By Krishna Bhagavan dasa
The Bhakta Program at RVC is a three-month introductory course in Applied Vedic Culture teaching the basics of Krishna Consciousness, and in 2018 there were eight participants.
The Bhaktas:
Bhakta Blake (29 years old) is part of a bhakti yoga community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and he is currently the Sankirtana Leader and Outreach Director there. He completed the bhakta program course at RVC.
Bhakta Blake comments, “The Bhakta program at Rupanuga Vedic College provides a practical space to deepen one’s affection for spiritual life. The mood and schedule encourage a full submersion in an ancient yogic lifestyle that is gaining popularity all over the world. I found that this humble temple offers a rare variety of service opportunities all of which produce an increase in enthusiasm and confidence that is vital to life as an aspiring devotee.”
Bhakta Kyle (26 years old) was referred to RVC from Srila Prabhupada’s disciples Amit Acara dasa and Mayapriya devi dasi, from The Bhaktivedanta Center in Charlottesville, Virginia USA. They comment, “We trained a young man here in Charlottesville, but we realized he was special and ready for the next step, and deeper training—since we do not have an ashram. We suggested RVC and he joined the bhakta program there. He is now out distributing books and doing wonderfully. He is a full-fledged, effulgent brahmachari *celibate monk*. RVC and the young men he met through it have changed the trajectory of his life.”
Bhakta Kyle comments, “Rvc is a great atmosphere for practicing bhakti yoga and immersion into Vedic culture. They are very accommodating, and constantly working on any improvements and upgrades that can be made to all facets of the program. The bhakta program is very welcoming and suitable for people of all different backgrounds to learn all the essentials of temple life and much more.”
Bhakta Denny (20 years old) is living in the asrama at RVC and studying physics at University of Kansas City Missouri; he completed the bhakta program course.
Bhakta Ryan (33 years old) is from Kansas City, and he participated in RVC’s bhakta program. He is currently serving at the Yuga-dharma *public chanting* community in New York with Rama Raya dasa. Bhakta Ryan comments, “My time at RVC was one of unforgettable peace and joy. I was able to find something that was lost for a very long time: purpose.”
Bhakta Devananda (20 years old), was recommended to come to RVC by ISKCON Orlando; He participates in the daily harinama at RVC. He comments, “I am glad that I did the Bhakta program at RVC. It helped me become more disciplined and more fixed in Krishna consciousness. Having the association of HH Danavir Goswami Maharaja has truly benefited me in so many ways. Association with Maharaja helped me become more aware of my true position, simply a servitor of Krishna. He leads a true example of what it means to be a devotee in this Krishna consciousness movement and how to execute humility and tolerance through actions and words.” Bhakta Devananda received initiation and the name Devarshi Narada dasa.
Bhakta Suvash (26 years old) stayed at RVC for a month during his university’s winter break session. Suvash comments, “I am quite thankful for this trip because I was back to being happy the way I used to be, even if for a short while. I had many memorable moments during my stay. Devotees were all very kind to me and very sincere and devoted. Their intellect and devotion made me feel very humbled and made me see bhakti yoga in a new light.”
After staying at various ISKCON temples, Bhakta Daniel (20 years old) came to the bhakta program at RVC. After completing the course, he is residing at RVC. Bhakta Daniel comments, “Rupanuga Vedic College is an amazing place for a bramachari*celibate monk* to grow and have a simple life and be engaged according to his propensities. It is a small community, but the devotees here are very sweet and sincere. His Holiness Danavir Goswami is very gentle, free from judgment, and sees everything and everyone equally, and the devotees here have adopted the same qualities.’’
Sridama dasa (CPA) is RVC’s campus director. He comments, “The Rupanuga Vedic College “Bhakta program” is a holistic and practical approach that combines understanding Krishna (God) consciousness, cultivation for accepting spiritual master, scriptural studies, and living a healthy, Vaishnava, spiritual lifestyle. I have been so impressed and fascinated to see devotees so wonderfully engaging every moment in practical devotional service, study of philosophy, book distribution, harinama *public chanting Hare Krishna*, and living among other devotees in a most purified atmosphere and ambience. The program makes a candidate self-dependent and a responsible Vaishnava acting according to the principles given by Srila Prabhupada.
In recent months RVC has added many new preaching programs including “Bhakti Vriksha” – a weekly program for congregation and temple members, First Friday Art gallery event in downtown Kansas City, and monday evening drum circles at a local park. RVC has taken up as its top priority to upgrade and update: many of the temple and bhakta ashram facilities, kitchen, prasadam*dining* room, basement hall, and other needs and requirements of the devotees. During 2018 the temple installed a completely new roof, installed a new AC system, updated the restrooms, and fixed other maintenance issues. At RVC, we are making our best efforts to make the “bhakta program” more enlivening, comfortable, and fulfilling.”
Marutha dasa (MS computer science) is RVC’s assistant campus director. Marutha comments, “Training new bhaktas is actually blissful; it gives happiness helping others receive the same bliss we have received. By doing this I am improving myself also. I saw Maharaja’s bhakta program help Bhakta Kyle and Devarshi Narada become more serious and committed to Krishna consciousness.”
Rasikananda dasa and his wife Hladini devi dasi have been living and serving at RVC for more than four years.
Rasikananda comments, “Everywhere I go I want to spread the glories of the RVC Bhakta Program so that others may have the same opportunity to practice the fundamentals of Krishna consciousness with the proper guidance and abundant enthusiasm that HH Danavir Goswami’s program offers.”
Hladini comments,“The knowledge and experience these devotees gain during their time at RVC is indispensable to their long term practice of Krishna consciousness. A visiting devotee recently commented on how wonderful it is that bhaktas are given regular opportunities to lead and engage in activities that may not be available to them at other facilities.”
Ramananda dasa is a pujari and cook for RVC. Has been practicing Krishna consciousness for over 36 years under the guidance of His Holiness Jayapataka Goswami. Ramananda comments: “We all are living like a family. So being a senior member of the family this is my responsibility and duty to nurture and guide the younger devotees whom I feel are my younger brothers. I am fortunate to live with Kyle, Devarshi, Daniel, and Denny; they are so helpful and always want to learn. They ask me how to do things, and this encourages me and makes me feel, ‘yes this is my duty’, to guide them in the right way. Their eagerness is helping me to be more responsible and more willing to take steps forward in Krishna consciousness as well as to make Krishna consciousness available to more people.”
Mrdanga dasa is a pujari at RVC and participates in daily harinama. He comments, “All the bhaktas stay enlivened at RVC with daily harinamas, bhakti vriksha programs, and the association of Danavir Maharaja, not to mention the gorgeous murtis [deities] of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai!”
Paramesvara dasa has been leading RVC’s traveling book distribution party for the past fifteen years. He comments, “The bhakta program can and has helped me in my service of expanding book distribution in North America. Some bhakta program graduates in past have distributed tens of thousands of Krishna conscious literatures on the traveling sankirtana*book distribution* party. The bhakta program seems to be the most practical way to get more people qualified to really expand the Krishna consciousness movement. I was actually shocked at seeing how satisfied the bhaktas were in their service this year. They looked very absorbed in Krishna consciousness and seemed to be advancing very nicely.”
Deva Krishna dasa has been traveling distributing books across America for the past eight years. He comments, “I think this year’s Bhakta program was the best yet, being directly managed by Danavir Goswami Maharaja himself. I recommend this bhakta program to all newcomers to Krishna consciousness. No matter if you’re brahmachari or planning to become a grihasta *Krishna conscious married life * it provides the training and gives you the experience to sustain your Krishna consciousness long term.”
Brajananda dasa has been on traveling sankirtana with RVC for the past seven years. He comments, “RVC bhakta program 2018 has made great progress. It has proven its ability to train new devotees in Krishna Consciousness in a very efficient way. Devotees who go through the program come out with a nice service attitude and ability to perform multiple devotional activities. I first met Kyle when he first got into Krishna consciousness. He wasn’t regulated, didn’t know about cleanliness, and the basics. When he went to RVC he really transformed and learned many things proven to help his further training in various services. Bhakta Kyle did really well in his first introduction to traveling sankirtana. He maintained a good service attitude, distributed a good amount of books, and was happy while doing it. Overall he went through the training with ease which reflected the good quality training at RVC.”
Dasya Prema dasa has been traveling and distributing books with RVC for over four years. He comments, “Since my service is to be out, distributing books and finding people for the bhakta program, it is motivating to see the progress of those who are in the program. They become fixed up, happy devotees in a very short amount of time. Seeing this makes me eager to bring more people to the program. I think Rvc provides an ideal situation for one who wants to practice devotional service in an uncompromising way. My experience is that H.H. Danavir Goswami looks out for the devotees long term career in Krishna consciousness..”
Dharmaraja dasa has been a member of RVC’s traveling book distribution party for the past four years. He comments, “Seeing new bhaktas get trained in Krishna consciousness nicely at RVC gives me hope while I am distributing books all over America that there are people out there that want to read the books and give to their lives to Krishna. I traveled with Bhakta Kyle and I noticed he is so sincere, hard working, gets along with devotees, and he is dedicated to spreading Krishna consciousness to others, and that reflected the quality of training available at RVC.”
More Photos: Click here
If you would like to learn more about the bhakta program, see Fortunate Souls written by Danavir Goswami (http://rvcpublishing.com/product/fortunate-souls-the-bhakta-program-manual/).
If anyone has any questions about RVC’s Bhakta Program, please contact Krishna Bhagavan dasa at thekrishnamonks@gmail.com or (816) 359-7148.
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