B H A K T I CENTER your
home
FINDING YOUR WAY HOME BUILDING TEAMS
OPENING OUR DOORS
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
Re-investing in people
Welcoming our community back home
Appreciating our social impact areas
1202 | TROPER LAUNNA
spiritual
Table of Contents 1
A Letter from the Executive Director
2
Spiritual Transformation
3
Leadership: Brajarani
6
Bringing Life Back to our Spaces
8
Coming Back for Kirtan:
15
27
2
Acyuta Gopi
10
A Place of Healing: Susan Hu
13
Ladies Ashram and Resident Programs
15
Rediscovering Home: Kishor Chandra
17
Launching RISE: Rukmini Poddar
24
Soul Spot: Street Outreach
25
InSpirit - Holistic Spiritual
8
3
Care: Kulapradipa
27
Y12SR: Jenn Manvich
29
Finances
31
Join Us: Get Involved
33
Thanking our Board Members
34
An Address by HH Radhanath Swami
34
COVER: Teacher and Community Leader: Jamuna Jaya Photographer: Tatiana Kiseleva (Thakurani)
17
A Letter from the Executive Director The last two years have led to a re-envisioning of how we make our offerings at the Bhakti Center. PreCOVID we primarily, if not exclusively, operated on an in-person basis. When COVID hit, we shifted to an exclusively online model, out of necessity. Now those worlds have merged, and we have re-opened our physical doors while having also built a global online community. While our vision, the “Why” of what we do, remains the same, this has provided an opportunity to reconfigure the “How” and the “What” of the Bhakti Center.
We’ve launched a brand new online community and educational platform to keep people connected from Texas, to California, to deep Brooklyn, all the way to the Philippines, India, Australia, Brazil, throughout Europe and beyond. Simultaneously, we began to reopen our doors, hosting full schedule in-person festivals, restarting Thursday Night Kirtan and eventually Bhagavat Sravana.
We re-opened our yoga
studio, launched a brand new weekly event, Soul Talks, and welcomed several new ashram residents to participate in a new and developing resident training program.
Through these channels, we strive to help you and everyone
CONNECT
through our community platforms
and in person sangas,
LEARN
through our educational
platforms, trainings, and weekly in person class,
PRACTICE
what you learn through your own inspired
spiritual routines, and
GIVE BACK
through selfless
service which fuels our mission to share what we've received with others.
It's been a tremendous privilege, which I am honored and humbled by, to be given the opportunity to serve you as your Executive Director and partner together as we continue to evolve, grow, and support each other.
yours in service,
01
|
LETTER
FROM
THE
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
Dayal Gauranga das DAYAL
GAURANGA
DAS
How We Transform Spiritually
Connect Spiritual
growth
vacuum.
We
around
us
to
by
joining
being
part
a
You a
of
happens
our
can
a
sustained
connect
community
our
in
community
support
development. us
never
need
online
with
group
or
community
network.
Learn Through and
regular
trainings,
workshops,
we
offer
spiritual
education
depth
spiritual
help
of
you
live
grounded meaning
and
that
provides
perspective
life
and
courses,
holistic
from
a
inspired
a
to
more
place
of
purpose.
Practice Transformation practical learn. us
each
takes
application
You
can
week, to
how
develop
of
sign
receive
1-1
your
through
what
practice
or
mentor to
place
we
kirtan
up
for
with
a
counseling own
on
spiritual
practice.
Give back We
receive
Through as
well
such to
as
give
the
regular as
02
by
back
and
and for
giving.
community
community
InSpirit
opportunities same.
most
services
initiatives
Y12SR,
we
offer you
to
do
the
aim
It takes a village...
Building Teams and Welcoming New Leaders by Brajarani devi dasi
03
|
LEADERSHIP
O
ne of the key stories of 2021 is
Looking ahead to 2022, we’re finalizing
rebuilding our Bhakti Center
the Bhakti Center's organizational goals
team…
and creating individual SMART goals for each leadership team member which will
In January 2020, the Bhakti Center had a
ensure we reach our overall organizational
vibrant team of mostly residents delivering
goals and will trickle down to every team
programs. As COVID arrived and set in,
member. As a newly forming team, we’re
that team dispersed around the country,
planning a Q1 offsite focused on building
in-person programs came to a standstill,
trust and accountability. Lastly, we’ll
and a stewardship team worked together
implement a complete performance
to lead the organization through these
management system including goal setting,
unusual times.
regular one-on-ones, quarterly check-ins, and annual reviews.
At the onset of 2021, we began to plan for a reopening of the Bhakti Center and, with
2022 will be a year of growth and impact
that, rebuilding our team for the future.
in the community, and we’ll continue to
One of our first moves was to appoint an
build our team of paid and volunteer staff
Executive Director, Dayal Gauranga -
to execute.
someone from the stewardship team who had longevity with the organization and had stepped up to lead. With his
For more than 30 years, Brajarani has served,
leadership, we began to fill roles in a new
taught and mentored in the corporate and
way - posting jobs, conducting formal behavioral interviews, checking references, and making formal written offers for employment. Our full team is made up of paid and volunteer staff, including our
non-profit world, and in spiritual communities of the African Diaspora. As a HR business leader, she partnered with senior leaders to develop a people and talent agenda which enabled companies to reach strategic objectives.
residents. She has served others from traumatized youth
In the second half of the year, we began to
to the homeless, and from her clients in AIDS
pull together a leadership team consisting
services to her teams in the corporate world.
of department heads who represent their
Brajarani turned to the path of Bhakti Yoga
individual functions while also being tasked to put on an organizational hat, steering
tradition to deepen her commitment to love and service.
the ship together.
04
Thank You to Our 2021 Leadership Team
Executive Director: Dayal Gauranga das Oversees, directs, and
Head of HR: Brajarani devi dasi Oversees organizational
supports our Leadership Team
design and development
to carry out the Bhakti Center
including hiring, performance
mission and vision.
management, and policies.
Program Director: Kishor Chandra das
Fundraising Associate: Sahar Ghavami
Oversees all programming at
Developing Salesforce
the Bhakti Center, ensuring
database and facilitating
that program strategies come
fundraising efforts.
to life and meet the needs of our community.
Temple Care Coordinator: Tulsirani devi dasi
Head of Legal and Finance: Sundarnath das
Oversees all Programming and
Maintains legal and financial
Care initiatives for our Temple
records and generates
community, with the aim of
financial reports.
helping our community feel connected, inspired, nourished, and supported in their spiritual life.
Head Pujari and Senior Educator: Vasudeva das Responsible for overseeing Temple
Director of Operations and Business Strategy: Karuna Nimai das
worship and serves as a spiritual
Assist Executive Director to
leader in our community to perform
implement goals, with particular
Vedic rites, provide counseling, and
focus on day to day efficient
build, develop, and teach courses
operations, near term growth,
across various platforms.
and assisting in long term strategic planning.
05
|
LEADERSHIP
Bringing Life Back to our Physical Spaces
06
|
BRINGING
LIFE
INTO
OUR
SPACES
2021 saw both the re-emergence of previously discontinued programs alongside the birth of some brand new offerings - providing our community with a long-awaited opportunity to come together and experience the power of the Bhakti Center
in person...
07
Coming Back for Kirtan
Reflections by Acyuta Gopi
A pulsing beat that echoes your own heart draws you
Vedic teachings speak of the power of mantras and
in. The ringing of kartals clears the mind and voices
how they act as a spiritual armor. The magic of this
rise, merge together, support, and encourage one
kind of armor is that after it has been applied by a
another to create a spiritual symphony of sound. And
spiritual warrior, anyone they see with their eyes
that’s usually just within the first fifteen minutes of
becomes a recipient of blessings and divine
kirtan on Thursday Night.
protection. Imagine a hundred spiritual warriors all coming together to chant sacred mantras and apply
Being in kirtan allows us to witness how all of the best things in life come from joint prayer. We find
spiritual armor together each week, and you get Thursday Night Kirtan!
throughout Vedic literature that whenever the Universe was in peril, all of the celestial demigods would come together and present a group prayer petitioning Divinity for assistance. When the Supreme Spirit answered, a message was sent to Brahma, their leader, who would then relay the message to
We may have started out praying just for ourselves, but after fortifying our hearts with this Maha-mantra armor we serve the world just by BEING! Anyone and everyone that we simply look at can be miraculously transformed. We become carriers of grace.
everyone else. Amazingly, no one was jealous that Brahma got the message first and they didn’t. In the spirit of divine cooperation, they heard the message with grateful hearts and began to work in faith, knowing that their promised miracle was coming. So, when we enter a kirtan, even though someone may be “leading” and someone else “responding,” we
After leaving such a spiritually charged gathering, we’re now doing some of the best humanitarian work we could ever do. Because of course, when one wins, we all win. This is the magic of Thursday Night Kirtan and why I'm so happy and grateful that the space has been re-opened for us to come together.
shouldn’t think that this makes our position any less. With the blessings of her family and teachers, Acyuta has
Our job is to add in our voice in the spirit of spiritual cooperation with faith that our miracles are coming.
had the amazing fortune to travel the world singing, writing, and witnessing those heart transformations that she
If just one person’s heart is healed by the experience
loves so much, first hand.
of that kirtan, then we all benefit. This is the key to
focused her efforts on the NYC community and pouring her
creating an unbreakable community bond.
heart into the beautiful practices of Kirtan, writing, and the
Now along with her family, she’s
incredibly transformative tradition of Bhakti Yoga.
08
|
BRINGING
LIFE
INTO
OUR
SPACES
Imagine a hundred spiritual warriors all coming together to chant sacred mantras and apply spiritual armor together each week, and you get Thursday Night Kirtan!
09
A Place of Healing
Reflections on the re-opening of our yoga studio by Susan Hu
10
|
BRINING
LIFE
INTO
OUR
SPACES
I
n the summer of 2021, we took a huge step forward with our yoga studio by restarting our in person
classes. Our students had been yearning for the opportunity to come off the zoom screen and be in our physical space together, and we finally felt the time was right to make the shift. In addition to hosting weekly in person yoga and meditation classes, we re-launched our in person 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in September along with day retreats and workshops.
As students trickled in more and more each week, we felt life re-entering our spaces in a way that continues to bring us hope and inspiration, filling us with gratitude to have the opportunity to practice with our community in our studio after over a year of
Our yoga studio is committed to offering
having the doors shut.
experiences that help students heal both body and mind through spiritual teachings and community.
The studio is taking extra precautions to
We are grateful for the privilege to be a channel of
ensure we are following NYC guidelines to
divine wisdom and spread timeless teachings
protect our students and teachers. We
through the practice of yoga and meditation.
check the vaccination status of everyone
Thank you for helping us along the way and being
who steps foot inside of the studio, limit
part of that channel as well.
class capacity to practice social distancing and encourage our teachers and students
Susan is one of our longest standing teachers at
to use their own mats as much as possible.
the Bhakti Center. Pre-pandemic, she served as
We also provide extra cleaning supplies
our Yoga Studio Manager, and during the initial
and hand sanitizers in the studio.
months of closing our doors, she led the charge to bring our classes online and sustain our studio.
This journey reminds us of the ever present
Having transitioned out of our official Manager
dualities in our world that guide us to take
role, she now co-leads our in-person Yoga Teacher
shelter in our spiritual practices. Since the
Trainings along with regular day immersions and
reopening of the studio, we’ve not only had
retreats as well as serves on our Yoga Board.
many returning community members come to practice with us in person, but also
Susan is known for her calm spirit, deep personal
welcomed many new friends as well. There
practices, and transformative meditation and yoga
are even students traveling from out of
nidra classes. She continues to coordinate our
state to join us!
online Meditation Teacher Trainings with Yogi Charu and care for our team of teachers and community.
11
Unplugging to Recharge and Reconnect
In the summer of 2021, we hosted our first
Detox
Digital
retreat in upstate New York (photo above,
taken after we got our devices back!).
The
experience was so nourishing that we took a second group back in the early Fall.
We each handed in our individual devices and spent an extended weekend forging real life, personal connections through sacred sanga, kirtan, and time in nature.
We also hosted a group on the island of Crete in Greece (picture below) for a recharged experience away from the city, outdoors and immersed in spiritual vibration.
Facilitating retreats is a powerful way to offer an immersive Bhakti experience that leaves lasting impressions to carry us through life.
12
Ladies Ashram and Resident Training Programs It’s
been
our
Champakalata,
a
big
their
next
in
oversee
to
year
steps
structure,
and
the
up
as
pouring
her
transitions
the
heart
Saki,
graduate
ashram
support,
stepped
of
Braja
and
from
the
big
caring
for
the
and
Tulsi
work
the
new
We
Nayana
on
residents.
of
the
ashram!
and
ashram.
the
sister for
ladies
Manjari
development
sangas
official into
in
Mani
ashram
seen
Rani
has
take
jumped
implementing
Our
ladies
have
Manjari
dear
ashram girls,
Emily and
Bel
more has
has
been
and
Suzanna.
Emily
has
a
special
supporting serving clean into
and
the
These Bhakti
season
the
an
sadhana, practice
13
|
girls
of
BRINGING
year
ashram
and of
much
ashram
seva
Bhakti
LIFE
INTO
their
with
at
have
the
in
for
hospitality,
Bhakti
events,
favorite
reception
out
a
with
are
and
Suzanna
helping
us
warmly
singing
enjoys
keep
our
her
heart
program
cooking,
building
welcoming
behind-the-scenes reception,
and
people
out
backbone
in
kirtan.
of
production,
the
garland
more!
ladies
ashram
has
training
program
for
men
both
program and
to
and
aimed
at
acted that
SPACES
as
a
as
we
women.
spiritual
an
exciting
plan The
providing
systematically
together
OUR
organization,
journey.
and
services
become
helping
so
coming
structured
Bel's
Center
Center,
starting in
Bhakti
and
people helping
tidy.
three
making,
This
new
others,
aptitude
study
to
officially
vision
is
nourishing the
family.
pilot
to
for
launch
create
sanga,
philosophy
and
a
Launched in the summer of 2021,
Souls Talks is a space to explore the wisdom of Bhakti. Hosted weekly, this program gives anyone new to the Bhakti Center a place to connect, learn, and take the next step in their spiritual journey.
Restarting
Bhagavata Sravana has given our community the chance to connect in person and discuss the sacred teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam
14
Rediscovering Home BY KISHOR CHANDRA
In
2019
the
right
Bhakti
engaged people
Center
in
teaching,
parents shift
and
The
Bhakti
had
to
felt
sangas
I
to
lost
make
leading
of
I
closely
program
to
did
was
blissful
trainings!
started
closed
a
I
with
was
so
I
an
know
living
and
I
with
full
was
many
production,
I
remember
intensify, how
friends,
In
I
started
living
I
I
time
in
happily inspiring
planning,
the
went
much
to
visit
things
my
own
the
my
would
deep
family
and
move are
business,
my
crisis.
our
was
I
I
weekly
quite
felt
life
the
call
to
from.
I
met
my
life
my
heart
and
and
those
existential
guidance to
during
community,
my
parents
pandemic,
many
my
with for
to
so
a
decided
both my
As
ashram,
prayed
July,
country
due
through
the
and
doors
family.
going
adult!
move.
the
-
its
my
much;
kirtans
as
Ecuador, new
Center
and
difficult
was
working
areas
Little
hit,
that....
months,
like
Life
was
COVID
quarantine
initial
I in
even
Queens.
after
pandemic
ashram.
serving
when in
the
service.
and
weekend
before
got
to
make
partner!
Amidst New
all
York
this, and
Gauranga, to
come
training went
to
ticket
Being air.
New
back
at
this
am
so
I
at
the
felt
Center
served York
the
a
family.
with
for
longing
a
for
visit
interrupted end
Bhakti
of
April
beautiful grateful
of
Center
devotees
compelled
back
to
felt
My
dear
many and
due
in
years,
to to
2020
friend,
Dayal
asked
finish the
for
out
a
me kirtan
pandemic.
with
a
I
return
Ecuador.
Program
opportunity
still
gotten
community
ticket
I
have New
York
return of
I
had
to
I
Bhakti
to
that
and
on
15
who
world,
role
my
back
back
The
though,
to
Ecuador
Director
at
journey, to
be
serve
to
the
here
stay and
the
the
back
was
like is
Bhakti
divine
here
in
community
breath
unlike
and was
a
any
serve. asked
I
plan New more
is
so
York than
fresh
other
never
to
Center.
of
step
in
the
used into
my
the
Looking
back
evident
to
with ever
me.
the before.
...being back at the Bhakti Center was like a breath of fresh air..
16
Launching RISE
In 2021, we officially launched RISE, an online community learning space providing access to spiritual connection and support - anytime and anywhere!
17
|
LAUNCHING
RISE
18
WE
ALL
RISE
TOGETHER
by
Rukmini
Poddar
I tend to think of 2020 as the year of disruption and
We began to offer weekly Gita classes as well as
2021 as the year of transition. Last year, so much had
monthly workshops and online gatherings hosted by
changed and been interrupted. It felt like for so many
our community of teachers. Fast forward six months,
of us, we were in survival mode. However, this year
and we have over 100 members, have hosted over 55
has had its challenges too - but it also had its
different online events, and have organized multiple
opportunities. Transition offers an opportunity to
community and support groups on the network. I am
evolve. And that’s exactly what the Bhakti Center has
so grateful to have been a part of this project and
done.
have learned three key lessons along the way:
In May, Dayal Gauranga reached out to me with an exciting opportunity - to build an online membership space. Covid has shown us that our community expands so much further than the walls of the Bhakti Center. In fact, we discovered that we have an active community that attends our classes, workshops, and retreats that live on every corner of the earth!
1. Personalism matters - a community is built by people. So it’s no surprise that the success of an online community also depends on how personal we are with each other. 2. The way we gather matters - intentionality is the strength behind every meaningful interaction. By creating online groups that were extremely intentional, we could build meaningful
I felt a surge of inspiration at the vision - to create an online spiritual home. An online space that can offer inspiration, clarity, and the support of a genuine spiritual community. Dayal and I collaborated over the next month and released a soft launch of our RISE community platform. We sent invitations out to
relationships with others and feel a shared sense of connection. 3. Accessibility matters - by going online, we suddenly opened our doors to people who would have never been able to attend our classes or feel that they belong to our community. Now we realize how powerful it is to make ourselves as
anyone who had shown previous interest in joining our
accessible as possible to others. membership, and soon found ourselves with over 72 new members from all over the world.
19
|
LAUNCHING
RISE
BHAKTI CENTER GOES GLOBAL Expanding
our
community
across
the
world
Alachua, FL
Bakersfield, CA
Zurich, Switzerland
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Brooklyn, NY
Fort Lee, NJ
Manila, Philippines
Amsterdam, Netherlands
New York, NY
Cali, Colombia
Jersey City, NJ
Markham, Canada
Gainesville, FL
Tulsa, OK
Highland, NY
Boynton Beach, FL
Yonkers, NY
Houston, TX
Rockville, MD
Peace River, Canada
Kilchberg, Switzerland
Hoboken, NJ
Thurston, WA
Wauwatosa, WI
Long Valley, NJ
Boston, MA
Highland Park, IL
St John, IN
Denver, CO
New Fairfield, CT
London, United Kingdom
Prosper, TX
Jackson, NJ
Easton, PA
Los Angeles, CA
Truro, MA
St James, NY
Wood-Ridge, NJ
Astoria, NY
Brewster, MA
Davie, FL
Akron, OH
Prosper, TX
Princeton Junction, NJ
Glen Ridge, NJ
Hamilton, Canada
Olathe, KS
Norwich, United Kingdom
Skippack, PA
Huntingdon Valley, PA
Penarth, United Kingdom
Bolton, United Kingdom
Philadelphia, PA
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Gladewater, TX
Oldenburg, Germany
Delray Beach, FL
Santa Monica, CA
Nashville, TN
Vaughan, Canada
Tacoma, WA
Akron, OH
Philadelphia, PA
Milltown, NJ
Charleston, SC
Front Royal, VA
Hallbergmoos, Germany
Orlando, FL
Reykjavik, Iceland
Albury, Australia
Daly City, CA
Bexar, TX
20
|
LAUNCHING
RISE
*cities
indicate
RISE
memberships
Growing Our Spiritual Family
My name is Sydney Knoll. I live in East Texas and have been on the Bhakti path for one year, four months, and counting. I am a very curious person by nature, and I love to study and learn about spirituality and science. Growing up, I was told that all other religions and/or beliefs different than what I was taught as a kid were wrong, and I believed this was true for a long time, until I met my partner Brian. He was on the Bhakti path and opened my eyes to many things I was not quite prepared to learn, but I was definitely interested to explore. I unfortunately remained very confused and stuck for many years, which led me to separate myself from God. Then, problems in my relationships and extreme sadness and depression ensued.
About ten yrs of misery later, I met my first Bhakti teacher online in April of 2020. I decided in July of 2020 to begin on the Bhakti path and began reading the Bhagavad Gita. I found the Bhakti Center online and saw that classes were very affordable and they had some for beginners! I signed up for ‘Beginning Bhakti’ and thus began my journey with the Bhakti Center.
I continued to take more courses, and then along came the RISE platform, a very affordable Bhakti membership platform. It is designed for like minded individuals at all levels in their spirituality, to meet one another and share truth and realizations through live classes. They are also recorded for later viewing, (to support self paced learning and schedule differences) as well as having many groups to message with and chat with other members. Though I have never been able to physically attend the Bhakti Center in New York, I was still able to connect with and meet people from literally everywhere!
So, no matter where you live and/or your ability to travel, there is a space for you! The Bhakti Center and its RISE platform have been an integral part of my continued spiritual growth. I am very fortunate to be a part of something so amazing that brings so much positivity, spiritual knowledge, and overall hope, among the many online social platforms that are available. I will continue to support, be a part of, and offer my services to this wonderful place and its community. I am forever grateful.
21
|
TESTAMONIAL
Showing Up in Our Community
22
|
GIVING
BACK
Throughout the pandemic, we have strived to meet our community where they are at and provide essential services to help cope with the day to day struggles of life. for our
We are grateful
social impact
teams for
carrying these initiatives forward and would like to share and celebrate them with you.
23
TAKING
TO
THE
STREETS
A
spiritual
the
big
hub
to
questions,
connect,
ask
and
the
find
answers
2021 has been a great year for Soul Spot. We grew from a monthly summer program to hitting the streets every week, including throughout the winter. Due to COVID-19, many NYC restaurants created outdoor seating. In the colder weather, our walking harinam engaged with New Yorkers as they ate brunch on Saturdays and dinner on Thursday evenings. The revelers joined with us, dancing in the streets and singing along with us. In the summer months, we came together every Sunday afternoon in Washington Square Park. One of our biggest accomplishments in 2021 was hosting the Friday afternoon Tompkins Square Park event during the annual Ratha Yatra festivities - reaching many new souls with books, kirtan, and prasadam.
24
|
SOUL
SPOT
Holistic Spiritual Care in Times of Need by Kulapradipa
25
|
INSPIRT
InSpirit is a Bhakti Center initiative inaugurated in 2018. Inspired and encouraged by His Holiness Radhanath Swami, InSpirit nurtures and promotes spiritual care by focusing on the healthy
balance
between
the
mind,
body,
and
spirit.
Initially
providing
grief
and
bereavement support, InSpirit has been expanding to provide a range of spiritually based care
for
the
community
utilizing
a
network
of
medical,
mental,
and
spiritual
health
professionals to educate, discuss, promote, and support wellness. As unexpected as the global pandemic has been for many, InSpirit has been able to provide a virtual space week after week for individuals to share their experiences of grief, fear, isolation, hope, introspection, and reflection.
In the height of the pandemic, InSpirit hosted "Spiritual Care in the Bhakti
Tradition,"
with
guest
speaker,
HH
Radhanath
Swami,
exploring spiritual care from the perspective of the theology of devotion. And again towards the end of 2020, InSpirit hosted yet another pivotal online event, "The Prayers for the Departed," an international collaboration of musical artists, health professionals, and HH Radhanath Swami to honor those that had passed with musical dedications, poetry, and a reading of departed love ones' names that the online community shared with us. This year has been a time for growth for InSpirit, exploring the many facets of support for a diverse audience from an increasingly
interconnected international community. Exploring concepts of emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health challenges, InSpirit continues to grow and develop a comprehensive group of healthcare professionals with strong foundations in the values, theology, and culture of the Devotional tradition.
Kula Pradipa serves as a purohit and pujari (priest) at the Bhakti Center, with a background in pancharatra vidhi and samskaras (sacraments, rites, etc). He is a health care chaplain based and trained at Newark University Hospital. He has received his clinical pastoral education from the Institute for Clinical Pastoral Training (ICPT) in conjunction with the Spiritual Care Association (SCA).
Barbara Slaine Nutritionist, Reiki
Master,
Balance
is
a
Holistic
End-of-life and
Center
Doula,
Founder
of
Liphe
and
consciousdyingmatters.com.
Dina
Bandhu
chaplain, people
of
primarily and
works
offering all
in
death
&
faiths
the
as
a
spiritual
areas
and of
hospital
support
to
backgrounds, mental
health
dying.
26
Y12SR They say that addiction is the disease of the lost
We sit in sanga to listen and connect with one
Self. When we become disconnected from our
another and to offer each other support. This is
Higher Source, we try to fill that void with
an important feature of 12-Step Recovery as it
outside substances. Be it gambling, drugs, food,
validates our individual struggle and reminds us
alcohol, or shopping, the list of addictive
we are not alone. Then, we take it to the mats to
behaviors are varied and extensive. The Bhakti
practice “discharging the issues that live in our
Center became my spiritual home when I was
tissues.” Stress and addiction affects us on a
disconnected from myself and struggling with
molecular level that settles in our tissues. One
addiction. And I am not unique. In these perilous
comes to realize in this program that breathing
times, people are becoming more self-
through uncomfortable poses on the mat
destructive than ever as our spiritual center
translates to breathing through our
becomes more and more lost.
uncomfortable experiences in life. The intertwining of Yoga for addiction recovery and
It was the spiritual renaissance of the Bhakti
a 12-Step Recovery Program becomes an
Center, together with 12-Step meeting groups
important tool in the arsenal used to fight
that, literally, saved my life. Shortly thereafter, I
addiction. The Bhakti Center serves as the
began the practice of Yoga and started to
perfect venue to offer this healing combination.
reconnect with my body. Together, Yoga, the Bhakti Center and 12-Step Recovery were
The Bhakti Center’s Y12SR program is directed
propelling me towards wellness. I soon
by Jennifer Manvich. Her interest in 12-Step
discovered that a 12-Step Recovery Yoga
Recovery was born from her experience of
program was once offered at the Bhakti Center,
growing up with addiction in her family and her
and I was determined to bring the two together
own personal struggle. Although the 12-Step
again to present it as an offering to those in
program provided her tools to handle life on
need. Thus, this is a donation based class and no
life’s terms, she felt very disconnected to a
one is ever turned away.
higher power. It was by studying the Bhagavad Gita at the Bhakti Center that further bridged
27
|
Y12SR
12-Step Recovery and spirituality.
It was the spiritual renaissance of the Bhakti Center together with 12Step meeting groups that, literally, saved my life.
28
Staying Ahead of the Curve Financially
2021 RECAP
Through the shifting tides of COVID, our team has worked to keep us thriving strong in the face of obstacles.
Annual Averages
We also know that finances have been a crunch for
per MONTH
everyone. That is why 2021
Key:
was the first year in our history
INCOME
EXPENSES
formal fundraising event,
$34.2K
2016
making the conscious decision
$34K
to keep our mood of serving
$57.1K
2017
where we did not host a
you rather than taking during times of need.
$54.1K
$71.1K
2018
Still, we had multiple generous
$71.8K
donors step forward, along
$80.3K
2019
$80.5K
with successful program management and planning, that assisted to carry us through the year.
$85.1K
2020
$70.2K
In the coming year, we hope to
$71.5K
2021
expand our reach into various social impact areas across
$59K
0K
25K
50K
75K
New York City and look
100K forward
to partnering with you to make it happen.
29
|
FINANCIALS
2021
$75,000
MONTHLY BREAKDOWN
RENT / COLLABORATIONS $10,119
TAXES & FEES $1,743
$50,000
DONATIONS $28,033
OPERATIONS / MAINTENANCE $15,206
STAFF $23,564
$25,000 PROGRAMS $32,234
TEACHERS $10,051
PROGRAMS $7,206
$0
BOOKS $1,167 Avg. Monthly Income
BOOKS $1,232 Avg. Monthly Expenses 30
If you feel inspired,
JOIN US!
and learn how you can contribute... With this next chapter comes numerous possibilities for ways in which you can join us to serve, collaborate, and help make this vision a reality.
There are opportunities to: Use your skills and talents by either interning or applying for job openings within our staff Provide donations that go towards supporting these numerous projects If you have extensive experience in any of these areas, offer professional consultation in your area of expertise Apply to become a community group leader, ambassador, teacher, or mentor Join our New York ashram community experience We are eager to engage with you on any level you may feel inspired!
31
|
GET
INVOLVED
EMAIL info@bhakticenter.org with inquiries
DONATE via our website bhakticenter.org
32
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Board of Directors The Bhakti Center is based on the foundational teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and continues to be guided and inspired by his Vaisesika das
Rukmini dasi
Brahma Tirtha das
disciple, His Holiness Radhanath Swami (opp.page), along with our dedicated Board of Directors.
Vijaya Govinda das
Kaustubha das
33
|
BOARD
OF
DIRECTORS
Yasoda Dulal das
Virabhadra Ram das
Sri Govinda das
Brajarni devi dasi
Dayal Gauranga das
"As the Bhakti Center is growing, many revelations are coming about how the Bhakti Center, although it is a wonderful place to give shelter to the people in New York City, is an international community. Because New York is an international city.
So many people go for some time to New York and then they go other places, and the success of the service of the Bhakti Center is not just for the people who stay, but it is wherever we touch people’s hearts.
I’ve seen devotees from the Bhakti Center and community members, for whatever reasons, relocate to other cities, to other countries, but through the connection of their hearts, through the connection of communications and virtual satsangas (community gatherings), we find that wherever they may go, they feel a spiritual home at the Bhakti Center, in the transcendent community of the Bhakti Center.
I’m very grateful for all those in the past, present and in the future who have given their hearts and their lives to serve the mission of the Bhakti Center.
Although due to circumstances there have been changes, I see that all of these changes are actually opening doors to wonderful opportunities. I’m truly more hopeful and more happy to see the future of the Bhakti Center, through the participation of all of you.
With all my heart, I thank you."
- HH Radhanath Swami
34
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RADHANATH
SWAMI
ADDRESS
BHAK T I NYC
|
C E NT E R
BHAKTICENTER.ORG