I was cleaning out one of the sheds, and found this old suitcase filled with cassette tapes. There were some of the old Bhaktivedanta Archive tapes, Golden Avatar tapes, various lectures, bahjans and kirtans. I started to listed to some of the old vintage kirtans and lectures and I was filled with a nostalgic mood of yearning, for the early days of the Hare Krishna Movement. This lead me to re-examine the old Back to Godhead magazine issues. The following is one article I found very reminiscence of those early days.

A Conversation between A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami & Allen Ginsberg 
Recorded by Guru Das Adhikary

Swamiji had come to San Francisco in late January, 1967 for the opening of the Krishna Consciousness Temple there, at 518 Frederick Street. Allen Ginsberg had always shown friendly and helpful interest in the Society; and he agreed to attend a giant “Mantra Rock Festival,” which the temple members were planning to hold in the Avalon Ballroom. And so, a few days before that event, the good poet came to early morning Kirtan (7 A. M.), and later joined the Swami upstairs in the apartment his pupils had rented for him.

We were sitting in the glow of this holy man, munching on Indian sweetballs cooked by the Swami, when Allen Ginsberg came through the door, a warm smile on his face.

The Swami offered him a sweetball: “Take.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, radiating mutual love.

SWAMIJI: Allen, you are up early.

GINSBERG: Yes. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing since I arrived in San Francisco.

SWAMIJI: That is what happens when one becomes famous. That was the tragedy of Mahatma Gandhi also. Wherever he went, thousands of people would crowd about him, chanting, “Mahatma Gandhi ki jai! Mahatma Gandhiki jai!” The gentleman could not sleep.

GINSBERG: (smiling) Well, at least it got me up for Kirtan this morning.

SWAMIJI: Yes, that is good.

A few days before, the San Francisco Chronicle had published an article called “Swami in Hippie Land,” in which the reporter had asked: “Do you accept ‘hippies’ in your temple?”

The Swami had replied, “Hippies or anyone—I make no distinctions. Everyone is welcome.”

SWAMIJI: Allen, what is this “hippie?”

GINSBERG: The word “hip” started in China, where people smoked opium lying on their hips. [He demonstrates.] Opium and its derivatives then spread to the West, and were looked down upon by the people in power, who were afraid of the effects. As a result, the hip people created their own culture … language, signs, symbols.

San Francisco is a spiritual “shivdas” [meeting ground]. The word hip has changed into hippie today. But basically, Swamiji, the young people today are seekers. They’re interested in all forms of spirituality.

SWAMIJI: Very nice.

GINSBERG: The hippies will all fall by at one time or another.

There was some discussion regarding New York’s Lower East Side and the Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco—both of which are locations of Krishna Consciousness temples, and are well-known to Allen Ginsberg. Then:

SWAMIJI: You have not had LSD, Allen?

GINSBERG: I have had it.

SWAMIJI: It is dependence, Allen.

GINSBERG: It’s like a car—a mental car—to resolve certain inner things.

SWAMIJI: Krishna Consciousness resolves everything. Nothing else is needed.

They then discussed the upcoming dance at the Avalon. Allen Ginsberg felt that certain mantras would be more palatable to American ears than others, and that he would like to try his tune at the dance. Swamiji agreed: “Very nice.”

Poet Ginsberg said he was not yet ready to become a devotee, but that he chants the Maha Mantra every day, and will do so until he leaves this Earth. The Swami thanked him for the work he’d already done in spreading the Kirtan (Krishna Conscious) Movement, and assured him that, if he chanted Hare Krishna daily, “everything will be perfect.”

Allen Ginsberg then prostrated himself, and, touching the Swami’s feet, he symbolically wiped the dust from them onto his forehead. Then, with a few sweetballs in a paper bag under his arm, he took his leave.

Source - https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/153e05a239e68fa3

Preaching program in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Pure devotees chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and simply by hearing this chanting from a purified transcendental person, one is purified of all sinful activities, no matter how lowborn or fallen one may be. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.126 Purport)
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Source - http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20257

Scenes from the Nandagram- Farm Community, Gujarat, India (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Our centers are like the oasis in a vast desert. In the desert there is no water, but occasionally if one is fortunate he may come in contact with an oasis and he is saved. Similarly in this material world we are drying up due to a lack of spiritual knowledge. Our ISKCON centers are meant to give relief to the dried up conditioned souls who are searching after the nectar of joyful life. Letter to Bhagavan, December 18, 1970.
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Source - http://m.dandavats.com/?p=20265