Holy Name Retreat

Are we compatible for marriage?

11/8/2023

This was my first visit to Noida - the Radha Govind Dev Mandir, a spiritual oasis in the polluted area of Delhi.....
Being the home base of HH Lokanath Maharaja, the temple shows a beautiful blend of contemporary and traditional architectural styles - it took 8 years to establish it and was opened to the public around 10 years ago.
For the month of Kartik, the devotees had created a nice diorama of mother Yashoda's courtyard and naughty Damodar in the temple room, with the grinding mortar, cows and other animals, a well and a tulasi mandap. Very creative and sweet, engaging our minds in remembering the famous pastime for one entire month...!
The mangal artiks were especially well attended during the month of kartik, and so was the singing of Damodarastakam in the evenings - everybody was eager to get the beautiful darshan of Their Lordships and offer a lamp with love and devotion.

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Reflecting on HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami's glorious departure

11/2/2023

Since the Kartik month was rather late this year, I decided to come to Vrindavan already ten days before the beginning of this auspicious month and offer a 4-session seminar on the False Ego in the Balaram Hall. Many devotees had already arrived - at Mangal Artik it was almost as packed as during Kartik...! For the first time I was requested to offer an evening class on the BG which I gratefully accepted - for my own purification.
Even though I am not such a friend of huge crowds, nevertheless, it was a wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with devotees and distribute my books. I also enjoyed inviting devotees for lunch in the MVT restaurant while sharing thoughts and realisations.

A host never eats with his guests

10/19/2023

My visit to Radha Gopinath Mandir in Chowpatty/Mumbai was truly a highlight on my preaching tour around India....
It was the first time that I visited this community as a preacher - I was always desiring to get the association of these wonderful devotees, but somehow it never happened. Finally the opportunity came about, and I was well taken care of, with my visit being exceptionally well coordinated.

A wife needs to be heard and understood

10/11/2023

I reached India on the 29th of September. My first destination was Bangalore which is located on a plateau in South India - 900 meters above sea level; thus it has a very nice climate and is moderate even during the hot time of the year, with around 30 degrees during the day, always a fresh breeze blowing and cool at night.
When I hope to retire in Mayapur one day, I may come here during the hot season and spend time preaching in the different devotee communities. No need for me to leave India to go to a cooler place...!

Inviting romantic exchanges into our marital relationship

9/28/2023

I chose to spend Radhastami in Zurich/Switzerland - one of the most dynamic communities in Western Europe. On Sundays they have two programs - for the Indian community in the late morning, and for the locals in the afternoon. In this way, the local people don't feel intimidated by big Indian crowds, and the Tamil community members hear the lecture in their language and happily enjoy their spicy Tamil prasadam thereafter....! A win-win situation!

Equal association exposes our most hidden envy

9/19/2023

I had decided to spend this year's Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada's appearance on Krisnuv Dvur - the Czech farm outside Prague - and offer some programs in the city itself on the weekends before and after these Vaishnava festival days.

When receiving incorrect instructions from elders

9/1/2023

For many years I desired to visit New Mayapur in France, an historic early 20th century chateau. Over the years, I heard so many glorious things about the wonderful festival they observe for Balarama's appearance. Srila Prabhupada installed beautiful, big marble Krishna-Balarama Deities there in 1975 - the first Krishna-Balarama Deities ever installed in the Western world. Furthermore, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and Sri Sri Radha-Govinda-Madhava are mercifully accepting our service. Srila Prabhupada visited here twice, in 1975 and 1976, and his quarters are being maintained as a museum - a peaceful place to chant japa.

When our false ego rebels...

8/28/2023

It was my first visit to France as a preacher. In my youth I regularly visited France on a student exchange program and explored all the famous landmarks of Paris. In those days I could quite fluently speak French - now, fifty years later it was rather rusty...

Escaping the madness of city life

8/16/2023

After visiting the temple in Wroclaw/Poland over 5 days and conducting a number of enlivening programs - some house programs, a Holy Name Day on Saturday and the Sunday program - I traveled by train to New Shantipur, a nice rural project

Mother Devaki's fifth book is out...!

8/10/2023

To create a culture of bhakti in our home is a challenge! This book gives insights and guidelines related to very practical aspects of life - how to adjust and transform our family life so it is an ashram, a suitable place to facilitate our spiritual growth and development.

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