chicago - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-29T00:37:58Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/chicagoChicago, The Fiftieth Anniversary: an Offering From Sankirtana Das at New Vrindabanhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/chicago-the-fiftieth-anniversary-an-offering-from-sankirtana-das-2023-06-22T12:17:38.000Z2023-06-22T12:17:38.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12125173666,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="12125173666?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>All glories to Srila Prabhupada</p>
<p>All glories to Their Lordships Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori</p>
<p>My wife and I were living in Madison Wisconsin in the early 1970s. I had gone there to join an experimental theater group. In 1973 we decided to move to the Evanston temple. I arrived early, just a few days before the June installation of the Deities, Their Lordships Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori.</p>
<p>Actually my wife and I visited Chicago several times to see the devotees.</p>
<p>First in 1971 when Bahulasva and several brahmacaries had an<br /> apartment. Then in 1972 when I got a ride with the devotees to the New Vrindavan Janmastami festival. They were in the process of getting the YMCA building in Evanston. Then we came in early 1973 to a Sunday feast. And after the installation in June, my wife and I became full time devotees.</p>
<p>There was considerable growth in just the couple of years from 1971. It looked like Chicago temple was growing by leaps and bounds. When we joined, there were about 40 devotees, and in 1974 there were over fifty. It certainly seemed that in the next couple of years the temple would easily grow to 100 and even 200 devotees. Prabhupada even wrote that Chicago would be one of the biggest temples. And I am sure the temple is on its way.</p>
<p>I just want to share one story.</p>
<p>I was involved in sankirtana, distributing books at the O’Hara airport and distributing BTG magazines in downtown Chicago. One time at the airport, two guys in suits and ties suddenly grabbed me. I could smell the whisky on their breaths. One guy was twisting my arm trying to get the Bhagavad Gita out of my hand while the other one was pulling at my book bag. They were both cursing. I saw the situation was impossible and immediately starting chanting the Narasimha prayer which offers protection.</p>
<p>After a minute of my loud chanting, these guys calmed down and started inquiring – “Listen, we don’t want to hurt you, we just want to know what your doing.” The other said. “What are those books that you have? What are they about?”</p>
<p>I told them “The Bhagavad Gita is about reviving your spiritual life. Just give a donation and you can take one with you and study it.” And one of them whipped out $10 and took the book and they started to walk away.</p>
<p>I followed them from a distance to see what they would do. In those days people sometimes left books on a chair or even threw them in a trash can. So I watched them. And an elderly black woman was coming in my direction, and the two guys stopped her and gave her the book and left. The woman continued in my direction and I approached her. I said, “I saw those guys give you a book. Do you really want it?” She was holding the Gita very tightly. “Oh yes,” she said. “I’ve been looking for this book for a long time.” I was amazed at how Krishna works.</p>
<p>One other little story about how Krishna works. I was not a big distributer. One day I was having difficulty and wasn’t doing much at all. At the airport, a business man walked pasted me and I was too discouraged to even approach him to show him a book. But as he pasted I said loudly – “Krishnas Tu Bhagavan Savyam.” The guy continued on for a few more steps and then stopped and came back. He took a book and gave a donation. Yes, Krishna can work in the most amazing ways. Thank you Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori.</p>
<p>For more about Sankirtana Das see <a href="http://www.Mahabharata-Project.com">www.Mahabharata-Project.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=109454">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=109454</a></p></div>An Ocean In The Midwesthttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/an-ocean-in-the-midwest2022-05-12T10:14:44.000Z2022-05-12T10:14:44.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10481603886,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10481603886?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Zach McDonald and Acyuta-bhava das</strong></p>
<p>A new ocean appeared in a Chicago suburb, and many came to see its unveiling. That ocean is, of course, an ocean of mercy brought upon ISKCON Naperville by the presence of the new Srila Prabhupada murti. An estimated 600 people visited the small temple room to celebrate this momentous occasion on the appearance of Lord Sri Ramachandra, Rama Navami. The impact was immediately felt by those visiting the temple. Dozens of devotees danced in ecstasy, while in the eyes of others flowed tears of joy upon finally witnessing the arrival of His Divine Grace at their beloved temple.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/an-ocean-in-the-midwest/">https://iskconnews.org/an-ocean-in-the-midwest/</a></p></div>Homeschooling Webinar With Krsnanandini Dasihttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/homeschooling-webinar-with-krsnanandini-dasi2020-06-16T11:51:59.000Z2020-06-16T11:51:59.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_image"><a href="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/06-Jun/kn1_slideshow.png" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/06-Jun/kn1_slideshow.png?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="550" alt="kn1_slideshow.png?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a><br /> <strong>By Sri Radhika devi dasi<br /><br /></strong></div>
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<p>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.</p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>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.” <br /> <br /> <strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/homeschooling-webinar-with-krsnanandini-dasi,7393/">https://iskconnews.org/homeschooling-webinar-with-krsnanandini-dasi,7393/</a></p>
</div></div>First Krishna Homeschool Conventionhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/first-krishna-homeschool-convention2019-07-27T12:31:34.000Z2019-07-27T12:31:34.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_byline" style="text-align:center;"><img style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;height:338px;width:600px;" title="Events" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2019/07-Jul/rr1_slideshow.jpg" alt="Events" /></div>
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<div style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Sri Radhika devi dasi</strong></div>
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<p style="text-align:justify;">Forty four adults and nineteen children came together in the home of Sri Sri Kishore Kishori in Chicago during the weekend of July 13 and 14 to participate in the first-ever Krishna Homeschool Convention. The registrants came from 12 states across the USA, namely, Utah, Missouri, Colorado, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois. Many are currently homeschooling, while others are exploring homeschooling as an option for their children. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Homeschooling pioneer and author of "Homeschooling Krishna's Children", Aruddha devi dasi set the stage with her sons, Radhika Raman das and Gopal Hari das by opening the seminar with a "Homeschooling Basics" presentation. They shared the nuts and bolts of homeschooling, including how to create a conducive home environment, using Srila Prabhupada's Srimad Bhagavatam as the basis of the entire curriculum. Then, multiple devotees who have experience homeschooling shared their perspectives and experiences via interactive sessions and presentations. Vidharbha Suta devi dasi from Maryland shared her experience homeschooling a single child. Anand Vrindavan devi dasi from Silicon Valley presented her nine year- long homeschooling journey with two delightful boys. Varsana devi dasi from San Diego, who is a certified Waldorf teacher brought a fresh new perspective with how she incorporates Waldorf principles into her homeschool. Atulya devi dasi from Boston showed how one can make homeschooling work when both parents are working and homeschooling together. The Menon family from Chicago and Taraka devi dasi from Denver shared their very simple yet effective homeschooling models. Radhika Raman das led an interactive session on the "Role of the Father in Homeschooling". </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Participants reported more enthusiasm to try homeschooling. One said, "I heard lots of success stories at the convention. It has really given a boost to my enthusiasm to start homeschooling." Another echoed, "This gives me confidence to start homeschooling." Those who were already homeschooling also gained from the convention. One participant reported, "I feel inspired and rejuvenated to continue homeschooling my children. I would love to see this happen every year and possibly at different temples." Another stated, "I got lots of ideas and encouragement in the process of homeschooling."</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To keep up the enthusiasm generated, the presenters will be making themselves available to the participants via a monthly conference call. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Real education means character development. By exploring models of education based on the Srimad Bhagavatam, may we be empowered to create a 'truly educated' generation of soldiers for Srila Prabhupada's army!</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/first-krishna-homeschool-convention,7032/">https://iskconnews.org/first-krishna-homeschool-convention,7032/</a></p>
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