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E-Newsletter
First Edition
Dear Reader, Starting a new school year, means to end a beautiful summer. Beautiful memories will make sure that this summer will not go out of our memory so quickly. We would like to look back on this. At the end of June we welcomed more than 100 participants at the International Yoga Day. This year was the first year that a full day was devoted to yoga in all its possible facets. Thanks to our enthusiastic yoga teachers we were able to offer the lessons for free so that this day was accessible to everyone. All went home excitedly, and for those who weren’t there, note Sunday, June 21, 2020 already in your diary! The Summer Festival, invariably the last weekend of July, has unfortunately fallen into the water this year. However, those who defied the weather, enjoyed it. This is thanks to the solid dance grooves of Shanti People, the wonderful warming prasadam and the holi-battle. And, to close the summer season, there was the sun-drenched Janmastami-weekend. A festive weekend during which we celebrated Krishna’s apparition day on Friday 23 August, the day after that the day of our founder Prabhupada, to end with the cultural Janmastami-festival on Sunday. For the first time in a long time, there was a two-day festival dedicated to our members last weekend. Thanks to their support, Radhadesh can continue to exist and grow. We
would like to thank them for their support. The program included a cooking workshop, a kirtan workshop, art, lectures, bhakti-yoga,... Some members also let us taste their passions. Such days ensure that the members get to know each other (better). The plans for the next edition are already there! But, we’re still a long way from stopping! After all, the Kartik Month starts on 14 October. Kartik, also known as the Damodara month, is a month for deepening the love for Krishna. It is considered by devotees to be the holiest month of the year. During this month they take extra vows, perform extra spiritual activities and generally worship Krishna in His form as a young boy, Damodara, who was once bound to the waist by His mother, Yashoda, as a punishment for His naughty child entertainment. Each morning and evening, everyone in the temple has the opportunity to demonstrate their sincere love and devotion to the Lord by offering and singing to Him full-lamps. On Sunday, October 26, you are cordially invited to celebrate Diwali, the “light festival” with us. Offer with us a light to Krishna! More info will follow later on the website.
Pictures Members day
A Further Meditation In Three Steps By His Holiness Sacinandana Swami
1
Become aware that the holy name is non-different from Sri Sri Radha Krishna.
nama cintamanih krsnas, caitanya-rasa-vigrahah purnah suddho nitya-mukto, ‘bhinnatvan nama-naminoh
The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krishna’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krishna himself. Since Krishna’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krishna’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. this is because the name of Krishna and Krishna himself are identical. (Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 17.133)
2
Meditate on the meaning of the mantra. The hare Krishna maha-mantra is a yugala-mantra, a mantra that directly addresses the divine couple. Srila Prabhupada informed the world of the root meaning of the maha-mantra – a meaning that includes all other meanings:
“My dear Srimari Radharani, my dear Lord Krishna, please engage me in Your service!”
3
Chant from your heart in a prayerful mood. Here is a prayer which can bring you into heart-deep chanting:
samsara-sagaran nathau putra-mitra-grhakulat goptarau me yuvam eva prapanna-bhaya-bhanjanau O Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, you are my protectors from the ocean of material existence, which is filled with sons, friends, household, and land. Therefore you are known as the destroyers of fear for those surrendered unto you. yo ‘ham mamasti yat kincid iha loke paratra ca tat sarvam bhavator adya caranesu mayarpitam O Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, myself and whatever little bit is mine in this world and in the next-all this I now offer unto Your lotus feet. aham apy aparadhanam alayas tyakta-sadhanah agatis ca tato nathau bhavantau me bhaved gatih O Your Lordships, I am certainly the abode of many offenses and am completely devoid of any devotional practices. Nor do I have any resort or shelter. Therefore, I regard you as my ultimate goal. tavasti radhika-natha karmana manasa gira krsna-kante tavaivasmi yuvam eva gatir mam saranam vam prapanno ‘smi karuna-nikarakarau prasadam kurutam dasyam mayi duste ‘paradhini I am yours, O Lord of Srimati Radharani, as are my actions, mind, and words. O Srimati Radharani, lover of Sri Krishna, I belong to you alone. O Radha and Krishna, O ocean of mercy, You are my only shelter, and thus I take shelter of You. although I am such a fallen offender, please be merciful to me and make me your servant. (Sri Sanatkumar Samhita 129-134)
Tribute to Visvesvara
On Saturday August 17, Visvesvara prabhu left his body in Radhadesh. The way he left was like the way he served…quietly and inconspicuously. He avoided the whole surrounded by devotees in a sickbed scenario, but instead it was just after lunch, where he had sat alone at a table, with his little rice and some maha prasadam. Until then nobody had noticed anything that his end was approaching, everything seemed normal. But thinking back to the last week, devotees realized that Visvesvara seemed to be more introspective. But it also seemed as if a burden had been lifted from him. Not long after that lunch, Visvesvara suddenly collapsed in the castle, right in front of the pictures of Radha and Krishna. It seems that at that moment, around half past two in the afternoon, he instantly left his body. Devotees arrived almost immediately but by the time the devotees gathered, already they saw no sign of life. Attempts by devotees and medical professionals to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Visvesvara prabhu, originally from France, lived in Radhadesh from the mid-1980s. He preformed many services in Radhadesh over the years. He was the temple commander for some years, a book distributor and also the general cleaner. And particularly right up to the day he left his body, he was 100% dedicated to his cleaning services and especially the temple room. Visvesvara prabhu always wanted to serve and above all not be a burden to anyone. After his sudden departure, no one had to find out anything, the devotees simply had to carry out the detailed instructions he left. Everything was made very clear, including all the formalities, down to the kirtan singer for his farewell and the wish to be cremated together with his japa mala. For those of you who only visit Radhadesh from time to time, Visvesvara prabhu may have been an enigmatic, quiet figure. But devotees who had regular associations with him, keep warm memories of his humour, his innocence, and above all, his untiring service attitude. Visvesvara prabhu was initiated by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami. Upon hearing the news of his departure, Maharaj wrote: “Although I am sad to have to receive this news, I am also glad that he left so peacefully. He was a sincere soul and Srila Prabhupada will certainly give him his blessings.” Yadunandana Swami wrote: “I pray to Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha for a smooth transition to Krishna’s lotus feet or to a higher destination from where he can complete his devotional service until he reaches Krishna prema.”
New Online Outreach Project As you have read in previous newsletters we have rebranded our RCPD, Radhadesh Congregational Preaching Department, as ROSE, Radhadesh Outreach Services. As a follow-up on that rebrand we want to show our intention to do more outreach. Therefore we will start the ‘Radhadesh Outreach’ Facebook group this November. It’s already online and we might put some posts on there before November already. However, starting November, we will have monthly topics that will be discussed, ending with a live lecture, either on Facebook or on Youtube (this decision will still have to be taken). Since our congregation consists of Dutch and English speaking members, we will have posts, as well as lectures, in both languages.
many different services for Krisha over the years, among which translating Srila Prabhupada’s books. If you have any topics that you would like to get more in-depth knowledge about, please join the group and post your topic. Because Facebook is not always a very safe place to share thoughts and feelings, we have made this a closed group, so there will be some delay before you can actually post something to the group. We are looking forward to seeing you at our ‘Radhadesh Outreach’ group! Jaya Bhadra and Bhagavati
Your hosts in this group are: Jaya Bhadra devi dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada with 46 years of experience in Krishna consciousness and a Bachelor degree in Vaishnava Theology. Bhagavati devi dasi, a devotee since 1980, who has done
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