July 2015 Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Srila Prabhupada: Renunciation means to renounce one's dependence on the conditions of material nature and thus be completely dependent on the mercy of the Lord. Real independence means complete Festival of Chariots A huge crowd of devotees with beaming in awe and many joining in with the fun. faith in the mercy of the Lord smiles and boundless enthusiasm, After the procession thousands of well- without dependence on the pulled the giant chariot that carried wishers, tourists and locals congregated conditions of matter. This stage the deities of Jagannath, Baladev and at Trafalgar Square to take part in the is the highest perfectional stage Subhadra through Central London from festivities. in bhakti-yoga, the process Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square at the The Rathayatra festival now takes place of devotional service to the annual Rathayatra Festival on Sunday in twelve towns up and down the country 14th June. Absorbed in chanting and Supreme Lord. during the summer months. Sheffield is fervently dancing the swarm of devotees the latest addition. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.18.22, left thousands of on lookers fascinated, purport International Yoga Day with the BBC 21st June saw the world’s first International Yoga day, an initiative led by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BBC commemorated this national event by broadcasting a programme named ‘Yoga: Bend it like Britain’, which explored the popularity and origins of yoga. Within the programme featured a morning session in Bhaktivedanta Manor and an interview with Sri Radha Raman das and family. The program explored the correlation between physical (hatha) yoga and bhakti. Hatha yoga teacher Padma Malini dasi was interviewed by the BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty. Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter July 2015 Spiritual Retreat to the island of Iz In May the College of Vedic Studies teamed up with the Bhakti Charu Swami Retreats Team to organise a trip to the beautiful Croatian island of Iz. The retreat was a chance for participants to spend some quality time with fellow devotees and recharge their spiritual batteries. They were lucky to be accompanied by wonderful warm weather and clear skies to accompany the deep blue Adriatic Sea. Many came away saying it was the best retreat they had ever been on. The College is now planning a Bhagavad-gita residential, and further retreats abroad in 2016. To keep abreast with all the exciting courses and events taking place, please Police Commander for the Borough of visit: krishnacollege.co.uk Harrow, Mr Simon Ovens, was struck by the beauty of Bhaktivedanta Manor. He expressed his wish to visit there after listening to the prayers recited by Srutidharma das in the Harrow Council Chamber. UK Retreat in the North Sun shines on Brighton Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, ISKCON Manchester organised a North UK ISKCON Brighton is perhaps one of the retreat. The retreat has been running for five years, offering devotees an opportunity fastest growing regular gatherings in for association of like-minded people in the North of England. Smallwood Manor the UK of a non-temple community of Boarding School in Staffordshire provided the exclusive use of their facility for the devotees. Run by Dharani Dhara das and entire trip. Locana das Thakur for several years, it is always hosting new guests, including local people and international students HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE to which Brighton has a big influx. HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE The numbers of attendees are regularly above 30. Page 2 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter July 2015 A retreat to the countryside, a treat to the inside A picturesque drive through the Brecon Beacons was the start to the enriching retreat organised by the Bhaktivedanta Manor Mentorship Team. The venue, Buckland Hall, offered exclusive occupancy to 120 devotees in a peaceful countryside settings. Highlights of the event were thought provoking lectures by three esteemed speakers Akhandadhi das, Gaur Gopal das, and Sutapa das. The topics ranged from Kindness and Respect to Attentive Dealings and Attentive Japa. There were kirtans overseen by Pranabandu das. If this was not enough, there were devotees who lead hiking teams up the Brecon Beacon hills, team building exercises and a chance to relax and enjoy great talent watching theatre performances. There was also a discussion on what devotees would like arranged for them. Devotees responded with a request for regular support for devotees in the grihastha ashram and the concept of a Grihashta Ashram Council was born. Devotees returned home rejuvenated and motivated, knowing how they can transform their lives from materialistic endeavours to spiritual heights. The Annual EU Household Science Communications Conference The Manor’s Mentorship Team held a thought provoking The annual ISKCON EU Communications Conference took Grihastha Seminar on how Krishna consciousness can best be place in Radhadesh, Belgium for four days. The purpose of practised and nurtured in married life. the conference was to report progress, share good practice and It was the very first session out of a whole series planned over undertake strategic planning. the coming years under a new initiative. These seminars aim to The conference is important to the development of ISKCON as provide guidance to those thinking of getting married as well it allows the devotees involved in communications to support, as for existing couples. There was a panel of senior devotees encourage and provide inspiration to each other in their local, who shared their own personal insights and experiences, national and global responsibilities of driving the collective including Dhananjaya das, Balagopal dasi, Sridama das, Kisori vision forward. dasi & Krsnapurna dasi. There were many other exciting highlights during the four days. There was an entertaining role play on how couples can bring a Planning began for the 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s positive change in their relationship by following the basics of arrival to the West. After progress reports from the respective grihastha life. One of the most thought-provoking statements countries, there was an interfaith visit to a cathedral, church was how both a husband and wife are like the two arms of and mosque which enabled all participants to appreciate and the same body; the arms must stay and work together for the understand each other. overall growth of the body. Page 3 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter July 2015 National Yoga Tour Hare Krishna Festival Tour Adi-guru das led a team of devotees 250 people attended an enlivening spiritual evening in the theatre of a prominent to a Yoga exposition, Yoga studio and Nottingham Academy as a conclusion to a series of seven successful festivals over Wellness events in London, Manchester, the last two months Exeter and Birmingham. Each event consisted of kirtan and japa mediation The tour, so far including Bath, Reading, Colchester, Wrexham, Chester, workshops. Loughborough and Nottingham, brought together temple and local devotees to welcome a wide diversity of the spiritually inquisitive public. Local groups had Adi-Guru das had gathered mainly second booked a venue and invited the UK Festival team who work with Bhaktivedanta generation ISKCON school graduates, Manor and Food for All. who engaged their talents in clothes design, jewellery, cooking and massage. For more information, contact: [email protected] Hundreds of Srila Prabhupada's books were sold as well as many children's books created by Ananta Shakti das. They are now looking forward to the Om Yoga Show at Alexander Palace this autumn. Kirtan London on the road April and May were busy months for Kirtan London. In April they hosted their second 6 Hour Kirtan of the year, themed 'Spring Clean'. More than 130 guests arrived to the Swiss Church in Covent Garden. The church was decorated with spring flowers and bright paper lanterns. There were a higher number of first time guests than usual, and all left giving positive feedback about their mantra music experience. The following weekend Kirtan London hosted a Pop-Up Temple at the London Wellbeing Festival at Kensington Olympia. For four days the beautiful space was open for festival goers to come inside and get involved. Feedback for the space was overwhelmingly positive - even the security guards kept returning to listen in! The next 6 Hour Kirtan will be Barefoot in the Park in late July, at Hyde Park. HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE Page 4 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter July 2015 Twenty-five years of absolute commitment Bhakti Tirtha Swami: Indriyesha das’ was celebrated for his unparalleled achievement for starting a truly inspirational leader the ISKCON Educational Services with his brother twenty-five years ago. The The 10th Anniversary since the passing programme started with occasional school visit to the Manor as part of the of Bhakti Tirtha Swami was observed Religious Studies curriculum. Indriyesha das built the department into one of in Queen’s School, near Bhaktivedanta the most dynamic and inspirational areas of outreach in the whole of ISKCON. Manor. Bhakti Tirtha Swami was the Today his legacy has expanded to over 8000 primary school children visiting the highest-ranking African American in Manor every year, where they experience tours, bullock-cart rides, workshops, ISKCON and met with figures such as and a sumptuous lunch. Over the years there have been innumerable letters of Nelson Mandela. He was frequently appreciation from both children and teachers, where they have often stated their interviewed in the media, wrote 17 visit will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Indriyesha das remains part of books and led community development I.E.S’s Strategic Planning Committee.