May to June 2013 ISKCON-London Community Newsletter

2013 Community News May - June

Who’s Who

Community News

1. Jai Nitai Dasa

Temple President Charity Chairman Counsellor Member of Management Board South Region Coordinator

4. Murli Manohara dasa

8. Maha Nrsimha dasa

5. Suddhatma dasa

9. Jagannath Suta dasa

Charity Trustee Head Pujari Member of Brahmacari Council Member of Management Board

Govinda’s Restaurant Manager Member of Management Board

Charity Trustee Festivals Coordinator Counsellor

Radha Krishna Records

2. Bhava Bhakti dd

Spiritual Counsellor System Coordinator Counsellor Charity Trustee / Secretary Temple Administrator South Regional Secretary Member of Management Board

6. Ram Charan dasa

Financial Controller Member of Management Board Counsellor

3. Titiksu dasa

UK Ratha Yatra Coordinator Member of Management Board

7. Gaura Kishore dasa

Charity Trustee Community Development Team Coordinator Counsellor

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10. Kasinatha dasa

Temple Security / Commander

11. Saumya Radhika dd

Community Development Team Coordinator Counsellor

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Who’s Who Community News

12. Jaga Mohini dd

ISKCON Educational Services (IES) Tulasi pujari

16. Sachi Kishore dasa

20. Gandaki dasa

Preaching and Outreach Member of Brahmacari Council Counsellor

Radha’s Boutique Manager Member of Management Board

13. Bhaktin Sunita

Child Protection Officer Community Care Officer (Ombudsman) for ISKCON-London

Volunteers’ coordinator

17. Devaki dd

21. Bhakta Thiru

14. Vamsi Priya dd

18. Bhakta Dhaval

22. Premarnava dasa

15. Bhakta Alexey

19. Acyuta Charan dasa & Krishna Kanta dd

23. Bhakta Rakesh

Education and Courses

Sankirtan Leader Russian Bhakti Vrksa Leader

Kitchen Manager

Volunteers’ coordinator

Properties Manager

Food for Life coordinators

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Communications Team

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Community News

Vamsi Priya dd

Courses Upcoming and Current Events

Course Objective: To facilitate devotees in setting the right emotions and service attitude to Krsna when leading Kirtan.

An Introduction to Kirtan and Kartals

How to Play Kartalas: Fast/Regular/1 fill (ornament) How to Lead Kirtans: Guru Vandana, Tulsi Kirtan, Managala Arati Nrisimha Prayers, Gaura Arathi, Damodarastakam

Title : An Introduction to Kirtan and Kartals Facilitator : Radha London Iswara Dasa Duration : 10 weeks beginning on the 13th of August Time : Every Tuesday 6-8 pm Location : Soho Temple – Seminar Room Cost : £50

Theme: General Etiquette for Kirtan / Mood of the Kirtaneer More details will be available soon. Enquire at Radha’s Boutique or check on the website.

Essence Of Bhagavad Gita This is a 5 session course offering an outline of the main themes from the Bhagavad Gita. This course is ideal for those seeking to gain an understanding of the basic concepts discussed in the Bhagavad Gita: Karma and Reincarnation, Three modes of material nature, Validity of Scripture and God as a person.

The topics to be covered are: • Search for Happiness • Does God Exist • Are the Vedas the word of God • Why do bad things happen to good people • Practical Application This course is best suited to those who are inquisitive about devotional practises and wishing to gain a basic understanding of Krsna Consciousness. The course is a certified course at foundational level and is a pre-requisite for potential Bhakti Sastri candidates and those wishing to join the ISKCON London Counsellor System.

Facilitator: Date:

Time : Venue: Registration fee:

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Shivanand Prabhu Saturday, 27 April for 5 consecutive Saturday evenings 6.30 – 8.30 pm Seminar Room Radha’s Boutique ( Floor 2 ) £25 for 5 classes

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Community News

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Community News

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Festivals

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Community News Festivals

Community News

May & June Harinamas London was inundated with 2-4 Harinamas a day with the association of the travelling Harinama devotees from Europe.

Harinama Sankirtana ki Jaya!

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Community News

Sachi Kishore dasa

Outreach

6 Hour Kirtan Kirtan London, a project aimed at sharing the unique ‘kirtan experience’ with all of London, greeted the onset of spring with a scintillating 6-hour kirtan event in Covent Garden called ‘Spring Clean’, attracting a diverse crowd of newcomers and returning enthusiasts of the kirtan experience.

Mantra Lounge The Mantra Lounge Kirtan (mantra music meditation) event in June was a big success! We had two famous guests visiting from New York, Srikala and Jesse, who host a unique NYC based kirtan group called Bhakti Dojo which aims to spread the joys and blessings of the holy name and offer support for the life transformations that come along with regular practice. Our guests generated an enthralling and engaging meditation on the holy names, giving our London visitors an unforgettable flavour of kirtan being tasted across the pond!

KC Lounge The men’s Friday Programme continued this month, exploring a range of issues pertaining to the philosophy and lifestyle of Krishna Consciousness. We also introduced a new feature to the programme, dedicating time for teaching attendees how to play traditional instruments for the enhancement of their kirtan experience.

For our next events we have a details on line, so please check the Mantra Lounge websites. http://www.facebook.com/MantraLoungeLondon

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Community News

Kirtan London @ Mind Body Spirit This year Kirtan London participated in the iconic ‘Mind Body Spirit Festival’ at Earl’sCourt Exhibition Centre, setting up an innovative ‘Pop-up Temple’ to share the Hare Krishna experience with the festival’s 80,000 visitors.

Men’s Wednesday Programme This month we also continued our Wednesday Programme, through which we are currently exploring means of stabilising sadhana as well as delving into the teachings of Srimad Bhagavatam.

Jayadvaita Swami This month we also invited several of our attendees from the Friday and Wednesday programmes to attend a seminar on the editing of the Bhagavad Gita delivered by Jayadvaita Swami, to allow them to engage with advanced practitioners of Krishna Consciousness and to mature in their appreciation of the Bhagavad Gita

Yoga London This month we facilitated another Bhagavad Gita seminar for the students at Yoga London, while sharing with them the Bhakti yoga experience in the form of philosophy, kirtan and prasadam.

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Community News

Open Day at the Temple

Next they were taken to the room next door where they were taught the Maha Mantra and introduced to mantra meditation.

Saturday 18th May saw an amazing first time event at ISKCONLondon. On this day, we re-organised the Temple, so that we could open the doors and invite passers-by in for a full Hare Krishna experience.

This is followed by a visit to the VIP room for some refreshments and an open ended questions and answers session.

Finally the guests were taken to the Temple Room where they experienced a sweet Bhajan and the beautiful Darshan of Their Lordships.

Many guests came in saying they only had 10-15 minutes and then stayed for over 2 hours.

This day was kindly organised by Sacinandana Karuna dasa and his good wife Bhakti Priya Radhika dasi with help from Devaki devi Dasi’s team of guest greeters and many other volunteers.

Outside there was a book table, a harinama and numerous devotees who were meeting passers-by and inviting them in an enthusiastic approach.

All in all, we received over 200 first time guests and made a valuable positive impression upon them with Prasadam, books and the holy name.

Once inside our guests were greeted at reception with a splash of fragrance and a warm welcome. They proceeded upstairs past Radha’s Boutique to the seminar room where they were shown a 15 min presentation on ISKCON and our philosophy and ancient tradition.

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See a full video of the event at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A65bMOvjJEM

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Community News

Bhava Bhakti dd

The Spiritual Counsellor at ISKCON-London The spiritual counsellor system provides a formal framework within which personal care and attention can be extended to all devotees so as to make them feel loved and wanted and part of a wonderful spiritual family.

If you would like to join the Spiritual Counsellor System at ISKCON-London or would like further information then please contact the System Coordinator – Bhava Bhakti dd on bhava.bhakti@gmail.com

Spotlight on

For more information, please visit www.iskcon-london.org/activities/ spiritual-counsellor-system.html

Everyone also learns how to cook a variety of high standard tasty culinary

Bhakta Jay Suthar dishes (prasadam) when a service opportunity for Sunday feast cooking at the Temple is scheduled. There is also always the opportunity to offer and honour prasadam after each counselee meeting.

The counsellors always preach about the great importance of having strict sadhana while living in the congregation or cultivating spiritual habits. In every meeting they put a lot of attention into teaching proper Vaisnava etiquette, how to deal with Vaisnavas and how to respect and serve them.

And then, beyond the meeting, on a daily basis the counsellors individually contact their counselees for confidential one to one personal support and dialog.

Q – What have you learned while being in the system?

The senior counsellors take responsibility to guide and train those who would like to learn from them. They themselves set a respectable example. They encourage devotees to honour, serve, care for and have faith in each other in a Krishna conscious way. They provide every individual the opportunity and understanding how to conduct our lives as devotees, practising spiritual values to become first class Vaisnavas according to our desire and level of commitment.

Q - How long have you been in the Spiritual Counsellor System?

One year Q – Why did you join the system?

We are struggling with anxiety or some sort of discomfort that distracts us, not allowing us to focus on the person we intended to be. The spiritual process can be blissful and awakening, but also it can be hard, doubting and lonely.

1. To develop seriously as a devotee (attentively chanting sixteen rounds, following the four regulative principles).

2. Become enthusiastic and confident to preach.

3. Imbibe a tremendous desire to serve the other Vaisnavas.

The counsellor system is committed to the care of all its devotees and creates an environment of trust, care and appreciation, and inspires us to chant Hare Krishna and to serve in this great movement of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They offer personal guidance and oversee the spiritual growth of devotees in their support with great care and attention.

Q – Please share with us a few of the activities you do in your meetings which you like.

Studying sincerely Srila Prabhupada’s books, discussing the philosophy learning it very systematically. We have reading materials that everyone in the group studies and every week we all take an opportunity to present our realisations to the group.

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Community News

What are counselee Meetings?

Counselee meetings mainly center on hearing, chanting and studying Srila Prabhupada’s books.

The idea is to become spiritually nourished in the meetings and make like-minded friends.

Counselee meetings do not tackle personal issues regarding individual counselees - this is done in the monthly one-to-one meetings which counselees have with their counsellor.

Sometimes counselees will be called upon to give a short talk or presentation on a topic of their choice. However, there are also times when the meeting agenda is pushed aside and groups just get creative. For example, Bhava Bhakti dd’s counselee group recently made a ‘Get Well Soon’ card for Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subadra when Their Lordships caught a little cold after Snana Yatra

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Community News

Counselee Group Maha Sangha All the ISKCON-London Counselee Groups came together for a Maha Sanga on Saturday 29th of June. The theme of the gathering, organised by Bhava Bhakti dd’s counsellee group, was Anarthas – The Real Heart Disease.

Bhuta Bhavana dasa facilitated an interactive seminar on how to remove anarthas. Bhava Bhakti dd’s group also made a short video http://youtu.be/5za0Y_ZWG6Q Gaura Kishore dasa and Saumya Radhika

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dd‘ s group led the kirtan and the grand finale of prasadam was catered for by Govinda’s and sponsored by Danistha dd and Deva Deva dasa.

A truly wonderful day of bonding and growing together

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Community News

Community News

Maha Nrsimha dasa

Festivals

Nrsimha Caturdasi & Snana Yatra

enthusiasm, and together the group looked especially striking with so many smiling faces despite the elements!!

On Friday 24th May the community came together to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Nrsimha Caturdasi. The festival ran throughout the day , and included the following highlights:

Later in the day we held an abhisekha ceremony and the Radha Krsna Drama group put on a spellbinding drama performance. We were then joined by HG Urmila Devi Dasi who led us through an inspiring multimedia presentation on the glories of Lord Nrsimhadeva. This was followed by Sandhya Arati and an Ekadashi breakfast feast for almost 300 guests. Once again the festival was brought to a close by HG Radha Londonisvara Prabhu and his bhajan band who sang till the late hours of the evening.

A wonderful morning class was facilitated by HG Dayal Nitai prabhu (long term book distributor who also served as temple president in the 80s), followed by the official launch of the new album Mandali

by Radha Krishna Records, which features live recordings of all the major festival kirtans in 2012. At 1pm over 80 devotees braved the rain and sang and danced down Oxford street with contagious Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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Community News Festivals

Only 2 days after this full day of festivity, we had the opportunity to celebrate Snana Yatra - public bathing of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Maharani. This year we anticipated many more guests to come and bathe their Lordships than previously, and we were not disappointed, as the bathing queue extended well outside the temple limits. Following the chanting of Vedic mantras to invoke auspiciousness, the bathing ceremony began with great splendour and was accompanied by uplifting kirtans and continued until 10:45am.

Community News

We then had the great fortune of hearing from HH Atmanivedana Maharaja who gave a captivating talk on the special mercy available from serving Lord Jagannatha. This was followed by the Raj Bhoga arati and the highly anticipated Hati Vesha darshan where the Lords manifest an even more merciful form. We then served a sumptuous feast (pilau rice, khaja, sweet rice, samosa etc) to about 500 guests and at 4:30pm Their Lordships were lovingly escorted by Their servants into seclusion to recover from sickness for 2 weeks until the Ratha Yatra two weeks later.

Recordings can be seen on http://www.youtube.com/iskconlondontv

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Community News

Festivals

Ratha Yatra 2013

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Community News

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Community News

Jai Nitai dasa

Regional News

ISKCON-London, South-London, Croydon, Crawley & Brighton Croydon Regional Meeting 11th May Members from the South Region gathered, after a long spell of no meetings for sanga, kirtan, reports of local events, sharing of ideas for future events, working together and honouring prasadam.

On 27th April this year, ISKCON Croydon hosted their third annual Kirtan event. The chanting of the holy name, which continued non-stop from 10am – 10pm, took place at a new venue in East Croydon. It was attended by more than 300 guests from across the UK. The focus of this year’s kirtan was to attract both devotees and newcomers from the South London area, mainly by promoting the event through South London Weekend Warriors (now renamed to Sacred Street Parties).

Post Narasimha Book Distrubution Marathon Festival 1st June This event was hosted at the Bhakti Yoga Centre in Crawley with full regional representation. The aim was to inspire more book distribution through-out the whole region. We were blessed with the association of HG Radha Raman dasa, HG Ananda Caitanya dasa and The Sacred Street Party leaders Sacinandana Karuna dasa and Krishna Kirtan dasa.

Guru Disciple Course 15th June Third time this course has been facilitated by HG Jai Nitai dasa in the Region. This time it was hosted at the Bhakti Yoga Centre with about 22 attendees mostly from the Crawley Yatra.

Blissful kirtans were led by devotees from the South London temple, ISKCON London (Soho Street), Greater London and Birmingham, and prasadam was served throughout the day to all the guests. ISKCON Croydon plan to continue this event annually every April, as a tribute to H.G Aindra Prabhu on his appearance day.

This is an 8-hour course aimed at exploring the relationship between Guru and Disciple and is a requirement for anyone wishing to take initiation with in ISKCON.

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Community News

‘Hare Krishna’ greetings to our readers from the ISKCON Croydon Team Shortly following the success of the 12 hour kirtan, ISKCON Croydon organised their third Rathayatra festival and party in the park, with the procession starting on Croydon High Street and continuing onto Park Hill.

Park Hill was set up as a Hare Krishna Village, with tents attracting many visitors who learned more about the philosophy through various means, including cultural performances, Q&A area and distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books. The event was blessed with the attendance of HH Jayadvaita Swami, HH Bhakti Visrambha Madhava Swami, HH Janananda Swami and HH Mahavishnu Swami, along with local dignitaries including Councillor Tony Newman , Councillor Vidhi Mohan and Councillor Graham Bass. More than 500 plates of prasadam were distributed on the day.

As well as the above mentioned annual events, ISKCON Croydon runs monthly sanga programmes and fortnightly Food For All prasadam distribution to the homeless in Central Croydon.

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For more information regarding any of the events mentioned, please contact our local community representative called Krishna on 07961797978.

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Community News

Jagannath Suta dasa

Radha-Krishna Records Mandali I’m driving along playing ‘Utsav’ at top volume in my car, bumper to bumper traffic. Guy in car going opposite way says “Hey man got any CD’s?” I didn’t have any ‘Mandali’s’ but had a spare ‘Krishna The Heart of London’. We both jumped out of our cars, met midway in street and exchanged. He said “Thanks dude” and we drove off.

- Jai Nitai Dasa

Mandali was launched May 24th and has sold in excess of 400 copies to date.

“Just listened to Mandali, it’s a huge success! It’s awesome! Can’t wait to tell everyone!” - Hersh (UCL) “Album’s fantastic” - John Hubbard (Actor)

Follow us on facebook, sound cloud and visit our site to purchase the album

“Absolutely fabulous, soul churning, heart melting, rocking album, I hope its goes multi platinum” - Shimmel

http://www.radhakrishnarecords.com http://www.facebook.com/Radha.Krishna.Records

“Outrageous! I close my eyes it’s as if your right there in the room!

Kannada Raga just blows my mind I play it over and over again” - Chris (Bournemouth)

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http://soundcloud.com/radha-krishna-records

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Community News

Akarsini Radhika dd

Jaga Mohini dd

ISKCON Education Service (IES) A school from South West England that came to visit in June requested to come out on our morning Harinama and was really successful.

We are beginning to book schools for September and October with the help of one of the local education authorities.

We are also in first stages of our web page being revamped.

We seek the blessings of the Vaisnava’s that we will are able bring more and more schools to the lotus feet of Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara

If you know of any schools in these areas that would be interested in either a school or temple visit please contact us, temple main number 0207 437 3662, and speak to either Jaga Mohini dd or Akarsini Radhika dd or visit http://www.iskcon-london.org/ teachings-12/educational-services.htm

Month

No. Schools

No. Days

No Students

No.teachers

Visit Temple

Visit School

May

3

4

280

12

1

2

June

2

2

37

5

2

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Community News

Suddhatma dasa

Govinda’s Restaurant Financial Summary Month

2013

2012

Variance

May

£66356

£26264*

+ £40091

June

£68058

£61550

+ £6517

*Please note due to renovation in May 2012 this year we made £40091.81 more.

Gandaki dasa

Radha’s Boutique Financial Summary Month

2013

2012

Variance

May

£7741.62

£7766.91

- 25.29

June

£7950.73

£6199.38

+ £1751.35

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Community News

Bhakta Alexey

Sankirtan Report Transcendental book distribution

Month / Year

Lakshmi

Book Points

Big

Maha Big Hard

Medium

Medium Hard

May 2012

3,230.00

1,285.25

41

472

120

2

May 2013

3,447.00

1,100.50

46

324

106

6

Acyuta Charan dasa

Set

Small 817

1

1265

Krishna Kanta dd

Food for Life Hare Krishna.

In May Food for Life has been very successful with around 3000 plates distributed for each month. We are hoping to expand our services by adding an additional day and we hope to think of new ways to increase the amount of Prasadam distribution in London.

We have also been hosting meetings for Food for Life volunteers at our home where we discuss spiritual topics.

(If you would like to help for this service please call Krishna Kanta dasi - 07961767978)

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“So Krishna consciousness movement means that we have to train our senses to satisfy Krishna. That’s all. So long, in other, previous, many, many thousands and millions of lives, we have simply tried to satisfy our senses, personal senses. Let this life be dedicated for satisfying Krishna’s senses.

That is Krishna consciousness” Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, BG 2.20-25, Seattle, October 14, 1968

Daily Programme Times Arati Times 4.30am - Mangala Arati 5.00am - Tulasi Arati 7.00am - Deity Greeting 8.00am - Dhoop Arati 12.30pm - Raj Bhoga Arati 4.15pm - Dhoop Arati 7.00pm - Sundara Arati 9.00pm - Dhoop Arati

Darshan Times 4.30am to 5.00am 7.00am to 7.30am 8.00am to 11.45am 12.30pm to 1.00pm 4.15pm to 6.30pm 7.00pm to 7.30pm 9.00pm to 9.30pm LUNCH PROGRAMME Monday to Saturday 1.00pm to 2.00pm

Classes 7.30am - Bhagavatam or Caitanya Caritamrta 1.00pm - Introductory Talk (except Sunday) 6.00pm - Bhagavad Gita (except Sunday) Sunday Programme 3.30pm - Bhajans 4.15pm - Dhoop Arati 4.30pm - Introductory Talk 5.30pm - Feast 6.00pm - Q & A 7.00pm - Gaura Arati

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Radha-Krishna Temple 10 Soho Street London W1D 3DL

T: 020 7437 3662 E: info@iskcon-london.org W: www.iskcon-london.org

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Society for 24 Krishna Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare International Conciousness

Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada