The third annual MAN-tra Retreat was held online November 20th to 21st. Due to Covid-pandemic restrictions, the planned 2020 New Vrindaban in person retreat was cancelled but then, bad became good. With 210 registered participants from Canada, US. England,South Africa, Trinidad, India, Indonesia, Australia, Russia and Bangladesh the audience widened. International participants have requested that the online format continue next year.
The retreat included panel discussions, powerpoint presentations, break out groups, live polls, and questions periods interspersed with kirtans, drama and comedy. Partakers appreciated the frank and open dialogues and creative, entertaining formats. A noticeable lack, however, was New Vrindaban’s sumptuous prasada and the memorable outdoor campfire kirtans and kathas that MANtra has become famous for.
Highlights were:
Kaunteya das spoke on the responsibility Srila Prabhupada places upon men to support education within his society.
Bhuta Bhavana das divulged hidden gems within Srila Prabhupada’s books that can expand our potential through focus, sincere effort, and dependence on Krishna.
Partha das examined Men, Marriage and Myths. "Truths that Support, Myths that Mislead, Enigmas that Bewilder and Negative Paradigms that Hinder" and led a discussion on creating and maintaining healthy marriages in a complex world.
Mahatma das gave a fact-based and sobering look at the devastating individual and social consequences of pornography addiction. An anonymous question format was established, and serious queries were fielded.
Anuttama das in an interview with Caitanya Carana das and Sutapa das brought out the relevance of a healthy brahmacarya ashrama and how all men can benefit from a period of immersion in a concentrated spiritual atmosphere.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/virtual-man-tra-mens-retreat-draws-global-participation,7628/
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