View
216
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
8/3/2019 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
1/8
January
2011
Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Srila Prabhupada:
...by supplying food to the
stomach the senses are
automatically satisfied. If
one tries to feed his eyes
or ears independently, the
result is only havoc. Simply
by supplying food to the
stomach, we satisfy all of the
senses...The conclusion is that
by serving Krishna (krishna-seva), everything is complete.
As confirmed in Caitanya-
caritamrta: If one is engaged
in the devotional service of the
Lord, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, everything is
automatically accomplished.
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.31.14
purport
On Sunday 21st November hundreds of
volunteers from Bhaktivedana Manors
community came together for National
Seva Day. In partnership with Hertsmere
Borough Council and Hertsmere Forum
of Faiths, many volunteers worked
together to serve the local community.
The inspiration came from MitzvahDay, a Jewish led initiative to volunteer
time to good causes. Whatever name
you call it by, Seva or Mitzvah, the
essence is selfless community service,
explained Bhaktivedanta Manor
President Srutidharma das.
Volunteers donned their wellies, put
on their gloves and joined other faith
groups to begin to transform the
overgrown Rose Field (near Tabard
Rugby Club on Watling Street in
Radlett) into a communal picnic area.
A big thanks to everyone involved,
said James Clappison MP, who
attended the work in Radlett. This is a
wonderful project and a good example
to others.
Another group of Manor volunteers
helped to pick up litter in two parks in
Borehamwood: Maxwell Hillside Park
and Parkfields. Many helped to clean up
the New Gokul farm at Bhaktivedanta
Manor, Britains leading centre for cow
protection and working oxen.
Serving with a smile on National Seva Day
...continued on page 4
8/3/2019 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
2/8
8/3/2019 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
3/8
Page 3
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
Winter Marathon 2010Over the course of 2010, between
ten and fifteen devotees based at
Bhaktivedanta Manor travelled
around the country distributing the
transcendental literature of Srila
Prabhupada to the general public.
During the month of December
however, these efforts were stepped-up
as the Winter Marathon commenced.
Many devotees spent between eight
and twelve hours a day on the streets,
during the first three and a half weeks
of December, meeting people from
all walks of life, ages, and cultures,
giving them books on spirituality.
With this winter being one of the
coldest in a hundred years, the
devotees had a tough time, but they
braved the temperatures and the
sometimes unforgiving public, and
soldiered on, doing their duty. What
inspired them to carry on? For many,the opportunity to share with others
divine wisdom that changed their
own lives; for others the and to
please Srila Prabhupada during this
blessed month and for some the sheer
challenge of the cold, rain and snow.
Back at the Manor, some devotees
arranged a wonderful Marathon
Display around the altar of Srila
Prabhupada (pictured above). The
theme is based around a scriptural
reference of the very advanced
devotees being like a swans - which
are able to separate milk from water.
The devotees ability to separate
matter from spirit and focus on the
latter, makes him or her swan-like.
The large swan-wings protruding
from the Acaryas seat were not only
beautiful but each feather contained
the name of a devotee and their story
of how they received their first book.
In all, during the month of December
devotees from the Manor distributed
just short of 15,000 books. We thank
all the devotees involved for their
laudable efforts.
8/3/2019 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
4/8
Page 4
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
Manor School embraces Interfaith Week
National Seva Day .....continued from front page Srutidharma das and LordSacks worked togetherto build bird boxes at
Canley Street NaturalPark in Kings Cross
Above: local faith leaders, James Clappison
MP, the Chair of Aldenham Parish Council Cllr
Ron Worthy and Sita Rama das of Bhaktivedanta
Manors Lotus Trust
A celebration of faith was held at Allum
Hall in Elstree as part of Interfaith
Week. Organised by the Hertsmere
Forum of Faiths the event was attended
by Manor School pupils who
mixed with local Jews, Christians
and Muslims of all ages. Theevening included music, dance,
and drama performances from
local pupils.
Children from the Manor School
charmed everyone with a play
about the importance of the
soul and the singing of the Hare
Krishna mantra. There was also
a small exhibition and mendhi (hand
decoration) workshops, something
particularly appreciated by Cllr Linda
Silver the Mayor of Hertsmere!
Food for All, volunteers from Barclays
Capital, Deutsche Bank, EY, JP Morgan,
Lloyds Banking Group and RBS joined
forces to prepare meals for Watfords
homeless community. Cooking was done
at Bhaktivedanta Manors kitchens.
Project leader Prashant Joshi, from
EYs Financial Services Performance
Improvement team commented: The
project was an overwhelming success,
with volunteers building strong bonds
between each other, working hard, and
serving the community in a powerfuland gracious way.
Each event organised was based on
at least one of the following guiding
principles:
To relieve hardship and poverty
To bring a little joy where none exists
To help the environment
Together, Mitzvah Day and National Seva
Day attracted around 20,000 volunteers
to support at least 250 projects and
initiatives across the country. While both
events were organised by faith groups,
everyone was welcomed to take part in
Mitzvah Day and National Seva Day,regardless of race, religion or belief.
Energise University Retreat
warms over 85 students on acold winters day
At the Energise Retreat in November,
students from across England managed
to beat the frost and snow to attend
an action-packed day at the Manor. It
included a wide variety of interactive
workshops and a spectacular multimedia
presentation on the Bhagavad Gita by
Ranchor Prime.
After a tasty lunch, the students were
given the opportunity to milk and feed
the cows. The final session, entitled
The Power of Sound, included mantra
meditation and kirtan (devotional song),
which brought everyone to their feet
dancing the evening away.Yogvivek Swami visits New Gokul The head of the BAPSSwaminarayan Temple in
Neasden made a special visit
to the Manors New Gokul
farm. He praised ISKCONs
unique contribution in the
area of cow protection in
the UK and expressed his
wish to see such projects set
up in other parts of the UK.
8/3/2019 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
5/8
Page 5
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
Canary Wharf: Bhakti at the Banks Bob Blackman MP and CBPatel visit Krishna Avanti
Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East
and C.B. Patel, the Editor of the Asian
Voice made a special visit to the Krishna
Avanti School in Edgware. In his
column in Asian Voice Bob Blackmanwrote: I saw at first hand the excellent
work undertaken to build a state of the
art school incorporating the Hindu ethos.
The children gain knowledge of all the
world religions and understand all of
the various festivals that are held. The
school is a worthy addition to all the
other excellent schools in Harrow.
11th November saw history in the making
with the first corporate sponsored event
in the financial industry to host a Gaudiya
Vaisnava sannyasi (holy renunciate). In
the heart of the UKs financial district,
Canary Wharf hosted over 200 bankers
and traders in Barclays 512-feet high
skyscraper for an evening with HisHoliness Bhakticaru Swami.
This event marked the finale of sessions
at Barclays Wealth over the past year,
which saw bankers and traders from
directors to analysts gathering fortnightly
to hear about the Vedic view on banking
from fellow banker Sri Radharamana
das. Session organiser Ashika Patel
commented: The success of our
sessions can be gleaned from the
fact that most of our attendees are
from non-Indian origins who highlyappreciate the thought-provoking
Vedic version on banking.
Bankers individually met His Holiness
and left with answers to their deepest
of questions. Many pledged to meet
him in Ujjain (India) while others felt
that he had introduced them to their
spiritual potentials.
In particular, a banker who through his
PhD in physics helped to pioneer the
Large Hadron Collider (the world'slargest and highest-energy particle
accelerator) had a lengthy dialogue
with His Holiness in German. He is
now looking forward to following
up his discussion when Bhakticaru
Swami next visits London.
Our illustrious Founder-Acarya
The Disappearance of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, a day that commemorates
the passing from this world of ISKCONs illustrious Founder-Acarya, is themost introspective event in the Temple calendar. The day, which included
films, remembrances, offerings, arati and glorification was a reminder that Srila
Prabhupadas divine personality, teachings and purity continue to have a profound
impact on the lives of his disciples, and indeed on all members of ISKCON.
His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami was the special guest and Rupa Vilasa das was
the Master of Ceremonies for the morning session. The highlight of the day included
a special performance by Bhaktivedanta Players entitled That was a Great Fight!.
The play was a dramatic portrayal of Srila Prabhupada and his disciples arduous
struggle to establish the ISKCON temple in Juhu, Bombay.
8/3/2019 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
6/8
Page 6
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
by Krishna Dharma das
As 2011 rolls in we face cuts in public spending, huge job
losses, benefit reductions and pay freezes in almost every
sector. Its the Big Society folks, but without the Big Money.
As Government looks to local communities for new ideas to
tackle old problems with the Localism Bill, at the same time
they are scything funding to local authorities, with cuts of
almost 30% expected over the next four years.
Its looking decidedly grim in many quarters as our national
finances struggle. And struggling they are. The UK's debts in
total are 466% of annual economic output once consumer debt
is included. In other words if the country was an individual he
would almost certainly be declared bankrupt.
While we may be running short of cash, at the end of the day
it only represents materialresources. So are we
running out
of those?
I dont
think so.
All our needs
are provided by
God. We
may be
able to
p r i n t
m o n e y
but we cannot
manufacture food or
an y other natural resource.
Earth, sun, rain, fresh air,
fruits, vegetables, grains -- one
of this lies in our power to provide,
and none of it is in short supply. God
can provide unlimited amounts. All
we have to do is manage it properly
As everything comes from God it
also belongs to him. We have
no factual claim over anything.Naked came we to the world and
naked shall we
l e a v e .
F o r g e t t i n g
G o d s
proprietorship we lay claim to the world and then lay waste to
her resources; the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster being
a graphic example.
That crisis along with other market forces has seen oil prices
soaring over the past year. Its made me renew an old love
affair with the bicycle and indeed wonder if our whole high-
tech lifestyle needs a review. For sure the burgeoning demand
for material goods sweeping the world cannot be sustained.
The West, with 12% of the worlds population, accounts for
60% of private consumption spending. The undeveloped
countries are some way behind us, but they dont plan to stay
that way. TV and Hollywood have shown them a splendid
vision of the other side, and they are now jostling in the world
market place along with the rest of us. The competition looks
set to get fierce. Somethings got to give.
Maybe its time for a new approach. Government is perennially
obsessed with growing the economy, but is that helpful? They
want to see a healthy cash flow, more business, more people
working, more spending and generally more consumption all
round, but this can only exacerbate the problems we face, both
globally and personally.
The more absorbed we become in striving for material
improvement the more we neglect our spiritual lives, and
consequentially become increasingly victimised by lust and
greed. Its a vicious cycle.
We have to reduce demand, not increase it. Consume less,
bring down the fever of materialism, find a bit of inner peace.
After all, can we honestly say that having that latest car, phone
or TV has actually increased our happiness? Probably it only
increased our debt and anxiety.
The Bhagavad-gita speaks about simple living and high thinking
as the human ethic (reflected in the Lifestyle Movements
catchy live simply so everyone may simply live slogan).
Keep our external needs to a minimum and focus on finding
the divine within ourselves. There is a reservoir of pleasure in
our hearts if we only take the time to look. And to give us that
time God supplies our material needs in abundance, as long aswe do not mismanage them in a frenzy of greed.
As Gandhi said, there is enough for our needs but not for
our greed. Are we really taking only what we need? That
depends. Those advanced on the spiritual path happily survive
with minimal resources -- one or two moderate meals a day,
a few (non-designer) clothes and a simple dwelling. We may
not be quite ready for that level of frugality, but we can work
towards it by steady spiritual practise. We will definitely feel
better for it and so will the world.
And as for growing economies; thats also recommended by
Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, although perhaps not the type of
growth sought by the government. Grow food, says Krishna.Practise religion and be happy. Its a local solution, anyone
can do it, we can grow food anywhere, and its completely
sustainable. An idea whose time cannot be far away.
Spiritual or economic growth?
8/3/2019 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
7/8
Page 7
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
8/3/2019 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
8/8
Page 8
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2011
January 2011
Sat 15 Putrada EkadasiMon 24 App of Srila Gopala Bhatta;
Disapp pf Srila Jayadeva GoswamiSat 29 Sat-tila Ekadasi
February 2011
Tue 8 Vasant Pancami; App of SrilaRaghunatha Das Goswami &Srimati Visnupriya Devi;Disapp of Srila Visvanatha
Cakravarti ThakuraThur 10 Appearance of Sri Advaita
Acarya (fast till noon)Mon 14 Bhaimi Ekadasi, fasting till
noon for Varahadeva
Tue 15 Appearance of Lord VarahadevaWed 16 Appearance of Sri Nityananda
Prabhu (fast till noon)Fri 18 App of Srila Narottama Das
ThakuraTue 22 Appearance of Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura(fast till noon)
Mon 28 Vijaya Ekadasi
2011, All articles & photographs copyright of Bhaktivedanta Manor
A gift to Great Ormond Street HospitalOn behalf of
B h a k t i v e d a n t a
Manors Lotus
Trust, Japa Yajna
das presented Great
Ormond Street
Hospital with
a cheque for over
3000. The funds
were raised during the
Ahimsa Charity Walk,
which took place in
Fryent Country Park
last summer.
Prime Minister receives Bhagavad GitaAt the recent Downing Street Diwalifunction Srutidharma das presented
a copy ofBhagavad Gita As It Is to
Prime Minister David Cameron.
On receiving the book the Prime
Minister said, I remember coming to
Bhaktivedanta Manor and I enjoyed
my visit immensely. I shall keep
this Bhagavad Gita in 10 Downing
Street.
Bhaktivedanta ManorDharam Marg Hilfield Lane
Aldenham Herts WD25 8EZ(for sat-nav only, please use
postcode WD25 8DT)
01923 851000www.krishnatemple.com
Please send your news, photos andcomments to Radha Mohan dasnewsletter@krishnatemple.com
A sweet start to the New YearSri Sri Radha Gokulananda's special midnight darshan
brought a sweet start to 2011 at Bhaktivedanta Manor
as hundreds of devotees came to celebrate and offerprayers for an auspicious year ahead. As devotees
joined in the temple room kirtan, outside on the streets
of central London another kirtan party cheered up
the crowds. Headed by Parasurama das, around 70
devotees had everyone singing and dancing as
they wove their way through Oxford Street,
Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and
Chinatown.
Wishing you a spiritually uplifting and happy new year
Recommended