seminar - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-28T17:04:48Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/seminarSuccessful “The Children Are Our Future” Seminar Held in Mayapurhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/successful-the-children-are-our-future-seminar-held-in-mayapur2024-02-27T13:34:23.000Z2024-02-27T13:34:23.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12390058895,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="12390058895?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi</strong></p>
<p>Devaki Devi Dasi offered a five-session seminar titled “The Children Are Our Future.” It was conducted from 29th February to 2nd March 2024 at the Vaishnava Academy (near the Goshala) in Mayapur. The seminar imparted a good understanding of important principles and practices of child-raising within Krishna consciousness, beginning from conception (Garbhadhana Samskara) to teenage.</p>
<p>Devaki Devi Dasi, a disciple of Niranjana Swami and the founder of the Institute for Spiritual Culture, was born in Germany in 1958. She joined ISKCON in Sydney, Australia, in 1985. During her ten years as a grhastha (1989-1999) she helped pioneer the first organized temple in the former Soviet Union. Since 1999, she has been living the life of a renounced traveling preacher, spending five months per year in India and Bangladesh and the other seven months in various countries around Europe, including Eastern Europe, such as Ukraine and Moldova. In recent years, she has been expanding her preaching. Also, she visits Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.</p>
<p>Devaki said, “In a culture where sense gratification is the overall goal, the children are considered a disturbance and impediment in our pursuits, and thus are always pushed aside. In spiritual culture, however, the kids are the future. I received the inspiration to teach this seminar in Bangladesh – a place where they put the children in the very center of life.”</p>
<p>She added, “Another source of inspiration is my childhood. I don’t have children myself, but I had the most wonderful childhood. My mother was amazing, truly planting the seed of spiritual life in my heart. Even though she was not a practicing devotee, she was a religious and spiritually inclined person. She never worked – she only returned to her professional activities after we kids left home to study. So she served as a mother with heart and soul – applying more spiritual principles in child raising than most devotees do these days.”</p>
<div><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/successful-the-children-are-our-future-seminar-held-in-mayapur/">https://iskconnews.org/successful-the-children-are-our-future-seminar-held-in-mayapur/</a></div></div>Seminar on Book Distribution at New Mayapur, Francehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/seminar-on-book-distribution-at-new-mayapur-france2023-06-07T13:01:07.000Z2023-06-07T13:01:07.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11485701099,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="11485701099?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Chandni Raj</strong></p>
<p>A seminar on book distribution was conducted for devotees at the New Mayapur temple, France. Vijaya Prabhu, ISKCON minister for book distribution, was the guest speaker at the seminar. Participants presented their questions on improving book distribution to him. The session was also attended by visiting devotees from Poland.</p>
<p>Devotees were excited to meet a highly experienced senior book distributor to whom they could address all their questions and receive guidance from. Various aspects of Sankirtan such as what clothes to wear during book distribution, handling opposition, addressing questions from followers of other religions, setting up book tables, facing failure during difficult days, juggling other services in the ashram along with Sankirtan, improving book distribution through digital technology and online preaching etc were discussed. Bhagavati Devi Dasi, one of the oldest devotees living in the New Mayapur village, shared her insights on the experience gained during decades of Sankirtan.</p>
<p>“It was wonderful to have our questions addressed by a seasoned book distributor like Vijaya Prabhu. This seminar addressed most of our doubts and hang-ups about being on the streets for Sankirtan,” said Ekanatha Das, a full-time Sankirtan devotee from Lyon Mahamantra Institute.” “We get upset when we try hard and people do not reciprocate. Association with someone like Vijay Prabhu who has dedicated his life to book distribution was a huge morale boost,” expressed Mais, a brahmachari serving the temple. Agustina, a new inmate at the New Mayapur ashram, who recently discovered Krishna consciousness, said, “It was a wonderful informative session for me, as Sankirtan is the new service I want to take up.” The enthusiasm of Vijaya Prabhu was contagious as devotees opened up, shared their difficulties and joys experienced during Sankirtan during the seminar.</p>
<p>“We are deeply grateful to Vijaya Prabhu for visiting our temple and conducting this seminar. Janananda Maharaja, our Guru Maharaja is deeply pleased when we do well on Sankirtan as book distribution is his life and soul,” said Locanananda Das, President, New Mayapur. “We send out one to three Sankirtan parties every week and it is necessary that these Sankirtan devotees receive expert guidance. Hence, we wish to receive more veteran book distributors like Vijaya Prabhu to come and inspire our Sankirtan team and thereby expand our efforts,” he added.<br /> <br /> The session was recorded on video and shared on the New Mayapur youtube channel : <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=108836">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=108836</a></p></div>“Art of Caring for Vaishnavas” Seminar Presented at ISKCON Philadelphiahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/art-of-caring-for-vaishnavas-seminar-presented-at-iskcon-philadel2023-05-02T13:47:42.000Z2023-05-02T13:47:42.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><strong><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11057884870,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="11057884870?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Taravali Devi Dasi </strong></p>
<p>On the weekend of April 22-23, 2023, the local Vaishnavas Care chapter in Philadelphia organized a two-day seminar called the “Art of Caring for Vaishnavas,” taught by Sangita Devi Dasi (ACBSP), a Registered Nurse, CHPN, Certified Grief Counselor, Certified Grief Educator and Co-Founder of Vaishnavas CARE. Hosted at ISKCON Philadelphia, devotees attended the seminar both in-person and virtually via Zoom from all different corners of the world, including South Africa, Latin America, Switzerland, Canada, England, New Zealand, India, and the United States.</p>
<p>Sangita Mataji has been teaching this seminar for over 20 years, and due largely to its profound impact, Vaishnavas Care International has teams across the globe now. However, this was likely the last seminar personally taught by Sangita Mataji due to her declining health.<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/art-of-caring-for-vaishnavas-seminar-presented-at-iskcon-philadelphia/">https://iskconnews.org/art-of-caring-for-vaishnavas-seminar-presented-at-iskcon-philadelphia/</a></p></div>An Appreciation for Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. by Bhaktin Vatsalahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/an-appreciation-for-vaishnavas-c-a-r-e-by-bhaktin-vatsala2022-08-04T12:10:31.000Z2022-08-04T12:10:31.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10748061082,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="300" alt="10748061082?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></p>
<p>On the weekend of March 6-7th 2022, HG Sangita Devi Dasi (ACBSP) held a Vaishnavas CARE seminar called, “The Art of Caring for Vaishnavas” for the ISKCON Toronto Community. Sangita Devi Dasi is a hospice registered nurse and a certified grief counselor. She is an author of “The Final Journey”, a book in which Sangita Devi Dasi integrates the knowledge of hospice care for the dying with the spiritual wisdom given to us by Srila Prabhupada.</p>
<p>There were approximately 30 attendees who attended the seminar, including out-of-town devotees from the USA and England. The seminar received a tremendously positive response and one of the local attendees, Bhaktin Vatsala, shared her reflections and experiences from the seminar:</p>
<p>Being abandoned during old age or at the very last stage of life is not a very surprising feature of our current age of Kali Yuga. As per Srila Prabhupada’s translations and purports in the Srimad Bhagavatam, one of the symptoms of Kali Yuga the absence of a culture of nurturing families and rather the scary presence of simply trying to survive in nuclear families.</p>
<p>I was personally so delighted to see how Srila Prabhupada inspired HG Sangita Mataji, who has been taking care of the departing Vaishnavas in a bona fide, professional, authentic and Vedic way. Her seminar fanned the spark in me to help realize so many things that I otherwise would not have been able to understand in my day-to-day materialistic life. I feel that the service that Sangita Mataji is inspiring us to get involved in will shape our patience, compassion, empathy, tolerance and most importantly it will always remind us that this human form of life must not be wasted in collecting anything which is purely temporary.</p>
<p>As far as I am concerned, all the devotees who are serving departing Vaishnavas are angels in disguise. One of the very common fears amongst the devotees is, “What if I am unable to remember Krsna at the time of leaving this body?” The Vaishnavas CARE team is capably removing that fear, one devotee at a time, because it is through their actions and deeds that departing Vaishnavas are being reminding about Krsna and His abode.I also deeply appreciate that Sangita Mataji is also training devotees in very nuanced aspects of care like, for example, the body language that volunteers should adopt at the time of counselling, or the art of bringing out emotional thoughts and feelings when someone is in a state of shock or depression.</p>
<p>I am eternally grateful to have come in contact with the Vaishnavas CARE program and consider myself very fortunate to have attended Sangita Mataji’s seminar. It left me inspired to serve Vaishnavas during their times of need. Hare Krsna!</p>
<p>Vaishnavas Care International FB page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VaishnavasCARE">https://www.facebook.com/VaishnavasCARE</a></p>
<p>Website: <a href="https://www.vaisnavascare.org/">https://www.vaisnavascare.org/</a><br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=101298">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=101298</a></p></div>435.000 participants in an online Krishna conscious seminar!https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/435-000-participants-in-an-online-krishna-conscious-seminar2021-06-26T11:43:08.000Z2021-06-26T11:43:08.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9147060095,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="9147060095?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>With no end in sight, the Corona pandemic continues to take its toll on human health. More in terms of mental than physical. The fatality rate due to the corona has gone up, workplaces are being opened more for economic reasons not because the Corona pandemic is over. In between all these chaotic scene ISKCON Ayodhya came up with idea of providing the sublime knowledge of Bhagavad to masses in form of Bhagavad Gita 18 Chapter in 18 Days(1-18 June) .Registration was opened on 22nd May and Sessions were to be started by 1st June. Such was the enthusiasm and eagerness about Bhagavad Gita that with mercy of Srila Prabhupada, H.H Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj our beloved spiritual master, H.G Devakinandan Prabhu, H.G Sankarshan Nitai Prabhu and H.G Sadbhuj Gaura Das president ISKCON Ayodhya within span of 10 days 1 Lakh(100 K) people got registered for the free course. People were so eager that we were not able to handle the volume so much that registration had to be stopped since we were not able to handle the unexpected volume. In total 4 Lakh 35 Thousand people(435 K) approached for registration but we have to refuse rest of them except 1 Lakh.</p>
<p>We had participants from all across the Globe mostly from India since the sessions were in Hindi. 99% audience were new to krishna consciousness<br /> Sessions and course material was prepared based on teachings of Srila Prabhupada & were conducted by Devshekhar Vishnu Das from ISKCON Ayodhya and his sister Padmaradhika Devi Dasi. Both of them have their families an Engineer by profession both brother and sister are working in Multinational companies and practicing Krsna consciousness and dedicatedly serving in there respective local temples in various capacities right from Deity worship, Preaching,Cooking & Book distribution.</p>
<p>"The sole aim of the service was to present the teachings of Bhagavad gita as it is presented by Srila Prabhupada in his books. We just summarized chapter by chapter" told Padmaradhika Devi Dasi. "We thought that since the duration is too long and in current situation people don't have enough time we will get around 100 registration but as acharyas says people want to hear about knowledge about supreme lord and hence100K people across India and abroad signed up in just a short span of 10 days and we were overwhelmed that we have to stop registration. It was all because of the mercy of Srila prabhupada." confessed Devshekhar Vishnu Das.</p>
<p>Finally the Icing on the cake moment was when Iskcon GBC secretary H.H Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj joined the Q & A Session to bless all the participants by his motivating words and asked them to read Srila Prabhupada Books and take up the process of Devotional service by Chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra..</p>
<p>The sessions were inaugurated by following dignitaries on first day through online platform :</p>
<p>1. Dr. Neelkanth Tiwari. Minister of State (Independent Charge). Tourism, Culture, Religious Affairs, Protocol(MOS) - Government of Uttar Pradesh and patron Minister of District of Ayodhya Uttar Pradesh, India<br /> 2\. Mr. Arvind Sharma Ex - IAS : Ex-Secretary in Prime Minister Office(PMO) and Vice President of BJP Uttarpradesh Unit.<br /> 3\. Mr. Anuj Jha : District Magistrate(DM) Ayodhya.<br /> These sessions were well covered in Print media few of them which reported them are as below :<br /> 1\. Dainik Jagaran2. Navbharat Times3. Janmorcha.<br /> The audience gave an overwhelmingly positive feedback.Audience included IPS rank officers, Government Officials, Doctors, Businessmen, Director of Firms, Professors, Teachers etc. On the completion of the 18-day course they are provided with Certificates once they successfully complete quiz .In order to bring these people more closer to Krishna further sessions are planned for these participants.</p>
<p>Finally it proved beyond doubt that this Corona has become Karuna(Mercy) for all these people. Jai Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna.</p>
<p>Your Aspiring Servant<br /> Devshekhar Vishnu Das Adhikari(GKG)<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dandavats/posts/2002647643233475">https://www.facebook.com/Dandavats/posts/2002647643233475</a></p></div>Devotees From All Over Brazil Take Online Vaishnava Care Seminarhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/devotees-from-all-over-brazil-take-online-vaishnava-care-seminar2021-05-26T08:17:41.000Z2021-05-26T08:17:41.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8981535486,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="8981535486?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="500" /></p>
<p><strong>By Madhava Smullen</strong></p>
<p>On May 1st, 2nd and 8th, devotees from all over Brazil and beyond attended the “Art of Caring for Vaishnavas” Zoom webinar by Vaishnavas CARE co-founder Sangita Devi Dasi, which offered training in how to lovingly serve devotees, especially those experiencing terminal illnesses.</p>
<p>Altogether 80 people registered for the course including participants from the North and South of Brazil, several generations, senior devotees, brahmacharis, congregational members, newcomers, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, members of ISKCON Brazil’s national administration (CGB) and medical professionals. </p>
<p>“The seminar covered several topics related to hospice care, such as the stages of grieving, how to help and serve families, symbolic loss, emotional and spiritual pains, and the importance of good communication,” says Ekanistha Radha Devi Dasi, a member of the team responsible for ISKCON Brazil’s Department of Vaishnavas CARE. </p>
<p>“The teachings were far beyond expectations. The topics were gradually introduced and deepened with mastery by Sangita Devi Dasi, leading to discussion of real situations. Thus the theoretical concepts were joined by practical examples of care for vaishnavas who are leaving this world. We are sure that participants now will be able to better assist vaishnavas in their final moments, in addition to being able to support families.”<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/devotees-from-all-over-brazil-take-online-vaishnava-care-seminar,7808/">https://iskconnews.org/devotees-from-all-over-brazil-take-online-vaishnava-care-seminar,7808/</a></p></div>Pathways – Successful Strategies for Nurturing New Contactshttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/pathways-successful-strategies-for-nurturing-new-contacts2020-05-24T11:22:29.000Z2020-05-24T11:22:29.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}5299236884,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="5299236884?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" /></p>
<p>Pancharatna Prabhu, ILS 2020 Seminar: "Pathways - Successful Strategies for Nurturing New Contacts"</p>
<p><strong>Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbUDoGtKjXk" target="_blank">Click here<br /> <br /> </a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85824">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85824</a></p></div>New Vrindaban Becomes Hotspot for Retreats and Seminars with Packed 2020 Schedulehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/new-vrindaban-becomes-hotspot-for-retreats-and-seminars-with-pack2020-03-03T08:51:31.000Z2020-03-03T08:51:31.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_image" style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/03-Mar/nv_photo_1_top_of_article_bhaktimarga_swami_leads_kirtan_around_the_holy_places_of_new_vrindaban_during_the_man-tra_mens_retreat_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="nv_photo_1_top_of_article_bhaktimarga_swami_leads_kirtan_around_the_holy_places_of_new_vrindaban_during_the_man-tra_mens_retreat_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" /></div>
<div><strong>By Madhava Smullen<br /> <br /> </strong></div>
<div id="article_body">
<p>From letters Srila Prabhupada wrote to his disciples, we know that he envisioned New Vrindaban as, among other things, a holy place of pilgrimage in North America, where devotees could gather for spiritual education.</p>
<p>Progress in realizing that vision has gone from strength to strength in recent times. New Vrindaban’s accommodation in its Palace Lodge, cabins, and temple guestwing have been beautifully remodeled, including several rooms with ensuite bathrooms. The recently built Yogashala venue, with its three walls of panoramic windows overlooking New Vrindaban’s own Kusum Sarovara lake, the Vrindaban forest, and peacocks and swans makes an appealing space for events.</p>
<p>These features, along with the service attitude of the local devotees, have created an exceptional attraction for both teachers presenting seminars and workshops on various spiritual topics, and devotees looking for retreats. As a result, more and more people are choosing New Vrindaban as their place to meet.</p>
<p>Sacinandana Swami has taught his hugely popluar experiential Living Name Retreat on japa and kirtan in the West Virginia community for two years in a row, with the third coming up from April 9th to 12th this year. Men of three generations have gathered there to hold their MAN-tra retreat on “Being a K.C. Guy in the 21st Century” for the past two years. ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry has been holding its annual nine-day temple worship course for all of North America at New Vrindaban. And the GBC College for Leadership Development has been holding the residential courses for its Zonal Supervisor Training program there too.<br /> <br /> <strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://iskconnews.org/new-vrindaban-becomes-hotspot-for-retreats-and-seminars-with-packed-2020-schedule,7277/">https://iskconnews.org/new-vrindaban-becomes-hotspot-for-retreats-and-seminars-with-packed-2020-schedule,7277/</a></p>
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<p> </p></div>Aphorisms of Logic seminar by Bhakti Rasamrita Swami in Londonhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/aphorisms-of-logic-seminar-by-bhakti-rasamrita-swami-in-london2019-07-31T12:29:13.000Z2019-07-31T12:29:13.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3398580332,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="450" alt="3398580332?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">‘Srila Prabhupada’s Aphorisms of Logic’</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">⁃ by London College of Vedic Studies</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami is known and respected for his exceptionally well structured and academic presentations on the Vedas. This special seminar ‘Srila Prabhupada’s Aphorisms of Logic’ was no exception to the high standard that he always delivers.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Maharaja explained that an aphorism is a concise and catchy expression of a general truth or principle. An aphorism is referred to as a ‘sutra’ in the Vedic teachings. The word ‘nyaya’ refers to logic.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Srila Prabhupada would often use such sutras of logic (‘nyaya sutras’) to explain philosophical and general principles. These sutras are very useful, ‘fun’ tools for deepening and clarifying our philosophical understanding.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">During the seminar we discussed a collection of Srila Prabhupada’s favourite nyaya aphorisms, along with examples of the points he would use to illustrate them with. One favourite example is the humorous aphorism of the ‘frog in the well’. To paraphrase, a frog lives in a well and his friend comes one day to relay a great discovery; describing the limitless expanse of the ocean. To which the frog haughtily compares its size to the dimensions of his own well. Herein, due to his limited understanding of size, he misses the point.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Who can say they have not had a ‘frog’ moment like that at least once? By comparing new experiences or attaching our limited knowledge to the vastness of spiritual truth, when we could broaden our horizon so much further if only we could see with fresh eyes, uncontaminated by our material conditioning.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">We came across many curious sounding terms like the ‘logic of the half hen’, the ‘logic of the blind man and the lame man’, the ‘logic of the tree branch and the man’ and so on. Maharaja had the audience fixed with rapt attention and enthusiasm on his every, carefully measured and perfectly articulated word. We will be waiting with bated breath for the next opportunity to host one of his excellent seminars again at the London College of Vedic Studies.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Source: <a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=76960">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=76960</a></p></div>